Helping in making a video game

There will be a tech tree.
Good that you mention it.
For now, a sandbox variant would be tested first.
Once the game is playable.

There is also a map editor.

I always seek balance.
But some games need a certain balancer that other games do not.

One of those are that I use a cover system in my board game.
Yet in RTS, you just blast that support unit to bits.
Or you completely ignore a wall.

The most extreme case would be the rocket soldier from C&C td.
This guy is great in damage. But you might as well use 3 minigunners to take down structures.

Against the ai, no problem

***
Either way. I knew about some balancing methods for years now.

And while I thought one way would be perfect.
Some testing showed me that another way would be better.

I made a new tab...again. And started changing the formula's that are influenced. It should be slightly simpler now.

I always loved, being defeated at my own game.
It would mean, i created a good game, since I get defeated. That is what a game means for me. I make the rules, someone beats me by digging through those rules.

Either way, yeah, no bases at first.
The main HQ can be chosen. Those players can specialize in their field.
Although, naval and ground are 1 on 1.
But the air covers both. I think those players are the allround players. The other 2 are more RPS based on terrain configuration, if you know what I mean.

And yeah, RTS is Real Time. lol

Happy you started searching and googling
.

Ok, turns out, there is actually overkill possible once I tweak it. Still, it is only a few percentage. Which is ok. But they already can provide in synergy too. So a no go.

In other news. Started making the table longer now. Meaning I am adding all possible adjustments/modifications to the bodies and adjustments/attachments to the weaponry.

Once the adjustments/attachments to the weaponry are done. I will fix the upgrades for these too.
Maybe making a new tab to keep track of the costs as well for the research and the upgrades.

I discovered an issue in regards to movement speed and armor piercing adjustments. This could get a fix.

I also need to fix the vision upgrade. It is somehow a bit too expensive atm. Don't want to make it overkill though. Somewhere I need to fix a lineair factor. Not one of the squared and kubic ones.

A new chapter is almost there. Designing the next body.
I decided to begin with the buggy.

So far, the research that I can think of have been based on:
- Engine (every body gets this)
A replacement of the boots. But a mech can get both.
- Shields (every body gets this)
- The wheels
- Armor (every body gets this)
- Something to tweak the health and make the body a bit lighter (every body gets this)
- Some sort of Radar (every body gets this)
- Drone for higher vision (every body gets this)

The only unique thing to the buggy are the wheels.....no wait, they are also like the boots. Although, the wheels will also give a bit more health.

The thing with statistics is.... you only give different names. But combining certain statistics will always return to the research list.
The simple combinations are used the most.

More health

More movement
More movement and health

More armor
More armor and health (planned for the tanks)
More armor and movement
More armor, health and movement (planned for the tracks)

More vision
More vision and health (not used yet)
More vision and movement (not used yet)
More vision and armor
More vision, health and movement (not used yet)
More vision, health and armor (not used yet)
More vision, health, movement and armor (not used yet)

14 options in total:
7 options used.
2 options planned.
5 options not used

Actually, I could choose from 7 options to add to the buggy.
Or make another double one.

Idea's are always welcome.

***

In regards to your idea. I don't know what the Big guy has planned. But supposedly, you can earn translaters as reward or something like that. Then a complete code will be visible.
The player can then use this code for a reward.

***

Akimbo...
And multiple weaponry on units.
Right now, in the weapons department.
But I have to add this to the body department.

I have yet to think of transformation.
But the choice of the right weapon is also something that I need to implement in my table.

And I still need to think of what to do with having multiple choices for the unit.
Would be sweet if I allow soldiers to carry 2 weapons. And they automatically use the right weapon.
Perhaps, I should discuss this with the big guy. And simply keep the calculation simple. 50% for the cheaper weapon. While the player needs to make the decision for the unit.

It could be possible that a super anti infantry weapon does more damage than a anti tank weapon.

Thought of something. Will come back on that later.

Now we get in an area where I have trouble.
I already spended years on my board game.
But perhaps I got the answer.

We have 2 options. Either we force the player to choose themselves.
And in case of having overkill on the points. This part is going to be a choice either way.

Or we make the game do this automatically.

***

Option 1, the costs is 50% of the cheapest weapon added tot the total costs. Only... the costs.

Option 2...
We have to do this as fair as possible.
The highest damage should be used.
This means that only for the attack range that they share, there is a choice.
But ehm. We got 3 accuracies this time. But that is ok, average damage goes.
But ehm. We also got salvo fire. And honestly, if an unit shoots fast and thus has a longer cooldown. While another weapon has a higher charge. This is very complex. And the best damage will switch places constantly.
Thus....

I think I have to decide that the units that have to switch weaponry by force. Or there is a choice. It will mean that this is a semi transformation.
This will be manually by the player.
The cheapest weapon will cost only 50%.
Units start by using their primairy weapon.
And switching takes 5 seconds.

Not sure how to do the transformation where a body will switch dimensions and/or movement speed. This too should be more expensive.

And if it is fair play, only the advancements should add to the costs. And perhaps, the advancements are partly used as calculating the transform time.

So. Even though I could dodge the weaponry issue. I still got the body issue.

We don't want super weapons on simple soldiers.
That is the whole point.

KISS

Still, we want the little simple soldiers to have some version of a super weapon.

Well, I did think of a new system.

While keeping the body points, which are upgradable.
The weapons are going to be designed for their respectable tier.

Each weapon will be costing points as well.
Probably the same costs for the tiers.
So, 1, 2 and 3.

Either way, the damage is simply going to be a set of the points the weapon costs. The assault rifle will cost 1 and does 50 damage.
Once the light infantry can have 2 points. The assault rifle damage can be doubled.

A buggy starts at 2. And can thus have the same weapon now. But eventually would reach level 4.
Upgrades for damage follow the same effect.

I can also add side effects, like more attack range.
Or a slightly longer salvo, maybe with more shots.
Only to give the weapons a bit of an exponential or taming effect when a higher level is used.
Each weapon their own.

If a weapon with tier 3 is designed. A 1/3th version should be possible in terms of damage. Thus a multi rocket launch system would get a chibi version when used on a light infantry.

The smallest tank would start with 3. But can also get a 1 or 2 pointer.

Anyway, back to the assault rifle.
It starts with 50 damage and shoots 3 bullets in 2 seconds.
It has an attack range of 5.
It has only 1 point.
The biggest unit with the most upgrades will be having 12 points. This means that 12 assault rifles are going to be combined. That is decent and will be roughly 600 in costs on a balanced unit. Thus the balanced unit costs 1200. That is a nice number.
Still, I could say that the rifle's are going to get +0,5 attack range per level. Thus 5+5,5=10,5
And the salvo would grow with 0,1 second per level, thus 2+1,1=3,1

The costs wouldn't change that much. But it would be noticable.

At rank 17, we got a rank delta of 15, reversed 5. The number of options at that point is 7. So 2 cannot be chosen.

Balance will show which options should get more levels. Eventually, all options should be optional at the highest rank.

The player will be designing units.
Upgrades are permanent to the bodies and weapons.
Skill points (or whatever they are called now) will increase the design.
The design can be altered. Returning the skill points partly, if it goes to fast. 1 change a day.

Either way, the player is going to build up an army in the main HQ. Not sure what the big guy has in mind. But I will pitch the idea of a market of units.