Games PC SID MEIER S-ALPHA CENTAURI User Manual
Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using the Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Game Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Welcome to Alpha Centauri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
The Turn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Getting Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Active Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Commlink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Turn Complete. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
World View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Year/Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Status View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Data MFD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Mapping the Planet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Planet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Native Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Terrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
How Terrain Affects Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
How Terrain Affects Combat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Terraforming and Enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Resource Production Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Ecological Risks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Random Natural Phenomena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Colonizing the Planet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Bases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Base Control Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Base Control Screen/Section by Section. . . . . . . 69
Production Readout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Action Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Controlling Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
HQ Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Economics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Diplomacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Probe Teams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Social Engineering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Resigning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Winning the Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Scoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Appendix 1. Notes and Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
General Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Appendix 2. Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Terraforming Enhancements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Resource Production Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Terrain Effects on Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Terrain Effects on Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Social Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Facilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Secret Projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Technology Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Citizens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Planetary Council Proposals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Free Facilities from Secret Projects. . . . . . . . . . 193
Appendix 3. Option Screens. . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Game Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Game Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Appendix 4. Advanced Customization
. . . . 205
Scenario and Edit Map Menu Options . . . . . . . 206
Editing Text Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Appendix 5. A New Sun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
The Centaur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Bright Suns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Proper Motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Double Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Parallax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Proxima Centauri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Luminosity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Mass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Solar System Comparisons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Habitable Planets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Planetography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Earth Comparisons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Atmospheric Composition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Meteorology and Climatology . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Oceanography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Soil Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Native Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Moons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Other Planets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Suggested Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Journey to Centauri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Designer’s Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
GETTING STARTED
GETTING STARTED
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to FIRAXIS Games’™ second offering, Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri™.
As with all games from FIRAXIS, fun and imagination rule, and we have tried
to make a very complex topic accessible and interesting.
It is an ambitious game, addressing some very fundamental issues facing
mankind as we approach the new millennium. What sort of technologies can
we expect to deal with within the next couple of centuries? How will we use
these technologies — for good or for evil? In fact, what ideologies will be paramount in the next millennium, and do these ideologies imply new and differing definitions for “good” and “evil”? What is the ultimate goal for humanity?
THE STORY
Soon after the new millenium begins, humankind’s oldest enemies — war,
famine and disease — are winning the battle on planet Earth. The United
Nations decides to attempt the mission that has been the dream of countless
science fiction writers and fans for generations: the colonization of a New
World, before it is too late. The establishment of a new outpost for mankind
as an alternative to the decaying situation on our mother planet seems to be
the last and best hope for the continued existence of mankind.
Code named “Unity,” the plan is simple. Send enough men, women and supplies to the earthlike planet, Chiron, orbiting the primary star in the Alpha
Centauri system. Give them the seeds for planting a new society — technology, knowledge, and experts of every kind. Insure that the mission, U.N. sponsored, stays on track by carefully monitoring its progress from Earth. Then,
when the time is right, and if the need still exists, begin shuttling others to
the New World at Alpha Centauri.
But space travel is a difficult undertaking, even now. It is hard to reach our
own moon. Even if we had the capacity to make it to a distant planet, will we
GETTING STARTED
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3
be able to bring the travelers back? Once firmly established on a distant world,
will we be able to cooperate with one another there long enough to establish
a new society that can attain the same levels and quality of life that we have
achieved here after almost 5000 years of civilization? But the deteriorating
conditions on Earth leave us little choice.
From the beginning, there are problems aboard the U.N. Starship Unity. An
unexpected reactor malfunction damages the ship, waking the travelers early
from cryo-sleep. It soon is evident that the accident has damaged the communications equipment and contact with Earth is lost, and cannot be reestablished. The leadership of the mission is faced with the prospect of going
it alone and soon begin to argue obstinately about the best way to proceed.
The game begins when the Unity Mission reaches Chiron. But, by this time, the
mission has fallen into chaos. The most powerful leaders on board have built
ideological factions and surrounded themselves with dedicated followers. It is
clear that each faction has established its own agenda for the future of
mankind and is desperately serious about carrying it through.
