The Factions of SMAC

One of the best things about SMAC was the divisions of the Factions. Earlier Civ games had little difference between factions. Even the recently releases Civ 5 had minor differences, a special unit type and something else. 


In SMAC each different faction is based around a charismatic leader. 

The game centers around around 7 Faction leaders (14 with the expansion.)  Im goign to go over the orginal 7 over the next few days.

The Peacekeepers: 

Faction Leader: 

Commisioner Pravin Lal

-1 Efficiency ( U.N. style bureaucracy )

Extra talent for every 4 citizens ( Attracts intellectual elite )

May exceed Hab Complex population requirements by 2

Receives double votes in elections for Planetary Governer and Supreme leader

May not use Police State politics

The Spartan Federation 

Faction Leader 

Colonel Corazon Santiago

+2 Morale ( Well armed survivalist movement )

+1 Police ( Highly disciplined followers )

-1 Industry ( Extravagant weapons are costly )

Prototype units do not cost extra minerals

May not use Wealth value in Social Engineering

Gaia's Stepdaughters

Faction Leader 

Lady Deirdre Skye

+1 Planet ( Environmental safeguards; can capture mind worms )

+2 Efficiency ( Experience with life systems & recycling )

-1 Moral ( Pacifist tendencies )

-1 Police ( Freedom loving )

+1 Nutrients in fungus squares

May not use Free Market economics

The University of Planet

Faction Leader 

Prokor Sartory Zakharov

+2 Research ( Brilliant research )

-2 Probe ( Academic networks vulnerable to infiltration )

Free network node at every base

One bonus tech at beginning of game

Extra drone for every 4 citizens ( Lack of ethics )

May not use Fundamentalist politics

The Human Hive

Faction Leader 

Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang

+1 Growth ( Rapid population growth )

+1 Industry ( Brutal serfdom )

-2 Economy ( Little political freedom )

Underground bunkers ( Free Perimeter Defense at each base )

May not use Democratic politics

The Lord's Believers

Faction Leader 

Sister Miriam Godwinson

+25% Bonus when attacking enemies, from the strength of convictions
+1 Probe ( Devout believers difficult to brainwash )
-2 Research ( Suspicious of secular science )
-1 Planet ( Believe Planet is their promised land )
Accumulates no research points until Mission Year 2110
May not use Knowledge value in Social Engineering

If you don't understand what all the bonuses mean, don't worry, you will soon.

Every day for the next week I'm going to go over each faction leader and explain how they play and what they believe in.