Alpha Centauri 2

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri & Alien Crossfire => After Action Reports => Topic started by: Green1 on June 16, 2013, 09:40:19 PM

Title: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 16, 2013, 09:40:19 PM
AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness

EDIT: This is a discussion of the characters. Actual gameplay is here: http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=3750.0 (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=3750.0)

It has been a while since I have shared a game with the community at AC2, and I think it is a time put up another AAR.

Last AAR, Lal Must Suffer, sadly was not finished. I had a computer problem that required reinstalling the operating system. Worse, I ended up having to buy Alpha Centauri again because the Planetary Pack disks were scratched to the point of uselessness. Also, being busy does not help. Playing an AAR takes 10 times the time of just playing a regular game because you have to stop at critical points, upload, and comment. So, a game that would take a day or so can go on for a week unless I just stay up for 15 hours on my day off and only post AAR posts! Sorry, can not do that for you guys. So this will be ongoing for a while.

This particular AAR is going to deviate a bit. A while back, the powers that be over here managed to get supposedly ALL the custom factions from a defunct site known as the Network Node. The Network Node was dedicated to creating custom factions. Now, like all "unofficial" works, some of these factions are VERY high quality. Others are half-ass wastes of hard drive space. In this AAR, I have some of the more tolerable ones and, one I think is a REAL gem!

In addition, I also want to pay homage to two Total Conversion Modders. One of them is long time poster and AC2 member Kilkalon who has the "Lost Eden Mod". The other is Chuft who resides on WPC and created the Lazy Mythos. I will discuss each when I get to the "character" set up. For this AAR, before we get to actual playing, I need to comment on each faction and some history. Sadly, there is one famous TCM from AC history I could not get stuff on. There was a very early TCM called SMANIAC by Civ Fanatic poster and occasional visitor to AC2 named Maniac. Maniac is also responsible for the Civ 4 mod "Planetfall", which in my opinion, has been the ONLY semi-successful attempt to recreate Alpha Centauri. The only faction I could find from that era was the Bree, an aquatic progenitor faction that the AI could not really do properly in test runs. Maybe next time.

Once again, feel free to comment/ whatever. I am no thread Nazi. I actually enjoy strategy talks, talking, or even scolded if I start playing stupidly.

That said, let's meet the characters for this soap opera!
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 16, 2013, 10:11:54 PM
OBLIVION's  FALLEN (Lost Eden TCM)

Let's start with the creation of Lost Eden creator, Kilkalon.

Oblivion is one of characters on Lost Eden. Now, our buddy Kilk caught a whole bunch of crap on Civ Fanatics forums a while back about the whole "nekkid pokemon" issue. BUT - to ignorantly dismiss a creative work like that misses the point. The whole mod is actually a well crafted thing of beauty. EVERYTHING is custom. Think a paradise world with pokemon creatures but steeped deep in Christian mythos straight almost out of Jack Chick. All the factions each have real world analogues as seen through a fundamentalist lens. The whole tech tree and graphics have been totally reworked to bring this world to you. Plus, if pokeman parts are just a little too immersive into a Garden of Eden style world which has no issue with flesh being shown, he does have a less -erhm- revealing version. I will be using that.

Oblivion is a male bulbasaur who is into almost an Anne Rynd sort of objectivist view. He is very much a "do anything you want" kind of thing and perhaps the Yang of the Lost Eden world. Now, unfortunately, because Lost Eden also has it's own custom social engineering choices, I have worked with Kilkalon to closely approximate Oblivion into this AAR.

This is what he has:

Quote
#DATALINKS1
^LEADER: {Oblivion, the Prince of Darkness}
^SPECIES: {Male Bulbasaur}
^AGENDA: {Perverted pleasures; establishing demonic rule}
^TECH: {Information Networks}
^

#DATALINKS2
^+3 GROWTH: {Procreation encouraged}
^+1 RESEARCH: {Keen to try all sorts of new... things}
^-1 EFFIC: {Corruption a way of life for followers}
^-1 PROBE: {Vulnerable and afraid of the Light}
^-1 PLANET: {Apathy towards clean operation}
^Free RECREATION COMMONS in every city.
^Need HAB COMPLEX for bases to exceed size 5: {Perverted activities poison water supplies}
^Immunity to negative SUPPORT penalties: {Somebody... or something... is helping him?}
^{May not embrace Cybernetics.}

The + growth could make Oblivion fairly rough. He does have an okay research. The big thing, though is the immunity to SUPPORT penalties and free rec commons.  With the right social choices and left alone, Oblivion could be a powerhouse.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 16, 2013, 10:34:47 PM
STEPHANIE'S LAZYTOWN (Chuft's Lazymod TCM)

There used to be a show out of Iceland called Lazytown. Of course, that show got a bit popular with the kids who all grew up admiring (er.. lusting) after the main character of that show. There is also my suspicion that Lazytown ad revenue combined with Eve Online probably contributed to 70 percent of the GNP of Iceland, but that is another story...

