DISCUSSION of game Mechanics

[Clavin12]

Why can't we just make a normal power generator and make up a cool way that their supposed to work. All this stuff sounds complicated and frustrating.

[iron maiden]

Besides rail guns, I am also thinking maybe using geothermal energy, you could use it no matter the weather and would come in handy when you have no pools, perhaps drill for bio-metal with them?

[ScarleTomato]

You can build a small factory on each pool, these factories continuously build scrap transports that dont take up a command slot and immediatley are commanded to recycle at the recycler.

The more pools, the more transports per unit time, the faster your scrap increases. You have to defend the pools along with defending the path from the pool to the recy. You build base silos for extra capacity. For big maps you can build a off-site scrap drop so the transports don't have very far to go.

[Warfreak]

Why can't we just make a normal power generator and make up a cool way that their supposed to work. All this stuff sounds complicated and frustrating.

Because we have a coder who WANTS to do crazy and awesome things.   If you can't deal with this whole concept pitching thing the door is right behind you.

[iron maiden]

The more pools, the more transports per unit time, the faster your scrap increases. You have to defend the pools along with defending the path from the pool to the recy. You build base silos for extra capacity. For big maps you can build a off-site scrap drop so the transports don't have very far to go.

\

Hat to sound pushy, but you could fire said scrap units out of a rail gun!

{I know, i am obsessed with rail guns}

[ScarleTomato]

Interesting, you could instead make them armories that launched scrap crates back at your recy. then a hoverscav collects them

[iron maiden]

even better.

[AHadley]

Stock pgens technically utilize Reactions of biometal to generate power, but your take on this is good.

Going to have to start that theory thread I was planning.

[Clavin12]

Interesting, you could instead make them armories that launched scrap crates back at your recy. then a hoverscav collects them

Um what would be the point of that?

[ScarleTomato]

ATM I'm just brainstorming. I like the strategy required for the transports better but both of them help explain how the scrap actually makes it back to the recycler. It also gets rid of the question "Why does only one extractor fill up at a time?"

You could have extractors that spew out biometal near the extractor that looks like crates, and then a scav comes an collects them and takes them back to the recy. That might take a lot of micromanaging though.

[Clavin12]

It'd be too complicating. imagine when yourn the middle of a big fight and you need reinforcments. You go to make but, Your out of Scrap! so you have to send out some scavs to collect the biometal crates to bring in enough scrap for a couple ships then you have to wait for more crates. In the meantime your getting torn to pieces.

[Axeminister]

1). I like Scarlet Tomatoes idea of when the solar panels are upgraded they get higher, giving more power. It also is a simple but cool concept that should make it easy to grasp.
2). Rethinking the collection of husks makes me realize how Zero Angel is correct that it would be a clumsy concept to use as resource gathering, but instead just use it as technology gathering. This would create less stress for a Commander.
3). I like Scarlet Tomatoes idea of a building built solely for shooting more and more health into the power generators. This action could be used for a quick recharge for players who drive through the traveling pods from this rail gun type pod shooter. It is actually another simple but cool idea that is easy to grasp.  

[ScarleTomato]

It'd be too complicating. imagine when yourn the middle of a big fight and you need reinforcments. You go to make but, Your out of Scrap! so you have to send out some scavs to collect the biometal crates to bring in enough scrap for a couple ships then you have to wait for more crates. In the meantime your getting torn to pieces.

Well thats part of the commanders job ain't it? I always have scavvies gathering loose scrap, if i lose one i just build another. They're only twenty scrap. That and I usually keep my scrap meter out of the green. If I have nothing else to build I pump out rocket tanks. It would take some micro managing and if it were implemented it would definitely be a race for advanced commanders. Respawning loose scrap fields are gold for a commander that knows how to use them.

I really like the gathering crystals for power, and husks for technology ideas. It makes it very easy to drastically change the game dynamics from map to map.

I was thinking about making a neutral monolith structure for one of my maps that you could tug around and have it quickly heal things within a large radius. Extra map related resources like this would do alot to change the mechanics while still using simple concepts.

[Clavin12]

You may have all of this but the complications must be balanced out, or the races will be way out of balance.

[ScarleTomato]

Why can't we just make a normal power generator and make up a cool way that their supposed to work. All this stuff sounds complicated and frustrating.

Um what would be the point of that?

It'd be too complicating. imagine when yourn the middle of a big fight and you need reinforcments. You go to make but, Your out of Scrap! so you have to send out some scavs to collect the biometal crates to bring in enough scrap for a couple ships then you have to wait for more crates. In the meantime your getting torn to pieces.

You may have all of this but the complications must be balanced out, or the races will be way out of balance.

Yes, Clavin, I get it, thank you. From what I can tell this is a brainstorming session. He asked for new game mechanics so I'm throwing out some concepts i've been thinking about tinkering with for a while. If they're not accepted then no one has to use them.

On overall gametypes/game mechanics. I think it'd be awesome to have a variant of MPI where you can have multiple allies against multiple AI enemies. I know there was already a 3way in FE. Basically an offshoot of that with thug recyclers. I'd be willing to make some large maps for that and work on a DLL for it.