Knuckle Cracker

Creeper World 2 => Suggestions => Topic started by: MaHoTex on May 21, 2011, 04:06:37 PM

Title: Terraform
Post by: MaHoTex on May 21, 2011, 04:06:37 PM
Being able to add ground/dirt would be an excellent feature.  If not that, then allow the ability to build items on a shield. 
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: MadMag on May 21, 2011, 04:22:19 PM
build items on a shield will totally destroy the game..  same answer to the first suggestion.

What could be fun about this suggestion is to make it aviable in the map editor, so you have to build terrain to complete the map.. (if this was what you ment, im sorry)
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 21, 2011, 04:43:40 PM
I suggested the same thing before: make building on shields optional in the map editor. This way it won't ruin existing maps, but it will create very nice possibilities for custom maps.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Scoutzknifez on May 21, 2011, 05:14:09 PM
He means in the game not in editor.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: MadMag on May 21, 2011, 05:25:18 PM
Well, then.. forget it :)
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: MaHoTex on May 21, 2011, 06:13:22 PM
Maybe creating dirt/ground is not the way to go, but allowing reactors on shields would be good.  Shields can still be destroyed by creeper/drones so it does not mess up balance.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 21, 2011, 07:23:45 PM
Quote from: MadMag on May 21, 2011, 05:25:18 PM
Well, then.. forget it :)

Ehm, maybe stop posting when drunk? :P
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Scoutzknifez on May 21, 2011, 07:24:53 PM
I like this idea!
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: MadMag on May 21, 2011, 07:40:13 PM
"He means in the game not in editor. "

If it was not ment to the editor, then I stay with the comment I did..

"Well then forget it"

"stop posting when you are drunk"

Well, then forget it:  was ment to say: Forget it, it will never happen in the game as is.

Has nothing to do with me drinking, it will never happen in the game as is.

Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 21, 2011, 07:43:22 PM
When it's an option in the editor, it will naturally happen in the game; just not for the 30 in-game maps, which is fine of course.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: pixlepix on May 21, 2011, 09:36:04 PM
No.
Would mess everything up.
#1: Make a stalemate with the creeper ridiculously easy
#2 Would destroy limits on energy and the building of power plants within the ground.
That said, I could see a few uses for custom maps. And, It should be quick to implement.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Fisherck on May 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM
I say thumbs down. Part of the fun and challenge in the game is to know when to and when not to remove a piece of terrain.

It could be an option in the editor, but then we back to the overcomplicated editor, and it just gets messy...
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Lioncourt on May 22, 2011, 02:00:21 AM
Just a quick thought... Make a "flying" platform, that needs power to stay airborn, you can build on it, but if the power reaches 0, it will drop and destroy all in its path till it hits dirt?  :)
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Echo51 on May 22, 2011, 02:15:47 AM
If you made it require as much power as the reactors you could build on it produced when fully upgraded, then yes ;)
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 06:23:45 AM
Quote from: Fisherck on May 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM
Part of the fun and challenge in the game is to know when to and when not to remove a piece of terrain.

Of course it would only apply to maps of which their own author has enabled this option.

Apart from that keep in mind that these reactors would now cost 100% more (5 for the reactor and 5 for the shield), so that's an expensive trade-off. In combination with the optional build limit I can see very interesting maps being designed with this feature, especially because shields will remain vulnerable to the creeper.

Quote from: Fisherck on May 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM
It could be an option in the editor, but then we back to the overcomplicated editor, and it just gets messy...

Just 1 checkbox: allow building on shields yes/no (default = no).
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Lioncourt on May 22, 2011, 07:47:46 AM
Or, instead of a dirt maker, you can have a dirt mover.  Move a chunk from one spot to place in another maybe?
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: mthw2vc on May 22, 2011, 08:23:34 AM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 06:23:45 AM
Quote from: Fisherck on May 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM
Part of the fun and challenge in the game is to know when to and when not to remove a piece of terrain.

