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Helping in making a video game

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X3M
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Anything

Of value can be traded.

Some things are still a secret though.
Not for me, but for others.

questccg
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Anything???

X3M wrote:
Of value can be traded. Some things are still a secret though.
Not for me, but for others.

So if I have this Horse from Skyrim ... I can trade it for a Transforming Mech? Something like that??? Hehehe.

X3M
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Vision mechanics

I need to review these.
Because a whole army shouldn't suffer from an upgrade in this department.
The 2 problems:
- Cost variation per design
- Effect too insufficient

Cost variation

For the time being, I was playing around with "phantom" costs.
From this, the real additional costs and vision would be calculated.
But this phantom number did change the balance and would bring it to the allrounder vision radius.

I think, I want to reverse engineer this. In other words. Real additional costs. And then the extra sight radius is calculated. This will make certain upgrades fixed. Like that one extra drone solely for extra vision.

Now the costs won't variate per unit. But the extra vision instead.

Effect
The effect can be changed in several ways.
1. The extra vision is once again linked to a cost (previously phantom). This can be through a linear factor. For example, the extra cost is actually multiplied times 5 in order to calculate the vision. A nice round number instead of a division. It could potentially be a squared result too.
2. I could change the additional vision with a linear factor as well. Another nice round number.

The goals
Simplifying the calculations.
Better grip on the costs calculation (we say what it has to be)

X3M
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Blind stuff

The system atm uses phantom costs.
With this, we would not know the actual costs.
And we had to find out what we needed to subtract for a blind unit or structure.

With the new system. I can predict that we put in an actual cost. Until the unit or structure is blind. And if needed, we adjust either health or armor.

X3M
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tumtiedumptie todo list

To give you an idea on where I stand.

- Vision upgrade mechanic a rework
- Adjusting the last, 1st body and 1st weapon researches regarding this vision mechanic.
- Adding the body point research for the 1st body
- Adding an upgrade list for the 1st weapon.
- Making a calculator for the portion value's.
- Designing a new 2nd body and 2nd weapon.
- Making a similar list of research for the 2nd body (with first weapon?) and 2nd weapon.
- Checking combinations for the fun of it.

***

To give you an idea to where I should go.
15 bodies, 15 weapons.
Even though the very first combination would give a sweet 100. Not sure how I should go about the other tiers and choices.

X3M
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Work Work :)

But enjoyable none-the-less.

X3M wrote:
To give you an idea on where I stand.
- Vision upgrade mechanic a rework
- Adjusting the last, 1st body and 1st weapon researches regarding this vision mechanic.
- Adding the body point research for the 1st body

Done!

The following still pending:

X3M wrote:
To give you an idea on where I stand.
- Adding an upgrade list for the 1st weapon.
- Making a calculator for the portion value's.
- Designing a new 2nd body and 2nd weapon.
- Making a similar list of research for the 2nd body (with first weapon?) and 2nd weapon.
- Checking combinations for the fun of it.

X3M
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X3M wrote:To give you an idea

X3M wrote:
To give you an idea on where I stand.
- Adding an upgrade list for the 1st weapon.

Done!

The following still pending:

X3M wrote:
To give you an idea on where I stand.
- Making a calculator for the portion value's.
- Designing a new 2nd body and 2nd weapon.
- Making a similar list of research for the 2nd body (with first weapon?) and 2nd weapon.
- Checking combinations for the fun of it.

X3M
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Chrome's version of Excel

The grenadier having a movement speed of 1, hinted something was wrong.
It was supposed to be much closer to 2. As where the light infantry with an assault rifle will have a movement of roughly 2,5

I had to fix 2 similar columns regarding the weight of the weapons.
In the formula, 3 colums shifted. Using completely different value's that are at first similar to the ones I used before.
I fixed it. And it surprised me how little my first designs changed.
But this worries me.

Either way, the grenadier has a movement speed around 1,8 now. Still have to do a lot of fine tuning.