GOOD LUCK
We hope you will find a multitude of ways to solve the problems the Unity
travelers face. There are nearly unlimited options and you can experiment
relentlessly as you explore, discover, build and conquer. Please feel free to contact us to pass on criticism or praise, or just your point of view, at
WWW
.FIRAXIS.COM. Have fun and Good Luck. — FIRAXIS Games
USING THE MANUAL
If this is the very first time you’ve ever played Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri or
any game like it, we recommend you do not sit down and read this book
cover-to-cover before you start playing!
Instead, we strongly suggest you put down this book, start up the game, and
play through the tutorial scenario provided. Also, check out the five “tours”
provided in the game’s Help menu. These two resources are the easiest (and
most fun) way to learn the basics of the game.
GETTING STARTED
Tours. To get to the tours, start the game and select any options which look
interesting (you’ll find out exactly what they do a little later) or just hit
QUICK
START
. When the game loads for the first time, you will be automatically
walked through several tours that show you the fundamentals of the game.
To get back to the tours after the first game, L (left-click) on the
MENU tab
on the left side of the screen, then L on
HELP. The tours are at the bottom
of the Help menu.
Tutorial Scenarios. To access the tutorial scenarios, start the game and select
SCENARIO from the Main menu. When the Scenario menu appears, select
PLAY SCENARIO. Open the folder 1EXPLORE and select the “Explore.sc” file.
Upon successful completion of the “Explore” scenario, move on to the
2BUILD folder, and then to the 3CONQUER folder. When played in succession, these tutorials can help teach the Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri basics in
a fun and intuitive way. To access a list of scenario objectives and how to
achieve them, L on the
MENU tab on the left side of the screen, then L on
the HQ menu, and select REVIEW SCENARIO OBJECTIVES.
Once you know the basics, this manual is provided to help you discover the many
subtleties and details of Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri. We hope you’ll be returning to these pages often while playing, to discover the exact purpose behind a
game option, or the meaning of a term. Who knows? Maybe after you’ve been
playing Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri for awhile, you’ll come back and read this
book cover-to-cover, just to make sure you’re not missing anything.
In addition to this manual, you will find the following materials, also included with your game, extremely useful:
• Install Guide. Installation, trouble shooting and customer support.
• Tech Tree Chart. The technologies that you discover as you progress, and
their interrelationships. This chart also contains information about the terrain, vehicles, and world of Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri.
GETTING STARTED
CHAPTER 1
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GETTING STARTED
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This manual is divided into seven major sections:
• Getting Started. Loading and customizing your game.
• Welcome to Alpha Centauri. Movement, and the basic game interface.
• Planet. The ecology of the new world, and terraforming.
• Colonizing Planet. Building bases and expanding and defending your faction’s territory.
• Controlling Society. The finer points of economics, diplomacy, research and
Social Engineering.
• Appendices, listed below.
• A New Sun, Planetography and Journey to Centauri, giving background
details on the world of Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri.
The appendices provide easy access to important information:
• Notes and Tips. Designer’s notes, and some strategy tips.
• Tables. Quick reference charts to the technologies, units, facilities and Secret
Projects available in the game.
• Option Screens. Quick reference listing of configurable options to customize gameplay.
• Advanced Customization. Advanced methods for customizing the game.
• Index. A complete listing of where to find details on all key topics in the game.
INSTALLATION
Installation, troubleshooting and customer support are all covered in the
Install Guide.
GAME SETUP
Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri allows a wide range of player customization
options both before and during play.
MAIN (STARTING) MENU
This is the first thing you see
upon starting Sid Meier’s
Alpha Centauri.
You can quit the game from
the Main menu with q. If
you’re not on the Main
menu, q takes you back to
your previous screen. On all
menu screens, q takes you
back one level.
START GAME
Starts a new game. This selection opens the Map Selection menu (see Map
Selection menu, facing page).
QUICK START
This option drops you directly into a new game configured exactly like the last
game you played (including faction choice). If you use Quick Start before playing any other games, it drops you into a world of average size, with all defaults
on, playing the Gaian faction on the easiest difficulty level.
