Waterworld!

[Kataphraktoi]

Those files are there, its in the zip included in first post i think

[Kirov]

Can anyone start a new game with this new alphax? I've just discovered I can't, there is a screen with the Pirates, but no Planetfall follows and I need to alt+del+ctl.

Also, Bree looks kinda hot, if a bit troubled, "I like vampires" chick.

[Vishniac]

Also, Bree looks kinda hot, if a bit troubled, "I like vampires" chick.

Unfortunately due to the faction bug Daughter Bree has for me the face of Yang...but I have now Brie Bella on TV 

[Kirov]

I wonder where that image comes from. Anyhow, Vishniac, I recommend using Iniswap, a great tool around that graphics bug.

[Geo]

To the Submariners.

Also, Foreman Domai may have performed as many as two loads of his save. 

[Vishniac]

To the Technos.

[Kirov]

Yep. You had crashes, Kata?

[Kataphraktoi]

I had one crash. I have no idea why it says 2 reloads 

[ete]

I ran a simulation to test how the Bree expands.. and it's about right I think. But I'm going to give you all a warning: Watch out. They will pick off unarmoured formers mercilessly from quite early on, and they will outnumber you at sea. Taking their bases will be very hard until you get good weapons (Impact+), since they all have 3-res, even beating their normal units (3 res gunboats) is annoying. You will have to be careful with exploring as they'll pick off unarmored units easily (and armored ones if you hit an IOD), and explore moderately quickly to get a good share of the pods. However, they're unlikely to have good weapons until quite late (unless one of you decides to give them impact for some reason) and so will have trouble taking bases with more than very weak defenses. They are AI and will play stupidly in various ways. Exploit this or you will have trouble.

Additionally: They will be ahead of you in tech for some time. This is basically unavoidable since I gave them 17 bases and no inefficiency, they're going to have more energy income than a human near the start. They will fall behind in tech once you start setting up properly (especially those Tidal Energy Bonus squares and boosting facilities), but getting early probes and probing them for parity is a good idea. Either use a transport packed with cheap infantry probes (cheaper, less lost if you hit interlocks bases, but vulnerable to losing lots at once) or foil probes. An escort would help.

I'm giving these tips to try and hopefully even the balance, if one faction prepares for the Bree and the others don't.. that prepared faction will lose a lot less and gain a lot more.

Also.. I'd strongly encourage you guys to play a waterworld map in single player to get a feel for how it works. Terraforming is very different, tech paths are very different, warfare is very different, keeping vision of your territory is very different (no sensors, so you need armored crawlers with deep radar or something if you want warning), harassment attacks are very different (mostly sneaking in and capturing a few formers/crawlers with marine detachment, maybe probing a bit, then running). Get comfortable.

I would like to propose an extra rule. Either:
1. No attacking Bree Sea Colony Pods/Escape Pods at sea with units that have the Marine Detachment ability.
Or:
2. Any Sea Colony Pods/Escape Pods captured from the Bree must be immediately disbanded.

This prevents humans from taking advantage of killing a large Bree base in order to steal 2-4 Colony Pods with Marine Detachment, and will reduce micromanagement of lots of small bases later on for everyone.

And timezones/normal play hours please so I can add them to the OP .

[Kataphraktoi]

My timezone is -5 GMT, otherwise known as EST. Im in Michigan, USA,  on the east coast timezone. I typically am on anywhere from 6-10 AM in the morning to 10 PM to midnight.

[ete]

Also, wrote this: http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=5104.new#new

Would be interesting to have thoughts

And I checked everyone's state of play. Interesting diversity of base placements and exploration, some if you put bases down much faster/closer than I'd expected and are doing different terraforming than I'd thought. Also some unexpected production (land formers? already? and I think a SP-start needs announcing unless I missed the post?). I'll not comment on specific people to avoid spoilers, and will avoid this kind of general game commentary too if you players would prefer. Alternatively, if you all want commentary I can do more (while still avoiding secrets).

[Geo]

My timezone is -5 GMT, otherwise known as EST. Im in Michigan, USA,  on the east coast timezone. I typically am on anywhere from 6-10 AM in the morning to 10 PM to midnight.

My mistake.

Chairmain?

[Kataphraktoi]

Its not my SP, but i thought the rule was about announcing the 1 turn to completion of SPs not also their start(i see it in the thread OP, i just didnt remember)

Its all good Geo 

[Geo]

I know about the one turn before finishing.
Start as well?

[ete]

hm, I'm used to single player where you get a notice at start of project as well as one turn before completion by a foe, and wrote "Announce SPs the turn before they complete (when it's turns to go 1 or 0) and the turn you start them." in the opening post rules. Players can already see who is making what SPs on the SP screen, so it's really just a matter of convenience/time saving for all of you to not have to check that screen every turn (and makes this thread a bit more interesting for observers). However, if you players would prefer not to announce on SP start that's okay, I can change the rule.