What is so different in the chrome version than the microsoft version anyway?

questccg
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Hmm... You've got things BACKWARDS!

"Chrome" hit the market when Microsoft was still using "Internet Explorer" (IE) as their browser of choice. But soon as "Chrome" became the dominant browser in the market, Microsoft forked "Microsoft Edge" off of the "Chrome" source which was (and I believe still is) Open Source.

So Edge is a derivative of Chrome. And MS have more than abandoned their own Internet browser IE altogether. Yes I still think it is available ... But with the modern conveniences of Chrome ... Most people no longer use the competition.

Also ONE (1) REALLY BAD difference with Edge is that EACH website you browse has it's own WINDOW. In Chrome, it's only one window with multiple Tabs. Yes in the Microsoft version you can have TABS too... But when you do ALT-TAB to switch windows, each Edge TAB is it's own WINDOW. That means if I wasn't using Chrome, would have like 20 windows open when pressing ALT-TAB to cycle through my windows. Real bad idea.

Anyways ... Figured you'd want to know which came FIRST: Chrome and then Edge.

questccg
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"Chrome" or "Google"???

Also I might have misunderstood your question because you talk about "Chrome" and not "Google Sheets". I still use MS as Google requires you to be ONLINE and use G-Drive to save your Spreadsheet to be accessible ONLINE.

Most of my Spreadsheet needs are OFFLINE and I don't want to be hosting that in a cloud somewhere but on my own PC.

There are a lot of differences between "Google Sheets" and "MS Excel" for sure.

If you need to SHARE with many people, then there's a reason for BASIC "Spreadsheets" using "Google Sheets". For example you can use it in collaboration with "Google Forms" which allows you to create SURVEYs. It's pretty neat ... I've done some initiatives (and you'll no doubt see out TW survey sometime in the future) ... But yeah some of the Google apps work with the Google Sheets too.

There are a LOT of differences between "Google Sheets" and "MS Excel" ... But know that for OFFLINE editing, I would suggest "MS Excel". If you're working online on the CLOUD and need something like a spreadsheet application for DATA ENTRY or DATA ANALYSIS, etc. Well then "Google Sheets" is probably the best version available for the Cloud and one that integrates with other Google Apps.

Cheers!

questccg
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"G-Drive" vs. "Drop-Box"

There is another aspect ... As with Google you MUST use G-Drive and I think the MAX you have is like 15 GBs of data. And that's for Google Sheets, Google Docs, Google Forms, and sharing and/or safeguarding files (File Sharing and Cloud-based Storage).

The reason why I "dislike" services like "Drop-Box" is because they are DISENGENEOUS. How? Well IF I as a User have 1 GB Data file (it could be a big ZIP or a Folder on the Cloud with a bunch of MP3s) and I decide to SHARE this with another USER... "Drop-Box" FORCES ALL PARTIES to USE "X" Space.

What I mean by "X" is that my 1 GB Data file would force all people that I would want to SHARE this file with to LOSE 1 GB of their own CAPACITY to SHARE. And this limits how much each person can SHARE if they are using the FREE version.

G-Drive works differently in that the OWNER always maintains a COPY of the file even if you share it. So only the OWNER uses the Space for the 1 GB Data file. I don't have all the specifics either ... But what do you prefer?

15 GB FREE or $15.99 / month for Dropbox??? Plus this stupid SHARING method which means that everyone needs to pay for the SAME SPACE for each person sharing the Space. Ridiculous if you ask me.

That's another spin on it...

X3M
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I never thought of the specifics.

I figured I was using something from chrome. But it is indeed with a google account. And G-mail.

The browser that I use is Firefox.

Originally, offline was in excel sheets.
But I share with 1 person, the big guy. And it is through G-mail.

questccg
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Just try not to run out of SPACE...

X3M wrote:
...But it is indeed with a google account. And G-mail.

The browser that I use is Firefox...

Just remember this SMALL piece of information: when using G-Mail, all space that you use will be taken off of the 15 GB limit available to you. That's kinda bad in that you could run out of space especially if you are sending large attachments.

