Platforms: Paradigm Shift

posted on October 29th, 2012, 8:25 pm

I like. Are there plans to have other Platform profile units such as smaller structures that lead to buffs for stations or ships in their area of effect? I just imagine a bunch of turrets that cause Romulan structures to cause distortions in enemy ships sensor readings which lead to a decreasing hit chance for all enemy ships under effect. Stuff like that.

posted on October 29th, 2012, 8:48 pm

I like. Are there plans to have other Platform profile units such as smaller structures that lead to buffs for stations or ships in their area of effect? I just imagine a bunch of turrets that cause Romulan structures to cause distortions in enemy ships sensor readings which lead to a decreasing hit chance for all enemy ships under effect. Stuff like that.

I'm not sure I understand the question exactly, but there will indeed be Platforms that provide buffs in addition to ships providing effects for Platforms . We'll cover a few of those for the Federation next week. Each faction will behave differently here, and we will include some cross-factional synergies here as well.

Thank you for answering my questions. My counter-responses are:

1) I'm glad the costs are the same. I expect you've had a fair amount of feedback on the Rigel explaining that 60 supply was way too much for a pulse platform, and the balance of instant build + long recharge vs 20 second build and no recharge seems reasonable.

2) This is a good change, which more than anything will enable the posited offensive use of platforms. Thank you.

3) My assertion is based on the information that the Federation's "snipe" abilities (proximity torpedo and tricobalt torpedo) are going away. These abilities currently give Feds enough early-game "bite" to be able to raid effectively or to exact a punishment on raiders. Without that bite it looks to me like the pre-Eraudi Fed game will be more defensive, especially against cloakers.

One more question: are the Newton's upgrades being made cheaper in terms of Supply cost? 'Cos if it's still going to cost 54 supply to get the ship and the second (Industrial Replicators) upgrade, Fed players are going to continue to baulk at it.

1. Our changes here are separate of 326 functionality for a variety of reasons. 326 Federation is not heavily reliant on supply, and the cost of 60 supply in terms of dilithium and tritanium was a bargain to boot. We didn't like the behavior of the mechanic, however, and it did not fit our metagame ideas for version 4 .

3. Each faction is completely changed and we definitely want players to expect to play differently in each match up and with each faction . Simplistically, if you want to play with Romulans for instance, you'll have to deal with micromagement intensive and specialized raiding units. If you want to play with Federation you'll have to deal with teching appropriately and building synergistic battle groups. 326 Feds and Romulans do not play the same as version 4: map control is not based on a handful of sniping Proxy Monsoons or Leahvals, but requires you to use Minefields, Platforms, and many diverse units to decide playstyle .

4. The Newton has always been a contentious unit: some players like it, others do not based on the chosen strategy. The unit and its upgrades have different functionality and requirements than in 326 .

posted on October 29th, 2012, 9:26 pm

Really looking forward to version 4. :-) . There is one thing about the AI which bugged me with fed platforms. The AI build pulse/phaser/torpedo platforms straight of, no base then upgrade. Will this be changed in version 4 so that the AI has to follow the proper build rules? P.S. Again to all those who have made this possible. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

posted on October 29th, 2012, 9:45 pm

Cool stuff cant wait!

Also yeah Steamrunner!

posted on October 29th, 2012, 10:30 pm

Question: According to the article, turrets will target a new ship with each shot. How is this achieved, and is it possible in bog-standard normal A2? I'd really like to implement this in KA2 on my ships to prevent the "every ship in a fleet gangs up on one lone ship" situation you currently get with "fleet" combat. Each ship choosing it's own target and being forced to retarget regularly will actually make fleet battles, well, fleet battles.

posted on October 29th, 2012, 10:42 pm

1. Our changes here are separate of 326 functionality for a variety of reasons. 326 Federation is not heavily reliant on supply, and the cost of 60 supply in terms of dilithium and tritanium was a bargain to boot. We didn't like the behavior of the mechanic, however, and it did not fit our metagame ideas for version 4 .

3. Each faction is completely changed and we definitely want players to expect to play differently in each match up and with each faction . Simplistically, if you want to play with Romulans for instance, you'll have to deal with micromagement intensive and specialized raiding units. If you want to play with Federation you'll have to deal with teching appropriately and building synergistic battle groups. 326 Feds and Romulans do not play the same as version 4: map control is not based on a handful of sniping Proxy Monsoons or Leahvals, but requires you to use Minefields, Platforms, and many diverse units to decide playstyle .

4. The Newton has always been a contentious unit: some players like it, others do not based on the chosen strategy. The unit and its upgrades have different functionality and requirements than in 326 .

I do disagree with some of your assertions, but to explain what the disagreements are and the reasons behind them would take this thread seriously off-topic.

Thanks for the news post, and taking the time to answer my questions.

Question: According to the article, turrets will target a new ship with each shot. How is this achieved, and is it possible in bog-standard normal A2? I'd really like to implement this in KA2 on my ships to prevent the "every ship in a fleet gangs up on one lone ship" situation you currently get with "fleet" combat. Each ship choosing it's own target and being forced to retarget regularly will actually make fleet battles, well, fleet battles.

My guess is that whatever targeting mechanism that is currently used by Fed torpedo platforms will be added to the pulse and phaser platforms. How that works, I don't know as I am not sufficiently knowledgeable in those mechanisms.

posted on October 29th, 2012, 10:47 pm

Ah, so that same mechanism is currently used for torpedo platforms? I shall investigate!

posted on October 29th, 2012, 10:51 pm

Ah, so that same mechanism is currently used for torpedo platforms? I shall investigate!

Yeah, Fed torpedo platforms currently choose different targets per shot. I expect that it's to balance the large damage-per-shot they inflict.

posted on October 29th, 2012, 10:59 pm

Interesting comment about "assimilating the map".... hinting at a borg territories are we?Everything else seems great so far.

posted on October 29th, 2012, 11:01 pm

Anyone else notice that oddly dark pulse platform in the first image. All you can really see is the red glowy parts.How the hell do you modify posts btw?

posted on October 29th, 2012, 11:05 pm

Ah it seems the targetloop = 1 code is exclusive to FleetOps. Guess it's time to give converting my mod to FleetOps another go then... wish me luck!

posted on October 29th, 2012, 11:49 pm

How the hell do you modify posts btw?

if you look to the top right of your post, you will see a little blue arrow in a little box, hover your cursor over it it will show you 3/4 choices to select

"edit post" being the top choice

posted on October 29th, 2012, 11:53 pm

How the hell do you modify posts btw?

if you look to the top right of your post, you will see a little blue arrow in a little box, hover your cursor over it it will show you 3/4 choices to select

"edit post" being the top choice

Ok, that wasnt there before, infact the board looked different... all the users were outlined in white, there were no green for donators or blue for regular posters. possible board glitch?

posted on October 30th, 2012, 12:00 am

@Njm1983
If the forum "bug" occurs for you again, try to make a screenshot. Never happened to me at least.

Anyways, which screenshot do you mean?
//www.fleetops.net/images/Gallery/ ... ssment.png
this one?
I can clearly see everything

posted on October 30th, 2012, 12:06 am

possible board glitch?

id assume that would be it yeah

Interesting comment about "assimilating the map".... hinting at a borg territories are we?Everything else seems great so far.

it would be good to see them take on a role more like on the shows. perhaps successful assimilated ships have to be collected for improvements as a research equivalent?