Lazymod also had Cylons and a unique progenitor race called the Cthullu Cult. Chuft also attempted to solve air power imbalance by reducing movement ranges.

Now, all weirdness of Pink Haired jailbait aside, I believe Chuft may have unwittingly come up with a missing idealogue from Alpha Centauri. Lately, we have had talk in certain circles about celebrities in space. Heck, there is also some talk lately of a "Mars colonist survival" reality show that may or (probably) not become reality. Who is to say that some young celebrity could not give huge boosting in sponserships and funding to colonize another place? Now, I plan on wiping the floor with Steph and I am no fanboy, but who is to say if we do not have an AC FOREVER type reboot, a celebrity faction would not be realistic?

This is her stats:
Quote
#DATALINKS1
^LEADER: {Cutie Stephanie}
^BACKGROUND: {Iceland, Unity Television Star}
^AGENDA: {Learning, growing, and making things fair for everyone}
^TECH: {Centauri Ecology - she likes growing Good Stuff}
^

#DATALINKS2
^+1 PROBE:  {Everyone likes to watch LazyTown}
^+2 SUPPORT: {Citizens eager to defend Steph}
^-1 POLICE: {Doesn't like being mean to people}
^-1 INDUSTRY {Would rather play than work}
^50% reduction in EFFICIENCY penalties: {She motivates people}
^Free HOLOGRAM THEATER when discovery of Planetary Networks {LazyTown filmed in HD}
^{May not use Free Market economics in Social Engineering - people should share.}

SUPPORT means she can probably pump out troops. The reduction in Efficiency penalties could mean rapid expansion or ICS. Free Hologram Theater is pretty nasty, too. Like a free Virtual World. No free market is no penalty for an AI as SMAX AI does not handle market well, anyways.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Buster's Uncle on June 16, 2013, 10:37:36 PM
I don't think Kilkakon has an awful lot in common with Jack Chick - the latter is all about apocalypse and hellfire, the former is all about hugs.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 16, 2013, 10:50:13 PM
Jack Chick as not in the hellfire and brimstone, but a world in which there are supernatural powers and opposing forces. Funny thing was, there was an attempt many years back to create a Jack Chick mythos Dungeons and Dragons world. Only thing was, the Chick inspired Christians were overpowered! But, our buddy Kilk does do balance :)


Speaking of time, I have a little meeting to go to. When I return, we will talk about the other "characters" that will take part in this bizarre little play.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Buster's Uncle on June 16, 2013, 11:02:59 PM
 ;excite;
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 17, 2013, 02:33:13 AM
The ANTIMIND (Network Node)

Hidden amongst obvious Hive reskins, things that make your game crash immediately, and lame ideas you occasionally get something rather cool. The Antimind is one of those ideas. A progenitor faction, the premise is that somehow the fungus combined DNA with progenitors to create an unstoppable monster. Combine that with a healthy dose of cybernetics, you get the picture.

The Antimind is literally a beast. Not overpowered to the point of being unfair, but a challenge and joy to try to overcome. Much like what the designers of the Alien Crossfire expansion hoped to convey.

Let's look at what we are up against:

Quote
^LEADER: {AntiMind}
^BACKGROUND: {Mindworm/Progenitor Cyborg Hybrid}
^AGENDA: {Mindworm Freedom}
^TECH: {Centauri Ecology}
^

#DATALINKS2
^+4 PLANET: {Able to tap into Planetmind's neural net to capture mindworms}
^-3 INDUSTRY: {AntiMind experiences pain when pollution enters its "body"}
^-2 GROWTH: {Human slaves are restricted from reproducing to maintain worm majority}
^Free Ability: {Hypnotic Trance: Can turn psi powers against user}
^+2 Nutrients and Energy in fungus squares
^Immune to PLANET penalties
^Receives free Mindworm unit at start
^{May not use Free Market economics.}

Oh yeah, and did I mention I typically only play on heavy fungus maps? That +4 PLANET is a biggie. Prog defenses make this more fearsome.  This means swarms of powerful ninja mindworms crushing anything in it's path. This, like ganddad used to say, is going to be a tough row to hoe.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 17, 2013, 02:55:20 AM
THE BORG (Buster's Uncle et. al, Hickory Chess Club)

Back in the day, the Borg was cool. An unstoppable, cold force that assimilated everything in it's path including entire worlds. Early episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation that featured these monsters are all considered classic (well, at least if you do not consider TNG "faux trek"..lol). For those involved in a sci-fi game like Alpha Centauri, it was only natural to try to include the Borg as a faction. Now, there have been SEVERAL attempts from my reading to do this. I personally have found 3. Who knows, there could be more out there lurking on someone's hard drive. One just seemed to be just another Hive reskin. This one that I found on BU's site seems to be okay. I could do without the "cube city" and I also think that the Borg should NEVER pact folks OR be on council, but this one seems to be okay.

