What are "Factions"??? Are they UNITS per Faction or something else???

Then lets make it simpler.

Each unit has a weapon against a certain faction.
The player has to choose which weapon is used, prior to battle.

So, if the enemy has tanks and infantry. The player needs to designate a target. And use those weapons.

When light vehicles come into play. The best choices should be made. But it is either the normal weapon or the faction targetted weapon. This means that a blue tank versus a red vehicle, either has 1x36 or 2/3x81. Due to the rules. It is better to use the normal weapon against lighter targets. But the alternate weapon against the heavier targets.

When a third faction is involved. You only have the choice between the normal wepaon or the alternate weapon that is used against that faction.

***

One of these days, I will make an overview of the RPS-5 options. That include all RPS-1 to 4. Then I will start with stacking these systems. I think, up to 3 or 4. So I will have to design 15 to 20 units per faction. I think 20 would be best.

Went into the bin here as well. I keep the idea for those spaceships. If I ever get back to them. Probably in a year or so, reinventing the wheel.

***

15 or even 20 does sound like a lot. But remember, it should be a bit like MtG... a lot more in the future.

Ok, so here are the class weights I had in mind for 5 factions so far:

_50 - 150 - 300 - 500 - _750 = Blue
_50 - 200 - 450 - 800 - 1250 = Red
100 - 200 - 400 - 800 - 1200 - Yellow
_50 - 100 - 200 - 400 - _800 = Green
_75 - 150 - 300 - 600 - _900 = Orange

Undecided yet for other distinct colours.

Here is another possible plan:
Smaller RPS systems can come before the bigger ones.

So, a RPS in a 3x3 would consist of 3 units.
4x4 gives 4 with each system.
5x5 gives 5 with each system.

The stacking could be 3+4+5, which is then 12 units. Which is much more common in most RTS.
You got like 9 units in the 3x3, +2 in the 4x4 and +1 with the last tier.

And this can be different for each faction in regards of a combination between a body and weapon. If one faction has a good anti tier 5, it will also have a good return fire. And if it doesn't, then the other faction automatically doesn't either.

Of course I have to put this theory to a test.

But one thing is sure. If I design one faction in this way. Then all other factions get the same treatment.

I do remember having a stack of 1+2+3+4+5 where the number of designs per tier goes the other way, 5+4+3+2+1. This is also 15 units.

Again, if I design like this, all factions need to be like this. And I think that a lot of infantry are going to be copied.

Also, to get an idea of the unit costs. Think in terms of C&C td and ts and also red alert 1 and 2. While doubling the weight value's you see there. These are the mainline designs.

***

As for translations. I only need a table that shows the extra dice rolls. Then I leave it up to the players to decide which they use. The original weapon, or the translated weapon.

Fun things can happen now. Especially when you look at Green.
But remember that the other factions can and will translate back. Ahem.....

>>>Weaker factions have an advantage<<<

Translating towards certain bases for the rolls will be a nogo. So I am limited in regards of certain weights.

A base of 1 to 5 is possible. 6 is a "heck yeah!"
But a base of 7 is...?
Base of 8 and 9 and 10 too are good.
But a base of 11 is...?
Then we got 12.
But a base of 13 is...?

The prime numbers are difficult.

A good name.

Then I can have this name also being attached to certain unit names. So the basic names like rifleman, combat tank, assault tank etc. Can be used, while the faction name is part of it.

When I look at RTS games. The first example in this would be the Combat Tanks in Dune 2 and Dune 2000.
Atreides, Ordos and Harkonnen, Combat Tanks.
They are still different in their stats. Which is why only the name Combat Tank isn't enough.

Some other RTS don't have differences in stats. But sometimes more of a global difference. Like the Riflemen in Red Alert (1). Here they are exactly the same. But they can be slightly different in multiplayer. Since there are 2 factions, and they are the same. Calling them by a faction name isn't the case. But if it would be, they would be called the Allied Riflemen and Sovjet Riflemen. Which is a bit cliché.

But, even if I have fancy Faction names.
I also need fancy unit names.
When designing is done, I should describe how the unit looks like though.

Well, anything goes. And some weapons will be more used in certain factions.

Lasers, plasma, vacuum, radioactive, other radiations, acid, explosives, rockets, missiles, cannons, railguns, bullets, plasmite, fire, napalm, electricity, stabbing, cryo, blunt, run-over, toxins, anything else?

Of course we can have anything in rapid fire, bulk or artillery. And a sword or hammer can have attributes too.

Nuclear weapons? Sure, but rarely, 1 design per 4 factions. So, 1 grenadier will use a nuclear grenade. Like the one in Starship Troopers.

Punisher
Tormentor
Terminator
Bunker-Buster

Some might recognise the following. And some sets will not do if suspicion of a lot of "flying" or "subterrain" units are present. Thus those lists will probably be added once those type of units come in. Of course, the ground variants in a certain list can have many variants by themselves. Like for example the beetles, ants and mantis.

These are just some placeholders to use or expand on.

Animals

Set of snakes:
Anaconda, Viper, Cobra, Python, Mamba, Boa
Slow but deadly.

Set of bugs:
Beetle, Bee, Ant, Mosquito, Mantis, Fly, Flea, Grasshopper
With the Bee being an annihilating unit. Or, we have a BeeQueen that makes "bee's" on the spot that act as projectiles.

Set of big cats:
Leopard, Cougar, Lion, Tiger, Jaguar, Cheetah
Most are fast and on par with the snakes. Most are...from last century, but then further developed.

Set of birds:
See that other topic on BGG.
I would start with the ground variants only. But eventually, we have units that can go underwater, on water, on land and into the air.

Set of dinosaurs. Most are bulky and/or fast.
Set of rodents. Small and fast.
Set of dogs.
Set of livestock. (not likely to be used)
Set of monkeys.

Other stuff
Set of stones. Yes, I use the names for units.
Set of clouds. Again, units.

Set of chemicals. "The Sulfur Tank" has a nice ring to it. Other chemicals would have their properties being visible in what it can do. Hydrogen and Helium both can fly. Hydrogen explodes, Helium is just...flying. Heavier gasses will be present too. We got liquids (water) and solids (land).

Set of generic names. Light/Medium/Heavy + Assault/Battle/Combat + Infantry/Vehicle/Tank . Things like a light battle tank or heavy combat vehicle or medium assault infantry are a thing. But I would love to expand the number of choices.
Very light and very heavy are options.
Defending and ...? what else?
Trooper/Bike/Trike/Quad/ATV could be added.
I think that this set should be present everywhere. Just to add more variation options to the other names.

Set of gods. Like Thor or Hera.
Set of woods. Yeah, I think this should be an option. But not their "seeds".
Set of planets. Including those outside of the solar system.
Set of stars. Probably combined with the planets.
Set of types of objects from space. Star, planet, comet, meteor, astroid, darkhole, neutron, dwarf star, dwarf planet, moon. But maybe I am going overboard with these.

Set of math. Addition, Subtraction, Multiply, Root. https://www.thoughtco.com/glossary-of-mathematics-definitions-4070804 "The Cone" is a vehicle that can choose between 2 weapons. One weapon is a lot of projectiles with a lower accuracy and the lowest weapon tier. The other weapon is just 1 projectile that has a high accuracy and has the highest weapon tier.
"The Cilinder" is the same vehicle as "The Cone". But it shoots a couple of projectiles of mid tier with a decent accuracy.
"The Exponent" shoots a projectile that will explode and react with its target. Upon reaction, more explosions can occur. I presume we can have an exponent infantry, exponent tank, exponent ATV etc.
I like this set of math already.