Of course it would only apply to maps of which their own author has enabled this option.

Apart from that keep in mind that these reactors would now cost 100% more (5 for the reactor and 5 for the shield), so that's an expensive trade-off. In combination with the optional build limit I can see very interesting maps being designed with this feature, especially because shields will remain vulnerable to the creeper.

Quote from: Fisherck on May 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM
It could be an option in the editor, but then we back to the overcomplicated editor, and it just gets messy...

Just 1 checkbox: allow building on shields yes/no (default = no).
I have several problems with this statement. For one thing, you normally need to dig some terrain (a minimum of 3 packets). That is 8 energy to build a reactor (7 with the 20% reduced costs upgrade).With shields, it is 10 (8 with the 20% reduced costs upgrade), only a 25% (~14% with the 20% reduced building costs upgrade) increase in price. You have seen yourself in the beta that modifying reactor prices does little to affect good gameplay except in the most extreme of cases. Knowing when to fight for and when to abandon additional building space is a serious element of the game that is quashed by this.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 08:39:24 AM
Quote from: mthw2vc on May 22, 2011, 08:23:34 AM
For one thing, you normally need to dig some terrain (a minimum of 3 packets). That is 8 energy to build a reactor (7 with the 20% reduced costs upgrade).With shields, it is 10 (8 with the 20% reduced costs upgrade), only a 25% (~14% with the 20% reduced building costs upgrade) increase in price. You have seen yourself in the beta that modifying reactor prices does little to affect good gameplay except in the most extreme of cases. Knowing when to fight for and when to abandon additional building space is a serious element of the game that is quashed by this.

- You are already digging towards to Creeper, so not all digging is just to build reactors. I always try to use these tunnels for my reactors, because if you need to dig for them their pay-back time goes from 33.3 to 53.3 seconds.

- For the -20% building costs you need 12 technytes, so you'd need quite a few tech domes at the start of the game if you want to use them to build reactors. Often you'll generate energy first and use that upgrade to build more expensive units. Building the domes first would slow down your economy a lot (although there will be a break-even point when you need lots of energy).

- But most important, and I repeat: it should be an option determined by the map maker! If he/she enables this option there will probably be a good reason to do so. Maybe all terrain is decayable and threatened by the Creeper, or maybe there's no terrain to build on at all! ;) It would just add a new element to map making and gameplay without influencing existing maps or customs maps without this option enabled.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: mthw2vc on May 22, 2011, 09:02:13 AM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 08:39:24 AM
- You are already digging towards to Creeper, so not all digging is just to build reactors. I always try to use these tunnels for my reactors, because if you need to dig for them their pay-back time goes from 33.3 to 53.3 seconds.

- For the -20% building costs you need 12 technytes, so you'd need quite a few tech domes at the start of the game if you want to use them to build reactors. Often you'll generate energy first and use that upgrade to build more expensive units. Building the domes first would slow down your economy a lot (although there will be a break-even point when you need lots of energy).

- But most important, and I repeat: it should be an option determined by the map maker! If he/she enables this option there will probably be a good reason to do so. Maybe all terrain is decayable and threatened by the Creeper, or maybe there's no terrain to build on at all! ;) It would just add a new element to map making and gameplay without influencing existing maps or customs maps without this option enabled.

1. If there is such a good reason for turning it on, as you say yourself, generally speaking, you aren't going to be digging your way conveniently to the creeper.

2. You have seen yourself how easy it is to hoard technytes. In any of the situations where I might want to use the option, hoarding technytes becomes useful.

