posted 07-16-99 02:49 AM ET        

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Okay, a small request to anyone to check their version 4.0 Alpha.txt files and file out if you can change this in any way, like maybe to another SE value. I have a couple of objections to this 'enhancement'.

1) Game balance. This alien artifact makes any faction into the Gaians, and without incurring any penalties or otherwise. The Gaians already pay a heavy price for their +1 Planet, and are by no means a weak faction for it. Giving another faction +1 Planet seems a dangerously imbalancing factor, at least for anyone other than the Believers.
I mean, you can't even get a planet bonus from a SP - the best they allow is a Support increase.

2) The aliens were wiped out by the last fungal bloom, correct? All that remains are the indestructable monoliths (until you use up their energy, that is) and the borehole cluster. Hence, it would seem that the three fingered little grey freaks didn't actually know that much about Planet. So it seems appropriate that some other bonus - most likely an efficency one - would be more appropriate. In fact any of:
+1 Effic
+1 Support
+1 Research
would be more appropriate than +1 Planet, for both balance and storyline reasons.

posted 07-16-99 04:01 AM ET            

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Okay, maybe. I admit that, since I don't have the patch, I also haven't yet read the accompanying storyline (ala Borehole cluster) for it.

The main thing is the balance issue. Can you change the Soc setting for the nexus, or is it embedded?

posted 07-16-99 04:53 AM ET            

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I checked the Alpha.txt and the only reference I can find is in the #NATURAL section, it is coded just like the Jungle, Ridge and other SL:

Manifold Nexus, Nexus

So, I assume the effects are hard-coded in terran.exe.

Aredhran

posted 07-17-99 12:18 PM ET            

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Stick with patch 4. The only downside I have is a slight slowdown in starting up the game and loading the game. But only by a few seconds. The missle bug is definitely fixed.

So if you don't like it, just create a map you like, take it off, save it, then play it?

posted 07-18-99 11:48 AM ET            

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Actually, no one knows for sure what happened to the aliens that built the monoliths/borehole cluster, maybe they just left town for a few millenia and they'll be back in SMACX or a sequel.

nitpicking - and probably dreaming,
sandworm

posted 07-18-99 12:27 PM ET            

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Devoted Gaian-builder type here.
+1 planet is a nice bonus.
But its when you pile the Gaian +1
with the +2 for green, and another +2
for cybernetic that PSI attacks become
fantastic.
Although your mind worm capture remains at "75%" past planet +3, I've used the Gaians w/ a +50% in a PSI attacks. I presume that +60% is possible too.

If you plan to have mind worms, do what ever you can to raise that attack bonus.
And see a doctor, those worms can do a lot of damage!

posted 07-18-99 01:31 PM ET            

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SMAniaC,

Your base probability to capture natives, as specified in the SE screen, is different from your actual probability. Since version 3.0 the probability drops with each subsequent mindworm capture. I don't recall the exact amount, but it is something like a 5% or 10% drop for each one, with a minimum capture prob at 5% or 10%, as well. The sliding probabilities seem to be independent, regarding land and sea forms. So if you try to capture IoD's after capturing a dozen mindworms, your probability to do so start at base rate.

JAMiAM

posted 07-18-99 04:35 PM ET            

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Good clarification, I said "75%", because after the first few captures, it becomes pretty hit-or-miss about capturing mind worms. Never found anything in the manual about that. . .I don't know where I threw my manual. . .

As for eco-damage, even with high planet rating, I still suffer terrible damage without the appropriate base facilities (Centaui Preserve and Temple of Plant (Nanofactory, I think is a wash, cuts eco-damage, but raises production)), before version 4, I could not build Temple of Planet for some reason. With version 4, I can deal with the ecodamage. I tend toward all forest with two mines and a borehole per city. When I import shields from outside the city, the production can get substantial. I've broken 200 production per turn. (Of course late in the game what does one build with so much production??? Lots of orbital defense pods because Yang is such a maniac for planet busters) That much production though triggers eco-damage even if you have all the facilities and special projects that effect the damage equation.
So yes, ecodamage never entirely disappears.

posted 07-19-99 05:09 AM ET            

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I should add that if you don't like the Manifold Nexus/plate of ribs you can play on a map of Planet.

If you don't like the map of Planet, you may indeed be tasteful but I can't help you.

posted 07-19-99 09:35 AM ET            

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This game has long ago fried what little brains I had, but are you guys saying that random maps generated after v3 and v4 have the borehole cluster and manifold nexus on them?

I have run 2 games after v4 and no nexus, at least 12 since v3 and the only time I have seen the cluster is in created senarios???

posted 07-19-99 12:21 PM ET            

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Jimmy:
Yes, with v.3 you should get the Borehole Cluster in random maps, and with v.4 you should get the Manifold Nexus as well. I certainly do. I can only suggest a reinstall of SMAC if these don't show up in your random maps.

Nell