Alpha Centauri 2 Forum Community Succession Game

[Kirov]

Damn, things were happening this time around.

2131: I changed the production at Gaia's Landing from RecTanks to a Colony Pod. Sorry, expansion can't wait. Put all garrisoned units on alert (hit 'L' and they will wake up if any third party unit touches them). Killed the PK's probe team. Also, I moved the mind worm from Gaia's Landing into fungus to comb it.

2132: Another PK's probe team destroyed.

2133: We researched Applied Physics (I don't recommend prototyping it without Mobility just now). Also, our mind worm found and engaged PK's scout patrol and lost despite having 3:2 odds! Curses. The Pines established. Tighter base grid can be useful for now.

2134: After the last failure, I decided to start a bunch of scout patrols and move them out to comb fungus for native life. We need mind worms for fighting, we're too feeble to pull it off with regular units.

2135: Our scout patrol from Thorny Vineyard, moved a bit South, found the PK's scout patrol and avenged our mind worm. Two formers started to build a sensor array near our frontline, the Garden of Paradise.

the turn of 35/36: A sneak attack by the Hive, who killed our brave brave scout patrol! I was not allowed to deal with it this turn, but it's likely than a truce can be made. Sometimes the AI just "seizes the opportunity" and I believe that if our scout patrol was not standing there, Yang would have not attacked. Also, I sneak attacked him first so he already has the diplomacy setting "I was betrayed". 


If I may suggest something: get those scout patrols out into fungus to earn their bread and butter. I would even take the risk of leaving empty bases, it's usually worth it. 2-1-1 are expensive and really not that good without the rover chassis. We don't need that many formers at the moment, we're good with the forest we have. Bear in mind that right now there's no garrison in Thorny Vineyard. If you want to stay safe, disbanding the former and buying a scout patrol would not be the silliest thing to do (although probably not that necessary).

Remember that in trouble, we can sacrifice our alien artifact to prototype the 2-1-1, but let's hope it doesn't come to that. Even a scout patrol standing on that forest with the sensor just right to the Garden of Paradise has a good chance of defending.

And guys, when setting colony pods to build take a look if the growth comes before the production so that we don't waste minerals waiting for the second populant.

EDIT: typo.

[Bodissey]

2136
• former @(105,15) plants a forest for the new base @(103,15).

2137
• Founded Blackroot Palace @(103,15) and started producing a former.
• Partially rushed the Scout in Garden of Paradise.

2139
• Approached by Lal with 2 (2-1-2) rovers and a Probe team @(114,14). He asks for Ethical Calculus to end the vendetta. I decided to comply. Blood truce signed.
• Hatchling sealurk spotted @(101,15) near Blackroot Palace. A green scout team is defending the base...

End turn. The scout succesfully defended against the sealurk... Interlude from the Book of Planet. "Worm attack on base..."

2140
• Lal's rovers are now @(114,12). Dispatched 2 scouts in Thorny Vineyard to prevent surprise takeover.
• Rushbuilt former @Thorny Vineyard

End turn.
We discovered Information Network.
A Discover advance is the next tech: Secrets of the Human Brain maybe?

2141
EC 40. We might want to switch to Democracy if we are to placate Lal.
Thorny Vineyard and Blackroot Palace are ready for some new production.
Lal's two rovers are @(113,11) bordering Thorny Vineyard.
Scout patrol @(105,9) needs to police Gaia's Landing.
A ColPod @(112,4) can found a new base if deemed necessary.

Don't forget to "deMac" the file before playing...

[Kirov]

When PK rovers are gone, please put a scout patrol on (112,12), right next to the Garden of Paradise. There's no reason to allow them this close to Thorny. It's worrying we're kinda at his mercy now.

[Mart]

I should play soon, just a bit of time for possible next player.

And I wonder why Lal is so strong. Looking at power graph, Zakharov is very big faction too. My guess is, they have contact and traded techs.

Lal is generally friendly towards Gaians. Maybe with some diplomacy we could get friendly response from Peacekeepers and get some of their "goodies"
We have truce now, I will see, if treaty is possible.

[Geo]

What's this Bodissey posts about 'demacing the save'?

[Geo]

Just installed a SMAX version with Yitzi's 3.4 patch. I could play the turn if placed on the roster.

EDIT: I'll just play 5 turns, and post it here. No good, somebody else can replay.

[Kirov]

Have a go, please. The more, the merrier. Post any thoughts you have. Nobody is ever bound by sb else's suggestions, but personally I'd welcome more brainstorming and strategy discussion.

[Buster's Uncle]

...I wish the whole forum had more brainstorming and strategy discussion...

[Kirov]

You see, guys? The Master has spoken His wish. All hail the Master!

[Mart]

What's this Bodissey posts about 'demacing the save'?

