SMACX Thinker Mod

[Induktio]

AI factions?
Do you count current PLANET rating = innate + SE? If so, does it mean when faction chooses specific SM to increase their PLANET rating it actually program itself to build less boreholes?

Only the Planet rating defined in the faction's txt file is considered for this. SE choices are ignored. And yes, it only applies on the AI factions. Reasons for this were discussed in earlier pages of this thread, it's there for the purpose of narrative.

[Alpha Centauri Bear]

Bug?

Ctlr-Shift-Q starts new game in vanilla. It quits in Thinker.

[dino]

Why would thinker had anything to do with it ? Maybe PRACX ?

Just tried and Ctlr-Shift-Q quits to the main menu, Ctlr-Q quits to desktop, was it any different in vanilla ?

[Alpha Centauri Bear]

I have no clue who has what do with anything. Just reporting.

Did you try Ctlr-Shift-Q in Thinker? Do you have PRACX or anything else installed?

[dino]

Vanilla and thinker, both with, or without pracx, behave the same for me, as I described.

[Alpha Centauri Bear]

Thanks for verification. I'll test some more.

[Alpha Centauri Bear]

Induktio,
Looking at you tech cost formula in latest build. Have you compared its progression to vanilla? I mean, of course, you'll have differences within a level as you price them flat while in vanilla they are progressing costs. However, if you average vanilla costs per level - does it become close to yours? If not what are most noticeable differences? Are these difference intended?

[dino]

I was thinking about the enemy territory monopole magnets and you should definitely try to implement your idea, if you find the time.
From a versimilitude point of view, you shouldn't be able to drive on enemy magnets since defender would just cut off the power, or sabotage it, roads should be usable.

Player can easily concentrate defenses in endangered bases, but you won't be able to make AI recognise incoming invasion.
If you prevent player from snowballing within a single turn through AI territory, it'll have a chance to quickly move units toward invading forces and reinforce neighboring bases.
I don't think AI will be capable of any serious resistance against competent player without this change, but you know this, this is why you've started to think about it in the first place.

[Induktio]

> I was thinking about the enemy territory monopole magnets and you should definitely try to implement your idea, if you find the time.

That is kinda undecided. It's maybe not the most important rule change, but might be useful. In any case I think magtube deployment greatly favors human players when they can strategize how to work around pathfinding issues and utilize various chokepoints. That's why Thinker AI's don't even build magtubes because it might just make conquest easier for humans. And magtubes should be located towards the end of the tech tree for balance anyway.

[Alpha Centauri Bear]

AI doesn't build magtubes? You mean on purpose? Interesting.

[dino]

> That's why Thinker AI's don't even build magtubes because it might just make conquest easier for humans.

But while player can easily predict an attack direction and concentrate forces there, or reinforce defenses/retaliate within a single turn with his magtubes network, AI can't and is easy to divide and conquer.
If it had full magtubes network, but it would be impossible to use magtubes on the enemy territory, it would also be able quickly respond to an attack without exposing itself.

[Alpha Centauri Bear]

Have you fixed the Children Creche morale mess? Or include any path that does?

[Induktio]

Apparently there haven't been many bug reports since the release which is a good thing. The main unresolved issue there related to the satellite bug which only happens while smac_only is active. Anyways if there's some new issues that aren't related to features in the forked version, it can be still posted here. I haven't changed Children's Creche behaviour in any way.

[Alpha Centauri Bear]

I did in my mod.

[MercantileInterest]

Induktio, will Scient's open source mod work with Thinker?