Alpha Centauri 2

Other Games => Civilization Beyond Earth General Discussions => Topic started by: Yitzi on October 24, 2014, 03:38:46 AM

Title: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 24, 2014, 03:38:46 AM
I raised a question in another thread: What would the affinities of each faction be?

Obviously we'd have  ;deidre; harmony and  ;zak; supremacy; I think we'd have  ;yang; supremacy as well, and ;miriam; and  ;lal; purity.   ;morgan; and  ;santi; are more of a question;  ;morgan; would most likely be harmony (adaptation to the environment is the most economically sensible choice), albeit with a less consistently friendly-to-the-natives policy than  ;deidre;, and  ;santi; purity.

Of the SMACX factions, I think we would have  ;caretake; being none (caused by the fact that unlike all the other factions, their long-term goals do not involve staying on Planet indefinitely, and so don't need to decide how to long-term respond to the alien environment; once they summon the fleet, they go home and leave Planet to its own devices).   ;cha; is obviously harmony, and  ;aki; obviously supremacy.   ;domai; would be purity (aversion to Green means it's not harmony, and they hate when you go cybernetic so it's not supremacy), and  ;roze; supremacy.    ;marr; would of course be harmony, and  ;ulrik; is really tough but would likely be purity (making the seas more like home).

So that gives us:
Harmony:  ;deidre;  ;morgan;  ;cha;  ;marr;
Supremacy:  ;yang;  ;zak;  ;aki;  ;roze;
Purity:  ;santi;  ;miriam;  ;lal;  ;domai;  ;ulrik;
None:  ;caretake;

Finally, one more thought: While most obviously Harmony-affiliated, the Ascent to Transcendence is actually associated with all three.  Harmony is obvious, but it also grows out of computerized Transcends (associated with Supremacy), and involves human values (most associated with Purity) becoming far more important.

(It also results in a far more powerful being than any of the BE endings; SMAC in general has a far larger scale than BE, one of the main reasons that I don't consider BE a true sequel to SMAC.)
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 24, 2014, 04:02:32 AM
I'd switch Yang and Santiago (Yang purity, Santiago supremacy).  Santiago's got free prototypes.  Yang will happily do the job with a mass of (highly trained, if you've got Command Nexus) AK-47's if he can pull it off, and he's got the whole fortress thing going.  Shang Yang emphasizes force even over organization.  Successful blunt effort today is better than refinement tomorrow.  Supremacy emphasizes tools, which Chinese terrain was never suited for (at least with regards agriculture).

You have Marr and H'minee mixed up.  H'minee is harmony (but only because it's a green), Marr is supremacy.  I haven't the faintest idea why you've made Morgan a green...
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 24, 2014, 04:43:11 AM
I'd switch Yang and Santiago (Yang purity, Santiago supremacy).  Santiago's got free prototypes.  Yang will happily do the job with a mass of (highly trained, if you've got Command Nexus) AK-47's if he can pull it off, and he's got the whole fortress thing going.  Shang Yang emphasizes force even over organization.  Successful blunt effort today is better than refinement tomorrow.  Supremacy emphasizes tools, which Chinese terrain was never suited for (at least with regards agriculture).

That's an interesting take, but I think that  ;yang;'s focus on "mind over matter" and "Learn to overcome the crass demands of flesh and bone" very much lend themselves to a Supremacy way of thinking, even if his tactics are more reminiscent of purity.   ;santi;, on the other hand, is a survivalist, very much focused on the survival of humanity, and so fits Purity much better in outlook.

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You have Marr and H'minee mixed up.

Not at all.   ;marr; is all about Transcendence (either getting it himself with a Transcendence victory, or calling in superiors who will do it with a Progenitor victory, or clearing obstacles and then figuring out what to do with a Conquest victory).  Transcendence is fundamentally harmony-based (especially the Progenitor take on it).

 ;caretake;, on the other hand, hates the idea of joining with Planet (as Harmony is all about); that way (she thinks) lies another Tau Ceti disaster.  Purity and Supremacy, on the other hand, are about changing the planet to fit yourself (possibly changing yourself as well), which also does not fit her mission.  Essentially, her ideal state, until the fleet is summoned, is that of neither adapting to the new world nor changing it, but simply coping with the differences, i.e. the pre-affinity state.  Hence, I gave her the affinity of "none".  (Also, she favors Planned, not Green, and will actually object if you run Green, despite the PLANET preference.)

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I haven't the faintest idea why you've made Morgan a green...

I didn't make him a green, I made him a harmony.  Harmony is somewhat similar to green, but has differences; it's about adapting to fit the new world, rather than about living peacefully with it.  And  ;morgan;, with his practical and deal-making outlook, seems more likely to do that than to try to change the world to fit himself.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 24, 2014, 04:26:46 PM
No, BE Harmony is just Green, and Morgan's mainline propoganda was just that he would provide purity-style creature comforts to his followers.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 24, 2014, 04:35:48 PM
That's an interesting take, but I think that  ;yang;'s focus on "mind over matter" and "Learn to overcome the crass demands of flesh and bone" very much lend themselves to a Supremacy way of thinking, even if his tactics are more reminiscent of purity.
So what your are saying is that he is purity in practice.  You're arguing bloody viewpoints for christ sake.  Yes, in ideological propoganda Bill Gates is a humanist.  In practice he's a lunatic.  Sure, Yang would like to end up in Supremacy, but he's not got Zhak's free network nodes and he's more focused on immediately building up a low-grade purity-style infrastructure than making Santiago's top-line weaponry or tinkering with tools.  You take the high road and I'll take the low road, and I'll get there before you.

  ;santi;, on the other hand, is a survivalist, very much focused on the survival of humanity, and so fits Purity much better in outlook.

She's another technological supremacy faction, focused on the application of top-line weaponry and training.  Yang will make a bunch of farms and attack you with a horde of cheaper units (or even better, just build a fortress in your territory and let you waste your time on it) while Santiago tries to attain a militarily supremacist standpoint from the get-go.  Legalists were very much innovative, but it was an orthodoxy in practice emphasizing the sure-path over experiments.  Supremacy is more like faith in American/technological entrepreneurial nonsense, that technological entrepreneurship will solve everything, which is very much not Yang.

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Not at all.   ;marr; is all about Transcendence (either getting it himself with a Transcendence victory, or calling in superiors who will do it with a Progenitor victory, or clearing obstacles and then figuring out what to do with a Conquest victory).  Transcendence is fundamentally harmony-based (especially the Progenitor take on it).
He get's -planet.  He's only interested in using planet as a technological invention for godhood.  That's supremacy.  He doesn't care about harmony with anything, his title is Marr the Conqueror.

Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 24, 2014, 05:57:26 PM
No, BE Harmony is just Green

Source?  Admittedly I'm not the biggest BE expert, but I understand Harmony to be more about adapting to the new world than about not polluting it.  (You can, for instance, play Harmony but go xenocidal against alien nests, or play Purity or Supremacy and live in peace with them.)

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and Morgan's mainline propoganda was just that he would provide purity-style creature comforts to his followers.

No, it was that he would provide comfort and wealth.  Whether that is purity-style comforts (i.e. just like home) or harmony-style or supremacy-style (i.e. becoming something else and then getting what's comfortable to that form) is left open, but Morgan's highly adaptable and universalist approach to wealth suggests that he would not be overly attached to the "not changing" ideal of purity.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 24, 2014, 06:14:51 PM
Admittedly I'm not the biggest BE expert, but I understand Harmony to be more about adapting to the new world than about not polluting it.
That's green.... Deidre even mentions adapting to the environment and not running off old earth models in contrasting herself with Morgan.  and Harmony would rather avoid even replacing native plants with home plants, an option I saw in one of the few videos I bothered watching.  The bloody theme is green.  This isn't hard.

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and Morgan's mainline propoganda was just that he would provide purity-style creature comforts to his followers.
No, it was that he would provide comfort and wealth.

I was quoting the material.  Morgan's propoganda is creature comforts.  Morgan might be "adaptable and universalist", but that's not his sales pitch.  For many people wealth just translates into creature comforts anyway, albeit possibly excessively.  You couldn't have a faction based on just financial capitalism and money accumulation, not enough people would have joined it.  Such a faction could only develop mid-game as a split-off.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 24, 2014, 07:05:14 PM
That's green.... Deidre even mentions adapting to the environment and not running off old earth models in contrasting herself with Morgan.

No,  ;deidre; mentions not polluting the environment; the only mentions of actually adapting to it are the Pholus Mutagen (merely in what it is implied to consist of) and the Transcendence sequence.  She's very big about not running off old earth models, but "not running off old earth biology" is quite a bit different.

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and Harmony would rather avoid even replacing native plants with home plants, an option I saw in one of the few videos I bothered watching.

Yes, Harmony is about not changing the world to fit yourself, but rather changing yourself to fit the world.  This is not the same as Green, which is about not damaging the world.  The "green path" has a minor Harmony element, but it is not at all the same.

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I was quoting the material.  Morgan's propoganda is creature comforts.

And "creature comforts" is compatible with any of the affinities, so that proves nothing.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 24, 2014, 10:05:07 PM
No,  ;deidre; mentions not polluting the environment
She talks about adapting to it in the fiction "Journey to Centauri."  Gaians get extra fungus food.  Re: weather paradigm gaian religion about adaptation and all that.  This is really a weak argument, I don't know why you're splitting hairs to try to find a difference between harmony and green.

Quote from: Yitzi link=topic=12919.msg60114#msg60114
Green, which is about not damaging the world.  The "green path" has a minor Harmony element, but it is not at all the same.
Greens with a genetic modification shtick.  wow, big difference.  And you have the nerve to suggest that Harmony doesn't care about not polluting.

And "creature comforts" is compatible with any of the affinities, so that proves nothing.
A supremacy robot isn't even a creature.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 01:36:44 AM
She talks about adapting to it in the fiction "Journey to Centauri."  Gaians get extra fungus food.  Re: weather paradigm gaian religion about adaptation and all that.

And therefore she is harmony.  But that isn't in contrast to Morgan, so he can be harmony as well.

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This is really a weak argument, I don't know why you're splitting hairs to try to find a difference between harmony and green.

Because they are different.

Quote from: Yitzi link=topic=12919.msg60114#msg60114
Greens with a genetic modification shtick.  wow, big difference.  And you have the nerve to suggest that Harmony doesn't care about not polluting.

