Cycle 2 CMYK 150 lpi 9/14/99 9:59 AM City 2068-2L01.B&W Cover.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Welcome to Alien Crossfire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Alien Planetfall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 New Progenitor concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Civil War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e New Manifestations of the Colonists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 2 Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Resonance Laser (R-Laser) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Resonance Bolt (R-Bolt) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 String Disruptor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e C r o s s f i r e INTRODUCTION WELCOME TO ALIEN CROSSFIRE Welcome to Sid Meier’s Alien Crossfire™, FIRAXIS™ Games’ expansion pack for Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri™. Enjoy the new faces and places in Alien Crossfire. ALIEN PLANETFALL Alien Crossfire is a companion game to Alpha Centauri and requires ownership of Alpha Centauri. Here’s a brief overview of what’s new in Alien Crossfire: 4 A l i e n ◆ Five new human factions.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e social engineering choices (such as “Free Market” or “Police State”) actually represent similar facilities and social choices in the Progenitor societal structure, but have been translated into their nearest human equivalent for convenience. CIVIL WAR The two alien ideologies are completely in opposition, and all alien interactions with each other and with the human factions are colored by this opposition.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e PROGENITOR VICTORY The Progenitor factions can each win a new type of victory. They must have at least six bases of at least size 10 each, and they must construct a Subspace Generator in each of them. This creates the Resonance Communicator, allowing them to send signals to the home fleets in a far distant portion of the galaxy.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e See New Faction Overview, below, for information about the seven new factions. Play Random Faction Random Play is available with any of the above configurations. Play Selected Faction Choose your faction and then select this option. If you are using a random setup, this button has the same effect as “Play Random.” Change Name Customize the name of your faction and the other factions in the game. 10 Info Shows the help text for the selected faction.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e The Data Angels (led by Datajack Sinder Roze) The Angels are dedicated to a flow of free information and equal opportunity for all. Their detractors call them “hackers” and thieves—but the Angels are mostly interested in the excitement of covert operations. Their lack of social structure makes police procedures more difficult, but they are highly effective spies—their bases are very difficult to penetrate, and Angel probe actions cost less than those of other factions.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e A l i e n C r o s s f i r e FAUNA Mark III Ogres: 30-12-3 Elite units with police powers and dissociative wave. They possess the equivalent of a level 3 reactor. Spore Launchers. These are almost plant-like life forms capable of normal movement. They contain thousands of large fungus spores, used as a weapon to destroy elements disturbing the local ecology.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e THE MANIFOLD NEXUS Control of this grants the controlling faction +1 Planet. It is not certain what the Nexus is, but it appears to be the central communications point for all six of the Progenitor Manifold experiments. In essence, it is a control tower for planetary intelligence. FOSSIL RIDGE A coral formation in the sea that grants +1 mineral/square. A l i e n C r o s s f i r e RESONANCE BOLT (R-BOLT) Twelve attack strength with a built-in 25% bonus vs. PSI units.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e A l i e n C r o s s f i r e PULSE ARMOR ALGORITHMIC ENHANCEMENT Three or eight defense strength with a built-in 25% vs. Mobile attackers. Pulse armor sends out continuous streams of random ECM “white noise” to foul communications of mobile units. Pulse-3 becomes available upon discovery of Adaptive Doctrine (C3); Pulse-8 becomes available upon discovery of Super Tensile Solids (B10). Used by Probe Teams only.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e C r o s s f i r e FLECHETTE DEFENSE SYSTEM (FDS) THERMOCLINE TRANSDUCER Gives units at the base +100% defense against missile attacks. Also, each FDS within two squares has a 50% chance to knock out any ICBM (Planet Buster, Tectonic Payload, Fungal Payload) before satellites are used. The FDS utilizes a flechette delivery system combined with alien resonance waves, to cheaply knock down incoming missiles. Becomes available upon discovery of N-Space Compression (C8).
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e C r o s s f i r e NETHACK TERMINUS ADAPTIVE ECONOMIC SYSTEMS (B3) All Probe Teams built have +1 morale. All probe team actions are at –25% cost. All Probe Teams act as though they have the Algorithmic Enhancement. Additional Algorithmic Enhancement has no additional effect. The Terminus is a central databank/server complex tied into the planetary network of research and meteorological computers, mimicking their functions while extracting data covertly.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e SENTIENT RESONANCE (C9) Leads to Secrets of the Manifolds. Allows the Resonance Bolt (A12r) and Res8 Armor. Sentient Resonance is the discovery of a way of tying computer algorithms and pre-sentient AI to resonance fields—making the resonance fields sentient in their own right. It allows for pin-point direction of beam focal points, and instant reactions to new targets and opportunities. SECRETS OF THE MANIFOLD (D13) Leads to String Resonance.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NEW FACTIONS A l i e n CYBERNETIC CONSCIOUSNESS (CYBORGS) Faction Characteristics ◆ CULT OF PLANET ◆ Faction Characteristics ◆ +2 Planet (total harmony with Planet’s will). ◆ -1 Economy (lack of interest in worldly goods). ◆ -1 Industry (lack of interest in worldly goods). Brood Pit free at each base with discovery of Centauri Genetics (fascination with native life forms). 26 Mind Worms do double police duty (awe of native life forms).
