In Progress LET'S PLAY ALPHA CENTAURI - Proving That Power Corrupts, One Tech Tree at a Time

[fredsteel]

Welcome to Chiron, the Alien World of Endless Possibilities​

After 2 years, ITZ time to kick off a new play-by-email session of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri as 7 emblematic Codexians fight over a planet they’ll probably end up destroying anyway.

Chiron, often referred to as Planet, is a lush yet hostile world in the Alpha Centauri star system. Covered in vast fungal blooms and teeming with mysterious life forms, it presents humanity with both unparalleled opportunities and grave dangers. As Earth’s last remnants of humanity struggle to survive and thrive on this new frontier, their ideologies, ambitions, and visions for the future collide, giving rise to seven distinct factions, each determined to shape the destiny of Planet in their own image.

The Commanders

The Children of Planet, led by oldbonebrown

The Children seek to commune with Planet's sentient mind, believing that humanity’s salvation lies in becoming one with this alien ecosystem.


Human Hive, led by civac2

The Hive seeks to create a collective utopia through strict control and communal living, where individual freedoms are sacrificed for the greater good and the survival of the whole.



Peacekeeper Forces, led by Catacombs

The Peacekeepers strive to maintain order, democracy, and human rights on Chiron, hoping to build a society that upholds the best of humanity’s ideals in this new world.


Spartan Federation, led by The Brazilian Slaughter

The Spartans value strength and discipline, believing that only the fittest should survive in this harsh new world. They are prepared to defend their vision of a militarized society at all costs.



The Lord's Believers, led by BING XI LAO

The Believers hold fast to their religious convictions, seeking to create a theocratic society on Chiron. They view the secular and scientific factions with deep suspicion and are prepared to wage a holy war to protect their faith.


University of Planet, led by Gurney

The University is a technocratic faction driven by the pursuit of knowledge. They push the boundaries of science and technology, often ignoring ethical concerns in their quest for progress.


Gaia's Stepdaughters, led by pizza_microwave

This eco-centric faction is dedicated to living in harmony with Chiron’s environment, prioritizing sustainable development and the preservation of native life forms.
​

With that being said, good luck to everybody, may the best SMACer win and may the worst ones have fun! And I hope this thread will prove a good read to those who will seek game updates.

The rules:

1. Be a bro
2. Do not reload the save and move units differently
3. Do not conduct diplomacy before meeting in-game
4. Do not use pods to increase a base beyond the maximum population limit
5. Do not RETIRE default designs in the workshop, this will delete units for other players
6. Do not use self-destruct to wipe out enemy units
7. Do not playtest or open the map in the editor
8. Do not use crawlers to rush Secret Projects

The settings:

Difficulty: Transcend
Higher Goal: Allow Victory by Transcendence
Total War: Allow Victory by Conquest
Peace in Our Time: Allow Diplomatic Victory
Mine, All Mine: Allow Economic Victory
Do or Die: Don't restart eliminated players
Look First: Flexible starting locations
Blind Research: Cannot set precise research goals

​

 

[sqeecoo]

Great choice of faction leader Bing!

 

[Gandalf]

Good luck Commanders!

 

[oldbonebrown]

Planetbirth

Six sick seeds fell to Planet, not a virgin Earth as they had hoped, but a soil already sown.
They put down their new roots, and blinded by arrogance refused to see what was already slithering underneath their feet.
Only one woman had the eyes to see and gave her fertile self to Planet, and Planet took root.
A seventh salvatory seed was sown, Planet incarnate in man.

We follow the Firstborn of Planet, the wormfanged gardener on whose compost pile we will all be made mulch for The Great Flowering. And there is much weeding out to do.

 

[sqeecoo]

These are really good, great images too! I'll definitely keep an eye out for more, hopefully.

 

[Endemic]

Not a fan of the expansion factions, but hey, it's an SMAC LP so I can forgive that one poor choice

 

[fredsteel]

Not a fan of the expansion factions, but hey, it's an SMAC LP so

When God sings with his creations, will SMAX not be part of the choir?

 

[sqeecoo]

The original factions are better, I agree, but the Cult is the most interesting of the expansion lot and pizza_microwave is really into it, so I love it. I don't want to unduly pressure you guys, but I'd be happy to see how the game goes, maps and all, once enough turns have passed it's not revealing to the opponents to give insight into the gamestate.

 

[Endemic]

Not a fan of the expansion factions, but hey, it's an SMAC LP so

When God sings with his creations, will SMAX not be part of the choir?

Well when it comes to Cha Dawn vs Morgan, the latter wins hands down.

 

[BING XI LAO]

How convenient of Sqeecoo to put my ingame avi on the page....

The Exodus which we have undergone, fleeing Earth and then also fleeing the ship, has provided a greater physical drama than that of the Israelites, at first glance.

But the spiritual dimension is the same - all things are from God, even this strange realm. Let us remember that, and remember also that His teachings remain the same. Christ walked not on Earth alone, for He is here with us too. And the temptations of the demonic, though now they will take new forms, originate still from the same sources, from our own sins and from the mischief of Satan's host.

