One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

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1772 days, 19 hours, 28 minutes ago

orymus en za'er

One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't touched yet is the actual ship components, or in other words, providing players with new options.
Sure, the Fascists have their faster beams options, but we're lacking a lot of "crazy" in that department. Maybe each faction could unlock a unique weapon that they can outfit their ships with?
I'm not merely talking about a different or better dmg/cost option here, but an actual weapon.

Ideas, off the top of my head (most of which are probably bad):

Borg - Disassembling Beam: Deals less damage vs shields, but it doubles the amount of minerals gained after an encounter with a ship it has destroyed.

Fascists - Fast sweeper: a weapon with the strength of a laser, but twice the firing rate (coupled with the 2X beam speed, that would be a carrier-killer). Of course, these beams would be very expensive, and highly specialized (pretty useless against torp ships for example). Could be extended to all races even.

Fed - ? Torp: Whenever it hits a shield-less carrier, it can destroy x ships in its cargo. Very useful against long lasting carrier fights and allows you to quickly reduce their numbers without actually dealing with the threat of those already out.

I'm sure more expert players would have better ideas as to which components could be added, but given we already have a bunch of great extra ship options and a few kickass abilities, I think it's time to revisit weapons altogether and add a few more.

1772 days, 18 hours, 40 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

like empires destroy planet? or lizards chameleon? or birds cloakable extra fighter bays carrier??

1772 days, 18 hours, 39 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

i would say having a t rex that shows up as a medium freighter, or being able to wipe a *#&@ing planet off the map, destroying your entire economy in the process, is plenty "crazy"

1772 days, 18 hours, 26 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

One component I think should be looked at is w/Cloakers.

This would especially apply for Birds. I believe that when a cloaked Warship engages another ship in combat it should get a free round of Torps launched at enemy and if they survive it the battle then proceeds as normal but with either shields reduced or Damage applied.

1772 days, 18 hours, 25 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

Obviously if they were de-cloaked say mine hit or Loki then this wouldn't apply.

1772 days, 18 hours, 14 minutes ago

orymus en za'er

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

Mechno: I did not say the new ships are not crazy: they are!
I am just suggesting the actual weapons could introduce more subtle nuances to a system that is somewhat straightforward: gamma mk4, mk7, and mk8 are the only usable torps.
Mk4 and mk7 are the same bit at different powers and cost, mk8 is more expensive but required by some situations.
Gamma is the only one that tries to do differently. It would not hurt to have a few beams/torps behave differently in combat.
As was done with the extra ships, maybe upgrade unused weapon slots with some extras?

Damrin, I think vga planets 4 did just that. However I was mostly suggesting existing design space that could be leveragedto build upon the campaign mode and keep it fresh.

1771 days, 17 hours, 54 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

Mark 1's have a use also, cheap way to waste resources (scorched Earth tactic).

1771 days, 17 hours, 12 minutes ago

rensha

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

I think the races, once you have the research done, have a great amount of flavor. I suppose even without campaign they have flavor.

My only issue with the race designs in campaign are that some additions don't fit the race entirely. Like the bird carrier adding bays, Privateers it makes sense due to their lack of overarching military SOPs. They may steal a battleship today and a carrier tomorrow so their fleet makeup is so variable that their fleet should be like a swiss army knife, it won't take out the enemy but it'll fix whatever your gonna use to do so.

If you look at the EE for example, they didn't get an upgrade for minelaying. That fits their "flavor". But there are a few options that, I think, detract from the particular flavor of a race.

1771 days, 10 hours, 47 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

"Sure, the Fascists have their faster beams options, but we're lacking a lot of "crazy" in that department. "

Posh! The Fascists are a wild and crazy bunch. In one game I just destroyed 10 Fed ships (including 5 Novas) with 7 Nefs (for a crazy 57 pbp's). In another game I just destroyed a LDSF, Instrumentality, 2 Automas, and 2 Golems with 4 Nefs and a Gorbie (and my Gorbie wasn't damaged) (for a crazy 40 pbp's). You just need to get 10-20 cloakers, mine layers, carriers, and glory ships to make the exact right moves for three turns in a row, anticipating every option of your opponent. It doesn't get any crazier than that.

If your inner wild, crazy man isn't released by playing the Fascist, then either your inner wild, crazy man is dead or you don't know how to play VGA Planets.

And, I don't even have saber shield Generator or recloaking Deth Specula, yet. Then, the fascists will be truly insane!

Go wild! Go crazy! Play the Fascists! Never give up! Never surrender! Death to the enemy!!!

1771 days, 9 hours, 17 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

Yeah, getting hit by those was NOT fun! Facists look like a fun race to play....becoming more annoying than the Rebels to play against!

1771 days, 7 hours, 0 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

Orymus is talking about a more powerful gamma bomb (we are all aware that they very rarely are useful except taking small ships), or a even more powerful torp than mark 8. The idea he is putting forth is maybe some of these abilities put into the weapon itself, not the ship. A beam weapon that can tantrum (push) the other ship out of combat after one pass of their weapons. That kind of thing, maybe? It could be interesting, where would it go, another game type or campaign? Can we afford to push joshua into another project, we don't want to tire the man out, he has kids and a life too.