Here is this iteration's take on the famous Borg:

Quote
^LEADER: {Central Communications Node}
^BACKGROUND: {A powerful civilization of enhanced humanoids from the Delta Quadrant.}
^AGENDA: {Perfection via total biological, mechanical, and technological integration.}
^TECH: {Planetary Networks, Biogenetics}
^

#DATALINKS2
^+3 PROBE: {"Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."}
^+2 EFFICIENCY: {A collective government and an advanced comprehensive adaptability}
^-4 PLANET: {"Planet is an irrelevant species. It cannot be assimilated, only exploited and used for our purposes."}
^-2 GROWTH: {Little innate reproductive capability. Relies on assimilation of other species for growth.}
^-2 RESEARCH: {Must accomplish research objectives through assimilation}
^{Bases immune to mind control}
^{May not chose Democratic politics}

Central Communications Node is going to hope Antimind does not run into it with that -4 PLANET! However, immunity to mind control and decent +probe rating could be nasty under some situations.

Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 17, 2013, 03:16:35 AM
PLANET'S LAW (Network Node- JURID)

A random Network Node Faction. Basically, this is a society of lawyers. You know, I figured, hell, I got a demonic pokemon, a pick haired jailbait child star from Iceland, a monstrous mindworm/progenitor from hell what would be the icing on the cake? Yep, Lawyers!

Actually, the graphics are decently done. They have "Perry Mason, Jr." as the leader and all the cities look like law buildings. It makes me wonder if the Antimind or Oblivion is the "true" evil here :)


Quote
^LEADER: {Perry Mason Jr}
^BACKGROUND: {United States Supreme Court, Unity's Lawful Consultant}
^AGENDA: {The True Respect of the Law}
^TECH: {Information Networks, Social Psych}

#DATALINKS2
^+1 ECONOMY: {High Fees}
^+1 PROBE: {Professional Secret}
^-1 EFFIC: {Individualistic methods}
^-1 MORAL: {Lack of ethics}
^+50% Votes: {Gifted speackers}
^Extra DRONE each 4 citizen {Lack of ethics}
^Robust Police: (Citizens fear the Lawyers)
^May not use Eudaimonic Future Society
^

Not sure what to make of this. They seem almost to be a hybrid Morgan/ Lal? I definitely will have to watch council with that Lal bonus.

Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Yitzi on June 17, 2013, 03:35:42 AM
-Also, it's not in the datalinks, but Antimind also gets +50% to psi combat on top of its PLANET bonus.

-Planet's Law actually isn't very Lal-like.  They've got half of Lal's council bonus, but instead of Lal's talents they get Zak's drones. 

Where they really could do well, though, is commerce.  The robust POLICE means that even when running free market they won't have pacifism drones (no police, but no pacifism), and they start with +1 ECONOMY, meaning that they can (and generally will, by the way the AI is programmed) go Dem/Market/Wealth for +4 ECONOMY (granting +2 COMMERCE, on top of what they get for being governor if they manage that via their bonus votes) and still be able to explore.  (Fight too, but they're fairly weak militarily due to the -1 MORALE.)
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 17, 2013, 04:55:13 AM
-Also, it's not in the datalinks, but Antimind also gets +50% to psi combat on top of its PLANET bonus.

-Planet's Law actually isn't very Lal-like.  They've got half of Lal's council bonus, but instead of Lal's talents they get Zak's drones. 

Where they really could do well, though, is commerce.  The robust POLICE means that even when running free market they won't have pacifism drones (no police, but no pacifism), and they start with +1 ECONOMY, meaning that they can (and generally will, by the way the AI is programmed) go Dem/Market/Wealth for +4 ECONOMY (granting +2 COMMERCE, on top of what they get for being governor if they manage that via their bonus votes) and still be able to explore.  (Fight too, but they're fairly weak militarily due to the -1 MORALE.)

So THAT's why Antimind is such a beast. Goodness....

Interesting take on the lawyers, too.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 17, 2013, 05:20:58 AM
THE LORD'S BELIEVERS (SMAC original 7)

I am going to skip ahead to who I will be playing for this scenario.

Our favorite nut whose orange borders have been known to cause panic, Sister Miriam Godwinson.

Yeah, I know she is not a custom faction, but in this game, I think she will fit in nicely as our protagonist. All the other characters here fit into some kind of "hell". Who better to bring the light to this chaos?