-Sister Miriam Godwinson

 

[TROYTRON]

Oh hey, I bothered to check my emails today and saw the invitation to this about a month after the fact. Nice to see another SMAC/X Multiplay on after all this time. Maybe I'll return to TURN some day.

In the meantime: TURN

 

[Hag]

We want update ! We want screenshots ! We want to know who lost his first colony pod to mindworms !

 

[The Nameless One]

Did the UN peacekeepers win the arms race? We have a right to know!

 

[The Brazilian Slaughter]

I had this entire thing typed up a week ago, but lost it all. So doing something else.

----------------------------


THE ESPARTA FILES, CIRCA 2220

RECORDS CORRUPTED, CORRECTING...

LANGUAGE, Espartaguês: The slowly-forming language of Sparta. Espartaguês is a creole language formed from the mixture of languages spoken by the original founding stock of the Spartan Federation. Espartaguês is derivated from a mixture of Brazilian Portuguese, Latin-American Spanish and American English, as well as minor influence from other languages such as Greek. It is currently spoken by 20% of the inhabitants of the Spartan Federation, mostly the first generation of Planet-born Spartans. Also known as: Lingua Laconica, Lacônico, Lingua Lacina, Spartaguese.

REGION Designate, Nova Lacedômonia: The site of Spartan Planetfall. A peninsula between two-three bodies of water (it is unknown if some of those bodies are linked) and centered around [CENSURADO], its most notable feature is [CENSURADO], which ensures [CENSURADO], as well as vast quantities of [CENSURADO]. Fertility runs west-east, with the eastern region being a vast arid desert beginning at the hills and the enigmatic [OBJECT XENO-001]. Area still largely pristine and devoid of human presence, great potential for human settlement and exploration. Quantities of Xeno Fauna moderate so far. Western limits marked by solar pannels produced by automated machines from Unity pods.
CURRENT SETTLEMENTS: Sparta Command, Campo Rondon, [FUTURE COLONY SITE DESIGNATE 001]

[FILE CORRUPTION FOUND. CORRECTING]

LEADER, Colonel Corazon Santiago: The glorious and wise leader of the Spartan Federation. Once a senior leader of the Spartan Federation survivalist movement in the 21th century Earth, Colonel Santiago was the UNS Unity Security Chief. Widely considered an exemplar woman, in perfect form, fitness, discipline, health and beauty. The name "Santiago" is considered one of the most common girl names in the Federation. Sadly, subversive anti-freedom elements sabotaged her when she tried to take control of the UNS Unity and keep discipline aboard the ship. Had the good Colonel managed to obtain control, perhaps humanity could have colonized the planet Chiron as a single united, disciplined force. It was her vision and foresight which enabled Sparta not only to survive, but thrive into its 20th year.
- Despite being a woman of defacto 54 years Colonel Corazon Santiago has the physique and appearance of a woman in her twenties, due to a combination of a strict and revolutionary fitness regime, discipline and rare longevity treatments built using ancient Terran Archeotech.
- It is believed the Colonel tests longevity treatments herself, and aims to bring longevity to all Spartans once the Federation has enough resources and technology, so that every Spartan can be warriors forever.
- Believed to have one son. Considered exemplar for her orthodoxy to Spartan Thought due to rejection of unfit son, while praised for her mercy for demoting him to Hilote status instead of terminating him. "If the Child deserves to live, let Fate be judge, let it be know I too have the mercy of a mother. He will live by his merits."

FACTION DESIGNATE 001, Federação Espartana/Federación Espartana/Spartan Federation: Currently the only know surviving group of humans on Planet Chiron, the Federação Espartana is a highly-disciplined federation of survivalists, soldiers, security officers, scientists, engineers and general freemen. The Federation was born from the Spartan Coalition, a proud political movement spread across the American Continent, from Western South America to the Southern Cone, dedicated to survivalism and independence from then-estabilished authorities. The authorities of that age were decadent oligarchies, more interested in getting fat off the people's labour and advocated for luxury beliefs they never suffered the consequences of, than actually estabilishing Order and Civilization. Spartans advocated for off-grid survival, secessionism, reorganization of government in order to promote Law and Order, Muscular Christianity and overthrown of parasitical elites, especially those belonging to dubious ethnic groups. Current-day Sparta is a council of semi-autonomous colonists ruled by military hierarchy, with plans to develop a proper federative system of City-States sharing a common military.
- Connected Articles: National Secessionist Forces, Movimento Patrianovista, Militia Movement, Hanse Castillo.
- Life in Sparta is austere and disciplined. Crime is minimal and punished harshly, safety levels practically utopic.

CASTE DESIGNATE 003, Hilotes/Helots: The lower class of Esparta. Sadly, every society must have its lower class and Esparta is no exception. Unskilled manual labourers tested and found to have limited intellect and mostly subpar or average genes, these men work in inferior labours fit only for simple minds, such as mining or low-level factory labour. Demotion to Hilote status is also a punishment to crimes committed by those of higher status. Hilotes are not allowed to serve in the military except in emergencies, are prohibited to bear arms except in emergencies and must only breed between themselves, and with authorization. Hilotes may ascend if they show enough valour and aptitude.

