Second colony pod ??

SativaX · January 7, 2004, 00:34

It happened to me twice now , though im not sure why but when i start a new game with university ( talent diff ) i get a second colony pod after moving my first scout ?

is this normal

im still new to the game , compared to what i read here at least

The Mad Monk · January 7, 2004, 03:24

I think the higher difficulties always start you off with an extra pod.

Flubber · January 7, 2004, 11:13

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
I think the higher difficulties always start you off with an extra pod.

YES-- on transcend you always start with 2 colony pods-- I don't know at what level that kicks in

Bella Hella · January 7, 2004, 12:10

i don't get 2 pods on thinker. and i started some trancend level games last night (as the spartans) and also did not get an extra pod. to clarify, i begin with one base, a scout patrol (or rover as the spartans) and one pod. am i missing a patch?

Minute Mirage · January 7, 2004, 12:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Bella Hella
i don't get 2 pods on thinker. and i started some trancend level games last night (as the spartans) and also did not get an extra pod. to clarify, i begin with one base, a scout patrol (or rover as the spartans) and one pod. am i missing a patch?

You have "Flexible starting locations" turned off. This means that your second pod is used to found a base immediately on landing. If you have the option turned on, you start with two colony pods and a scout patrol (no base then).

Verrucosus · January 7, 2004, 12:29

I believe it depends on the game settings. Many people play with the customized rule "Choose Location" checked. In that case they start with two pods rather than a base and a pod on higher levels.

Bella Hella · January 7, 2004, 13:24

d'oh, question answered. do you guys mostly play with flexible starting locations on? i've just never really thought to play that way. hm.

Flubber · January 8, 2004, 02:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Bella Hella
d'oh, question answered. do you guys mostly play with flexible starting locations on? i've just never really thought to play that way. hm.

I always play with it on . .. If I like where the pod siits great but if not I get a choice

The Mad Monk · January 8, 2004, 06:09

There's nothing more annoying than starting with your first base exactly one tile away from the water, so I always have it on -- real life is annoying enough without having some game foist small indignities upon me.

Jamski · January 8, 2004, 10:20

I thought all starting bases were automatically coastal?

-Jam

The Mad Monk · January 8, 2004, 10:56

THEY ARE???

Well, damn, don't I feel silly...

Illuminatus · January 8, 2004, 15:13

You start with one colony pod at lower difficulties? I thought you always start with two colony pods. Seems I`m playing transcend to much.

Mr. President · January 8, 2004, 17:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Jamski
I thought all starting bases were automatically coastal?

-Jam

I think I've had non-coastal starting bases.

Petek · January 8, 2004, 21:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Crimson Sunrise

I think I've had non-coastal starting bases.

Agreed. Coastal starting bases are the norm, but every so often you start inland.

Alex · January 8, 2004, 22:22

i like to play with "flex starting location" off (the default). i like the added challenge i get with a not-so-good starting position. plus, it makes some sense to me: when the faction lands on that weird and dangerous landscape, their first priority have to be security and so they decide to establish a settlement as soon as they can. exploring is too risky for them.

Barinthus · January 9, 2004, 02:24

Yeah I prefer to just accept whatever the dice rolls. But hey, everybody to their own.

Illuminatus · January 10, 2004, 14:55

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex
i like to play with "flex starting location" off (the default). i like the added challenge i get with a not-so-good starting position. plus, it makes some sense to me: when the faction lands on that weird and dangerous landscape, their first priority have to be security and so they decide to establish a settlement as soon as they can. exploring is too risky for them.

Quote:

Originally posted by DataAeolus
Yeah I prefer to just accept whatever the dice rolls.

I totally agree. Makes no sense that group of space colonists can land on planet and then start a conversation like: "Hey I don`t want live there - I see fungal tower there. " or "If we spend two years moving as nomads with scarce supplies through completely alien and probably hostile world, we will able to found a base near monolith."

:) Smiley · January 10, 2004, 20:39

At least in AC if your base isn't next to the sea, you can bring the sea to it! In Civ, you're just screwed.

Enigma_Nova · January 11, 2004, 16:28

I started one of my famed small map games (conquer victory in 2102 W00T I ROCK)
I started Inland as Zak. Deirdre also started inland, 2 squares away from my base.
"Hello Zak."
"Sup Deedee."
"I was wondering if you'd like a treaty of friendship?"
"No, just let me move into that base you left undefended."
"Okay. Thanks Zak."

spartak · January 11, 2004, 16:42

Nice one...

The Mad Monk · January 12, 2004, 11:04

Cool...

Spartak! When did you return from your "Christmas vacation"?

The Mad Monk · January 12, 2004, 20:37

Just landed one three away from the nearest shore.

Mr. Harley · January 13, 2004, 02:53

I choose flexible starting locations and the map outline on simply because they came in from orbit. You have to push really hard to justify them not at least having a vague idea where they were landing.

The Mad Monk · January 13, 2004, 03:11

I leave the map outline off, because when I first tried it (oh so long ago), it was hard to tell at a glance where I had and had not been.

Now, I set preferences to show the grid in the ocean, which also shows the grid in unexplored territory, zoom all the way out, and pick out all the nifty looking contours.

Bella Hella · January 13, 2004, 11:20

wanted to mention that i started one tile away from the water in a one-city challenge game the other day. d'oh!

Barinthus · January 13, 2004, 17:06

I know this is off the thread, hope it's ok

One-city challenge, how does that work? Is it multi-player thing or solo? I'd imagine it means that the player is to build only one city. But what about conquests - can he keep those or does he have to raze those bases?

Illuminatus · January 13, 2004, 17:11

You have to obliterate the conquered bases.

sammy1339 · January 15, 2004, 17:17

If I'm correct, according to Prima's extremely crappy but usually-correct-on-technical-points-not-having-to-do-with-strategy Official Strategy Guide, whether or not you start with an extra colony pod has to do with how good the game judges your starting location to be. The way the game picks your starting location is by selecting a random square and calculating a number based on how many resources and enemies are near. The more squares it rejects the less picky it gets (i.e. the lower the number can be in order for it to give you the starting location.) If the calculated number is sufficiently low it will give you a free colony pod. The higher the difficulty level you play on the lower the number requirement is, and the faster it goes down. The requirement for getting a colony pod does not, however. Therefore you will almost never get a colony pod at citizen level, where your starting location will usually be good (high number of resource bonuses and distant from rival factions), you will get a colony pod about half the time on librarian level, where your starting location will be so-so, and you will almost always get a colony pod on transcend level where your starting location will usually be crappy. I believe that is how it works, anyway.