10-10-2004 06:17									#1
	Proxima Centauri: Divergence - Turn Tracking Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Welcome to the turn tracking thread for Proxima Centauri: Divergence, a PBEM game using a slightly altered SMAC ruleset, altered tech tree, and custom factions.

The scenario: The Unity mission has been plagued with problems since the crew first began awakening from hibernation. First, the Alpha Centauri system was found to be unsafe for settlement due to rampant solar flare activity. Thus, it is decided that the ship must divert to Alpha Centauri C, known as Proxima Centauri, a small star orbited by a single, rugged, barren planet. Then, a series of mishaps following the initial reactor accident causes the crew to align into seven new groups after planetfall.

The factions are as follows:

Proteus Manifest - AI faction

Totality - AI faction

The Planetechnic Institute - Preview

Paradigm Omnimedia - fluxionman

The Steel Rat Syndicate - Firstblood

The Covenant of the Chosen - Chaos Theory

The Disciples of Qi - mart7x5

Please refer to this thread (http://apolyton.net/forums/showthre...threadid=122762) for information on the custom factions and other mod changes. Anyone with questions about the mod can e-mail me directly.

This game is being played on a 480 x 240 random map. (Maps of this size have been tested and should work on all machines. Unit movement rates have been increased to counteract the larger distances. Factions are now able to expand father initially to look for good base sites. But beware inefficiency that increases as bases are built farther and father from headquarters . . .)

The map settings are:

• Ocean coverage: 30-50%
  
• Erosive forces: Weak
  
• Native Life: Abundant
  
• Cloud Cover: Sparse
  
• Difficulty Level: Transcend
  

The game rules are:

• Victory by Transcendence: yes
  
• Victory by Conquest: yes
  
• Diplomatic Victory: yes
  
• Economic Victory: yes
  
• Cooperative Victory: yes
  
• Don't restart eliminated players: yes
  
• Flexible starting locations: yes
  
• Tech Stagnation: yes
  
• Steal tech when conquer base: no
  
• Blind Research: yes
  
• Intense Rivalry: yes
  
• No Unity Survey: no
  
• No Unity Scattering: yes
  
• Bell Curve: no
  
• Accelerated start: no
  
• Iron Man: no
  
• Randomize faction leader personalities/social agendas: no
  

Standard PBEM rules regarding cheating, notification of restarts, etc., apply.

Because the nutrient requirement for citizens has been increased from 2 to 3, surviving and thriving on Proxima Centauri involves careful resource management. This should be a long game providing lots of opportunities to explore, grow, build, and struggle for precious resources. Roleplaying is encouraged, if that's your thing.

Good luck to everyone and thanks for playing!

	10-10-2004 06:20									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

The first turn has been sent to Institute.

	10-10-2004 07:30									#3
	Turn to Paradigm Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Turn sent to Paradigm.

	10-10-2004 08:32									#4
	Increase Your PM Length

Paradigm™ OmniNet News
06:29:51/M.Y.2101: (unknown location) - Disaster has turned to relief as landing systems reacted mostly as expected and colonization pods descended to Planet's surface following unexpected glitches in the landing parties' control systems. Just hours ago, hopes of a safe landing had faded when, following an unexplained anomaly within its reactor cooling system, the United Nations colonization vessel Unity broke apart on its final approach to its destination, the solitary Planet within the Proxima Centauri system. But careful command by provisional mission captains allowed each of the seven self-proclaimed splinter factions of the Unity crew to reach planetfall with most of their human and material contingents intact.


While clear images of the approach, decent, and touchdown of Unity landers are not yet available and communications between individual factions has not yet been established, it is expected that contact between the separate groups, which for safety reasons plotted widely separated landing sites, will soon be made. Casualties among landing parties have thus far been reported as few, and damaged equipment is being salvaged as quickly as possible. As each faction reorganizes in the wake of the accident and premature landing, there is little doubt that each will make establishing a base of operations a priority.

More information on the Unity's breakup and the mass exodus to the planet's surface will be broadcast as it becomes available. Stay tuned to OmniNet News.


---------------------------
The turn has been sent to the Syndicate.

	11-10-2004 18:02									#5
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

The turn was sent to Firstblood Saturday night. I have attempted to contact him again regarding his status. If anyone else has heard from him, please let me know.

	12-10-2004 06:13									#6
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Sorry, experienced some problem, will do my turn asap

	12-10-2004 07:20									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Done turn sent to Covenant: Chaos Theory.