Harmony doesn't necessarily care about not offending the natives.  I think Morgan's approach would be very different than normal Harmony, and certainly for some of the quests he would probably not take the "harmony" approach, but overall I think he'd fit harmony better than purity (which implies a conservatism that does not fit him at all) or supremacy (which may be a possibility, but being uploaded to a robot body doesn't really seem his thing.)

Although now that I look at it, supremacy seems to include a lot of "high tech to improve living conditions as humans" as well, which definitely is his thing, so I'm changing it to  ;morgan; would probably be supremacy, albeit one without uploading.  So then we have:

Harmony:  ;deidre;  ;cha;  ;marr;
Supremacy:  ;yang;  ;zak;  ;morgan;  ;aki;  ;roze;
Purity:  ;santi;  ;miriam;  ;lal;  ;domai;  ;ulrik;
None:  ;caretake;

A supremacy robot isn't even a creature.

In a sense it is.  Although I think that you can have supremacy without uploading (euthenics is a supremacy tech.)
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 09:47:05 AM
You could argue that the corporations are supremacist, but most of his faction is wealthy couch potatoes. 
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 11:42:37 AM
You could argue that the corporations are supremacist, but most of his faction is wealthy couch potatoes.

Which has no connected affinity, and therefore isn't really relevant to the discussion.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 04:58:39 PM
Which has no connected affinity, and therefore isn't really relevant to the discussion.
I bet many the purity people are purity because they want to be couch potatoes instead or robots of agronomists.  They can't all be Amish.  I still can't believe you try to argue that Morgan the capitalist is a green.  Might adopt it late game, though.  Eventually it makes good money.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 05:12:17 PM
Which has no connected affinity, and therefore isn't really relevant to the discussion.
I bet many the purity people are purity because they want to be couch potatoes instead or robots of agronomists.

I don't think so.  I think that it's because they want to be humans instead of cyborgs or aliens.  (And while I can't see  ;morgan; choosing to be a robot, I can very much see him choosing to be a cyborg.)

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I still can't believe you try to argue that Morgan the capitalist is a green.

I don't; I argue that Harmony and Green have some correlation but are far from identical.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 06:08:30 PM
I think that it's because they want to be humans instead of cyborgs or aliens.
Humans are couch potatoes.  I only excercise, meditate, study dead religions, translate Chinese text on top of the unocassional anime/korean drama and starcraft murder because of my sublime will.  I assume that everyone else is a couch potato...  or an artist.

I argue that Harmony and Green have some correlation but are far from identical.
You're wrong.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 06:18:22 PM
Humans are couch potatoes.  I only excercise, meditate, study dead religions, translate Chinese text on top of the unocassional anime/korean drama and starcraft murder because of my sublime will.  I assume that everyone else is a couch potato...  or an artist.

You assume wrong, then.

I argue that Harmony and Green have some correlation but are far from identical.
You're wrong.
[/quote]

If you were correct, then neither  ;caretake; nor  ;marr; would be Harmony, as they both prefer Planned.  Is that what you're claiming?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 06:29:28 PM
If you were correct, then neither  ;caretake; nor  ;marr; would be Harmony, as they both prefer Planned.  Is that what you're claiming?
Caretaker gets a planet bonus so I would say she is harmony (or rather, a caretaker); Planned is the model the species uses universally, the species doesn't typically live on Planet; Nee wants to kick everyone off of it.  And uh...  Marr gets a planet malus.  Marr isn't harmony.  He wants transcendence for supremacy purposes.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 06:30:23 PM
You assume wrong, then.
So you do a little coding.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 06:31:58 PM
Caretaker gets a planet bonus so I would say she is harmony (or rather, a caretaker); Planned is the model the species uses universally, the species doesn't typically live on Planet; Nee wants to kick everyone off of it.  And uh...  Marr gets a planet malus.  Marr isn't harmony.  He wants transcendence for supremacy purposes.

I see transcendence of any sort as harmony-aligned.  And if  ;caretake; wants to kick everyone (including herself) off Planet, that doesn't really fit with Harmony at all.

Maybe you'd better explain: How do you understand the essence of each of the affinities in BE, and how would they translate to SMAC/X?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 06:40:49 PM
I see transcendence of any sort as harmony-aligned. 
That's because you're an...  uh....  well, your brains are...  anyway, Marr wants to subjugate planet-mind, become a "god", conquer the galaxy.  At best, that's a domestication attitude toward planet-mind, bearing little resemblance to the Gaian attitude.

And if  ;caretake; wants to kick everyone (including herself) off Planet, that doesn't really fit with Harmony at all.
Not even living on earth would be plenty harmonious towards it, at least from an environmentalist standpoint.  Though you could say they are less harmony-based than the Gaians, since she's got a domestication attitude like Marr, just in a paternal sense.  In a sense, a lot environmentalism is just another variety of paternalism.  The Gaians and Harmony are a little bit more radical than this, as as many environmentalists who criticize environmentalism-paternalism, but you couldn't argue that the caretakers aren't at least a bit green or environmentally harmonious; moreso than Yang.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 26, 2014, 06:44:12 PM
I'm really enjoying this exchange. ;nod
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 06:45:49 PM
Is that good enough?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 26, 2014, 06:55:58 PM
;b;

Now it's in good humor.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 06:59:35 PM
Now it's in good humor.

I know, I inhaled my popocorn.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 07:03:27 PM
I see transcendence of any sort as harmony-aligned. 
That's because you're an...  uh....  well, your brains are...  anyway, Marr wants to subjugate planet-mind, become a "god", conquer the galaxy.  At best, that's a domestication attitude toward planet-mind, bearing little resemblance to the Gaian attitude.

It does indeed bear little resemblance to the Gaian attitude.

But it is very much aligned with Harmony; Alien Domestication is one of the techs that gives Harmony points.

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Not even living on earth would be plenty harmonious towards it, at least from an environmentalist standpoint.

True, but the Harmony affinity doesn't seem to be so environmentalist.  (Which might mean it's not the best name...but that's another issue.)

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Though you could say they are less harmony-based than the Gaians, since she's got a domestication attitude like Marr, just in a paternal sense.

No,  ;caretake; does not have a domestication attitude; her attitude is more "this stuff is dangerous, let's keep it from going further."

Late-game ;deidre;, on the other hand, does have a very paternal (or is that maternal) approach to Planet.  (Just look at the blurb for Sentient Econometrics.)
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Othniel on October 26, 2014, 07:16:13 PM
I think I need to pull some quotes from within Beyond Earth for the wonders, techs, quests and affinity level ups. These are meant to be extremely loose philosophies, so there is likely overlap. For example I think  ;santi;'s survivalism-based view-points fit Harmony really well, especially with their guerilla type fighting styles. Being able to forage, alien life as weaponry, hindering the enemy if you can't survive, being able to fight on your own without needing support...

 ;yang; could be supremacy with its focus on organization and mind-uploading.  ;morgan; also strikes me as a supremacy type with its zero-maintenance roads and mag-rails, generator increasing energy techs and other economic based buildings.

 
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 07:18:38 PM
Alien Domestication is one of the techs that gives Harmony points.
It's a bit greener than outright replacing alien life, so this should come as no surprise.

;yang; could be supremacy with its focus on organization and mind-uploading. 
As a goal, yes.  As a practicality, no.  Similarly. Morgan might use supremacist methods by mid-game, but most the domestic citizens probably have little more than purity goals.  But then it's hard to imagine a civilization whose common people have supremacist goals except in adverse conditions.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 07:36:49 PM
For example I think  ;santi;'s survivalism-based view-points fit Harmony really well, especially with their guerilla type fighting styles. Being able to forage, alien life as weaponry, hindering the enemy if you can't survive, being able to fight on your own without needing support...

I would agree, except that she seems to be very focused on "survival of humanity" concepts, which fit Purity even better.

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;morgan; also strikes me as a supremacy type with its zero-maintenance roads and mag-rails, generator increasing energy techs and other economic based buildings.

Makes sense.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 07:39:44 PM
I would agree, except that she seems to be very focused on "survival of humanity" concepts, which fit Purity even better.
She does it with a supremacist military.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 07:44:05 PM
I would agree, except that she seems to be very focused on "survival of humanity" concepts, which fit Purity even better.
She does it with a supremacist military.

That is true; her military style fits Supremacy a lot better.  Essentially, she is philosophically Purity-aligned but takes a Supremacy approach to the military; I would assign her to Purity anyway because the affinities are primarily philosophical and response-to-the-new-world approaches, rather than military ones.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 07:51:59 PM
I would assign her to Purity anyway because the affinities are primarily philosophical and response-to-the-new-world approaches, rather than military ones.
what the hell is a philosophical response?  do they preach Marxism and hope someone makes revolution?  All of my spiritual "philosophy" is practice.  All of my political "philosophy" is based on practice.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 08:08:17 PM
I would assign her to Purity anyway because the affinities are primarily philosophical and response-to-the-new-world approaches, rather than military ones.
what the hell is a philosophical response?  do they preach Marxism and hope someone makes revolution?  All of my spiritual "philosophy" is practice.  All of my political "philosophy" is based on practice.

A philosophical response is one based on philosophical ideals; in this case, the importance of humanity.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Othniel on October 26, 2014, 08:12:39 PM
I view  ;santi;'s philosophy in the viewpoint of the survival of the individual. But the Beyond Earth affinities are meant to be very broad and are made to fit wide styles of play, so more likely than not, each of SMAX leader is likely to fit into more than one category. It may even be easier to say which one is not.

I have this feeling that I'm going to need to pull leaders' quotes from Beyond Earth at some point to figure out their canonical viewpoints so that there is something more solid we can compare. Heck, might be interesting to see what they look like SMACified.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 26, 2014, 08:19:46 PM
Already commenced - http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=12825.0 (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=12825.0) - please feel free to contribute. ;nod
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 09:10:52 PM
A philosophical response is one based on philosophical ideals; in this case, the importance of humanity.
Ideals aren't necessarily even corroborated by actions. It's fantasy.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 10:18:51 PM
A philosophical response is one based on philosophical ideals; in this case, the importance of humanity.
Ideals aren't necessarily even corroborated by actions.

They aren't always corroborated by actions, but often they are.  And affinities (and, for that matter, SMAC itself) are about when they are.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 10:52:10 PM
The people who host philosophy meetings practice nothing, neither spiritual nor political.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 26, 2014, 11:27:31 PM
The people who host philosophy meetings practice nothing, neither spiritual nor political.

There are more ways of having relevant philosophical thoughts than formal philosophy meetings, you know.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 26, 2014, 11:36:51 PM
There are more ways of having relevant philosophical thoughts than formal philosophy meetings, you know.
Are you referring to Stalin?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 27, 2014, 12:06:11 AM
There are more ways of having relevant philosophical thoughts than formal philosophy meetings, you know.
Are you referring to Stalin?