Now most of us know what the good sister is all about. But, for the "noobs", I will go over what this faction leader is and why I think she made the original 7. You see, Alpha Centauri was put out during the late 90s right after there was a great "moral panic" amongst folks about gaming. While this mostly extended to role playing games, war gamers were not immune to this in those days. Books were burned. Gamers were shunned as "being part of a cult" and aiding and abetting evil hackers, badly influencing youth, etc. in many parts of the world. Even Steve Jackson Game's (writers of GURPS ALPHA CENTAURI) offices were actually RAIDED for an RPG called Cyberpunk much in probably influenced somewhat by the anti-gaming atmosphere of the day. (Remember, there was no real internet to dispel BS. It was all BBSes and expensive subscription services)

Sister Miriam is a vision of what the US would have come to if the US never deviated from the fundamentalism of the 1990s and became "The Christian States of America". I think Reynolds put her in as a statement. Ironically, though, towards the end, Miriam is actually one of the more rational leaders despite her bad rep.

Anyways, let's recap the good Sister:

Quote
^LEADER: {Sister Miriam Godwinson}
^BACKGROUND: {Christian States of America, Unity Psych Chaplain}
^AGENDA: {Life of Religious Worship}
^TECH: {Social Psych}
^

#DATALINKS2
^+25% Bonus when attacking enemies, from strength of convictions.
^+1 PROBE:  {Devout believers difficult to brainwash}
^+2 SUPPORT: {Citizens eager to defend faith}
^-2 RESEARCH:  {Suspicious of secular science}
^-1 PLANET:  {Believe Planet is their promised land}
^Accumulates NO research points until MY 2110.
^{May not use Knowledge value in Social Engineering.}

Awful researcher. But, her bonuses to attack and support means she is master of an aggressive game. She can probe with the best of them as well. -1 PLANET may be a disadvantage against Antimind.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 17, 2013, 05:42:51 AM
Working NOT (too) OP faction of alphacentauri2.info's choice ( ? )

For the LAST.... I think I will let you guys decide.

We can put any of the original 7 in.

We can also put any of the Alien Crossfire factions in.

You can go to BU's site and dig up something there.

You can maybe get me a gem I may have missed from the Network Node (available at AC2!)

OR...If You Dare send me a faction of your own creation.

AND NO! NO Supahnoobs/Scotsnoobs. Give Miriam a slight chance will ya?
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Yitzi on June 17, 2013, 04:55:30 PM
So THAT's why Antimind is such a beast. Goodness....

There's also the fact that you have to take them out fairly early; in the late game, their fungus bonus is extremely powerful, and if they get the Manifold Nexus you'll have real problems.

That said, I'd think they're actually not that strong if you know how to handle them.  Their growth and industry penalties mean they need to rely on their native advantage to have any chance, so by making the bulk of your forces be cheap empath and trance troops and pumping MORALE and PLANET you should do well.  Spartans in particular should do well; running Fundie/Green and sending command-center boosted troops through a monolith they can be more than a match for the antimind's troops at a third of the cost.  Fungus would make it harder (both for defense and mobility), but they should still be able to pull it off.

You're playing Miriam, though, which will be quite a bit tougher...still, grabbing Centauri Empathy and getting Empath and Trance units should help a lot against antimind (especially if you decide to run Fundie).
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Kilkakon on June 18, 2013, 04:29:08 PM
I'll look forward to reading this. :D Keep it up, and thanks for the glowing character reference~ *blush* Even if I don't know who Jack Chick is. I know Jack Black though, and he's an actor, so clearly this means I can put on a good performance.

As for factions, well there's obviously my own which I think are interesting in their own way (Gaian Acolytes). Out of the NN ones that you haven't picked, I like the theme of Children's Alliance and Anarchists, although they probably need considerable reworking. Neveral Order as well, although they need a few nerfs.

I agree on the whole entertainment faction idea though. I think Showbiz tried to do that, although it was a bit too gimmicky from memory.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 19, 2013, 12:06:17 AM
NP Kilk.

Jack Chick was a cartoonist circa 1970s-1990s who drew tracts. They were intended to convert people to Christianity. The theme of these varied, but it usually centered around dark forces enslaving mankind and only Jesus being able to save them. Where Chick got into issues, particularly with gamers, is he went WAY overboard. One of his tracts in particular, Dark Dungeons even said the works of fellow Christian CS Lewis (Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) was satanic along with Lord of the Rings and DnD books. So, by mentioning Chick, BU rightly jumped me. What I was referencing is the actual Chick Fundy world, not his politics. In Chicks world, demon worshippers are powerful and vast. Wiccans are major and have real power. The Christians, instead of the powerful majority are beset on all sides and a minority.

