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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0003033AI War 1 / ClassicSuggestion - New FeaturesMar 10, 2011 4:29 pm
Reporterunknown Assigned ToChris_McElligottPark  
Status consideringResolutionopen 
Product Version5.003 
Summary0003033: Versus mode for multiplayer
DescriptionA versus mode should be added so co-op isn't the only option. By versus mode I mean a mode where players compete against each other either on teams or free for all to destroy enemy home bases on an empty map(usually infested with AI).To go with this there should also be different factions (Human, AI, Zenith, Neinzul, and Spire) instead of each player getting every type ship. It would be like a prequel, before humans banded together, zenith were brought down, AI took over. And you could probably turn this idea into a new expansion pack.
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Chris_McElligottPark

Mar 10, 2011 10:32 am

administrator   ~0011019

It's a vague possibility, and it's certainly come up before (even before the game officially came out), but the core problem is this: we the developers don't really play PVP RTS games. It would not be likely to turn out well, because we don't have a good sense for that part of the genre, since we're not in-depth into it ourselves. I think the last time I routinely played PVP was Empire Earth (the original).

Generally we try to make things that we actually are interested in, since that leads to a better result and since that's also sort of the point of being an indie developer in the first place. That's not to say that this would never happen, because historically I've enjoyed PVP from time to time, but hopefully that illustrates why it's not too likely.

ArcDM

Mar 10, 2011 11:02 am

reporter   ~0011021

A different idea is to have normal multi human vs AI where the humans are hostile to each other or in teams.

The teams should be put on separate sides of the galaxy.

Imagine the land grab for ARS, fabricators, and factories.

On a side note: if this is implemented then scouts should be excluded from enemy counts on planets so that your human opponent doesn't know you have a scout on their planet as they would actively work to eliminate said scout.

KDR_11k

Mar 10, 2011 11:15 am

reporter   ~0011022

I think direct PvP combat wouldn't work with the balancing philosophy behind AI War. Some kind of competitive goal, like each team aiming for one of the AI home commands and victory going to the team who drops their target first. That would add a phase of uneasy cooperation while both teams work through the core shield network and a mad dash with plenty of hostility once the last shield dies.

Orelius

Mar 10, 2011 4:14 pm

reporter   ~0011024

Last edited: Mar 10, 2011 4:15 pm

Perhaps the multiplayer versus mode could be a prequel to the game - wherein there are multiple human factions with an AI on their side. I for one would love this as an expansion. It can be expanded to have team battles, free-for-all, etc.

TechSY730

Mar 10, 2011 4:29 pm

reporter   ~0011025

Yea, this game is balanced with PvE in mind. Getting it balanced in PvP as well would be tricky.

At the current balance, it seems like the optimal strategy would be to research and build Mk. III raid starships as fast as you can and then find and curb stomp the enemy home. Since this would be rather early game, there would not be enough time to setup good enough defenses to take out a ship cap of raid starships of all marks.

Thus, games would degenerate into luck, whoever can find the enemy's home first would win.


One variation I can think of is similar to what others have already proposed. N humans + 1 AI (very similar, but less powerful than the current AI) vs. N humans + 1 AI. Thus, humans can still battle each other but get the "AI pre-seeded defenses" to stop early game raid tactics from being broken.

Of course, the planet assignment on seeding would need to be changed such that the each "half" of the map belongs to one team, and that the homeworlds of the players from each team (both human and AI) are a good distance apart and a good distance from the boundary worlds.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Mar 10, 2011 9:27 am unknown New Issue
Mar 10, 2011 10:32 am Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0011019
Mar 10, 2011 10:32 am Chris_McElligottPark Assigned To => Chris_McElligottPark
Mar 10, 2011 10:32 am Chris_McElligottPark Status new => considering
Mar 10, 2011 11:02 am ArcDM Note Added: 0011021
Mar 10, 2011 11:15 am KDR_11k Note Added: 0011022
Mar 10, 2011 4:14 pm Orelius Note Added: 0011024
Mar 10, 2011 4:15 pm Orelius Note Edited: 0011024
Mar 10, 2011 4:29 pm TechSY730 Note Added: 0011025