SMAC too easy - Alpha Centauri Forums

  Alpha Centauri Forums
  Strategies and Tactics
  SMAC too easy

profile | register | prefs | faq | search

Author Topic:   SMAC too easy

Divmon posted 06-07-99 09:08 AM ET
I always played Civ II on deity and would win about half the time. With SMAC on transcend (after a bit of learning) I have to resign only about a tenth of the time. I'm not cheating, or saving all the time either.
Almost every game I get all the wonders except for one or two of the earliest, (playing with any of the non-agressive factions). Although I still love the game, I'd like more of a challenge.
Anyone else find this?
Does anyone else have this problem?
AlexDePol posted 06-07-99 09:33 AM ET
I wander if you tried the following settings, if not the do so and let me know if u found the game any more difficult:
TINY PLANET
ABUNDANT ALIEN LIFE
SPARSE CLOUD COVER
70-90% OCEANS
LOOK FIRST : OFF
OTHER FACTIONS EXTRA AGRESSIVE
RESEARCH STAGNATION
See how u go.
laurens posted 06-07-99 11:45 AM ET
I like to add to the above:
Blind research on.
Play the Believers.
Fog of War on.
If it's still to easy, let the computer have a headstart of 100+ yrs.
Zozo posted 06-07-99 07:13 PM ET
I thought SMAC is much more difficult than Civ2. I'm not surprised that you can win all the time though but I don't see how you can get almost all the SP's if you start next a an agressive faction like the Believers since they will attach you after they figure out that the minerals you spend on the early SP's just can't be used to beef up your infantile army at the same time. And when Miriam attacks she just attacks, nothing you can do will make her leave you alone.
bigcanuk posted 06-07-99 10:22 PM ET
I find it too easy at default too. I have played my last 2 games with no boreholes and no supply crawlers. morgans and then pk. i got very few SP's, had the Hive planet buster those and much of the rest of me, had air blasting me to pieces. My savior both games: skimship probe teams to get airpower and then tactical needlejets to slow down the ememies. probe teams to buy military units (you get to make and modify these units). I think FM is a must to get enough energy. drones are a pain though. You still get ahead by mid-game. The last PK game I "escaped in a colony pod" from the spartans.
I like the ideas posted above to give the computer opponents a head start, but I think it would have to be a very very fine balance between them crushing you in the early game or you still crushing them later on. What is needed is help for their mid and late games or a handicap for ours. I have yet to have a game get anywhere near ascent to trancendence with any healthy computer opponents.
laurens posted 06-08-99 01:16 AM ET
Yes, guyz!
So let's summarize - the human brains' just too much for the AI (Marix just isn't true!)

Cheers
laurens posted 06-08-99 01:17 AM ET
typo error...
"The Matrix just isn't true"
Igor posted 06-08-99 05:08 AM ET
Hey. Settings:
Standart+iron man+tech stagnation+no Unity pods
Map, Huge, 30% landmass, abundant worms
Faction: Believers
Goal: Transcend
If you make this game before 2400, you are Deity
For war game: the same settings, but wait 100 years to attack opponents.
Enjoy
Oh yeah, opponent more agressive.
Other settings:
Blind research on
Opponent more agressive
Iron man
No pods
Abundant worms
Tech stagnation
Faction: Morgan
Map: Tiny, 70-90% landmass
More: the same, but rare worms, Gaians
Challenge
laurens posted 06-08-99 10:20 AM ET
I 'accept' your campaign, Igor! Sounds interesting
I hope to complete the Believers game by 2300, and will send you the sav. file once I'm done. Any delay would be due to the possibility that I get involved in a PBEM game with some of ya.
HMFIC posted 06-08-99 01:22 PM ET
screw your settings and challanges, if you want the game to be more difficult, play with your monitor off.
Divmon posted 06-09-99 08:52 AM ET
Some excellent suggestions here SMACers
I've already lost several times!!
I think the most important thing is to try to change your style of play. I've always been a bit of a builder with an endgame conquest thrown in. Now I'm going for small, intense early wars in nasty environments. it is like playing a different game (esp with agressive opponents)
Now if only the bloody thing wouldn't crash with patch3 just as its getting interesting...
TTFN
To close this thread, click here (moderator or admin only).


