Omnimaga

Calculator Community => Discontinued => Major Community Projects => S.A.D. (Seek and Destroy) => Topic started by: Hot_Dog on July 05, 2010, 10:54:28 am

Title: S.A.D. The Cythid Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on July 05, 2010, 10:54:28 am
There is going to be at least one new race in S.A.D., possibly more.  I am putting topics up for discussion and development of these races
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on July 05, 2010, 11:58:44 am
Looks great so far, Matthias.  But be careful, we don't want all the ships to be almost exactly like original S.A.D. ships just with different abilities.  If you have, say, 3 or 4 ships totally unique, you should be fine.

Think of it like Starcraft: The Terran Wraith and Protoss scout were almost identical, same with the Battlecruiser/Carrier and Zerg Hydralisk/Protoss Dragoon.  That was fine, but there were many units totally different from each other.

Keep it up!
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on July 05, 2010, 12:09:56 pm
Thank you
I know. I guess the chunker is different as is the xelectron...(makes curiosity arise...)
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on July 05, 2010, 12:11:40 pm
Thank you
I know. I guess the chunker is different as is the xelectron...(makes curiosity arise...)

The runners are definitely unique, I will say that :D
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: ztrumpet on July 05, 2010, 12:42:27 pm
Wow, that's really cool! Nice job Matthias! ;D
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on July 05, 2010, 02:56:35 pm
Since I have two new obsession: SAD and GIF animations lets combine them with my 'skills' as a moviemaker...this is just one shot of a small introduction I want to make for the xaos. All hand drawn in paint :P.

LOL Don't get so obsessed with S.A.D. that your parents worry that you're not getting enough exercise outside ;P

Btw Matthias, would you like to create the Xaos campaign, or would you like me to do that?  Each campaign will have about 7-10 missions (except for the example "custom" campaign I provide for the player, which will have 25), and I will make sure you know privately what's going on with the other three campaigns so that you know where to start
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on July 05, 2010, 03:14:13 pm
I live next to a forest so no worries...

Ehr yes I would like to make that campaign but I'll need lots of help! Let's say we'll do it together ok? but you can shove the work towards me...
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on July 05, 2010, 03:23:39 pm
Sounds good, all in good time
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 05, 2010, 04:11:49 pm
Wow those are nice Matthias1992. Good job so far :)

Just one thing, it is generally viewed as bad on these type of forums to double-post without considerable amount of time between posts (since it is viewed as postcount inflating by some other people and can make threads harder to read since they get split in even more pages). Generally it's 1 hour for project updates and 6 for other posts (on many other sites it's 24-72), otherwise it is recommended to edit your previous posts.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: ztrumpet on July 07, 2010, 11:00:03 am
That lools neat!  Nice job! ;D
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 07, 2010, 12:44:56 pm
Nice drawing! :D
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on July 07, 2010, 01:18:43 pm
Ty both. Bigfoot really is my favourite unit personally...
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on July 24, 2010, 01:12:17 pm
OK here is a small update (altough there is a huge one around the corner ;) ).

I did some redesigning on the Xaos and I changed some units. For now I will just give names.

GROUND:

Builderbot->Assault Drone ->Mortar Drone -> Bigfoot (Maximus)

AIR:

Builderbot->Aerial->Scipii->Mothership (Hydron)

SPECIAL:

Hydron   \
              --Maxidron
Maximus /

the ->'s mean you can upgrade from one unit on the left to a unit on the right. So you can go from a Builderbot to a Aerial but you can not go from a builderbot to a Scipii (you need to make the Aerial first). The names in parenthesis are alternative names. A bigfoot can become a Maximus if it is fully upgraded. Just like so, a Mothership can become a Hydron if it has all upgrades.

The last thing I am gonna tell you is that Maxidron is a very, very powerful unit, altough not invincible it comes very close. For the sake of balance however there is a huge IF to it. That being you have to pay a huge price for it and secondly, you must have build both the Maximus and the Hydron. From either one of them (the one you build the last) you can then construct the Maxidron.