I few notes though; First, sure I can rename the extension to .SAV, but if you do it it will be easier just openining it an extract it to my location, without having to move there an change to .SAV. I think one of our players has imac or have all PC:s? Cos at this time I havent rewritten the .Ini file to open the windows standard file saver, shouldnt have that activated when someone has mac. So I do save using the ingame saving.

Second, 50% of the time the game freeze when it gets to the last step before launch(the game still show it is responding, ctrl+alt+del doesnt show "no activity" it seems like it working), the plannetfall OK window you press to launch the game doesnt appear 50% of the times now. Obviously that isnt much of an issue when we play BPEM it start without plannetfall OK screen. Also in other time when it work it seem to come up a bit later then usuall. Note: I change back to the old factions setup and it worked smoothly, I changed back to the game files and stuff and it runs sometimes and feezes just before launce, well not realy freeze, but the plannetfall ok step doesnt pop up sometimes.

	12-10-2004 07:29									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

and by not getting the popup so I can press OK and to the launch of the game map.

Can this plannetfall popup with me having to press OK, can that be disabled? I know it is possible to get ridd of the movie trailer at startup, never done it, but still would be very intressting to get this working 100%. Owe, have same problem on win98SE as on winXP machines!!! Note: if the problem disappear if lauching from the CD I dont know, will test it in future though, just to make sure.

	12-10-2004 07:45									#9
	Increase Your PM Length

I will append the .sav extension after saving. Yes, I'm running a Mac, so the extension is not added by default.

Make sure you have the most recent version of the alpha.txt file, available for download at the same location. I think that may be the cause of the hanging during map generation. The previous version of the file had larger than normal default map dimensions, and some Windows users had pointed out this made the game hang on their machines. The most recent version should have the dimensions returned to their original values.

Glad the first turn went well, and sorry for any problems.

	12-10-2004 08:18									#10
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

2101 -> Disciples

	12-10-2004 08:50									#11
	Suffering from ads?

http://home.wi.rr.com/fluxion/SMAC/ I uploaded the alpha.txt into my directory overwriting the current one, this didnt help, the popup is not poping up, that is the problem, have never had the map generation or the actuall game actually freeze("knocking on woods!"), only the popup that doesnt appear so I can press (or done or whatever the explination pop says about the plantfall and story intro before map generation) an play the game and train so I wont be fishmeat to fast... hmm I think its 75% of the times now... will update all txt files, just incase.

	12-10-2004 11:11									#12
	Put an end to popups!

Tiny planet|(early conflict), 32, 64
Small planet, 64, 128
Standard planet, 128, 256
Large planet, 256, 512
Huge planet|(late conflict), 512, 1024

its still like this in the new one too, or did I missunderstand... where is the default thing you change back to original settings??

450, ; Land base (Seeded land size of a standard world) Also, what made you come up with 450, why not 456? And the was originally 386, how much difference does this make??

	12-10-2004 16:12									#13
	Suffering from ads?

Some of the Worldbuilder variables were changed to alter the look of random maps. Your machine seems to be hanging during the map generation phase. How fast is your machine?

	12-10-2004 22:46									#14
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

For what it's worth, my computer crashes trying to generate Large or Huge maps with your settings, but then it's pretty unstable right now anyway. I've been meaning to wipe/reinstall for the last two months...

	13-10-2004 06:49									#15
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Actually, if you make a standalone ACentauri install, then you dont even got costumsize, I think. So when you made the game for ACentauri, then custom map isnt good I think. On the window98SE i got both the terran and terranx and thuse I can adjust custom size for both games. So when I said it crashes a lot, probebly when I choose huge mape, on small map I have only tried it once and it worked and so I have to test what maptype it supports. Still can this lack of support for costum map size have anything to do with it? So basicly your set up is OK for ppl that have smax installed in the same folders, but for the rest of you it will be buggy or not working with huge map costum size, when having this mod with standalone smac, any comments, pls?

P2 400Mhz, 192mb RAM, 32mbTNT2,win98SE/winXP multiboot.

Note, have smac-standalone on the winXP, and got smac-smax on the win98SE. Have had it on win98SE only without multi-boot and it didnt work well with standalone smac then either, so it isnt winXP that messing for sure, probebly you made the game for smac without consider the custom map size in consideration, or maybe I just have a short memory... and not paying attention??

