Alpha Centauri 2 - New Faction Concepts Inspired by Beyond Earth

[Trenacker]

So... About those heavy metals. And that acid rain.

It makes intuitive sense to me that water should be one of the resources most important to a group of settlers trying to colonize an alien world. Of course, by redesigning Planet's hydrology, I'm also imposing artificial scarcity. I don't want to go the route of introducing Tiberium or Vespene Gas, but I imagine that water will be a thing more disputed than, say, energy or minerals.

Still taking suggestions re: the tech tree, too.

[Geo]

Sorry, seems we were hijacking the thread.

If a habitable exoplanet has quite a higher share of heavy metals in its composition, colonists would have a hell of a time keeping their water sufficiently clean, and their growing plants from taking in the heavy metals in its soil. Basically humans would be forced to live in sealed habitats until (if ever) one of the next generations would adapt to this higher heavy metal count in the planet's environment. And their food and water as well.

[Trenacker]

Not at all. I work for a power company, so that particular discussion was fascinating. Believe you me, I'm glad to have some new data points to offer when somebody asks, "Why is reliability so much better in Europe?"

[Trenacker]

I like the idea of harder living. That's exactly what I intended. That would make water substantially more valuable.

[Buster's Uncle]

Sure; I think AC has a credibility gap in not playing up the challenges of Planet just to breathe and drink and live.  A new settlement is very expensive, and nobody can just go off and put up a shack.  It's reflected in the gameplay a little, but not the story at all.

[Geo]

Sure; I think AC has a credibility gap in not playing up the challenges of Planet just to breathe and drink and live.  A new settlement is very expensive, and nobody can just go off and put up a shack.  It's reflected in the gameplay a little, but not the story at all.

Well, if human technology is good enough to build sealed environments and somehow maintain a micro-biosphere in it, it should be good enough to start a new settlement on an alien planet with a presumed hostile ecology to humans.

[Vishniac]

Well, if human technology is good enough to build sealed environments and somehow maintain a micro-biosphere in it, it should be good enough to start a new settlement on an alien planet with a presumed hostile ecology to humans.

Just like in Red Mars.
And that's how I have always understood SMAC: that they can't breathe the air.
Otherwise why should they build Hab Complexes and Habitation Domes?

About the water:
Doesn't it also goes down to power requirements? With sufficient power, desalinization is not a problem on Earth and so purification of water, even large quantities, shouldn't be one on Chiron.

[BlaneckW]

Doesn't it also goes down to power requirements? With sufficient power, desalinization is not a problem on Earth and so purification of water, even large quantities, shouldn't be one on Chiron.

You would think.

[Geo]

Just like in Red Mars.
And that's how I have always understood SMAC: that they can't breathe the air.
Otherwise why should they build Hab Complexes and Habitation Domes?

The density and oxygen partial pressure content of Planet's atmosphere and its effect at altitude was never fully described in SMAC(X).
Sure, humans ingame needed breathing masks to avoid the nitrogen narcosis effect because of the higher density of the athmosphere, and there's a lower oxygen percentage overall in Planet's air, but in a higher gravity field (like Planet's) the air density should get lower quicker as well.
I sometimes wonder if there shouldn't be a short altitude range where the lower oxygen -and nitrogen pressure balance out so a human could have an extended stay outdoors without getting intoxitated or gasp for oxygen 'til death follows.

[Trenacker]

Well, there go my plans for making water a strategic resource. 

[DrazharLn]

Make energy expensive and water may become a proxy for energy use. As Iceland exports it's geothermal power in the form of processed aluminium (aluminium is produced by electrolysis, requiring a lot of power).

Desalination supposedly costs about 3 KWh/m^3, including filtration and the theoretical minimum (excluding filtration, etc) is about 1 KWh/m^3, which is fairly cheap. You could just say that the filtration is more complicated and whack up the energy cost to make it a strategic resource if you wanted, though.

[DrazharLn]

Also, I'm potentially interested in this game you're talking about but the details are lost in the thread. Point me to the data?

[Trenacker]

The game is here. You must register, then post in the Approval Forum. Reference Desert Journeyman as your point-of-contact.

[Trenacker]

Game is up and running using mechanics based roughly on historian Paddy Griffith's "sprawling wargames" model.

Still seeking players interested in leading factions old and new into the meat grinder. Contact me via PM if you're interested! Ask questions here.

[BlaneckW]

The forum is hidden.  Odd.  I'm not sure that was the case a month ago.