27-11-2004 22:44									#1
	Base Naming Support Apolyton

Has anyone else noticed that the base names for land bases are chosen randomly, and that the base names for sea bases are chosen chronologically?

Any way to change this?

This is something I've stumbled upon while using my faction files that have a hundred or so new base names to be used. (They're mentioned somewhere in the Aldebaran 2 thread, hehe)

	27-11-2004 23:44									#2
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I didn't notice until I started playing Pirates.

Of course the land bases aren't completely random. As well as a fixed first base you also get a fixed name base after you lose a mindworm in battle then capture a base from that faction.

My least favourite faction to ICS with is the 'Borg, not just because of the growth penalty, but because the 'after all the regular names are used up' names look so much like the regular Cyborg base names.

	28-11-2004 02:24									#3
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I could be remembering wrong, but I think that land base names were always generated in the same order in the original release of SMAC. The order was later randomized. This change was made to prevent an opponent from learning how many bases you had.

	28-11-2004 03:45									#4
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Thanks... that certainly makes sense

I do doubt that it's changeable, of course.

	28-11-2004 12:24									#5
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Well, if the original SMAC didn't randomize base names, the "base-naming program" could be copied from the original SMAC and used to replace the one in the newer versions. This, of course, is all speculation. And personally, I think it is a good idea to randomize base names. Otherwise, the bottom half would never get used, and you could tell how many bases the AI had...

	28-11-2004 20:13									#6
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Custom name your bases.

I am fond of things like:
Morgan Brothels
Scatological Research
Lady Dedrie's Bower
Yang's Wang
UN Dept of Failure

	29-11-2004 01:07									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Commy Well, if the original SMAC didn't randomize base names, the "base-naming program" could be copied from the original SMAC and used to replace the one in the newer versions. This, of course, is all speculation. And personally, I think it is a good idea to randomize base names. Otherwise, the bottom half would never get used, and you could tell how many bases the AI had...

There isn't a separate program. The base names are all listed in the faction text files...

	29-11-2004 01:50									#8
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I am aware of that. But there has to be a program that uses the text in those files to name bases. Changing the text files doesn't actually change the game. What I'm saying is that there is a program that uses the text to give faction advantages, name bases...

	29-11-2004 03:12									#9
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There's a function that uses the base names. It's within one of the programs Alpha Centauri uses. You can't just copy files and change the behavior of one small aspect of a program, in general. What you could do is hex edit the executable to restore the old base naming function, but that would require knowing exactly where to go and roughly how the function works.

	30-11-2004 00:36									#10
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Funny you mention this, I just noticed this over the weekend.

quote: Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola Custom name your bases. I am fond of things like: Morgan Brothels Scatological Research Lady Dedrie's Bower Yang's Wang UN Dept of Failure