Ground Combat

[Tampa_Gamer]

Sorry - Long

Now that that gold code is out (for demo purposes at least!), I am sure the design team (after a vacation) will start making a list of bugs to fix bugs, play balancing items and perhaps a few enhancements in the form of a patch. After surfing the various SE4 Boards, it appears that there is quite a bit of support out there in favor of enhancing ground combat (if feasable from a programming perspective). The following is an ideal I had posted awhile ago which might accomplish this while minimizing the amount of additional programming required.

- Use the current space combat grid/module for ground combat

- Terrain/background could be automatically generated based on type of planet (nothing fancy, just valid/invalid squares for terrain blocking, slower movement, etc.)

- Attacking player would choose what transports in fleet would deposit their troops/platforms to planet (similar to cargo transfer screen)

- Combat would proceed similar to space combat with ranges/to hits/moves all similar to space combat (this would open up a whole new set of components for troop propulsion, etc.) This would also allow longer range weapons to act as artillery, fast moving units as armor, etc. BUT would only require (I think) modifying the data files

- Of course the ground combat could become much more complicated with components to allow space bombardment from orbiting capital ships/fighters every XX turns (ala IG2), etc.

- This entire "combat subroutine" could be an alternative to the current one (so in the end game they could be quickly resolved) or their could be an option for "strategic resolution" similar to space combat

- In order to fit it into the current space combat model, all combat would have to be resolved in one turn

I think overall the expansion of ground combat would add a whole new dimension of strategy that IG2 tried to accomplish and MOO2 never did right. Using the existing space combat system and unit design/component data setup the amount of additional program would be minimized. *** If this is not feasible to due to time constraints of the program/design team - if there is enough interest perhaps MM would let a select group of interested people design the mod (including components, basic framework, play balance unit data, etc.) and then the program team could concentrate on implementing the additional "plug-in" of the ground combat based on the space combat engine. Support anyone?

Thanks,
Tampa_Gamer


[This message has been edited by Tampa_Gamer (edited 13 October 2000).]