Binary Dawn Overhaul

[MercantileInterest]

The first version of Centauri Dawn is now available. Centauri Dawn features all of Maniac's great combat and AI improvements, while fixing common complaints, such as social engineering. This also balances out the original and Crossfire factions. A number of improvements are outlined below.

Factions:
The Morganite base limit has increased to six. I've returned them to their original -1 support, as -2 was just too crippling.

Spartans can now rush production at 90% cost, as their industry penalties made them the most difficult original faction.

Gaians have been altered to represent environmentalists, as opposed to Planet Cult style fungus fanatics. They now build free tree farms in all their bases but are capped at size three. They also suffer from a harsher police penalty. Hopefully, .exe modding will eventually allow them +1 nutrient from forests, thus eliminating the need for free tree farms.

University research only requires 80% of normal research points. This allows them to max out research in social engineering.

Fungus:
Those of you who played Smaniac may recall that fungus benefits came too early. They've been pushed back up the tech tree so normal terraforming is still worthwhile after the first hundred turns.

Technology:
Maniac consolidated a number of technologies. Centauri Dawn reinstates a few deleted technologies. It makes soil enrichers easier to research, thus allowing farms/collectors to compete with fungus or forests. It also moves planet busters down the tree, so they don't start with level three reactors.

Centauri Dawn allows numerous new strategies for a challenging new take on the game.

[Buster's Uncle]

http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=17448.0

[vonbach]

I cant get this to download.

[Buster's Uncle]

Phooey; that came out with a filesize of zero.  MI, you need to re-upload...

[vonbach]

Hmm heres a question any thoughts on balancing the AC factions? The Drones revolt ability doesn't work on the AI
and the Angels seem very weak.

[MercantileInterest]

Re-uploaded as Binary Dawn. Much better name. Here's hoping it works.

[Buster's Uncle]

Siiigh.  I get a filesize of zero, again...

[Buster's Uncle]

Until one of our tech d00dz gets on the stick -which may be in a few hours, or at least Saturday- the file is here for your downloading pleasure: http://alphacentauri2.info/downloads/BinaryDawn.zip

[vonbach]

I got it to download this time. Looking it over.

[vonbach]

There are some interesting factions in it. I'll probably use some of them. What techs did you add?

[MercantileInterest]

This actually has a couple less techs than standard SMAX, but more than Smaniac. Things have been rearranged considerably. For example, choppers precede needlejets but they have less range. AA tracking comes with the same technology as choppers, so factions can actually defend themselves from bombers.

[vonbach]

I'll try it soon.

[Buster's Uncle]

DrazharLn of the Max Power has been of tech assistance, and Binary Dawn has been properly uploaded, and file ownership assigned to Mech.

http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=17546.msg87580#new

-I've linked it 10 places on Facebook, and it seems to have drawn an impressive amount of attention in less than an hour...

[Buster's Uncle]

From a Facebook group I linked BD in:

Wait, so Gaians can't have a base bigger than size 3?

MI?  I'll pass along any answer...

[MercantileInterest]

Not without Hab Complexes. Tree farms make them too powerful otherwise. Not only can they easily reach 2/2/1 per square, they also receive a 50% economy bonus from the facility while paying no maintenance.