My backside hurts... or AAR round 2!

[Green1]

Last time, I did not do so hot. But as Sisko pointed out, the AI in this particular patch I use is relentless and brutal. At least, to my skill level. Bad start never is good, either.

But, being a glutton for public humiliation, I think I need to try again with another game. Yes, I know. I have a trial to Eve Online sitting there. But, for some reason, I am on a SMAX kick. That's the thing with 4x games. while even the best MMOs can get monotonous, a good 4X is always engaging. Particularly this ancient beast we call SMAX which is fan patched and ready to stomp a noob such as myself.

I keep thinking about the guy that introduced me to SMAC. He played Zak on low difficulty just so he could have his sandbox. But, I have never been that way. I crank up all the way till I can be challenged. Thinker difficulty is my current level. While my former buddy went to Apolyton back in it's heyday and got his spoon fed Zak learned through easy mode play handed to him in multiplayer and never cranked up the game again, I continued because there was challenge.

So first, the map: Huge, abundant life forms, average cloud cover, average erosive forces, 50 - 70 percent ocean.

Once again patch is all official and Kyrubs SMAX patch PLUS.

The rules are posted. Needless to say, I like tech stag.

The rogue's gallery:

Sinder Roze. I will be playing Roze. She has very good tech parity with others and the best probes in the game.

Lal. As an AI, Lal builds. Not as good as the Drones, though. Lal is very unpredictable. Sometimes he goes big army cutthroat. Sometimes he hangs back and techs. Diplo victory is always something to watch for if he gets too big.

Sven. The Pirates are bad about being aggressive and crowding out land masses. As time goes on, with certain techs the navy gets even more powerful with capture abilities. The sea also makes some of thier bases huge due to abundace of food. Sven gets air, watch out!

Aki Zeta. A fairly peaceful builder as an AI. But, go to war and watch your tech lead disappear. She also has really good research almost as good as Zak.

Morgan. Morgan as an AI gets a bad rap. While he is still not considered the smartest AI, I have seen games with Morgan sending out swarms of needlejets and probes. Even killing hard hitters like Yang. Then again, it might be the patch.

Deidre. Deidre is probably the one of the nastiest of this bunch. Spreads like wildfire and builds infrastructure like no tomorrow. IoDs and mindworms are her friends and live to give noobs a hard time.

Yang. Yang is, as I have said before the ICS big army monster. He makes his return for this game.

[Green1]

And... the start.

On Civ fanatics GotMs, you would have nerds writing essays on starts. No essay here. Just three pods.

I damn well hope this is no island next to someone bloodthirsty.

[sisko]

I damn well hope this is no island next to someone bloodthirsty.

i'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

what's happening with the colors? the first AAR had the colors right.

[Green1]

There is a deal with certain Graphics cards, SMAX, and MSpaint. I have to open SMAX then MSPaint the the shots turn out right.

[Green1]

NVM.. that is backwards. For those having issues... open MSpaint THEN SMAX.. then colors would be right. If you close SMAX, you have to go through the process again.

[Green1]

Thing is... while I am in SMAX taking screenshots, the colors are messed up. Exiting smax, the resolution is normal again and you see the shot captured correctly.

This is with Intel HD internal graphic family found on most laptops.

[sisko]

Thing is... while I am in SMAX taking screenshots, the colors are messed up. Exiting smax, the resolution is normal again and you see the shot captured correctly.

have you tried using some free screen capturing software?

back to the game, it looks like you have a large continent to the south. considering that you're playing on thinker, it's about time you meet someone.

[Green1]

I will have to look into that when I take a break.

Funny thing is it only happens with SMAX. I did an AAR for another game months back and had no issues.

...and yeah, this IS a large continent.

Research is Centauri Ecology.

[Green1]

You are right, Sisko... Deidre!

She wants to trade and her power rating is feeble.

Thank god it's not Yang!

[sisko]

looks like a future ally and she's offering the tech you are researching! if you take it, then you can immediately change the research goal. ..maybe beeline to Ind.Automation since you already have Information and Planetary Networks...

[Green1]

I trade Info Networks for Centauri Ecology.

Research is shifted to Biogenics. I am going to beeline IA. I just want tanks first!

I go ahead and sign a treaty with her.

[sisko]

good. now you can push her border in peace with new colony pods. 

: you should explore more to the north and west of your bases to avoid unpleasant surprises

[Buster's Uncle]

[Ninja'd]

Allies are great, but I'd expand to the south as much as possible while I still could...

[Green1]

Biogenics is out. Researching industrial Base.

Yeah... I do not want unpleasant suprises.

[sisko]

looks good so far. no one in vicinity. what's that landmark to the north?