Considering something a bit... different for AAR4

[Green1]

Once I finish AAR3: Lal must suffer, I have been thinking about something pretty neat for the next one that highlights the wacky world of custom factions. Now, I know some of the more fleshed out Network Node factions are pretty much plug in and go. However, if it was not too much trouble I was going to try to include one or two of the more "interesting" factions from the premier TCMs.

I, of course, will be playing Miriam. I have already decided.

I was thinking a faction from Lost Eden (NEKKID devil Pokeman fornicators have not heard the last of the Sister since her humiliation in a previous GOTM...)

and

Stephanie from LazyMod (The only solution for Icelandic hussy pedobait slvts in satan worship pink hair is liberal use of chemical weapons! Nukes work, too. The Looowd thy Gaawwd approves.)

How much trouble would I have to go through to include these?

Also, any ideas for the other factions that would be cool?

[Buster's Uncle]

Both Lost Eden and chuft's Lazymod are rather thorough mods; the Lazytown faction might be a problem - if you've played, or at least downloaded and installed, the LE GotM, you have a version of the Realm of Light designed to work with unmodded SMAC(X); he did have to alter it to work in that enviroment.  You'd have to either test out Lazytown, or ask chuft about it, to determine how well it functions in straight AC.

I do love this idea.  Both mods are (impressive) labors of love from talented modders, and deserve the promotion of having factions featured in one of your, as always, popular AARs.

[Kilkakon]

I can answer with a bit more confidence. LazyMythos is largely the same as normal SMAX, with about 5 of the techs in the tree changed and a few more custom units thrown in. From memory, Stephanie should be good to go. Only the alien faction should be a problem. I don't have LazyMythos installed on this particular computer so don't quote me on it but it should be fine.

As for Lost Eden--feel free to pick one and I can convert it to SMAX for you. The main problem is that the tech tree is different (easily fixed by giving a free tech) and the social engineering changes are all different as well and even the GOTM one is non-standard and can't be thrown right in. As the civics are different it takes a good 10-15 minutes to work out if any of the stats need changing. I'm happy to do it, just let me know which one you want! I suggest either myself, Oblivion, or maybe Navius or Chuck.

And I'd be sure to follow along. AARs are fun!

[Kilkakon]

I tested LazyTown out just then--Steph seems to be somewhat overpowered, so just a heads up there. Might have been luck, but just letting you know. I've gone ahead and converted Oblivion over now--he seems the most fitting enemy for the Believers as he is quite literally the "NEKKID devil Pokeman fornicator" but obviously whatever you want goes.

[Green1]

Awesome.  I will take the faction you have suggested. As far as Steph, I am brushing up on my Miriam skills. I usually do very well with her by playing an aggresive game. Not sure about the other ones to choose yet. Need to look through all the stuff availabe.

[Green1]

Added point since I have had a second or two on my bike and have plopped down at a coffee shop since I last logged in to AC2.

Speaking of Stephanie and the silliness of it aside, I think she or something like her represent the one idealogical faction type not originally considered in SMAC or SMAX: the celebrity faction leader.

Ever since the days of Mir, there has been talk of celebrities in space. Hell, MARS ONE even wants to create a reality show. If it was not for the Unity crew put on ice, I think there would be a celebrity involved to help publisize the funding for building the Unity. Such a celebrity would have a huge following and be a faction leader just because of who he or she is.

Not sure yet of the other NN factions. I can handle a little OPness, but some of those things look like someone's easy mode sandbox fun toy while others are unfinished.

Sorry, BU - your Supanewbs will not make the cut!

[Buster's Uncle]

The playtest reports I got on the faction as an AI opponent indicated it was too powerful - and the ScotsN00bs were even worse.  -That was sort've the idea, of course; they're training wheels for beginners.  Mylochka had a ball learning with the SupaNewbs.

[Kilkakon]

Okay, thanks Green. Do you want the G or PG one for your AAR?

[Green1]

As much of a purist and advocate of taking things as the artist intended as I am, I do have a teenage daughter. Plus durnit, I saw a gecko climbing on the fence of the balconey where I live and I saw no genitals. Does not seem right on other lizard creatures either. Make it PG

[Kilkakon]

I'm not sure if that was a yes or no to genitalia. XD I'll post both to be sure.

As for balance, I tried to make this guy match the other SMAC ones in strength. (In Lost Eden, most of his strength comes from growing early, and then switching to All Must Die (+3 industry and +3 morale) late game, and then steamrolling the planet) If you add some NN ones, I'd say best to have a cursory examination to see how they fare. I like the Neveral Order (which I nerfed slightly to be fair, happy to share if you like)

Too many brackets in that paragraph. :|

[Green1]

Awesome. Got them both. I will see how they both look. I plan on running a short "trial" not published just to see how it is going to go.

[Green1]

Oblivion has been getting butt handed to it in playtesting for AAR4. First by Yang. Then by Steph. Added one version of Borg, then went with BU's far superior, less Hive rip off second version. Just jot NN factions, so I am looking through all those files.

I plan to put more into AAR3 over the next few days and finish it up soon. I have a feeling, that one is going to be a knock down , drag out before it is over with.

Also thinking about a bit more polish on future AARs.

At some point I really feel I need to do an AAR on Civ 4: Planetfall and Lost Eden as time allows. There are some out there who are cautious about DLing stuff, but may if they see an AAR if it hits fancy.

[Kilkakon]

Alright, I'll have to give him some more industry (or growth or whatever you suggest! Just go overboard and make him slightly OP I suppose). I did try to make him work but obviously I failed. XD I don't know enough about SMAX balancing... but yeah I did try to warn you about Steph...

Your AAR is pretty good though. I've read two, your AAR3, and Chuft's one of his LazyMod. I think Chuft's one narrowly wins out through use of humourous images and stuff, but yours wasn't bad by any means.

If you ever did give LE an AAR, give me a shout beforehand and I'll make sure you've got the absolute latest version on hand for it.

(on a personal note, still raging over email notifications not working anymore... and images still don't work in IE)

[Green1]

Actually did a playtest with only AIs. This time the Borg and the Antimind had to join forces as Rick Flair of the wrestlers repealed atrocities... then the nukes and gas went flying... Oblivion was matching the Antimind till the nukes..

I guess it was randomness..

Maybe I was wrong. It was entertaining to watch the AIs duke it out on the train.

[Kilkakon]

I'd say the way to know for sure is to increase the sample size and have a few more AI games.