3. That just goes back to the matter that it makes the editor that much more complicated. One more checkbox, one more checkbox, when does it end? The editor already has a very large number of options in it ready-to use. Then comes the fact that if it were an option in the editor, the game needs to be able to support both options, there needs to be a concise way of showing all of these "lovely" options to the player when opening, or downloading a map so they aren't walking in blind. What's that? They can just open it in the editor? That brings us once more to the fact that the editor is already jam-packed with features, some of which are used in some maps, and some are not. Opening every map I download in the editor to look for any tricks is nothing short of a hassle. Then comes the matter that while you might use this feature correctly, another mapmaker will not and you wind up with many otherwise good maps ruined by the fact that their authors fail to understand the impact some of these checkboxes have on the game.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 09:20:44 AM
1. Depends. You could for instance require a beacon to be build in an inaccessible place (maybe even after applying beacon range upgrades). Of course most maps with this feature enabled probably won't have much space to dig, like I explained in my previous post.

2. I have never ever hoarded technytes when I wasn't already generating loads of energy. It just doesn't pay off; energy will always be the most important resource and you know that.

3. Sure there will be many options, but we shouldn't assume everyone is plain stupid here. MS Word has hundreds of more options than the map editor will ever have, but still everyone is able to use it (although most of us hardly use 20% of all features for most documents). It is much more likely that other functionality (like fields) will be used in an unintended way, so that's for everyone to learn and experiment with. Many games with map editors are much more complex (allowing for scripts and such) and people seem to love it! Try to think in opportunities instead of problems. :)
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: thepenguin on May 22, 2011, 09:40:16 AM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 06:23:45 AM
Quote from: Fisherck on May 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM
It could be an option in the editor, but then we back to the overcomplicated editor, and it just gets messy...
Just 1 checkbox: allow building on shields yes/no (default = no).

I agree with kees here, but also, as a sidenote, I find it strange that you are calling the editor too complicated, when you have never seen or used it (one could arguably say that these forums are too complicated, because there are options that not everyone understands; so too complicated is relative to how much the user can understand)
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: mthw2vc on May 22, 2011, 09:40:58 AM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 09:20:44 AM
1. Depends. You could for instance require a beacon to be build in an inaccessible place (maybe even after applying beacon range upgrades). Of course most maps with this feature enabled probably won't have much space to dig, like I explained in my previous post.
This is exactly my point, but perhaps you do not understand it in the way I do. It is up to the mapmaker to craft a reasonable challenge for the player. While the available range of such maps is reduced by not having this feature, the same can be said of every feature ever considered for the gamne that did not make the cut.
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 09:20:44 AM
2. I have never ever hoarded technytes when I wasn't already generating loads of energy. It just doesn't pay off; energy will always be the most important resource and you know that.
Now you're just outright lying to me! Recall such maps as 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974, where doing this is a requirement to survive.
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 09:20:44 AM
3. Sure there will be many options, but we shouldn't assume everyone is plain stupid here. MS Word has hundreds of more options than the map editor will ever have, but still everyone is able to use it (although most of us hardly use 20% of all features for most documents). It is much more likely that other functionality (like fields) will be used in an unintended way, so that's for everyone to learn and experiment with. Many games with map editors are much more complex (allowing for scripts and such) and people seem to love it! Try to think in opportunities instead of problems. :)
Scripting requires knowledge of the way in which the scripts work. Clicking a single checkbox in an editor already overloaded with features does not. Making a document requires the use of each of these features in such a way that the point can be gotten across. Noone will want to read them if I do this with every other word. Making a custom map does not.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 10:07:39 AM
Quote from: mthw2vc on May 22, 2011, 09:40:58 AM
This is exactly my point, but perhaps you do not understand it in the way I do. It is up to the mapmaker to craft a reasonable challenge for the player. While the available range of such maps is reduced by not having this feature, the same can be said of every feature ever considered for the gamne that did not make the cut.

Virgil said some features will be added later on, so I don't see why that wouldn't apply to this one, especially because it's optional.

Quote from: mthw2vc on May 22, 2011, 09:40:58 AM
Now you're just outright lying to me! Recall such maps as 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974, where doing this is a requirement to survive.

Sure there are some maps that require some technytes as early as possible, but I'm sure you know exactly what I mean: when you have the choice between building your reactors first, or build your tech domes first, the latter won't ever pay off. This is just because of the plain fact that your tech domes will be finished faster when you have more energy to build them (and build more of them). Please let me know when you like to see a chart that demonstrates this for you.