For custom factions, if I have the Antimind in, nerfs are probably not needed :)

If anything, this is going to be rough.

Anarchists are actually pretty cool. A bit underpowered, but okay. I think the original modder was thinking about the anarchists that do the protesting and breaking store windows at G8 ant WTO conferences, not the educated anarchists or more libertarian ones.
Neveral looks interesting. "shadow science"
The Children, I do not get. Unless folks are pumping prepubescents full of anti-aging vaccine, I am not sure how a society of children makes sense. Then again, I do have Lazytown, Pokemon, Borg, and Lawyers so sense is out the window :)

Lemme think for a few.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Buster's Uncle on June 19, 2013, 12:52:29 AM
I don't know who Jack Chick is.
???

Do they not have those little black and white mini comics about the apocalypse and going to Hell in Oz?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_T._Chick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_T._Chick)  You wouldn't approve of his teaching, I expect.

...

Would a funny faction be in order?  It will come as no shock that I think Shaggy is hilarious...
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 19, 2013, 02:05:29 AM
I don't know who Jack Chick is.
???

Do they not have those little black and white mini comics about the apocalypse and going to Hell in Oz?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_T._Chick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_T._Chick)  You wouldn't approve of his teaching, I expect.

...

Would a funny faction be in order?  It will come as no shock that I think Shaggy is hilarious...


Yeah.. his teachings ARE [intercourse]ed up. I am an agnostic myself, leaning towards UU.  But, you got to admit the man was a comic genius. An EVIL genius, but none the less one. The story if you took the totally unresearched and dead wrong "facts" out, you got to admit is a hilarious world. I want to live in a world where everything is back and white. Witches are REAL and cast REAL spells, there IS a Necromonicon, etc. The Catholic Church is secretly a Satanic front business! Joining the darkside and getting rank is as easy as attending a DnD session.

Shaggy? Lol. I remember and episode of Harvey Birdman where Shaggy got busted for pot. Since I DO want to showcase work, and the Borg is not 100 percent yours I think I may have a strong contender for the last slot!
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Buster's Uncle on June 19, 2013, 02:09:38 AM
Shaggy is only partly mine, too.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 19, 2013, 04:42:23 AM
Shaggy is only partly mine, too.

You got something that is all you? Or were you more the collaborative type? If it is something you want to showcase, this can happen.

Then again, Miriam wants to bring pot smokers to a fruitful life of worship, too.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Buster's Uncle on June 19, 2013, 04:57:00 AM
Well, my interest has always been in the creative end - the Pretty Princesses is the only one of my first seven that was all my own work, if you include the .txt.  The art part is more my thing.  Nothing in particular leaps to mind, aside from the funny that is the Cannabis League.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on June 19, 2013, 08:51:44 AM
Well, my interest has always been in the creative end - the Pretty Princesses is the only one of my first seven that was all my own work, if you include the .txt.  The art part is more my thing.  Nothing in particular leaps to mind, aside from the funny that is the Cannabis League.

I hear you. Some folks have different areas of talent. Mine is words, others pictures, others arcane mathematical code.

Pretty Princesses will not do for this. I taught my daughter not to be a princess. Someone one time gave her a pink MY Little Pony castle play set when she was 6. She asked me to play. Being a non custodial parent and having no issues with my sexual orientation if adults saw me playing My Little Ponies, I did. I think I ruined her My Little Pony/ princess fetish for life! The ponies happened to be all evil mutant geniuses bent on painting the whole world pepto bismol pink! After being foiled again and again by the one human who abhorred, pink, they hired ninjas that betrayed all the ponies and lopped heads off.

We played DnD afterwards. Of course, I had to let her play a dragon... but that is another story.

 Shaggy would be a bit better.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: JarlWolf on July 03, 2013, 12:16:34 AM
Edit: I figured it out, and I might actually be able to make this available. I just need to figure out how to upload it.

An overview of what I have is basically this: (I still have to do custom textures)
(click to show/hide)

Edit: Changed some stats now, I've begun working on it now that I've bought the new and improved Alpha Centauri version. Before I had the ancient disks.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Kilkakon on July 03, 2013, 12:27:11 PM
Yeah! Let us know what you'd like Green. :)
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: JarlWolf on July 03, 2013, 11:58:50 PM
A more in detail look at my work in progress faction here:
http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=3737.0 (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=3737.0)

Let me know if you want to utilize it, I'll be getting it up and running soon enough anyways.

Edit: Its basically complete so if you want to use it I'll be uploading it shortly.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 04, 2013, 08:04:06 PM
A more in detail look at my work in progress faction here:
http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=3737.0 (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=3737.0)

Let me know if you want to utilize it, I'll be getting it up and running soon enough anyways.

