Some Map Objects

posted on March 8th, 2010, 12:38 am

I know that Optec has very kindly shared that there will be more map objects in the future, but since he is so sneaky I am FORCED to once again share my own ideas .  Prepare thyself!

   
  Gravitational Well

Idea by Dominus_Noctis, fleshed out by Boggz.

  The idea here is to have a map object (stationary or mobile) that creates a 600 unit in diameter circle that slows units down by a certain amount.  Now I haven't modded A2 much at all, but given what I recall from A1 and also for other game editors such as the Warcraft III editor, many abilities and map objects are given their effects by "dummy" units that are invisible, invulnerable, and non-targetable.  That way they can have their affect on the game without anyone knowing that there is a "unit" there causing the effect.  To do so it would need to be:

• Invisible
• Invulnerable
• Non-Targetable

  It would also need to have an "aura'-like ability that causes the slowing effect.  I don't know if an ability template like that exists currently, but with abilities like the Remoore's ECM and the C-11's ... whatever it's called, it's clear that AoE adjustments to certain factors can be made.  Even if this map object needed to have an ability like ECM or the C-11 that was constantly going, it wouldn't be too hard on a machine because it would have an invisible effect.

   
   Dom and I will continue talking, but I'd like to throw this out there and see what Optec and Doca think about it.  Lots more people have become interested in map-making lately and we're starting to push the boundaries of what is possible.  We know NPC's will come later and stuff like that will be a grat addition, but there are some other things we'd hoped to experiment with beyond the current "tangible" map doodads like Moons, Nebulae, and Blocking Triggers.

posted on March 8th, 2010, 12:58 am

that would be cool

posted on March 30th, 2010, 11:57 pm

hmm a black hole????

posted on March 31st, 2010, 1:06 am

To add on to this original idea:



  While making "Badlands Encounter", I felt the need to have a "spaceway" through the center that was uninhibited by moons, asteroids, or nebulae.  The idea was that most of the resources were scattered away from the bases, the bases themselves would be relatively safe from attack.  Honestly I wanted to counteract that with a free and easy passage directly between the bases.

  Thus, I began thinking about he idea of a "Spaceway" that the Devs might be able to create.  This could be as easy as an invisible Nebulae with no avoidance registry (so it won't impede pathing) and no visible animation.  However, once a ship enters a patch of it, it's movement speed would be increased by a certain percentage or amount.  This way a ship could follow the line of the spaceway and progress faster towards (in this case the opposing base) their destination.


    First I'd like to know if this is possible from the Devs.  I don't know if speed alterations is part of the game mechanics or not.

posted on March 31st, 2010, 2:48 am

you mean like the jetstream???

posted on March 31st, 2010, 3:35 am

well, like the slipstream from bajor to cardasia from DS9... that's actually an interesting idea.. and the smaller the ship, the bigger the speed increase

posted on March 31st, 2010, 1:20 pm

engine overload near black hole...  ah that brings back some memories 

posted on March 31st, 2010, 2:39 pm

I'm not too fond of the idea that a gravity well slows ships down. There is no reason for them todo so. For simply slowng down ships there could be any kind of dustfields or gasous compound.

A gravity well that tears things into one direction would be nice, reducing speeds away from it and accelerating things moving towards it. To use it tactically these things should be quite large.

posted on March 31st, 2010, 4:55 pm

The main thing I want is the ability to path movement so that the map could be constantly changing.

I'd love to have a black hole but it'd have to BE a black hole; not some silly blue swirly thing.

I'd like it if Star had an effect on ship; i.e. Ships sustain increasing levels of damage, the closer they get, unless it's equipped with a Metaphasic Shield.

Aside from that, a few more variations of existing objects would be nice. The stock asteroids, planets, stars and Nebulae get boring after a while.

posted on April 1st, 2010, 10:00 am

Path movement would be really great, indeed.

We had long discussions on how a black hole should look like and work, search the forums and you should find endless descriptions about our wishes. 

posted on April 1st, 2010, 11:03 am

yep, there will be more (and more creative) map objects in the future, including interactive stuff like mercenaries and the like. Expect it somewhere after 3.1.2

posted on April 1st, 2010, 1:12 pm

Is a Gravitational Well needed? Stock A2 used them to provide a counter to Warp, which no longer needs to be countered for obvious reasons.

posted on April 1st, 2010, 4:23 pm

yep, there will be more (and more creative) map objects in the future, including interactive stuff like mercenaries and the like. Expect it somewhere after 3.1.2

  Thank you for the update!

  For me it's like blowing the steam off of a pot of pasta that's overflowing .

posted on April 1st, 2010, 4:31 pm

those black holes were fun. i wish fleetops could have a block hole for two reasons:

1) lose your engines and die!!!! the sovvie's special would be so powerful imagine using it on a bunch of kvorts.

2) all other ships would slow down due to the gravity

3 (maybe)) a wild idea would have black holes cause time anomalies, where being near one makes time go slower for u. the ability to stop time is available from the premonition's special, could it be adapted to merely slow time down. an easy way would be to make the black hole occasionaly use the premonition's special to stop everything nearby.

posted on April 1st, 2010, 4:34 pm

Space Currents would be an interesting addition. it has been proven with things like solar winds... but unless im mistaken only ships with solar sails can take advantage?...

In any event im for new additions to the movement mechanic. In addition maybe an 'Asteroid' breaker. which would eventually allow you to tunnel through a field and maybe circumvent some bottle necks... just some thoughts