	13-10-2004 06:50									#16
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I think there may be difference between macintosh exe and pc exe. Mac allows for larger than 256 tiles maps, while pc versions do not.
My pc always crashes trying to generate large maps, however i can still play.
=========
2102 to the institute.

	13-10-2004 07:30									#17
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

I am using a Windows system and I have not had a problem generating large maps. My previous system was a P3 @033MHz running Windows 98SE. I was able to generate 1024 x 512 maps without crashes.

	13-10-2004 07:35									#18
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Turns sent to Paradigm.

	13-10-2004 07:53									#19
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

hmm, are you sure or just speculating? or can you refer to somewhere?

It would be cool if we could get the facts straight. Does mac support custom maps with a standalone alphaCentauri while pc doesnt?

And why can I play my turn if it doesnt have support for big maps in the standalone? I mean I did play my turn without complication...

I will install the the stuff on my smac-smax so that I can see if it will be more smoothly, just to see.

Also if smac lack this support while smax doesnt, should we all install smax and then do the setup and then start up with a smac game.... I mean cos it didnt crash now, it might in the future and that would be so bad?

	13-10-2004 08:01									#20
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

dude, if you can say that you dont have smax in the same directory, then that would would be cool. Cos if you have a standalone smac and it work with 1024 x 512 single games, then that would be great news... then I just have to get a faster computer to play the freaking turn if it crashes! though dont expect me playing 1 or few turns a day or something... facts would be nice to have ASAP.

P.s. oh yeah, the vertical renders first so it is 256 x 128 etc. ofcourse. And ofcourse I will test with smax in directory just to make sure what the major problem is...

	13-10-2004 14:44									#21
	Remove this text

Ok, after some testing, standalone or mix, as long as I use custom map, it launch OK. I can launch 1024x512maps, though it says 256x256 and above and it will effect perfomens and yes it does get slower, but playable at 1024. Anyhow, the problem is when launch standard-, huge map etc., then its a problem for PC users, not when I use costum settings. So the alpha.txt should have standarvalues in tiny to huge maps. If you whant to play a custom map, then just set those values. The reason why the multiplayer game launched is probebly due to that it was launched as a custom map and not huge planet.

Would a change in the alpha.txt back to standar tiles be bad for the multiplayer game that has a custom sized map and not huge map.?

	13-10-2004 16:07									#22
	Get a bigger avatar today!

Turn to Syndicate.

	13-10-2004 18:10									#23
	Get a bigger avatar today!

It seems that the issue, at least from the information Firstblood is providing, is with the Worldbuilder map generation sequence. According to him, he hasn't had any problem playing his PBEM turn on the larger (480x240) map, just with generating random maps under the modified alpha.txt. Others have noticed issues with building larger-than-recommended maps under Windows. Because I generated the PBEM map on a Mac, there was no problem.

I believe Preview only has SMAC installed, not SMAX. My installation is also SMAC-only.

Changing the alpha.txt file back to the default (unaltered) for use in the PBEM game would result in corruption/conflicts, since a number of key variables vary from one to the other. Not a good idea. And as I think I said before, the map sizes in my custom alpha.txt have been returned to their original values.

You say you can launch 1024x512 maps. Since our current game is only 480x240, I don't forsee there being any crashing problems despite your somewhat older machine.

If you think these issues are going to be a continuing problem and you want to bow out, let me know.

	13-10-2004 22:34									#24
	Full PM-box? Change here!

hmm. Even though I have one install on xp and one on 98se, there is a problem... I need to play your single game, or Im screwed soon enough. so yes I can either create a batchfile switching alpha.txt or do manual copy/pasting or simple just be a bad player... and no there is no problem to create a batchfile so there should not in anyway be a launching problem for me again and I will be able to play your "add-on" and get better, so whatch up, ...I hope

My turn was sent to convenant 2102

	13-10-2004 23:37									#25
	Get a bigger avatar today!

I hope this works for you. We certainly don't want you handicapped for lack of access to the mod in practice sessions!

If for some reason you need me to generate random maps for your single-player session, let me know.

Also take comfort from the fact that, on a planet as large as this, it commonly takes longer to encounter other factions. So, there will be more turns to build, expand, and prepare.

	14-10-2004 01:38									#26
	Get a bigger avatar today!

