Having a ton of XenoFUNgus : Let's Play Alpha Centauri

To be fair, choosing between these two is like being forced to either put your hand on a hot burner for about a minute or lick the length of a barbed wire fence. But one of them has already given me money, is looking worse for wear and didn't just cheat me out of a planetary governorship through Sunspot shenanigans and is offering more on top of that.

You wastrel daughters undermine the great foundation of our Statehood with your inaction. You only survive because of the Security our Chairman generously bestows upon your thankless hides while you cavort with the likes of mindworms.

Ozzo, you're just mad that we Brokenites have a vast Virtual World at our fingertips and your precious society of utter control was left to make due with relics of a bygone age. Your Chairman's Security is beneficial to us all, but surely admitting that he requires our help is a misstep in the eyes of his people. For if his steps falter and he requires our help, then what of his citizenry, who know him to be beyond reproach? What then of a society thrown into chaos by a blinking eye and an outstretched hand?
Truly this olive branch only serves to weaken his overall standing. I must refuse out of love for not only myself, but for his sake as well.

You misunderstand -- our Chairman does not falter in his steps. He graciously extends a hand of Brotherhood between those who value Security. Sadly, some overzealous fanatics threaten the Security valuable to all forms of governance.

No one so selflessly puts the State before himself like our Chairman.

I have refused the offer of Pact Brotherhood from Chairman Yang. Though in future, I might turn over Ozzo's Enclave to him if he appears to be on the verge of elimination by his Bible-thumping rivals. Nonetheless, I agree to give him some of our funds to secure relationships for the future.
2159: University Base is mine. Zakharov's folly was getting upset when I merely wanted information. One more base and the University will only have the afterlife to research.

2160: Zakharov finally understand the stakes we're playing for. Shall I humor him?

My guess is that as soon as this is done he will ALSO ask for help against the Believers, which as conqueror I will have every right to ignore. I will probably also get access to any and all tech he researches. Worst case scenario, I squash him like a bug after making this deal.

I confess, I once again find myself mightily torn. On the one hand, this peace overture seems genuine, if desperate, and would be a welcome opportunity for us to return our attention to the important things in life, such as our attempts to cultivate the fungus into a useable crop, or pursuing communion with our mindworm friends.

On the other hand, I suspect the smoke from the flaming ruins of his wretched hives of twisted science would create most wondrous patterns at sunset.

Truly I find my citizens torn to the core by the weight of this decision. Perhaps it should be best to stick to the notion that life is sacred and free technology is also pretty sweet.

Edit: I will tally all clearly stated votes in 10 minutes.

Provost Zakarhov would prove himself no more than a squanderer of the valuable resources offered by the State. His reckless pursuit of knowledge and inability to withhold information as per our Chairman's directives endangers the Security of the State. He must not be allowed to undo our Chairman's tireless efforts.

Accept his rightful subservience!

2160: We reject their proposal and in retaliation, Zakharov tries to incite riots at Kalle's Capture (Formerly University Base). Luckily, the drones created by his actions are nullified completely by the Human Genome Project and The Virtual World. After having liberated the horribly twisted industries of the University we feel much more at home with nature.

This will finally allow us to breed mindworms of our own, rather than relying on subjugating ones from the wild order.


Shortly after realizing what modern biotech is capable of, we receive a message from CEO Morgan. It appears that he, too, requires assistance against the Believers.


Shall we humor this foolish venture capitalist?
First vote gets precedence as it's pushing 3:00 AM here.

I hope you will not hesitate a second time to accept the hand of Brotherhood. CEO Morgan too values the Security all governments rightfully desire. Through the market and the guiding hand of Our Esteemed Chairman, we may overcome these barbarians of morality.

I think voting has already closed, but if not, I vote ACCEPT THE SURRENDER.

Oops, this is what happens when I post without refreshing the page. Well, I second Ozzo. Accept Morgan's offer!

Oh, certainly, let's ally with Morgan Industries so that he can beginning marketing his new product, Mindworm in a Can, and charging rent to the fungal growth that is the key to our future I DON'T THINK.

