24 replies to this topic

[Tropical Bob]

Just look at those files. When you build the research in-game (which is really just a pared-down ship that's made to look like research), it fires off events on the tech tree that effectively "upgrade" your production capabilities. The reason I can't add new factions that totally work is because the method I've used to accomplish this is partially, but significantly, hardcoded for only the three vanilla factions and I don't know of another way to do it. That means any new faction that I add using this system won't be able to use tech or heroes, which nullifies the point of the mod. Of course, this all could be made into a non-issue instantly with an official patch...

Couldn't we just use the Underworld tag for the CSA then? From what I understand, that shouldn't really mess with them, unless you'd need to change all the <Affiliation> tags for them...

There is a way to add a fourth faction that can, at the least, use heroes. There is a mod that has four factions in game, the fourth being a pirate coalition. I can't remember the name, but taking a look could be beneficial.

The reason I think the Vong are compatible with PR right now is because of the fact that, at the base of it all, they don't really have weapons developments and things like that. Midway to near the end of the war, there were new additions to their arsenal, but those were more to do with ground advancements (I'm not sure how we would handle the HoloNet hunting Dovin Basals). For the most part, we wouldn't need a tech tree for them since they're so stagnant.

They could use a hero upgrade system, but I don't think that many Vong heroes got new ships very often.

Edited by Tropical Bob, 10 February 2009 - 05:22 AM.

[Phoenix Rising]

Couldn't we just use the Underworld tag for the CSA then? From what I understand, that shouldn't really mess with them, unless you'd need to change all the <Affiliation> tags for them...

No. Like I keep saying, the CSA is more than the CSA: the CSA is every potential faction that could be added to the mod. Yeah, I could switch them to Underworld, but that doesn't change anything for the next new faction.

There is a way to add a fourth faction that can, at the least, use heroes.

Oh, I know that. Our problem is that we're different: I'm not using the respawning, unscripted, non-upgrading vanilla hero system. Without our tech and our heroes, there really isn't a critical faction problem. But we're not like other mods, so here we are.

The reason I think the Vong are compatible with PR right now is because of the fact that, at the base of it all, they don't really have weapons developments and things like that.

Historically, that's probably true. In terms of gameplay, well, I don't really want to even try to balance what would amount to a whole new game for every new faction, what with the CSA with their bargain-buying scheme and the YV with their initially-tough-but-stagnant scheme. You'd end up with ZC FoC^x, where x is the number of new factions. Remember, it basically took a year to get the Empire and Alliance to the point where I'd consider it (mostly) balanced.

[Tropical Bob]

No. Like I keep saying, the CSA is more than the CSA: the CSA is every potential faction that could be added to the mod. Yeah, I could switch them to Underworld, but that doesn't change anything for the next new faction.

True. I really had no idea you had more factions after the CSA planned or under consideration.

Historically, that's probably true. In terms of gameplay, well, I don't really want to even try to balance what would amount to a whole new game for every new faction, what with the CSA with their bargain-buying scheme and the YV with their initially-tough-but-stagnant scheme. You'd end up with ZC FoC^x, where x is the number of new factions. Remember, it basically took a year to get the Empire and Alliance to the point where I'd consider it (mostly) balanced.

PR would still be way beyond vanilla as long as the Vong were balanced off of the Rebellion and Empire. I don't think any other factions would fit without your tech system like the Vong would.

Maybe if you write a very heartfelt letter to Petroglyph explaining your circumstance with a few dried tear drop spots on the paper, they might grant a small patch.

[Phoenix Rising]

True. I really had no idea you had more factions after the CSA planned or under consideration.

Like the YV, there are always more under consideration... I have plenty of evil plans that may or may not be feasible with EaW. The CSA was always meant to be an easy (i.e., few unique units) test faction though, opposed to a faction that I just really wanted to see in a game. I mean, it's a good addition to Skirmish now that it's more or less done, but there are more interesting choices out there.

Maybe if you write a very heartfelt letter to Petroglyph explaining your circumstance with a few dried tear drop spots on the paper, they might grant a small patch.

Heh, I'd try it, but I get the feeling that they can't really work on a patch unless LA pays them to work on a patch. And if that hasn't happened already, then it probably never will.