This version of Purity/Supremacy really seems lazy (from a lore standpoint not from a game design standpoint. I can imagine how much technical and design effort was actually put into it.) I get the air of stagnancy from this hybrid affinity, where everything else feels like it has potential for the future.
On the other hand, it's only "lazy" because it's a bit cliché. I think it's the affinity that manages to depict a lot of popular sci-fi, though: it describes a lot of the mind set and attitude seen in games like Mass Effect or film/series like Star Trek.
It's kind of the response to those who think Supremacy is a bit too aggressive and Purity is too dogmatic/backwards.
They could've come up with something else, but I think it's good that they filled that classic sci-fi niche (even with the fitting gleaming white aesthetic that could be straight out of something like the 2009 Star Trek).
My personal views put the Markov Eclipse Wonder as the middle ground of Purity and Supremacy. I think the attitude of this affinity can be summed up with a line from the 'pedia entry: The superposition of the human mind on the AI.
Spoiler:
Markov Eclipse
The exponential evolutions of battlefield AI did not lead to lopsided military victories as many armchair generals had predicted. A counter-trend of "hard pure" military theory enjoyed a certain vogue, accompanied by a penchant for detonating EMP weapons near any metal box with a power feed going into it. But a handful of military scientists looked at how AI and human soldiers could be brought into closer coordination and arrived at the conclusion that with careful training, a human mind could be trained to operate in close harmony with certain classes of AI. From this finding came the Markov Eclipse: The superposition of the human mind on the AI.
A small series of Markovian decision-making AI models had been in use for some generations, providing reliable if somewhat unexciting advantage to holistic analyses of well-described battlespace problems. What was unique about these were their parallel state descriptors, projecting not only the best-guess current state, but a Bayesian array of most likely alternatives. When sudden changes to the battlescape appeared, the AI would simply switch to the alternative chain that best described the current situation, and updated accordingly. This turned out to have a psychophysiological equivalent in certain brain structures associated with alternate-world formulation in the human prefrontal cortex.
From there, it was a simple matter of developing a system of mnemonic training and deep-perceptual visualization interfaces for the human operators. With sufficient training (9 years being modal, with acceptable results occurring as early as Year 4 in precocious operators), an operator could view a highly schematized representation of the AI battlespace model and intuitively process what the AI was seeing. Fine-resolution positron emission feedback from the operator's brain would go back to the AI, which could update some of its assumptions regarding human psychological elements, and quickly update its model. Together, a human and AI system formed a powerful team, capable of processing massive bands of probability data and directing troops with a minimum of wasted time and surprise.
The Markov Eclipse were an elite cadre, each operator and AI team more valuable than a division of soldiers or an entire gunboat squadron. The Markov Eclipse commanded universal respect, capable of overriding the orders of anyone in the line of command, their decisions subject only to the political review of the state. Years of intensive, brain-shaping training and daily proximity to AI "personality" often left them somewhat aloof and detached, and the awe in which their fellow soldiers regarded them merely contributed to their Olympian status.
The exemplar tale of the power of the Markov Eclipse comes from the siege of Drees, where the First Battalion, 3rd Marines, pinned down inside the station's primary reactor control building, managed to link into the security controls and improvise a burst transmitter that linked back to Markov Eclipse. Each marine's weapon AI and soldier com immediately lit up, restored to functionality, and individuals began receiving incredibly specific commands: "Suppress at sector B7. Expend no more than 37 rounds. Fire artillery at sector A3 for effect, fragmentation. Fire A9, guided munition." Certain marines in marginal psychological states reported hearing patriotic music, or messages from old comrades over voxcom. The battle lasted over twenty hours, at the end of which a common message came: "Hostile forces neutralized. End transmission." The Markov Eclipse was gone, the marines of First Battalion were alive, and scattered about Drees were the shattered and burning remains of two armored divisions.
- Civilopedia
I think I prefer the idea of humans learning to work with AI and androids. I think it has a more romantic edge to it and aligns closer with regard to their unit naming. Eidolon, Virtuoso, Maestro, these things are ideals and exemplars. The Product of Artisan and Instrument. I like to picture it as them making machines in the image of humans. Getting them to think like us. Like digital or synthetic progeny; almost literal brain-children. More like Data and less like the Borg.
That's just my preference anyway. In its current state, I look forward to eradicating the foolish humans that think they can hide behind a console and push buttons, and expect to win a war...
I think it's more Asimov-like in that machines have some degree of self-awareness, but they exist solely as a function of human needs. Symbiosis is more pure Supremacy, I think, whereas Purity/Supremacy realtion with machines is more parasitic, more akin to slavery (which is also a classic sci-fi trope).