Not in particular; there are a huge number of people that acted based on philosophically-based ideals.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 12:12:41 AM
Not in particular; there are a huge number of people that acted based on philosophically-based ideals.
who?  Zoroaster?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 27, 2014, 12:14:44 AM
Not in particular; there are a huge number of people that acted based on philosophically-based ideals.
who?  Zoroaster?

Not sure if he counts...but let's take all the people who hid Jews from the Nazis at risk to their own lives.  That was based on morality, which is a type of philosophical ideal.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 01:34:46 AM
Not sure if he counts...but let's take all the people who hid Jews from the Nazis at risk to their own lives.  That was based on morality, which is a type of philosophical ideal.
we all die eventually anyway
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 27, 2014, 02:11:24 AM
Not sure if he counts...but let's take all the people who hid Jews from the Nazis at risk to their own lives.  That was based on morality, which is a type of philosophical ideal.
we all die eventually anyway

Yes, but that wasn't in the considerations there, so what's your point?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 02:32:40 AM
we all die eventually anyway
and how hard is it, really, to hide a man
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 27, 2014, 11:28:13 AM
we all die eventually anyway
and how hard is it, really, to hide a man

In a police state?  Fairly risky.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 11:41:10 AM
In a police state?  Fairly risky.
I assure you that I could hide a man.  The Nazis would not even come into my room.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: ete on October 27, 2014, 12:59:03 PM
Although now that I look at it, supremacy seems to include a lot of "high tech to improve living conditions as humans" as well, which definitely is his thing, so I'm changing it to  ;morgan; would probably be supremacy, albeit one without uploading.  So then we have:

Harmony:  ;deidre;  ;cha;  ;marr;
Supremacy:  ;yang;  ;zak;  ;morgan;  ;aki;  ;roze;
Purity:  ;santi;  ;miriam;  ;lal;  ;domai;  ;ulrik;
None:  ;caretake;
This seems to have been solved since here. ;caretake; is not trying to do the Harmony thing, she's trying to kill the others then leave Planet. Her entire philosophy and the point of her faction is _avoiding_ transcendence, and transcendence is the closest parallel to Harmony.

;marr; on the other hand is specifically trying to transcend. You could argue he'd pass for Supremacy since he does not use natives in warfare and is keen on advanced tech, but given his ultimate goals...
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: lifehole on October 27, 2014, 03:33:47 PM
I'd heavily disagree with the assessment that morgan is surpemacy. I'd argue he is purity.

I see these affinities as more of a path for technological progression, and not necessarily purely ideology.

Purity wants to simply advance/use technology to change/adapt to the environment and advance without modifying ourselves rather than changing ourselves to adapt to the environment. I'd put Morgan in this category since he is so fervent about anti-environmentalism (someone said that adaptation to the environment is the most economically feasible, and while true, that doesn't seem to be morgans intent in AC, imo. Free Market social engineering is his thing and that is terrible for the planet.) I'd put lal and miriam in this category also. The reason I wouldn't put Santiago in this category is because of the in-game quotes referring to her as the perpetrator of a lot of cybernetic advancements.

While her ideology is arguably human orientated, the willingness of her to use technological modification to 'strengthen' the human race would put her in the supremacy category for me.

Supremacy/Harmony want to adapt and see the option of modifying ourselves as the path our technology should take. Harmony thinks that genetic/biological modification is the way to go, while supremacy thinks pure technological transformation/integration is the way to go.

Overall I don't think nearly as much thought was put into Beyond Earths affinities as the characters and ideologies of the original 7 alpha centauri.

Harmony: ;deidre; ? ;yang; ?
Supremacy:  ;santi;  ;zak;  ? ;yang; ?
Purity:  ;morgan;  ;miriam;  ;lal;

Miriam and Lal being in purity is because of the ingame quotes making their opinion on technological modification clear. Lal COULD be harmony, but his agenda is more social and human orientated than anything.

Yang to me is a wildcard. I would put him in both those categories. He finds self-modification completely acceptable, obviously. Whether he is more leaning towards technological or biological modification is not really known. His quotes ingame put him more in biological area, but he does not care about biological 'harmony' and more just about how to improve the human race without care for the environment.

As for the crossfire factions, well, that's another thing entirely.

Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: ete on October 27, 2014, 03:42:05 PM
Morgan as Purity fits reasonably well early on, but I find it very hard to imagine him turning down economically beneficial human modifications, uploads, or robots late game. He's all about doing whatever it takes to win in a free market, and that's kind of in opposition to staying purely human once you get to a certain point of technological advancement.

And Yang may be into biological improvements as well as technical ones, but he's not interested in native life. It's very much a make humans better thing, which seems more fitting to supremacy.

Santiago as Supremacy has some sense to it, I'm on the fence about this now. Definitely early on she's more purity focused, but does end up using enhancement tech. Still, she's heavily into *human* survival.. could go either way.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: lifehole on October 27, 2014, 04:03:14 PM
Morgan as Purity fits reasonably well early on, but I find it very hard to imagine him turning down economically beneficial human modifications, uploads, or robots late game. He's all about doing whatever it takes to win in a free market, and that's kind of in opposition to staying purely human once you get to a certain point of technological advancement.

And Yang may be into biological improvements as well as technical ones, but he's not interested in native life. It's very much a make humans better thing, which seems more fitting to supremacy.

Santiago as Supremacy has some sense to it, I'm on the fence about this now. Definitely early on she's more purity focused, but does end up using enhancement tech. Still, she's heavily into *human* survival.. could go either way.

tbh when discussing civilizations/technology 'survival' doesn't really play in all that much, especially when talking about these affinities, since this is what route we take once we have 'survival' down, it's more about adaptation. so I dunno if santiago's survivalism applies as much.

I agree with your assessment of yang, but I still see him as more pro-biological enhancement than technological, but yet, less planet-friendly.

I dunno about morgan. He is an economist and relies on human economic behavior for his ideology to function. If he changes the definition of human, then we kinda get to a point where his ideology is irrelevant/muddled, and then it gets down to his personality whether or not he would do such things.

And you're probably right, he is greedy, and will probably willingly turn people into robo-slaves to mine resources, heh.

I supposed their ideologies and alignments/'affinities' change as time goes on.

At start:

Purity: ;morgan; ;miriam; ;santi; ;lal;

Harmony: ;deidre;

Supremacy: ;yang; ;zak;

In the end though, it might look more like this:

Purity: ;miriam; ;lal;
Harmony:  ;deidre;
Supremacy:  ;zak; ;morgan;  ;santi;  ;yang;
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 04:19:26 PM
;marr; on the other hand is specifically trying to transcend. You could argue he'd pass for Supremacy since he does not use natives in warfare and is keen on advanced tech, but given his ultimate goals...
Harmony is means, not ends.  You people are mentally blind.  Satan is also transcendent, but most do not argue that devils are harmonious.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 27, 2014, 04:40:06 PM
Purity wants to simply advance/use technology to change/adapt to the environment and advance without modifying ourselves rather than changing ourselves to adapt to the environment. I'd put Morgan in this category since he is so fervent about anti-environmentalism

 ;morgan; is not fervent about anti-environmentalism.  The social engineering he can't run is planned (communism), not green.  He doesn't get along well with  ;deidre; at first, because he's not going to let environmentalism get in the way of business, but he's far from fervent about anti-environmentalism.

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I'd put lal and miriam in this category also. The reason I wouldn't put Santiago in this category is because of the in-game quotes referring to her as the perpetrator of a lot of cybernetic advancements.

I don't remember those.  Which quotes are you referring to?

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While her ideology is arguably human orientated, the willingness of her to use technological modification to 'strengthen' the human race would put her in the supremacy category for me.

If you can find those quotes, there's a good choice you're right.

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Yang to me is a wildcard. I would put him in both those categories. He finds self-modification completely acceptable, obviously. Whether he is more leaning towards technological or biological modification is not really known. His quotes ingame put him more in biological area, but he does not care about biological 'harmony' and more just about how to improve the human race without care for the environment.

I think his quotes focus on moving away from biological constraints, which is very much Supremacy.

tbh when discussing civilizations/technology 'survival' doesn't really play in all that much, especially when talking about these affinities, since this is what route we take once we have 'survival' down, it's more about adaptation. so I dunno if santiago's survivalism applies as much.

Except that if the survivalism is based on a desire to see humans survive, that would be relevant.

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I agree with your assessment of yang, but I still see him as more pro-biological enhancement than technological, but yet, less planet-friendly.

Even if so, the biological enhancement will not include Planet's own genetics, so that's not harmony.

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I dunno about morgan. He is an economist and relies on human economic behavior for his ideology to function. If he changes the definition of human, then we kinda get to a point where his ideology is irrelevant/muddled, and then it gets down to his personality whether or not he would do such things.

No; I think that he considers economic behavior to be, if not fully universal, at least far more widespread than requiring just the human form.


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I supposed their ideologies and alignments/'affinities' change as time goes on.

At start:

Purity: ;morgan; ;miriam; ;santi; ;lal;

Harmony: ;deidre;

Supremacy: ;yang; ;zak;

In the end though, it might look more like this:

Purity: ;miriam; ;lal;
Harmony:  ;deidre;
Supremacy:  ;zak; ;morgan;  ;santi;  ;yang;

That's a thought, that it might change.  But if someone moves from Purity to Supremacy, then that usually means they were Supremacy-aligned all along and just didn't have the means to implement it beforehand.

Harmony is means, not ends.

I think that affinities are to some extent both.

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You people are mentally blind.  Satan is also transcendent, but most do not argue that devils are harmonious.

Different type of transcendence, and different type of harmony.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: lifehole on October 27, 2014, 07:00:41 PM
The quote I was referring to was the quote for Mind/Machine interface tech. I think it's Lal implying santiagos use of technology. or "The warrior's" Which I suppose isn't necessarily santiago but I've always taken it that way. There's also the cloning vats, which, while not necessarily breaking purity it still implies some technological use/abuse of the human form.

The way I see  ;morgan; is resource and consumption at all costs due to his many quotes on not caring about long term sustainability (forgotten future, let us chew and eat our fill, etc.) and that generally doesn't mean good things for the environment. Renewables tend not to produce as much as fast.

Also, yangs quotes to me seem to be both about ceding our biological restraints, but also seem to be about modifying our biology, but yeah I think I agree with him probably going towards supremacy. Maybe harmony if he was put into the Beyond Earth universe simply because it can be controlled to benefit humanity.

