Is SMAC better than Civ?

[Tholish]

I just recently got SMAC, part of a 5 pack of old games I bought just for SMAC. I had been trying to mod Civ 3 into a simulation of extraterrestrial colonization, and it had been mentioned many times, so I had to check it out.

I find that SMAC is in many ways better than Civ 3.

1. The AI is smarter. It uses air and artillery units effectively, unlike in civ3 where these are essentially human player unique units, as are armies.
I currently have the AI holding off hordes of my infantry with a few artillery units and a couple of planes.

2. The terraforming decisions are complex, not the simple formula of mine green and irrigate yellow.

3. Myriad things are more complex. Unit design, government design, building and wonder choices.

4. Espionage is far superior.

5. ICS is handled, albeit by brute force. In civ, the AI will not build cities close together, which is a great advantage for the human player. In SMAC the human player has an incentive to be parsimonious with city building. At least this is equal.

However, civ is more modifiable, the civilopedia is cool, and units look better. Also the same 7 civs, same old movies, etc... gets old in SMAC.

All told, civ 3 is more worthwhile because it is more modifiable, but it is fatally flawed by some unmodifiable weaknesses that SMAC lacked.

Maybe it will be possible to properly do a SMAC mod in Civ 4. To do it in civ3
would create a flawed thing with the weaknesses of both.

 

[wangyushi]

Good idea!

 

[Drakan]

I just recently got SMAC, part of a 5 pack of old games I bought just for SMAC....

Also the same 7 civs, same old movies, etc... gets old in SMAC.

Huh ? Do you know there's an expansion pack called Alien Crossfire (SMAX) which adds seven more civs (making it a total of 14 including two alien ones which play differently) plus lots of new technologies, units, secret projects etc.

http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=4135


You'll find it at ebay.

 

[Shodan]

However, civ is more modifiable, the civilopedia is cool, and units look better

I dont see modifieble as an advantage, if a game is already perfect - as is the case of SMAC; SMAC dont have a civilopedia, but each tech, instalation and project is accompanied by a quote and a scientific explanation for it related to the story; Units looking better??? it is like some toys over there, while in SMAC it tries to be realistic, from the units, to portraits, to interface, etc. Oh and you forgot to note that SMAC is much more customizable too.

But I agree with you that SMAC is way better than Civ 3. Civ 2 is a much more worth opponent to SMAC.

 

[Lockesdonkey]

Oh, there is a "Civilopedia" in SMAC, of sorts; the Datalinks (F1) serve a similar purpose, but since there's no history behind it, they linked the articles with awesome quotes.

 

[Shodan]

Oh yea I forgot the datalinks.

What really kills Civ 3 for me is the AI - never in the game you feel as dealing with other people - it seems that each civ is nothing more than puppets for the computer to defeat you. While in SMAC each faction has personality, identity - the diplomacy is a attraction by itself because of the uniqueness of each faction, and because of the realistic, rational AI.

 

[Horizon]

Oh yea I forgot the datalinks.

What really kills Civ 3 for me is the AI - never in the game you feel as dealing with other people - it seems that each civ is nothing more than puppets for the computer to defeat you. While in SMAC each faction has personality, identity - the diplomacy is a attraction by itself because of the uniqueness of each faction, and because of the realistic, rational AI.

Agree 100%
Personnality , background story and AI are what makes SMAC/SMAX a superior game to Civ 3.

 

[Gargantutron]

i fully agree. SMAC is superior to civ 3 in many ways. it's nice to see many SMAC features being put into civ 4, such as civics.

the terraforming of Planet in SMAC really was great, and the planetary council. raise/lower see levels. raise terrain to connect a nearby island to your coninent. planted forrests/kelp farms growing with time!

and heheh, the ultimate weapon of doom: the singularity planet buster!! wooho!

 

[Lockesdonkey]

It appears that individual civ leaders are being implemented in Civ 4, as well.

 

[Bart2k4]

AC is better then Civ3 and sadly to say, judging how things are going in Civ4, it might just be better then Civ4 .

(I'm REALLY crossing my fingers for this one!)

 

[The Person]

I'll wait for Civ4 before I make any judgment on that game. But Civ3 is another matter entirely. I said somewhere else that SMAC is the sequel to Civ2 that Civ3 never was, and I still keep to that.

 

[Ghostwind]

The original post spoke of how close together the AI settles cities compared to Civ III.

So my question is: How close or far apart should cities be placed in SMAC? Is there a general rule of thumb?

-Ghostwind

 

[The Person]

Two to four squares apart. That way you make the most use of the land. Personally I like to have three squares between my cities/bases.

But don't forget to be flexible. A square can only be used by one city/base at a time, so make sure the city/base radii don't overlap too much.

 

[xalien]

Personally, I don't like overlapping cities, I prefer to leave a few empty squares inside my empire if I have to, those can always be filled with supply crawlers for some extra resources. It's a little harder to defend but if you're aiming for the late game victories it can be very convenient. If you're an early game warmonger then probably you'll want to have them closer to each other, so it's up to everyones choice.