When using the Macintosh SMACX, it has different than windows path syntax. It uses more colons, that is "indigestible" for windows. SMACX just does not open a save window at this point, when you try to save the game. The game unfortunately loads the path for saving from the file.
The fix is relatively easy, as I noticed, both singleplayer and multiplayer games have that path starting at file location 0x561 (that is hexadecimal location, the one that runs from 0 to F).
I do it in so-called hex editor, like XVI (free application).
Once someone made such an application to do it (exe file). And I think, I will make yet another one.

Anyway, the demacified save is here, and you can play the 5 turns.
 
[Edit]
Some mistakes, I must be tired and write 'funny'

[Buster's Uncle]

You see, guys? The Master has spoken His wish. All hail the Master!

Yessss.

Oh, my gracious and wonderful people; how you love me.  How well I rule you utterly and take care of you...

[Geo]

What's this Bodissey posts about 'demacing the save'?

When using the Macintosh SMACX, it has different than windows path syntax. It uses more colons, that is "indigestible" for windows. SMACX just does not open a save window at this point, when you try to save the game. The game unfortunately loads the path for saving from the file.
The fix is relatively easy, as I noticed, both singleplayer and multiplayer games have that path starting at file location 0x561 (that is hexadecimal location, the one that runs from 0 to F).
I do it in so-called hex editor, like XVI (free application).
Once someone made such an application to do it (exe file). And I think, I will make yet another one.

Anyway, the demacified save is here, and you can play the 5 turns.
 
[Edit]
Some mistakes, I must be tired and write 'funny'

Appearantly I didn't need it, because I could open the turn without a problem. I placed it manually in the saves folder of my "Community Succession Game" installment.

[Mart]

The problem appears when trying to save the file.
Check it - try to save with a new name.
It may work for you though, but Yitzi patch does not fix that problem, afaik.

[Geo]

MY 2141

Formers:

• Forest started on 108,6
• Solar Collector on 100,6
• Road on 105,13
• Moved from Blackroot Palace to 103,13
• Sensor continued on 113,7

Military:

• Scouts moved to 105,3 - 111,3 - 103,3 - 112,12 and Gaia's Landing

Bases:

• Thorny Vineyard started on Laser Infantry
• Blackroot Palace started on a Scout Patrol
• Children of Earth founded at 112,4, started on a Former
• The Doctor in Gaia's Landing is tending a forest again
• Chiron Preserve grows next turn to size 2, changed the worker to Doctor

Social Engineering:

• switched to Democracy and put labs on 100% (no inefficiency loss), tech every 8 turns atm

Interfactional:

• The Peacekeepers have 2 laser rovers on 113,11

MY 2142

Formers:

• 2 Formers to 112,6
• Former on 103,13 started a road

Military:

• Scout Patrol to 112,2 - spotted a pod on 112,0
• Scout Patrol to 103,1
• Scout Patrol moved into Chiron Preserve for policing

Bases:

• Chiron Preserve has 2 workers again

Interfactional:

• Peacekeeper Laser Rovers maintain their position on 113,11 south of Thorny Vineyard

MY 2143

Formers:

• Road constructed on 112,6
• Former moved to the nutrients on 115,9

Military:

• Scout Patrol moved out of Thorny Vineyard to 110,8 (road to Garden of Paradise)
• Both northern Scout Patrol failed to move in the fungus

Bases:

• Blackroot Palace grows next turn to size 2, changed the worker to Doctor

Interfactional:

• No changes on the Eastern Front

MY 2144

Formers:

• Road started on 115,9
• Forest started on 112,6
• Forest planted on 108,6
• Road finished on 103,13
• Former moved to 102,12

Military:

• Scout Patrol arrived in Garden of Paradise
• Scout Patrol popped a pod on 112,0 - it spawned a mindworm
• Scout Patrol moved to 104,4

Bases:

• Garden of Paradise grows to size 2 next turn

Interfactional:

• The Peacekeepers maintain their vigil south of Thorny Vineyard

MY2145

Formers:

• Former finished road on 102,12 and its colleague started a forest on the same tile
• Former moved to 105,7 and started a road
• Forest planted on 112,6
• Road finished on 115,9

Military:

• Scout Patrol on 112,0 destroyed by the spawned mindworm
• Scout Patrol on 104,0 failed to move to 106,0 (towards the spawned mindworm)

Bases:

• Blackroot Palace finished a Scout Patrol, and started on another one. I intended the new production for The Pines, which grows to size 2 in 5 turns

Interfactional:

• No changes

So, I leave us with empty energy banks, and the next tech should arrive on MY 2149.
Gaia's Landing, Chiron Preserve, and Children of Earth finished their production (2 colony pods and a former). CoE had a Scout Patrol in its queue. I put both other bases in Stockpile Energy mode.
Tile 115,9 (nutrients) is ready for terraforming. I suggest forest+sensor there.
I feel its time we start on the Genome Project for easier drone control.

[Geo]

The problem appears when trying to save the file.
Check it - try to save with a new name.
It may work for you though, but Yitzi patch does not fix that problem, afaik.

Didn't have a problem saving (and renaming) either.