Really, yang would/could be both. You can mind upload and genetically 'meld' in both paths(collectiveness), and he also has genejacks, but also talks about the crass demands of flesh and bone(technological) Then he talks about improving the sacred brook(genetics) etc.



Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 07:58:51 PM
Yang does not have the technology for supremacy.  He couldn't do it at the beginning of the game.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 27, 2014, 08:03:50 PM
But isn't an affinity something you grow into?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: lifehole on October 27, 2014, 08:12:40 PM
Yang does not have the technology for supremacy.  He couldn't do it at the beginning of the game.

In that case, noone is supremacy, and noone is supremacy in beyond earth, either. Since you don't choose your affinity at the beginning of the game.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 27, 2014, 08:20:05 PM
The quote I was referring to was the quote for Mind/Machine interface tech. I think it's Lal implying santiagos use of technology. or "The warrior's" Which I suppose isn't necessarily santiago but I've always taken it that way. There's also the cloning vats, which, while not necessarily breaking purity it still implies some technological use/abuse of the human form.

Hmm...nothing really clear there, but it does sort of indicate that direction...I think we can put  ;santi; down as a question of Purity or Supremacy.

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The way I see  ;morgan; is resource and consumption at all costs due to his many quotes on not caring about long term sustainability (forgotten future, let us chew and eat our fill, etc.) and that generally doesn't mean good things for the environment. Renewables tend not to produce as much as fast.

True, but that's not anti-environmentalism so much as a-environmentalism.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 08:32:17 PM
But isn't an affinity something you grow into?
In the real world purity would be lower tech.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 27, 2014, 08:48:15 PM
But isn't an affinity something you grow into?
In the real world purity would be lower tech.

If that's what you think, then that suggests you're misunderstanding purity.  There are some fairly late techs that give Purity bonuses...
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 09:05:49 PM
There are some fairly late techs that give Purity bonuses...
which you apparently don't know anything about.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: lifehole on October 27, 2014, 09:08:42 PM
But isn't an affinity something you grow into?
In the real world purity would be lower tech.

Probably true, but beyond earth wasn't designed to be realistic.

EG you can still advance and tech and play the game as purity but civilization.com says: "What are the defining aspects of this Affinity?
Purity is focused on preserving, glorifying, and creating the ideal version of humanity as we know it now. If Harmony and Supremacy represent the changes humankind will face in the future, Purity is a total rejection of that adaptation."
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 09:13:11 PM
A purity civilization would have to have high man power, like Asia, since they'd be relying on it.  Power suits are of limited capability.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: lifehole on October 27, 2014, 09:19:24 PM
A purity civilization would have to have high man power, like Asia, since they'd be relying on it.  Power suits are of limited capability.

Considering a purity civilization would need powersuits/habitats to survive outside, well, manpower would just screw them over.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 09:23:45 PM
Considering a purity civilization would need powersuits/habitats to survive outside, well, manpower would just screw them over.
They'd live underground.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 27, 2014, 10:38:26 PM
There are some fairly late techs that give Purity bonuses...
which you apparently don't know anything about.

I know (or rather, know where to look up) their names.  Did you have a point?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 27, 2014, 10:46:18 PM
I know (or rather, know where to look up) their names.  Did you have a point?
Go on and try to expand upon a standpoint.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 27, 2014, 10:49:01 PM
There's a lecture on debating decorum/manners forthcoming...
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: lifehole on October 27, 2014, 10:49:33 PM
I know (or rather, know where to look up) their names.  Did you have a point?
Go on and try to expand upon a standpoint.

I don't even know what you're arguing for or what point you're trying to make?

Yang shouldn't be in supremacy?? what does your question have to do with this?

Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 01:28:49 AM
I know (or rather, know where to look up) their names.  Did you have a point?
Go on and try to expand upon a standpoint.

I'm not sure how you "expand upon" a standpoint.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 04:23:47 AM
I'm not sure how you "expand upon" a standpoint.
For instance, you are running on the standpoint of judging things by ideals.  I judge them by practices.  You (don't) develop structures out of fantastical standpoints, I develop structures out of practical standpoints.    I point out that Yang is low-tech, but might eventually catch up and be able to act from a supremacist standpoint, you start in mid air from the pure fantasy of the ultimate eventuality or even based simply upon aims or statements, and make an ad-hoc statement without further reflection.

In my case, I am able to detail how Santiago's standpoint with regards her military is immediately supremacist while Yang goes through a lengthy development process to attain the same goal (relying on force and quantity and only eventually coming to supremacist tool-usage by proxy of having a larger resource base to draw upon for the eventual end-result of it's development), while you start in mid air from an intellectuality (the totally subjective aim or end goal) and make judgements based on subjectivity, i.e. nothing, upon simple propoganda or even mere stated intent.  In order to expand upon a standpoint, or really anything, and operate in reality, one has to address things rather than just ideas or intentions.  Otherwise we get the unthinking nonsense of judging all things by their form and not essence, i.e. their practice, their reality.

For instance, we often get people calling a religion bad based upon the actions of adherents without comparing their practice to the book.  It may happen that there are only a few Christians in the world, but an unthinking person will simply accept anyone with a stated aim or identification as a Christian.  This is idealism, i.e. judging everything based upon the subjective rather than the objective.  These people are not Christians based upon the definition of their own doctrine, but an idiot accepts them as such based on their say-so.  Similarly, one accepts Yang as supreme before he has actually done it.  Yang is not so foolish.  He neither accept the supremacist's claims of being such by virtue of the superior position they operate from today, nor does he claim victory before the accomplishment as you do for him.

In reality, a person is not a doctor simply by intending to become a doctor, or having the end goal of being a doctor in mind.  Yang intends supremacy, but he is not immediately operating from the standpoint of having and using superior tools.  He intends to develop this supremacist standpoint by way of better application of a purity standpoint.  If anything, Yang operates from an inferior standpoint, not a superior one.  He only eventually obtains the superior position by proxy; maybe he will glean more scientific geniuses from a larger population base, and thus eventually obtain a standpoint of superior research, i.e. supremacy, which he does not have in manifest reality. 

But an eventuality or a goal is not a reality.  Practice is reality.  If Yang is eventually supreme, it is because he has taken what is easy with what is hard.  But to have to take what is easy with what is hard, in Yang's case literal serfdom and inferior units, is not to operate from a position of superiority. 

Within the earth, wood grows: The image of Pushing Upward. Thus the superior man of devoted character heaps up small things in order to achieve something high and great.  Again, to eventually achieve is not the same thing as to posses already.  Zhakarov already possess superior research, Santiago already possesses a superior military.  Thus they operate from a supremacist standpoint.  Yang does not.  Neither do their goals matter.  If your goal is to be a doctor but all you do is fix cars, then you are going to be a mechanic.  The brain is a subjective organ, it's considerations do not reflect the reality of the entire organism except where united by a will informed by said entire organism.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 11:32:17 AM
I'm not sure how you "expand upon" a standpoint.
For instance, you are running on the standpoint of judging things by ideals.  I judge them by practices.

Because SMAC and affinities are both ideal-focused.

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In order to expand upon a standpoint, or really anything, and operate in reality, one has to address things rather than just ideas or intentions.  Otherwise we get the unthinking nonsense of judging all things by their form and not essence, i.e. their practice, their reality.

You've got it backward; the ideals are the essence, the practice is the mere form.

Quote
For instance, we often get people calling a religion bad based upon the actions of adherents without comparing their practice to the book.  It may happen that there are only a few Christians in the world, but an unthinking person will simply accept anyone with a stated aim or identification as a Christian.  This is idealism, i.e. judging everything based upon the subjective rather than the objective.

No, this is judging by practice; an idealist would look at the ideal of the religion, i.e. the book.

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In reality, a person is not a doctor simply by intending to become a doctor, or having the end goal of being a doctor in mind.

True, because "doctor" is a practice-based concept, not an ideal-based one.

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But an eventuality or a goal is not a reality.  Practice is reality.

Depends what you mean by "reality"; certainly the eventuality or goal is relevant to reality, which I would argue means it itself must be real (as eventuality or goal).

Quote
\Again, to eventually achieve is not the same thing as to posses already.

It is not the same, but it does determine character.

Quote
Zhakarov already possess superior research, Santiago already possesses a superior military.  Thus they operate from a supremacist standpoint.

No, because Supremacy has very little to do with superior research.

Quote
Neither do their goals matter.  If your goal is to be a doctor but all you do is fix cars, then you are going to be a mechanic.

Profession and affinity are two very different things.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 01:15:53 PM
Because SMAC and affinities are both ideal-focused.
That's merely how it's presented.  The reality of the factions is their gameplay.  Otherwise one uses the term "in the lore or "in the book."

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You've got it backward; the ideals are the essence, the practice is the mere form.
An ideal alone is unmanifest.  Are you insane?  If anything, ignorance is a bigger definer of action than ideals.  One goes through years of training to become a [poopy] western pharmacist who prescribes harmful statins; one wishes to be a doctor, the reality is, one is pill-pusher unless one puts in significant effort to be otherwise.  You are arguing literally that reality is not reality, imagination is reality.  Reality takes significantly more effort than your mere fantasizing.

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Depends what you mean by "reality"; certainly the eventuality or goal is relevant to reality, which I would argue means it itself must be real (as eventuality or goal).
It is the very end of the process, if you get there.  If you are a doctor one percent of the time, then generally speaking, you are not a doctor.  Usually one takes it as a life-long profession.  Then one is a doctor.  But this takes real effort, and not merely an ideal.  If one puts in the effort and carries out the work without the ideal, even blindly, then one still becomes and is a doctor.

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Again, to eventually achieve is not the same thing as to posses already.
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It is not the same, but it does determine character.
The reality is, you are not a doctor.

Quote
No, because Supremacy has very little to do with superior research.
BE supremacy is technological.  Zhakarov and Santiago use the superior tools, provided they put out the industrial capacity to use them.

Quote
Profession and affinity are two very different things.
So you say.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Othniel on October 28, 2014, 01:25:15 PM
You guys are all forgetting one factor here that makes a literal world of difference. The character of Planet is not present in BE, and the nature of the wildlife are not as hostile as they are in Alpha Centauri. The wildlife in Beyond Earth shows intelligence, but they aren't of psychic level. This opens up wider opportunities for adaption to the three affinities. The leaders would be presented with different avenues of adaptation here.  ;santi; took to cybernetics to give her an advantage against mind worms, but she may domesticate a wolf-beetle as a hunting dog this time around.  Harmony on Beyond Earth is different from the Green of  ;deidre;. Its more about alien integration then it is about alien preservation. Its more about living as part of the world than minimizing your impact on it.

