post release - random faction generator generates same factions

n18991c

Old

13 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 11:42:49 AM

Hey guys,

I started a new game today with a total of 8 factions and relying utterly on the random faction generator... what i got was 4 times cravers, 3 times horatio plus myself...

"Random" I thought to myself, but really didn't mean it.

Has anyone else experienced that "random faction" tends to keep producing the same factions?

Since I'd been playing quite a few turns until I'd encountered them all and don't just want to lose my game and start a fresh one I'll probably keep playing for a while, but all I can tell you guys is: 4 times cravers and 3 times horatio is somehow very, very depressing....

PErhaps "random faction" should be more like "randomly assign other factions" rather than just "pick any faction, even 7 times the same is fine by me!"....?

VIPFinalStrigon

Sheredyn

VIPFinalStrigon

Sheredyn

33 000g2g pts

13 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 12:40:19 PM

I haven't noticed this, not with the :Random Faction" anyway. A few might duplicate, but I've never had numbers too badly skewed. Two Sophons, Two Hissho, Cravers, Amoeba, UE, and myself (UE-based custom faction) were my last game.

I have noticed, though, the Hero generation at the start just loves giving me the same people. Not always the same three, but the same names pop up with alarming frequency.

Mick

Newcomer

Mick

Newcomer

31 600g2g pts

13 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 1:05:29 PM

I have 3 pilgrims in my 4 player game (me being one of them). I was disappointed when I came across the other two. I have no problem with this kind of faction selection being available, but I would love a "force distinct factions" option on game creation, and I'm sure a lot of others would as well.

mwdowns

Newcomer

mwdowns

Newcomer

100g2g pts

13 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 1:46:49 PM

Same here. My first game yesterday, which I ended up quiting had 3 Horatio plus me as Horatio a Craver and a...bird one, forget the name.

n18991c

Old

n18991c

Old

13 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 2:20:43 PM

so you guys have had the same experience as me, huh? Funny that random faction generator doesn't just double factions but often in fact triples or quadruples them...!

Also, I've noticed that even though I set the game to "many planets per system" I often get a home system containing just 3... earlier I started a new game 10 times and I never got a 6-planet starting system... Any one else have that?

VIPflipstar

Pro VIP

flipstar

VIPflipstar

Pro VIP

72 500g2g pts

13 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 2:36:35 PM

n18991c wrote:
Also, I've noticed that even though I set the game to "many planets per system" I often get a home system containing just 3... earlier I started a new game 10 times and I never got a 6-planet starting system... Any one else have that?

Yep, I purpose restart my new games so I either get a decent but not overpowered home system and starting point. I've noticed it to be much harder post release patch. Especially getting a 6 planet system.

dlcooper

Newcomer

dlcooper

Newcomer

100g2g pts

13 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 2:56:19 PM

I've noticed duplicate random factions as well. It would be nice to have an option for random factions with no repeats.

n18991c

Old

n18991c

Old

13 years ago

Jul 6, 2012, 2:58:55 PM

flipstar wrote:
Yep, I purpose restart my new games so I either get a decent but not overpowered home system and starting point. I've noticed it to be much harder post release patch. Especially getting a 6 planet system.

How many starting planets did you get on average? My average was 3, which is way off the max of 6 which you can have...!

n18991c

Old

n18991c

Old

13 years ago

Jul 8, 2012, 4:54:02 PM

dlcooper wrote:
It would be nice to have an option for random factions with no repeats.

Perhaps it shouldn't be an option just automatic. I mean is there really any point in having a faction appear more than once in a game?

Plutoman

Newcomer

Plutoman

Newcomer

4 000g2g pts

13 years ago

Jul 8, 2012, 5:36:36 PM

IIRC, the starting planets have a unique setup different from all the rest. It's intended for balance, I'd assume. There's limited chances for what can be chosen and it looked to be unaffected by the choices in the menus. Generally you'll find the single good planet and 2-3 tier 3 or lower planets.

This was from a beta .47 or so, whichever the number was, when I was looking at the xml files for the game.

That said, I've noticed repeats quite often. As a random generator, that's not abnormal. There's limited options so it's a sizable chance. It could mean a different algorithm is needed, however, such as cutting the chance for a repeat faction in half.

There's plenty of reason to have more than 1 faction in the game, too. However, that loses it's impact in single player in which you are focused on the variety of the game and less on the competitive aspects. A simple algorithm change as per above would be easy and still provide variety.

Mortiferus_Rosa

Senior

You can get far in life with a smile. You can get farther with a smile and a gun. - Al Capone

Mortiferus_Rosa

Senior

21 400g2g pts

13 years ago

Jul 8, 2012, 6:10:30 PM

My Favorite start I got (which I restarted) was a tundra and two barren planets...

n18991c

Old

n18991c

Old

13 years ago

Jul 10, 2012, 8:10:42 PM

Mortiferus_Rosa wrote:
My Favorite start I got (which I restarted) was a tundra and two barren planets...

That's not uncommon I'm afraid, you tend to get home systems which aren't too good whenever you start a new game... I find this a little bit weird, since you need a good/productive home system in order to build up your empire and a weak system can result in quite the disadvantage for you!

@Plutoman: as said, I think home systems generated should tend to be good, rather than bad, so a number-base system should consider that, don't you think?

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