SMAC in SMAX default units

[Nexii]

Yea I was thinking in terms of unit cost modes & modding, since I've been playing with that in Yitzi's patches.  I assumed this was for AI re-works in SMAX?  I think in this case, you would be left with only units not creatable in the unit workshop in the config text.  For example if I mod rovers to cost same as infantry, then the default "Formers" are only better until I can make "Rover Formers".  That's conditional. 

I'm sure it would be a lot of work to code this though - to consider so many factors in unit design.  Generally you could use heuristics as a human would - maximizing effective (reactor is a multiplier) attack/defense per mineral spent, but putting some weight on support cost. 

[Kilkakon]

Might I make a suggestion, if people do these sorts of things?

Psi Infantry and Psi Garrision. ?/1/1 and 1/?/1 respectively. The AI will never build them naturally unless they are predesigned--PSI heavy factions that are given Centuari Genetics from turn 1 don't know what to do with it without help.

My Betrayed faction for example would need such units to exist to be usable in stock.

[Geo]

Agreed.  I think Geo's copy is more recent, and I'm not having a lot of luck finding mine.  Geo?

The version I have got dowloaded a bit over a year ago.

[Buster's Uncle]

I found mine now, I think, and it's dated 14 March of last year, if I'm looking at the right thing.  It was an altered terranx.exe, IIRC.  I'd been forgetfully looking for a .zip with a patch in it.

He was constantly updating his working copy, so even a week younger is probably closer to the finished one he was days from releasing when he disappeared.

[Geo]

"A mod is never finished, merely grudgingly released".

[Buster's Uncle]

Sure.  What the date on the version you have?

[Yitzi]

If I could have the copy of scient's patch that you have, I may be able to incorporate some of his new stuff into mine.

[Buster's Uncle]

You'll get it, pronto, if Geo's is not later than mine.

[kyrub]

It would be nice to have it... Iwonder, if scient is aware of that? And is that SMAC or SMAX?

[Buster's Uncle]

SMAX, and you'll get it, too.  What the heck.

[ete]

Geo (and BU): If you happen to have the installer, that would be the thing to send Yitzi and kyrub. It may have a few other handy things like changelogs. Unfortunately my copy and the changelog was sent via irc and the computer I got it on is both dead and 5000 miles away, so I can't get help. And BU, you may as well send your version too, on the off chance it's different and there's something useful about that difference. Will be great to have everyone's changes merged into one awesome superpatch

Getting back on topic. Everyone seems on board with adding at least a few units, and (correct me if I'm wrong) most people seem to prefer units which use default cost/are potentially worthwhile for humans to build rather than AI-specific superunits since AI units appearing to players is ugly and annoying, plus kinda cheating rather than making the AI play smart. We've not actually had much in terms of suggestions, other than Kilka's of basic phi troopers.

First off: How does the AI react to Psi units? If they're only built by factions who can really use them, then there's little harm including. If they're built inappropriately sometimes, then maybe best included in a text file with the factions who may want them as an "add this to #UNITS if you use this faction" thing?

Second here's a list to start us off. Suggestions please!

Probe Foil - Should be standard, but never used by AI and easily missed by humans
Trawler - Sea Crawler, perhaps only prototyped at fusion power with level 2 reactor because before then it's prohibitively expensive.
Probe Defender (aka Security Team) - Probe on infantry chassis. Cheaper and just as good at defending. Potentially armor it with something low level? iirc a guide talked about giving probes armor as last-ditch defenders, I think they still take -50% non-combat but are a lot less useless in conventional combat.

Possible:
Police Infantry - much better than scout infantry, ends up being useful until pretty late in the game when you stay out of FM.
some kind of air colony pod? - I think BFG was super keen on these, not tested myself. Could be handy especially without good roads or for getting to islands.
Basic Psi infantry - depends on whether the AI knows when to build them


Ideas? Opinions?

[Buster's Uncle]

I don't remember there being an installer with what scient linked me to last year; just the terranx.exe.  Now I wish I'd saved a lot of stuff, like the ready-to-go intro page w/ credits and changelog he showed me in June, too. 

I'll go ahead and do some emailing if Geo doesn't come back in the next hour 1/2.

[kyrub]

Trawler - 
Police Infantry -
Basic Psi infantry -

Some notes:
The conditional things (psi infantry?) should probably go in .exe code. We have a lot of place there.
There is a small AI code specific for trawlers, it's ready to go.
Police - I thought about making specific defenders with combination (ECM + Police), I even coded some. Not sure what is more effective, alpha.txt Police infantry or combined defenders.

[Yitzi]

I don't remember there being an installer with what scient linked me to last year; just the terranx.exe.

For combining patches, that might actually be more effective, as I can see exactly what he did.

[Buster's Uncle]

Gentlemen, please check the emails you used in your accounts here...