Of all those who have approached us so far, this capitalist dog is the least worthy to aid in tending Mother The Planet's growth and nurturing our wormy friends.

1260: I accept his proposal and buy more of tech for the low price of 200 energy. Industrial Automation is VERY useful because it nets us access to Silksteel technology soon, which is a much needed defense boost now that we're at war with Sister Miriam.
Pravin Lal also calls me up to chat. We trade some lower level tech and using my shrewd business sense I cajole 500 credits to forge a treaty of friendship with him. Looks like I'll be getting more energy per turn and a nice lump sum. This is becoming quite the active turn,
And just as I say that the Spartans have declared their undying hatred for me. We are now at war with the two most militant factions in the game. Ummm... Good thing I was boning up on military to deal with Zakharov, right?
1261: Zakharov is no more. But Believing forces have captured a nearby Hive base. Time for the war to begin in earnest.

1262: Our hard workers in Ananabananapolis have done it again! The Citizen's Defense force is now a reality, providing much needed security as we stomp off for war. Additionally we have managed to capture a Believing base.

In the interest of promoting Broken Culture the base is swiftly renamed to Ozzopolis. It would seem that Miriam herself is willing and ready to accept the new name.
I will never surrender Ozzopolis to scum like you, Miriam.
We are united. We are Broken. Wait...
Here's how our map is looking:

Hurrah! Hurrah for a glorious victory! Elemental Mines is proud to contribute energy to support the war effort!

By the way, Elfaleon - which difficulty are you playing on?

This is being played on the 'Normal' difficulty setting: Talent. Ordinarily I crank it up 2 notches, but due to this being a Let's Play I decided to go a more relaxed route. I'm used to getting that inefficiency message at 6 bases.

2263: With Ozzopolis as a handy waypoint, I can now begin to bombard the Believer mainland. Doing so, I can see why she was so powerful. Her starting area is lush with nutrients, allowing he to expand at a rate FAR greater than my own start.

2266: I capture an Isle of the deep. This is essentially a seafaring mindworm. Despite our best efforts, however, many of our troops are still wary of being supported by its writhing mass of noodly appendages. Luckily, Some natives from Garden of the deep who have grown up with such oddities agree to use it as a flotilla, making a invasion force a go.


2269: The Believers have little answer for bombardment by 12 stacks of air power, of I which have sole possession as of now.

2273: After fighting through 9 defensive units, our standby Luminary defense squad seizes 'The Holy Fire'.

2275: Madar Foxfort founded on the other side of the Uranium flats. Elemental Mines natives are happy to have a vacation center that's both close and familiar. Just because there's a war on doesn't mean we should stop expanding.

2278: The Holy Fire has resisted being renamed. Sister Miriam is sending wave after wave of troops and a smattering of spies to incite revolt. It seems that she is determined to take back her unfairly given starting locale. I've lost count of how many bodies she has sent up against the ample defenses of her old base. I need to distract her attention, or I will surely lose this foothold on her mainland.

2279: As a distractionary pincer I send most of my mind worms and a few Sofaer Shockwaves (missile jets) to the Hive's old territory, Fecundity Tower and two impact skimships and a Sofaer Shockwave to Loaves and Fishes.

2281: The endless assault on the Holy Fire has distinctly lessened. It appears that Miriam cares more about defending the bases she has left that taking back one that she has lost. Her defensive tactics aren't enough to save Loaves and Fishes, as it disintegrates into synthmetal bits floating on Chiron's oceans.

2282: I call up Morgan and ask to buy one of his bases off of him. He's surprisingly gung-ho and asks for a paltry 350 energy credits, which I readily accept. Unsurprisingly, the base he gave us has almost nothing in it. In fact, it has no military presence whatsoever. With the hostile Spartans on the border, I am forced to hurry production of a LUMinary.

2283: My worrying was for naught. All of the aggression by the Spartans is being actively taken care of my friend Yang. Superjay Scoutpost is founded to celebrate his intervention in the turbulent hotbed of Spartan/Morgan/Hive space.