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e DATA ANGELS A l i e n C r o s s f i r e DRONES Faction Characteristics ◆ ◆ Faction Characteristics +2 Probe (complete knowledge of computer systems). -1 Police (anarchistic tendencies, even among followers). • +2 Industry (factory specialists). • -2 Research (lack of interest in elitist research) Bases that revolt have a 75% chance of joining the Drones (rebel workers see a common cause). Probe actions cost reduced by 25% (computer experts).
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e MANIFOLD CARETAKERS A l i e n MANIFOLD USURPERS Faction Characteristics Faction Characteristics • +1 Planet (environmental safeguards; can capture mind worms). • +1 Growth (rapid population growth) Free Recycling Tank in every base (harmony with Planetary environment). Free Recycling Tanks in every base (efficient use of resources). “Energy Grid” in lieu of commerce— every two base facilities built adds +1 energy/turn at that base.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e PIRATES Faction Characteristics Can build enhancements in deep sea with discovery of Advanced Ecological Engineering (aquatic know-how). +1 mineral in shelf squares (aquatic know-how). A l i e n C r o s s f i r e APPENDIX 1. NEW UNIT TABLES AND DEFINITIONS FACILITIES Facility Cost Maint Prerequisite Tech Effect Aquafarm 80 1 Pr. Psych +1 food/kelp farm Brood Pit 80 2 Cent. Gen. Morale, +2 Police, 25% cost of alien units Covert Ops Center 100 2 Pre. Alg.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e C r o s s f i r e knock out any ICBM (Planet Buster, Tectonic Payload, Fungal Payload) before satellites are used. Planetary Energy Grid. Gives a free Energy Bank at every base. A base that is set to “Stockpile Energy” will output 25% additional energy. Subsea Trunkline. Increases mineral output from every mining platform at that base by one. UNITS Subspace Generator.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e SPECIAL ABILITIES Ability Cost Prereq. Abbrev. Desc. Soporific Gas Pods 1 Bioadaptive Resonance Gas -2 enemy morale when you attack Dissociative Wave 2 Centauri PSI Diss.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e A l i e n C r o s s f i r e ◆ Probe teams are now “unflagged”, meaning you cannot easily tell who controls the team. ◆ You can now disable probe team “steal technology” in the RULES section of alpha.txt. ◆ The Hive now has the “Immunity, EFFIC” ability; Hive never receives negative EFFICIENCY penalties. ◆ Password security for multiplayer games. ◆ Datalinks now show cost/preq of Abilities and Terraforming ◆ You can now set waypoints for patrols using the spacebar.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e APPENDIX 3. INDEX Adaptive Doctrine . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 23, 32, 35, 36 Adaptive Economic Systems . . . . . . . 21, 22, 23, 36 Air Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 18, 36, 37 Algorithmic Enhancement . . 19, 22, 25, 34, 36, 46 Aquafarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 19, 33, 36 Battle Ogre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 47 Borehole Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Brood Pit . . .
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e “She’s not going to make it.” ‘Two more coming in, sir.” He looked up to see a crowd of people at the entrance to the bubbletent, ragged bodies in tow. He looked down at her…the stim had no effect. Not even a quiver of life stirred in the body. Her lips remained slightly parted but he could feel no breath. “Very well, move her aside. Talent…” he checked the identity tab on her wrist. “Talent Miyuki Jaydo, time of death…seventeen-oh-seven metric hours.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e private transmissions on the temple have been intercepted, and bought and sold among the faction leaders.” “And because of that Chairman Yang wants to analyze the air and the ground?” Jiao-long sounded skeptical. “The energy currents in the ground. He’s obsessed with it…you know how he puts those special mirrors up everywhere. Inscriptions in the temple seem to say that there are energy currents in Planet.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e Once we were committed to a Planetary setting, the backstory evolved quickly, with the main conflict centered around the return of the original alien inhabitants. The idea of the “Alien Crossfire”—humans inadvertently caught up in an offworld civil war—focused the story; everyone who heard the plot sketch immediately agreed we should head in that direction. After reading an initial design document, Jeff Briggs, CEO and President of Firaxis Games, greenlighted the project.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e unbalancing the game. Finally, and most important, the faction must be fun to play, ensuring the player has a new and different series of interesting and challenging decisions to make each time he or she plays. Other than the Progenitors, the Pirates proved to be our toughest faction to balance. They elicited the best ‘cool!’ response from beta testers, but their ocean start gave them huge advantages.
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e A l i e n C r o s s f i r e QUALITY ASSURANCE ADDITIONAL CREDITS Quality Assurance Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Morris, FIRAXIS Games Documentation Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deborah Maxwell Manual Documentation Editor and Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ede Clarke ELECTRONIC ARTS EA Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A l i e n C r o s s f i r e LINUX VERSION Published and Distributed by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loki Software, Inc. President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Draeker Porgrammers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Henderson, Sam Lantinga, Joseph I. Valenzuela C r o s s f i r e LOKI SOFTWARE LIMITED WARRANTY Loki Software, Inc.
Sid meier’s alpha centaur i
