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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0016338Stars Beyond ReachBalance IssueAug 18, 2015 10:09 am
ReporterWatashiwa Assigned ToChris_McElligottPark  
Status resolvedResolutionfixed 
Summary0016338: Volcano apocalypse path drags
DescriptionA player attempting the artificial volcano critical path is likely to be so debilitated that the game might as well freeze. In my case I was hit simultaneously by disease, crime, lack of water, and brownouts, the last of which exacerbates and sets off another wave of the prior.

To make matters worse, artificial volcanoes shut off without power. As a result, I can't push for victory and the AI civs cannot take action to kill me.
TagsNo tags attached.

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Watashiwa

Apr 23, 2015 8:00 pm

reporter  

Chris_McElligottPark

Apr 23, 2015 8:46 pm

administrator   ~0040179

Yeah, this is one that is going to take some balance work for sure. Mechanically speaking I know that this victory path functions, but it being fun or viable has not been tested at all until... well, you. It's all a matter of balance, of course, and then it gets to be a fun thing. But I haven't even begun on that one yet. Glad to have that extra month! ;)

Watashiwa

Apr 23, 2015 10:20 pm

reporter   ~0040181

So what you're saying is that I'm the first person out the shuttle door? =D

There's a lot of different directions you could take it, but I'm getting the sense this will be similar to Fallen Spire's endgame. The player starts something and catches heat for it until the AI realizes you're serious, at which point it pulls out the stops. If the AI has any trump cards like it does in TLF, this is when they should show up.

Something I'd really like to see is races fighting until it gets too hot for them to live, at which point the entire race dies. It should be dramatic. Last to go should be the Spire, or whatever heat resistant kaiju planet sends as a last gasp attack.

Might mean the player has to develop special tech to survive to see the end though. Hm.

ptarth

Apr 24, 2015 2:19 am

reporter   ~0040182

I kinda would like the ability to send taunting messages to the AI after I build a volcano (or 5).

Knock Knock
Who's there?
10 million tons of Lava, Merry Christmas.

ptarth

Apr 24, 2015 11:06 am

reporter   ~0040188

Last edited: Apr 24, 2015 11:17 am

I gave this a shot as well. The first milestone wasn't bad 3000. Then I found out I needed 10,000. That was unfortunate because my infrastructure wasn't able to produce enough volcanos in a reasonable time to make that not extremely tedious.

I would suggest perhaps requiring the player to build X volcanos in X specific locations (equally spread out across the map). As the player builds them, he doesn't turn them on yet, but only does so after the completion of them all. After building each one, the AI is "notified" and focuses on increasing levels of retaliation. Then, when the player completes the last one, they are engaged and he just has to keep Y percent of them operational for Z turns. Then everyone dies.

Which is a horrible ending. I think the idea of making the planet into a ball of lava is hilarious. But the part where we all commit suicide is less funny. So perhaps change it to a planetary mind-control or extortion device. That the AI/planet surrenders after T turns and you become the new planetary dictator. As opposed to the social victory wherein you work with the planet (or become its minion, its unclear).

Or have it be an alternative to the Space Escape. You escape into space AND leave a parting gift behind.

Watashiwa

Apr 24, 2015 1:14 pm

reporter   ~0040189

Well, this IS supposed to be the "destroy the planet out of spite" ending. Presumably you've determined that death and mass extinction are preferable to being destroyed by the other races, or living under the planet's dominance. Guess we'll see when context is added.

Chris_McElligottPark

Aug 18, 2015 10:09 am

administrator   ~0042772

This victory path is removed and will be done in a very different way soon.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Apr 23, 2015 8:00 pm Watashiwa New Issue
Apr 23, 2015 8:00 pm Watashiwa File Added: brownout breaking volcanoes.save
Apr 23, 2015 8:46 pm Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0040179
Apr 23, 2015 8:46 pm Chris_McElligottPark Assigned To => Chris_McElligottPark
Apr 23, 2015 8:46 pm Chris_McElligottPark Status new => confirmed
Apr 23, 2015 10:20 pm Watashiwa Note Added: 0040181
Apr 24, 2015 2:19 am ptarth Note Added: 0040182
Apr 24, 2015 11:06 am ptarth Note Added: 0040188
Apr 24, 2015 11:17 am ptarth Note Edited: 0040188
Apr 24, 2015 1:14 pm Watashiwa Note Added: 0040189
Aug 18, 2015 10:09 am Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0042772
Aug 18, 2015 10:09 am Chris_McElligottPark Status confirmed => resolved
Aug 18, 2015 10:09 am Chris_McElligottPark Resolution open => fixed