Making Power Generator free

[Zarel]

Chris Taylor solved this problem long ago in Total Annihilation, where every engineering unit generated a small amount of metal and energy.

Combined with reclaiming directly from the environment, this meant players were not defeated until they were totally annihilated.

I believe implementing this would be in-line with the theme of resurrection, the axiom of the single-player game, and this project.

Neither are really all that "in the spirit of Warzone". I mean, I suppose I could give trucks the ability to demolish destroyable features. But as for the other changes, making power generator free would probably be a better solution.

But don't get mad at me because I'm saying this, by your general behavior I believe that this kind of details suit your personal taste. Please don't comment on those here, send a PM so you can write whatever you want without the scary feeling of "off-topicness". I may be wrong

I find "getting the last word before switching to PM" to be a bit impolite. PM him this information in the future.

Though possibly not in this specific case, being off-topic is fine in general; if it gets too far off, the moderators can split the topic, or you can start a new topic yourself.

[Olrox]

I find "getting the last word before switching to PM" to be a bit impolite. PM him this information in the future.

It arguably is, if we do forget the mocking nature of not only one from his posts. I'm disposed to forget about that and try once again to overlook our friend here, but I definetely can't supress my opinion that he is often rather prolix...

I mean, I suppose I could give trucks the ability to demolish destroyable features. But making power generator free would probably be a better solution.

I think that gathering resources from the neutral features would be interesting, if most maps had a decent and balanced ammount of features - which isn't true, unfortunately.

Perhaps make a free, 2-derrick capacity, 1-unit limit generator? Only a thought.

[Assault Gunner]

That would let you rebuild, but really, really, slowly.

I like it! It doesn't make rebuilding after being smashed easy, but it makes it possible.

[Olrox]

That would let you rebuild, but really, really, slowly.

Well, it takes a measly 50 power to build a power generator. Even with two derricks and an "emergency generator", it'd take less than 1 minute.

[GooglyBoogly]

free power generators seems silly to me, since I would just spam them whenever I had some free truck time.

I would much rather have a little 'catchup' check that says IF you have no power generators AND no power in capacity THEN you get 1 power/sec or some similar small amount, that way there is no abuse - and as soon as the power gen comes online you lose the catchup bonus

[Assault Gunner]

Um.... what we are currently talking about is a free, 1-2 derrick emergency generator. I think 1 derrick would be best, actually. Furthermore,there would be a hard limit of 1 emergency generator per player, making spamming free generators impossible.

[GooglyBoogly]

sorry, I missed the hard limit you mentioned.

[Olrox]

Um.... what we are currently talking about is a free, 1-2 derrick emergency generator. I think 1 derrick would be best, actually. Furthermore,there would be a hard limit of 1 emergency generator per player, making spamming free generators impossible.

Maybe it's possible to make this emergency generator to count as a normal generator, so that it can't be exploited (perhaps in a minimal way in the beginning of the game, but that's really insignificant IMO): No one would opt to save 50 power to have a generator that supports 1/2 or even 1/4 of the normal capacity instead of a normal one, now, would anyone?
Is that reasonable, Zarel/Per/other occasional devs tracking this topic?
We might just stop arguing if the idea is rejected, or continue if there's a possibility in the future for that.

thanks

~Olrox

[3drts]

Well, now that I've thought about it,
I think the spontaneously appearing oil barrels have the same effect as the free RU supply in Homeworld when you get really low on resources.

Have just one truck left and no power?
flee the enemy, poke your nose around, find one of those oil barrels, and you've got enough power for 2 power generators.

I think nothing needs to be changed- there are no free barrels in SP, but there was no free RU supply in SP homeworld either....

[Zarel]

Maybe it's possible to make this emergency generator to count as a normal generator, so that it can't be exploited (perhaps in a minimal way in the beginning of the game, but that's really insignificant IMO): No one would opt to save 50 power to have a generator that supports 1/2 or even 1/4 of the normal capacity instead of a normal one, now, would anyone?

An emergency generator seems like too much added complexity.

I've looked through the code; we have a few provisions against total destruction:
- power generators give 50 power back to their owners, when destroyed
- oil barrels will eventually spawn in the base of any player with < 50 power, no generators, and no derricks.

[Olrox]

An emergency generator seems like too much added complexity.

I've looked through the code; we have a few provisions against total destruction:
- power generators give 50 power back to their owners, when destroyed
- oil barrels will eventually spawn in the base of any player with < 50 power, no generators, and no derricks.

This already solves the case, IMO. No need to be further prolix, phew

~Olrox

[Assault Gunner]

Indeed.

[GooglyBoogly]

- oil barrels will eventually spawn in the base of any player with < 50 power, no generators, and no derricks.

the no derricks restriction should be removed.
A player shouldn't have to demolish their own derricks if they have no power and no generators in order to get that barrel.

- power generators give 50 power back to their owners, when destroyed

So, you are saying that power generators are effectively power banks? Interesting. That means I should be spamming them if I have some extra power, since they can just be demolished for 150% refund (50% for demolish), 100% for the bonus mentioned.

[Olrox]

That means I should be spamming them if I have some extra power, since they can just be demolished for 150% refund (50% for demolish), 100% for the bonus mentioned.

Probably the code is for effectively destroying the generators, as demolishing is far from destroying. You get no power for having any other bulding destroyed, but get 50% of the original cost back.

Did you test that? If not, you really should, before posting.
Because, you know, it doesn't happen. If you demolish the generator, you get 100% refund. If you destroy it, even by friendly fire, you get 50 power (100% refund as well).

And even if it was possible, are you gonna use your trucks to spam power generators instead of scouting or expanding, and focus on such a procedure instead of managing your forces or research or whatever, just for a measly 50 power? That would be ridiculous!

~Olrox

[Zarel]

the no derricks restriction should be removed.
A player shouldn't have to demolish their own derricks if they have no power and no generators in order to get that barrel.

/shrug/ I don't know the specifics of that particular area of the code; maybe I just remembered wrong.

So, you are saying that power generators are effectively power banks? Interesting. That means I should be spamming them if I have some extra power, since they can just be demolished for 150% refund (50% for demolish), 100% for the bonus mentioned.

The refund replaces the standard 50% return when demolishing, it doesn't add to it.

Still might be an interesting way to farm experience without losing any money, though.