Binary Dawn 1.3

[MercantileInterest]

Binary Dawn 1.3

http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=338

Description: Binary Dawn is an extensive gameplay overhaul based on Maniac's excellent Smaniac project. The new features include:

1. A reworked tech tree which allows earlier access to useful facilities like Tachyon Fields and delays discovery of certain projects like the Cloudbase Academy. Some of the techs have been renamed. For example, Centauri Agriculture allows production of formers, while Centauri Ecology permits Green Economics.

2. A revised social engineering system. Democracy is no longer the only feasible political choice. The entire society row has also undergone revision and becomes accessible earlier in the game, giving a more interesting variety of choices.

3. Rebalanced SMAC and SMAX factions. Aside from the Progenitors, all human factions should operate at roughly the same power level. Seven new factions, based around unusual gameplay options, may also be selected.

4. A redesign of the combat system. Choppers have reduced range. The AA special ability appears welll before needlejets, so fighting an opponent with air power does not equate to extinction. Hypnotic trance and empath song slightly less effective to empower PSI.

Binary Dawn includes many other features to improve the Alpha Centauri gaming experience. Try it out for a new take on a great game!

[Trenacker]

What are the new factions for those of us who don't have AC installed anymore (heresy, I know)?

[MercantileInterest]

The Genesis Protocol

The Genesis have embarked upon a grand adventure to cleanse all native life and replace it with earth alternatives. Many of their religious elements view this as an opportunity to atone for the destruction of the homeworld's ecology. They envision a planet where teeming hordes of beasts cloned from the data links may breathe under a free sky.

The Conservatory of Planet

The Conservatory of Planet hopes to prevent a collapse such as happened on old earth by adhering to the values of church, family and inheritance. They fear all revolutionary movements and plans for utopia.

The Atlanteans

These are one of Maniac's sea factions. They're a pacifist inclined Gaian splinter group. They now receive free Thermocline Transducers instead of Aqua Farms. What's the point of bonus nutrients when bases can't grow beyond size four? No one can refuse more energy.

The Shadow Ghosts

A pretty silly faction based around the fact that unity pods can turn out to be dimensional gates. They can teleport between their cities. While the background is nonsense, the gameplay is a lot of fun. The AI, of course, squanders this precious ability. Typical.

The Covenant of Planet

A Canticle for Liebowitz (often considered the best science fiction story) provided inspiration for this apostolic union. The 'welfare' aspect helps distinguish them from the Believers. The game doesn't offer a lot of rules to reflect this, so the Covenant ended up with several bonus air abilities, with the disingenuous reasoning that, in modern times, it's only welfare states which bomb other countries.

The Heroes of Olympus

Adherents of the Will to Power philosophy. These cretins will attempt to kill or enslave everyone.

The Bree

The Progenitors cooked up these hybrids in one of their labs and were careless enough to let them escape. For the sake of the experiment, they were engineered to breed rapidly. This sea based fungus faction will spread like a foul stain over all the oceans.

[Buster's Uncle]

Someone asked on Facebook yesterday if the new custom facs are suitable for vanilla SMAC/X as well...?

[MercantileInterest]

Yes, but you'd need to change their preferred governments in the text files.

And their initial techs.