Some help with a faction set

[Sigma]

 EDIT3: The current version of the faction set is attached to the bottom of this post.

EDIT: I've modified this post from its original form.

EDIT2: I have uploaded these factions to the AC2 Wiki, with my page here:

Sigma's Factions

I am in the process of creating pages for the .txt files.

PROGRESS REPORT:
Text Files: Complete
Rough Graphics: 6/7
Finished Graphics: 0/7

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The common work of all science is bringing under order the blind
violence and injustice of the universe. In this way we will one
day break free from the limitations of death and dischord, the way
that by rockets we escaped Earth's gravity.

-- Founder Josef Federov,
"Address to the Republic Academy of Science"


LEADER: {Josef Federov}
BACKGROUND: {Republic of Ukraine, Unity Chief Engineer}
AGENDA: {Unification of mankind through technology}
TECH: {Information Networks}

+1 RESEARCH:  {Focused on scientific advancement}
+1 EFFIC:   {Society regulated by artificial intelligence}
-2 MORALE:  {Reliant on technology rather than training}
Free NETWORK NODE at every base
Hab Complex requirements tightened to Size 5 {Digital infrastructure prioritized over civic}
EFFICIENCY penalties reduced by half {Computer assisted government}
{May not use Power Values.}

Details

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If we are to survive on this world, then it will
be as one nation with a singularity of purpose. The
Many fall, the One survives. The Many flee, the One
stands strong. The Many struggle, the One perseveres.

-- Marshall Valentin Basque,
"The Colonial Creed"

LEADER: {Valentin Basque}
BACKGROUND: {French Republic, Unity Chief of Staff}
AGENDA: {Colonial Unity}
TECH: {Doctrine: Mobility}

+1 SUPPORT:   {Well funded military}
+1 POLICE: {Strict legal system}
-1 RESEARCH:  {Resources diverted to military spending
-1 PLANET:  {Unconcerned with preserving native ecosystem}
All units gain Non-Lethal Methods upon discovery of Intellectual Integrity
+15% Defense {Heavily equipped security forces}
125 Hurry Cost {Manufacturing neglected due to enlistment}

Details

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We found a new world under new stars, and we brought our demons with us. Yet this world
and its enigmas extends a hope to us: that we may be made over on this alien soil and
freed from the chains of suffering that bind us to the darkness we escaped.

-- Brother Joaquin Al'Kadiz,
"Collected Sermons"

LEADER: {Brother Joaquin Al'Kadiz}
BACKGROUND: {Free Afghanistan, Unity Astrophysicist}
AGENDA: {Spiritual enlightenment}
TECH: {Centauri Ecology}

+25% Bonus when attacking enemies, from strength of convictions.
+1 PLANET:  {Believe that Planet must be protected}
-1 INDUSTRY: {Weak industrial base}
+1 minerals in fungus squares
All units gain Hypnotic Trance ability upon discovery of Secrets of the Human Brain
Does not suffer negative social effects from Fundamentalist Politics {Modern religious movement}
{May not use Free Market Economics in Social Engineering.}

Details

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One would be led to believe that life on another world requires
new rules be written for every aspect of human endeavor, and in
most areas they would be correct. Most areas, save for commerce.
It is in that this domain alone that Planet's fungal ravines are
no different from the streets of Tokyo or Berlin.

--Guildmaster Atsumi Satori,
"The Colonist's Economic Primer"

LEADER: {Atsumi Satori}
BACKGROUND: {Japan, Unity Financial Consultant}
AGENDA: {Economic expansion}
TECH: {Select 1}

75% Probe Cost {Well trained espionage agents}
-1 SUPPORT:  {Resources diverted to economic ventures}
Units deployed with -2 Morale penalty {averse to direct combat}
Energy reserves gain +2% interest per turn
Increased commerce rate {Experienced traders and merchants}
{May not use Police State Politics.}

Details

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We were born into a world where those with the ability
to create were hamstrung by the narrow visions of those
who could not, and where the worker was denied his dues by the
social parasites who profited from his toil. But we have been
given a chance to forge a new society free of such inequities,
where the laborer who sweats under this foreign sun will
receive in full the fruits of his activity.

-- Architect Henry Roark,
"The Builder's Burden"

LEADER: {Henry Roark}
BACKGROUND: {Union of American Commonwealths, Unity Construction Overseer}
AGENDA: {Free Industrial Society}
TECH: {Industrial Base}

+1 INDUSTRY:   {Well motivated work force}
-1 EFFICIENCY:  {Internal economic competition}
Free Supply Crawler at Planetfall
Extra Drone per 3 Citizens {No social safety net}
85% Hurry Costs {Fully staffed factories}
{May not choose Green Economics}

Details

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The proctor is not a leader or a commander. He is a speaker for
the teeming masses whose voice boils within the hardened prisoned,
whose jailors once called themselves their representatives. He does not
speak of his own originality, but so that through him what was
silenced may be heard and never again quieted.

