DESIGN: CtP2 Source Code released - our actions [brainstorm & discussion]

[The Big Mc]

how do you thick I feel i start everybody off with this latest push lose my connection for 15 days and miss the victory party

[Solver]

Victory party or not... we can get drunk when we get the code .

[finfahey]

I get that the general vibe of things is to:

1) Fix bugs.
2) Get the SLIC coding that doesn't work working (really an extension of 1)
3) Add new SLIC features to make modding more powerful.
4) Then, and only then, consider what can be added to the core game engine (because by then one knows that it can't be done with SLIC - and programmers will have acquired more confidence through familiarity with the code)

Perhaps there should be an ongoing list of things that can only conceivably be type 4 features. One already mentioned is the restoration of the space layer.

I don't think anyone's mentioned the idea of units from different players (provided they are allies) occupying the same square - as in SMAC. This would help with that annoying tendency that allies have of getting in the way - and it's quite an incentive to having allies, since you acquire overseas bases and a greater range of action.

Of course, this would only work if the limit on units per square was lifted (which has been mentioned), again as in SMAC. This needs a user interface change, of course - you need a scrolling list not a set of 12 boxes.

Heh - any thoughts on the SMAC unit workshop?

[MrBaggins]

SMAC unit workshop... nice idea in practice. In reality, the AI gets royally screwed.

[finfahey]

Originally posted by MrBaggins
SMAC unit workshop... nice idea in practice. In reality, the AI gets royally screwed.

Agreed (though the defaults could be made reasonable, which they are mostly in SMAC, except the AI doesn't know zip about clean reactors). Forgot my smiley. In any case, involves a complete rethink as to how units work - it's a real big change. It's silly if it isn't in a future context like SMAC, I know.

But while I'm wasting time - just looking at ships:

Power source: paddle, oars, 1-mast, 2-mast [...], steam paddle wheel, steam prop...

Hull: Rushes, wooden (various sorts, e.g. copper-bottomed), iron, steel...

Armament: None, ram, greek fire, 1-deck solid-shot guns [...], ship-to-ship missiles...

Not to mention carrying capacity - and the artwork/GUI problems are horrific.

The problem is, I can just imagine the absurd combinations you could get out of that - for example a stern-wheeler river boat with ship-to-ship missiles (mind you, Phil Farmer had that in the Riverworld series of novels - hmmm, might be fun at that)

[Pedrunn]

Make a feature where the player can write strings on tiles (by clicking the right button for instance).

This way we can add a naming regions feature

"dark forest", "Grand Canyon", "Amazonia River", "Everest Mountain", "Iguacu Fall", etc...

[Solver]

And for some players who claim to like it, add an in-game notepad.

"Nuke the russkies. Complete the Empire State. Lunch with Napoleon".

[Solver]

Everyone go to the off-topic thread, we are having a good chance of getting it next week!

[MrBaggins]

Improve: Abstract ICBMs

Just as you don't build ACTUAL caravans anymore in CTP2 (and that allows the AI to actually generate trade routes,) it makes no real sense to build actual ICBMs. You could place a wall of meat around cities, and they are basically invulnerable.

Possibly you may wish to implement ranging, so that missiles can only be launched within (variable) squares of the city they are 'built' in. You'd probably want to pre-target them, where they'd be pre targetted, and launched in the event of an attack.

Nuclear tipped cruise missiles should be kept provided that we can improve the AI to the point where he could be competitive by the nuclear age, plus could viably use nukes in ships/subs.

[The Big Mc]

link please

[Immortal Wombat]

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=2229200#post2229200

lazy

[The Big Mc]

Thanks

[MrBaggins]

Originally posted by The Big Mc
link please

Jesus! want us to click it for you too?

[The Big Mc]

yes

[Martin Gühmann]

Originally posted by The Big Mc
yes

Done.

Originally posted by Solver
Everyone go to the off-topic thread, we are having a good chance of getting it next week!

Or maybe in two weeks or something like that. But of course the earlier the better.

-Martin