Better alliances patch

[Zarel]

So the forum seems to be slow right now, so I thought I'd tell everyone about what I'm currently working on.

The main part of what I'm working on is a patch that lets you do more with allies. What's currently done:

- You can now repair allied units.
- You can now repair allied structures.
- You can now upgrade allied structures.
- You can now rearm VTOLs on allied rearming pads.
- You can now repair your units at allied repair facilities.
- You can now guard allied units (trucks, sensors, and commanders) and structures.

Guarding allied units will cause your unit to follow them, and attack things that get in range. Guarding an allied commander actually works kinda similarly to assigning to them, although you don't get the experience bonus, and you don't count towards the 6+ unit limit.

Your trucks and repair turrets will not automatically repair damaged allied structures. However, your units will automatically be repaired by allied repair facilities (but only if your ally doesn't have any of their own units there), and your VTOLs will automatically use allied rearming-pads (but only if you don't have any of your own, and your allies' rearming-pads aren't being used).

You still can't directly control allied units or structures (it would be incredibly frustrating for your ally). You can't assign to allied sensors/commanders, or put your borgs in allied transports (just give your units to your ally, if it comes to that).

Of course, if you don't play alliances, there are still a few fixes for you.
- You get a selection cursor when mousing over LasSat, to make it clearer that it's selectable.
- There are a few other minor cursor changes, but they aren't really worth mentioning.
- You can attack (and actually damage) your own units/structures with Alt+click, now. Still doesn't work with LasSat, to prevent backstabbing allies by moving an expendable unit into their base. For the same reason, Alt+click only works on your own units, not on your allies'.
- Repair turrets, and especially cyborg mechanics, now fidget a lot less, and will now a lot more reliably go directly to the unit you click on and start repairing.

Also planned:
- Alt+click with a cyborg transport selected, for "Unload everything here"

[Per]

Also planned:
- Alt+click with a cyborg transport selected, for "Unload everything here"

Yay!!

[KukY]

I like it all.
Specially this:

Also planned:
- Alt+click with a cyborg transport selected, for "Unload everything here"

Yay!!

Can it be made that when selecting defensive structure you can select target?

[Olrox]

Those are wonderful changes, absolutely good.
I'm wondering, is there any way of making the repair facility owner's units have priority when ordered to repair? Because it'd be a nuisance if an ally accidentally ordered a minor strike force to be repaired and this stops the repairs of you main division, for example. However, that would be only on specific cases, so I'd say - make it only if it's not a nuisance for you-

Can it be made that when selecting defensive structure you can select target?

That would be really nice also. Making them able to be commanded like the LasSat. But I wonder, is it possible to do while mantaining the "automatic fire at enemies within weapon range"?

Again, I must say that I appreciate the work you're doing very much (and I think most of the community does but don't realize how much you've done already )

Regards,
Olrox

[Zarel]

I'm wondering, is there any way of making the repair facility owner's units have priority when ordered to repair? Because it'd be a nuisance if an ally accidentally ordered a minor strike force to be repaired and this stops the repairs of you main division, for example. However, that would be only on specific cases, so I'd say - make it only if it's not a nuisance for you-

Reread what I wrote:

"your units will automatically be repaired by allied repair facilities (but only if your ally doesn't have any of their own units there)"

Allies already have lowest priority for both repair facility and rearming pad.

Can it be made that when selecting defensive structure you can select target?

That would be really nice also. Making them able to be commanded like the LasSat. But I wonder, is it possible to do while mantaining the "automatic fire at enemies within weapon range"?

I guess it's possible... but it's pretty complicated, and I'm still worried if it would upset balance.

[Olrox]

Ok, but my ally can't click on my repair facility to order it to repair them, then? It is only the "automatically repair nearby damaged units" fuction?
I was a bit confused because in the current way, the repair facility stops repairing nearby units and start repairing only the selected units, when you order them to repair by clicking at the facility

[XboxJosh]

Could we please also add the ability to transfer structures to your allies? Just a thought

[Olrox]

Could we please also add the ability to transfer structures to your allies? Just a thought

Problems with research facilities and power generators ahead - be careful

However, if and only if there's an easy way to disallow transfering structures above the limit, I agree that it'd be nice.

[Zarel]

Ok, but my ally can't click on my repair facility to order it to repair them, then? It is only the "automatically repair nearby damaged units" fuction?
I was a bit confused because in the current way, the repair facility stops repairing nearby units and start repairing only the selected units, when you order them to repair by clicking at the facility

Your ally can click, but they'll have to wait until you have no damaged units within the repair radius before your ally's units start getting repaired.

Could we please also add the ability to transfer structures to your allies? Just a thought

I'll see what I can do.

[DylanDog]

- You can now repair your units at allied repair facilities.

What about the AI standard behaviour for this? if I give the command DORDER_RTR (Return to Repair) would my tank come back for repair to my base (where i have repair facilities) or will they go to the nearest friendly Repair Facility?

[Zarel]

Alt+click for unload transporter is now done. Actually, it looks like I already added that code; it should work in current non-debug builds.

I also changed attack-move from shift+click to alt+click. Maybe someone will actually use it now.

Alt+click is actually recognized in Mac OS X now. Apparently SDL traps it and redirects it to middleclick.

What about the AI standard behaviour for this? if I give the command DORDER_RTR (Return to Repair) would my tank come back for repair to my base (where i have repair facilities) or will they go to the nearest friendly Repair Facility?

You'll retreat to your own repair facility. If you accidentally pass into the repair range of an allied repair facility, it'll take you, though.

[KukY]

This is all great,but where are those patches?

[Mysteryem]

This is all great,but where are those patches?

Here: http://developer.wz2100.net/ticket/1084

[GiGaBaNE]

very worthy use of time! many thanks for the hard work. I too would like to see tranferable buildings, its perfect for when you pen in a slower ally and such =)

[praefectus]

Some very good improvements of the game play!
Thanx - looking forward to try it out.