2284: Snarktopolis completes the Planetary Transit System! All of my fledgling bases will now start more robustly, with 3 population instead of one. Morgan also kindly dumps some archaically equipped soldiers for me to use outside the base I bought from him. Cheapskate probably didn't want to pay their support costs. Well neither do I. I turn them over to Yang's control once they hit the border. As Ozzo says, security is important.
After my somewhat diminished air corps makes and all in strike against Eternal Reward another LUMinary chilling on an Isle of the Deep pops in for the capture. Miriam's seemingly endless parade of troops are weakening, not in number, but in experience. I'm no longer forced to go up against elite commando troops with my greenhorn pilots and it's making all the difference. Miriam realizes that her days are numbered if this continues and sues for peace. I agree.

2285: That awful woman tried to incite TWO riots the turn after she sued for peace. I dare say she just wanted a brief respite. Newsflash Miriam, wait for my troops to exit your territory before you pull this shit. We have captured Fecundity tower in retaliation. Since I have no stake in keeping it, I turn it back to its original owners: The Hive. Needless to say they're pretty grateful.

2287: Blackroot Palace is founded and immediately hit by an earthquake. Those who thought they were migrating to a seaside valley have to deal with being an inland hillside.
The industrious citizens of Elemental Mines builds the Naval Yard, after 35 long turns of work. Not wanting to be one-upped, the remnants of Zakharov's legacy create the Empath guild, which grants me extra planetary council votes. Guess who's going to be the new Planetary governor?

2290: The Hive lose Fecundity Tower and offer their hands in friendship once again offering both technology and a small pile of energy credits. Luckily for them, I am in a fantastic mood, as I have founded the first Centauri Preserve this turn and as such I am feeling very generous. I accept their offer.


2293: Launching an offensive from Elyscape's Like-a-torium, Fecundity tower falls once again. This time, I sell it to the Morganites, who I feel will be less likely to hold on to it in the long run. With my planetary governorship, I also earn more credits from commerce, so I don't have to deal with the inefficiency that such a place would bring to my empire while still raking in a small amount of the profit. When Believer aggression retakes it, I'll be willing to swoop in once again.

2294: Stargazer's Valley founded on the ruins of ZOloto Gold. Birdsong's Northwind is founded at the opposite end of our empire as well. We shall sprawl. We shall sprawl towards infinity.

2295: My initiative in the creation of the Centauri preserve has welcomed in some... interesting visitors in my thought. My compulsion to expand might very well be a subset of this planet induced dreamstate.


2297: The native planet life is not very good at poetry, but it's less horrifying than the first time my mind was probed. We reach an agreement, I think?



2298: Righteous Sentence falls to our rigorous 9 jet bombing.

An empire overview:

Not pictured: 14 jet deathstack in the Believer controlled territory. Seriously she lucked out with that starting location.

Sorry about the lack of screenshots for the first half. Something happened to them like those first posts.

I guess I haven't played Alpha Centauri since before college, because otherwise the redundancy of Zoloto Gold would have amused me.

It's becoming increasingly apparent that Believing forces are simply not able to compete without their commandos in bases. Until she researches anti-air technology, we'll be using her own road systems to slowly crawl across her empire.



Well, she at least gives us credit. And she's very cordial for someone who has lost 6 bases to me.



She's done this before, only to spring war the very next turn. Has she learned her lesson? Does she deserve our mercy?
No. I think not.

Edit: I haven't been including it, but every 5 turns, like clockwork, Pravin Lal asks me to give him either missile weapons or air power in exchange for his maps. If he wasn't so agreeable in every other way, I would probably have declared war on him for being such a nuisance.

The Base names from all the factions are pretty great. My personal favorite from the University is Gargarin Memorial.

Prayer interrupts the Citizenry from reinforcing the Values our Chairman rightly holds. A matron to the blight of morality and religion, Miriam must not be absolved. She taints the planetwide Security that Our Esteemed Chairman envisions for Chiron.

