Scient's Unofficial Patch - still getting updates?

[BFG]

I'm guessing that most SMAC/X fans are familiar with Scient's unofficial patch, and kyrub's AI patch based off of it.

Does anyone know if those patches are still getting updated? If so, where should I submit a new bug?

I was playing a very drawn out game a while ago, and found an interesting bug with automated Gravship Formers. (Hey, I said it was drawn out...) Anyway, such Formers are able to build in both land and sea squares when controlled manually, but only in land squares when automated. Just thought someone ought to know

 

[Petek]

Hi BFG,

Welcome to CFC and the Alpha Centauri forum!

I saw your post at CGN about this matter. I'll reply to you there.

Regards,

Petek

 

[BFG]

Thanks: Here's a copy of the post I made over there:

Looks like the thread title caught your attention

At Petek's suggestion, I decided to mention this new bug in a separate thread so it would get a little more attention.

I like to drag SMAC games out well past when most people would quit playing - I've been known to get 200% completion before - and one of the units I've been experimenting with is a Gravship Formers.

The Gravship Formers has several advantages, not least of which is the fact it can terraform land AND sea squares. At least, it can do so if you use it manually.

Here's the bug: if you automate a Gravship Formers (either Autoimprove Home Base or Fully Automate), it'll only work land squares like a traditional formers. It ought to work both land and sea squares when automated.

Here's a simple scenario I set up to illustrate the problem: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JWZOZRS7. The 2 Formers in the scenario already are set to AutoImprove Base, and one of them has run out of orders. If you Fully Automate it'll just hold at the base. But you can also take it out to sea and manually tell it to terraform there.

 

[BFG]

Update with some new information - through testing we've learned the AI isn't capable of using air colonies, air transports, or Gravship Formers. I'd love to see a patch that enables the AI to understand these units! Air colonies alone could really boost the AI's strength.

 

[kyrub]

Moderator Action: Brief discussions of SMACX unofficial patches may be held on CFC. However, you may not link to these patches, nor give instructions on where to find them.

 

[vyeh]

Does anyone know if those patches are still getting updated? If so, where should I submit a new bug?

Scient was last around CGN (see my sig) on August 4 and he generally comes around the late spring every year.

The best place to submit bug reports for his perusal at his next visit is this CGN subforum. It is also an interesting subforum to browse if you are interested in bugs!

Petek: You have my permission to edit my post to conform to this forum (no need to flag your action).

 

[The_Reckoning]

Can someone explain to me what's with the moderation weirdness about the patches?

 

[Kilkakon]

I suggest finding whereever the patch might be and asking there.

 

[Petek]

Can someone explain to me what's with the moderation weirdness about the patches?

When I moderate posts or threads that refer to the unofficial patches, I have to take into account some of the following issues:

• The unofficial patches for SMAC incorporate a no-cd crack. Discussion of such cracks that can be seen as advocating piracy (including links to no-cd cracks or instructions how to find them) are prohibited by CFC policy.
• The unofficial patches for SMAC don't have this problem, since SMAC is legally available without DRM.
• However, the unofficial patches for both games violate the EULAs, since the exe files are being modified.
• As far as I know, all other Alpha Centauri forums allow linking to and/or posting the unofficial patches.

When I first became a moderator here, we discussed some of these issues in the staff forum. It was decided that there could be no direct linking to the unofficial patch (only one such patch existed then), but one could link to other forums that had the patch. Naturally, situations arise that fall between the cracks. I do the best I can to moderate fairly. I realize that CFC members who read and/or post on other forums may not realize that CFC's policy differs from the other forums. If the situation changes (such as SMAX being re-released without DRM), I'll revisit the policy in the staff forum.

Feel free either to post any questions here or send me a PM.

Petek
CFC Alpha Centauri forum moderator

 

[Kilkakon]

Thanks Petek... I knew the answer but I thought that it would be better coming from you.

 

[The_Reckoning]

Feel free either to post any questions here or send me a PM.

That's fair enough. Just have to wait and hope they figure out releasing SMAC/X without DRM would be a good idea, or even releasing the full source code... one can dream

 

[vyeh]

According to chuft, scient has reappeared for his annual visit.

http://www.civgaming.net/forums/showpost.php?p=164351&postcount=9