Ooh, yea...
one more thing. :P
Maxidron is spelled with d not with t, this is important because the Maxitron is far more powerful then the Maxidron

Here is a drawing of the MaxiDron, forgive the poor quality I do not have a scanner so I just took a photgraph of it.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4824311984_d59516b5dd.jpg)
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 29, 2010, 04:51:23 am
I love that drawing a lot. You seems quite good at it, Matthias92 :)

Nice work so far on the Xaos Race :)
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on July 29, 2010, 01:35:38 pm
now good is too much of a hnor considering the left and right side aren't symmetric. Thanks for the compliment though!
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 29, 2010, 09:13:53 pm
Still, I liked it. I wish I was as good at drawing x.x
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on August 02, 2010, 09:10:17 pm
Yes, well done on the drawing!
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on August 29, 2010, 12:57:29 am
Since we're working on making races unique, I should probably tell you guys that Matthias is planning on (or at least did plan on) allowing upgrades for buildings themselves, which means that the Xaos is the only faction that can do that.  (Note that Ptaloid buildings can still heal themselves, but the "HP" upgrades have been canceled.)
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on August 29, 2010, 01:27:55 am
Nice, it should be a good addition to the game and makes the race unique.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on August 29, 2010, 04:10:46 am
Yes, I must apologize though that I still haven't worked the Xaos out. So I'll set myself a deadline: before 8th september the Xaos will be done!

On a slightly unrelated note; the Campaign Editor will take some more time.

Edit: W00t I am level 5 :P
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on August 29, 2010, 09:56:47 am
Yes, I must apologize though that I still haven't worked the Xaos out. So I'll set myself a deadline: before 8th september the Xaos will be done!

Excellent! :D  Don't forget that S.A.D. now supports multiple numbers of the same kind of unit inside a group.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on September 04, 2010, 07:11:56 pm
ok first of all, I removed some comments, specifically the comments containing sprites and stats. This I did because the Xaos have been remapped entirely, instead call them the "Cythid" from now on!

I have gone back to the original robot idea but I made more cyberant like now. They aren't purely machines but half machine half-humanoid.

I am not completely done with the units and consider adding in some more, also I did not add in any stats because I tend to terribly overpower units, I'd like to have the community to help me (and therefore Hot_Dog)  with balancing out the units. I hope you are okay with this Hot_Dog? If not please let me know!


Ups And Downs

The Cythid can evolve on the fly, that means that your units can grow stronger by upgrading them without requiring the construction of any (new) buildings. This of course costs some money and if your unit dies you'll have to re-evolve from the ground up (maybe I will scrap that but I think it is a good "penalty" for upgrading besides the cost)!

There are two unit levels:


Humilus (which by the way is latin for "low" (inter=medium) is the lowest tier this is just the standard unit you can evolve from, these units are cheap, fast but do little damage.

Inter units do more damage then Humilus damage plus they have a special ability, they are however slower and costlier then Humilus-units.

Now you know you can upgrade but surely some have wondered can I downgrade? yes, I intend on having the Cythid being downgradable meaning that you can go from an Inter back to a Humilus. The point in downgrading is quickly getting money. You'll get 50% of the original upgrade price back. This can be extremely handy to get those last few coins to buy that one über unit with which you'll pown the AI!


Units
So here is a small template layout for the stats of each unit (note: none are added atm, just for demonstrating purposes)

So far I have gotten:

Builderbot
non-evolvant
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/4960129600_a28a695395_m.jpg)

Battle drone
Humilus
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/4960129588_c023b9b950_m.jpg)
Inter
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/4960129592_877d44bf57_m.jpg)

War drone
Humilus
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/4960131916_e1c4946094_m.jpg)
Inter
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/4960131918_57ce57ebb8_m.jpg)

Big foot
Humilus
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/4960129596_e2bd7682a0_m.jpg)

Inter
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4960129598_3dd650971e_m.jpg)

Runner
Humilus
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4960131910_72c56cf9e5_m.jpg)
Run for it! Run!
Inter
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/4960131912_d87dbbc643_m.jpg)
Kamikaze!

