Multiplayer: Alien Crossfire

[bvanevery]

Already dead players?

Is there a way for an independent peon such as myself to examine the .sav file?  I tried to load it, but it wants a password.

[Pierce Ji-Yang]

The game is on my turn 4. I posted it for the moderator to edit (we already sent him all of our passwords) so that he can re-add them and we can all get back to the business of world domination properly.

I have run into some issues in test games with Aliens and planet cult starting far too close to other players than they should. I think that was a main part of the problem here. The game does not properly recognize the planet cult as a faction and so does not use their position when positioning the rest of the factions on the map and so randomly factions can start far closer than they should.

I do not know the actual game mechanics so it could be something completely different or random chance but it has happened to me more than once in single player.

[bvanevery]

"Closer than they should" means what, you want them to be far away so you can have a comfortable start, and you don't get that?  Don't like immediately being thrown into combat with scouts?  Personally I think that in and of itself is valid gameplay.  What isn't cool, is if the faction is far more powerful than you can handle.

This can happen with the Caretakers and the Usurpers.  Can't communicate with them, can't get the tech to communicate with them, then they just declare war on you.  Scouts on rocky terrain would be the defense against that, try to stall for time as you get some kind of viable civ going.

Cha Dawn, if the AI is running them I really don't see why that would be a big deal.  The AI is not that smart or effective.  With a human player though, that could be deadly.  In general, "starting next door" could put 1 player at a serious disadvantage, like The Data Angels vs. The University for instance.

Also, factions that are allowed to build up with some defense in depth, usually have an advantage over factions that immediately have to commit all their resources pell mell into war.  Against AIs in single player, you can always make that up later somehow.  In multiplayer, I could see it being a serious play balance problem.

[JeroenDStout]

Hello all - I attached the fixed save file. This is my first time meddling so sorry for being a bit slow; but I believe I did everything right (  )

The two eliminated players should be back, as requested, and the turn is Yang's.

(The game might scream at you quite a bit about save irregularities.)

[Pierce Ji-Yang]

5 Year Update from the Glorious Leader: Chairman Yang (Applause)!

"Citizens of the Hive we have come to this new world seeking hope and the betterment of all mankind but we were betrayed before we even arrived planet side. Traitors and saboteurs damaged the ship, assassinated the captain, and turned against their rightful leader, me. We were forced off course from our designated landing site and came to planet here at The Hive. Our struggle did not end there. We have encountered the most vicious life forms ever known to exist: the mind worm. These are the most dangerous abominations ever to exist. They are worse than the dreaded capitalist. Even now they slaughter our people and approach the last outpost of humanity.

Never fear we will defend this shining light of civilization to the last. I myself will lead the defense and the Human Hive will never fall. We will rise to new heights! We will dominate this planet and yoke nature to the service of the glorious collective. Forward comrades! For the Collective!"

(Applause)

[MercantileInterest]

//Initiating Transmission//

Origin: 1st Forward Expeditionary Force, Commander Markov
Carrier: 7204 MHz, Narrowband
Time: 0357Z, February 14, 2107
Destination: Union Prime Council Chamber
Stamp: Contact

We have spotted a Unity Class Foil in the Brine Sea, charting a west->east course. The ship flew no insignia or other identifying characteristics. It did not respond to either visual signals or radio transmission, although Technical Officer Birmingham detected aperiodic feedback. Please advise.

//End Transmission//

[MercantileInterest]

Analysis:

[funbot]

ikr -_-

[MercantileInterest]

Here

[Keiko]

Greets all,

I am to replace Aki zeta and I downloaded the turn file attached in the post above, however when I opened it it identified as the turn file for the Spartans ... and assked me for the password of the Spartans faction .. which I of course do not possess

Trying once more, SMAX told me that if I (try to) open the turn file again, it would be considered a cheat attempt and all other players would be notified

oooops^^

So, waiting for the Aki Zeta turn file to reach me somehow (by email?) - I sent Funbot my address

Cheers (soon we'll have things going I guess^^)

Keiko aka Aki Zeta

[MercantileInterest]

//Initiating Transmission//

Origin: 2nd Road-building Formation, Foreman Beatty
Carrier: 5500 MHz, Narrowband
Time: 1402Z, July 9, 2110
Destination: Union Prime Council Chamber
Stamp: Indigenous Lifeforms

An enormous fungal concentration poses a threat to future development in this region. The weed has accumulated into a tower several yards tall, with lengthy prehensile tendrils. We're not sure how, but it's producing some sort of harmful psychosomatic effect. I'm requesting the immediate deployment of security teams with demolition charges. Let's get this out of the way so we can continue to the next base site.