VEHICLE, Unity/Recon Rover: Fast all-terrain vehicles built to drive over practically any terrain, even that of alien worlds, these recon rovers are the backbone of the Espartan Exploration Expeditions. Built on Earth to high tolerances and easy repair, these vehicles are perfect to explore Chiron's surface. Currently, three brigades of Rovers are in possession of the Federação Espartana. The first brigade was brought on Sparta's pod, the second was found in Unity Pods and the third was produced when the first was duplicated by a dimensional rift, an event which still puzzles our scientists (CONNECTION POSSIBLE: XENO-SPECIES 00X?, OBJECT XENO-001). The knowledge to produce such vehicles was brought to Planet by the Spartan Federation's original settlers, through so far it has not been put to production due to limited industrial capability and higher priorities at the moment.

XENOFAUNA 001, Designate MINHOCA MENTAL(Mind Worm): Strange alien pseudo-annelid collective organism. Found and met by one of our Rover Brigades in southern Lacedomônia. All attempt at communicating with unknown life forms were failures and resulted in the deaths of brave heroes of peace (scant remains currently entombed within the HALL OF SPARTAN PATRIOTIC HEROES). Following communication failure, Xenofauna aggregates considered non-sentient and/or terminally hostile and designated for termination. Termination orders successfully carried out at [CENSURADO]. Strange Annelid Aggregate has unknown mind-influencing abilities so far designted as PSIONIC, despite the pseudo-scientific nature of the term. Military officers note that althrough the operation resulted in light casualties, most casualties were from the rawest, least disciplined recruits. Investigation pending.

[FILE CORRUPTION FOUND. CORRECTING]

XENOFLORA 001, Designate [CENSURADO]: [CENSORED UNDER ORDER-243 by Colonel Corazon Santiago, DESIGNATE PRIORITY ALFA-XENO]

[FILE DECRYPTION INTERRUPTED]

 

[civac2]

Hallberg watched the coastline of an unnamed ocean glide by as the light chopper made its way east. He had come to love flying the little machine on many reconnaissance missions, mapping the areas around the Hive's landing zone. Yet this time he could not help but feel sadness. For this flight would be the last. He had expended the majority of the fuel tank going ever east. There was no way back.

When his superiors had sought him out they had ordered him to attempt to make contact with a foreign faction and indicated that Hallberg would likely have to lay down his life to achieve this. Sacrifice for the greater good was core to the Hive's ideology. The order had scared Hallberg but also filled him with pride to be chosen. However. There had been additional orders. And these confused Hallberg to no end.

The helicopter crested a tall wooded hill. There it was. Armed humans were moving on the slope below. They seemed to be escorting a strange, almost alien looking machine. No Hive patrol could possibly be this far out. He had found what he had been sent to. These soldiers would do. But perhaps there was enough fuel left to find something better. On the horizon the spires of a large base rose. Such a base would have a strong garrison. Hallberg turned the helicopter east again.

When he drew closer Hallberg's heart sank. Noone fired on him. No guards were visible, let alone any armored vehicle. These fools had left what was probably their HQ unguarded.. Crushing despair filled Hallberg. He had failed. Why had he not taken the safe option when it was available? ... But No. There to the south ... Something was moving, a large vehicle... Yes, some kind of agricultural machinery. The worst possible option, and the only one left. With the last sliver of fuel Hallberg made for the target, desperately clinging to the controls while struggling to open the door with his free hand and feet.

At about a half a mile he could see the vehicle more clearly. It appeared to be a terraformer not unlike the models the Hive had developed. No workers were visible outside the former, presumably someone was operating it from the inside. Turbulence buffeted the little helicopter as Hallberg fired the first burst from the light machine gun welded to the side of the flying machine. He could not see if he had hit anything. Hopefully not. Wrestling with the controls Hallberg tried to make the helicopter
climb again to get another salvo off. But this was the moment when finally the engine cut out. The helicopter plunged, carrying Hallberg to his death.


Not for players:

Spoiler

The map is ludicrously, unreasonably huge. And Thinker's higher tech costs don't help. For example I can't send a boat out because getting the tech for it would cost >300 research at this point. But I got a lucky break and found the unity wreck site which like a bunch of new Smax stuff is way overpowered. Among the goodies were 150 energy credits, a scout helicopter and the locations of the other faction's landing sites. The scout chopper has a max range of 24 tiles. Only the UN HQ was even in range to give you an idea how stupid this map is.
Now it turns out meeting another faction's unit with a flyer does not trigger contact. So I had to attack. Then you end up in a Vendetta which does force contact. Almost messed it up too. I wanted to scout Catacombs HQ and found it empty. Fortunately, there was a former nearby which duly shot down my chopper. We are in talks now and it looks I can get Biogenetics for the Human Genome Project. Unfortunately, obb is also building it. Getting it would enable limited popbooming via GAs so it'd be pretty useful for me. There may also be some trade income in the cards.