        -- Proctor Omar van Blum,
           "Can You Hear the People Sing?"

DATALINKS1
LEADER: {Omar van Blum}
BACKGROUND: {Republic of South Africa, Unity Passenger}
AGENDA: {Universal Human Rights}
TECH: {Social Psych}

#DATALINKS2
+1 Growth:   {Populist movement gathers supporters}
-2 POLICE:  {Distrust of law enforcement}
+15% Offense {Activists willing to fight for cause}
Can exceed Hab Complex requirements by 2
Bases and Units cannot be Mind Controlled {Strong willed followers}
Suffers double penalties from Free Market Economics
{May not choose Police State Politics}

Details

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Every human being spends seventy two hours as a single celled organism,
scarecly different from the first paramecia that fought tooth and nail against
nature's cruelty for every evolutionary edge they could find. It is amazing to
think how far we have come since then, and humbling to think how far we have yet
to go.

-- Director Jaqueline Navarro,
 "The Terminal Cure"

LEADER: {Jaqueline Navarro}
BACKGROUND: {Western American Republic, Unity Medical Officer}
AGENDA: {Human biological improvement}
TECH: {Biogenetics}

-2 GROWTH:   {Exacting population control}
+2 MORALE:   {Elite field operatives}
1 additional talent for every 4 citizens {Gene enhanced workers}
Free Recycling Tanks at every base
Free Biology Lab at every base with discovery of Centauri Empathy
{May not choose Fundamentalist Politics}

Details

I almost can't believe I found this board. A SMAC forum-- and an active one at that-- rooted around modding and customization. I'm in.

I need some help with a faction set that I've been cooking up. My goal is to create a set of factions in the spirit of the original Alpha Centauri but with a different spin on them. Overarchingly, they need to be ideologically coherent, but should avoid representing subcultures the way that the Alien Crossfire factions do. The secondary goal is that each faction needs to represent a different vision of mankind's future. In a fully fleshed out game, this would lead each faction to be able to win in their own unique way, but unless/until I learn Assembly that's not going to happen, so I need to focus on the spirit of the idea.

COMPLETE FACTIONS

The Technocrat Foundation
A bit derivative of the University, but for good reason; Zacharov did it best and why mess with perfection? I reduced the research bonus by 1 because the Efficiency bonus and immunity to Efficiency penalties would more than offset it. The University's probe penalty has been replaced with a penalty to Growth, as a society so heavily rooted in computer science would have better network security than Zacharov's vision of a worldwide college town; moreover Probe penalties are fairly toothless in a game where the Hunter Seeker Algorithm exists. I could use a better explanation for the Growth penalty apart from the CyberCon's "how is babby formed?" excuse. The leader is inspired by the Russian philosopher Nicholai Fyodorov, who believed that the ultimate aim of science should be the unification of mankind against the "blind-force" of nature, and was one of the first transhumanists.[/i]


Sons of the Advent
The one faction from SMAC that I've never played is the Believers, because I can't bring myself to sympathize with her, or be entertained by her philosophy the way that I am with Yang, the jolliest tyrant. Not that I'm anti-religion, but rather that Miriam's version seems particularly poisonous and lended too easily to have her be the villain. With the Sons of the Advent, I wanted to create a religious faction that was potentially sympathetic. The key point of reference is Dune, particularly the Fremen, who viewed their lifeless wasteland as their holy land. Similarly Brother Joaquin and his followers see Planet as a promised land that needs to be cared for, hence the Planet bonus. The Economy and Industry penalties seem self explanatory, and lead the Pilgrims well away from a Development based, and rather one based on survival and conquest (again, invoking Herbert's Fremen). This is further encouraged by giving them Impunity to Fundamentalism, which turns that from being one of the worst overall social options to maybe the strongest for this particular faction.[/i]

[JarlWolf]

I smell two new things: Potential factions and members.


Looks around*

Welcome to the AC2 Forum!

Right, now that your officially welcomed, I will state outright that I am others are willing to help you. However, I have to ask, do you have some pictures of leaders and bases you have in mind? We can get you started on that if you want.

Your factions seem very well rooted in Sci Fi culture and concepts, which is rather interesting. Josef Federov's faction seems sort of like a [progeny of unmarried parents] child of the University and Cybernetic Consciousness in gameplay, but obviously you have more of a bio-mechanical leaning then just purely cybernetic.

And as for the Sons of Advent, they seem like a fundamentalist militant faction, with their ideal/religion being that of planet itself. Reminds me of Planet Cult a little bit but these guys seem to be less focused around a prophet centered faith and have more similarities to a Pagan like/ Animist style cult no?

