Conniving Multiplayer - Game 4

[MercantileInterest]

"Gentlemen, the fate of mankind rests in our hands. The U.N.S. Unity has received no transmissions from Earth for the past thirty-seven years. We are alone, unprepared for the great task before us, but we cannot step back. We have but two choices: success or extinction. We have gone where no man has gone before and we still face impossible odds but if mankind stands together in unity, we may yet triumph."

        - Captain John Garland
                 Awakening Address

Time for our next game, with a full seven human controlled factions:  (MercantileInterest),  ,  ,  (Interplanetary Planner),  (Pierce Ji-Yang),  (Nevill),  (Now an AI). We will use this thread to post propaganda, data charts, host planetary councils, etc. Spectators, feel free to chime in.

The rules are as follows:

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A player may not:
1. Reload the game multiple times or load the game into the scenario editor
2. Conduct diplomacy prior to having met in-game
3. Use colony pods to increase a base beyond its maximum population limit
4. Use build queue manipulation or other exploits to hurry production at reduced costs, or build something that could not directly be built
5. Take advantage of the stockpile energy bug by adding it after units in build queues
6. Upgrade crawlers to more expensive designs before adding them to secret projects
7. Connect multiple artifacts to the same network node (supposedly possible if you rename the city)
8. Set the home of a unit to the base of a pacted AI faction
9. Start a terraforming task in one square, cancel it, move to a different square and then finish it there (in case of combat terraforming)
10. Perform an act of aggression against a player and complete pending negotiations in the same turn
11. Reverse engineer custom units to gain undiscovered abilities, weapons, armor, etc.

Reverse-engineering is allowed (i.e. capturing a unit and making new units from it in the workshop, even though you lack the tech).

As for probe teams, PBEM games are bugged in that the person using the team gets to decide how the faction should react upon discovery. For this reason, exposed probe team actions must always result in the harshest reply (dissolve pact/treaty).

Finally, Planetary Council information must be fully shared with all players upon request (the game doesn't properly show how the factions voted to all players, only the result).

I also propose we ban the Interceptor ability from choppers.

[MercantileInterest]

University of Planet
+++Central Datalinks+++

Societal Review Flash Update
Edition 4.1//M.Y. 2+1705//
Alpha Minus or higher authorization REQUIRED for Access
(If you have Beta Plus or lower authorization and you can see this login page, report to the nearest Psych Talent immediately.)

Engels van Horstmaan(1), P.A. Stotts(2), Rachel Liebowitz(1), Genn Stern(3), Leon Smerdykov(1)

(1) Department of Population and Personnel Registry, University Hall, Building 4, 5th Level.
(2) Department of Expansion and Exploration, University Hall, Buildings 14, 17 and 18.
(3) Office of Cryonic Restoration, University Hall, Building 4, Closet 17A.

Abstract

Since mission commencement, 84% of cryogenically preserved mission members (MM) have survived reactivation. Clear mental degradation occurred in 9% and possible degradation in 4% while a total of 16% lapsed into permanent non-functioning status. Despite lack of appropriate recycling facilities, the Office of Cryonic Restoration successfully allotted 18% of biomass for reuse. When possible, mentally degraded specimens were reassigned as laborers. The U.N. Mission Charter forbids euthanasia, so severe cases of degradation were reassigned to test compatibility of human respiratory organs with Chiron's atmosphere. 100% of cryogenic stasis pods have now been emptied and 30% have been cleared for reuse. The University of Planet's population now numbers 16,003. The Department of Expansion and Exploration requires an increase of ~20,000 within the next 18 mission years. To preserve genetic strength, the authors suggest unsealing the gene banks and introducing genetic material from non-MMs into ~50% of pregnancies.

Click HERE to Expand Full Report

[MercantileInterest]

Begin Information Burst:

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[Nevill]

Gentlemen, I think I broke a rule. It's this one:
11. Reverse engineer custom units to gain undiscovered abilities, weapons, armor, etc.

I didn't realize building a terraforming weapon requires a tech, so I built two (normal ones, cost 20 minerals, no special abilities). It is only now that I noticed I reverse-engineered something I can't normally build.

I made two of them. I guess I could disband them at a loss of 10 minerals each? Or should we restart? Sorry, that one is completely my fault, the rules were clear on that.

Also, what's up with the tech tree? Centauri Seafaring requires Centauri Agriculture, yet I have learned it without learning the pre-requisite. See the screenshot. No, I researched it myself, no pods were involved.