Quote from: mthw2vc on May 22, 2011, 09:40:58 AM
Scripting requires knowledge of the way in which the scripts work. Clicking a single checkbox in an editor already overloaded with features does not. Making a document requires the use of each of these features in such a way that the point can be gotten across. Noone will want to read them if I do this with every other word. Making a custom map does not.

Scripting is just an example of the fact that people creating maps don't mind spending some time to make something nice and unique of it. The World of Warcraft editor for instance features many many options and I don't believe players complain that it offers too many possibilities.

You're not getting my point regarding MS Word: some people use some features, other people use other features. MS Word satisfies people who just want to write plain text as well as people who embed complex objects in their documents. When the application is designed well (grouping features logically on tabs and/or in menu's) they don't bite each other. Up to now Virgil has shown that he's a master in keeping the user interface intuitive, so I don't see why this wouldn't be the case for the CW2 map editor.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Grauniad on May 22, 2011, 11:38:13 AM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 06:23:45 AM
Quote from: Fisherck on May 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM
It could be an option in the editor, but then we back to the overcomplicated editor, and it just gets messy...

Just 1 checkbox: allow building on shields yes/no (default = no).

That exactly is *not* it. The game now has to check the map editor settings, and then have two code paths - one path for building on shields and another for not building on shields.  And then a few more complexities and one or two errors that creep in and a refresh of the code to correct the error and people  coming to the forum to complain that their game is not working and we having to tell them to update and they saying they can't find their original version to patch and...
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 01:06:16 PM
Duh! I was of course talking about the user interface of the editor. It would be a miracle if the game would automatically change behaviour because of a check box, hahaha! :D By the way: the game wouldn't have to check for a map editor setting, as you don't need the editor to play a map; it would just be stored in the map file.

Why so negative? Any change can potentially introduce a bug, but that's what beta testing is for. :)
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Ebon Heart on May 22, 2011, 01:49:57 PM
I don't think having the option to cause no limitations on energy would be a problem, day 20 just proves that even with infinite or near infinite energy, a level can still be a pain in the butt.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: thepenguin on May 22, 2011, 01:54:11 PM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 01:06:16 PM
Duh! I was of course talking about the user interface of the editor. It would be a miracle if the game would automatically change behaviour because of a check box, hahaha! :D By the way: the game wouldn't have to check for a map editor setting, as you don't need the editor to play a map; it would just be stored in the map file.

Why so negative? Any change can potentially introduce a bug, but that's what beta testing is for. :)

;), an infinite energy / ore checkbox could be cool too
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 01:57:47 PM
Quote from: Ebon_Heart on May 22, 2011, 01:49:57 PM
I don't think having the option to cause no limitations on energy would be a problem, day 20 just proves that even with infinite or near infinite energy, a level can still be a pain in the butt.

Quote from: thepenguin on May 22, 2011, 01:54:11 PM
an infinite energy / ore checkbox could be cool too

Sure, every weapon could have zero cost to build as well. :P It will make the game really interesting....

But ehm, what does it have to do with 'terraforming'?
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Ebon Heart on May 22, 2011, 02:11:33 PM
If you could terraform at will, you could have near infinite energy on most levels.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 02:14:05 PM
Quote from: Ebon_Heart on May 22, 2011, 02:11:33 PM
If you could terraform at will, you could have near infinite energy on most levels.

Please read the entire topic before posting useless comments.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: florrat on May 22, 2011, 02:16:22 PM
I agree with most of you that terraforming is not a good idea. Building on walls could be a cool map editor option indeed. If it comes, I hope that it will be communicated well to the player. I already get frustrated by the idea of failing a map dozens of times before I realise that I can build more reactors on walls XD
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: pixlepix on May 22, 2011, 02:22:05 PM
Quote from: Grauniad on May 22, 2011, 11:38:13 AM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 06:23:45 AM
Quote from: Fisherck on May 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM
It could be an option in the editor, but then we back to the overcomplicated editor, and it just gets messy...

