Hi all, probably never saw me here B4, I'm usually note very active on forums.
I'm tuxu and I'm a MOO3holic, having said that...
I can mod a bit of scripts and I can write nicely as well, I also know my way around photoshop and if you want me to build you a house, I could do that too cause I'm a poor architecture student, lol.
I wouldn't bother adding the spy unit to the game just because of the Darlok need of spies, and I'm saying that as the spies-junkie that I am.
don't get me wrong, I WANT a good spying scene on the game, but its possible to make it to a whole game style for the Darlok!
What you could do might b much more easy and much more realistic; we all know that the Darlok are a secretive race how was hunted down by their enemies almost to extinction(MOO3), the Darlok fleet and unit array should b VERY weak due to these conditions. Also,you guys need to start thinking as Darlok in order to mod the Darlok >
if the Darlok would have wanted something it would most probably be with in their limitless grasp of their omniscience agents.
What if Darlok didn't have a spy unit but could "infect" other civs units with the presence of their enemies and thus gain control, temporary or permanent over their rivals units, posts or even planets while those looks to the enemy as barbarian(hidden nationality)?
you probably think; OK, sounds cool, but that would do them too powerful. I don't think so.
Darlok are not very good at anything but spying and the other races has racial bonuses which effects combat or production or even bio-harvesting.
Let me describe a game-play of my Uber-spy nation notion:
the Darlok build a "scout" which has hidden nationality and can "seed" a tile with 1 agent, there are two options we might mod (yes, I'm offering my help):
1. Pressing on the "seeding a tile" button cost you the scout pilot and thus u lose the unit and doesn't have to pay support on it.
2. After pressing on the "seeding a tile" button it changes to a "pick up an agent" button, u do not lose the unit and still have pay support on it.
The seeded tile and the tiles around it are visible whoever the "agent" is not acting as a unit but if at all as a bonus terrain, like iron, and is invisible to other races.
When foreign units, even a "barbarian", move on that tile you get a message box that asks you if you want your spy to tag along for the way and to which unit should it be added;
No- the tile remain seeded and the "agent" doesn't move anywhere and continue to act as a spy on its tile and those around it.
Yes- the spy moves on a ship and begins he's epic saga, he can attempt to hijack or bribe the ship as well.
the ship of which our spy boarded is a colony ship vessel named hope of Menz Agitat and belonging to the remnants of the Psilon Great houses.
The "Menz Agitat" roam the unsafe heavens towards an anomaly, and in it's cargo bay a lonely Darlok is gnawing on his synthesized ever depleting rations.
the celestial darkness breaks to a roaring abyss upfront of the anxious crew and for an outworldly second, they are not dead nor alive, out of time...
the stars lazy blinks reappear through the ship's many window galleries and shine reassurance onto the empty crew lounge and on its humming bridge deck.
In the bowels of the metal beast, the lone Darlok hold his stomach pondering about the way he shrugged of his mentor warnings about the discomfort and mental training that are required to pass through a wormhole and successfully save your dinner (TECH: advance spy training; Building: Agent Academy).
After a six month voyage the "Menz Agitat" captain is Finley content to order his crew to begin with preparation for planetfall.
With much celebration and according to the ancient feudal ceremonies "Menz rest" is founded, a colony which resembles the values of the eternally knowledge seeking Psilon and is a beacon of hope to regain the former glory of the great houses again.
As the well orchestrated politics within the Psilon nation weave the happenings within the city and its domain but there's an unseen and scaly guiding hand reaching out from the shadows to make sure matters are being taking care of the right way, Morfane's way! (city receives 5% bonus to its trade due to agents that are stirring trade into it in order to get a cover for their missions, 1% from the city total trade is going to the Darlok capital; your own cities does not get any bonus from having a spy in them, you can spy on other Darlok civs)
Morfane - a Darlok emperor
Menz Agitat - a Psilon emperor
thats how I think we might apply the use of spies in a manner that would change the game style if you play the Darlok.
Just thought of it, Bulrathy can make money the same way with allied empires by deploying Bulrathy merceneries in their cities (let's say it gives a city +35% defence)
I have a vague clue about how to script all this stuff and I could make them shiny buttons too^^
u wanz zum?