;morgan; for example is clearly researching ways to claim immortality, whether from better genes, or from preserving his mind via mental upload. He'll use the methods available to him to gain that immortality. ;zak; could easily be Harmony if he had the chance to play with alien DNA to the level of Beyond Earth Harmony. Another way of looking at the affinities may help; Supremacy believes the answer to humanity lies in human ingenuity, Harmony believes that the answer lies in Human Adaptation, and Purity believes the answer lies in Human Resilence. From a supremacy perspective it sees itself looking to the future for answers while Harmony looks to the present and Purity looks to the Past.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 01:46:27 PM
Its more about alien integration then it is about alien preservation. Its more about living as part of the world than minimizing your impact on it.
So?  Deirdre would agree with that explicitly.

;zak; could easily be Harmony if he had the chance to play with alien DNA to the level of Beyond Earth Harmony.
Genetics are only one aspect of science.  Zhakarov is not limited in this manner.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Othniel on October 28, 2014, 01:56:41 PM
 Deidre would of course agree with this implicitly, but it no longer needs to be her sole domain. I'm arguing that Harmony is far more inclusive than the environmentalism of Alpha Centauri. The alien domestication quest has the Harmonite keeping the aliens as pets, while the Supremest keeps them as beasts of burden. What would our leaders choose I wonder? Maybe I can find the scripts of the affinity quests and see where people would have each leader answering...

Let me ask you all this, since affinity is clearly tied to technology, which techs in SMAC/X would be associated with each of the affinities while keeping in mind a counterpoint in Beyond Earth?

EDIT; Also since we are arguing practice, I've included the bonuses that each affinity gets below.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 02:08:31 PM
The alien domestication quest has the Harmonite keeping the aliens as pets, while the Supremest keeps them as beasts of burden. What would our leaders choose I wonder?
Dogs been both, chickens and cows just don't make as good pets.  Realisticly, they would be both.

Let me ask you all this, since affinity is clearly tied to technology, which techs in SMAC/X would be associated with each of the affinities while keeping in mind a counterpoint in Beyond Earth?
They wouldn't, it's cacamine.  Ultimately a glass dome is just an easier to implement, lower-level technological solution, not an ideological commitment.  The faction that doesn't implement safety-tested genetic modification is just amish and goes into the waste-basket of history.  It would take an amish majority to prevent it's implementation.  In the book, Yang has focused on implementing thoroughly the low tech he possesses, to make himself a fortress and political system he believes he will be safe in, but he still wants to obtain the genetic modification technology.  He even considers it vital.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 03:30:24 PM
Because SMAC and affinities are both ideal-focused.
That's merely how it's presented.  The reality of the factions is their gameplay.  Otherwise one uses the term "in the lore or "in the book."

No, the core reality of the factions is their ideology; the gameplay reflects that.

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An ideal alone is unmanifest.

But it still exists, and once manifested is relevant.

Quote
If anything, ignorance is a bigger definer of action than ideals.  One goes through years of training to become a [poopy] western pharmacist who prescribes harmful statins; one wishes to be a doctor, the reality is, one is pill-pusher unless one puts in significant effort to be otherwise.  You are arguing literally that reality is not reality, imagination is reality.

No, I am arguing that the imagination of real people is a very important part of reality.

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It is the very end of the process, if you get there.  If you are a doctor one percent of the time, then generally speaking, you are not a doctor.  Usually one takes it as a life-long profession.  Then one is a doctor.  But this takes real effort, and not merely an ideal.  If one puts in the effort and carries out the work without the ideal, even blindly, then one still becomes and is a doctor.

As I said before, professions are different than the topics explored in SMAC and by affinities.

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BE supremacy is technological.

So are BE harmony and BE purity.

Quote
Quote
Profession and affinity are two very different things.
So you say.
[/quote]

And everything we know about affinity supports it.

You guys are all forgetting one factor here that makes a literal world of difference. The character of Planet is not present in BE, and the nature of the wildlife are not as hostile as they are in Alpha Centauri. The wildlife in Beyond Earth shows intelligence, but they aren't of psychic level. This opens up wider opportunities for adaption to the three affinities. The leaders would be presented with different avenues of adaptation here.  ;santi; took to cybernetics to give her an advantage against mind worms, but she may domesticate a wolf-beetle as a hunting dog this time around.  Harmony on Beyond Earth is different from the Green of  ;deidre;. Its more about alien integration then it is about alien preservation. Its more about living as part of the world than minimizing your impact on it.

Very true.

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Another way of looking at the affinities may help; Supremacy believes the answer to humanity lies in human ingenuity, Harmony believes that the answer lies in Human Adaptation, and Purity believes the answer lies in Human Resilence. From a supremacy perspective it sees itself looking to the future for answers while Harmony looks to the present and Purity looks to the Past.

Good alternate approach.  In which case, we'd probably get:

Supremacy:  ;zak;  ;morgan;  ;aki;  ;roze;
Harmony:  ;deidre;  ;cha;  ;ulrik;
Purity:  ;yang;  ;santi;  ;miriam;  ;lal;  ;domai;

Genetics are only one aspect of science.

So are robotics/cybernetics.  So are the miscellaneous things that contribute to Purity (though that actually has quite a bit of genetics).

Let me ask you all this, since affinity is clearly tied to technology, which techs in SMAC/X would be associated with each of the affinities while keeping in mind a counterpoint in Beyond Earth?
They wouldn't, it's cacamine.  Ultimately a glass dome is just an easier to implement, lower-level technological solution, not an ideological commitment.  The faction that doesn't implement safety-tested genetic modification is just amish and goes into the waste-basket of history.  It would take an amish majority to prevent it's implementation.  In the book, Yang has focused on implementing thoroughly the low tech he possesses, to make himself a fortress and political system he believes he will be safe in, but he still wants to obtain the genetic modification technology.  He even considers it vital.

So basically, you're denying the basic assumption behind the affinities.  In which case, I have to ask: What are you doing in this thread?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 03:40:17 PM
No, the core reality of the factions is their ideology; the gameplay reflects that.
Ideology without a practical element is only present in the diplomacy.  Otherwise the factions are most well expressed in their gameplay.

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But it still exists, and once manifested is relevant.
An idea only exists in your head.

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No, I am arguing that the imagination of real people is a very important part of reality.
It's a part of their head.

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As I said before, professions are different than the topics explored in SMAC and by affinities.
It was an example.  You're being very childish.  If anything professions can much more exactly "manifest" ideas than ideology.  But is the same process, provided that the ideology has any practical element and is not the mere distant utopianism you seem to prefer.  An ideology without practical elements is a dead utopia.  An ideology that favours practical elements is more similar to a manual, and thus has likely been practised.

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And everything we know about affinity supports it.
So you say.

So basically, you're denying the basic assumption behind the affinities.  In which case, I have to ask: What are you doing in this thread?
Representing reality.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 04:17:05 PM
No, the core reality of the factions is their ideology; the gameplay reflects that.
Ideology without a practical element is only present in the diplomacy.  Otherwise the factions are most well expressed in their gameplay.

No; it's the ideology as expressed by the quotations, stories, and to some extent the gameplay, that gives SMAC its unique character.

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An idea only exists in your head.

And is my head not part of reality?

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It's a part of their head.

Until it is spread, which it generally will be; the fact that it will be spread makes it important even before it is.

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It was an example.

Can you provide an example that is a good analogy and supports your point?  I think not.

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If anything professions can much more exactly "manifest" ideas than ideology.

So they can; in a sense, they automatically do.  But that is irrelevant, as we are discussing ideologies.

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But is the same process, provided that the ideology has any practical element and is not the mere distant utopianism you seem to prefer.  An ideology without practical elements is a dead utopia.  An ideology that favours practical elements is more similar to a manual, and thus has likely been practised.

And an ideology that favors elements that are not yet practical, but will be?

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So you say.

Please, provide anything from BE (or SMAC, for that matter) that supports your position on these matters.

So basically, you're denying the basic assumption behind the affinities.  In which case, I have to ask: What are you doing in this thread?
Representing reality instead of imagination.
[/quote]

Well, this thread is about introducing a system from one imaginary world, designed to express the sorts of things that grow from the imagination even within that world, into another imaginary world...so maybe this is the wrong thread for what you're trying to do.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 04:47:20 PM
No; it's the ideology as expressed by the quotations, stories, and to some extent the gameplay, that gives SMAC its unique character.
The former only supplement the latter.  Even fiction, especially good fiction, is written in the context of a reality.  SMAC in particural is very political and based upon political realities, like religion vs. science.

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And is my head not part of reality?
In fact, most actions are only reflected upon by the head after they occur.

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Can you provide an example that is a good analogy and supports your point?  I think not.
An ideology, for instance, related to taxation, that is intended to deal with a reality, is written as a manual.  Usually, these actually deal with professions.  Your attempt to differentiate the two is absurd.  An ideology either deals in realities or it does not.  The latter are generally irrelevant and are restricted to desert confines where they gradually decay.

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And an ideology that favours elements that are not yet practical, but will be?
This is mere idealism.

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Please, provide anything from BE (or SMAC, for that matter) that supports your position on these matters.
The fact that affinity deals in gameplay and is not mere lore.

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Well, this thread is about introducing a system from one imaginary world.
Systems have reality.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 05:13:55 PM
The former only supplement the latter.

Perhaps (it is primarily a game after all), but they are a very important supplement, and more important than the gameplay for the topic of this thread.

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Even fiction, especially good fiction, is written in the context of a reality.  SMAC in particural is very political and based upon political realities, like religion vs. science.

And are those political realities not essentially ideology by another name?

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In fact, most actions are only reflected upon by the head after they occur.

But ideologies are reflected on before they are put into practice.

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An ideology, for instance, related to taxation, that is intended to deal with a reality, is written as a manual.

Really?  Please tell me where to find the written-as-a-manual text that explains the "taxes are theft" ideology.

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An ideology either deals in realities or it does not.

There are middle grounds (which of course will fall into one side of the divide, but which one depends on exactly how you define "deals in realities").

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This is mere idealism.

And despite that, such "mere idealism" can have an important consequence on the world.  Not so "mere" then, is it?

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The fact that affinity deals in gameplay and is not mere lore.

That just means that BE, like every other game in the Civ series and most other games period, tries to incorporate the fluff into the gameplay.

