AVATAR Mod Development (Main Thread)

[Valkrionn]

In my opinion, a decent enough reason would be the fact that Earth's resources have been used, and it's either take those found elsewhere or allow civilization to fail.

Of course, I'd also be on the side of the Na'Vi (Needing resources does not make the methods any better), but if there were a more 'Friendly' human faction I could see their view. Good thing to do with the ICA, as the rebels are more 'GTFO!'.

 

[Psychic_Llamas]

great ideas guys

phungus420:
i agree with you that there should be at least a faction of humans that breaks the 'humans = evil' stereotype, which is why i plan on adding the ICA civ which will be focused on making the RDA operate without mass murder and be more peace/diplomacy oriented. They'll probably focus on the 'we need to get these resources without angering the natives, lets find some other deposits of unobtanium and mine those while we work on diplomacy.' they might even try to employ the Na'Vi to mine some of the unobtainium themselves in a manner that they dont damage their homes etc etc etc.

Valk is right in that the Rebels are more like 'ima stay with these big blue ppl kthnxbi. now gtfo.'

I like the idea of a Neytiri LH... would be easy to turn into Anacaona of the Arawaks. Michelle Rodriguez would agree.

im not sure what you mean here... who are the Arawaks? and who is Anacanoa? :/ i dont rememebr hearing about those in the movie...

 

[Valkrionn]

They aren't in the movie, they were an actual group of people. I know it was a Caribbean island, forget which one...

 

[Psychic_Llamas]

oh... haha thanks valk

 

[MadmanOfALeader]

The Arawaks are an actual people who used to live in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. They appear in Colonization.

I mentioned the fact that Michelle Rodriguez (who is Puerto Rican-Dominican) said that the Na'vi reminded her of the Taínos (that's just another name for the Arawaks).

 

[blade117]

This seems interesting, the movie was great. I want to see when this is finished, I have high hopes for it.

 

[Merchantbard]

Techtrees:

Spoiler :

Because both major factions are so technologically different the only way to simulate the tech advancement would be to have two paralell tech trees, one for the Na'Vi and one for the RDA.

Spoiler :

Perhaps the Na'vi and Alliance can use the RDA tree because, if its reached the point of an actual war between the two sides, the ever-adapting Na'vi may make us of the 'education' they've gotten from the Terrans and become a semi-industrialized society now (albeit one that emphasizes low-impact technologies or biological warfare). Just a thought.

 

[Merchantbard]

This thread is one of 5 other similar threads, the purpose of which is to see what the public thinks of such a mod and to collect as much input as possible. the other threads simply redirect them to this thread. the links are below:

Um, do I need to own any of the CIV games to play this? I only own SMAC/SAMX.

 

[Psychic_Llamas]

Perhaps the Na'vi and Alliance can use the RDA tree because, if its reached the point of an actual war between the two sides, the ever-adapting Na'vi may make us of the 'education' they've gotten from the Terrans and become a semi-industrialized society now (albeit one that emphasizes low-impact technologies or biological warfare). Just a thought.

im not a huge fan of the Na'Vi using RDA technology... im happy for all human civs (including the alliance which would behave as you describe) but the Na'Vi i suspect would have to have their own tech tree...

Um, do I need to own any of the CIV games to play this? I only own SMAC/SAMX.

yes, you will need Civilization 4, beyond the Sword to play Planetfall (as well as the other mods that i linked to.) Some mods also have problems when you use Steam to purchase Civ, so id suggest your best bet is to go out and buy a hard copy. they're relatively cheap now anyway.

Planetfall is well worth purchasing Civ to play, not to mention Fall From Heaven 2 and Dunewars . though i have heard planetfall is not a direct recreation of SMAC/SAMX due to game platforms being different.

 

[Capt_Blondbeard]

I'd agree that it's an ambitious mod - the RDA could probably be fit into the civ 4 schema, but the Na'vi aren't really a civilization as civ 4 would define it: building things, researching things, and then building better things. They don't value that sort of development. They seem to seek wisdom rather than knowledge, and seek to live in harmony with nature, rather then bend nature to their will. Which would be hard to fit into the game structure - but an interesting challenge.

Suggestions/Ideas:
Unit development is more like personal development - their best warriors are more experienced, rather than having better technology. Maybe a system where warriors gain 1 EP every 5 turns or something. As the game develops the Na'vi would naturally develop "better" warriors (due to their experience).

Same would apply to "research" - no libraries, just experienced clan elders. Maybe something like the "super specialists"

Native animals are very dangerous to humans, but not to the Na'vi. Set the animals to only attack the humans, or maybe to only rarely attack the Na'vi

 

[blade117]

It would be challenging, but in being challenging, rewarding.

EDIT: In regards to the tech tree, this might be useful: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=275046

 

[LordVoltron]

I was thinking either a tree building or a wonder that is called in some way Eywa that automatically spawns you animals.

Wouldnt the corporate people have avatar units and for the sake of modplay, be able to use those as military units as well? If nothing else as scouts? Maybe be able to traverse enemy territory.

i am unsure of how you would seperate the corporation from the marines. In the movie, the corporation's military might and police force is those marines. (or mercanaries).