Indeed some people use Firefox for its extensions (Disable Ads, Grammar Checker, SEO, Screenshots, etc.) It is even older than "Chrome" in terms of availability. So it's also a good browser, just less popular than Google Market Share of the Chrome Browser... And many Microsoft People have moved over to Edge as well... As Microsoft aims to stop updating IE (I don't know when end-of-support starts for the browser...) But anyhow you get the picture.

Cheers.

Note #1:

The Internet Explorer (IE) 11 desktop application ended support for Windows 10 semi-annual channel on June 15, 2022. Customers are encouraged to move to Microsoft Edge with IE mode.

X3M
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X3M wrote: - Designing a new

X3M wrote:

- Designing a new 2nd body and 2nd weapon.
- Making a similar list of research for the 2nd body. Did it with the 2nd weapon).
- Checking combinations for the fun of it.

Done!

The following still pending:

X3M wrote:
To give you an idea on where I stand.
- Making a calculator for the portion value's.
- Making a similar list of research for the 2nd weapon.
- Checking combinations for the fun of it.
- Thinking of units choosing between their 2 weapons.
- Thinking of transformations: landing/lift of, mobile/deployed.

X3M
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Storage

Had to search a bit. But if I go to google in firefox.
I can search for "google drive".

Used: 2.7 mB / 15 mB

So, I am ok for now.

questccg
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About Storage

X3M wrote:
Used: 2.7 mB / 15 mB...

Should be 2.7 GB / 15 GB left, no??? G-Drive gives you 15 GB (That much I know) but I don't know if you have used 2.7 mB or 2.7 GB ???

It may be better to use OUTLOOK.com instead of G-Mail. But whatever...

You know know where to look and are aware that E-MAILS use up space too (especially with ATTACHMENTS).

Best!

X3M
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Making sure things are understood

Sometimes you assume to much.

Either way, the big guy has sended me a list of names. He wants. But also told me what he wants to show on 1 februari, I got 4 days left for the basic numbers.

Quote:
The Infinite Infantry unit ( you already have that dialed in )

The ---- the largest special vehicle. Can go from land to water, carries 6 infantry units.

The ---- ( light tank)

The ---- (Large Battleship)

The ---- (lightest air unit, fast anti infantry and special vehicle)

Infantry
With the infinite infantry, he actually meant the group. So I can give them names. The theme is bugs.
Seeing as how the rest unfolds.... I could add a 4th one.

Vehicles
The vehicles, he named some. Also asked me to turn my first vehicle into a bike. Only to later on see that he also has a buggy in the list anyways.

This means that I should turn the buggy into an all terrain vehicle if I want to have very light tanks as well. That will be ok.

The rat remains as planned.

And he wants a 4th body that can go from water to land.

Tanks
The light tank has a familiar name. Again a ----. What is it with naming light tanks, ----?

He wants a heavy tank...
Well, if it is in the same class as the light tank (tanks). Then the difference should be a factor of 2 in terms of health. But the heavy tank is going to get the armor.
Ahem.... it is going to be called ----....
I think it is a bit too much "copyright" going on here though. Then again, my mantis is also such a copy, but at least I use it on an infantry unit.

Then we got a heavy mech, which is supposed to become airborne with a certain research. Either way, it is called the ----.

And as 4th unit, a construction vehicle....
It can get weapons as well. I think, a lot of health, but no armor. It should be large, so it can carry a lot of big weapons...maybe make it medium, idk.
Personally, I rather have construction as a tool. So you can give it to any unit. Would have been so much better imho. Although, it would be more of a copy from Warzone2100 in that regard. So, I accept this.

Air units
He renamed the first one. The theme seems to be snakes...
Again, he wants 4 bodies. But there is a small problem now. The units follow the tiers in development. We only have 3 tiers.

Naval units
As for naval units. The same story. The last one also has a name.

More bodies, more weapons
While I don't mind that there are more bodies and weapons.
I do have a logistic problem now.