SCENARIO
Scenarios are specific challenges designed to test your playing skill to the maximum. The exceptions are the Tutorial Scenarios, specially designed to teach
new players the basics.
GETTING STARTED
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GETTING STARTED
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LOAD GAME
Allows you to load a previously saved game. You can load both automatic
saves (see Automatic Saves, p. 30) and named saves (see Save Game, p. 29).
This option opens your Saves directory.
MULTIPLAYER
Use this to set up a multiplayer game. See Multiplayer, in the Install Guide,
for detailed instructions.
VIEW CREDITS
Reveals the game’s creators.
EXIT GAME
This option quits the game and returns you to Windows®.
MAP SELECTION MENU
In this menu you decide what kind
of new game you wish to start.
MAKE RANDOM MAP
Allows you to start a new game,
making only a few basic choices—
Size of Planet, Difficulty Level, Game
Rules and Faction. (See Customized
Planets, next page, for details of
these options.)
CUSTOMIZE RANDOM MAP
Allows you to customize a number of parameters of your new world before
you start play. See Customized Planets, next page, for details.
THE MAP OF PLANET
This map is the “official” map of Planet. It’s always the same.
HUGE MAP OF PLANET
This is a large version of the map of Planet.
LOAD MAP FILE
This allows you to load a custom map that you’ve saved out as a map file.
CUSTOMIZED PLANETS
When you elect to play on a random or customized random map game, you’re given
a series of choices that allow you to shape the environment of your new world.
A fully customized planet allows you to control exactly what kind of game
experience you want. If your primary interest is combat and tactics, choose a
small planet with plentiful native life, giving you lots of opportunity to fight
off native threats and other factions. If you’re more interested in peaceful,
long-term development, choose a huge planet and rare native life. If you want
a difficult terraforming challenge, choose a mountainous, dry world, but if you
want a more inviting environment for your people, choose rolling terrain and
lots of rainfall. If you like building and managing a navy, go for extensive
ocean coverage, or if you prefer to work on land, choose smaller oceans.
At any time in the customization process you can return to the Select Size of
Planet menu by hitting q.
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GETTING STARTED
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SIZE
There are five options: Tiny, Small, Standard,
Large and Huge. The bigger the world, the
longer you’ll probably play before encountering any of the other factions.
From this screen, you can also load any custom
map files you may have saved. The Load Map
File option opens your map file directory.
OCEAN COVERAGE
Allows you to select how much of the world is under water. The three options
are 30-50%, 50-70%, and 70-90%. The more ocean, the greater the necessity for a navy and the fewer opportunities to expand your faction on land.
EROSIVE FORCES
Allows you to choose between Strong (rolling and flat terrain), Average (hilly
terrain), and Weak (rough, mountainous terrain). In general, flat terrain is easier to settle and terraform. Rougher surfaces are harder to terraform, but offer
an abundance of mineral resources.
NATIVE LIFE FORMS
Allows you to select the frequency of Planet’s native life-forms, notably mind
worms (see Fauna, p. 40) and xenofungus (see Flora, p. 39). Choices are Rare,
Average and Abundant. The fewer native life forms, the easier the going, particularly early in the game.
CLOUD COVER
The choices are Sparse (light rainfall), Average, and Dense (heavy rainfall). The
more rainfall, the more nutrients available to feed and expand your bases.
DIFFICULTY
There are six levels of difficulty. The higher the
difficulty, the smarter and more aggressive your
opponents, and the tougher it is to establish
and expand your faction. Difficulty levels, from
easiest to hardest, are: Citizen (novice),
Specialist, Talent, Librarian, Thinker, and
Transcend (expert).
GAME RULES
These advanced gameplay options are
described in detail under Game Rules, p. 197.
FACTION
There are seven factions of refugees from the disastrous destruction of the
U.N. Starship Unity. This is where you select the one that you wish to lead.
•
CUSTOM NAME allows you to change the name of the faction (if, for example,
your faction simply must be the Cheeseheads). This option also allows you
to customize the terms used to address and describe your faction in diplomatic interactions.