Urge to replay Alpha Centauri... rising... :D

2300- Chaos Weapony has been discovered. This is roughly a 33% boost in offensive capability for our military.Production of Sarasharpshooters will replace Sofaer Shockwaves within 10 years as attack jets of choice, says lead project engineer Nageki Wakatsuki.


2301- Miriam sues for peace once again after the Brokenites thrust further inland. She will greatly regret trying to incite drone riots in her old territories. Revelation Base has a new name: Fishbreath's Foray. Unfortunately, the citizens of our new capture are very unhappy, so instead of having them gather resources, I use new psychological techniques to allow them to practice empathic waves, making everyone much more understanding of each other's needs. Having Empaths in a base helps bolster economy and happiness levels, which is a fair trade for not rioting. The Human Genome Project is really saving my keister here, otherwise all of the bases seized from Miriam (save Ozzopolis) would be in open revolt.

2303- Miriam retakes Fecundity Tower. I'll consider swooping in and once again expanding my borders southward. Also, our politically incorrect colony proves that it is ecologically sensitive.


2305- I FINALLY get some infiltrator data on Miriam.


I am no longer surprised as to how she could be in decline after having pretty much the best starting position in the game. I also know that she was at war with the University when it was still around. Cute how her paltry sum of credits is equal to her number of planetary council votes.

2307- After a glorious victory and the seizure of Blessed Savior, an energy market crash wipes out 80% of my savings. This means no rush jobs on non-essentials in the near future. With this kind of economic collapse waiting at any turn, I need to focus on a more secure system for gaining energy reserves. I think it's time to try some social engineering folks!


So here are the options currently available to us as a civilization. Right now, we have some negative modifiers to policing and troop, which would be offset by either fundamentalist or police state political structures. Fundamentalist also comes with the added benefit of making our troops incapable of being brainwashed or bribed. However, are we really that type of society?
Green economy would be a boon since the majority of our bases don't need to grow any farther, but would also give us negative brownie points with both of our pact brothers, whereas planned economy would Yang react favorably.
Lastly, the 'knowledge' subset seems like such a good choice, but we have to factor in that Miriam is constantly sending probe teams at us. If we want to have any hope of keeping our tech edge it actually is better NOT to go with knowledge ironically. Wealth would be excellent for regrowing our lost reserves at the cost of making our military suck even harder.
Nonetheless, I would like you citizens to choose the direction that the Brokenites take with their society.

I'm pretty sure Miriam could just be wiped out by sheer numbers at this point. Democratic, Wealth, and I'm undecided on the Economics branch. Heck, I'm split between Police State and Democratic too.

... What does 'Support' do?

EDIT

We could always go Green once we're done dealing with the Fanatic over there as well.

I can only repeat that the ultimate goal of Security leads a successful nation. Neither bribery nor brainwashing threaten the Police State that can prune unruly branches and promote the ideals of Our Esteemed Chairman through Security. Consistency (for does consistency in the pursuit of Security guide the State towards that pinnacle?) dictates a planned economy to complement the political restructurization.

As I have previously stated and Provost Zakarhov has exemplified, knowledge squanders our already heavily diminished resources and endangers the glorious State built by Our Esteemed Chairman. Pursuit of Security, not knowledge, leads to a successful State, and Security cannot be guaranteed without the Wealth to ensure its upkeep.

Mariam almost always gets slaughtered due to her bitchy warmongering and atrocious research. Vs. the AI you can minmax her probe bonuses to make up for it, but the AI is hopeless at it and no human opponent will fall for it.

Support is the number of units any one single base can put up before requiring minerals from that base to cover their upkeep costs.

In a game with tech stagnation turned on, she's still a mid-game powerhouse due to the 25% attacking bonus. Especially if you have base capture = tech enabled (which we don't in this case). If you can subjugate Morgan or Zakharov early and get them to feed you tech, the Believers are still a late game monster.

Ignoring Ozzo's continuing efforts to destroy our people's way of life with his slave-building and warmongering, I once again suggest our people follow their true path in life, a free people Democratically electing the leaders who will guide us both in a healthy pursuit of Knowledge that we might learn to better walk beside our mind-worm kin and develop efficient Green methods for manufacture and the strength unity with our Mother Planet brings us.

