Joining the ranks of AX

Chowlett · October 6, 2000, 10:52

Isn't depreciation wonderful. Just purchased the Planetary Pack for £9.99 (about $15?) - so now not only do I have Alien Crossfire, I also possess two copies of AC. Hmm, useful. Will install later, have to go out now

mark13 · October 6, 2000, 14:06

The Planetary Pack for a tenner?!?!?!

I've just ordered AX on its own for that. Oh well....

Chowlett · October 6, 2000, 17:14

Um. Only slight problem is that I can't appear to install only AX - I have to do both. Now obviously I don't particularly want to since I already have two copies on my hard drive (SMAC and SNAC). Does anyone know of a way to just install AX?

stuntman19 · October 6, 2000, 19:49

I'm fairly certain, smacx being an addition to original smac, that you must have smac installed also. I don't think thers's anyway around it.

XWaste · October 6, 2000, 20:39

I think the PP is The Planetary Pack and not just SMAC and SMACX shoved onto one disc. Couldn't you just uninstall the old SMAC and then install PP, you wont need to redo patches as it has the latest versions of both.

Chowlett · October 7, 2000, 07:16

Ho hum. That's the way it goes, I suppose.

Chowlett · October 9, 2000, 19:06

Now, I'm sure we had this argument several months ago, but:

[rant]

WHO THE HELL CHANGED THE TECH TREE SO THAT PLANETARY ECONOMICS CAN COME BEFORE ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS? THAT'S JUST STUPID! I CAN RESEARCH HYBRID FORESTS BEFORE TREE FARMS! IT DOESN'T DO ME ANY GOOD BECAUSE I CAN'T BUILD THEM, BUT I CAN DO IT!

[/rant]

Misotu · October 9, 2000, 20:17

Yes ... slight anomaly there

mark13 · October 10, 2000, 10:15

I haven't got AX yet (still hasn't arrived), but is this really the case??? It sounds ridiculous.....

Misotu · October 10, 2000, 14:47

Yes, it really is the case. It's the only real problem I know of with the new tech tree, although that tech gives you the ability to build the Ascetic Virtues which can be quite handy

It also gives you the subsea trunkline facility (additional minerals from ocean mining platforms), although I've never built one of those as I never put mines in the sea.

Deimos · October 10, 2000, 15:16

The subsea trunkline isn't very valuable to anyone but the Pirates. With a 4ec upkeep, I have found that it only becomes an economical build if you have 3 or more mines to go with it.

It is quite useful for those deep sea bases, since they are so mineral poor to begin with.

RedFred · October 11, 2000, 17:38

Well, making the possibility of hitting Hybrid Forests ahead of Tree Farms is not the best way designing the tech tree. But it isn't a crisis either. You can easily get to Tree Farms first and get the mineral restriction lifted at the same time.

People like me who play double blind are most affected. I'd guess I get Hybrid Forests first about three quarters of the time.

So Chowlett, now that you are playing SMACX how are you liking it?

Chowlett · October 11, 2000, 18:08

Haven't yet finished a game through lack of time. Currently playing a random, mixed faction game as the Conciousness, versus Hive, Spartan, Uni, PK, Aliens 1 and 2. (Not that many x-fires in there). I quite like some of the new notions, like the resonance armour and the like, the new techs are good. I'm a little upset by the change in terraforming graphics, and the noise of every unit activating is quite disturbing. Other than that, fine. Haven't built a x-fire SP yet. I'll report back at end.