•
HELP button displays a summary of the faction’s character and its special
abilities (and handicaps).
•
LOAD lets you load a previously created faction configuration.
•
OK accepts your choice and starts the game.
•
CANCEL returns to the Main menu.
After you select a faction, you get a window that allows you to change the
name and gender of your faction leader (for example, Norma of the
Cheeseheads), if you wish, after which the game begins.
See Factions, facing page, for information about the seven factions themselves.
GETTING STARTED
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GETTING STARTED
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FACTIONS
The human factions of Planet are not divided by race, language or place of
ancestral origin. Instead, each faction is guided by the vision of its leader.
These visions, in turn, give each faction a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. By comparing the strengths of your faction to the parameters of
a customized planet, you can either give yourself an edge against the other
factions, or set yourself a unique challenge to overcome.
You’re likely to find the game more enjoyable if you pick a faction you can
empathize with (even if you don’t necessarily agree with everything they profess).
GAIA’S STEPDAUGHTERS (LED BY LADY DEIRDRE SKYE)
The Gaians are determined not to repeat the environmental mistakes of old Earth.
They seek to live at peace with Planet. They start out with the Centauri Ecology
technology and advanced abilities to interact with the native life, including the
ability to move freely through xenofungus squares and gather extra nutrients
from fungus. Their empathy with Planet gives them the ability to place ravaging
wild mind worms directly under their control. Their experience with recycling systems makes their bases more efficient, but their pacifist leanings undermine the
abilities of their military units, and they resent police control in times of crisis.
Because of negative environmental consequences, the Gaians can not make the
“Free Market Economics” social choice (see Society Window, p. 136).
HUMAN HIVE (LED BY CHAIRMAN SHENG-JI YANG)
This faction is ruled under harsh collectivist/authoritarian principles. The good
of the individual is totally subordinate to the state. They are isolationist, and
militaristic. The Hive begins with the Doctrine: Loyalty technology. Their bases
are built underground, giving them the equivalent of a pre-installed Perimeter
Defense facility. Their population growth and industrial development are above
average, but their economy tends to lag behind others. The Hive can not make
the “Democratic” social choice (see Society Window, p. 136).
UNIVERSITY OF PLANET (LED BY ACADEMICIAN PROKHOR ZAKHAROV)
The University is completely dedicated to research and the free exchange of
information. They are rumored to sometimes put the pursuit of knowledge
ahead of ethics. They start the game with the Information Networks technology and one additional bonus technology. Each University base receives a free
Network Node when founded. The University’s research progresses quickly, but
their open-access philosophy makes them susceptible to attacks by covert
“Probe Teams,” while their callous elitism can easily lead to unrest among the
workers. The University can not make the “Fundamentalist” social choice (see
Society Window, p. 136).
MORGAN INDUSTRIES (LED BY CEO NWABUDIKE MORGAN)
The Morganites are organized along corporate lines, and dedicated to laissezfaire capitalist economic principles. They start the game with 100 energy credits and the Industrial Base technology, and receive a bonus to all income from
commerce between factions. Morganites have expensive tastes, making it difficult for them to support units in the field, and requiring them to build Hab
Complex facilities before the population of any of their bases can exceed four
citizens. The Morganites can not make the “Planned Economics” social choice
(see Society Window, p. 136).
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GETTING STARTED
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SPARTAN FEDERATION (LED BY COLONEL CORAZON SANTIAGO)
The Spartans are paramilitary survivalists. They believe in both a right and a
duty to keep and bear arms. The Spartans start the game with the Doctrine:
Mobility technology and a fast scout rover vehicle, and they do not have to pay
extra to develop prototypes of new units. Morale of their units is exceptionally high, and their citizens accept strict police control as a necessity, but their
extravagant military needs weigh down industrial operations. The Spartans can
not make the “Wealth” social choice (See Society Window, p. 136).
THE LORD’S BELIEVERS (LED BY SISTER MIRIAM GODWINSON)
The Believers seek a life of prayer and religious worship. Because of the
strength of their convictions, they get a bonus when attacking their enemies.