Floater
non-evolvant
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/4960129602_70a24e9ba8_m.jpg)
Gravity is a habit that is hard to shake off

Hydron
non-evolvant, note:I am doubting which of the two sprites I will take, one is bigger but has more detail and the other is smaller but less detailed
Detailed
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/4960131906_05b07c2812_m.jpg)
Undetailed
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/4960131898_6b1beee3e8_m.jpg)
Water? why does...It can shoot?

Chunker
non-evolvant
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/4959537829_ac6c83d1ea_m.jpg)
You...shall not...pass!

Electron
non-evolvant
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4959537835_da0b5b697a_m.jpg)
Lighting never strikes the same place twice..but it can strike freakin'everywhere!
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on September 04, 2010, 07:58:07 pm
I like your upgrade ideas, even though I'll have to look at it more.  However, the Ptaloids are insect-like, so you might want to come up with something else.  (I'm afraid I came up with the Ptaloids about a year, or even 2, ago)

Quote
I'll go with the good'ol scary-as-hell-aliens idea

I hate to tell you this, but I am not going to let that into my game under any circumstances.  If I were to tell you why, you wouldn't believe me.  I'm not saying stick with your robot idea, but that was, for example far less of a problem--come up with something that wouldn't cause people to flee from a movie theater.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on September 04, 2010, 08:10:03 pm
I like your upgrade ideas, even though I'll have to look at it more.  However, the Ptaloids are insect-like, so you might want to come up with something else.  (I'm afraid I came up with the Ptaloids about a year, or even 2, ago)

Quote
I'll go with the good'ol scary-as-hell-aliens idea

I hate to tell you this, but I am not going to let that into my game under any circumstances.  If I were to tell you why, you wouldn't believe me.  I'm not saying stick with your robot idea, but that was, for example far less of a problem--come up with something that wouldn't cause people to flee from a movie theater.

Cyberants anyone?

I never really caught the fact that the platoids were insect like...sorry otherwise I would have chosen a other remap. I'll think we are heading to a third remap...

Nothing to worry about though, it's my own fault that I didn't see you already had the insect-like creatures in the game. the point is I am getting slightly annoyed with re-thinking this race over and over again. Again, not your fault, my fault. Also I think some other people might want to do the sprites altough I think mine are OK but they aren't spectacular in any sense...

Lucky me that I didn't design all the Cythid insect like buildings already, saves me some work...
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 04, 2010, 08:12:40 pm
I like those and awesome sprites too, Matthias1992. The problem, though, is that S.A.D already has a similar race, the Platoids. If your new race is kept, it might be good to make sure they have many differences with the Platoid race.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on September 04, 2010, 08:25:56 pm
Quote
I am getting slightly annoyed with re-thinking this race over and over again

Even if you hated all your old units, buildings and strategies for the Xaos, I LOVED IT.  I can come up with a "history" for them if you want.  I'm just saying, if you're trying to remap for your own sake, that's fine by me, but otherwise, I really, really looked forward to the old Xaos idea and still like it nowadays.  I'll even be fine if you decide you just want to do the standard 9-units-without-upgrading thing, and I can work on the statistics.

Again, your choice.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on September 05, 2010, 10:49:29 am
Xaos have been updated, I have gone back to the Cyberant/Robot/AI idea. Check it out a few posts up...
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on September 05, 2010, 10:59:38 am
Excellent, Matthias!  I really do like that idea.  Would you like me to do the statistics for you?
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Xaos Race
Post by: matthias1992 on September 05, 2010, 11:09:10 am
Excellent, Matthias!  I really do like that idea.  Would you like me to do the statistics for you?

Yes, I think it is best if you do that mainly because you as the designer of this whole project know what a reasonable price is for a unit and what kind of attacks must be included etc.

So yea, if I don't bother you too much with it, please do so! I am going to work on the buildings now!

edit: I am adding some descriptions to some units to give you a idea of how powerful each unit (IMO) is
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Cythid Race
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 05, 2010, 01:29:40 pm
Wow those new sprites are awesome! I like the new ideas too, especially the evolving part. The player will need to be careful to not wasting units too much too and possibly downgrade if he needs money to build a different unit, else evolving each unit one by one non-stop will make him waste heaps of money.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Cythid Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on September 05, 2010, 02:45:07 pm
I like your detailed Hydron better than the smaller one.