Given that we get 4 infantry, 4 vehicles and 4 tanks. I can work with that.
Health, Armor, Movement Speed and Propulsion are 4 factors to toy with. So that will be ok.

It is the Naval and Air that give a problem. We got 3 tiers of body types. And the naval and air would get all 3.
Now, as one of the light vehicles 2 can go into/over water. And one of the heavy vehicles (tanks) can go into air.

The remaining options for the naval are infantry and tanks.
The remaining options for the air are infantry and vehicles.

I could turn one of the infantry into a Seal. Which means that after an upgrade, this guy can swim. Then the tank for naval remains. Which fits nicely with that submarine.

As for the air. Only air remains...unless I pick one of the naval untis. Maybe... a tripple body system. So the enemy needs all types of wepaons. Yeah, that will do.

***

4 infantry, 1 can go into water, 1 can get a jetpack?
4 vehicles, 2 can go into water
4 tanks, 1 can go into air
4 naval units, 1 can go into sub, a total of 7 is possible
-2 infantry, 3 vehicle, 2 tanks
4 air units, a total of 6 is possible
-2 infantry, 1 vehicle, 2 tanks, 1 anything

questccg
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Some naming ideas...

You can ignore whatever you don't like, I'm just trying to HELP!

Tanks could be types of Spiders.

Light Tank : Spider
Medium Tank : Tarantula
Heavy Tank : Wolfspider
Super Heavy Tank: Black Widow

Vehicles could be types of Ants.

Buggy : Ant
Hummer (Flames) : Fireant
Hummer (Gunner) : Bulletant
Jeep (Transport): Weaverant

Other units could types of Scorpions.

Arabian Scorpion
Arizona Scorpion
Emperor Scorpion
Shield Scorpion
Deathstalker Scorpion

Just keeping in tune with your IDEAS (and what your Big Boss Man is looking for).

Cheers.

questccg
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Air I would think Birds!

For Air Units, I would go with Bird Species:

Sparrow : Recon Drone
Robin : ???
Eagle : Fighter Jet Plane
Hawk : Apache Helicopter
Raven : Stealth Bomber

I can think up more if necessary. Or you can Google for more options!

Again feel free to use, ignore or adapt these name ideas. Like I said, just trying to be of HELP... No pressure. If you LIKE, Great! If not... no worries.

Cheers.

X3M
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Frankly

I don't care how they are named.
I also already asked the big guy several times. To give me examples of how the units look like.
He did one. So, I work on one.

While the --- (light infantry), assault rifle and the --- (heavy assault bike) are finished in everything.
The grenades need research....

But I move on to the --- next.
Ok, I am using --- because I know the names. But will not share them.

I finished the rules regarding projectile speed and damage on death.
Still need to implement the arc value. But that will be ok.

I determined cargo. But not the weight.
I determined that body specific attributes weight in half points.
This is a body specific weapon and cargo to begin with. Other tools as well.

questccg
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Can't wait for the Livestream on February 1st 2023!

I'm excited to see what you've guys have been working on. Sure I know some of the "technical" hurdles... But I'm curious to see what the Units look like and how some of them are named.

I'm also wondering if the other 2 HQs are going to be revealed too: Earth and Air.

Maybe more will be shown, not sure. Anyhow I'm excited!

As much as I like to work on my projects, I like seeing how others progress too. So I can't wait to see what you and the team have been up to.

Cheers.

X3M
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Well, I know

Fatsquatch has given me a picture of some units.
One can be shared. But I will do so in a video.
I am very busy, so the video would, if still made, be on Saturday.

X3M
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A bit rushed now

The things we are going to discuss this Wednesday. I put some together in a table. For a better understanding for the viewers.

It is important that the big guy understands. And then translates to the viewers. I added some "un-usable" numbers.
Like for example, a ROF. Which is not needed. And not correct in the long run.
Not sure if I should show the damages to the viewers.
Only the basis might be confusing while the health does follow my tier calculations.
And displaying the maximum damage is also a weird thing to do.
So I simply did all possibilities.
1/1/1 or 1
1/9/9 or 1/9
1/9/25 are options now, for me to show them.