They start the game with the Social Psych technology. The Believers are resistant to probe brainwashing, but their suspicion of secular science retards their
research efforts, and their belief that Planet is their promised land sometimes
interferes with their ecological sensitivity. The Believers can not make the
“Knowledge” social choice (see Society Window, p. 136).
THE PEACEKEEPING FORCES (LED BY COMMISSIONER PRAVIN LAL)
The Peacekeepers exist to support the humanitarian principles of the United
Nations of Earth, the organization that originally commissioned the Unity
expedition to Alpha Centauri. They start the game with the Biogenetics technology. The idealism of this faction attracts an intellectual elite, but their society possesses a tendency towards bureaucratic inefficiency. Their bases can
exceed normal population limits by 2. Due to his experience with parliamentary
maneuvering, Lal’s vote counts double when the Planetary Council is convened
for election of a Planetary Governor or Supreme Leader. The Peacekeepers can
not make the “Police State” social choice (see Society Window, p. 136).
CHAPTER 2
WELCOME TO ALPHA CENTAURI
WELCOME TO ALPHA CENTAURI
Your new home in the Alpha Centauri system is officially called Chiron, but most
of the new inhabitants refer to it as Planet. In cosmic terms, Earth and Planet are
two worlds similar enough to be considered practically identical. But for human
beings, the product of millions of years of earth-specific evolution, Planet is a
strange, alien and frightening place. Your first task, upon arrival on this new
world, is figuring out the ground rules how the whole system of Planet works
together, and how your faction can make itself profitably a part of that system.
GETTING STARTED
A whole new world is a big place, and Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri is a big
game. The first settlers on Planet are awed by the infinite possibilities that
stretch before them, and the first time you open the game, you might find
yourself a bit over-awed by all the choices you have (particularly if you’ve never
played any similar simulations before). This section is a quick guide to what you
can expect when you first start to play, and some of the basic and necessary
actions you need to take to get yourself established. All the concepts and
actions mentioned below are covered in much greater detail later in this book.
FOLLOWING PLANETFALL
When your faction first makes planetfall, you always have at least one mobile
unit ready for action. Send this unit out to explore the immediate vicinity of
your base (you can move your unit with the eight arrow keys on the numeric
keypad: just press the key corresponding to the direction you want to go). Try
to explore at least five or six squares out from the base in all directions, then
pick a direction and head out, or find a coastline and follow it. You’re looking for inviting places to establish new bases (remember, green is good — look
for green squares near rivers or coastlines), and for the supply pods scattered
by the Unity just before its destruction (but be careful—the Unity pods can
contain valuable gifts, but they can also unleash danger). Watch out for mind
worm boils—the dangerous native life-forms of Planet. Be prepared to fight or
WELCOME TO ALPHA CENTAURI
CHAPTER 2
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WELCOME TO ALPHA CENTAURI
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run when you see mind worms (you can attack by attempting to move into
their square). Ultimately, you’ll want to make contact with the units or bases
of the other human factions.
RESEARCHING TECHNOLOGY
New technologies drive your survival and expansion on Planet, giving you
access to new weapons, base facilities, and Secret Projects. As soon as your
first base is established, your faction immediately begins scientific research.
You don’t have to do anything to start researching, it just happens. Every few
turns your scientists announce a new breakthrough, and ask you to set priorities to guide your next research effort. For more information on how to maximize your technological advances, see Technology, p. 119.
EXPANDING YOUR EMPIRE
Each of your bases is constantly building a new unit or base facility. You can
decide where a base should direct its industrial efforts. To do so, L on a base
to open the Base Control Screen. In the lower left corner of that screen is a
window showing that base’s current build orders. L on the Change button to
get the Production Readout, which shows everything your base can build (at
the start of the game, this might be just two or three objects). At the start of
the game you’ll want to concentrate on units. First, build a military unit to
guard the base. When it’s completed, use H to order that unit to remain in
the base, on guard. If you wish, you may order the base governor to take over
production if you L one of the “Governor” buttons at the top of the Base
Control screen (see Governor, p. 69).
