I'm thinking of switching alignment and trying a different approach for my Kang game. Does the MCC actually do anything in ToA, or has it been completely nerfed?

It fulfills the purpose it was "originally supposed to".  Expert/veteran players contend that it was just the description that was wrong, and that it was "supposed to" give the +100% economic bonus, but the bottom line is that the MCC is a planet flipper now.

Try it with the Korath tree and Super Diplomat. 

Thanks!!!!

I'll have to revisit all the tech trees and compare the Neutral vs Evil perks. I'm tired of the Drath tree that has no ethics bonuses. The Korath certainly have some very attractive options. So do the Krynn. I don't have the guts to try the Thalans or Arceans. Yep, this is going to require some significant planning.

I use it every game.

Well, I am probably going to throw caution to the wind and play as the Korath so I can start with +45 weapons. It'll be reallllll tricky getting to that certain special moment, but I may just be able to pull it off. The selection of AI opponents is going to be critical, and I will be counting on the military score to make up for an anticipated hit to my econ score.

Man, could you imagine trying to even survive as the Arceans on suicidal?

As the one that let SD know exactly what was wrong with the MCC, I can guarantee that it was NEVER supposed to give the economic bonus.  It only did this in DL and DA due to the way that game engine referenced its identifiers in the xml.  This is why in the original TA release it didn't work at all, since TA does not reference the xml the same way.

In short, these "veteran/expert" players are just ones that hated having their easy money taken away.

But yes, MCC + Dark Influence + Diplomat = culture flipping so fast, that Torians actually give birth to Korath children.

Sure.  Except, make a custom and use their SA because -1 speed is murderous.  But the tree's not terribly bad, even without engines.

How about the Thalans?

And who can blame them?

But IMHO it's even more powerful now.

I could survive using the Thalans, but probably not generate a good score.

Now, I have a dilemma. The game is going well, but I just discovered that I left the AIs in states of various relations other than "unknown" during my atlas module testing. Therefore, I can contact all of them before I officially "meet" them. Is it acceptable to do this in a metaverse game, or should I start again with all the AIs in the "unknown" state?

Edit: Actually, I am going to start again regardless. I think I need to reallocate some of the initial setup points and switch from Technologist to something else.

well it won't flag or anything. and i know that many of the ZYW players will set their relations to some known status so that they can make contact (and thus start trading for money) after the initial 8? weeks are up (usually, but not always, you can't communicate before then)

It's ok to have relations set to other than unknown for the MV.  I like to set mine at cool or worse so there's none of this friendly stuff going around.

There's a limit on how good relations can start, but you can go as bad as you'd like.  War might be a tad extreme at first though.

Your probably right there, but another thing was that it was accepted by SD for over two years and more or less "approved" by them when at one point they even changed one of the displayed descriptions to show what it was really doing. I still also find it hard to believe that they could of overlooked a five minute .xml fix for that long with all the various talk and discussions about it. But that's how it goes and there's still ye ole econ event

I have yet to delve into TA enough(about to try out the ultimate FX mod with it), but I have heard that repeated by several respected players. Seemes it can flip planets at an alarming rate and take the Ais out without and energy weapon discharged when used right.

Not a five minute xml fix.

(Trust me, I've tried.)

I can't manage suicidal yet, but the Thalan tech tree should be possible. Be advised they don't get the MCC unless you trade for it, and the AI doesn't often research concepts of malice.

Yeah, 40+ flips in one turn; 100+ over the first 6 turns or so after I got it, with 3 civs wiped out in the chain reaction.

You've just given me an idea.........

   @ KP I remember now, he was a Shadow , collecting infomantion and he also had two Shadows with him at all times, killed    Kosh the Vorlon   too.

   Kosh would ask "Who are You" then say "Good"

   Only two humans are known to have ever gone into Vorlon space and returned. One is Lyta Alexander, Babylon 5's first commercial telepath and Sebastian, formerly known as Jack the Ripper, whom the Vorlons took from 19th century Earth in order to employ him as an Inquisitor. That sounds familiar.

   Vorlons represents Order  just like the Adepta Sororitas.

   Shadows represents Chaos just like the Kzinti Empire.

   Now do you see the cycle?    lol

oddly enough, i just finished watching the B5 series.

also, the shadows didn't stand for chaos, they stood for survival of the fittest; still a good comparison to the kzinti though.

   @ dystopic, you are 90% right and I am not saying you are wrong so never think that! The Drakh retained the advanced technology and aggressive Philosophy of the Shadows. With the destruction of Z'ha'dum, those beings (Drakh) that had faithfully served the Shadows down through the centuries found themselves homeless. Now these thralls (Drakh) sought to become masters of Chaos themselves. Thus, the legacy of the Shadows lived on.

   Unlike the Vorlon Planet Killer, which used a massive energy bolt to obliterate a planet, the Shadows took a much more conservative approach to destroying a planet. The rationale behind this was not one of efficiency, but rather the promotion of Chaos and strife — while the Vorlon method is swift and deadly, thus exhibiting their "punishment" of races who have become "disobedient" to them, the Shadows preferred to prolong the fear and panic brought on by their rather imposing weapon, sowing more and more Chaos with each passing minute. Also, by leaving the targeted world intact but defiled, the Shadows left testaments to their work for their enemies to see.

   So that makes me 10% right,  I just conected legacy with the two, Philosophy and Chaos.

   Philosophy of the Shadows is survival of the fittest and the Masters of Chaos so you are right and me too.

   Kzinti Empire is good example of that Philosophy, they are on top and they are Masters.

Silver, welcome back to the Empire!

B5 was definitely a great series, second on my list only to BSG.   Firefly probably would have been great also, but was too short-lived to really say.

Sentient species taste better...

Ugh, that does remind me.  I got jack and shat on tomroow night.  Dollhouse is about it.

Dushku + Whedon = got my attn for at least a season.

Greatgoogliemooglie! This works so well that I am in danger of wiping out all of the AIs before I can get Cultural Domination from anyone. I'm going to have to find some planet waaaayyyy off in the corner and fill it with the Korath loyaltymabobs. Even that may not be enough.

Could break out GC2 Loup.

Nice! You will be assimilated...

Sentient species taste better...

The funniest part, I think, is that that's not even my favorite strategy.

...why are you relying on the AI for tech?  Research it yourself. 

I can't find the reeducation center anywhere on the Korath tech tree. All they seem to get are the 10% loyalty structures. If I keep getting 20 planets flipping per turn, I'll win in 6. Crappy score, but fun! I think I can adjust my strategy next game to stretch things out. One Dark Influnce per planet is a little too much. Maybe one per star system, or a few here and there in strategic locations.

Oh, that's right.  My bad.  Haven't played much Korath...