Just 1 checkbox: allow building on shields yes/no (default = no).

That exactly is *not* it. The game now has to check the map editor settings, and then have two code paths - one path for building on shields and another for not building on shields.  And then a few more complexities and one or two errors that creep in and a refresh of the code to correct the error and people  coming to the forum to complain that their game is not working and we having to tell them to update and they saying they can't find their original version to patch and...
Its half a line of code. Just add that to the check of wether a building is legal, and you are all set to go.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: thepenguin on May 22, 2011, 02:56:06 PM
Quote from: pixlepix on May 22, 2011, 02:22:05 PM
Quote from: Grauniad on May 22, 2011, 11:38:13 AM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 06:23:45 AM
Quote from: Fisherck on May 22, 2011, 12:17:58 AM
It could be an option in the editor, but then we back to the overcomplicated editor, and it just gets messy...
Just 1 checkbox: allow building on shields yes/no (default = no).
That exactly is *not* it. The game now has to check the map editor settings, and then have two code paths - one path for building on shields and another for not building on shields.  And then a few more complexities and one or two errors that creep in and a refresh of the code to correct the error and people  coming to the forum to complain that their game is not working and we having to tell them to update and they saying they can't find their original version to patch and...
Its half a line of code. Just add that to the check of wether a building is legal, and you are all set to go.

yet I wonder, how does virgil tell if you can build on terrain right now.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: Grauniad on May 22, 2011, 03:07:35 PM
Quote from: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 01:06:16 PM
Duh! I was of course talking about the user interface of the editor. It would be a miracle if the game would automatically change behaviour because of a check box, hahaha! :D By the way: the game wouldn't have to check for a map editor setting, as you don't need the editor to play a map; it would just be stored in the map file.

Why so negative? Any change can potentially introduce a bug, but that's what beta testing is for. :)

I thought you were a programmer or at least had some programming background/experience? Some of your comments makes me wonder. I think you simply like to take a contrarian position if it suits you.

Shields are not terrain, they are units. As of now, there is no code in the game to allow for building on other units.

Not saying Virgil won't do it, just saying it is a major addition to the code.
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: UpperKEES on May 22, 2011, 03:27:55 PM
Quote from: Grauniad on May 22, 2011, 03:07:35 PM
I thought you were a programmer or at least had some programming background/experience?

Yes, I am a developer, for about 15 years now. :) I know exactly what's needed to make a program work and if you read back this topic you'll see that my comments were a reply to the concern that the editor may become too complicated to use because of an additional check box. This is a user interface issue and besides pixlepix's recent post we never discussed what's needed 'behind the scene's'. (And despite my knowledge I won't go into that either because I believe that's something for Virgil to judge. I see too many comments lately where people think they can decide whether something is or isn't a lot of work without having any serious coding experience at all.)

Quote from: Grauniad on May 22, 2011, 03:07:35 PM
Some of your comments makes me wonder. I think you simply like to take a contrarian position if it suits you.

I just say what I would like (or dislike) in the game. My opinion regarding building on shields shouldn't be a surprise for you, because I suggested the same thing about 2 months ago in beta. Apparently I'm not the only one who would like it (as an option!).

Quote from: Grauniad on May 22, 2011, 03:07:35 PM
Shields are not terrain, they are units. As of now, there is no code in the game to allow for building on other units.

Not saying Virgil won't do it, just saying it is a major addition to the code.

Good! That's what we post suggestions for. :)
Title: Re: Terraform
Post by: thepenguin on May 22, 2011, 03:47:38 PM
also, GR, I have to wonder if you have used the editor yourself, and I also think that there is at least one piece of software you use that has certain features that very few people ever use, and I also think that the people who use those features are very greatful that they are there, but the average user doesen't mind having many buttons they never use

(take microsoft's products for example, or adobe's)