Spring RTS Engine

Thanks smoth, interesting read.

Another lesson to be taken here is, that big and powerfull -gameending weapons dont make for interesting games. So even if they are in it it.. they destroy the actuall game.

Blizzard didnt nerf nukes and motherships down till they wear barely recogniseable..

I 100% agree man, big game ending weapons suck

There isn't much that can counter the game-ending weapons of PA. You have the annihilaser, but building the tools required to destroy them costs more resources than the large contraptions being made.

Lets not start about Bomber Sniping. Just build enough bombers and no amount of AA will help your ACU...

I see "game ender weapons" as more of a "you've basically already won, here's a gratifying way to rub it in your opponent's face"... it's like a tech victory in Civ games.

^ super weapons.

I agree with SinbadEV, super weapon can be a gratifying way to end the game when you've reached greater economic superiority but the front stagnates. I don't think they necessarly need hard counters, the counter usually is: for the same price you could have a massive armies of small units to destroy it while 99% built.

However, of course, super weapons shouldn't be the only way to win a game. Just an option amongst many.

I played very little Planetary Annihilation, but from what I got, the problem isn't that it has superweapons; the problem is that there are no other effective way to attack another planet where the enemies is well installed: Interplanetary transports are like Atlas, frail and only drop one unit at a time, and stargates must be constructed on enemy soil while under fire. So both fall easily to the other planet defense.

.. and now im not a professional - but could that not have been easily avoided?

Constructable stargates in orbit, which you drop on the enemy planet for a instant invasion, that can go both ways?

I think, they got actually carried away when brainstorming for the kickstart, and out of fear, not deviated from that "gamedesign" they promised. Ironically, this fear, is going to break there backs.

smoth wrote:I 100% agree man, big game ending weapons suck

This is one of the reasons why evo's endgame big stuff no longer is definitely game ending. It's definitely had a positive effect overall.

About the benefit of the finished PA; cant it be used to make a nice TA/BA/*A mod?

+1 smooth -> again this forum needs an upvote system

klapmongool wrote:About the benefit of the finished PA; cant it be used to make a nice TA/BA/*A mod?

Engine discussion?

Even if they implemented all the features they promised, nothing below is planned or discussed:
1- no faction diversity
2- no planned custom map editor
3- no plateus
4- random metal placement
5- custom formations like in spring was in but removed -> weird design decision
6- lobby isnt designed to work with mods, as they are filtered out unless you choose not to filter them.
7- no ingame chat functionality
8- random start positions

modding is supported and you can add your own 3d models and rebalance the whole game, but the work you would spend in doing so, you might as well make your own spring game and even have more people play it than in PA.

PA has a lot of balance mods except nobady plays them, theres something called server mods that you dont need a mod manager to download them, but in all honesty its not worth it. In the end the devs want you to play the main game not some modification of it.

I would even say forged alliance forever is a friendlier environment for modding than PA is.

scifi wrote:+1 smooth -> again this forum needs an upvote system

klapmongool wrote:About the benefit of the finished PA; cant it be used to make a nice TA/BA/*A mod?

Engine discussion?

Even if they implemented all the features they promised, nothing below is planned or discussed:
1- no faction diversity
2- no planned custom map editor
3- no plateus
4- random metal placement
5- custom formations like in spring was in but removed -> weird design decision
6- lobby isnt designed to work with mods, as they are filtered out unless you choose not to filter them.
7- no ingame chat functionality
8- random start positions

modding is supported and you can add your own 3d models and rebalance the whole game, but the work you would spend in doing so, you might as well make your own spring game and even have more people play it than in PA.

PA has a lot of balance mods except nobady plays them, theres something called server mods that you dont need a mod manager to download them, but in all honesty its not worth it. In the end the devs want you to play the main game not some modification of it.

I would even say forged alliance forever is a friendlier environment for modding than PA is.

Too bad I kinda assumed, wrongly I realise now, that it would be fairly easy to mod. Also assumed that they wouldn't stop developing so fast. Ah well, lesson learned for 60 dollars. Education is hardly ever so cheap.

The question is - actually does this engine need a MetaEngine on Top for MetaGames. Something that displays GalaxyMaps and Units ont he move on larger maps, can handle the engine internal formats and lua-calls + seemless switching between engine and meta-engine- and one beeing lightwight, while the other is around.

Go on that, not the "Spring needs a rew-right discss-thing"

The question is - actually does this engine need a MetaEngine on Top for MetaGames.

Maybe im not sure, but a more interactive planet wars could do wonders.

Btw a lot of people that play PA know spring, some of them were excited when i talked about BA getting a graphical overall. That seamed to be at least their biggest gripe about not playing spring, graphics and performance.

Ofc everyone has their own personal reasons. I just thinked i should throw this out there

Also the maker of stratera for PA also knows spring and BA. I would even say they play both but thats a statement i wont back.

scifi wrote: 1- no faction diversity

I'm pretty sure that they told us there are to be no faction diversity when they started their kick-starter.

If there is only 1 faction, then why are they fighting?

To avoid the cost of balancing two diffrent factions..

its a war for tax reasons

"cost of balancing" is overrated

Super Mario wrote:

scifi wrote: 1- no faction diversity

I'm pretty sure that they told us there are to be no faction diversity when they started their kick-starter.

I know that.

Context? i was talking to klapmongool when asked if BA on PA could be possible.

The fact you cannot mod different factions, is one of such features that a BA using the PA engine would require.

Jools wrote:If there is only 1 faction, then why are they fighting?

If i remenber correctly. The lore is based around Commanders rather than factions, its the idea that the only thing left alive are the commanders themselves.

I dont dislike this kind of lore, actualy i would love them to expand it and make each commander unique in play style but thats never gonna happen.

So they search for company... across the stars..

sweaty armys rubbing against each other...
nukes reentering amtospheres
planets penetrating planets..

Oh baby! This is planetary porn..

Update: Uber has shut down Human Resources kickstarter.