Edit: Its basically complete so if you want to use it I'll be uploading it shortly.


Awesome. I will take a look at it. A player made faction from a user has a very good chance of making it in if it is complete. Get with BU if you are not artistically inclined (like myself). I also appreciate BU suggesting Shaggy, but other than maybe Morgan or some celebrity, I think the Unity project would give urine drug tests against pot use. Not that such a test stopped lady Diedre Sky, of course. Although I am sure during astronaut training she laid off the herb and smuggled seeds with her.

I know everyone is chomping at the bit to get this thing started, but I wanted to wait for feedback for the final faction. Probably next few days after this holiday, I will begin in earnest. At that time, I will reveal the last player.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Rymdolov on July 04, 2013, 08:24:57 PM
JarlWolf's fac seems really cool and fairly balanced. You might want to have a lok at ariete's factions, too. Whichever you choose (including Shaggy) I think that this AAR will be awesome and... interesting.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 04, 2013, 08:34:35 PM
Yeah BU, I agree.

Jarl, can you upload the Crimson Comrades files? I would like to plug this into SMAX to make sure it works. From reading your thread, it seems you do have the .pcx bases and such. You also have the faction file as well.

You can attach it in this thread.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: JarlWolf on July 04, 2013, 09:04:11 PM
Just working out the last kinks for it.

Now, it shouldn't do this as I am providing a good fixed version, but if it doesn't load the graphics for the faction and reverts to this weird Gaian cough out, just use the backup gimp copy and follow this procedure:

1. Open the GIMP backup in GIMP.
2. Export to, and then you want to pick amongst the file list .pcx/.pcc
3. The file name itself at the top, you'll want to rename to CRIMSON COMRADES.PCX   (Change the file word at the end basically)
4. Put it somewhere you can find it,
5. Move the new one in an replace the old one.

I provided these instructions in both Russian and English in the file folder itself. You'll need Jzip or something to open it.





Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Kilkakon on July 05, 2013, 02:01:55 AM
There's also my Acolytes but I suppose I've got one in already. XD

I think the Crismon Comrades should do fine. :) I like the lore that goes with them--should be good. :D The graphics are a bit mispaletted but I do like the work that went into the bases.

And also--note how the Russian side is yet another thing Miriam can rage over. :P They had a big atheist period.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 05, 2013, 02:06:55 AM
...I would guess she'd hate commies just for being commies, anyway...
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: JarlWolf on July 05, 2013, 03:11:17 AM
Yeah, though Communism does have a fair bit of roots in Christian ideals. And Communism itself isn't against religion, been plenty of Christian Socialists and Christian Socialist groups throughout history. It's state Socialism (particularly my former country) that's oft against religion.


Though I doubt Miriam will like Vazheli or his faction as they are pretty rough necked and not exactly all for religious conservatism. Should be funny how they play out, in my play through (not recorded obviously) my major contentions are normally with  ;marr; (Usurpers automatically enemy me, its funny how they hate me and how I made the lore that way) and often  ;morgan; and ;santi;.  ;deidre; is a mixed bag, she'll like the Crimson Comrades often for their more benevolent ways but she'll hate them for their planned industry and such, as the planned social choice has no drawbacks as part of the Crimson Comrade's bonuses. So I have no idea how Miriam will react. Lal, Drones, and University are often potential friends. Depends what policies are chosen really.

Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 05, 2013, 03:36:16 AM
Didn't Marx call Jesus an early proto-communist?  The early church was certainly into communal living.

But the point stands that American religious conservatives have a tenancy for rather passionate anti-communism, so story possibilities there --- and that I would love the see the Comrades in this AAR.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: JarlWolf on July 05, 2013, 04:06:52 AM
I believe he did. Marx himself was part of the Hegelian communes/groups, which were a sort of Christian sect focused on communal living. He was heavily influenced by them so he carried the idea's he learned from them, and with Engels and inspiration from other things they formulated the idea of Communism.

The reason red has always been associated with revolution, particularly communist ones is that way back when when the Slave trade was going on Black Slaves used to use Red cloth to wear after they revolted, often making makeshift banners out of them. Since that point the tattered Red banner has always represented Egalitarian revolutionary movements across the world.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Kilkakon on July 05, 2013, 04:09:28 AM
Yeah from my understanding it's quite inspired by the early church, just minus the whole God factor.

Still, should be a fun faction. :)
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 05, 2013, 11:18:34 AM
Yes. One of the big things of 1980s and 90s United States Christian fundamentalism was an irrational fear of communists. Indeed, in the more hardcore fundy churches, Ronald Reagan was often mentioned in the same sentence as Jesus himself. However, by Miriam's launch date, glasnost was well in effect which changed things and the USSR had broken up.  Never mind most of these guys never even read the Communist Manifesto! Much of what is in there has actually been implemented into US society to an extent.