As soon as the “former” (terraforming) unit becomes available (with the discovery of Centauri Ecology), build one and send it out to terraform the landscape.
Move the former out of your base and have it build farms (F), roads (R), and
solar collectors (S). If the terrain is harsh (a brown square with no green), plant
forests (sF). If the terrain is rough (lots of grey blobs in the square) drill
mines (M). You can also automate a former by pressing sA; it immediate-
ly begins building terrain enhancements as the former commander sees fit.
You’ll also want to build some extra colony pods to establish new bases. When
a pod is ready, send it out to an inviting green square at least three or four
squares away from any other base (and on a river or a coast if possible). B
builds a new base on that square.
As your faction discovers new technology, you gain an ever wider variety of
build options to choose from. Once you have a defensive unit and a former,
and have sent out a colony pod from a base, you’ll probably want to start
improving the base itself by building facilities. Particularly useful facilities for
new bases in the early part of the game include the Network Node, Perimeter
Defense, Children’s Creche, Recycling Tanks and Recreation Commons.
Eventually, when you feel one of your bases is well established, you may want
to commit it to building a Secret Project. These massive works take a long time
to build but yield lasting benefits to your entire faction.
DIPLOMACY
Inevitably, you come into contact with one of the other factions from the
Unity. When this happens, you’ll usually get a message that the leader of the
faction wishes to speak to you, via your commlinks. It’s usually a good idea to
talk to another leader when given the opportunity. Leaders may offer to trade
technologies (often a good idea), or offer you a treaty, or even an alliance (a
very good idea, unless you’re itching for a fight). On the other hand, they might
threaten you or even try to extort energy (the currency of Planet) or technology from you. Giving in to such demands can be humbling, but is sometimes
better than the alternative (a fight you may not be ready for). Sometimes they
want to borrow energy credits (a good deal in the long run, unless you’re going
to need the energy you’re loaning away in the immediate future).
FACTIONAL STRIFE
Unfortunately, diplomacy can’t solve all problems. Sooner or later, you’ll have
to prepare your faction for armed conflict. Even if your intentions are peaceful, you’ll need a standing army, to respond quickly in case of unprovoked
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aggression. (Keep such defensive forces small—no more than two units per
base in the years immediately after Planetfall. Otherwise they’ll become expensive to maintain, and rapidly become obsolete.)
If you prefer the conqueror’s role, you can put your whole faction on a military
footing, building multiple units per base for a massive invasion force. Obviously,
you probably shouldn’t invest too much time and resources into an operation
until you’ve encountered the enemy and know where they’re located.
THE TURN
Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri is a turn-based game. Each turn corresponds to
one Chiron year. Mission Year 2100, Planetfall, is the first Chiron year.
Each turn follows the same pattern.
1. Planet & Enemy Faction move. All native and enemy units make their
moves (including attacks). You see any such movements that fall within the
limits of your sensors. The leaders of the other factions may contact you.
2. Faction Update. You are advised of any completed enhancements, research
or units. (You can customize your preferences for updates; see Warning
Preferences, p.199.) You may set a new goal for each base when a project
is completed, or you may use the defaults. As time progresses, you are
offered opportunities to upgrade units, and may receive updates of your
progress at unraveling the secrets of this new world.
3. Player Move. You (and all other player-controlled factions, in multiplayer games)
may move units at this time. You are taken, in turn, to each unit that is:
• not “holding” in a defensive position, or “asleep” within a transport unit.
• not already engaged in a multi-turn action.
During this time, you may also freely change your preferences, or change
orders to bases or any units (whether or not they’re already engaged in orders),
contact other faction leaders, inspect visible portions of the map, and review
all available data.
GETTING AROUND
The first things you have to learn, in order to establish your faction, are how
to interpret the map and how to move around.
The main map, which occupies the top two-thirds of the screen, is your playing surface. At Planetfall (when your faction first arrives on Planet, and when
the game begins), the vast bulk of the map is either indistinct or totally black
(depending on how you set the Unity Survey option; see Game Rules, p. 197).
You have to move units around and explore to find out exactly what your surroundings are.
The simplest way to move a unit is with the numeric
keypad.
