Topic Index - Last Update May 2013

Whelp, I figure with how often we're starting to go over the same topics I thought it'd be nice to have an index of 'important' threads nicely organized and laid out, both for the new people and the regular crew!

I figured I lurk around here enough, might as well try and do something productive right? xD

It'll be a little slow to kick off and while I've been kicking around since the beginning there is a lot I've forgotten, so if you know of any threads you'd like to have up here shoot me a PM or post here(With a link!) once I get my reserves done.

TEMPLATE

Code:

[b][url=Link to First Post]Exact Thread Title[/url][/b]
[u]Summary[/u]

Try to keep the summary as short as possible but some threads might just have more to summarize.

I'll be editing things and what not quite a bit, so check back often! ;p

Mike

Re: Topic Index

UNITS

Unit Veternacy: can we skip it?
Summary
Talking about the effects of including Unit Veterancy, Neutrino states that he is not a fan of Veterancy.

Regarding unit 'voices'
Summary
This thread covers ideas for unit voice acting and other SFX.

Air Superiority
Summary
This thread talks about Air Superiority and how it might be made more interesting than who has the Most Air units.

Idea to balance planes - Airbases
Summary
This thread talks about the potential use of Air Bases to limit Air unit's power.

How to perform Carpet Bombing
Summary
This thread tackles new implementations of attack orders for Bombers in regards to carpet bombing.

Obligatory navy thread
Summary
This thread is from during the KickStarter and deals with Naval units and in particular it's relation to land. This thread is older and as such a lot of information has been released since it was posted in so please keep that in mind.

Submarines and Anti-Submarine Warfare
Summary
This thread talks about the overall balance for Submarines and their counters, as it has traditional been a stumbling point in prior games.

Unit Ranges Vs Zoom
Summary
This thread aims to figure out appropriate unit ranges based on a Zoom level when Strategic Icons are not not yet present.

Legs vs track: Style vs. Function
This thread covers potential systems to differentiate different Movement types and thier roles in Unit creation.
Summary

Rethinking Air Combat
Summary
This thread presents a different approach to handling Air Combat in PA

Engineers and constructor types.
Summary
This thread covers how engineer types can be differentiated without resorted to arbitrary limitations.

Unit names
Summary
This thread deals with the naming of units and what role it plays in unit Identification and theme.

Unit Nomenclature
Summary
This thread deals with differnet naming conventions for units.

Mines
Summary
This thread covers mines, what role they could play in PA and how they could be implemented.

Gunships
Summary
This Thread Discusses the inclusion of Gunships style units and it's potential Role in PA.

The problem with fighter planes
Summary
This thread attempts to identify Problems with Air units experienced in prior PA-style games and continues on to discuss how to overcome these issues.

Re: Topic Index

ECONOMY

Logistics (ammo, fuel, electricity, building materials, etc)
Summary
This thread talks about the addition of Logistics, primarily in terms of units but also applying to the economy in some areas.

Should resources be tracked per planet/moon
Summary
This thread talks about the potential application of 'Local' economies based on Individual Planetoids, includes Poll.

Should the game have resource limit?
Summary
This thread discusses the value of there being a resource limit, includes Poll.

Another Economic Thought: matching mass and build times.
Summary
This Tread discusses the possibility of matching Mass and Built time in a 1:1 ratio to help make the Flow Economy Easier to learn.

Resource system - suggestion to add rare resource types
Summary
This thread talks about the idea of adding adding additional resources types based on planet type/biome in order to access the most advanced units.

Energy costing unit and building weapons
Summary
This thread covers possible implementations and consequences of wepons/units requiring an energy upkeep to function/fire.

Scarcity of Natural Resources and PA
Summary
This thread Discusses the potential effects from implementing Limited or Diminishing returns into the Economy system.

Extractors
Summary
This thread talks about Extractos and how they should be implemented in PA.

Metal Makers
Summary
This thread discusses Metal Makers and thier possible Inclusion into PA.

Re: Topic Index

COMMANDERS

Pay to Win?
Summary
This thread tackles the idea that having different commanders leads to a Pay 2 Win scheme due the Alpha, Progenitor, Theta and Custom commanders only being available to a limited number of people.

ACU snipes
Summary
Talks about survival issues, solutions, and gameplay focused around the Commander.

Keeping the commander relevant through out the game
Summary
An Early Thread raising concerns on how the Commander can be relevant at all stages of the game.

What abilities should the commander have?
Summary
This thread is a Discussion regarding possible Commander Abilities.

Making the Commander Late Game Viable
Summary
This thread covers the potential issues faced by commanders as the game goes on and units/armies get larger.

Big crater after the commander go's nuclear (combomb)
Summary
This thread deals with the effects of a Commander's DeathBlast and how they can be tweaked to provide the ideal team game environment.

Re: Topic Index

STRUCTURES

Modular factories
Summary
A proposition of modular factories, concerning an alternative for assisting and reducing "micro"

Structure Facing
Summary
Discussion of whether buildings should be allowed to freely rotate when being built.

Should Bots, Tanks and hovercraft have their own factorys?
Summary
This thread covers a broad range of topics, but focuses primarily on how Factories should be implemented in consideration of the multiple unit types(Bot, Tank Air Naval ect ect).

