Indexing the Network Node factions

[Buster's Uncle]

What I can do is use the mac-looking interface as background art in a .html page w/ hotspots over the buttons, and a big .jpg patched together of the last news page to scroll though in a window in the center - mostly just need to be sure of all the downloads and apply some elbow grease.

Of course you want me to go for it.  You're you.  More egging on from others would help motivate me...

[MysticWind]

I can do so after the fact by making a post on reddit, if you've got like an initial link or draft I can share.

I've been digging through ete's Ultimate Faction Pack whose link you fixed recently- thanks for that by the way- and most of the factions are from NetworkNode. I was planning on making a post on that, plus the archived bones of NN that's available on the Wayback Machine, anyway, for the nostalgia.

I actually think your suggestions in the OP would be fun to add for indexing's sake, it's kind of funny how many modders independently came up with similar ideas with questionable results- weird sci-fi fan concepts for Progenitor/Planetmind alien factions, random robot AIs, magical mysticism that doesn't fit the setting at all- and it'd be fun to examine them anyway, because it's fun in a cheesy goofy nostalgic way.

I can't promise you there will be a lot of commenters, but I'm sure people will upvote and I'll post it on the Discord, too, and heck also to Apolyton and CivFanatics too. If you build it I will link it.

Edit: Also, if you rebuild NetworkNode as a replica, maybe it you can also put your custom factions into it as a mirror, plus other projects like the SMAC Fac Pack or all of these. Consider it a more ergonomic alternative to the Wiki.

[Buster's Uncle]

That is not bad thinking at all.  I'd like to have everything individually linked on NN as separate Downloads entries for authenticity, but adding collection links?  Great idea.

I'll dig up what I've got - probably already got a screeny of the basic interface- after supper, for which I'm now late- and try to have something posted in a couple hours...

[Buster's Uncle]

[Buster's Uncle]

On your remarks about categorizing/indexing - seemed like every third faction circa 2000 on Apolyton was a terraformer faction, no kidding.

And I'd just like speak up for a funny category.  One of my very first custom factions was tarting up an old pothead faction with Gaian bases and Shaggy in as leader.  I turned the bases into giant bongs, greener-colored because of all the window boxes.  Did a lot to Shaggy himself, to lend depth to a flat 4 color cartoon image.  That one still tickles me, and SIR - I don't even drink.

But I do love me a funny novelty faction...

[MysticWind]

That draft looks great! Let me know if there's a domain I can link to when you're ready for me to show off your re-creation.

On your remarks about categorizing/indexing - seemed like every third faction circa 2000 on Apolyton was a terraformer faction, no kidding.

That's odd. Do you think it's just because neither of the factions you think would be good at terraforming- the Gaians or the Cult, or the industry/construction-oriented Hive for that matter, are quite as good at forming as you might think? Weird niche, but good news for my own ideas, as I had a Settlers faction concept.

And I'd just like speak up for a funny category.  One of my very first custom factions was tarting up an old pothead faction with Gaian bases and Shaggy in as leader.

If you still have it somewhere, you definitely should post it. Looking at the archive for NN, there were contests for factions, though unfortunately I don't think those were preserved as part of the sets. I definitely remember seeing a parody contest in the news. In a new NN, there definitely should be a category for novelty factions, as so many of them have already been made in history.

[Buster's Uncle]

https://alphacentauri2.info/My%20Custom%20Factions/MyPotheads.zip

I'm remembering from extensive pre-join Lurk Moar as early as late 2008 - and I might have had a sense of why all the former factions back then, but over 14 years ago now.  -FWIW, I was looking for info about making custom factions - that might help you find what I did in a search...


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And this - there's nothing actually done besides collecting what I could find of the NN site, latest version, and thinking about how to implement.  This isn't actually super high on my To-Do list.  I'm all for it in the abstract, but not so much for wanting to right away.

[MysticWind]

I was looking through my notes, and I actually bookmarked an old Apolyton thread from 2000 talking about a terraforming faction. Really goes to show how many times the idea had already been done before even back then!

Terraforming Faction
I'd like to play a "terraforming faction" as envisioned below. Has anyone already made one and if so, is it downloadable? If not, can you help me finish this one:

The leader is formerly the Chief Geologist of the mission. Though an accomplished natural scientist, he has an engineering background as well, and a keen interest in fine arts. For some reason, I see him as a Frenchman.

