Are you getting it yet?
I introduce to you BrikWars: Spring. An RTS based on the LEGO (though we can't say that) universe, complete with wacky, zany, and ABSURDLY violent action. Think "LEGO Star Wars" in RTS form, and multiple universe/themes.
Rule set
Rules for damage, movement, etc, will largely be taken from the official Brikwars 2005 rulebook. Being that it is also "Open Source", and - by its own admission - "Open for fudging", there's no problem in taking these rules and deploying them into the Spring engine. Again, as long as LEGO isn't mentioned, we're fine. We can use their themes, however.
Resource system
Spring allows for two resources to be harvested at a time. I find this beneficial to Brikwars, as there's two types of brik available - regular briks, and "uniques". Uniques include minifigs, weapons, lasers, effects... pretty much anything that's not cubic in nature. So, we'll harvest both from the environment.
We will ALSO harvest from the DEAD :ninja:. Consider the destruction of a unit or minifig. Again, Spring makes this easy, as there's already a necro unit that raises the dead. However, let's bring it one step further. Let's have the option to raise the dead, OR harvest their resources to add back to your resource pool. Of course, to do this, there'd have to be gratuitious amounts of bricks laying around. Imagine artillery barraging a tank column (using brik-based artillery, of course), and then sending in "engineer/necro" units to harvest the THOUSANDS of stray briks lying about. Picture pieces of brik flying off units (Maybe not physically, but just pieces "Appearing" when the unit is hit - engine depending), so even in retreat, the necro units can harvest the bounty.
What will this do? Well, what'll happen when we crank down the output of resources from resource points? It's an all-out slugfest of massive proportions. Let's just say that the massive units cannot be built in a reasonable amount of time without incredible devastation and massive battles.
Design
Come on, is it really that hard? Units can easily have entire sections of brik be able to change color with side. Units can be either adapted directly from LEGO sets, or created from scratch. However, I propose the following two initial teams:
The Pirates, Vikings and Knights
These guys need no introduction. However, I propose that each "piece" of the faction have a specific role. Knights get land, Vikings get sea, Pirates get air. Superweapons include Viking battleship, Pirate Super Airship (think Super Mario Bros 3), and the Knight Trojan Horse (or something similarly massive). No remote superweapons.
LEGO Space
Specifically, M-Tron (Air), Blacktron (Amphib/Sea specialized) and Roboforce (Land). Lego Space's superweapons are long-range, and heavy on defense. Orbital Laser comes to mind... maybe an aircraft carrier type unit as a heavy, and lots and lots of laser defenses.
Future sets are obviously an option, and I can't imagine it'd be hard. Maybe a LucasFilm faction... or even some zany and wacky factions (C&C Faction, anyone? Who DOESN'T want to see a Lego Kane?)
Environments
I was thinking of 3DO's Army Men when considering the environments. Obviously we NEED to have environments specific to the factions. LEGO Space gets lunar environments, PVK gets icy or otherwise natural spots. BUT. I want to see some "real-world" stuff. Massive battles on school desks, bedroom floors, -------, arcades, Tupperware parties, etc. Just absolute absurdity. Imagine the potential for random events.
Development
In a lot of ways, the work will be in modelling/mapmaking. Different minifigs are easy - they're just color swaps with VERY simple textures. Each brik for the units are SOLID COLORS. Just inches away from being cel shaded. It's the modelling that'll be tricky. But, again, once the real-life construction is built and pictures taken from all angles, the modeling should fall into place. I can't see how much of anything here requires INSANE amounts of work. Just some coding (completely written in C++) to add features in, then it's just units units units. Hell, we could use already made maps and just make units as proof-of-concept.
Again, interest check. Let me know what you think... maybe some input. I'll see if I can get some example pictures of actual LEGO constructions so you can get a feel of the look.
