Shadows Race - Playtesters Sought

[God Emperor]

Have developed a working Version of an AI for the Shadows. It uses the Army of Darkness ship set and the AI files originate from my Romulan AI.
The 2000pt race is centred on Organic technology although a 5000pt Version uses Organic and Psychic. eg:

Name := Shadows
Description := The Shadows are a race that seeks power through chaos. Many other races and individuals serve the Shadows with the promise of power.
Empire Name := Shadows
Empire Type := Alliance
Emperor Name := Morden
Emperor Title := Ambassador
Biological Description := Unknown, although it is rumoured that they also possess psychic powers. What is known is that have an ability to manipulate organic life and matter.
Society Description := Unknown. Many Races form the Shadow Alliance, but, all follow a heirarchical power structure.
General History Description := Their history has been distorted with time so that most of what is known is rumour/legend. What is fairly certain is that they have been defeated several times in the Last ten thousand years.
Demeanor := Friendly
Culture := Schemers
Happiness Type := Peaceful
Planet Type := Rock
Atmosphere := Oxygen
Design Name File := Asia
Race Opt 1 Num Characteristics := 5
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 1 Type := Physical Strength
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 1 Amount := 90
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 2 Type := Polical Savvy
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 2 Amount := 80
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 3 Type := Reproduction
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 3 Amount := 95
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 4 Type := Intelligence
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 4 Amount := 105
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 5 Type := Maintenance Aptitude
Race Opt 1 Characteristic 5 Amount := 105
Race Opt 1 Num Advanced Traits := 2
Race Opt 1 Adv Trait 1 := Organic Manipulation
Race Opt 1 Adv Trait 2 := Natural Merchants
Race Opt 2 Num Characteristics := 6
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 1 Type := Physical Strength
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 1 Amount := 90
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 2 Type := Polical Savvy
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 2 Amount := 90
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 3 Type := Cunning
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 3 Amount := 105
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 4 Type := Intelligence
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 4 Amount := 110
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 5 Type := Maintenance Aptitude
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 5 Amount := 110
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 6 Type := Mining Aptitude
Race Opt 2 Characteristic 6 Amount := 105
Race Opt 2 Num Advanced Traits := 2
Race Opt 2 Adv Trait 1 := Organic Manipulation
Race Opt 2 Adv Trait 2 := Natural Merchants
Race Opt 3 Num Characteristics := 6
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 1 Type := Physical Strength
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 1 Amount := 90
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 2 Type := Polical Savvy
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 2 Amount := 90
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 3 Type := Cunning
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 3 Amount := 115
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 4 Type := Intelligence
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 4 Amount := 120
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 5 Type := Maintenance Aptitude
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 5 Amount := 110
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 6 Type := Mining Aptitude
Race Opt 3 Characteristic 6 Amount := 105
Race Opt 3 Num Advanced Traits := 3
Race Opt 3 Adv Trait 1 := Organic Manipulation
Race Opt 3 Adv Trait 2 := Natural Merchants
Race Opt 3 Adv Trait 3 := Psychic

If you are interested in playtesting them, please let me know and I will email you the Zip file. I have a standard game Version and a point defence-destroyer Version available (your choice).

Regards,
God Emperor

PS: Most of the work that I see needs to be done on them now is with the Anger and Politics files.

[Suicide Junkie]

What's with the Happiness Type := Peaceful?

I kinda figured the shadows liked the chaos and destruction they caused.

Or is that just an AI thing, where they can't handle anything else?

[PsychoTechFreak]

quote:

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Originally posted by suicide_junkie:
What's with the Happiness Type := Peaceful?

I kinda figured the shadows liked the chaos and destruction they caused.

Or is that just an AI thing, where they can't handle anything else?

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That's what confused me with the Klingons also... I guess, there is something which helps the AI in some cases if it is a peaceful race, but it's just a guess and I would like to know more about that...

[God Emperor]

Its an AI thing. Non-peaceful races seem to have problems with unhappiness.
My observations (v127) were that neutral and bloodthirsty races didnt seem to like treaties of any sort and even the most aggressive AI races need to establish some treaties (or be overwhelmed by their neighbours).
The way bloodthirsty should be handled I think is that the race must be at war with someone at all times, but, as long as that condition is met it should not be penalised for having treaties.
Neutral races should only care I think if peace treaties get broken or wars are unsuccessful.

[Q]

Just modify the happiness file a little. Give the bloodthirsty and especially the neutrals better values for natural decrease, give them better values for combat wins and so on. It's not difficult to do and you get more balanced happiness types. I really find it disturbing, if the Borg or Klingons are peaceful!
And the "neutral" type is really xenophobic, so it makes sense they don't like treaties.

[This message has been edited by Q (edited 29 April 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Q (edited 29 April 2001).]

[God Emperor]

Q,
Thanks for that idea. Hadnt thought of it.
Am a bit reluctant to alter a global file though, so I think I'll just stick with tweaking the Anger, Settings and Politics files to make the Klingons and Romulans twitchy.

With respect to the Klingons, my intent is not to make them Xenophobic, but, just give them a tendancy to be at war more often that not (so having a treaty with them hopefully means they are beating someone else up).

I will be looking to restrict the maximum treaty level with the Klingons and Romulans to Military Alliance.

[Daynarr]

quote:

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Originally posted by Q:
I really find it disturbing, if the Borg or Klingons are peaceful!

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Well, the Borg won't be peaceful. I promise.