How exactly do I play the Expansion factions?

[Gavinfoxx]

Hi there, I was wondering what exactly I have to do in order to play the expansion factions from the start? Thanks!

 

[GeoModder]

Hi there, I was wondering what exactly I have to do in order to play the expansion factions from the start? Thanks!

You need to start a game in the Expansion era, not the Arrival era.
In other words, you have to start a Custom Game, and pick your choice of SMACX leader/faction in the list.
It can happen the first time you try to start a game in the Expansion era that the SMACX leaders/factions are not selectable. At least I had this happen. Just make a change somewhere (other maptype, difficulty level,...) and they should appear.

 

[Pfeffersack]

I'm not sure if the are yet selectable as human player factions at all (unless you enable them yourself in the XML) - I browsed the changelogs again since they were added and there is no entry saying that they have been already made playable for the human player.

It can happen the first time you try to start a game in the Expansion era that the SMACX leaders/factions are not selectable. At least I had this happen. Just make a change somewhere (other maptype, difficulty level,...) and they should appear.

I can confirm that issue and I circumvent it the same way.

 

[GeoModder]

I'm not sure if the are yet selectable as human player factions at all (unless you enable them yourself in the XML) - I browsed the changelogs again since they were added and there is no entry saying that they have been already made playable for the human player.

They are playable by the player now.

 

[Maniac]

It can happen the first time you try to start a game in the Expansion era that the SMACX leaders/factions are not selectable. At least I had this happen. Just make a change somewhere (other maptype, difficulty level,...) and they should appear.

Oh. So you don't need to start a game in the Expansion era, and quit that game, to be able to select SMAX factions in your second try? :relief:

I made the SMAX factions playable in that last big patch, but I didn't advertize it because the way to play them is probably too confusing for most people. There would be lots of posts saying "Help! I can't play the SMAX factions though Maniac I should be able to!"

 

[GeoModder]

Oh. So you don't need to start a game in the Expansion era, and quit that game, to be able to select SMAX factions in your second try? :relief:

Nope. The way I described above works just fine.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

I have a suggestion.
In FFH Agres and Basilium come into the game late, one with a wonder and the other by a tech.
When you summon them you get an option to switch to controlling them and leaving your faction to the AI.

Could something similar not be implemented for the expansion factions?

 

[GeoModder]

Is it worth all the coding hassle when you can a) start a game with them and b) the techs which bring them in the game are still early in the tech tree (3th and 4th tier techs)?

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Well it is becouse it would allow people to start the game and than beline toward a certain faction like in FFH2.

Its probably one of the most fun mechanics in the mod.

 

[Maniac]

In FfH you can influence the condition of the civ you plan to take over. In Planetfall you wouldn't be able to. Hence I don't see the point of spending time to copy that feature. You'll have to do it yourself if you want to get it added.