I read the full description, now that I finally had a chance to just sit down.  11 thumbs up.  I have just a couple of comments:

1.  What do you mean by swarmable?  S.A.D. allows a person to build multiple units of the same type at once, do you mean that a non-swarmable unit can only be used one at a time?  Or what do you mean by swarmable?

2.  I'll gladly help you any way I can, but make sure that each unit will make the player want to use it in late game.  Part of the difficulty I had with designing the Ptaloids and the Tosonians is making sure that even an hour into a game, each and every unit could help the player win the game.  In Starcraft, I have rarely seen Dark Archons and Queens being used, and I wanted to avoid that.

3. The Tosonians have a lot of air units, and most of their buildings float in the air as well.  Once again, I'll help you out, but we'll want to make sure that the Cythid can counter this without heavy difficulty.  So far, the Humans and Ptaloids do well with that, so we just need to do something similar with the Cythid.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Cythid Race
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 05, 2010, 03:03:53 pm
Actually Dark Archons are used quite a bit but only in games with no-rushing rules. A teamate will use mind control on one of your drones/scv/probes to get multiple races at once to bypass the 200 units cap. In no-rules games it's useless because you get attacked before having time to mind control.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Cythid Race
Post by: matthias1992 on September 05, 2010, 03:12:39 pm
I like your detailed Hydron better than the smaller one.

I read the full description, now that I finally had a chance to just sit down.  11 thumbs up.  I have just a couple of comments:

1.  What do you mean by swarmable?  S.A.D. allows a person to build multiple units of the same type at once, do you mean that a non-swarmable unit can only be used one at a time?  Or what do you mean by swarmable?

2.  I'll gladly help you any way I can, but make sure that each unit will make the player want to use it in late game.  Part of the difficulty I had with designing the Ptaloids and the Tosonians is making sure that even an hour into a game, each and every unit could help the player win the game.  In Starcraft, I have rarely seen Dark Archons and Queens being used, and I wanted to avoid that.

3. The Tosonians have a lot of air units, and most of their buildings float in the air as well.  Once again, I'll help you out, but we'll want to make sure that the Cythid can counter this without heavy difficulty.  So far, the Humans and Ptaloids do well with that, so we just need to do something similar with the Cythid.
1. A swarmable unit is indeed a unit that can have multiples of itself inside a, sort of say, group. Non-swaramble units are the opposite there can be only one of them at a time.

2&3. Good point. That's why you need to make the stats ;) Feel free to change the stats even if they do not match with my descriptions. my descriptions are just intended as some guidelines as to what I think is more or less appropiate. Change the "Weak VS" and "Strong VS" to your liking as well!
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Cythid Race
Post by: Hot_Dog on September 05, 2010, 03:16:36 pm
Quote
1. A swarmable unit is indeed a unit that can have multiples of itself inside a, sort of say, group. Non-swaramble units are the opposite there can be only one of them at a time.

In that case, your Chunker will be made the most powerful unit in the game, and quite beefed up too.  Otherwise, 1 Chunker could lose against 2 Command Ships (since human, Ptaloid and Tosonian command ships can be grouped up)

EDIT: If you're fine with it, I'm allowing players to build Cythid units on hold.  That way, if one chunker dies, another one can be available immediately.  Ships in S.A.D. require time to build, so a player can build, for example, chunkers ahead of time for cases like this
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Cythid Race
Post by: matthias1992 on September 05, 2010, 04:01:32 pm
I am prefectly fine with that.

on a less related note:
The fact that the chunker is the strongest unit is quite a honor! It also adds to the value of the small red text I added underneatht he sprites of some units (inpired by borderlands in which rare weapons sometimes have a text underneath them reffering to a movie or game). For those too lazy to scroll back: 'you...shall not...pass!' was the text for the Chunker.
Title: Re: S.A.D. The Cythid Race
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 06, 2010, 09:10:15 pm
Sounds good to me :)