BUG or malfunctioning feature: Scouting with metal spot building

I noticed that long ago, but didnt follow the forums discussions if it has been mentioned:

With the area command for building metal spots you can easily find out where your enemies build metal spots. just build on the whole planet and look where your metal spots were placed, and where not.
There where nothing was placed, enemies already built metal spots

Wow this could come in handy.

Confirm this one. Actually there was report on this bug before, but I wasn't able to find it on bugtracker and forums so decide to search first. Though you posted it before I find original report.

Also just want to notice that this method doesn't work 100% correctly because there is some unused metal spots that not used by area build for some reason, but can't be used when you place MEX manually. But I guess it's a bit different bug.

PS: Find original report now, posted on bugtracker: PA#3259

Yeah this definitely needs more votes.

still in the game and is gamebreaking if abused.

Noticed it a couple weeks ago. In the streams I have been watching I have never seen it abused. It will be abused now. The cat is out of the bag.

the cat was out of the bag in march already xD

broken??

I dont understand how such a game breaking bug cannot be corrected in over 1 month. There isnt even a respond if they noticed it

@metabolical - have you guys seen this ?

I can say for sure @garat seen this.

Someone saw it, I'm happy

Why would you assume someone didn't see it if confirmed in bug tracker?

Also, why would you assume it would get top priority patching because it breaks competitiveness, whenever the balance itself isn't competitive yet, whenever the game is in fact not finished anyway?

Engine functionality bugs are prioritized, I am pretty sure overlooked features in gameplay such as metal spots giving away reconnisance is just a feature to-be-programmed. Just a missing feature, they will get to it, promise.

It doesn't break the game.

Arguably, it does - or at least, it would if you could rush with t1 units.

It's one of the defences against a rush - that you don't know exactly where your opponent is. This means you can just build 10 units and send them en masse into the opponents base, instead of having to scout first. You get there earlier. .

Bug is two months old, and the more time goes by means it slips further and further down the bug tracker, plus it's a polish item. And there seemed to be a focus on polishing stuff for a moment there.

It could have uses beyond early game. You could track where your opponent is expanding to or monitor the status of multiple players in FFA.

Does this work with the area build for structures other than metal extractors?

probably for all, but didnt test that yet, its most comfortable for metal extractors.

=>



Very nice way to tell exactly the position of basically any kind of enemy building. Only drawback is that the it is not possible to give a "please cover the whole planet" command.
Still in dire need of fixing.

damnit, the fabbers know more than we do...

THEY'RE IN LEAGUE WITH THE OTHER TEAM! KILL THE TRAITORS!

...What do you mean, "we can't build the factory", just send in the-

.....oh.

****...

dacamell gave me this screenshot of KISEL using this exploit in an actual 1v1 (http://pastats.com/chart?gameId=85937)

Kinda sad to see somebody actually use such an obvious "this is an exploit"
Just so everyone knows: I don't like that and such behavior will result in games being deleted or altered to the disadvantage of the cheaters.