 

[Psychic_Llamas]

Suggestions/Ideas:
Unit development is more like personal development - their best warriors are more experienced, rather than having better technology. Maybe a system where warriors gain 1 EP every 5 turns or something. As the game develops the Na'vi would naturally develop "better" warriors (due to their experience).

Same would apply to "research" - no libraries, just experienced clan elders. Maybe something like the "super specialists"

Native animals are very dangerous to humans, but not to the Na'vi. Set the animals to only attack the humans, or maybe to only rarely attack the Na'vi

those are interesting ideas thanks for the input.

i agree the Na'Vi units would not increase in strength because of technology but rather experience and adapatation. in this sense i can see the Na'Vi having lots of new specific promotions unlock for them as the game progresses. It might be possible to also look into the Age mechanic in Fall Further, as well as the fractional EXP, building training (units stationed in a city auto acquire small fractions of EXP over time to a maximum), and the 'Hero' promotion mechanic whereby units automatically gain a set ammount of EXP every turn (combined with fractional EXP increase they could get 0.2 EXP every turn or so, and this could be increased by special promotions)

Regarding research, i was thinking about a rebuildable 'project' avaliable to the Na'Vi which grants them a lump sum of beakers after completion, this represents them either 1) praying to Eywa, 2) going into a long council to decide something and the philosiphise etc.
Alternatively i can always just make buildings with flavorful names that the Na'Vi could use for information storage/ research.

Regarding the native animals, i think ill definitely make the barbarian civ the Animals, and have the Na'Vi all be at peace with them permanently. ill then include some mechanic to allow certain units to 'flip' nearby barbarian animals, and also a 'project' that converts a % of the worlds animals (regardless of owner maybe) to their cause.

EDIT: In regards to the tech tree, this might be useful: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=275046

very nice find ill put a link to that in the first post so i dont lose it.

I was thinking either a tree building or a wonder that is called in some way Eywa that automatically spawns you animals.

Wouldnt the corporate people have avatar units and for the sake of modplay, be able to use those as military units as well? If nothing else as scouts? Maybe be able to traverse enemy territory.

i am unsure of how you would seperate the corporation from the marines. In the movie, the corporation's military might and police force is those marines. (or mercanaries).

For the Na'Vi i can see each city starting with a LARGE Hometree Building mainly for graphical reasons, but i could later tie in special mechanics to use these trees, such as converting nearby barbarian animals, or generating Eywa Favor.

Yes the Corporation (i assume you mean the Interplanetery Commerce Administration (ICA)) would probably have Avatars, but i wouldnt see them using them as anything more than scouts, and maybe diplomats for the Na'Vi

i am also unsure of how i would sepparate the ICA from the RDA, this is also a problem ill have with distinguishing the different Na'Vi tribes. i think it wont be a problem if they essentailly share the same unit lists, but have minor changes here and there in promotion form, or extra EXP from special traits etc.



thanks again for the input guys lots of food for thought there

 

[Mallin]

In my opinion, a decent enough reason would be the fact that Earth's resources have been used, and it's either take those found elsewhere or allow civilization to fail.

I read in a local movie review that the ubotanium (or whatever the hell its called) provided a clean reliable source of electrical power. While I never found anything else to prove this I think this idea could be used in the mod. One of the RDA's buildings could be a power plant that uses the stuff. Or it could have events tied in with it. For example the RDA must send at least a certain tonnage back to Earth each turn (this would increase over time as demand on Earth goes up). Stay above the quota and the RDA might get rewards. Fall below and bad things happen! Important shipments of supplies and personnel from Earth get delayed due to power outages or something like that. This would also cause the RDA to actively expand in order to increase production (this is what they were trying to do in the movie) and stay above the limit. In other words, more wars! Just some ideas to consider though.

 

[blade117]

Interesting concept.

Seems like this isn't dead as I thought.

 

[Psychic_Llamas]

its not dead but technically its not truly alive... its more of a twitching Frankenstein monster at the moment, need to get all the nerves connected properly so it can start walking around.

(sorry for the lame metaphor O_O)

@ Mallin: interesting idea there... it could be interesting to expand on that concept.

also asa side note, i now have the 'James Cameron's AVATAR: An Activist Survival Guide' book so i have a lot more access to actual background info than i did before ill probably redo some of the design in light of this book.

 

[johny smith]

My only suggestion would be to use Colonization versus Civ4. No need for techs at all. Just making significant founding fathers that are made up, and multiple tribes like in the movie. You know one focused on the birds, one on the horse looking things, and etc.

 

[The Capo]

My only suggestion would be to use Colonization versus Civ4. No need for techs at all. Just making significant founding fathers that are made up, and multiple tribes like in the movie. You know one focused on the birds, one on the horse looking things, and etc.

I was just about to suggest this myself.

 

[blade117]

Regarding Colonization:
What heresy is this?!?!?!?!?!?

@ Redesgin based of background from book:
That's good. I was wonderoing if that would factor into this.

 

[Midnight-Blue766]

My only suggestion would be to use Colonization versus Civ4. No need for techs at all. Just making significant founding fathers that are made up, and multiple tribes like in the movie. You know one focused on the birds, one on the horse looking things, and etc.

I second this.