Atheists, of course, were the icing on the cake. On the chart of evil, atheists ranked even below Satanists. Of course to me, that makes no sense. Satanists are a parody religion based on pageantry and selfishness. Atheism is based on rational thinking and "free thought". But, back in the day if you called yourself an atheist in many parts of the United States, you were a social pariah. Only stupid kids who wanted an excuse to be retarded and wear black called themselves Satanists. Atheists actually read more and were better conversationalists than the fundies! Thank goodness the internet came along and got rid of (most) of that BS.



Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: sisko on July 05, 2013, 05:55:35 PM
i'm promoting this AAR to the frontpage (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php) ;b;
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: JarlWolf on July 05, 2013, 08:34:46 PM
Yes. One of the big things of 1980s and 90s United States Christian fundamentalism was an irrational fear of communists. Indeed, in the more hardcore fundy churches, Ronald Reagan was often mentioned in the same sentence as Jesus himself. However, by Miriam's launch date, glasnost was well in effect which changed things and the USSR had broken up.  Never mind most of these guys never even read the Communist Manifesto! Much of what is in there has actually been implemented into US society to an extent.

Atheists, of course, were the icing on the cake. On the chart of evil, atheists ranked even below Satanists. Of course to me, that makes no sense. Satanists are a parody religion based on pageantry and selfishness. Atheism is based on rational thinking and "free thought". But, back in the day if you called yourself an atheist in many parts of the United States, you were a social pariah. Only stupid kids who wanted an excuse to be retarded and wear black called themselves Satanists. Atheists actually read more and were better conversationalists than the fundies! Thank goodness the internet came along and got rid of (most) of that BS.

Mhm. As for myself I never grew up with religion as when I was growing up religion was basically outlawed in a sense. Churches were closed down, and only when I got into my teens did they start being opened back up, and they weren't allowed to preach either. My experiences later on in life kept me an atheist, never found reason to believe in a god.
As for glasnost, I am not a big fan of Gorbachev and even less so Yeltsin. Laissez Faire capitalism leads to brutal oligarchies, corruption and a halt in progress. It was only until more strong leadership with Putin that we saw progress. Not saying Putin is the best choice for our politics, but he was better then the former people in power. My area is on the fringe of the Red Belt, the Red Belt being a region where the Communist party and New Socialist party of Russia are commonly elected to represent us. Putin's party is United Russia, a Nationalist group.7

Also, thank you Sisko.

I am looking forward to this AAR Green, no matter what factions you choose I am interested just in how this is going to play out. It seems almost comical the mix of factions you have.


Edit: Here's the new and improved Crimson Comrade's files for you if you want to use them.

Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Rymdolov on July 06, 2013, 08:35:54 AM
Atheists actually read more and were better conversationalists than the fundies! Thank goodness the internet came along and got rid of (most) of that BS.

It almost looks as if you're saying that the internet stamped out being well-read and a good conversationalist, especially among atheists. Actually, that's not far from the truth.  :D

There are a few sanctuaries of sanity on the net, though, like this forum.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Rymdolov on July 06, 2013, 08:41:06 AM
Jack T Chick is still active, btw. I'm even subscribed to his newsletter, since I had a period when I was interested in fringe religion (although Chick is frighteningly close to the mainstream). The back catalogue can be found here (http://www.chick.com/catalog/tractlist.asp).

I think he's more of a Disney-style cartoonist; someone who overlooks a staff of artists.

There's a funny Chick parody, that I will dig out once I get around to it.

And, once again, I'm looking forward to this AAR!
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 06, 2013, 10:42:31 AM
Atheists actually read more and were better conversationalists than the fundies! Thank goodness the internet came along and got rid of (most) of that BS.

It almost looks as if you're saying that the internet stamped out being well-read and a good conversationalist, especially among atheists. Actually, that's not far from the truth.  :D

There are a few sanctuaries of sanity on the net, though, like this forum.

Actually, it kind of did come out that way though I did not mean it that way.

But, I will agree with you now that i think about it, at least on the web. Many big "atheist" forum boards like RantsnRaves are one liner troll boards. Misrepresents freethinkers, though.  If you actually meet them in person at Unitarian Universalist churches or Freethinker meetings (US side), they are still very well read and good conversationalists. Even so, even the worst atheist boards are still more fun than most Christian boards. Some of those are moderated by Nazis that would make even the worst forum mod blush. Try posting anything just slightly against dogma on Rapture Ready and see what happens.

But I agree, AC2 is a nice place. BU does not even have to moderate because this game attracts a small group of intelligent and cool folks.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: JarlWolf on July 06, 2013, 10:47:32 AM
Plus, last I checked spambots and other nuisances aren't really pigeonholed here much either given the small amount of people this game generates.