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Anyway, the first Datajack update will go up today once we solve the rules issue. Things are getting rather complicated between the Data Angels and the Cyborgs, and I wish we could talk this out, but I am not sure how. This thread? PMs?

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I am re-posting the message here, because it's hardly top secret.

"Hello. I realize I am not making the best first impression, but I do not believe I have a choice. I am trapped on an island of 3x8 tiles, and your continent is right next to it. I could either stagnate, or I could migrate to your side, which I did. However, it does not have to be like this. If you let my units take your HQ without resistance, you will be  moved to another starting location, and I can even share some of my technologies so that you weren't at a disadvantage compared to other players who got an uninterrupted start. Losing a few years of progress is less detrimental than losing several decades, and if you get extra techs out of it, you might still be better off than other players who are isolated. Please condsider the offer - it will only get harder to restart the more this war drags on. Also, did you know that you can scroll the messages up? Because until recently I didn't. So I am just mentioning it because this text is getting long. We can continue this discussion on a forum if you so wish, it's pretty hard to do in-game."

It looks like the game does not let you post more than 3 messages, that's why I didn't know you can scroll up. Once I wrote this, I couldn't access the first lines because the game ate them. Oh well.

[MercantileInterest]

Terraforming equipment doesn't require a tech, although you need Centauri Agriculture to lay down forests or kelp.

Right before we started the game, I sent out an updated version of the alphax.txt file which fixes some minor problems with the data links. Perhaps you missed it? It's included in this post. Seafaring only requires the Hydrogen reactor.

You seem to be doing nicely. Who's landing pod did you commandeer? I don't remember putting you in charge of one when the Unity was breaking up in orbit. (Zakharov held a high position in the chain of command.)

[Nevill]

FFFFFFFFFFUUUUU---! I have already disbanded one former because I thought it wasn't allowed.

It's because I am playing on different machines depending on where I end up after work. The one I started the game on used the correct file, which is how the correct research topic got picked. On the machine I used to make the last turn I just downloaded the latest mod version and unpacked it, figuring that you guys must have fixed whatever problems there were. I'll make sure to update alphax.txt on the second machine as well.

Eh, must've been another bureaucratic mistake. Check the files, it's all there. (Neener-neener, a two-year old could hack that!)

[MercantileInterest]

The Cyborgs say their simulations predict your inevitable defeat. Let's see if they do any better than poor Domai last game.

[MercantileInterest]

Editor's Note: Access to the rock formation associated with the 'alien monolith' hoax is currently restricted due to the dangerously high percentage of perchlorates in the soil. Your safety is our first concern.

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Incidentally, that 1523km between the bases represents the actual distance, not just some number I invented. Using Planet's radius, counting the amount of tiles on the north south axis and calculating the exact hypotenuse of a right triangle allowed me to reach the right number.

Clearly, we're not playing fast enough.

[MercantileInterest]

University of Planet
+++Central Datalinks+++

Societal Review Flash Update
Edition 9.0//M.Y. 012.3.59.6:45//
Beta Medium or higher authorization REQUIRED for Access
(If you have Beta Minus or lower authorization and you can see this login page, report to the nearest Psych Talent immediately.)

Tatiana Rodgers(1), Genn Stern(2), Lisa Wong(1), Gretchen Vanderbeek(1), Ronald Bosley(1)

(1) Department of Psychology and Common Welfare, University Hall, Buildings 36 and 37.
(2) Department of Population and Personnel Registry, University Hall, Building 31.



Abstract

The unique stresses and challenges of the mission, together with complete isolation from the home-world, has allowed the Department of Psychology and Common Welfare important insights in optimizing social interaction. Building psych profiles with these new techniques, now allows successful(1) prediction of human behavior in 83(+/-6)% of cases. Using these efficient tools, managers may now place compatible workers together and easily detect early indicators of deviant behaviors (plagiarism, academic fraud, energy misallocation, etc.). Furthermore, this opens the possibility of restorative counseling centers for malcontents, allowing the collegial environment to continue without disruption.

Click HERE to Expand Full Report

Notes on timekeeping:

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Worked out the new University timekeeping system, as Metric as Zakharov could possibly make it.

M.Y. 012+3.59.6:45

The first three digits indicate Mission Year, with 000 corresponding to AD 2100. The next digit indicates the month. With 532 days on Planet, we observe five months of a hundred days and one special month of thirty-two days. The next value indicates the day. The final area (M.Y. 012.3.59.6:45) keeps track of hours and minutes. We have ten hours of one hundred minutes and a shorter eleventh hour of thirty-two minutes.