MJS and corsair, I have been looking at the fascist list recently too. They have a lot of good options that no one else has. I don't think the PBP battle going against them with the production queue that they loose much. You only loose the PBP battle if you loose ships, and the fascist list has a lot of ways to stop you loosing ships. So maybe you can't stack nef's and wipe out the opponents fleet in one mighty explosion without taking a PBP hit, booho (in MJS's example though 57 PBP's does not sound like a PBP hit to me though). You might have to use some of their other options to get the job done.

1769 days, 13 hours, 17 minutes ago

orymus en za'er

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

First off, apologies for using the term 'crazy'. This was clearly misleading.
I did not intend to mention that factions required more or less power, but rather, that choosing weapons would be a much more engaging process if there was another axis than DPS and ship capture.

Rod, though a more powerful gamma bomb could help along the capture axis, I feel like the game is doing fine in that department. I am ok with the fact smaller crafts can be captured, and it is near impossible to claim a Gorbie through crew damage alone (quite understandably).
Having something more powerful than mk8 would serve only 1 purpose: make these ships a threat to carriers. I don't believe that is the endgame here either.

My feeling is that altering the current weapon system would be one of the smallest modifications that can be done from a technical standpoint, and could very much increase fun, without the need for new artwork or complex mechanics, but I could be wrong.

Let's have a look at the unused mechanics at work in VCR for example...
- Currently, ships advance at a static pace, perhaps something that affects distance?
- Fire rate is always interesting. Moreso on beams
- Firing range is largely unused. Fighters are launched first, then torpedoes are fired, than beams come in range. What if a torp was stronger, but at beam's range, or a beam had the range of a torpedo (making it particularly useful against fighters?)

Etc.

1769 days, 10 hours, 7 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

"My feeling is that altering the current weapon system would be one of the smallest modifications that can be done from a technical standpoint, and could very much increase fun, without the need for new artwork or complex mechanics, but I could be wrong."

One area to expand the game with minimal programming change would be to use the current Tech system (Hull, Engine, Beam, Torpedo). Both an advantage and limitation should be introduced. Need to use current game parameters. (Easier programming)

Hulls: Already used to determine slots for the new hulls occasionally introduced.

Beams: I already use most of these, So, these should be left alone.

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Engines (I currently use Tech 1, 6, 7, 10 Drives):
(Limitation on special Drives: They cannot be overdriven.)

(Tech 1, warp 1, Stardrive 1) - Already has a special abililty - it can travel through a warp well without being pulled to planet. Leave alone.

(Tech 2, warp 2, Stardrive 2) - AKA: Advanced Stardrive - it can travel through a warp well without being pulled to planet. It cannot be overdriven.

(Tech 3, warp 3, Stardrive 3) - AKA: Asteroid Drive - Any ship with this engine can move through Debris Disks without fear of hitting an asteroid. Cannot be overdriven.

(Tech 4, warp 4, SuperStarDrive 4) - Leave alone.

(Tech 5, warp 5, Nova Drive 5) - AKA: Evader Drive - If it is not towing anything and not on Intercept mission, it moves in a new move phase after Intercept Movement Phase. Cannot be overdriven.

Other ideas?

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Torpedoes (I currently use Mk1, Mk4, Mk7, Mk8):
(Mine production would not change)

Mark 6 Photon: (AKA: Speedy Gonzales Torpedoes) Tech and cost of Mk 6, but damage as Mark 4, but fires at Distance = 40,000 (instead of Distance = 30,000).

Mark 5 Photon: (AKA: Fat Boy Torpedoes) Tech and cost of Mk 5, but damage of Mk7, but fires at Distance = 20,000).

Other ideas?

1768 days, 12 hours, 18 minutes ago

orymus en za'er

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

These would be interesting torps to deal with. Ranged especially, which would mean a volley would come in contact with the opponent BEFORE the first fighter sweep.
On decent mass torp ships, this could prove quite devastating against carriers. The limited damage would mean it would be used mostly on cheap ships. Vendetta Class Frigate comes to mind? Maybe a Vendetta, Vendetta, Vendetta combo could get some of the carriers down or severely injured, all the while beams kill a few fighters.
Could be very strong on something like a Thor.

In torp vs torp combats, could also play a bit role against smaller vessel as it would effectively disable smaller ships before their first volley, preventing a lot of unnecessary damage (assuming mk8 for example).

mk5 would be, essentially, a very cheap mk7 but I am assuming it wouldn't see much play: carriers will defeat the ship before it fires, reducing the amount of volleys drastically. Likewise, against other torp ships, it would require a very big mass to make sense. Could work for the Cube?
I would recommend keeping the mk7 torp-to-mine conversion alone? sort of a dedicated minelaying torp

As for the engines, I don't see it. The only one I would consider using would be nova drive, as it could possibly allow me to move an eros out of harm's way repeatedly.

1767 days, 5 hours, 20 minutes ago

RE: One area of the game that I feel the campaign mode hasn't...

All kinds of Classic Add-ons did crazy stuff... Starbase+ and Raceplus+ have a few reincarnations already in Nu Campaign mode.

Check out the Add-on docs at:
http://www.circus-maximus.com/