"Frenchie" styles himself a "Sculptor of Worlds" or the "Architect of the Planet" and has a very definite vision of what Chiron should be made into. He sees his work as an artistic enterprise though also of tremendous practical importance. He is joined by people who share his vision, as well as "can-do" engineering types up for the challenge, and people with a pioneering attitude who want his help making the planet as inhabitable and bountiful as possible.

Obviously, this faction gets a PLANET penalty (-2). But I think "Frenchie" should have the option of gaining respect for the native landscape/lifeforms and integrating them into his grand design (i.e., Green Economics is not a forbidden choice).

The bonuses are harder to figure. I could justify a bonus for almost anything except ECONOMY and PROBE: +1 MORALE (hardy pioneering spirit); +1/+2 SUPPORT (for all the former units); +1 INDUSTRY (experienced in utilizing byproducts of terraforming and/or squeezing extra out of natural resources); +1 RESEARCH (natural science background and interest); +1 GROWTH (need more people to tame the land).

My current thinking is +1 RESEARCH and +1 MORALE. Bonuses to GROWTH and INDUSTRY would then be a matter of social engineering, such as Demo/Planned. SUPPORT would be reflected in an immunity to the penalty from Demo or perhaps the total immunity like the Hive has with efficiency.

Starting technology = Centauri Ecology. A second tech (a la SMAC-X factions), if any, would either be Biogenics (recycling tanks), Info Systems (computer modeling of geologic/climactic conditions), or perhaps most appropriately, Applied Physics (remember the Mining Laser?)

Starts with a free former unit, maybe a Mining Laser.

Maybe gets a free Recycling Tanks with every base.

Gets the Terraforming Bonus (half-price for raise/lower terrain). Better if it got the abilities of the Weather Paradigm right away but this doesn't appear to be possible with the Faction Editor.

Any suggestions on completing this faction or where to download a similar faction?

There already is a Terraforming faction out there, see http://www.sidgames.com/ac/filesdb/descript.cfm?ID=307 but that shouldn't stop you from making your own.

WOW, come back for a visit and looks like Omega had almost the exact same idea I had as far as factions are concerned 

I made one that is almost idealogically identical to what he discribes, If you are interested it can be dled at http://members.xoom.com/acchiron (it's a zoom site so you will have to type the link in manually) It is in the dl section under terraforming faction. 

It's a SMACX faction
All Customs graphics and blurbs (am sorta proud of it, lord knows I spend enough hours fine tuning it ) It even seems to have that little 'gothic, dark' feel of most the pre-packaged factions

basically it gets
-2 Planet
+1 Industry

a free former
a free mining laser
Free Super former and fugisidal tanks when you develop the appropiete techs
reduced terriforming cost
Free Geosynchronous Survey Pods in every city
20% hurry bonus (this is removed in my most recent version, wasa bit too much, although the dl still contains it, you can edit it out)
Can't run Green
No preferred SE setting

Some design notes:
The AI can play this faction fairly well (a big plus)
This faction can both pop boom and run free market (a huge bonus I underestimated in the beta versions of this faction!)
-2 planet is a real penelty
early game hard to attack natives, you can lose fight with them!
Seems to be harder to sucessfully move through fungus
Pollution in mid- and late-game can be a MAJOR problem (especially since no Green)
Psi combat not a great option, as you never get a good planet rating
Goodies from fungus squares? yeah right

Free recycling tanks in ealry Beta versions leads me to believe that a faction must have A HUGE amount of negitives to offset this!!

With no preferred SE setting.. the AI tend to play this faction as a builder (which it was ment to be) and tends to help keep it from SOME Vendettas. As a result it builds lots of infrastructure, of the 'standard' factions (the only faction I have seen surpass it in infrastructure is the Drones)
Can really put out some tech if left alone
Over all this is a fun faction to play (yeah like I'm not biased )
It may still be a little on the strong side, but if so.. not but by a hair (It don't overwhelm other AI controled factions)

And I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg. Heck, in 2005 I made a thread looking for ideas and someone also provided a geoengineering faction.

And this - there's nothing actually done besides collecting what I could find of the NN site, latest version, and thinking about how to implement.  This isn't actually super high on my To-Do list.  I'm all for it in the abstract, but not so much for wanting to right away.

That's fair, plenty of other projects to working on until then. Out of curious, though, do you know what the name of the Dr. Evil faction is in the Epsilon set from the list I posted above? It's really the only one I can't find information on. Also I believe I might be missing out more sets post-Nu. Looks like ete was looking for a Thunderbirds faction and "Virtucon" on Apolyton a decade ago.

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm drawing a complete blank on a Dr. Evil faction, and ete's stuff, too.