Custom Factions

Lazerus · March 12, 2003, 13:02

Since in smax theres no real limit on how powerful you can create custom factions i was wondering if anybody had came up with a sort of points value system for creating a faction eg, +/-10pts per economy bonus and +/-5 per morale and your faction has 30points to spend ... something along that lines.

It would be a good way of making a more specialist faction that you can personalise better to suit your style of play without horribly outmatching an already fairly weak AI (also may allow people to use them in MP games?) or you could keep creating factions for the AI to play and gradually increasing their power until you find a level tough to play at.

Any suggestions?

thanks

Kirov · March 12, 2003, 15:00

I was pondering it once... The main problem is to assign reasonable prices. How much would cost free Rec Commons at evry base? How much for free former? Etc, etc, and so I gave up this idea.

Second problem are deadly combos... like research and probe bonus together. You couldn't avoid it unless you create some sort of packets based on the old factions, you know, if you took research bonus, you have to take negative probe rating, and so on.

Third problem is such factions could look very stupid, like most on the Network Node. One of them has free Subspace generator at every base (!). But my best is still the _Mercenaries_ faction, with free HQ and Research Hospital at every base, +3 Economy and -1 Morale... the funniest faction ever seen.

Static Universe · March 12, 2003, 15:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Kirov

But my best is still the _Mercenaries_ faction, with free HQ and Research Hospital at every base, +3 Economy and -1 Morale... the funniest faction ever seen.

One of my favorite factions to play against. They're also funny in that you can free a captured leader from any of their bases.

I agree some of these factions are somewhat unbalanced for a human player, but the AI tends to do interesting stuff with them, so I normally play with 3 Network Node or other customs, 3 Smac/x, and whatever I feel like playing myself.

Static Universe · March 12, 2003, 15:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Lazerus

It would be a good way of making a more specialist faction that you can personalise better to suit your style of play without horribly outmatching an already fairly weak AI (also may allow people to use them in MP games?) or you could keep creating factions for the AI to play and gradually increasing their power until you find a level tough to play at.

Why not post your faction ideas here and let others critique them? I for one would appreciate having a new faction to play with.

Kirov · March 12, 2003, 16:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Static23

I agree some of these factions are somewhat unbalanced for a human player, but the AI tends to do interesting stuff with them, so I normally play with 3 Network Node or other customs, 3 Smac/x, and whatever I feel like playing myself.

The only reason I like Network Node is that there are a few really nice chicks there, much better than Deirdre.

This game would be better with no male factions...

gwillybj · March 15, 2003, 02:30

Quote:

Lazerus was wondering...
...if anybody had came up with a sort of points value system for creating a faction eg, +/-10pts per economy bonus and +/-5 per morale and your faction has 30points to spend ... something along that lines...

One possibility can be found at Dreifels' Alpha Centauri Stuff. Choose a language (German or English). Then, using the links at the top, navigate to the Faction Edit Tutor page and look at the bottom of the middle column for the Faction Rating Formulas:

Quote:

"A listing of the formulas we have developed to rate the comparative power of the different standard and custom factions."

Instead of taking a specific number of points and parceling them out to various characteristics, you start from zero and add or subtract points based on the full set of existing characteristics.
So, first you compose a faction, then you score it, then you compare their "rating" to any other faction as to whether they appear to be "weaker", "at par", or "stronger". If you think any adjustments are warranted, do that, then re-score.

Quote:

"These formulas have been developed to be used as a guideline for creating new factions and to compare the relative strengths of different factions. This is not a perfect system. A higher rating does not necessarily make a stronger faction. Likewise loopholes can no doubt be found. Strict following of these formulas towards those ends benefits no one."

The ratings for the SMAC-7 and SMAX-7 are listed for reference.

Kinniken · March 15, 2003, 07:00

But what is the "Network Node"? A website? Can anyone post the URL?

TIA,

Kinniken

Static Universe · March 15, 2003, 07:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Kinniken
But what is the "Network Node"? A website? Can anyone post the URL?

http://www.networknode.org

Lazerus · March 15, 2003, 19:38

Quote:

A higher rating does not necessarily make a stronger faction

Morgan - 6 , Cult - 8
i think quite a few builder players are going to heavily disagree with those power ratings

looks decent enough as a guide though, thanks

Kinniken · March 16, 2003, 06:21

Yep, not to mention that the Pirates are the weakest of the SMAX factions according to that guide... kinda forgetting that they are Aquatic, which changes a lot of things.

Static: thanks for the URL. I downloaded one faction, I do not known if it's any good, but in any case I'm impressed by the amount of work put in the website... Lots of the factions seems hardly different from one an other, though. And that "return to earth" things looks nice; the idea is good, and if it's well done it might be worth it.

Kaptain Ken · March 16, 2003, 10:19

Networknode isa great site with a lot of great factions. You do have to pick and choose, but by mixing and matching you can creat great customized games for yourself. It has realy added a lot to my SMAX experience. To the creators of that site, thanks for all the good work.

Static Universe · March 16, 2003, 12:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Kaptain Ken
Networknode isa great site with a lot of great factions. You do have to pick and choose, but by mixing and matching you can creat great customized games for yourself. It has realy added a lot to my SMAX experience.

As a single-player player, the Network Node factions really keep the game going for me. There are other custom factions posted around the net, even here at Poly, but the sheer volume and variety at Network Node adds something to every game I play. I've probably downloaded nearly all of them.

Having dozens of extra factions to throw in my games is really a plus, and makes every game different for me, which wasn't the case after I grew tired of the Smac/x 14.

True, like Kinniken said, some of the factions seem similar to one another, like the business-oriented factions for example. I can't really complain however, as I've had some good games with economic factions only. You can throw together some interesting "theme" games around factions that are similar but not exactly the same.

Quote:

To the creators of that site, thanks for all the good work.

Yes, keep up the good work!