The way I think of it is: Supremacy creates machines as equals and as a potential next step for humanity, Supremacy/Purity creates machines as intelligent servants, and Purity creates machines as non-intelligent tools.
That actually looks pretty good, although I recommend not so much black on the head. Add some bronze to make it look like a battle helmet rather than some futuristic ski-mask/balaclava.
That actually looks pretty good, although I recommend not so much black on the head. Add some bronze to make it look like a battle helmet rather than some futuristic ski-mask/balaclava.
I'm pretty sure that's a render of the Immortal model. I don't think its been edited. I prefer the Immortal design to the Champion. Due to there being a more even spread of color. (Now that I understand what Westwall actually meant.) The Eidolon and Hellion have a better color palette... I think the Champions would do well with some black.
It's been a while but I think I remember machines basically guiding humanity's future by the end of the Foundation series. Still in our best interests (supposedly) but that's the gist of it.
Another possibility is machines becoming the overseers of what began as a human civilization, but as benevolent rulers like in the Culture series. Human beings would remain essentially to live out their lives in pursuit of bliss and adventure, only occasionally serving in advisory capacities or joining the machines in exploratory or diplomatic missions.
Actually, I just realised something: the new hybrids are incredibly good counter-affinities, so to speak. Since it's now a "wheel" with six points, there's a polar opposite to every affinity:
Harmony: Purity/Supremacy is the complete opposite, Harmony is about being in tune with nature, P/S is the ultimate tool user, the furthest you can get away nature (Purity still treasures its own nature, Supremacy is merely apathetic towards nature).
Purity: Harmony/Supremacy is the abandonment of everything human, throwing it all away, the ideal outcome has nothing human left, really (Harmony still cares about humanity, just wants to adapt it, Supremacy just wants to change the substrate humanity runs on).
Supremacy: Harmony/Purity is all about intrinsic power and almost mythic power in humans, elevating them to something almost angelic, while Supremacy wants to build something new to the point where they almost worship the machines.
Not perfect, but there's a definite trend, I think.
Another possibility is machines becoming the overseers of what began as a human civilization, but as benevolent rulers like in the Culture series. Human beings would remain essentially to live out their lives in pursuit of bliss and adventure, only occasionally serving in advisory capacities or joining the machines in exploratory or diplomatic missions.
I guess there's a spectrum, too: I'd rate the Culture as something like 2/3 Supremacy, 1/3 Purity. A strong technological bent but still a lot of appreciation for the "human" form unlike a more Supremacy-heavy civilisation.
Did anyone notice at the 1:08:07 mark, that Dave says that all the air units got a rebalance to make them a bit stronger and orbital units got a rebalance in terms of production cost?
My personal views put the Markov Eclipse Wonder as the middle ground of Purity and Supremacy. I think the attitude of this affinity can be summed up with a line from the 'pedia entry: The superposition of the human mind on the AI.
Spoiler:
Markov Eclipse
The exponential evolutions of battlefield AI did not lead to lopsided military victories as many armchair generals had predicted. A counter-trend of "hard pure" military theory enjoyed a certain vogue, accompanied by a penchant for detonating EMP weapons near any metal box with a power feed going into it. But a handful of military scientists looked at how AI and human soldiers could be brought into closer coordination and arrived at the conclusion that with careful training, a human mind could be trained to operate in close harmony with certain classes of AI. From this finding came the Markov Eclipse: The superposition of the human mind on the AI.
A small series of Markovian decision-making AI models had been in use for some generations, providing reliable if somewhat unexciting advantage to holistic analyses of well-described battlespace problems. What was unique about these were their parallel state descriptors, projecting not only the best-guess current state, but a Bayesian array of most likely alternatives. When sudden changes to the battlescape appeared, the AI would simply switch to the alternative chain that best described the current situation, and updated accordingly. This turned out to have a psychophysiological equivalent in certain brain structures associated with alternate-world formulation in the human prefrontal cortex.
From there, it was a simple matter of developing a system of mnemonic training and deep-perceptual visualization interfaces for the human operators. With sufficient training (9 years being modal, with acceptable results occurring as early as Year 4 in precocious operators), an operator could view a highly schematized representation of the AI battlespace model and intuitively process what the AI was seeing. Fine-resolution positron emission feedback from the operator's brain would go back to the AI, which could update some of its assumptions regarding human psychological elements, and quickly update its model. Together, a human and AI system formed a powerful team, capable of processing massive bands of probability data and directing troops with a minimum of wasted time and surprise.
The Markov Eclipse were an elite cadre, each operator and AI team more valuable than a division of soldiers or an entire gunboat squadron. The Markov Eclipse commanded universal respect, capable of overriding the orders of anyone in the line of command, their decisions subject only to the political review of the state. Years of intensive, brain-shaping training and daily proximity to AI "personality" often left them somewhat aloof and detached, and the awe in which their fellow soldiers regarded them merely contributed to their Olympian status.
