Troops and Happiness question

[Kamog]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that the happiness benefit of troops on a planet is based only on the number of troops present. The game doesn't care what components are on the troops or what size they are. So the cheapest way to increase happiness on a planet is to use lots of small troops with no weapons or shields.

This just doesn't make sense to me. It would be better if large troops help improve the happiness more than having the same number of small troops. Is there a way to mod troops such that large troops improve the happiness more than small troops? I took a look at the data files and the answer seems to be no, but I'm not experienced at modding so I'm not sure. Do you know if it's possible? Thanks!

[Captain Kwok]

Unfortunately no.

The troop happiness setting is defined in the happiness.txt data file in each happiness type.

[Fyron]

One way you could look at it is that the small troops have greater numbers, so they can be in more places at once. More policing, more presence inspiring awe (or fear), etc. What's more effective as a police force, a few tanks or a few dozen infantry?

[Atrocities]

Men with guns running around the planet inforcing their will on the populaitons is not what I would consider "improving happiness." We all know from many reports that many of the planetary police forces are currpt bastards who prey on the unarmed citizans of the worlds they have been tasked with protecting. They take young women and have their way with them and get away with it because any one who tries to stop them gets beaten, shot, or sent to prison on some trumped up bogus criminal charge. They extort money from the populations as a "protection" fee, while doing nothing to curve the criminal elements that pleague our worlds.

Freedom of speech is a joke on most planets as we all know. The police, the very people who are paid to "serve and protect" are the only ones with guns so they serve and protect only those that can afford to pay their fees and all of the others are treated like slaves.

Just try and form a rebellion on one of these worlds and see what happens. You'll end up dead like most of the homeless children have. No, happiness given on the heal of oppression is not true happiness, its imposed acceptance that hope has died.

Death to the police! Power to the people!

[Randallw]

Your reply is strange Atrocities because, correct me if I'm wrong, a STmod game, at least an old version I am in, will cease to work if the ai puts unarmed troops on its planets

[TurinTurambar]

Imperator Fyron said:
One way you could look at it is that the small troops have greater numbers, so they can be in more places at once. More policing, more presence inspiring awe (or fear), etc. What's more effective as a police force, a few tanks or a few dozen infantry?

The way I've always seen it, Armed Troops equate to military, and those living next to a military base in this world don't necessarily feel anymore protected than anyone else. They DO however feel comfortable with the knowledge that their sovreignty is protected by a large military force, hence population happiness with a fleet in orbit or nearby in the system.
Unarmed troops would equate to a police force; not heavily armed, but there to ensure order. People feel better about their neighborhoods when they know they have a good police force watching out for things.

Just my $0.02
TT

[Wenin]

Let's all remember that these people that are becoming happy with military presence are living in a universe where there are aggresive races out there looking to wipe their planet clean of all traces of their life.

So with that thought, I think Weapon Platforms should provide happiness. =)

[TurinTurambar]

I concur with that thought. That being said, I've never successfully defended a planet with WP's alone.

[Alneyan]

TurinTurambar said:
I concur with that thought. That being said, I've never successfully defended a planet with WP's alone.

Heh, weapon platforms can get the job done against a lone raider, particularly missile boats. If nothing else, the platform does protect the inhabitants, and partial damage can save the day.

Then again, an utterly unprotected homeworld of mine did survive an attack (led by four warships), without even losing one facility. Well, that must mean my people are the Chosen Ones, or some such... and I'm at least a divinity or a similar being of great power, since I lead the most exalted Empire in the whole universe. That doesn't sound too bad.

[PvK]

War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength