Building underground?

Metal Fatigue tried this, and it was a lot to keep track of... PA already has a lot of levels to keep track of, I don't think we need an underground to keep track of as well.

If you can already do it, why do you need every planet to have another layer so you can do it more? you should really concentrate on hiding out in the asteroids and such. Other things that will be in the game already rather than adding in another layer of complexity.

hmm let me think... only about 3 levels, planet, solar system, and galaxy and by the way galaxy and solar system wont be too hard cause they arent having much in space so underground would be a great addition

also i would dig on asteroids so asteroids are my 2nd choice of course

also since they have confirmed underwater bases why not underground?

Nope, wrong.

Here are all the Layers we expect/assume will be present, starting at the lowest point;

Seafloor
Submerged
Surface(Water)
Land
Air
Orbital

And that's is already 4 well defined areas that are all pretty unique from each other;

Sea
Land
Air
Orbital

Each with it's own unique set of units(some may be able to access other layers, like an Amphibious unit) and basic mechanics that 'drive' the unit's physics.

The problem with an underground layer(which are VERY well explained in the threads that are from Well before this one that I linked you to) is that it is functionally very similar to the Land layer and that it's very difficult present it in such a way to the player that it's easy to understand and easy to navigate not only within the Underground layer, but also the transition.

The nice thing about the list of layers I provided above is that once you've zoomed out enough, you can effectively see them all. You couldn't do that with an underground layer.

Solve those problems, and then we can talk about it, but I think the other threads we've had on the subject and your poll speak for themselves really.

Mike

ok there is technically 1 more region but underground would be EPICNESS in a bottle, cause i know there's underwater but air units among other units cant go in there

This made my day. :lol:

Back on topic, no. This game is three dimensional, not a platformer. IMO, only platformers can get away with this. It you want to play a game with underground elements, play this.

Do you have any other good intelligent reason besides "epicness"

lol yes. i do have other reasons and i've said them before. 1: i love hiding, 2: motherload is not my kind of game, 3: digging would be a fun way to make sneak attacks it would add a new kind of strategy to the whole RTS gaming system

1. Cloaking fields.
2. Well that's unfortunate.
3. So flanking doesn't work for you? Huh.

I do believe that you should just look into Metal Fatigue. There's a reason that underground levels have not been added to RTS since then.

Okay, how is it any different from having say a stealth generator? Also the idea that underground based combat is new is laughable, Metal Fatigue, CnC Tiberium Sun and I'm sure more that I'm not aware of have used underground features to some extent.

Mike

Bloody tunnelling flame tanks.

2 of these are much more easily solved and one isn't a good reason. What about the problems that it would cause? How would you address those? Have you read the original underground post?

We know at least he posted in it, but it seems like he was trying to assert his thread as newer......

I linked 3 underground/depth/digging type threads earlier at least, did all the work for him.

Mike

Underground units will only add a extra layer with a toggle to flip back and forth all the time to check the two layers.
Sounds more annoying then fun to me

And suddenly 75% (when I voted) say NO to your poll/idea.

I love the enthusiasm but underground is a failed layer in RTS. Besides, if someone throws an asteroid at you then your planet (and underground exploration) is done for... sounds like a waste to me.

OP, I am disgusted that there is no "Yours is the drill that will pierce the heavens!" option on the poll.

Gurran lagann did, if nothing else, shoot for awesome more than realistic.

Except that all they did was gain altitude, they never went deeper....

Mike

ok most people forgot the game's slogan "we are not shooting for realistic, we are shooting for awesome" also switching between 2 layers isn't going to be any different than the already said layers like space and galactic so saying the viewpoints are going to mess up are no longer viable, and also cloaking fields might be countered and that doesnt hide you from a unit that is in your base. also i can only see these problems with it: it would take a bit longer to make the game (if they havent already considered this a lot), maybe on how units move . but now the upsides: you get to think harder instead of being mindless, requires you to search for somebody more, and game wont end with 1 blow, it would make ppl have more fun in new tactics that have never been used in the RTS gaming universe (like come on new strategies mean there won't be 1 way to win but tons of ways)

Less words more pictures. You still haven't showed how this is all supposed to work.