House Satori almost strikes me as a sort of Guild, a collective of merchants/aristocrats as opposed to the conglomerate dictatorship that the Morganites are. Which can be rather interesting, but the stats need to be refined. Concept will be fleshed out later though so we'll focus on what we have for now.

Also on your "Peacekeepers" faction, you mention they are more of a "Empire" like form of the Peacekeepers. So I am guessing they are somewhat more nationalist (in the sense of how they run their faction) as opposed to "international humanitarianism"?

If that's the case a name for them: Humanity's Guardsmen. You get a general non subculture term, but you could also at the same time allude to the Bolsheviks and other fronts/nation that have used to terms before that fought for egalitarian causes.

Again, let us know your concepts on what you want leaders and bases to look like or resemble and other things and we'll get you started. I can do a sort of brief look based on your source of inspiration and see if there is matching structures, but a direct idea will help quicken the search.

[Sigma]

Right now graphics are not a priority for me as much as making sure that each faction is mechanically sound. It's funny that you mentioned the Technocrats are bastards of the University and the Cyborgs since the placeholder graphic I have for them is literally Zacharov's portrait on Aki's bases. I'm having a harder time figuring out the graphics for the Pilgrims (the short name for the Sons of the Advent); I was planning to use the Cult's bases but I couldn't find anything I could use for a portrait. Brother Joaquin, as his name suggests, is half-Spanish half-Arabic, but I couldn't find an image that satisfied me. Again at the stage I'm at it doesn't really matter, but it'd be nice.

The Technocrats aren't actually biomechanical, though their goals embrace all branches of science. The biggest inspiration by far is Hannu Rajaneimi's novel The Quantum Thief and its sequel, The Fractal Prince, which everyone here should definitely read. In those books the antagonists (more or less) are a group called Sobornost, which is comprised of humans who have uploaded their minds into a massive, solar system spanning computer network, and can copy themselves and other uploaded minds basically at will, a process which creates independent digital minds called gogols. It's through Rajaneimi's books that I started reading about Nicholai Fyodorov, since the Sobornost Founders originated with a political movement called Federovism. Anyway in Rajaneimi's books, Sobornost follows what they call "The Great Common Task" (also borrowed from Fyodorov), which involves uploading all of humanity, including everyone who has ever died, into computer networks and basically creating a whole new universe within those networks.  On the outside, then, the Technocrats can be viewed as villains, as it would appear that they want to replace all of humanity with computers, but their ideology can also be viewed much more benevolently, as they follow the original Fedorov's goal of using science to defeat death and disunity.

The Pilgrim's would have a messianic angle if the game's mechanics in anyway would facilitate that, but you're largely correct. They aren't tree huggers in the same way that the Gaians are, but they do have a profound reverence and awe for the planet. Brother Joaquin isn't advertised as being a prophet or anything-- he was a lapsed muslim who rediscovered his faith in a divine power during the voyage, and sought to forge ahead with a new belief structure.

House Satori is absolutely a Guild type faction. That's in large part why I don't want to just slap a +1 Economy booster to their profile. Morgan justifies that because his role is that of monopolizing all commercial goods on Planet. House Satori's goal is to monopolize commerce and trade, so that no matter what kind of business you are doing, at some point Satori has gets a slice. Hence the bonuses to Commerce and Interest.

One of the big inspirations for House Satori is the Qeng Ho from Vernor Vinge's A Deepness in the Sky. The Qeng Ho (pronounced "Cheng Ho") are a civilization of merchants from a setting where there is no faster than light travel, so it takes hundreds or thousands of years to navigate between customer worlds. What ends up happening is a Qeng Ho captain named Pham Nuwen sees the potential of the Qeng Ho to be more than just peddlers and uses their trade networks to try and unite human civilization and prevent the continuous cycles of planets falling back into dark ages and being raised back up. The idea of House Satori is similar-- they see trade and commerce as more than just a way to make money, but as a method by which disparate parts of humanity can be brought together. This conflicts with Morgan's ideology, which seems not to care at all what happens to everyone else so long as he stays in business.

Here is what I have drafted so far:

LEADER: {Atsumi Satori}
BACKGROUND: {Japan, Unity Financial Consultant}
AGENDA: {Economic expansion}
TECH: {Select 1}

+2 PROBE:  {Extensive information network}
-1 MORALE:   {Averse to direct combat}
-1 SUPPORT:  {Resources diverted to economic ventures}
Energy reserves gain +5% interest per turn (Commerce, 2)
Incresed commerce rate {Experienced traders and merchants} (Interest, 5)
{May not use Police State Politics.}

It's been a while since I messed with Commerce or Interest; how would these numbers impacts the faction's performance?

For the fourth and fifth faction, I may not have been clear; the Peacekeepers/Alliance/Whatever aren't the same as the Objectivists/Bolsheviks that I'm theorizing. I don't particularly care for the name "Guardsman" because it sounds like a military force rather than a whole organization.