(Also the massive boost to efficiency which frequently seems to provide energy out the wazoo.)

It may cost us a little in the technology based boot-stomping fascist machines the likes of Ozzo want us to rely on, but surely what we gain from our bond with the native lifeforms will more than make up for that.

A base named after me? Why, thank you! Given the lack of happiness when you captured it, though, maybe Fishbreath's Folly might have been more apropos. :P

The people cannot exist without the State to govern over them. Our Esteemed Chairman honorably performs the laborious tasks of maintaining the Security so essential to our State, which in turn allows the people (including the non-contributing ringleaders of a global kumbaya) can survive. In His role as the Chairman, He sacrifices His life for the State.

But just as people cannot exist without the State, so too people cannot coexist with those slavering alien tumors. Attempting to commune with the likes of mind-worms bespeaks of unimaginable folly. That path leads to a fate arguably worse than the destruction of the State: it leads to the destruction of all Security itself, as Humanity loses all the steps it has taken to survive. That the writhing horde repeatedly attacks the State should be evidence enough of the horde's ill intentions and the hostility of your so-called Gaia.

You know, one cannot help but feel one has heard this exact same rhetoric from another source. A source attached to another faction. One which has claimed friendship, potentially in truth or potentially in falsehood.

Pardon this one for wondering aloud, beloved leader, but how are our defenses against spying coming along at this point?

I resent the accusation mostly unfairly leveled against Our Esteemed Chairman. I might add that the Chairman has shown nothing but the utmost tolerance of those who would rather frivolously spend their days meditating rather than contributing to improving Security. I believe your advisor Stargazer has lost some of his political prowess. Perhaps he has spent one too many hours lounging too close to the local mind-worms? I would recommend that he be sent to a clinic for his own well-being -- a real clinic, not a shabby voodoo "doctor" as these natural types predispose themselves to.

2311: Long live the wealth-seeking green democracy of the Hatofulian Macarthurs! Though their was a minor amount dissent over the democratic nature of our government those opposed have migrated to Ozzopolis, where a more controlled society is being researched. After all, it's relatively easy to monitor everyone when they're stuck in an underwater base.

2312: We have seized Morgan Antimatter from the hands of the Spartans. This also means that the Merchant Exchange is under our control. Only one Secret Project is now in enemy hands. Miriam continues to flail as her star falls, calling desperately for a council vote grasping at any straws for attention to her religious prattle.

I ALMOST could win this while abstaining. Looks like the world favors non-gingers . Better luck next time Miriam.

2313: Lady Octopus' Garden founded off the coast of a rather fertile island and Balut's Briny Base founded off the coast of our mainland near Tylertoo's Triumph. Blackroot Palace is forced to disband some of its military due to our new support structure. Hopefully I won't have to deal with any mainland invasions soon. Stargazer's Folly is struck by an untimely minerals bust. Coupled with support penalties, it will take them forever to build the Xenopathy Dome, if this continues.

2314: Colonel Santiago spurs for peace. I've gotten what I wanted from her, so I say that's okay. Besides, her troops actually scare me at this juncture. I need to beef up my economy if our new democracy wants to support troops anyhow.

2316: Fecundity Tower is wiped from existence. The overwhelming urge is to reseed the area as I did with Stargazer's Valley. We shall see how viable that proves soon.

2318: Without the constant barrage of Believing spies to cause trouble, all of my captured bases remain relatively happy and productive. Focus has almost entirely shifted from offensive units to structure building. We are a happy people with no intent to conquer unless provoked, right? Let's take a look at a random sampling of the empire.



Mostly infrastructure and economic stuff. Since we now have an infiltrator for Miriam, let's check what she's up to.



Oh honey, I thought we talked about this. How are you still using synthmetal? Do you not believe in plasma armor? At this point, I might give it to her out of pity for her poor brainwashed troops. Especially since our scientists have discovered something quite a bit better.



