Current RTS models

Cian OConnor · 2005-04-14T14:20:21

The one thing that has always annoyed me about current RTS game models is the absolute lack customizability. C@C, Warcraft, Cossacks, etc etc. They all have one thing in common and that would be a static tree of units that almost never changes. Sure all time passes in some games you can get new units and upgrades but it doesn't measure up to what I am looking for. Imagine this- Instead of having a game where units are based on the age or technology, the units should instead be created by the player. Impossible Creatures did this on a very fundamental level but it's lack of variation resulted in a finite number of useful combinations for combat. Here is a fundamental example of my concept. Suppose you had a RTS game that ranged from early time up until say the Age of Reason. Players would be given an entire research tree each with a different class of weapon or armor and then subtrees of various kinds of weapon and armor. The player would get a certain number of research points per age developement that they would use to create thier own tech tree. Like this Type Weapon Armor Ranged Sword Shield Body Bow-Longbow-X Bow Katana-Longsword-Scimitar Mech X Bow-etc etc Claymore-Rapier-etc etc Each weapon type gives a smaller tree of specific weapons or armor or special equipment to choose from. Then you have a unit creation screen which displays a normal human in clothing with base stats. Then you equip specific weapons to each hand, armor, and special items. Each peice of equipment affects stats such as speed, armor, defence, damage dealt, attack skill, HP. They player names the unit and it's added to the player's unit tree. Give them special training techniques to the tech tree to further modify the base statistics of a particular unit. This is just a basic example of the concept. Why stop there? What is to prevent you from allowing players to run from the stone age to the modern day. Provide vehicle, air, and ship design schemes with additional weapon and equipment trees to research each age. Research mining techniques or lumber cutting to find new types of minerals or wood to construct items with. Research forging or construction techniques combined with new alloys and minerals to result in thousands of combinations for weapons and equipment for players to play with. The problem with RTS games in particular is that developers tend to focus more on graphics and less on variation and replayability. A player is more likely to put money into a game and it's expansions if he can replay the same game with a new experiance each time. The possiblities for a game with this much player control is limitless in it's potential.

Game Design and Theory Game Design

Started by Cian OConnor April 12, 2005 07:18 PM

20 comments, last by tolaris 19 years, 9 months ago

Grim

241

April 14, 2005 01:42 PM

Quote:
Original post by tolaris
This could probably be resolved if RTS moved from the "orders are assigned to specific units" to "units are (auto)assigned to specific orders" model of command.

[...]

Did you check the link to the older thread? What you describe here sounds very much like what I described in the older thread (even though I was a bit more brief). What else can I do but agree 100%? [wink]

Another thread where basically the same kind of job-based system is discussed is RTS Interface: Strategic Markers.

tolaris

288

April 14, 2005 02:20 PM

Quote:
Original post by Grim
Did you check the link to the older thread?

Aye; i clicked on it after writing the reply, read the thread there and was like, "d'oh!" -.^

Current RTS models

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Current RTS models

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