//Ending Transmission//

[MercantileInterest]

Got a bad feeling I'm about to get culturally enriched. Update to follow when the next turn works its way around.

[MercantileInterest]

To arms!

Foul xenos forces have assailed us! Under the pretense of friendship and "the universal fellowship of sapients," scabrous Progenitor forces scouted out our fair land with advanced scanning technology. Then, the devils launched an unprovoked assault upon our undefended base, burning down the Union hall and barbecuing our citizens. Elements of the Unpaid Community Volunteer Corps rolled out improvised explosives, thereby allowing hundreds to retreat.

Foreman Domai, with the full support of the Union Hall, has reactivated our previously latent science program and ordered our specialists to devise countermeasures. The ingenuity of our kind will lead to victory.

We are the last survivors of man. We must prevail!

(click to show/hide)

The aliens had the nerve to blame us for their equipment failures. Not my fault they didn't get their planetary scan.

[Nevill]

Development: primitive species discovered. Method: radio transmission. Complication: contact lost. Possibility of  reestablishment: none. Action taken: shrug.

(click to show/hide)

In other words, I got contacted by a human faction. However, we haven't made contact via units as far as I know, and the game bugged out, where I couldn't contact them back - I simply don't have their frequency. Did they find mine in a pod? Anyway, there is little I can do here. If you want, you can just contact me again. You know who you are.

[MercantileInterest]

Invasive Species Datacore
Recovery Location: Equatorial Belt, Invasive Species Nest Ruins
Format: Silicon/Magnetic Digital Encryption
Translation: _BEGUN

+++Opening Personal Journal - Jonah Merkel+++
May 1st, AD 2120

The cities have fallen. Only ashes remain. The abominable alien onslaught slaughtered our peaceful people. None one else is still alive. I don't know whether the evacuation convoy escaped before the bloaters moved in. The shuffle of the invaders and their weird warbling echoes have finally faded away. The smoke has mostly cleared. I'll include a photo:

Two nights ago they were smashing through the hab complexes, tearing off doors, skewering citizens and roasting them over open fires. The bloaters can breathe Planet's air without any filtration. Makes you wonder. Anyway, as they blasted holes in the walls and tore out the pipes, men started to choke and collapse. They'd already overwhelmed the surviving security forces but a few scattered details kept up return fire, not that it did any good. Didn't see a single bloater fall, although we'd heard a couple hours before about some blokes blowing up a few of them by overloading a few hydrogen cells. I've been scavenging life support components from the bodies of dead Security Corpsmen. Been carrying one of their weapons too. A little ridiculous but it makes me feel better.

I'm holding out hope of finding other survivors. Even if the evac convoy did make it out, I haven't the equipment to follow them. They'll have covered their tracks as best they could too. It all comes of tinkering with the monoliths. Must have upset the xenos, like throwing rocks at a beehive. After the bloaters moved out, I found the main transmitter and spooled back through the logs on battery power. Turns out the Nautical Strike Force rammed an alien transport and drowned more than a thousand bloaters. Bad news is that this one wasn't a retrofitted Unity foil, so they've got the resources to build boats. Better and better. The Strike Force radioed back the discovery of Progenitor structures at 16S° 38E°. Some sailors went ashore and bashed a piece of enemy equipment. They haven't reported in since then.

That's probably the xenos homeland. Oh, corks. If the convoy did escape, they'll need to know the coordinates. The Foreman has got to know. I need to reboot the transmitter and amp the power up to max for a wideband signal. The bloaters will notice the power spike. They'll come back. It's not like I even know the convoy made it away. Why should I risk my life? The Foreman has got to know. Fine! Those bug-eyed squealers want to mess with me, I'll give 'em what for. Prepare things right, plan out my escape, set a few traps... Yeah, that could do it... and if they do try to catch me, to hell with them!

+++No Further Entries+++

Translation: _Complete
Update: Invasive Species Nest: Cleared ^(100%)
Ecological Balance: RESTORED