Report #1 for 1.8 Beta 2Match: 2 Vs 2 (2 x Chaos Vs 2 x Space Marines)
Map: Mountain Trail
A.I Difficulty: Hard
Resources Rate: Normal/Standard
Resources Sharing: Off/No
Winner: Me & Ally
Comments: I couldn't test previous builds since a long time already, but from what I've experienced and noticed for this very build, is that you guys (Arkhan, Thudo, Larkin) have done a marvelous job. This build is a jewel compared to the last time I tested a Beta build, which I believe was somewhere during the 1.7 Beta 11 days or so.
With that said, there a few things worth mentioning, and, unfortunately,
one major issue, regarding the almighty (or not) Bloodthirster (oh yes, once again, a problem with a Relic unit). I will describe what happened with him later in this report, but for now, I will give some details as to what I could easily see from just one playback of my replay.
Chronologically speaking, it could go as follows (noticeable events/behaviors only):
1) At around 9:00 minutes, on the middle-east part of the map (just north-east of my own Relic, there is a Listening Post, and "behind" that one, completely to the east side of the map, there is a Critical Location, so what happened was located between that Listening Post and that Critical Location), I could notice one Chaos Raptor Squad properly trying to flee from a superior group of Scouts and Assault Space Marines (they were my own units, followed by a Force Commander, attached to one of the Scouts Squad). And they did manage to flee the area, as I ordered my units not to resume the pursuit.
2) At around 21:00 minutes, at Computer 2's starting location (Chaos Space Marines), you could see at least one Chaos Predator constantly trying to keep his distance against a pursuing Squad of Assault Marines (my own units), as I basically raped most of their "main base", but eventually failed to completely wipe them out. I am mentioning this because, to me, it is new to see such a good "keep your distance" behavior. I saw that before I think, but I believe it wasn't
that well incorporated. So, as of now, I think the coding behind that is simply said, excellent.
3) From now on, things started to shape into results of "I control the place, the enemy is basically dead, it's just a matter of time". At around 26:00 minutes, at my starting location,
I was officially cut out of my main resources and military production capabilities (main base destroyed),
but not completely destroyed. Because I thought, earlier, about building a Temple to the south of the map (Listening Post), along with a Barracks (just in case).
The important thing to notice here, is that we (me and my allies) won,
actually because I survived, althought I shouldn't have, considering how easily I could have been destroyed.
4) After Computer 3 (Chaos Space Marines from the north-west starting location) destroyed my main base (at that time, Computer 2 was just re-building their stuff after my main attack against them, so they themselves couldn't afford attacking anything in mass), they suddenly decided to go back north, and help Computer 2, against my assaulting Space Marines allies.
The problem, as I consider it so, is that Computer 3 took his whole force north to help his ally, which I believe was the very mistake that ultimately put them both into hell coffins at the end.
Why ?
Because by staying alive (with a Temple and Barracks), I kept giving resources (both types to start with, and then only requisition, relatively regularly, until the end) to my allies, which greatly helped them, because believe me, they used every drop of requisition I gave them.
And on my own side, I didn't just gave my allies some resources, but I also managed to take back all my originally owned Listening Posts (just capturing them), as well as capturing some of Computer 2's Listening Posts to the north.
All that, done by two mere Squads of Space Marines, and one Squad of Assault Terminator I managed to keep alive earlier,
thanks to the major Bloodthirster issue, which I'll talk about right here ...
At exactly 29:00 minutes, the Chaos Lord at my starting location, transformed into a Bloodthirster. But, prior to the mutation itself, my single Assault Terminator Squad was already fighting against that very Chaos Lord (which was also attached to Chaos Space Marines).
So, the mutation occured properly,
but the Bloodthirster did not fight at all. He never, ever moved a single milimeter, while my Terminators were happily ripping the demon's flesh apart in the name of the Emperor without any resistance.
But ...
that's not all. At exactly 32:26 minutes, and at 780 Health points or so, the Bloodthirster used his powerful wings and fled the attacking Terminators, and the whole area itself. He eventually just died out by himself from moving too much around without actually attacking a single enemy unit during his short but whole presence on the battle field. So, for a period of just a bit more than
three minutes, the Bloodthirster basically did nothing.
The very fact that me and my allies won, is because of one major thing, and perhaps the Bloodthirster bug, as well. If it wouldn't have been the case, that Computer 3 sent his major forces to the north, I could, and I should have died, which would have turned into a big loss for my ally, since I kept helping them until the end.
What should Computer 3 have done in my opinion ?
He should have been able to
split the reinforcing units in two groups.
One group of the best units (vehicles) immediately going north, as he did. But, the other group should have been given a new priority, and that should have been of destroying my "secondary base", which, as I said, could have been destroyed extremely easily (it had two Missle Turrets, one Temple, one Barracks, and one Level 2 Listening Post).
Actually, when Computer 3 sent his forces to help Comp 2, I saw a Defiler heading towards my secondary base, but suddenly changed its direction and went for Comp 2's assistance, along with the rest of the groups, except for the Chaos Lord which kind of got "stuck", and which resulted in him muting into a stuck Bloodthirster.
So, that playback I just analyzed proves two things to me, so far, which are:
A) 1.8 Beta 2 provides a great "natural" feel to the game-play. The way fleeing behaviors are coded, and how some units keep their distances against others (such as Chaos Predators), asks for more strategy thinking from a human player, and helps the A.I itself not to loose their important units in a kamikaze manner.
B) 1.8 Beta 2 obviously has a problem with at least the Bloodthirster. Was the "stuck" problem caused by a Mountain Trail-specific pathing bug ? Was it because he never received any "attacking order" ? Because he did not have priorities other than fleeing when about to die ? That, you guys will have to take a look at, since all I can do is observe/analyze, and not actually fix, hehe.
There is others things that I saw properly occured, such as Heroe units attaching themselves to different groups of infantry (Scouts/Heretics and others). No problems there so far. As well as weapons upgrades for infantry groups along with vehicles such as Dreads. All that seemed alright as of now.
Finally, perhaps I could mention the following: The Critical Location on the far east side of the map, remained un-touched for the whole game. I captured it early in the game, and never for the whole 30+ minutes game I saw any enemy infantry going there, or anywhere near there with the obvious purpose of capturing it, not even by completely avoiding the Listening Post just before it. Although the Critical Location on the opposite side of the map was regularly fought for by my allies and the enemies. Again, a possible pathing problem ? I can't say for sure.
Well well, so far, I think the replay I included for you guys will of course help you understand my report better.
P.S/ I'm glad to be back for real this time. I'm sorry for testing that late into development after 1.7 was released, but I can't afford to play games too often due to my day job. I hope you guys can comprehend the situation.
Edited by Zenoth, 26 May 2006 - 09:22 PM.
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