Idea: Feng Shui

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lamefun
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Idea: Feng Shui

Post by lamefun »

I think Unvanquished should add a few hidden construction tricks so that players still have things to discover after learning he basics.

For example:

  • A team's defensive structures receive a +25% damage bonus if the number of them is divisible by 3.

  • Eggs built exactly at 0:15, 0:30, 0:45 and so one have increased fertility and creep radius.

  • Lotus pattern - if 4 turrets surround a single repeater from north, south, east and west sides, they gain the power to shoot through humans and human structures without harming them.

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SantaClaws
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Re: Idea: Feng Shui

Post by SantaClaws »

One of the hallmarks of great design, is a simplistic design with great depth. You are trying to artificially create depth by needlessly complicating it. Even worse, you are trying to add hidden mechanics - to the frustration of every new or returning player. If you want to add these things, you must make sure there are adequate tutorials and tooltips for it.

You could endlessly add more and more and more content (as evident by your recent history of posts) - but that is not what makes a great game. You want few very refined pieces of content. Trust me, if the game is solid, people will always be able to discover new subtle improvements in the meta - things that you as a developer probably won't even dream of. You do not need to artificially add it just for the sake of it.

Look at chess, a game with six different pieces with different moves. In a simple 8x8 symmetrical board. A few easily understandable rules. Yet, the depth of the game has allowed some of the greatest minds in 1400 years, to continually discover and develop the meta even to this day.

No need to overcomplicate the game - if people enjoy the game, they will add to the depth through their decision makings.

And it's not like proper building placement is not already important enough, without adding arbitrary buffs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVL4st0blGU

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lamefun
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Re: Idea: Feng Shui

Post by lamefun »

SantaClaws wrote:

Even worse, you are trying to add hidden mechanics

Unvanquished already has hidden mechanics, like strafe-jumping and small aliens being able to bite humans in the head without climbing or jumping (both of these are from Tremulous), and the developers don't seem to have problems with these mechanics, otherwise they would have been removed a long time ago.

SantaClaws wrote:

to the frustration of every new or returning player

The point is that there should be a set of hidden building patterns and rules that are either very unlikely to be met naturally or their effects are too small to be readily noticeable. It should only be possible to use Shui Feng to your advantage (if you even realize it exists in the game) if you know at least a half-dozen rules.

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