Try again.

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Well, this thread is about introducing a system from one imaginary world.
Systems have reality.

Only as much reality as the world they're from.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 05:39:00 PM
Perhaps (it is primarily a game after all), but they are a very important supplement, and more important than the gameplay for the topic of this thread.
I don't see how.

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And are those political realities not essentially ideology by another name?
Political practice is quite a bit more developed than most common mere ideology.  It is more exact.

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But ideologies are reflected on before they are put into practice.
The ideological material most people are connected with is disconnected from practice - and thus reality.  But this is to be expected, they are not acting from a position of power.

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Really?  Please tell me where to find the written-as-a-manual text that explains the "taxes are theft" ideology.
I was referring to tax administration and practice.

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There are middle grounds (which of course will fall into one side of the divide, but which one depends on exactly how you define "deals in realities").
Actions.  Practices.

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And despite that, such "mere idealism" can have an important consequence on the world. 
Only when acted upon.  It won't last without development into practical channels.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 05:49:32 PM
Perhaps (it is primarily a game after all), but they are a very important supplement, and more important than the gameplay for the topic of this thread.
I don't see how.

How they're an important supplement: Because without them, SMAC/X would be a fairly well-designed 4X game, but not the immortal classic that it is.
How they're more relevant to this thread: Because this thread is about fluff features, not about gameplay.

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Political practice is quite a bit more developed than most common mere ideology.  It is more exact.

"Religion vs. science" (your example) doesn't seem very developed or exact...

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But ideologies are reflected on before they are put into practice.
The ideological material most people are connected with is disconnected from practice - and thus reality.  But this is to be expected, they are not acting from a position of power.

So what?  It's still potentially relevant (as it might spread to people who are in a position of power, or people who subscribe to it might come to positions of power), and is still part of those people, meaning that it is real.

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Really?  Please tell me where to find the written-as-a-manual text that explains the "taxes are theft" ideology.
I was referring to tax administration and practice.

And yet "taxes are theft" is an ideology that deals with practical matters (taxes), so if you were correct, there would be such a written-as-a-manual text.  There does not appear to be such a text, ergo you are not correct.

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There are middle grounds (which of course will fall into one side of the divide, but which one depends on exactly how you define "deals in realities").
Actions.  Practices.

Actions and practices at the time in question, or actions and practices at a future time?
And what does "deals with" mean?  Directly impacts on?  Is affected by?  Places value judgements on?

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And despite that, such "mere idealism" can have an important consequence on the world. 
Only when acted upon.  It won't last without development into practical channels.
[/quote]

So?  That still means that ideology that is not yet developed into practical channels, but will be, is relevant.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 06:00:27 PM
Perhaps (it is primarily a game after all), but they are a very important supplement, and more important than the gameplay for the topic of this thread.

Fiction doesn't describe the reality of a thing.  Gameplay is a better determination.  A sufficiently developed game can even be called a model.  But even the fiction corresponds with a depiction of Yang as living in a low-tech hovel.

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"Religion vs. science" (your example) doesn't seem very developed or exact...

It's in reference to AC, and it's not, it's only manifest in AC's diplomacy.

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The ideological material most people are connected with is disconnected from practice - and thus reality.  But this is to be expected, they are not acting from a position of power.
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So what?  It's still potentially relevant (as it might spread to people who are in a position of power, or people who subscribe to it might come to positions of power), and is still part of those people, meaning that it is real.

No.  http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/12/Study-You-Have-Near-Zero-Impact-on-U-S-Policy (http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/12/Study-You-Have-Near-Zero-Impact-on-U-S-Policy)
Please stop.  You're being really absurd.  I'm serious.  Even the French don't much influence their government, they tried to elect a socialist and look what they got, the man is constantly warmongering..  I'm not even going to talk about Obama.

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And yet "taxes are theft" is an ideology that deals with practical matters (taxes), so if you were correct, there would be such a written-as-a-manual text.

It is not an ideology with reality outside of rich corporations.  As for them, I am sure that they do have such manuals - such as law schools.

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So?  That still means that ideology that is not yet developed into practical channels, but will be, is relevant.

Only in your dreams.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 28, 2014, 06:04:32 PM
Blaneck, your manners suck.  I'm too busy and ill to keep being diplomatic about it - this place runs on mutual respect, and you need to step up your game, or I can no longer protect you.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 06:10:11 PM
Blaneck, your manners suck.
My manners are probably fine, I just use them selectively.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 28, 2014, 06:11:04 PM
Universally is a much better idea here, I assure you.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 06:18:22 PM
Universally is a much better idea here, I assure you.
Believe me, Othniel is an intelligent enough guy, and I wanted to discuss affinities with him, but affinities just don't have enough substance to do so.  Purity is low-tech, and supremacy just represents high-tech.  Him and I get along fine.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 07:48:30 PM
Perhaps (it is primarily a game after all), but they are a very important supplement, and more important than the gameplay for the topic of this thread.

Fiction doesn't describe the reality of a thing.  Gameplay is a better determination.  A sufficiently developed game can even be called a model.  But even the fiction corresponds with a depiction of Yang as living in a low-tech hovel.


Agreed that Yang is fairly low-tech.  It's your characterization of purity as low-tech and supremacy as high-tech and harmony as +PLANET that's horribly flawed.

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It's in reference to AC, and it's not, it's only manifest in AC's diplomacy.


Well, if the very example you're using of a "political reality" that SMAC is based on is an example that is not developed or exact, then that would suggest that one should not be restricted to developed and exact political realities when discussing SMAC.

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No.  http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/12/Study-You-Have-Near-Zero-Impact-on-U-S-Policy (http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/12/Study-You-Have-Near-Zero-Impact-on-U-S-Policy)
Please stop.  You're being really absurd.  I'm serious.  Even the French don't much influence their government, they tried to elect a socialist and look what they got, the man is constantly warmongering..  I'm not even going to talk about Obama.


I did not say that every individual has major impact.  I said that an ideology may very well end up in the hands of one of the few people who do.

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It is not an ideology with reality outside of rich corporations.


Really?  Then why is it that a large number of voters support low-taxes policies due to such an ideology?  (And while each one of those voters has near-zero impact on U.S. policy, they in aggregate have quite a bit more.)

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Only in your dreams.


No, also in the sort of scenarios explored by SMAC and BE.  (And sometimes in reality too, but that's besides the point.)
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 07:58:50 PM
Agreed that Yang is fairly low-tech.  It's your characterization of purity as low-tech and supremacy as high-tech and harmony as +PLANET that's horribly flawed.
Even their aim is low-tech.  They want to live in bubbles.  That's lower tech than either cybernetics or genetic modification.  we ourselves could carry out a purity colonization in the arctic.  BUncle would serve as the narrator and say "some plants have escaped and are colonizing the area," and I'd say "what luck, that means I don't have to eat tree bark."  And then you would suggest that we modify ourselves to eat bark and insist this to be of the same tech level.  the project would be completed....  eventually. 

Deirdre is pretty flat out Harmony.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvK2p28Pho (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvK2p28Pho)

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I did not say that every individual has major impact.  I said that an ideology may very well end up in the hands of one of the few people who do.
Nah, most politicians only care about money and the like.  The few that don't are smarted than your average voter anyway.  The only knowledge that most voters have that a ruler might benefit from is: "my water is black." 

Really?  Then why is it that a large number of voters support low-taxes policies due to such an ideology?
Because they like to keep themselves occupied, it makes them feel like they have purpose.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 08:15:50 PM
Even their aim is low-tech.  They want to live in bubbles.  That's lower tech than either cybernetics or genetic modification.

Really?  In SMAC, cybernetics tend to range from tech level 4 (Neural Grafting) to 8 (Homo Superior), and genetic modification from tech level 3 (gene splicing) to 6 (retroviral engineering) whereas hab domes are at tech level 10 (Super Tensile Solids).

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Deirdre is pretty flat out Harmony.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvK2p28Pho (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvK2p28Pho)

 ;deidre; definitely fits Harmony (unless going by Othniel's approach), but that doesn't mean that her approach is the only thing that can fall under Harmony.

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Nah, most politicians only care about money and the like.

And can a rich person not subscribe to an ideology?

Really?  Then why is it that a large number of voters support low-taxes policies due to such an ideology?
Because they like to keep themselves occupied, it makes them feel like they have purpose.
[/quote]

Even if so, that still disproves your assertion that it is only held by rich corporations.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 08:21:50 PM
Really?  In SMAC, cybernetics tend to range from tech level 4 (Neural Grafting) to 8 (Homo Superior), and genetic modification from tech level 3 (gene splicing) to 6 (retroviral engineering) whereas hab domes are at tech level 10 (Super Tensile Solids).
That's jut for balance reasons.  Really colonists could just dig underground like Yang for more space.

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And can a rich person not subscribe to an ideology?
Only if they're unenlightened.  The way to rule is with law and political method.  Even a cooperative should use as much.

Even if so, that still disproves your assertion that it is only held by rich corporations.
It doesn't count if you can't practice it.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 08:22:52 PM
;deidre; definitely fits Harmony (unless going by Othniel's approach), but that doesn't mean that her approach is the only thing that can fall under Harmony.
You have to be at least environmentalist to be harmonious.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 08:57:24 PM
That's jut for balance reasons.  Really colonists could just dig underground like Yang for more space.

But that isn't the Purity approach...Purity is not low-tech.

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And can a rich person not subscribe to an ideology?
Only if they're unenlightened.  The way to rule is with law and political method.  Even a cooperative should use as much.

Laws and political methods often grow out of ideologies, and "enlightenment" is also an ideology.

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Even if so, that still disproves your assertion that it is only held by rich corporations.
It doesn't count if you can't practice it.
[/quote]

Yes it does, because you might be able to persuade someone else who can.

;deidre; definitely fits Harmony (unless going by Othniel's approach), but that doesn't mean that her approach is the only thing that can fall under Harmony.
You have to be at least environmentalist to be harmonious.

What in the affinity of Harmony (not the meaning of the word normally, but the affinity itself) requires being environmentalist?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 09:21:39 PM
Laws and political methods often grow out of ideologies.
It is wrong to do so.  It transfers powers out of your hands.  Then the state is susceptible to corruption.  It also basis law on fantasy rather than circumstance.

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You might be able to persuade someone else who can.
This is only relevant in an autocracy.  Only the true king will give an ear to useful subordinates in spite of their low station.