[Buster's Uncle]

You can find files in Downloads with, respectively, bases, portraits, diplomacy landscapes and logos - some, like the bases, ready to drop into the graphic as-as; others, like most of the portraits, still needing a lot of preparation...

We'll be glad to help you learn how to do as much on the art end as you care to learn, when you're ready.

[Sigma]

Yeah I was reviewing that thread this morning, which helped me fix the blue box problem with my University/Cyborg hybrid pcx. Very handy.

EDIT: I'm writing up the House Satori txt but I've got another roadblock, namely that I don't know what title to give their leader. I'm tentatively going for Lady, to exemplify Satori's somewhat aristocratic aspirations, but that doesn't do much to invoke their commercial themes. However something like CEO doesn't work either because they aren't a corporation and that seems kind of mundane.

[Buster's Uncle]

Guildmaster?

[Sigma]

Guildmaster?

That is an excellent suggestion.

[JarlWolf]

Hows this for the face of Brother Joaquin el-Kadiz? Also I suggest switching el to Al. Arabic surnames are descriptions of their status and family relation. Joaquin Al'Kadiz would be Joaquin son of Kadiz. If Al was Bin instead, he'd be father of.




Hmm... for the Peacekeeper types... How about The Republic of Humanity? Or the Federation of Mankind.

[Sigma]

Hows this for the face of Brother Joaquin el-Kadiz? Also I suggest switching el to Al. Arabic surnames are descriptions of their status and family relation. Joaquin Al'Kadiz would be Joaquin son of Kadiz. If Al was Bin instead, he'd be father of.




Hmm... for the Peacekeeper types... How about The Republic of Humanity? Or the Federation of Mankind.

Good suggestion for the name. I'm kind of trying to avoid the whole turban/Jesus figure thing with Joaquin though. The name Joaquin Al'Kadiz is supposed to invoke a coming together of two divisive cultures (Christianity and Islam) to create something wholy new for the new world. Joaquin doesn't see himself as a messiah figure anyway (which may be the point!) so he wouldn't want to evoke that sort of iconography. You see of course my dilemma then. I'm trying to use imagery that does not exactly exist in abundance in science fiction.

[Buster's Uncle]

You want a headshot of a normal modern middle eastern man, then change his collar a little to 'future' it.  Shouldn't take all the googling in the world to find something to work with.

[JarlWolf]

Hmm... how about this? It's a bit less "noble" looking but more of a humble, if somewhat mysterious look to the Brother. It also lends itself to monks, and monks are generally more humble and not necessarily apathetic, but acceptive types in terms of stereotype. Plus monks are generally a universal concept in many religions.



That and his eyes have a purple tinge to them: which gives the impression he has been affected by prolonged exposure to Chironian fungus, which  having been born or exposed in fungus as a child had purple eyes. And so do people with prolonged exposure to fungus do.

[Sigma]

Hmm... how about this? It's a bit less "noble" looking but more of a humble, if somewhat mysterious look to the Brother. It also lends itself to monks, and monks are generally more humble and not necessarily apathetic, but acceptive types in terms of stereotype. Plus monks are generally a universal concept in many religions.


That and his eyes have a purple tinge to them: which gives the impression he has been affected by prolonged exposure to Chironian fungus, which  having been born or exposed in fungus as a child had purple eyes. And so do people with prolonged exposure to fungus do.

Not bad, not bad at all. I didn't catch that bit about fungus exposure changing eye color, but I should have expected it, since the developers sang the praises of Dune at the end of the instruction manual. I'll give that one a shot. It's a bit older than I would have thought for Joaquin, but it really captures the tone I was going for.

I've also attached the txt file for House Satori. I didn't use the faction editor so everything was written manually. I haven't completed the alien language sections yet because I don't usually play with Progenitors but I'll do that eventually. Also I'll come up with some more land base names.

EDIT: Re-Uploaded the faction txt because I left a line in there from a previous custom faction

[Rymdolov]

I've also attached the txt file for House Satori.

Great base names and an excellent blurb! You've captured the style of SMAC quotes very well.

[JarlWolf]

I'm liking Satori so far: They seem to operate very much how Guilds used to, having informants and spies to report to various merchants and its very merchant based. Also, with Atsumi could you describe her a little? Physically and maybe a bit emotionally? I am gathering she is a crafty woman who's very intelligent, if somewhat a schemer.

Also on the note of Joaquin, I can make him younger in that picture, remove his wrinkles and change his hair colour without ruining the quality of the photo. Let me know your thoughts on it.

[Geo]

Welcome to the forum, Sigma.
On Satori,does it need to be an English title? With his background, you could as well use a Japanese one. Toreda for instance  (meaning trader).