Catapult/Holkins Range

Discussion in 'Balance Discussions' started by eratosthenes, April 26, 2014.

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The range of catapults/holkins are generally...

  1. Too big, small planets become annoying.

    9 vote(s)
    25.0%
  2. Too small, I want to shoot missles everywhere!

    7 vote(s)
    19.4%
  3. Just right, Goldylocks would have picked this range.

    20 vote(s)
    55.6%
  1. aevs

    aevs Post Master General

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    So it should be a holkins but worse in almost every possible way (damage, range, AoE, cost effectiveness)?
    Yeah, no. If you have a problem with the homing ability of the catapult, you have a problem with the primary mechanic of the catapult. That's what sets it apart from artillery, and that's what you're paying for.
    squishypon3 and tehtrekd like this.
  2. KNight

    KNight Post Master General

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    I'm paying for a more boring version of something?

    Mike
  3. tatsujb

    tatsujb Post Master General

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    how many times have I said this on the forum exactly?
    you've completely ignored the com snipe issue.
    the specialisation to the cata as being the higher damage, more meant to hit immobile targets role makes more sense then your proposal witch doesn't make the two any different and keeps the cata as a com-nuke without possible counter.
  4. phantomtom

    phantomtom Active Member

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    It`s complicated
    Last edited: April 27, 2014
  5. tehtrekd

    tehtrekd Post Master General

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    Um, no.
    You're paying for a homing weapon that actually has a reasonable fire rate.
  6. KNight

    KNight Post Master General

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    You mean there are others with less reasonable fire rates?

    Mike
  7. tehtrekd

    tehtrekd Post Master General

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    Maybe a better solution then is anti-missile defenses.
    By removing the homing capabilities you may as well entirely remove the catapult.
  8. tehtrekd

    tehtrekd Post Master General

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    What I mean is that 1 shot per 20 seconds is very unreasonable.
  9. KNight

    KNight Post Master General

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    So, lets add another Binary mechanic to an already Binary Mechanic?

    What unit is that?

    Mike
  10. squishypon3

    squishypon3 Post Master General

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    But the homing is it's whole thing, if it's as inaccurate as a Lobber, with lower range, why would anyone ever use them? I think they should get a reload speed nerf or something. They're meant to be shorter range, ballistic missles that do a lot of damage but to only one target at a time.
  11. tehtrekd

    tehtrekd Post Master General

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    The Holkins.
    And I see what you're doing, so let me stop you by saying that the catapult and holkins are entirely differen, but what you're suggesting would make them the same.
    And once again, would make the catapult entirely useless.
    trialq likes this.
  12. KNight

    KNight Post Master General

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    What am I suggesting? I'm pretty sure I haven't suggested any specifics yet.

    What's more interesting is that despite you claiming that they're different, you're also comparing them. You say the Catapult has a reasonable fire rate compared to the Holkins, but if they're for different things why does it matter?

    Mike
  13. tehtrekd

    tehtrekd Post Master General

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    Because while they aren't the same, they are similar (high damage per shot, high range)
    The only thing that differentiates them currently is the homing capabilities of the catapult.
    Which is why, as I said, the catapult should get lower range and fire rate, making it more defensive than offensive.

    Also to mention the other half of this, the Holkins should become more offensive by getting a higher rate of fire and keeping its high range.

    Also, I'm not usually one to thrown ones own words back at someone but...

    "So, I'm paying for a more boring version of something?"
    ~KNight, 2014

    Sure you weren't specific, but artillery has been mentioned a lot in this thread, so it was surely implied.
    trialq likes this.
  14. squishypon3

    squishypon3 Post Master General

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    tomayto, tomahto. (Spelling incorrect for obvious reasons. :p )
    How differentiated would they be if the missile cannot home in on something? The definition of a missile is something that can change it's velocity, without that, it's not a catapult. The catapult is mean't to be a low to medium range, high damage, and high precision weapon. The lobber (Holkins) is a slow, inaccurate, high damage high aoe weapon with huge range. They each have their respective roles, if you take the catapults homing away it becomes a worse version of the Lobber; no one would build one as I stated earlier.

    Edit: I am unsure why tomayto and tamahto were hyper linked.. o_O Oh and it seems I replied to someone I hadn't meant to... Whoops, guess no one is against what I had suggested then? I am content!
  15. KNight

    KNight Post Master General

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    Which brings us back to my original point;

    The problem with homing is not that it's not unique or different, the issue is that on it's own Homing is a boring Mechanic.

    Mike
  16. tehtrekd

    tehtrekd Post Master General

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    The problem with that is that you really can't do anything else with a missile launcher.
    Unless you make them laser guided, but that would add SO much micro that nobody would use them because they'd be inconvenient.
  17. KNight

    KNight Post Master General

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    That is ridiculous.

    Have you seen all the different type of Missile/Rocket units/Weapons I've designed?

    Mike
  18. tehtrekd

    tehtrekd Post Master General

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    I have not.
  19. squishypon3

    squishypon3 Post Master General

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    Explain how it is not unique and or different? How many units use homing other than Anti-Air units/structures and the "catapult ship" as I've dubbed it. I see it as something helpful for defending against high HP units. Something like, a group of tanks is rolling towards your base; you pay close attention.. Aha, a Vanguard and the catapult will put it as highest priority, firing the missile at it, now in normal circumstances this wouldn't be too helpful (Taking one unit out at a time) But when high level targets appear they can be very helpful since Lobbers would be too unpredictable.
  20. KNight

    KNight Post Master General

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    Well there is a LOT more that can be done to create lots of fun, unique and interesting Missile/Rocket weapons than JUST Homing.

    I never said homing wasn't unique or different, read that sentence again.

    The point I was making is that if the only thing you're doing with a weapon is slapping on Homing, it's boring. Especially when it results in "Perfect Accuracy" because that results in Binary outcomes;

    In Range?
    If Yes - Is Hit
    If No - Is Not Hit

    Mike

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