What in the affinity of Harmony (not the meaning of the word normally, but the affinity itself) requires being environmentalist?
Uh, the gameplay.  If you let the earth plants overtake the native plants, you lose harmony points
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 28, 2014, 09:24:30 PM
But that isn't the Purity approach...Purity is not low-tech.
Flying fortresses are still low tech compared with cybernetics and genetics.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 28, 2014, 10:03:35 PM
Laws and political methods often grow out of ideologies.
It is wrong to do so.

That position is an ideology.  Do you think laws and political methods should be based on it?

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This is only relevant in an autocracy.  Only the true king will give an ear to useful subordinates in spite of their low station.

Not true; some elected officials do as well, and of course there's the possibility of someone first subscribing to the ideology and then getting power.

What in the affinity of Harmony (not the meaning of the word normally, but the affinity itself) requires being environmentalist?
Uh, the gameplay.  If you let the earth plants overtake the native plants, you lose harmony points
[/quote]

And yet if you do enough other pro-Harmony things it can still be your strongest affinity.

Furthermore, there is a lot more to environmentalism than just not letting the earth plants take over.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 01:14:47 AM
That position is an ideology.  Do you think laws and political methods should be based on it?
No, practicalities should.
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Not true; some elected officials do as well, and of course there's the possibility of someone first subscribing to the ideology and then getting power.
That would make them fools.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 01:29:50 AM
That position is an ideology.  Do you think laws and political methods should be based on it?
No, practicalities should.

Laws and political methods are practicalities.

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Not true; some elected officials do as well, and of course there's the possibility of someone first subscribing to the ideology and then getting power.
That would make them fools.

I disagree, but even if so, it would still make that ideology relevant, which was the question at hand.  In other words, even if they're fools, you're still wrong on the larger point.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 01:46:58 AM
Laws and political methods are practicalities.
Yes, and they should not be polluted with ideological fantasies.

I disagree, but even if so, it would still make that ideology relevant, which was the question at hand. 
It's relevant as a delusion.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 29, 2014, 01:58:37 AM
Blaneck, you can do better.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 02:02:36 AM
Blaneck, you can do better.
I don't know what you are referring to.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 29, 2014, 02:10:21 AM
...

You KNOW by now that I don't care for you pretending ignorance.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 02:32:37 AM
Laws and political methods are practicalities.
Yes, and they should not be polluted with ideological fantasies.

That position is an ideology.  Should laws and political methods be "polluted with" (i.e. based on) it?

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I disagree, but even if so, it would still make that ideology relevant, which was the question at hand. 
It's relevant as a delusion.

So you think Purity/Harmony/Supremacy (which are also ideologies, much as are the ones under discussion) are delusions?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 03:47:17 AM
Should laws and political methods be "polluted with" (i.e. based on) it?
No, they should be based on circumstances.

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So you think Purity/Harmony/Supremacy (which are also ideologies, much as are the ones under discussion) are delusions?
That much is obvious.  You should do whatever is best at the moment.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: lifehole on October 29, 2014, 04:13:11 AM
Gosh, chances are you guys have put more thought into arguing about the affinities than the devs ever even put into the affinities.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 04:22:46 AM
Gosh, chances are you guys have put more thought into arguing about the affinities than the devs ever even put into the affinities.
It would be hard not to, even just in passing.  That's all I did before the psichi declared she needed instruction on how things and ideas become differentiated, which I assented to give.  I have great pity for the unitarian peoples and help if I can.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Green1 on October 29, 2014, 09:38:16 AM
Gosh, chances are you guys have put more thought into arguing about the affinities than the devs ever even put into the affinities.

War gamers are amongst the most hardcore and anal of nerdz. While they have more intelligence than the dreaded WoW nerd and more cooth and social adjustment than a MOBA nerd, a wargamer nerd will argue the small minutia of every single thing till the cows come home.

...and looking at BE, if I am to believe the wargamer nerdz, BE has some issues. But I still have not played it yet. Nor do I trust a lot of CFC bittervet Deity "experts". Some things I need to see myself. I am waiting on a first patch and see where they take it. The vanilla versions of all Civs, even 4, are usually mediocre or not as good as when the first patch or expac rolls around.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 11:36:54 AM
Should laws and political methods be "polluted with" (i.e. based on) it?
No, they should be based on circumstances.

That is also an ideology.  Should it influence laws and political methods?

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So you think Purity/Harmony/Supremacy (which are also ideologies, much as are the ones under discussion) are delusions?
That much is obvious.  You should do whatever is best at the moment.

Ok, so you'd take the "forget these affinities, just do whatever's best at the moment" approach.

However, the SMAC/X leaders are more ideological, and won't take your approach.  Thus, we can discuss which approach they would follow.  Correct?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 01:41:37 PM
That is also an ideology.  Should it influence laws and political methods?
You are asking if circumstances, i.e. reality should influence law?  If so, Yang and I agree with you.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 01:42:18 PM
That is also an ideology.  Should it influence laws and political methods?
You are asking if circumstances, i.e. reality should influence law?

No, I am asking whether the belief "reality should influence law" should influence law by allowing reality to influence law.

Also, by what basis do you speak for  ;yang;?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 01:44:46 PM
No, I am asking whether the belief "reality should influence law" should influence law by allowing reality to influence law.
You are asking whether reality should influence law.  Keep repeating it, maybe it will bestow sanity.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 01:47:19 PM
Also, by what basis do you speak for  ;yang;?

I read his book.
http://ctext.org/shang-jun-shu/reform-of-the-law (http://ctext.org/shang-jun-shu/reform-of-the-law)

Gong sun Yang said: "There is more than one way to govern the world and there is no necessity to imitate antiquity, in order to take appropriate measures for the state.' Tang and Wu succeeded in attaining supremacy without following antiquity, and as for the downfall of Yin and Xia - they were ruined without rites having been altered. Consequently, those who acted counter to antiquity do not necessarily deserve blame, nor do those who followed established rites merit much praise. Let Your Highness not hesitate."

Duke Xiao said: "Excellent ! I have heard it said that in poor country districts, much is thought strange, and that in village schools there are many debates. What the foolish laugh about, the wise are sad about; the joy of a madman is the sorrow of a man of talent. One should, in one's plans, be directed by the needs of the times - I have no doubts about it."
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Othniel on October 29, 2014, 02:04:17 PM
From a game perspective it is very easy to view the affinities as military doctrines rather than social or political because in game that is what they most affect.

Harmony is definitely a Green ideology as it focuses on the importance of the health of the biosphere to human well-being, but it also infers other truths with its military doctrines. The upgrades show units adapted to fight alone (bonuses to fighting alone, pillaging without costing movement) , using the environment to their advantage (bonuses to fighting in miasma, no terrain-type penalties)  or cause harm upon death(20 damage when perishing). They prefer to engage in indirect warfare, relying on things like the Miasma inducer and the siege wurm calling device. Its affinity levels paint a picture of wilderness survival as well, by becoming part of the land. Miasma hurts less, to actually helping units. Aggression with aliens reduces faster (think about why you'd need that). Far more interesting is how they affect architecture and what buildings you get when you pursue Harmony. Xenofuel Plant, Xenonursery, Xeno Sanctuary, Biofactory, Growlab, Molecular Forge and Progenitor Garden all require harmony levels. Most of these are about using natural resources more effectively, including oil, which again speaks to it as a Green Ideology. Others are powerful food buildings, which allows them to avoid farming tech. Quests seem to be about self-sufficiency and environmental preservation. What I find interesting is the self-sufficiency aspect of Harmony, as it is a huge part of it that is being ignored, but also because it allows individuals to freely settle, apart from controlled government cities. You could end up with people having their own cabins in the woods and not needing any type of  special protection. There are also religious aspects, but I would need to gather quotes to show that.

I'd like to break down Supremacy and Purity in similar ways because I do think it shows the ideological and practical aspects of affinity. I'd also like to go into the quotes about each one. I think by understanding a complete in-game picture its easier to see who could fit where in Beyond Earth when removed from Planet's conditions. I think this would satisfy both BlaneckW and Yitizi's approach to the games.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 04:33:36 PM
Also, by what basis do you speak for  ;yang;?

I read his book.
http://ctext.org/shang-jun-shu/reform-of-the-law (http://ctext.org/shang-jun-shu/reform-of-the-law)

Gong sun Yang said: "There is more than one way to govern the world and there is no necessity to imitate antiquity, in order to take appropriate measures for the state.' Tang and Wu succeeded in attaining supremacy without following antiquity, and as for the downfall of Yin and Xia - they were ruined without rites having been altered. Consequently, those who acted counter to antiquity do not necessarily deserve blame, nor do those who followed established rites merit much praise. Let Your Highness not hesitate."

Duke Xiao said: "Excellent ! I have heard it said that in poor country districts, much is thought strange, and that in village schools there are many debates. What the foolish laugh about, the wise are sad about; the joy of a madman is the sorrow of a man of talent. One should, in one's plans, be directed by the needs of the times - I have no doubts about it."


That's not exactly the same person as  ;yang;...it also doesn't have the same anti-ideological position you're saying.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 04:51:01 PM
That's not exactly the same person as  ;yang;...
Legalist Sheng-Ji Yang is based on Legalist Shang Yang.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 05:35:03 PM
That's not exactly the same person as  ;yang;...
Legalist Sheng-Ji Yang is based on Legalist Shang Yang.

But that doesn't mean he's identical in all ways...and even the one you quoted doesn't show the "anything not immediately practical is worthless" approach that you are claiming.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 05:39:42 PM
But that doesn't mean he's identical in all ways...and even the one you quoted doesn't show the "anything not immediately practical is worthless" approach that you are claiming.
I'm alright with long-term practicalities.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 07:39:09 PM
But that doesn't mean he's identical in all ways...and even the one you quoted doesn't show the "anything not immediately practical is worthless" approach that you are claiming.
I'm alright with long-term practicalities.

Okay, in that case,  ;yang; is Supremacy because his long-term practical focus is to ditch the weakness of flesh, even if it takes him a while to get the necessary tech.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 09:24:39 PM
Okay, in that case,  ;yang; is Supremacy because his long-term practical focus is to ditch the weakness of flesh, even if it takes him a while to get the necessary tech.
He wants to end up supremacy in the end, he's just doesn't have the tech for it at the beginning.  He'll definitely focus on more immediately practical implementations.  But he would make investment in supremacy when there isn't said immediate practicality.  This is different from Zhakarov or Santiago.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 10:29:24 PM
Okay, in that case,  ;yang; is Supremacy because his long-term practical focus is to ditch the weakness of flesh, even if it takes him a while to get the necessary tech.
He wants to end up supremacy in the end, he's just doesn't have the tech for it at the beginning.  He'll definitely focus on more immediately practical implementations.  But he would make investment in supremacy when there isn't said immediate practicality.  This is different from Zhakarov or Santiago.

