How To Add Soul

Discussion in 'Planetary Annihilation General Discussion' started by Geers, March 26, 2014.

  1. Geers

    Geers Post Master General

    Messages:
    6,946
    Likes Received:
    6,820
    Accept jesus as your lord and saviour.

    The trick is to add just enough uniqueness to a unit so that is distinct from others, but not so much that it stands out and/or looks out of place.

    I think an excellent example is Droidekas in Star Wars.

    [​IMG]

    They didn't walk. No no, they were too cool for that. They transformed into a wheel and rolled into battle! In PA terms I'd say we need a roly poly land scout instead of some generic dune buggy. Remember Vulture Droids? When the landed they became walkers! But! But! They all fitted in! If you saw a picture of a large battle with Vulture Droids and Droidekas in them your eyes didn't immediately gravitate toward them.

    Of course, you can't make everything completely unique, there has to be some unity. After all, it is an organized armed force. There are no casual Fridays here! But if each, or at least most units had their own little "thing", it would add a lot to the overall personality of the game.


    It took me ages to find a video with a Droideka and make that gif so you people better appreciate it.
  2. Corang

    Corang Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    772
    Likes Received:
    313
    I vote for a thread title change to - Why droidekas should be in PA
  3. wheeledgoat

    wheeledgoat Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    409
    Likes Received:
    302
    i gave ya a like for the gif!

    but I thought they were called "destroyers" ? isn't that what ObiWan called them when alerting QuiGon during his Imma-gonna-melt-this-door-with-my-lightsaber maneuver?

    so far as the content of your post, yeah, totally agree. I'm really hoping part of Uber's final polishing phase for 1.0 release will include lots of eye and ear candy... sounds, unit skins and visuals that make you go [​IMG] . It would make sense, since that stuff is least likely to break anything, wouldn't require much testing (that you would use the community for) and would make a very nice surprise for all the supporters.

    We'll see!
  4. spainardslayer

    spainardslayer Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    304
    Likes Received:
    257
    New sound tech effects for some units would really help. Also high tech tanks that have been perfected over countless years of war should not die in 3 shots from a Dox.
  5. Geers

    Geers Post Master General

    Messages:
    6,946
    Likes Received:
    6,820
    I will be very surprised if PA never gets a Star Wars mod.

    Both.
    madmecha likes this.
  6. Corang

    Corang Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    772
    Likes Received:
    313
    I am very inclined to find a 3d model of a droideka and find a way to shove it into PA
    Geers likes this.
  7. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

    Messages:
    6,896
    Likes Received:
    1,812
    I think great example of game with lot of unique units is Generals: Zero Hour:


    I know many people don't like this game because it's not C&C, but it's great example for this topic because there is number of units I'm really like and one of most is GLA combat cycle that can go though some impassable terrain. :)
    wheeledgoat likes this.
  8. Geers

    Geers Post Master General

    Messages:
    6,946
    Likes Received:
    6,820
    Upon further contemplation, perhaps the roly poly motion should be given to the Vulcans (I'm not calling them "Booms" because that's just plain silly).
  9. LetsOne

    LetsOne Active Member

    Messages:
    101
    Likes Received:
    39
    Looking at that video it would be call if they made tanks have tire tracks that disappear after like 10 seconds.
  10. cdrkf

    cdrkf Post Master General

    Messages:
    5,721
    Likes Received:
    4,793
    I loved zero hour- used to play it over LAN when I was at uni with the other house mates... The air force general ftw :D

    I still think it looks good- the only problem with generals now is you can't zoom (once you get used to strategic zoom you just can't go back, I have same problem with OTA as well)
  11. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

    Messages:
    6,896
    Likes Received:
    1,812
    Actually cam is adjustable though settings, but after some point rendering glitches appear. Main problem of ZH it's crashes and extreme simulation slowdown with lot of units, and dump AI...

    But for 2003 it's was awesome game and there is number of units can be used as example. :rolleyes:
    cdrkf likes this.
  12. superouman

    superouman Post Master General

    Messages:
    1,007
    Likes Received:
    1,139
    Omg yes! Rolling bomb. But i still find their "spider" form cute.

    They see me rollin', they explodin'!
    Geers likes this.
  13. cptconundrum

    cptconundrum Post Master General

    Messages:
    4,186
    Likes Received:
    4,900
    TA has a megamap now!
    http://www.tauniverse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43736

    It's not full strategic zoom, but pretty good for a game that old.
  14. doctoraxel

    doctoraxel Active Member

    Messages:
    102
    Likes Received:
    49
    Opportunity to call them Bowling Bombs should not be missed.

    Opportunity to make them bowlable by the Commander should DEFINITELY not be missed.
  15. wheeledgoat

    wheeledgoat Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    409
    Likes Received:
    302
    it rolls to cover distance quickly, then unfolds & spider-jumps its way to bombastic suicide glory? and using its spider legs, it clings for a beat before exploding, so you can anticipate the inevitable.
    Geers and vyolin like this.
  16. vyolin

    vyolin Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    631
    Likes Received:
    479
    That reeks of Supreme Commander 2's naming schemes and boy, do I not want to see that come back in any way, shape or form!
    And different movement models? Hell, yes?
  17. mered4

    mered4 Post Master General

    Messages:
    4,083
    Likes Received:
    3,149
    A bomb bot that rolls to its target, unfolds and jumps into spider form, then lands on the intended target, latches on, and detonates. Imagine a swarm attacking the commander.

    :)
  18. bradbeattie

    bradbeattie New Member

    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    2
    I know static base shields are out of the game, but personal unit shields? Has that been ruled out?
  19. tatsujb

    tatsujb Post Master General

    Messages:
    12,902
    Likes Received:
    5,385
    Is that supcom's engine??
  20. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

    Messages:
    2,208
    Likes Received:
    885
    No
    it uses westwoods SAGE
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAGE_(game_engine)

Share This Page