The exemplar tale of the power of the Markov Eclipse comes from the siege of Drees, where the First Battalion, 3rd Marines, pinned down inside the station's primary reactor control building, managed to link into the security controls and improvise a burst transmitter that linked back to Markov Eclipse. Each marine's weapon AI and soldier com immediately lit up, restored to functionality, and individuals began receiving incredibly specific commands: "Suppress at sector B7. Expend no more than 37 rounds. Fire artillery at sector A3 for effect, fragmentation. Fire A9, guided munition." Certain marines in marginal psychological states reported hearing patriotic music, or messages from old comrades over voxcom. The battle lasted over twenty hours, at the end of which a common message came: "Hostile forces neutralized. End transmission." The Markov Eclipse was gone, the marines of First Battalion were alive, and scattered about Drees were the shattered and burning remains of two armored divisions.
- Civilopedia
I think I prefer the idea of humans learning to work with AI and androids. I think it has a more romantic edge to it and aligns closer with regard to their unit naming. Eidolon, Virtuoso, Maestro, these things are ideals and exemplars. The Product of Artisan and Instrument. I like to picture it as them making machines in the image of humans. Getting them to think like us. Like digital or synthetic progeny; almost literal brain-children. More like Data and less like the Borg.
That's just my preference anyway. In its current state, I look forward to eradicating the foolish humans that think they can hide behind a console and push buttons, and expect to win a war...
The Markov Eclipse is my favorite wonder for how the back story fits the effect. Perfect situational awareness and advanced outcome predictions, so your wounded units fight with the strength of a full unit.
The Star Wars republic seems like a good purity/supremacy civilization, with its droid army. The exception being general Grievous who is a droid but in charge, but he also has that biological heart so I don't know.
But Star Wars seems to have a lot of AI that are regarded as having their own thoughts but they're always* a servant class.
*exceptions are bounty hunter droid IG-88, assassination droid, HK-47, and crime Lord G0 T0 that I'm awear of.
So, perhaps the Nanohive's ability is similar to the Ultrasonic Emitter when damaging nearby units. I'm curious what the range is, because if it's similar to the UE with a range of 2, then this thing can melt units while invisible (annoying, but pretty cool!). Maybe it's even a flat health reduction, so they can easily counter high strength units - especially fortified ones that aren't moving.
I was about to say, I hope there's a cool animation (similar to bees buzzing around) for when they're idle and there are nearby units to damage within its radius... but they're nano-sized, so I guess not, bummer, haha. Plus, it's probably hard to stay camouflaged predator-style when there are things swarming around you anyway.
Regarding the H/S units (not counting the amazing Aquilon), is anybody else a little disappointed in their representation? The names, abilities, and such are really cool, but they look too robotic. Visually, where's the organic/Harmony side to the Geliopod and Nanohive?
So, perhaps the Nanohive's ability is similar to the Ultrasonic Emitter when damaging nearby units. I'm curious what the range is, because if it's similar to the UE with a range of 2, then this thing can melt units while invisible (annoying, but pretty cool!).
I was about to say, I hope there's a cool animation (similar to bees buzzing around) for when they're idle and there are nearby units to damage within its radius... but they're nano-sized, so I guess not, bummer, haha. Plus, it's probably hard to stay camouflaged predator-style when there are things swarming around you.
Regarding the H/S units (not counting the amazing Aquilon), is anybody else a little disappointed in their representation? The names, abilities, and such are really cool, but they look too robotic. Visually, where's the organic/Harmony side to the Geliopod and Nanohive?
Speaking for the Nanohive, I think of it as the organic side coming into the behavior. It's purely robotic, but it functions basically like a wasp nest, with the robots swarming around it to defend against anyone who gets too close.
That's what I most want from Supremacy/Harmony, to be honest. Machines that ape the behavior of animals, rather than machines that ape the behavior of humans from pure Supremacy. The Harmony focus on the Ecosystem maintained, but it's a more robotic/melded ecosystem as opposed to purely organic.
Speaking for the Nanohive, I think of it as the organic side coming into the behavior. It's purely robotic, but it functions basically like a wasp nest, with the robots swarming around it to defend against anyone who gets too close.
I certainly agree with that, no doubt. But, that's why I added "visually" to my sentence. I just would've liked to see more of that organism and machine blend. It's unique, and an important aspect of H/S. We have enough units that look robotic in the game.
That's what I most want from Supremacy/Harmony, to be honest. Machines that ape the behavior of animals, rather than machines that ape the behavior of humans from pure Supremacy. The Harmony focus on the Ecosystem maintained, but it's a more robotic/melded ecosystem as opposed to purely organic.
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