Hey all you SMACheads! I am sorry SMAXheads, this mod ain't for AX,
since I don't have it and don't know the programming of it. Well, what
can I say? This is the first version of the mod, as I am going to post
a thread on the Apolyton Alpha Centauri Creation Forum about beta
testing, if I altready didn't do.
So all you beta testers - get cracking! Find bugs, hints, tips and
any other things that you might find useful so I can post a version
two called "Ultramind Mod - Collective work of...", if I think you
lot did a good job, which I'm sure you will! B-D
BTW, I won't take any responcibility if you system crashes or anything,
so you are running the mod on your own risk! Though I promise you
I would never put a virus on this brilliant game. :-)
INSTALLATION:
Just place all the files in the zipped folder into your SMAC folder.
The sounds should be placed into their apropriate folders, like they
are in the zip file (if hopefully the zip program supports folders)
WARNING: You will need to reinstall the game if you don't BACK-UP!!!
BASIC STORY:
In the mod, I worked on the idea of a splinter Planetmind, which
evolved every "evolutionary cycle" (as explained in some SMAC blurbs
and interludes) only to be exterminated by the Planetmind, which
was fighting for its own existence, not wishing to be taken over.
With the arrival of humans, the 'Ultramind', as I called it, found
possible new allies. A stray Spartan has found her way into the
Ultramind's web and now acts as a 'Dark Host', collaborating with it
in a form of weak transcendence, pursuing Ultramind's goals of
supreme rule. Meanwhile the Planetmind has found its simpathy with
a Gaian psych analyst, showering it with visions and its psi powers.
All it asked the Gaian was that she and a group of humans side with
it and defend it against human exploitation, Ultraminds Dark Hosts and
a coming Progenitor invasion, which only it knew about.
Zakharov, up to his amoral research as usual, has greated the ultimate
blend of human and machine - the Kiberoid. After a rebelion, helped
by the Cyber-Angel Coalition (Cyborgs and Datatechs), they founded a
faction of their own, pursuing mostly Cyborg philosophies.
Strange things start happening before the Progenitor arrival - fungal
blooms, sudden climate changes and other similar happenings. The rest
of humanity, if not already gone to the Oracles, Ultramind or Kiberoid,
has split further into two groups - the Manifold and the High Lords.
The Manifold are faction that follows both Lal's and Morgan's
philosophy, constructing a democratic, adaptable and wealthy society.
The High Lords however follow a twisted hybrid of a police state and
fundamentalism - living in a 2-class society, where drones either
do all the work or are punished accordingly, while only the top layer
gets to enjoy 'free' life and gain most of the wealth.
Then the Progenitor arrive. They detected human presence, which they
thought would soon disapear since they imagined the Planet would deal
with the 'intruders'. but they were obviously wrong and now they
have found that the splinter Ultramind has evolved much more powerful
than before, with the help from the human disturbance. They are split
between the Cultivators (that are like the Caretakers, but I couldn't
give them the same name, could I?), who wish to further develop the
progenitor experiments, which are spread all over the galaxy, and the
Executors (Usurpers - d'uh!) who wish to follow the Progenitor Galactic
Council's decision, which is that the experiments have good far enouth
and the time for the 'harvest of progenitor fruits' has come (AtT, in
short!).
I think that you are getting a picture of a deeply troubled world by
now! ;-)
SOME CHANGES:- * alpha.txt is mostly changed and renamed, the SP movies now also
have altered after-text (the one descibing the project) due
to name changes), in movlist.txt. Also several facility, SP
prequels have been changed so look out for that
* The Merchant Exchange now reduces maintendance by 2 at the base
where it is built!
* Farms and Soil Enrichers are renamed to Hydroponic Labs and Bio Domes
* new graphics for Hydroponic Lab, Sensors, Monoliths and Boreholes
* Kelp Enrichers are now available, with no special graphics though,
Sonar Fields can be constructed!
* some diplomatic speeches are now different (script.txt)
* factions are now different and each start with their own special
facility, unit and social eng. ratings.
* 10 new techs! --> including Space Habitation, Mental Harmonics, Ghost
Enhancing, Heavy Industries and Secrets of Immortality!!! Some
other stuff in the game has been renamed and/or given a different
preq technology
* new ability! --> Heavy Transport (+50% transport capacity) which
comes available with the new Heavy Industries tech
* due to the increase in the number of technologies, the standard
technology discovery rate is now changed to 90% (ie. 10% quicker)
* new Social Engineering Table! Look at all those new choices! Mmm...
* new special units (feat. Swarm, Morphins and High Predator),
this means that the AI can now construct probe-ships so watch out!
* different in-game pictures (hoping for some more in version 2)
So, have fun! And email me for comments at
cybergod@email.co.yu
Seeya!
Nikola Rankovic (aka Cybergod)
cybergod@email.co.yu
http://www.geocities.com/kibernick