I think I went a little crazy today with custom factions, I was playing so much the game, and my computer froze xD
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 06, 2013, 11:08:05 AM
Plus, last I checked spambots and other nuisances aren't really pigeonholed here much either given the small amount of people this game generates.

I think I went a little crazy today with custom factions, I was playing so much the game, and my computer froze xD

They do not clear out the accounts, but then again, I have not seen viagra spam here (yet).

Do not worry about small numbers. This game is classic enough that it will always, even years from now, have it's diehards. It is on the same order as Master of Magic (1994 - Yes, folks still are playing!),  Age of Wonders : SM (2002 -Though they are FINALLY getting a sequel), Ultima Online (2000 - still pumping), and many others. Plus, I prefer quality over quantity. Some of the big game boards have no conversations like we have.

Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 06, 2013, 11:40:05 AM
A Decision has been made!!!

While I would like to chat for another week, we kind of are being pumped on Facebook, AC2's front page, and who knows maybe Civ Fanatics. We also have a lot of lurkers who just want gameplay.

the winner is

CRIMSON COMRADES (Jarlwolf - Alpha Centauri 2 forum community)

While I considered Shaggy and looked at some other files, atheist communists were just too good to resist for Miriam.

From the backstory, Vazheli Vatzev is a true follower of Lenin and believes in Communist values with all his heart. Unlike Domai who is more a unionist type socialist or Yang who is more a total control full on police state type communist like North Korea, Vatzev believes Marx to the letter. But do not think he is some philosopher that just reads and directs. Vatzev believes in work and getting his hands dirty. Of course, this work ethic and care for the well being of his people does not include any plan for a higher power like God. Miriam is not going to like this.

Quote
^LEADER: {Vazheli Vatzev}
^BACKGROUND: {Russian Commonwealth, Unity Chief Janitor}
^AGENDA: {Communist Communal Society}
^TECH: {Centauri Ecology}

#DATALINKS2
^+3 SUPPORT:   {Resources are willingly shared}
^+1 MORALE: {Diehard revolutionaries}
^-1 ECONOMY:  {Rejection of free enterprise and capitalism}
^-1 PROBE: {Information is also shared, vulnerability}
^Free Formers {Janitor access to unity storage}
^{May not use Free Market in Social Engineering}

Nice + SUPPORT and Morale. This guy probably can be a military powerhouse like Sparta without the industry penalty. A free terraformer to boot gives him a leg up.

Thanks, Jarlwolf!



Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 06, 2013, 11:58:23 AM
SETTINGS

PATCH Kyrub's SMAX patch PLUS (2010)
In my opinion, the last stable patch that addresses both AI and some bugs. In my opinion, this should be THE patch you are using for SMAX at least. However, I will be honest that I would love to move away from Scient/Kyrub patches and move to a more active modders efforts like Yitzi. Unfortunately, Yitzi's efforts seem to crash and are not quite finished. At some point, I will revisit and help Yitzi out with that. We get this solved, I will move to Yitzi.

Map Size small.
LIFEFORMS/EROSIVE FORCES/CLOUD COVERAbundant/Weak/Abundant
DIFFICULTY Thinker.

All other settings are standard. Blind Research is OFF
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 06, 2013, 12:18:24 PM
And... I will leave you with our start position.

We get no research just yet, but I am going to go Centauri Ecology first.

To the west, we have water. We also have a few pods about. Hopefully, we will get something good. I have a feeling we are going to be doing A LOT of fighting and since this is a small map, very soon.

Hopefully, we will get even luckier and when Antimind arrives, it will land far away from our little church state.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Buster's Uncle on July 06, 2013, 02:45:04 PM
You should start a new thread...









P.S.  :danc:
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: JarlWolf on July 06, 2013, 10:21:35 PM
I agree with BUncle, and


YES!

Thank you for using my faction, I am honoured for you to have chosen it. I hope Vazheli gives a good challenge for you!

Also it should be of note: The Crimson Comrade's also have no penalty using Planned Economics.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 07, 2013, 02:43:20 PM
I will be splitting this thread, then, at BU's suggestion.

Jarl, my initial tests with the Comrades indicate they get eaten by the Antimind early, unfortunately. But, of course I have no idea where they start for this one.

It may sound like overconfidence, but I am DEADLY with Miriam. With Antimind in, I had to choose my strongest faction.

I will edit the link into the first post and this last post when I create the new thread.
Title: Re: AAR 4: Something a bit Different. Custom Faction Madness
Post by: Green1 on July 07, 2013, 03:04:33 PM
Actual Gameplay is HERE http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=3750.0 (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=3750.0)
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