Also, I already started thinking of what to do when a rotary weapon upgrade is added. In that case. How to calculate it properly? For now, I am using a trick. But some calculations don't work anymore, that way. And I need to place a basis before subtracting. So, for rotary, I need to think of some sort of main charging calculation.

What I mean is that a normal machine gun would fire every second. Starting at when 1 second has passed.
A rotary version would be every 0,5 seconds. But the very first projectile is still not fired.

questccg
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Hmm... Not sure about that!?

I'm a bit worried if the "Technical" side of things is what is going to be PRESENTED...! I mean no offense @Ramon ... But the inner-workings that you focus on are not things that MOST people (including RTS Players) will understand.

Nobody "looks-under-the-hood" so-to-speak... People want to see some images or preliminary rendering and such... Maybe some example Units and their names...

That's what most people look for in the presentation.

Nobody cares about ROF (Rate-Of-Fire) and Grenade Fragmentation... All they want is the game to be FUN and ENGAGING. I don't get bogged down with "Technical" details. I know you "enjoy" the "Technical" part of the game ... And most people can be like: "OK at least the game is PLAYABLE..."

All of your work will probably go unnoticed and that's usually the GOAL of the "Technical" details: They should work and make the game FUN to play. If you reach that level of success, kudos to you. But in all honesty, most players know little about all the effort you've put into the DESIGNING of the units and such. Usually that is part of the "MAGIC" that goes into Game Making.

Anyways ... We'll see how it goes on Wednesday. I'm a bit worried because not too many speak your "Technical" Language. Like I said it's usually behind the scenes and make the game work ... But is not the KEY selling point of the game.

Sincerely.

questccg
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It's like being part of the "entourage"...

Everyone only knows the "BAND"! The rest of the support staff and people making the "BAND" look GOOD or GREAT are so rarely recognized for their contribution and the fact that they too "work so very HARD" to ensure that all things go smoothly for the "BAND".

Anyhow ... I think it's similar to "Recording a Music Album". The STUDIO that allows the sessions to be recorded has "Technical" staff that know how to make the music sound GREAT (probably better than sung alone)... Most average listeners to music don't know all the "Technical" details that a STUDIO and the specialized Sound Engineers know how to PERFECT a recording.

But in the end, all PEOPLE care about is that the MUSIC (or SONG) sounds great.

That's what I mean... No offense to anyone. People can still appreciate the game without knowing all the "Technical" details!

Cheers.

questccg
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What I mean is this...

You don't need to present the "Technical" Details about a Unit. However that doesn't mean that you cannot proceed to demonstrate a couple "Variants" of a Unit or how said unit can be customize in let say 3 or 4-ways but only present 2 of them... To keep people wondering how else the "Variants" may be.

Presenting things like sketches or pencil drawing of other Units that might be in the game given time to MODEL them is something else interesting to present. It doesn't mean that each of the sketches will be a part of the game. Just some "Concept Art" to show what is POSSIBLE.

If you want to talk "Technical" Details... Well then you kinda need to blend it in with the presentation of, for example, a model of a Unit. Sorta like this:

This is the --- Unit and we may have up to four (4) variants. Currently here are 2 variants one of which is --- Unit and it has an increase in the ROF (Rate-Of-Fire). The --- Unit is an areal variant and it has a weaker body but also packs some --- Missiles which can be used on all opposing Units: AIR, LAND and WATER.

So BLEND in the "Technical" Details into the Pitch of the Units themselves. You don't need spreadsheets to do this. You need to figure out what the "Pitch" is and add small INSERTIONS like in my example above which explains some "Technical" Details allowing the RTS Players to want to know MORE about these "Variants" in addition to WONDER what other "Variants" there will also be.