Paradigm™ OmniNet News
15.41.30 / M.Y. 2102 - (Elysium Highlands, Chiron): Ground was broken today in a simple ceremony at the future site of Paradigm Headquarters, the first permanent settlement to be built by Paradigm Omnimedia, formerly Morgan Industries. After a brief statement from Paradigm CEO and Maestro Jason Clor, the gold-tipped excavation probe of a specially-outfitted former unit bored into the flattened hillside in the area dubbed "Elysium Highlands" to symbolically begin digging the foundation for what will eventually become a pressure-sealed habitat for thousands of Paradigm employees and their families.



Maestro Clor was reflective in his statement, quoting from Aristotle, Lao Tzu, and most notably the English poet John Milton: "The mind is its own place, and in it self can make a Heaven of Hell, a hell of Heaven." With these words, he set into motion the building of what he described will be "a global awareness, a shared perception, an unfettered network of sensation and ideas that will span the globe and bring information in all its multitude forms to all Chiron's inhabitants whenever they chose." To be included in this network, according to Clor, will be live 24-hour news and entertainment broadcasting, universal access to multimedia data via public-access terminals, and live performances simulcast to hologram theatres around the world from Paradigm's studios.


Conceptual design courtesy of Paradigm Omnimedia

Plans for a second settlement have already been made, although Paradigm officials refused to comment on its purpose, design, or location. Plans for memorial to the victims of the crash of Descent Vehicle Three, which included then-CEO Nwabudike Morgan, are also underway at Paradigm Headquarters. Details of further development at this site should become available in the coming weeks.
Contributed by Paradigm™ OmniNet News Service

	14-10-2004 10:46									#27
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

2102 -> Disciples

Lacking other forms of entertainment, Covenant citizens have taken to sculpting the abundant pink organic material nearby.

	15-10-2004 07:12									#28
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Turn to Paradigm

	15-10-2004 08:56									#29
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Turn to Syndicate.

	15-10-2004 14:50									#30
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

Turn to covenant

*Me:Silence please, The joint cheifs have made some recommendations. First...they say that this is where we should build the base/HQ. As you all know, we dont know what is ahead of us, we need to get things running ASAP and so I agree with their good jugdment, ...so my powerfull fellows, regard this place to be our Capitol* "conclusion - if we had more resourses, then we could have started of with tactical-boost City buildup, I hope the others wont be to lucky either" The dark was comming rather fast, we had no choise but to drug us with antisleep-drugs to make sure we had safe heaven before we accounter any aliens or disloyal factionsmembers. "We shall not forgive the betrail so easely."

*Me: We lack enough resourses, so team bravo, go upward in that eastern direction and as we can't spare you no heavy weapons, I do except you to rather run then badly fight, so keep your eyes open. Also, as you know, we have no choise but use the tactical-standaloneloop setup, so do what you can, ...may the shii be with you!*

*Newly appointed General Obogan:Scout master[Bai], go west and check out the poods.* *Scout Bai:sure, thing boss* *General Obogan:you either call me General or Sir, Im no longer ship-cloth co-ordinator* *Scout Bai:Yes, General!*

"day 3 allready" *Me:Have you heard anything* *Communications-Officer:Vanish-shi: Yes, no new U.F.O:s, then what we find in base perimiter, repported, Sir* *Good, carry on*

*Scout Bai: Rover Commander Taipei: You go ahead, and check for clear path from this red sticky stuff, the rover will just get stuck anyway "im sure of it", so you go ahead "Just a few moments later" Dammit, why should I be so indipendent-wiseguy all the time, ...puh, Im dead tired allready, this will takes days to go through, I havent even gotten half-thrue* "where am I, why do I talk to my self, this red fungus might be worse then I thought, I must repport to spare future lifes and maybe they can send an extraction team, the rover is probebly out of range by now, im not going to make it" *scout Bai:Scout-Beta-Afro-Indipendent here, over* "no one responding" Had no choise but to continue, there were no way to tell how far it was to the nearest way out of this hell whole.

day 3 is comming to an end. We have found some awsome insects during the past 2 days, but where are all the big animals, no alien attacks or danger at all, all what we could find this day was red fungus of some sort. it seems not to hospital any insects at all, so what good is this fungus, what function does it have. Had no choise but to order my scout to enter the fungus area not so far away from our baseborder, will see what happens tomorrow, this was a must priority to aviod getting suprised by a supreme threat when we least expect it and we need those freaking poods, the more the marrier.