Hop to:

Contact Us | Alpha Centauri Home

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Version 5.18
© Madrona Park, Inc., 1998.

Author	Topic: SMAC too easy
Divmon	posted 06-07-99 09:08 AM ET I always played Civ II on deity and would win about half the time. With SMAC on transcend (after a bit of learning) I have to resign only about a tenth of the time. I'm not cheating, or saving all the time either. Almost every game I get all the wonders except for one or two of the earliest, (playing with any of the non-agressive factions). Although I still love the game, I'd like more of a challenge. Anyone else find this? Does anyone else have this problem?
AlexDePol	posted 06-07-99 09:33 AM ET I wander if you tried the following settings, if not the do so and let me know if u found the game any more difficult: TINY PLANET ABUNDANT ALIEN LIFE SPARSE CLOUD COVER 70-90% OCEANS LOOK FIRST : OFF OTHER FACTIONS EXTRA AGRESSIVE RESEARCH STAGNATION See how u go.
laurens	posted 06-07-99 11:45 AM ET I like to add to the above: Blind research on. Play the Believers. Fog of War on. If it's still to easy, let the computer have a headstart of 100+ yrs.
Zozo	posted 06-07-99 07:13 PM ET I thought SMAC is much more difficult than Civ2. I'm not surprised that you can win all the time though but I don't see how you can get almost all the SP's if you start next a an agressive faction like the Believers since they will attach you after they figure out that the minerals you spend on the early SP's just can't be used to beef up your infantile army at the same time. And when Miriam attacks she just attacks, nothing you can do will make her leave you alone.
bigcanuk	posted 06-07-99 10:22 PM ET I find it too easy at default too. I have played my last 2 games with no boreholes and no supply crawlers. morgans and then pk. i got very few SP's, had the Hive planet buster those and much of the rest of me, had air blasting me to pieces. My savior both games: skimship probe teams to get airpower and then tactical needlejets to slow down the ememies. probe teams to buy military units (you get to make and modify these units). I think FM is a must to get enough energy. drones are a pain though. You still get ahead by mid-game. The last PK game I "escaped in a colony pod" from the spartans. I like the ideas posted above to give the computer opponents a head start, but I think it would have to be a very very fine balance between them crushing you in the early game or you still crushing them later on. What is needed is help for their mid and late games or a handicap for ours. I have yet to have a game get anywhere near ascent to trancendence with any healthy computer opponents.
laurens	posted 06-08-99 01:16 AM ET Yes, guyz! So let's summarize - the human brains' just too much for the AI (Marix just isn't true!) Cheers
laurens	posted 06-08-99 01:17 AM ET typo error... "The Matrix just isn't true"
Igor	posted 06-08-99 05:08 AM ET Hey. Settings: Standart+iron man+tech stagnation+no Unity pods Map, Huge, 30% landmass, abundant worms Faction: Believers Goal: Transcend If you make this game before 2400, you are Deity For war game: the same settings, but wait 100 years to attack opponents. Enjoy Oh yeah, opponent more agressive. Other settings: Blind research on Opponent more agressive Iron man No pods Abundant worms Tech stagnation Faction: Morgan Map: Tiny, 70-90% landmass More: the same, but rare worms, Gaians Challenge
laurens	posted 06-08-99 10:20 AM ET I 'accept' your campaign, Igor! Sounds interesting I hope to complete the Believers game by 2300, and will send you the sav. file once I'm done. Any delay would be due to the possibility that I get involved in a PBEM game with some of ya.
HMFIC	posted 06-08-99 01:22 PM ET screw your settings and challanges, if you want the game to be more difficult, play with your monitor off.
Divmon	posted 06-09-99 08:52 AM ET Some excellent suggestions here SMACers I've already lost several times!! I think the most important thing is to try to change your style of play. I've always been a bit of a builder with an endgame conquest thrown in. Now I'm going for small, intense early wars in nasty environments. it is like playing a different game (esp with agressive opponents) Now if only the bloody thing wouldn't crash with patch3 just as its getting interesting... TTFN