Alpha Centauri 2

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri & Alien Crossfire => Modding => Topic started by: Bearu on May 24, 2020, 08:00:56 PM

Title: Faction Agendas under Intense Rivalry and No Randomized Faction Agendas
Post by: Bearu on May 24, 2020, 08:00:56 PM

While I looked into the code for the COMMFREQ Faction bonus, I noticed a section of code for the activation of the AI agenda flag under the intense rivalry rule and no randomized faction agenda rule at the start of a game. This flag affects multiple areas I have not searched thoroughly, but the active flag increases aggression and reduces diplomatic attitude values in diplomacy. I give some potential flavor reasons for the binary pairings.

The game sets flags for:
Peacekeepers and Spartans.
I think this occurs because of Santiago's affairs in the destruction of the Unity mission backstory.
Gaians and Morgan:
For the obvious reason of Morgan's lowered interest in Planet versus the Gaian's focus on ecology.

Hive and Believers:
The anti theist Hive and the theist Believers fight in perpetual conflict over God's role in society.

University and Believers:
The trope of religion versus science. The same conflict also appears in the Unity backstory.

Believe and Cultist:
A case of Earth religion versus Chiron's religion.

Peace and Pirates:
The anti authoritarian pirates against the protectors of international law.

Drone and Morgan:
The capitalists versus the communists.

Drone and Hive:
The Drones hate the authoritarian Hive. This portion appears in the backstory of the Drones in SMACX.

Angels and Hive:
The Angels anarchist tendencies deplore the statism of the Hive.

Angels and Cyborgs:
I have no coherent idea for this binary pairing.

Title: Re: Faction Agendas under Intense Rivalry and No Randomized Faction Agendas
Post by: bvanevery on May 24, 2020, 11:19:52 PM

In the stock game without any change to rivalry or faction agendas, I've wondered how the Gaians and the Cult of Planet can usually be at each other's throats.  It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, narrative-wise.  It seems to be a game design fiat that they shall not team up, even though they should.

I can see Angels and Cyborgs being opposed, as the former are humanistic, jazzy, and life-loving.  The latter are rationalist, unemotional, and naturally inclined towards Statism.

Now of course I messed this up in my mod by making Roze into Thought Control.   ;lol  Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I've also recently adopted Miriam's idea that cyborgs suck.  My Cybernetic is getting a -1 JUSTICE penalty (my version of EFFIC).

I guess I got the Free Drones pegged.  In my mod they're not allowed to pick Police State, because they're not going back to being enslaved.  I have Socialist not Planned, and as of my version 1.43 the Free Drones will be Socialist.  I have Adaptive Economics giving Socialist.  The Alien quote / voice acting is clearly about Socialism.

Title: Re: Faction Agendas under Intense Rivalry and No Randomized Faction Agendas
Post by: Bearu on May 25, 2020, 12:22:53 AM

For clarification, this faction agenda flag operates independently of the checks for abhorrent social models and social model preferences of the factions. The flag accelerates hatred among the above paired factions.

Title: Re: Faction Agendas under Intense Rivalry and No Randomized Faction Agendas
Post by: bvanevery on May 25, 2020, 01:12:45 AM

Yeah I was just guessing that the Gaians and the Cult already have a hardwired hatred flag of some kind.

Title: Re: Faction Agendas under Intense Rivalry and No Randomized Faction Agendas
Post by: Nexii on May 25, 2020, 01:41:49 AM

Angels and Cycon is individualistic vs collectivistic. Similar to Hive/Drones but more along social lines rather than economic ones.

Interestingly re: Rose and Thought Control. Thought Control is described in many of the diplomacy dialogues as one powerful individual ruling a society. It may not be as individualistic as Eudaimonic though, but it's definitely more individualistic than Cybernetic.