New SMAX game

[Buster's Uncle]

Me and my big mouth; I've never messed with these tables, and I don't know how to get it lined up right.

[Armageddon]

Doesn't matter !

[Rymdolov]

BTW, is there any way I can put my data in the setup table above?

Hold on, I'll do it.

[Rymdolov]

Ok, that took some time. I added rule preferences. Have a look, Arm, and tell me if I've interpreted you right. The factions are suggestions; comments are welcome. I'd like to have AIs in the game.

Average oceans are ok for a medium map, so I changed my vote.

Setup	Preferences			Rymdolov	Armageddon
-	Factions	Gaians	Drones	Cyborgs	Morganites	Data Angels	Believers	Spartans
SMAC	Game: SMAC/SMAX & patches	v5.0(XP patch)+unofficial patch(Scient)
random	Map: Random or not			random	random
	Size			Medium	Medium
	Ocean coverage			average	as low as we can agree on
	Erosive forces			average	average
	Native life forms			sparse	sparse
	Cloud cover			average	average
	Unity pods: on/off			Different than the last game	Different than the last game
	Difficulty level			Librarian or higher	Transcend
	Allow Victory by Transcendence			on	on
	Allow Victory by Conquest			on	on
	Allow Diplomatic Victory			on	on
	Allow Economic Victory			on	on
	Allow Cooperative Victory			on	on
on	Do or Die: Don't restart eliminated players	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Look first: Flexible starting locations			on
	Tech stagnation: slower rate of research discoveries			off
	Spoils of war: Steal tech when conquer base			off
off	Blind research: cannot set precise research goals			off	off
	Intense Rivalry: Opponents more aggressiv			off
on	No Unity Survey: World Map not visible			on
	No Unity Scattering: Supply Pods only at landing sites			off
	Bell Curve: No Random Events			off
	Time Warp: Accelerated Start (on/off/custom*)			off
on	Iron Man: Save/Restore restricted to exit	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
off	Randomize faction leader personalities			off	off
off	Randomize faction leader social agendas			off	off
	Expected turn rate (usually 24h)			24h	24h
	Number of days to wait before turn is 'pushed'**			3

[demiurg]

if you don't mind id like to be angels, medium map is fine id like transcendent and will go with the majority on everything else

[Rymdolov]

We have a third player. 

Ok, this is the new table with demiurg added. The issues that, to me, seem to be resolved have been added to the column farthest to the left (like sisko would do). I've taken for granted that both of you want all victory conditions to be on. As soon as Arm's had a look and a say about the unresolved ones (by flipping a coin? ) we are set for a 3 player game!

Oh, maybe we should discuss what other factions to use (as AI). I think it would be fair if each of us has one "natural enemy" on the map, ie, a faction leader who demands that you use a SE choice which you can't. Deirdre, for example, demands Green politics from Morgan who can't make that choice, making them natural enemies.

Setup	Preferences	AI	AI	Rymdolov	Armageddon	demiurg	AI	AI
-	Factions	Gaians	Drones	Cyborgs	Morganites	Data Angels	Believers	Spartans
SMAX	Game: SMAC/SMAX & patches	v5.0(XP patch)+unofficial patch(Scient)
random	Map: Random or not			random	random	random
Medium	Size			Medium	Medium	Medium
average	Ocean coverage			average	as low as we can agree on	-
average	Erosive forces			average	average	-
sparse	Native life forms			sparse	sparse	-
average	Cloud cover			average	average	-
	Unity pods: on/off			Different than the last game	Different than the last game	-
Transcend	Difficulty level			Librarian or higher	Transcend	Transcend
on	Allow Victory by Transcendence			on	on	-
on	Allow Victory by Conquest			on	on	-
on	Allow Diplomatic Victory			on	on	-
on	Allow Economic Victory			on	on	-
on	Allow Cooperative Victory			on	on	-
on	Do or Die: Don't restart eliminated players	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Look first: Flexible starting locations			on		-
	Tech stagnation: slower rate of research discoveries			off		-
	Spoils of war: Steal tech when conquer base			off		-
off	Blind research: cannot set precise research goals			off	off	off
	Intense Rivalry: Opponents more aggressiv			off		-
on	No Unity Survey: World Map not visible			on		-
	No Unity Scattering: Supply Pods only at landing sites			off		-
	Bell Curve: No Random Events			off		-
	Time Warp: Accelerated Start (on/off/custom*)			off		-
on	Iron Man: Save/Restore restricted to exit	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
off	Randomize faction leader personalities			off	off	off
off	Randomize faction leader social agendas			off	off	off
	Expected turn rate (usually 24h)			24h	24h	-
	Number of days to wait before turn is 'pushed'**			3		-

[Armageddon]

Great ! Good News, Demiurg! Welcome

Just for the unresolved rules:

Flexible start: on
Tech stag: off
Spoils: off
intense rival: off
Pods: i dont care (off?)
Bell Curve: i dont care (off?)
Time Warp: off

AI: Good Idea from Rym, let's do it like this.

[Rymdolov]

Quick update of the table. Will return about the AI factions.