And, yes, I now have all the prerequisites for Secrets of the Human Brain. Standby for the excitement of the discovery to generate new research!

EDIT: Planetary years are much longer than Earth years so the Mission Year will be less than the Gregorian year. For example, AD 2120 corresponds to M.Y. 018+5.07.5:75 Unfortunately, this entry, and those prior, count Mission Years as if they were the same length as Earth years.

[MercantileInterest]

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[Nevill]

This was supposed to go up a month ago. Better late than never, I guess.

[Pierce Ji-Yang]

As we approach the 25th anniversary of planet fall, the Hive people look back on the accomplishments of the last quarter century. The Hive people have gone from near extinction to quadrupling their population. The unknown face of planet is being explored by brave People's Party members at an astonishing rate. Industrious Terra-formers transform the hostile environment into a people's paradise. The Glorious Leader himself has used his great knowledge to build great machines with unmatched technology that brings scientists to tears when they gaze on them.

However, the People's Perfect Paradise does not halt its progress on this glorious day. It marches ever onward to even greater perfection. Plans to expand the Paradise with new bases are being put into effect as multiple potential sites have been identified. Efficient base facilities are under construction by tireless workers. Even a grand canal system connecting two great oceans is in progress. New technologies are being developed by the Glorious Leader at a rate that astonishes even himself.

All these accomplishments and more are done while maintaining the most Perfect Society ever developed. The Glorious Leader has done what humankind has striven towards for all time. All that remains is for the scattered remains of humanity on Planet to join the People's Perfect Society and then progress will march on towards the stars!

<applause, cheer, or cry tears of joy at Glorious Leader's announcement at this time>

- Glorious Leader signing off.

[MercantileInterest]

! No longer available

University of Planet
+++Central Datalinks+++

Xenoecological Review
Edition 25.2//M.Y. 023.1.24.7:35//
To access related articles, please click HERE

Deidre Skye(1), Klaus Childers(1), P.Q. Taggart(2), Stan Marai(1), Sonia "Grushenka" Holakhov(3)

(1) Department of Ecology, University Hall, Quadrant 3, Pasteur Complex.
(2) Department of Agriculture, University Hall, Quadrant 3, Ishino Compound.
(3) Office of Continental Xenobiology, Outremer Field Research, Building 19.

Abstract

Formica Kornhoer is the dominant species of Terra Cognita. Having explored the entirety of our homeland, the Department of Ecology can now definitively state all seven hundred-thirty four discovered formicae species (often referred to as ants) either directly or indirectly serve Formica Kornhoer. The unprecedented orderliness of formicae society was immediately evident upon planetfall, when thousands of Formicae Paulo, Formicae Benjamin and Formicae Gault executed a multi-stage attack on the landing group, inflicting eight casualties before security forces drove them back with sheet flamers. (SEE reports of the incident.) Our research shows that every single formica species in Terra Cognita participates in a conjoined web of survival we have designated the "nest", often displaying astonishing degrees of specialization. The "nest" has cultivated our entire homeland but does not appear to extend to Outremer.

Click HERE to Expand Full Report

OOC commentary:

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My formicae are inspired by the ants in Adrian Tchaikovsky's 'Children of Time'. In any case, I researched Seafaring instead of Secrets of the Human Brain. Well, I suppose reliable transport between Terra Cognita and Outremer is more important than a few psychological insights. Also, the "nest" has been enriching biofuels on top of Faraday Mons. We'll have to build a base over there to harvest those new energy resources.

[Nevill]

A message to the deeply respected CEO Howell from DataNevill, broadcast through open channels.

"Greetings, CEO. We would like to inform you that the vendetta between our two factions is merely a result of a misunderstanding. We have engaged in tech trade with your faction as per our treaty, but the process was rushed and did not go through the official channels. We want to stress that we stand in favor of fair trade, and that any and all accusations of industrial espionage are completely baseless.

To convince you of our good intentions, we offer you a gesture of trust and goodwill by presenting you with not one, but two technologies that you do not currently have. There is a high chance that you are already researching one of them, so accepting the offer would allow you to redirect the efforts of your scientists towards different goals. We would recommend to maintain focus on Exploration techs, since we would be interested in trading more of them with you later.

Do note that the offer is limited, since you are 1 turn away from a breakthrough. If you do not accept our proposal the moment it appears (that is, before the scientists submit their report), you will waste 8 years worth of research learning something we offer you for free."

[Interplanetary Planner]

Howell News Flash!