Multiple Bays per Factory
Summary
This thread proposes that Factories should make use of Multiple Build Bays to remove unit roll off time as a factor in construction speeds.

Reactive buildings
Summary
This thread covers potential implementations and possible issues for Reactive buildings like Solar Collectors or Pop-Up Turrets.

Turrets and Immobility
Summary
This thread initially deals with the potential for mobile turrets but primarily covers how defenses achieve a given role in a game.

USER INTERFACE

Better Commands; specific ideas
Summary
This thread proposes a selection of advanced orders for the User Interface.

How many people would like the 2D version included?
This thread talks about potential Implementations of a 'Minimap".
Summary

Attack Move Command & Target Priorities
This thread deals with the implementation of Attack Move Commanders and how they function differently due to the more Simulated nature of TA/SupCom/FA/PA.
Summary

How long we want the command delays to be?
Summary
This thread Discusses the 500ms Command Delay sound in SupCom and whether it would make a return in PA.

GUI ~ Build Grid
Summary
This thread covers the uses of a build grid for use during building placement.

Re: Topic Index

INTER-PLANETARY TRANSPORT

Multiple Uses for Rocket Gantry
Summary
This thread discusses possible uses for the Rocket Gantry as seen in the PA Visualization.

Planetary Assaults and Interstellar Transportation
Summary
This thread talks about potential systems for handling Transportation between planets.

Re: Topic Index

ORBITAL LAYER

Satellites.
Summary
This thread lays out a potential System for Satellites, originally stemmed from this post.

Will the planets actually move?
Summary
This thread discusses the ramifications of based on the accuracy of planetary orbits and other orbital mechanics.

Moons of Moons?
Summary
This thrad deals with the potential to 'nest' orbits.

Re: Topic Index

GLOBAL GAME MECHNICS

Do we need tech levels?
Summary
A 55 page thread regard Tech Levels and going over potential applications.

How many races?
Summary
A Thread from Early on regarding The potential for Multiple factions, keep in mind this thread is old and a lot of new info has come out since then.

How many factions are there?
Summary
This more recent thread discusses the benefits and downfalls of the single unit pool system used for PA as opposed to factions.

MMO Aspects such as levelling commander skills and unlocking
Summary
This Thread explores the option of adding Leveling and other Progression type Mechanics to PA.

Wreckage blocking unit movement
Summary
This thread talks about the options for wreckage in terms on blocking Movement.

What is the community's take on engineering towers?
Summary
This thread deals with Engineering Towers, akin to SupCom FA's Hive and Kennel Structures.

where we're going, we'll need roads
Summary
This thread talks about possible applications of road systems to ease the transporting of units.

Auto Repair for units and structures
Summary
This thread puts forth the idea of units and structures self repairing and other similar ideas.

Auto-Repair, Better Engineer Patrols, or Neither?
Summary
This thread talks about a variety of ways to improve Repair and Assisting Mechanics from prior games.

What game modes should we start with?
Summary
Neutrino Started this thread to Collect ideas for Game modes for Planetary Annihilation.

Galactic Gates: A Universal Solution To Major Problems
Summary
This thread proposes a Galactic Gate System to address many problems such as Connecting Local Economies, Unit Transportation among others.

Natural events that hamper your strategy
Summary
One of many threads proposing random events that would affect gameplay.

Shields?
Summary
This thread discusses possible implementations for Shields.

Things TA did well that SupCom didn't
Summary
This thread Covers the improvements brought on by Strategic Zoom and how it affects Gameplay and User Experience.

[Suggestion] 3rd resource, command points.
Summary
This thread suggestions the addition of a 3rd resource, labeled Command Points, for specific purposes.

Shell arcing
Summary
This Thread proposes a system when units that use ballistic weapons can always use High and Low Arc trajectories to overcome terrain.

Handling Wreckage - The SUPER POLL
Summary
This thread is for discussing the various potential implementations of wreckage in PA, primarily focused on how other units interact with wreckage.

No more: 100 engineers around a factory
This thread Discusses the implications of large sale assisting as seen in prior games and looks for solutions.
Summary

Simulation: How much is too much?
Summary
This thread discusses Simulation and the extent it 'should' be used and it's effects on gameplay.

Instant Death
Summary
In this thread the Application of 'Instant Death' within PA is Discussed.

Non-Deterministic Combat
Summary
This thread discusses how combat can be made less deterministic and it's effects on gameplay.

Building underground?
Summary
This thread haphazardly discusses a variety of potential applications for an Underground layer.

Shooting Robots in the Dark
Summary
This thread Discusses the effects a Day/Night cycle might have on Gameplay.

Friendly Fire
Summary
This thread Discusses Friendly Fire and it's place in PA.

What if Nukes Weren't Superweapons?
Summary
This Thread discusses the implications of making Nukes more Common.

The good side of Micro
Summary
This thread discusses the potential benefits of Micro and how select applications of it might be beneficial.

One race = perfect balance!
Summary
This thread examines the effects, and questions the reasoning behind the choice by Uber to limit the game to One Unit pool shared by all players.