Setup	Preferences	AI	AI	Rymdolov	Armageddon	demiurg	AI	AI
-	Factions	Gaians	Drones	Cyborgs	Morganites	Data Angels	Believers	Spartans
SMAX	Game: SMAC/SMAX & patches	v5.0(XP patch)+unofficial patch(Scient)
random	Map: Random or not			random	random	random
Medium	Size			Medium	Medium	Medium
average	Ocean coverage			average	as low as we can agree on	-
average	Erosive forces			average	average	-
sparse	Native life forms			sparse	sparse	-
average	Cloud cover			average	average	-
	Unity pods: on/off			Different than the last game	Different than the last game	-
Transcend	Difficulty level			Librarian or higher	Transcend	Transcend
on	Allow Victory by Transcendence			on	on	-
on	Allow Victory by Conquest			on	on	-
on	Allow Diplomatic Victory			on	on	-
on	Allow Economic Victory			on	on	-
on	Allow Cooperative Victory			on	on	-
on	Do or Die: Don't restart eliminated players	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
on	Look first: Flexible starting locations			on	on	-
off	Tech stagnation: slower rate of research discoveries			off	off	-
off	Spoils of war: Steal tech when conquer base			off	off	-
off	Blind research: cannot set precise research goals			off	off	off
off	Intense Rivalry: Opponents more aggressiv			off	off	-
on	No Unity Survey: World Map not visible			on		-
off	No Unity Scattering: Supply Pods only at landing sites			off	doesn't care	-
off	Bell Curve: No Random Events			off	doesn't care	-
off	Time Warp: Accelerated Start (on/off/custom*)			off	off	-
on	Iron Man: Save/Restore restricted to exit	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
off	Randomize faction leader personalities			off	off	off
off	Randomize faction leader social agendas			off	off	off
	Expected turn rate (usually 24h)			24h	24h	-
	Number of days to wait before turn is 'pushed'**			3		-

[Armageddon]

Since the other game will start with scattered pods, I would suggest this game without pods.
Days before turn pushed is 7 days, though I think this won't happen with these players 
Demiurg, you got anything else, or should we sisko ask to setup a fair map?

Anyhow, I have to say that I will be on a trip without my comp until Tuesday. It would be great if we could start next week.

[Bodissey]

Hi,
If there is still an opening, I'd like to join as the good foreman...

Setup	Preferences	AI	Bodissey	Rymdolov	Armageddon	demiurg	AI	AI
-	Factions	Gaians	Drones	Cyborgs	Morganites	Data Angels	Believers	Spartans
SMAX	Game: SMAC/SMAX & patches	v5.0(XP patch)+unofficial patch(Scient)
random	Map: Random or not		random	random	random	random
Medium	Size		Large/Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
average	Ocean coverage		average	average	as low as we can agree on	-
average	Erosive forces		average	average	average	-
sparse	Native life forms		average	sparse	sparse	-
average	Cloud cover		average	average	average	-
	Unity pods: on/off		on	Different than the last game	Different than the last game	-
Transcend	Difficulty level		Transcend	Librarian or higher	Transcend	Transcend
on	Allow Victory by Transcendence		on	on	on	-
on	Allow Victory by Conquest		on	on	on	-
on	Allow Diplomatic Victory		on	on	on	-
on	Allow Economic Victory		on	on	on	-
on	Allow Cooperative Victory		on	on	on	-
on	Do or Die: Don't restart eliminated players	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
on	Look first: Flexible starting locations		on	on	on	-
off	Tech stagnation: slower rate of research discoveries		off	off	off	-
off	Spoils of war: Steal tech when conquer base		off	off	off	-
off	Blind research: cannot set precise research goals		off	off	off	off
off	Intense Rivalry: Opponents more aggressiv		off	off	off	-
on	No Unity Survey: World Map not visible		on	on		-
off	No Unity Scattering: Supply Pods only at landing sites		off	off	doesn't care	-
off	Bell Curve: No Random Events		on	off	doesn't care	-
off	Time Warp: Accelerated Start (on/off/custom*)		off	off	off	-
on	Iron Man: Save/Restore restricted to exit	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
off	Randomize faction leader personalities		off	off	off	off
off	Randomize faction leader social agendas		off	off	off	off
	Expected turn rate (usually 24h)		24h	24h	24h	-
	Number of days to wait before turn is 'pushed'**		5	3		-

Hope it's not too late...

[Armageddon]

Yes, I think it's fine. I just hope we can keep the turn/24h even with four players. And also Rym's idea about AI (each gets a natural enemy) is maybe not possible anymore. But I didn't check it, so maybe. Still I think it's a nice idea. If not possible, I would suggest random AI.

[demiurg]

does anyboduy have a problem with like geographical locations?, eg the unity crash site, mountains, mainifold centre things like that?

[Armageddon]

No, I like them, though I often not know how to use them.

[Rymdolov]

1) I like landmarks, too. You can find their functions both in the manual(s) and in the in-game datalinks, if that's what you mean. If you find the Unity Wreckage, make sure to explore all squares of it, since there are a number of goodies to be found randomly spread across it (four, I think).

2) Turning pods off is ok for me.

3) Starting next week sounds good to me.

4) The natural enemy thing seemed a good idea in theory, but this game is so darned well balanced!  Morgan can use Green politics, for example. Natural enemies make the most difference between two or more AI-controlled facs. I say we might just as well pick some factions that we think are cool. My suggestion is that you pick one AI faction each. That's ok by me.

5) Oh, and I agree that Bodissey is welcome to join. 

[demiurg]

i should be able to play daily, though i will say ill be gone for a sunday and a monday in september (not sure of the monday ) but the sun is the 24th i think