Planetfall PBEM 2

[Mardoc]

I'd sign on as 5th player

Fine by me. Does look like you'll have the time

Domai for instance comes with both Mining and Industrial Automation, and instead of a Scout Patrol he has a Siege Tank.

Hmm...if I can be promised that I start next to Sareln, I'd take the Drones :neenernee




Nah, just kidding, I'll stick with what I said above.

[Sareln]

No Pods
No Tech Trading
Yes AIs

1. Consciousness
2. Zakharov

[Nicolae Carpathia]

Sareln, to make up for all the years of heartbreak I've given you, I'll try to make up for it by ded-lurking you~!

[Maniac]

Assuming we can wrap up the SG by then so I don't have to wrestle two versions, I'm still in.

It's likely that another patch will be released while we are playing this PBEM, so I'd advise starting this and any other PBEM under a seperate differently named folder anyway.

Of course if for some reason you're really opposed to having two Planetfall folders and aren't interested in playing Planetfall single player, I can always make the next update a new version with folder name v17. Though given my slow upload speed, it would be impractical and annoying for me to have to upload a new full version every time someone starts a new PBEM.

I assume you're thinking of starting in the Expansion era? So the expansion factions wouldn't have tech bonuses compared to everyone else?

What do you mean by tech bonuses? The second tech they start with in XML? Or stuff like Luttinen's techshare and the Pirates' science from pillaging?

I'm sure Maniac already knows this, but you can start in the Arrival era using Expansion leaders. Just first set the game era to Expansion, choose the Expansion leaders as applicable, and then set the era back to Arrival- the Expansion leaders will remain selected.

I'd suggest starting in the Expansion era regardless. Advantages:

• You start with more stuff, so the first couple boring turns where you can only move one unit per turn and haven't met anyone else yet get reduced.
  
• Everyone starts with Recycling Tanks, so can immediately adopt the Biodomed civic should they so choose. This reduces the effect of potentially uneven starting positions.
  
• We get to experience a different part of the tech tree. IMO level 4-5 techs is where it starts to get really interesting military-wise.

Note- they have some interesting starting techs. Domai for instance comes with both Mining and Industrial Automation, and instead of a Scout Patrol he has a Siege Tank.

Minor correction: they start with Industrial Base, not Automation.

I'd sign on as 5th player

Awesome!

Hey, so far everyone has picked a "more isolation starting position" faction as their first choice! Perhaps if we all pick one (choices still remaining: Hive, Spartans, Drones), we could still have Scattered Landing Pods turned off. Then we'd all start in a circle, relatively far apart from each other, around a concentrated core of five AI factions. Looks like an interesting setup.

Even if someone wants to play one of the other factions, but still likes the idea described above, it's a simple XML change to make their faction isolated for the purpose of setting up this PBEM. That modification shouldn't be a problem assuming we all create a seperate mod folder for this PBEM anyway.

Edit: The Drones and Consciousness don't have isolated starting position set. The XML modification idea still works though.

[Bigger]

I think I'm going to have to bow out. I don't realy have a ton of time, and it looks like I'll actually have a job next week. playing a pbem doesnt really take that much time, but I don't know this game at all (and it really isn't SMAC, its a completely different game, so neither my civ 4 or SMAC experience will help me much) - so the time playing single player I would need to learn the game I don't really have.

I would like to ded-lurk Mardoc though.

[Sareln]

I think I'm going to have to bow out. I don't realy have a ton of time, and it looks like I'll actually have a job next week. playing a pbem doesnt really take that much time, but I don't know this game at all (and it really isn't SMAC, its a completely different game, so neither my civ 4 or SMAC experience will help me much) - so the time playing single player I would need to learn the game I don't really have.

I would like to ded-lurk Mardoc though.

Gratz on the job though!

[Iskender]

Hey guys, if there's a slot available I'd like to sign up.

Zero clue about the mod.

[Maniac]

I think I'm going to have to bow out.

Sorry to hear that. Good luck with the job.

Hey guys, if there's a slot available I'd like to sign up.

Zero clue about the mod.

I certainly welcome another fifth player. However, when you say you have zero clue about the mod, do you mean you haven't even played a single game with it? If so, may I suggest you at least try out one game, so that you're sure you like the mod at all and won't feel like leaving after 20 turns, and so that you can pick a faction to play as.

[Mist]

I certainly welcome another fifth player. However, when you say you have zero clue about the mod, do you mean you haven't even played a single game with it?

Heh, it might surprise you, but when Bob suggested we play the 1st pbem with your mod, neither of us played Planetfall before. At all We started the game completely green figuring out things as we went along and playing some SP in the meantime to pick up on skills. Anyhow, Iskender's a very reliable player and probably wouldn't just disappear randomly from the game. I can lurk him if it helps ( which would make me a potential replacement ).

[Iskender]

I used to play a lot of SMAC, even if I don't find the mod appealing in terms of mechanics (which is unlikely) I'll still play for the flavour.

I can lurk him if it helps ( which would make me a potential replacement ).

A noob question: is Santiago good?