How micro intensive will 0ad be?

[Zeeky_Bombard]

I know a fair deal about micro (I've played Dune 2, where the gatherers don't resume gathering after dropping off resources ), and was interested as to how many painkillers we will have to take in an average game of 0ad.

I have always wanted a game where stuff you'd do anyway is done for you. For example, modern RTS have gatherers that resume gathering after dropping off resources. A famous one, C&C:G, has all units inside a transport die when the transport is destroyed. That is what I don't like, there's no thinking involved, just "OMG my trannspoter lol is dieing ZOMG click fester make yunits go OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!111", which I think has no place in a strategy game.

I realise that there will always be micro as long had you attach RT to the S, but most of it, is I see it, is pointless to have in a game. How much unecessary action will have to be taken to survive in the competitive world of 0ad?

[Undo]

You see, a lot of people find micromanagement the most addicting thing in RTS games... It's difficult to please Greeks and Trojans, as we say in Portugal.

Edited December 29, 2006 by Undo

[Mythos_Ruler]

The most tedious micro, we hope, will be lessened for you. For instance, if a bunch of units construct a storehouse, they'll immediately begin attacking the nearest resource. Farms will reseed as long as you have a unit there to harvest it. Standard RTS features will be implemented. Units will keep going after resources until no more are within LOS, etc. However, micro such as you described (units within an APC get wasted if the APC gets wasted) is realistic and needed within the realm of RTS. In 0 A.D., the player will need to micro his units effectively in the thick of battle in order to emerge victorious. Not only will there be a web of paper>rock>scissor counters, but there will be formations available to the player, each with specific bonuses and weaknesses, necessitating additional battlefield micromanagement prowess.

[Achilles_Knee]

game play video please...

[Zeeky_Bombard]

Well, the thing I mean with the transport example is that there is no point in not having the units exit, meaning it is just a few more meaningless clicks that could be automated.

Realism can still be preserved by having the units panic and pile out of the transport when it is at, say, 10% health.

Or, if the transport is at 15% health and something does enough damage to one-hit it, the units could pile out before the attack lands.

Again, it's just like attacking an enemy in range, there is no point ever (except maybe in the campaign, like that mission in AOE2 with the Dome of the Rock) in not doing it.

Things like flanking an enemy or deciding to retreat are more tactical, and that is supposed to be the point of an RTS - making decisions fast, not playing at 100 APM.

Edited January 1, 2007 by Zeeky_Bombard

[oryza]

in warcraft, when your transport died your units fell out but dazed (essentially crippled for the next 10 minutes). if your transport died over water, THEN your units died.

[Zeeky_Bombard]

Yes, I agree units should die if a transport is over water. It was your own decision to send it over water and there are, of course, risks.

The point I was making however, was that it is stupid for uits to die when their land-based transport is destroyed.

[Mythos_Ruler]

The point I was making however, was that it is stupid for uits to die when their land-based transport is destroyed.

I disagree. I always thought it was stupid in the cartoon "G. I. Joe" how tank crews and helicopter pilots always "abandoned ship" before their vehicles were hit by missile fire. Very unrealistic. However, your point is moot, as we don't have any kind of APC or its equivalent in our game.

[Zeeky_Bombard]

Really? I would have imagined you could garrison archers on a platform atop a War Elephant or something...

But in that case, it would be good for them to die - have some sort of ladder that takes a few seconds to set up or something, so that if the elephant suffered heavy damage (got to 15% or so) you could set up the ladder to evacuate as I suggested, but the elephant would move slower with it dragging along the ground.

[Mythos_Ruler]

Elephants will have a "damage frenzy" where they run amok when injured. Luckily for the player, they may be healed even in this state.

[Tathar]

cool

[Justinian]

There will be land transports (other than the elephants of the persians and ?carthaginias?)... if so what will they be?

[egel]

Land transports? wtf? Elephants are OK, but what else???? Besides, unless you're Legolas, falling off a rampaging elephant is going to waste you. You'd be as good as dead anyway, even if the elephant didn't get you.

[Tycan]

I doubt the need for land transport. The only thing in the transport field is a naval transport

[Mythos_Ruler]

Ships will be capturable. Also, if rammed successfully and sunk, your units die as well.

[Tycan]

i guess i'll be sticking to land then

[Mythos_Ruler]

Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War had a cool feature where if a ship sunk, most of the units aboard would float in the water. But the feature was way too much, IMHO, as the units ended up dying anyway before they could swim ashore.

[Tycan]

Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War had a cool feature where if a ship sunk, most of the units aboard would float in the water. But the feature was way too much, IMHO, as the units ended up dying anyway before they could swim ashore.

but you gotta admit, its depressingly entertaining. I think that would be pretty cool imo.

[Justinian]

Didn't Rise and Fall also have an FPS part. Where you could swim. And boats which were garrisonable, and where archers could fire from the decks.