Planetary Orbits?
Summary
This thread discusses the Possible Variations possible to PA to simulate Orbiting Bodies and their effects on gameplay.

Discussion about vision. (if at all)
Summary
This thread covers some different ideas for implementing vision/Intel in general along with associated concepts for Fog of War.

There Be Dragons: Slaying the Deathball
Summary
This thread deals with the infamous 'Deathball' and how it might be avoided/mitigated.

HP to DPS Ratio
Summary
This thread talks about how the ratio of DPS to HP can alter the gameplay and discusses potential ratios for PA.

Rushing
Summary
This thread covers the state and place of 'Rushing' in PA.

What is the community's take on engineering towers?
Summary
This thread talks about the potential for Engineering/Nano towers to make a return in PA.

Air collisions
Summary
This thread discusses potential ways to improve the pathfinding system for air units.

Disconnected Oceans and the issues faced by Naval Units.
Summary
This thread covers potential issues for naval units will face with insufficiently large bodies of water to operate in.

Idea: Night vision shorter then day vision?
Summary
This thread proposes the idea that a unit's visions and possibly other stats could be affected on a day/night cycle.

Ideas about the Egg.
Summary
This thread covers potential applications for the 'Nest Egg' to help out in the early game.

Radar, Jamming, Stealth, Cloak in PA
This thread dicusses Potential Applications of various Intel Systems in PA.
Summary

Re: Topic Index

MODDING

Modding Requests from SupCom Modders
Summary
Request and comments from SupCom Modders for PA Modding.

Modding compared with Sup Com
Summary
Discussion compared modding in PA to SupCom, mostly focuses on Coding Languages.

What game modes should we start with?
Summary
A Dev Post asking for ideas for extra game modes that could be included within PA.

Monetizing mods
Summary
this thread begins with potential systems to monetize mods and features Dev input and potential guidelines for such a system.

Re: Topic Index

ASSORTED

PSA - Realism VS Awesome
Summary
This thread aims to educate on the complimentary nature of 'Awesome' and 'Realism' factors as opposed to them being mutually exclusive.

PSA - PA's Aesthetic
Summary
This thread aims to educate on the finer aspects of PA's Aesthetic and help provide more fitting terminology.

DLC vs Expansions - KNOW THE DETAIL!
Summary
This thread talks about the 'distinctions' between DLC and Expansion packs, and how they may or may not be applicable to PA.

PA + orchestral music = honey + herring = crap
Summary
This thread was created on the basis that because they are recording an Orchestra the music is going to be straight up classical and is quickly shown to not be case.

Space ships and space combat
Summary
This thread creates a great overview of the state of 'space' combat in the TA/SupCom/PA universe and discusses some possible implementations that work in conjuncture with the overview.

Unstable Equilibrium Aversion topic
Summary
This thread proposes putting a system in place to arbitrarily keep any given player's advantage over his opponent(s) in check under the guise of providing 'even footing' for the battle.

Ideas from Zero-K
Summary
This thread presents many ideas/systems from Zero-K with potential benefit to PA.

Alpha / Beta definition
Summary
This thread aims to educate on what can be expected from teh Alpha/Beta phases of Game Development.

Competitive player
Summary
This thread deals with several aspects concerning competitive play in PA.

Re: Topic Index

Okay all done! Now comes the fun part! xD

Mike

Re: Topic Index

Changing to sticky for now. So long as people are using it/keeping it updated. Good idea, Mike!

Re: Topic Index

Thanks, yeah I've been adding a few in, at work right now so I kinda gotta sneak it in around that ;p Hopefully people can start sending in suggestions to help speed things up.

Mike

Re: Topic Index

Is there any topics about what might arrive regarding clans or factions?? could be a interesting thing to add if there is.

Re: Topic Index

it's possible, thing is from what I remember about the few times it's come up is that people are generally pretty agreeable, with this I'm hoping to focus on threads that are heavy on discussion, but if you come across and particular threads post or PM the link and I'll take a look.

Mike

Re: Topic Index

I've got similar idea sometime ago, but I decided that thread scale is too big. A lot of threads discuss a few "hard questions" at a time. So, wouldn't it be better to have "question index"?

Like "AI: If unit is moving towards some direction and got command to move some other direction, what shall it do while calculating new path - go in previous direction, go directly towards new target or stale?"
Or "What is easier to balance: few small factions vs each other or one wider faction within itself?"

Re: Topic Index

Nice OrangeKnight

Re: Topic Index

The problem I see with that specific approach is that like you said, many threads cover topics from many angles, so you'd have the same thread appear for multiple "questions" and the list ends up being artificially long.

I'm hoping to focus on those big discussions, because those big 10+ page threads tend to not only cover the original questions from multiple angles, they also tend to branch out to other closely related questions as well.

It's not that I'm trying to provide answers per see, more so a reference guide, there are still things we haven't talked about yet(as hard as it might be to believe) and new ways to look at old problems, the issue is making sure something is actually new and not something we've already gone over.

Mike

Re: Topic Index

I like how you reserve posts for your content and then give the content after the reserved posts lol. thanks for making this.

Re: Topic Index

Very good work man!