The direction in which the keypad arrow points corresponds directly to the direction the unit moves, so that
8 on the numeric keypad moves you one square to
the north, while 3 moves you one square to the
southeast.
It is also possible to set units to undertake longer,
multi-turn journeys without further orders, or
even to have them decide for themselves what
actions to take. These options are described
under the Action Menu (p. 92).
Continual movement c+arrow key
If you want a unit to move continually in a single direction, use this command.
The unit continues in the specified direction until it can no longer proceed,
due to coastlines or enemy units. The unit’s commander may route around
small obstacles like fungus and small bodies of water.
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MOUSE MOVEMENT
If you’re sending a unit on a long journey, and you don’t want to hit an arrow
key for every square of the distance, you can set a destination using the
mouse: Just L (left-click) on the unit, drag to its destination, then release.
The unit figures the most direct path to your destination, automatically routing around obstacles like small bodies of water and fungal areas.
Waypoints. There may be times when you don’t want a unit to take the most
direct route to its final destination (for example, if a route would take you
through hostile territory). In those cases you can use waypoints. To set a waypoint, L-and-drag to the first waypoint square, z while holding the
click, then drag to the next waypoint or to your final destination. A waypoint
is set on that square—the unit goes to the waypoint, then on to the next waypoint (if there is another one) or its final destination. A unit will normally follow the path shown on the screen when its orders are given, but it may deviate somewhat based upon the tactical situation at the time it makes the actual move. It always traverses the waypoints in the order given. You can insert
up to three waypoints on a route, including the destination.
EXAMINING THE MAP
The main map is scrollable. L (left-click) on any square to center the map on that
square. You can also scroll the map in the indicated direction by moving your
mouse cursor to the edge of the screen (unless you choose to disable this option).
• If you have a unit in that square, L also moves your cursor to that square
and activates the unit (see Active Units, p. 22). If you have multiple units
in a square, you choose which unit to activate.
• If you have a base in the square, L opens the Base Control Screen (see
pg. 66).
: (right-click) on a square to open a window containing many of the most
commonly used commands. These commands are fully described under Action
Menu, p. 92.
FOG OF WAR
On any given turn playing with the default game options, there are three types
of terrain visible on the map.
Black squares are squares you have not mapped yet. (If you have the Unity
Survey option turned on, these are not black, but you won’t be able to see any
details of the square’s terrain, other than whether it’s land or sea).
Dim squares are those you have already mapped, but which are not currently
observed by any of your sensors (either from units or bases).
Bright squares are those you’ve mapped, and which are currently monitored
by your sensors. Most units can observe only adjacent squares. All bases and
your units with Deep Radar (a unit special ability) can observe out to two
squares away.
ACTIVE UNITS
During a turn, each of your units not currently under orders will become active
and remain so until you either give it an order or activate a different unit.
Active units are shown by a marker or by flashing, depending on the game
options you have selected. A unit that has been skipped during your turn
because you chose to activate a different unit will re-activate before the end
of your turn as a reminder that it still needs instructions. If you are viewing
the map, press V to auto-select the next active unit.
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COMMLINK
Although it may take awhile to find them, eventually you’ll need to communicate with other faction leaders. The commlink system is your means of communication and your tool for trade and diplomacy.
The Commlink button is located on the right edge of your screen.
L on this tab or press F12 to open the Commlink menu which displays the
names of each of the opposing faction leaders along with your current diplomatic status with that faction (Vendetta, Truce, Treaty, Pact; see Diplomatic
Relations, p. 129). L on a name to contact that leader (see Diplomatic
Contact, p. 127).
A final option,
COUNCIL, cannot be used until you have the commlink frequen-
cies for all other leaders. It allows you to convene the Planetary Council. (See
Planetary Council, p. 132.)
TURN COMPLETE
This button, just below the Commlink tab, allows you to disregard any remaining actions and end the turn (if you have actions left in the turn, you are
prompted to confirm your choice). This button flashes when all your units
have received orders for the current turn.
WORLD VIEW
The World View map is in the
lower right corner of your
screen. It displays the world as
it is currently known to your
faction.
