Solver: Tell us about your current work, the next version of your guide.
Velociryx: Well....version 4 of the guide builds on the successes of the earlier version, and includes more of everything people have been asking for. Indexing and page referencing, expanded sections where warranted, and a few new sections to boot, especially where Eco-damage is concerned. After all the fine research Ned, Fitz, Blake and the others did on the subject, and after a few comments in that thread about the need for a new section in the guide, I found myself up late typing! Version 4 keeps the best elements of all of its forefathers, adds a healthy dose of new material, along with a total reorganization and a much cleaner, more professional format! The part I’m most excited about is that in less than a month now, I’ll be able to physically hold a bound version of it in my hands, rather than that cursed three-ring binder I have version three in!

Solver: Currently, what's the second game you play (aside from SMAC, of course)?
Velociryx: Well, if you look at my computer game library, you’d probably be surprised. Most people think I have hundreds, perhaps thousands of games in my collection, but actually I’ve got more board games than computer. In all, I’d say I have about a dozen computer games, all of them conquest or empire-building oriented. Right now though, the number two slot is occupied by Heroes of Might and Magic 3. A fantastic game with absolutely beautiful graphics! The resource management aspect isn’t as complex as I would like, but on the whole, it ranks right up there with SMAC (graphics and sound are better, storyline is on par with, while resource management and overall complexity are a good bit lower).

Solver: What do you think will be the most dramatic change in SMAC 2?
Velociryx: I doubt they’ll actually change much besides the graphics engine and maybe improve the AI. The game as it stands now is pretty complete, and if they want to keep the same basic storyline going, there’s probably not much more they can add. After a while, new techs and SP’s just don’t get the job done. I think that by and large, the folks who are playing the game are pretty happy with it 'as is' (minus a few lingering and annoying bugs!), but the most common complaints are with the graphics and scenario editor interface. If I was gonna bet on it, I’d say that’s where they’ll spend the bulk of their time and effort.

Solver: Have you played other Civ games (here I mean Civ I, II and CtP branch)?
Velociryx: Never played Call to Power. Not once. I lurked in the forums there for a while shortly after the game came out, and from what I could see, it was a game with a few innovative concepts, poorly executed. A week of lurking there, and I decided it just wasn’t something I wanted to spend time on.

Solver: Will you buy Civ 3?
Velociryx: I’ve purchased every single game with Sid’s name on it, and he’s never let me down yet. Put me on the list!

Solver: Can we hope to read a Civ 3 strategy guide from you someday?
Velociryx: I guess the short answer to that question would be...'you betcha.' I’ve learned a lot about putting a guide together over the four iterations of the SMAX guide, and had quite a bit of fun doing it. So much fun, in fact, that part of the reason I’m looking forward to Civ3’s release is so I can start writing essays on what works and what doesn’t....and when I have enough of those.....

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