2319: Mcollough Mountain founded as our tallest base yet. More hardy settlers decide to move onto the previously wild western peninsula.
Planetary Economics have been fine tuned and perfected by Brokenite analysts. If we so choose, we can switch all of our power towards trying to corner the global energy market.



What say ye fine citizens? Shall we attempt to take Chiron through the strength of our business acumen, or sit back and wait for more things to happen before deciding?

Minimalist overview of Broken domination. Brokenites in green, Believers in orange, Hive in blue and Spartans in black.

As leader of Balut's Briny Base, I am hereby declaring Martian Law!

Okay, no research hospitals in your base. I read you loud and clear.

GTFO MIRIAM!

I love that more than I probably should.

2322 - Conquests abound. Our troops continue to cut swaths through Believing territory taking 3 bases in a single turn. Fusion power is discovered. All units with a fusion reactor gain double their normal health. My lack of military training and soft ways should be heavily offset by a double health pack.

2324 - No slowing down on the oppression train. I call the planetary council to try and double trade rates. Sadly the measure fails with a deadlocked vote. Yang apparently doesn't approve of 'trade'. Too many resources going from base to base equates to a non-secure society. Fair enough.

2328 - The first Thermal Borehole is built near the frigid northlands in order to speed up production. Needless to say, our economy will soon be reaping heavy dividends while our ecological credibility is going to take a hit. Gotta start churning out more of those Centauri preserves soon. Also, in order to appease Chiron, an experimental unit has been unleashed on the world.


That's right folks. We can now BREED mindworms in base. Lindly will be the first of what will most likely be a small mindworm strike force.

2231 - Lindly, you best not be playing pranks on me. I made you.


I have got to stop to stop abusing the Hologram Theatres.

2233 - Brokenites now have the option to return to space for the first time since landing on Chiron.


This will allow me to build missiles to destroy any hope opponents have of defending against my air corps, which is still unique. Similarly, the PLANET BUSTER is now available, if we want to create radical alteration to the landscape, obliterate everything's surroundings and make EVERYONE hate us.

2335 - Anabananapolis completes yet another Secret Project. The Planetary Datalinks now belong to us, though I doubt any tech will be obtained from the OTHER factions, considering how dominant our scientists have proved themselves post-Zakharov.

2338 - Snarktopolis finishes The Ascetic Virtues. Our state's policing forces are greatly improved. Drones should no longer be a problem anywhere with this addition.

As a thank you to Chairman Yang for donating the tech that made this possible, I cede one of his old bases back to him. He then promptly renounces our pact of Brotherhood, probably due to the fact that we are allied with Morgan and are running a democracy. Dictators have weird ways of saying thanks.

2242 - Hard working researchers have found a way to make my aerial assaults even more brutal.


Now I have access to droptroops and copters. Droptroops can drop from any base to any land square within an 8 tile radius. Copters are fliers with hampered range that can attack multiple times per turn. In tandem this is devastating. Additionally, I can now sue for a diplomatic victory if I so choose.
Additionally, we launch our first orbital probe.
This means that we now have a full view of Chiron and additional nutrients at every base. Great for growth.

Now comes the time where we must decide what type of victory I am trying to obtain. Do we want to go for Transcendence and become one with Planet? Diplomatic overtures to unite a shattered world? Rule through a vibrant and robust economy? Or perhaps a brutal show of force is best for our purposes?
It's time to put on your thinking hats and vote. Non-voting members will be placed in the Punishment Sphere if they complain about the direction things take.

Obviously there can be only one decision made here, Shippingmaster. Violence, monetary gain, even peaceful negotiation, all of these things pale in comparison to the glory of the Transcendent Overmind we could forge by merging our wills with that of the planet. Godlike, functionally perfect beings living in harmony with the world and the universe around us? What sort of narrow-minded hate-mongering voice could possibly deny this being our true destiny?

Transcendence. Alpha Centauri is one of the rare science fiction games to explore its setting beyond "kewl pew-pew lasers" - let's make the most of it. :D