Flavor / Storyline questions

November 2, 2002, 17:20

When I play Magic, I always focus on the "flavor text' - the little blurb under some cards that explain what the creature / spell / other thingie is.

Based on what, I often wonder about what some things in the game are, if they were 'real'. Here they are, in no particular order -

1) What is 'cornering the global energy market'? The manual says its something similar to mind-controlling every base on Planet, but that doesnt sound like 'cornering' a market. What does that mean?

2) Did the Gaians defeat the Spartans, or did the native worms do it? Skye's 'Secret War' is something that I wonder about.

3) Who 'won'? I'm assuming Deirdre Trancended, but there seems to be comments that Morgan cornered the aforementioned Energy Market.

Damn, thought I had more.

Clear Skies · November 2, 2002, 17:45

It's great to see someone as interested in the storyline as I am

Drop by the Fiction forum sometime.

I'm never entirely sure whether anyone was meant to have 'won'. I guess the idea was always that the player played the story out, but I'll admit that there are certain...hints throughout the game. The Gaians taking Sparta Command is mentioned, as is the native-life overrunning Lab Three (in that wonderful quote from Zakharov

). Beyond that, I don't remember much else...

As to cornering the market...doesn't that just mean accumulating enough energy credits to be able to control the money supply of the entire Planet? Acquiring a single-faction monopoly on energy?

Alinestra Covelia · November 2, 2002, 19:58

There was a thread that tried to reconstruct the original game from which the storylines were taken.

And cornering the global energy market sounds like a wonderful paradox to me. Imagine a load of Morgan Industries execs going around, arresting people for moving or working or talking or acting without permits, because that "uses energy and only Morgan approved energy transactions may take place"

November 2, 2002, 20:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia
There was a thread that tried to reconstruct the original game from which the storylines were taken.

Yah, I remember that from the last time I got hooked on SMAC. They seemed to have pruned the forums since I last was here, though. Shame, I wanted to see it.

Mr. President · November 2, 2002, 23:08

"Eternity lies ahead of us, and behind,
Have you drunk your fill?"
-- Lady Deirdre Skye, Conversations with Planet

At least I think that's how the quote goes. I understood that (and some other things as well) as meaning that the Gaians were "supposed" to transcend.

Clear Skies · November 3, 2002, 15:43

They always seemed like the most likely faction to transcend to me...but I'm a treehugger-lover deep down

Anyway, oughta get back to my economics essay

Stupid inflexible labour markets and their contribution to economic performance. Why can't you take SMAC at A-level?

Main_Brain · November 3, 2002, 16:33

regarding 2) I purose you listen to fac1.mp3 in the voices directory

No not Worms only ;=)

Andemagne · November 3, 2002, 17:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Main_Brain
regarding 2) I purose you listen to fac1.mp3 in the voices directory

No not Worms only ;=)

well I listened that file. it doesn't mean anything, if sparta command is in ruins.

spartans surely had some other bases(forts) too.

Clear Skies · November 4, 2002, 05:41

Don't forget Assassin's Redoubt got overwhelmed too (Dream Twister video - 'Mary Had A Little Lamb'). I think the Spartans pretty much got splattered. There sure aren't many Santiago quotes in the later techs.

Main_Brain · November 4, 2002, 12:17

The File explicitly states that Gaian Hovertanks crushed the City so the Answer is no- not only Native Worms destroyed the Spartans!

Clear Skies · November 4, 2002, 13:10

That's what they want you to believe! The mind worms are controlling everyone! I'm the only one who can save us all!...
...ah, sod it, can't be bothered. Mindless zombies are OK by me.

Frankychan · November 5, 2002, 05:48

Wow, I've never seen a thread like this before! Good job

I'm agreeing w/everyone. From the blurbs you get in the game, it sounded like Deidre was whupping major a** with her mind worms. I always got the impression that Morgan left Planet for Nessus cause of that SP which has him prattling on about "moving resources offworld" or whatever.

I leave you with my favorite Chairman Yang quote:

Quote:

Originally posted by Chairman Yang

Learn to overcome the crass demands of flesh and bone, for they warp the matrix through which we perceive the world. Extend your awareness outward, beyond the self of body, to embrace the self of group and the self of humanity. The goals of the group and the greater race are transcendent, and to embrace them is to achieve enlightenment.

Chairman Sheng-ji Yang
"Essays on Mind and Matter"

Main_Brain · November 5, 2002, 15:37

Pain, suffering even Agony is only information before the senses.. ;=)
Take Control of the Input and you shall become Master of the output.
Cant get the exact Text but the Virtual World's Quote s pretty nice too :=)

Spacecow · November 9, 2002, 03:37

I always wondered about the tech (SP, maybe) with Miriam complaining about how we're putting ourselves in danger by teaching the nanopaste to think, wondering what we do when the paste tells us it doesn't need us anymore.

My first thought - How in the world would Miriam get THAT far up the tech tree?
My first response - She'd steal it, of course.
My response's response - Why would she steal a technology she feared?
My second thought - Apparently Miriam was never INTENDED to get that far up the tech tree, simply because she wouldn't want to.

Something tells me very few (if any) people actually play her the way she was intended to be played.

Main_Brain · November 9, 2002, 08:09

But hasn't Miriam that happy Praising 'return to the Void' speech at Adcanced Spaceflight which see seem to enjoy ? :=)

I can remember that there is one Tech where only the Report of a Peacekeeping Probeteam is read?

dworkin · November 9, 2002, 08:48

Don't forget Zakarov's touching off the Voice of Planet.
The Gains may of been prodding buttock but the University may of beat them to the punch...

Clear Skies · November 9, 2002, 18:03

But whose quote is it that fronts the Ascent to Transcendence?

"No longer mere earthbeings and planetbeings are we, but bright children of the stars, and together we shall dance in and out of ten billion years, celebrating the gift of consciousness until the stars themselevs burn out and weary, and our thoughts turn again to the beginning..."
- Lady Deirdre Skye,
Planet Dreams (epilogue)

Alinestra Covelia · November 10, 2002, 11:33

Just because the Planetvoice talks to her doesn't mean she was the first to encounter it.

Remember that Planetvoice talks to everyone when certain triggers happen (fungal growth, etc) not just the first person to get it.

dworkin · November 10, 2002, 12:07

Good point about the ATT quote. Had forgotten it. Oh well, all the more reason to grind up the Gaians and feed 'em to their beloved worms...

Main_Brain · November 10, 2002, 16:51

"until I have every single Specimen cooked..."

Clear Skies · November 11, 2002, 16:35

EXtermiNAted!

classic...