No,  ;zak; would also invest in supremacy even without immediate practical benefit.   ;santi; might not, though.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 11:08:22 PM
;zak; would also invest in supremacy even without immediate practical benefit.
That's what distinguishes the two.  Yang invests in more immediate things like industry.  He only gets around to advanced tech eventually.  Santiago focuses on cutting-edge weaponry. 
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 11:14:17 PM
;zak; would also invest in supremacy even without immediate practical benefit.
That's what distinguishes the two.  Yang invests in more immediate things like industry.  He only gets around to advanced tech eventually.  Santiago focuses on cutting-edge weaponry.

That picture is Zak, not Santiago.

But you are right about the immediate emphases, but I don't see that as a Supremacy/Purity distinction.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 29, 2014, 11:33:12 PM
That picture is Zak, not Santiago.
was talking about Zak, only mentioned Santiago at the end.

But you are right about the immediate emphases, but I don't see that as a Supremacy/Purity distinction.
Purity isn't as immediately high-tech as Supremacy.  Purity focuses on fortresses and internal solutions.  In real life (well, not real life, but you get the idea), purity would be the immediate-solutions group, putting up fortresses, doing immediate farm-work with more human labour, greenhouses, while Zak is busy working on robots and Santiago who is better at applying advanced weaponry but has poor industry.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 29, 2014, 11:58:39 PM
That picture is Zak, not Santiago.
was talking about Zak, only mentioned Santiago at the end.

Ah, my mistake.  I think there's a lot more than that that distinguishes  ;yang; from  ;zak;, though.  Most notably,  ;yang; is a lot more pro-control, whereas  ;zak; would rather researchers be able to work freely.

Quote
Purity isn't as immediately high-tech as Supremacy.

I don't think that's really true.  I think that Purity is not about low-tech (low-tech is represented by not having any affinity), but rather about using your technology to maintain the human form rather than replacing it.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 30, 2014, 12:25:50 AM
I don't think that's really true.  I think that Purity is not about low-tech (low-tech is represented by not having any affinity), but rather about using your technology to maintain the human form rather than replacing it.
Replacing the human form and using robots instead of power-suits is a high-tech pursuit that needs high-tech solutions.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 30, 2014, 12:31:28 AM
I don't think that's really true.  I think that Purity is not about low-tech (low-tech is represented by not having any affinity), but rather about using your technology to maintain the human form rather than replacing it.
Replacing the human form and using robots instead of power-suits is a high-tech pursuit that needs high-tech solutions.

And Purity is about having that option and choosing not to do it, not about not having that option.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 30, 2014, 04:03:00 AM
And Purity is about having that option and choosing not to do it, not about not having that option.
Doing it dogmaticly simply makes them insane.  Yang emphasizes the low-tech immediate solutions for advantageous purposes.  But of the three I would designate the starting practice as purity by circumstance.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 30, 2014, 01:18:10 PM
And Purity is about having that option and choosing not to do it, not about not having that option.
Doing it dogmaticly simply makes them insane.

Whether you consider it insane or not, that is what constitutes Purity.

Quote
Yang emphasizes the low-tech immediate solutions for advantageous purposes.  But of the three I would designate the starting practice as purity by circumstance.

Except that that doesn't fit how the concept is used in BE.  So either BE devised the concept and then immediately mis-used it, or you're misunderstanding it.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 30, 2014, 01:19:29 PM
Except that that doesn't fit how the concept is used in BE. 
It fits the practice, just not the amish intention.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 30, 2014, 01:21:34 PM
Except that that doesn't fit how the concept is used in BE. 
It fits the practice, just not the amish intention.

No, your understanding (where low tech is purity by default) doesn't fit the practice (of how Purity is used in BE) either.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 30, 2014, 01:56:25 PM
No, your understanding (where low tech is purity by default) doesn't fit the practice (of how Purity is used in BE) either.
I don't see you offering an alternative.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 30, 2014, 02:44:10 PM
No, your understanding (where low tech is purity by default) doesn't fit the practice (of how Purity is used in BE) either.
I don't see you offering an alternative.

Of course I did: Purity is explicitly deciding "even though we can change the human form to better adapt to the new environment, we won't".
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 30, 2014, 04:42:29 PM
Of course I did: Purity is explicitly deciding "even though we can change the human form to better adapt to the new environment, we won't".
Low-tech is low-tech, regardless of the intentions.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 30, 2014, 05:29:09 PM
Of course I did: Purity is explicitly deciding "even though we can change the human form to better adapt to the new environment, we won't".
Low-tech is low-tech, regardless of the intentions.

True, but affinity depends on the intentions.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 31, 2014, 03:49:06 AM
True, but affinity depends on the intentions.
The amish are low-tech regardless of their intentions.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on October 31, 2014, 10:22:14 AM
True, but affinity depends on the intentions.
The amish are low-tech regardless of their intentions.

Why does that matter?  You're the one who decided to bring the Amish into this; I'm perfectly fine with them being irrelevant to the discussion.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BlaneckW on October 31, 2014, 03:13:26 PM
You're the one who decided to bring the Amish into this; I'm perfectly fine with them being irrelevant to the discussion.
Space amish are also low-tech.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on November 02, 2014, 01:05:22 PM
You're the one who decided to bring the Amish into this; I'm perfectly fine with them being irrelevant to the discussion.
Space amish are also low-tech.

So then you were wrong in categorizing Purity as Amish.  Are you apologizing for your error?
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BeyondChiron on November 21, 2014, 05:20:05 AM
 ;deidre; Harmony, tendency to go green, concious of planet life, hints of desire for adaptation (the gaian acolyte prayer) which  translated into research about planetlife (assuming the Pholus mutagen quote is planetvoice answer to the implementation of said discovery) and transcendece (assuming that deirdre given the AoT and Transcendent thought means she canonically won)

 ;yang; Supremacy. People have brought up he seems to be kinda low tech but he is all about the inmortality of the mind, the control of the input and the gradual improvement process. On top of that the Self-Aware Colony seems to be his which is pretty supremacy.

 ;zak; he is complicated. His focus on research means he could be equally either supremcy or harmony (given all the genetic tech he is related, VoP and the fact that harmony does need a crapton of technologies too) but his intentions were probably more akin to those of supremacy (survival through research and science). Given his manner of speaking in the late game quotes it wouldnt be that weird to see him eventually calling robots angels and prophets, and on top of that he does have some distaste for mind worms.

 ;morgan; purity. materialistic, non caring of planet and loving that life (longevity vaccine). the Centauri Monopoly probably wouldnt work with robots or a hivemind either

 ;santi; I think she would accidently end up going supremacy. While ideologically she would probably be more Purity-like, if you agree with my interpretation of her wonder quotes, she ended up with the cloning vats, nano factories and cyborg factories...which is pretty supremacy.

 ;miriam; purity. i wont even bother explaining lol

 ;lal; i feel like ideologically he was purity, as he was all about the sancticity of humankind and the UN mission


 ;cha; harmony is the closest

 ;aki; straight up supremacy

 ;domai; no love for tech but a lot of love for handmade work and careless about planet so purity.

 ;roze;  ;ulrik; i got no clue



I'm new  btw :D

Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Geo on November 21, 2014, 10:03:31 AM
Welcome to the forum.
BUncle already made the perfect "Beyond Chiron" avatar for you. ;)
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Yitzi on November 21, 2014, 12:28:21 PM
;deidre; Harmony, tendency to go green, concious of planet life, hints of desire for adaptation (the gaian acolyte prayer) which  translated into research about planetlife (assuming the Pholus mutagen quote is planetvoice answer to the implementation of said discovery) and transcendece (assuming that deirdre given the AoT and Transcendent thought means she canonically won)

 ;yang; Supremacy. People have brought up he seems to be kinda low tech but he is all about the inmortality of the mind, the control of the input and the gradual improvement process. On top of that the Self-Aware Colony seems to be his which is pretty supremacy.

 ;zak; he is complicated. His focus on research means he could be equally either supremcy or harmony (given all the genetic tech he is related, VoP and the fact that harmony does need a crapton of technologies too) but his intentions were probably more akin to those of supremacy (survival through research and science). Given his manner of speaking in the late game quotes it wouldnt be that weird to see him eventually calling robots angels and prophets, and on top of that he does have some distaste for mind worms.

 ;morgan; purity. materialistic, non caring of planet and loving that life (longevity vaccine). the Centauri Monopoly probably wouldnt work with robots or a hivemind either

 ;santi; I think she would accidently end up going supremacy. While ideologically she would probably be more Purity-like, if you agree with my interpretation of her wonder quotes, she ended up with the cloning vats, nano factories and cyborg factories...which is pretty supremacy.

 ;miriam; purity. i wont even bother explaining lol

 ;lal; i feel like ideologically he was purity, as he was all about the sancticity of humankind and the UN mission


 ;cha; harmony is the closest

 ;aki; straight up supremacy

 ;domai; no love for tech but a lot of love for handmade work and careless about planet so purity.

 ;roze;  ;ulrik; i got no clue



I'm new  btw :D

New or not, that's a pretty decent analysis.  (I'm guessing you're new to the forum but not to the game.)
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: BeyondChiron on November 21, 2014, 04:39:31 PM
Welcome to the forum.
BUncle already made the perfect "Beyond Chiron" avatar for you. ;)

oh, awesome. I'll go check them

New or not, that's a pretty decent analysis.  (I'm guessing you're new to the forum but not to the game.)

yeah new to the forum. I love SMAC lore, it's a shame that BEs feels less conected to the game
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Mart on December 21, 2014, 02:03:07 AM
It's like we have 3 ideologies only in civBE and really not much place for new ones.
In SMACX you can create a faction with ideology that you create. In civBE, is there anything like that?
I haven't played the game yet.
Title: Re: SMAC/X and affinities
Post by: Geo on December 21, 2014, 10:28:43 AM
It's like we have 3 ideologies only in civBE and really not much place for new ones.
In SMACX you can create a faction with ideology that you create. In civBE, is there anything like that?
I haven't played the game yet.

I'm not sure, but from what little I've read there seems to be trouble implementing new affinities/ideologies in Beyond Earth.
Faction/Colony wise, its more likely your ideology/affinity is driven by what resources you have in the neighbourhood then other reasons. Its more open then SMACX, where ideology was quite 'hard implemented' by the faction.txt file.
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