I'd like to suggest having modular units, that can be joined together to form larger fighting machines (eventually scaling up to experimental size). It's not something I've ever seen done in an RTS, and I can't understand why it hasn't ever been tried before. (although I am sure it's quite a technical challenge to achieve) One of the big problems with developing experimental units in the past was that you would have to commit a ton of resources into a single vulnerable stationary item for a long amount of time, with that item being essentially useless until it is fully completed. Why not free up this limitation, by making the smaller fighting units be the building blocks for these larger machines. In this way you are able to focus on just building up your core army. And then you can make the strategic decision to either keep your large army, or consolidate some of it into stronger fighting units. Just think of the possible combinations you could make, join a shield bot with a plane, to create a flying shield that can be easily deployed to the front line. Or join 5 artillery bots together to create a faster firing, or increased range weapon. By joining them into one unit it would also make the game easier to control by reducing the number of units you need to select. so it helps with the UI by de-cluttering the screen. Perhaps if your mega bot is getting its *** handed to it you could deconstruct it in mid-battle to attempt to save some of your fighting force, or have it break away to strike somewhere else? Is this a good idea? Is this possible? or am I just asking for too much?
I would like some kind of engineer can give a boost, which cost as much as building, to give the defensive structure a overcharge and so higher range with higher fire speed.
Pretty sure we already had a thread on this: [IDEA] Untiered Unit Progression - Components /Manufacturers viewtopic.php?f=61&t=35144 And it wasn't all that well received.
This could be very neat in a mod: either a new set of units for a new faction or a total conversion mod.
This would be a nightmare to balance. The long build times on experimentals was a feature, not a bug, it gives you the chance to scout it and either destroy it while under construction, or prepare in some way to deal with it when it's finished.
Not quite on topic, but this discussion reminds me of the Blizzard terratron april fools joke: http://youtu.be/GJ63i9BXZSs And yes, if some powerranger style assembled bot would be in the game that would be awesome (though it should be a mod and not part of vanilla PA, wouldn't want it to be actually a viable strategy or even remotely balanced)
I assumed this thread would be about Warzone 2100-style unit design mechanics, which only sort-of worked. Instead, it was about something even less likely to not be terrible.
When I read the title I immediately thought of this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD-9NZsYCQw Anyone else watch this as a kid?
Perimeter had modular units. You could only construct 3 base units from what I remember and transform masses of those into whatever you liked.
Was just about to mention Perimeter 1, it really was quite a fun game but idk about Perimeter 2 didn't do so well. There was also another game that had unit combining of the same type into better units but I can't remember at the moment it was another fun game.