There are two options for viewing your World View map,
selected via the buttons
beneath the map:
• World Map (default view). Displays the outline of the land areas and all
known cities by the color of their faction. Double-L an area in the World
Map to zoom to the Detail Map (see below).
• Detail Map. Displays a close-up of the terrain, so you can keep your eye on
potential trouble spots. Double-L an area in the Detail Map to take you
back to the World Map (see above).
You can scroll around either view—L on any terrain on the map. The map recenters where you clicked. : on the World View in either mode to bring up a
menu of options for changing the view.
YEAR/ENERGY
At the bottom of the World View is a readout line showing the current year
and your faction’s current energy reserves (see Base Management: The
Essentials, p. 58).
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STATUS VIEW
This display comprises the three windows in the lower left corner of the screen.
It displays all the essential information about both the active unit and the
active square.
The top left window displays information about the active unit or base, if any,
including:
• Picture (with status bar)
• Type
• Stats (see Units, p. 64)
• Morale Level (see Morale/Lifecycle, p. 87)
• Supporting Base
• Move Remaining
• Current Orders (if any) and time to completion (if a terraforming project is
underway)
• Base build orders
The top right window displays information about the current square, including:
• Elevation
• Terrain Type (see Resources, p. 36)
• Any Enhancements (see Terraforming and Enhancements, p. 46)
• Coordinates (see Mapping Planet, below)
L on the window to show the number of resources produced by that square.
The long window at the bottom of the screen displays a picture of each unit
or base stacked in the current square. Place the cursor over an item to view its
data. L on a picture to make a unit the active unit. L on a base to zoom to
the Base Control Screen.
DATA MFD
This is the window located in the lower center of your screen. It’s a repository for general information about your faction and current events.
If you L on the M button (for “messages”), the Data MFD displays the most
recent messages generated by the game, with the oldest at the top.
If you L on the I button (for “information”), the Data MFD displays a continuously cycling series of screens displaying important information about
your faction and its status among the other factions.
MAPPING PLANET
When you first arrive on Planet, you’ll have no idea where you are, where the
other factions are, or indeed what might lie over the horizon. You’ll have to
begin the fascinating process of exploring Planet, and as you progress the
world map is unveiled.
The map of Planet is a spherical surface projected onto a rectangular image.
This means, in realistic terms, that the squares at the top and bottom of the
map (near the poles) represent much smaller areas than the squares in the middle (near the equator). In game terms, however, there’s no difference—a square
is a square. Understanding the projection, however, does make it easier to
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understand that the long stretches of rough land at the top and bottom of the
screen represent the edge of Planet’s uninhabitable polar regions.
MAP COORDINATES
Map coordinates are
numbered starting from
(0, 0), with the vertical
axis first. The vertical
axis is numbered from
the top of the map to
the bottom, and the
horizontal is numbered
from left to right, starting at the point where
the World View (see
World View, p. 24)
wraps. Thus (14, 22) would be nearer the upper left corner of the World View,
while (101, 77) would be much lower and farther to the right.
ARCHIPELAGOES
Some land squares are connected by a thin line between their diagonal corners, with water squares on either side of this line. These squares are connected by an archipelago of small islands, and these intersections can be
crossed both by sea units (from one water square to the other), and by land
units (along the archipelago).
MENUS
Along the left side of your screen is a tab labeled MENU. L on the tab, and a
list of nine sub-menus appears.
• Game (see Game Menu, next page)
• HQ (see HQ Menu, p. 110)
• Network (see Install Guide)
• Map (see Map Menu, p. 32)
• Action (see Action Menu, p. 92)
• Terraform (see Terraform Menu, p. 46)
• Scenario (see Scenario and Edit Map Menus, p. 206)
• Edit Map (see Scenario and Edit Map Menus, p. 206)
• Help (see Help Menu, p. 31)
From these menus, you can access most of the commands, options and preferences available in the game. Some of the options listed may not appear,
either because you have “Simple menus” toggled on (see Game Menu, below)
or because you cannot carry out a particular order.
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