Just trying to HELP out in figuring WHAT and HOW to BLEND stats into the presentation of a GAME. Adding SOME "Technical" Details will ADD some "Credibility" in that people would will read this will wonder WHAT ELSE is different with the Units.

And slowly but surely you have people who may want to dig deeper into the Units themselves and how each one performs against opposing units.

Best!

X3M
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You got a point

Maybe, because the big guy is from the same game.

What we should do, is making some bars to show how strong the units are in certain aspects. We don't have visuals. At least, I think we don't have them. But if we do. Then the numbers are for that purpose only. Just a quick set up.

This evening will be the moment to give all numbers that are needed for the presentation. Not sure if the big guy is interested in changing the presentation.

Someone else already said that there is nothing to show. Yet he expected us to talk. We milked the game so far.

I am allowed to make a video this Saturday too. With a picture. And talk about the unit.
It is one of the most all round unit.

I can tell what is planned for it in words. But numbers, I was never planning to share those.

***
Meanwhile the developments goes on.
More things I need to add to my calculator:

- A BIG substraction from the weapon.
Believe it or not. But I even found a way to have a weapon "warm up" twice.
A machine gun fires every second. But the first second is a warming up. Now if we got a machine gun that fires twice as fast. We want to keep that first warming up second.
It just so happens to be that this can be put in a subtraction salvo which has an infinite cooldown.
To test the calculation. I already set up a plan too.
Simply have the same machine gun without warm up. And subtract the projectile at moment 0 with infinite cooldown.

- Tertiary body value's.

questccg
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Those are some pretty good ideas!

X3M wrote:
What we should do, is making some bars to show how strong the units are in certain aspects. We don't have visuals. At least, I think we don't have them. But if we do. Then the numbers are for that purpose only. Just a quick set up.

That makes a LOT of sense (the bars) and is relative to the other units. It's a GOOD IDEA!

X3M wrote:
Someone else already said that there is nothing to show. Yet he expected us to talk. We milked the game so far.

Umm... Ok... That's a bit worrisome... LOL.

X3M wrote:
I am allowed to make a video this Saturday too. With a picture. And talk about the unit. It is one of the most all round unit.

Maybe you should only make the video as part of the Presentation on Wednesday. This way you DO have SOMETHING to SHOW?! Just an idea...

X3M wrote:
I can tell what is planned for it in words. But numbers, I was never planning to share those.

That also sounds smart too...

questccg
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Maybe a Q&A Session at the end of the presentation will help!

X3M wrote:
Someone else already said that there is nothing to show. Yet he expected us to talk. We milked the game so far...

What I mean by Q&A is that people on the CHAT during the Livestream can SUBMIT "Questions" about the game and you can ANSWER those questions. And that will explain further about the game.

A Q&A Session can EASILY take 15 to 30 minutes if you have people who are VERY interested in the Game, Mechanics and Units. Since it's all QUESTIONS and ANSWERS you don't need any fancy ART or MUSIC to reveal... Just ASK people to SUBMIT their questions and see where that leads to.

I think that FORMAT if you don't have a LOT to SHOW... Could be good and INTERESTING because the QUESTIONS come from people who are INTERESTED in the GAME and it's development.

Just another IDEA to THINK about... It may help solve your issues. And BTW the whole presentation doesn't need to be Q&A ... But at the end of the PLANNED presentation, you can open the CHAT to a Q&A Session in which people interested can post questions and you guys can do the best to address those questions.

Cheers... Hoping it goes well on Wednesday!

X3M
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Oh

The video for the 1st of February. Nice, then I can kinda.... sleep through it. Hahahaha.

Ok, next thing. The Q&A will happen. But before that, we will show the numbers.
While I tried the bars. It seems the 4 units that we have so far... are kinda in the same category with most aspects.

We got 1 weapon on 3 units, another weapon on 3 units. A third weapon on 2 units. And the 2 detailed units. I have no say about them.

The team on the other side worked on specialists if you will.
While, you know me, I always start with the ONE.

So, the numbers shown, might be used. But chances are big they are not.

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