Minefield changes

G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.games.vgaplanets4 (More info?)

That there is a fair bit of discussion right now about minefields. I
have been thinking of possible fixes. But before proposing solutions, it
might help to clarify the issues first. What do we actually want
minefields to do?

Do we want a game where minefields are a major problem for small ships,
but of little relevance to tech 10 hulls? (I recall an early game I
played, back when the only races to play were Fed and Borg. We saw the
first enemy Cube coming and laid some barbitic minefields in its path.
To our horror it came through almost unscathed. There have been many
Host changes since then; I think it survived because in those days, you
repaired after every mine hit. It gave the Cubes a real feeling of
unstoppability.)

Personally, I find minefields slow games down... but I don't want to get
rid of them. They're a valid defence. After some thought, I think the
thing which seems "unfair" to me is not the minefields themselves, but
how a carefully planned invasion fleet can be blown away by defenders
detonating minefields you didn't scan.

This could just be poor play on my part! But, once defenders have enough
mines up, there seems to be little one can do at long range. So you need
to relocate nearer them, giving them time to build up. It lengthens the
game.

I think Robots and Crystals should be minelayers par excellence. But the
other races shouldn't be able to depend on them.

From this basis, I suggest an exotic tech which reduces the chance of
enemy minefields detonating. An ECM field which jams the "detonate"
command near your ships.

What kind of "feel" do the rest of you want from mines? How would you
LIKE them to work?
--
Paul Honigmann
 

Sparrow

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Mar 16, 2002
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Archived from groups: alt.games.vgaplanets4 (More info?)

3 races have huge advantages by detonating MFs:
1) Xtals web mines
2) Bot Novas
3) UEA Grav
Those are the ones who could stop an enemy fleet - or even worse
prepare a complete takeover in case of the Xtal and the UEA. On the
other hand all those MFs can be cleared - even if the Web or Grav are
cloaked. I don't see a big problem there.

Cloaked Barbs are the only ones who would be able to detonate on top of
an enemy without a chance to clear them before hand. On the other hand
there are limits of how many can blow up on top of you and you could
also get rid of them by detonating your own Barb MF over their center.
I never have seen any game where exploding Barbs stopped a well planned
attack.

I see no problem with the MFs as they currently are. They are no full
protection, but they do help. I wouldn't make any significant changes
and I'm certainly no friend of another ET series like we have with the
Anti-Fighter ETs.

Just my 0.02$
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.games.vgaplanets4 (More info?)

I happen to agree with Sparrow.
Mine fields work good as they are right now.
In fact some races have a major penalty tied
mostly to laying only one type of mine even if they
own a different mine layer capable of laying different mines.

Any redo now of mine laying or when the mines explode vs cleared
would have a far reaching impact to the game that you can not
plan for in advance. Mines work good enough as is. So do not go
messing around with any changes please.

Sparrow wrote:
> 3 races have huge advantages by detonating MFs:
> 1) Xtals web mines
> 2) Bot Novas
> 3) UEA Grav
> Those are the ones who could stop an enemy fleet - or even worse
> prepare a complete takeover in case of the Xtal and the UEA. On the
> other hand all those MFs can be cleared - even if the Web or Grav are
> cloaked. I don't see a big problem there.
>
> Cloaked Barbs are the only ones who would be able to detonate on top
of
> an enemy without a chance to clear them before hand. On the other
hand
> there are limits of how many can blow up on top of you and you could
> also get rid of them by detonating your own Barb MF over their
center.
> I never have seen any game where exploding Barbs stopped a well
planned
> attack.
>
> I see no problem with the MFs as they currently are. They are no full
> protection, but they do help. I wouldn't make any significant changes
> and I'm certainly no friend of another ET series like we have with
the
> Anti-Fighter ETs.
>
> Just my 0.02$
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.games.vgaplanets4 (More info?)

Sparrow wrote:
> 3 races have huge advantages by detonating MFs:
> 1) Xtals web mines
> 2) Bot Novas
> 3) UEA Grav
> Those are the ones who could stop an enemy fleet - or even worse
> prepare a complete takeover in case of the Xtal and the UEA. On the
> other hand all those MFs can be cleared - even if the Web or Grav are
> cloaked. I don't see a big problem there.
>
> Cloaked Barbs are the only ones who would be able to detonate on top of
> an enemy without a chance to clear them before hand. On the other hand
> there are limits of how many can blow up on top of you and you could
> also get rid of them by detonating your own Barb MF over their center.
> I never have seen any game where exploding Barbs stopped a well planned
> attack.
>
> I see no problem with the MFs as they currently are. They are no full
> protection, but they do help. I wouldn't make any significant changes
> and I'm certainly no friend of another ET series like we have with the
> Anti-Fighter ETs.
>
> Just my 0.02$

You forget the GD ships, which can clear an area of 50 LYs from all
mines included cloaked Barbs. Their are 3 races in game which have GD
ships, so it is often possible to get them.

Agree to all other.

Bye-Bye JoSch.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.games.vgaplanets4 (More info?)

I agree. The cutdown of mines in any way, mostly barbs, is wrong
headed. They are considered a time waster? Slowing down games? They
are so marginal that they are considered a time waster and not a
deterrent. Well that pretty much says it all, doesnt it?

Any cutdown would have to be balanced out by and enhancement. It would
be a pain. Its up to Tim in any event. No change is the least work,
and wont hurt.

minime-hammer wrote:
> I happen to agree with Sparrow.
> Mine fields work good as they are right now.
> In fact some races have a major penalty tied
> mostly to laying only one type of mine even if they
> own a different mine layer capable of laying different mines.
>
> Any redo now of mine laying or when the mines explode vs cleared
> would have a far reaching impact to the game that you can not
> plan for in advance. Mines work good enough as is. So do not go
> messing around with any changes please.
>
> Sparrow wrote:
> > 3 races have huge advantages by detonating MFs:
> > 1) Xtals web mines
> > 2) Bot Novas
> > 3) UEA Grav
> > Those are the ones who could stop an enemy fleet - or even worse
> > prepare a complete takeover in case of the Xtal and the UEA. On the
> > other hand all those MFs can be cleared - even if the Web or Grav
are
> > cloaked. I don't see a big problem there.
> >
> > Cloaked Barbs are the only ones who would be able to detonate on
top
> of
> > an enemy without a chance to clear them before hand. On the other
> hand
> > there are limits of how many can blow up on top of you and you
could
> > also get rid of them by detonating your own Barb MF over their
> center.
> > I never have seen any game where exploding Barbs stopped a well
> planned
> > attack.
> >
> > I see no problem with the MFs as they currently are. They are no
full
> > protection, but they do help. I wouldn't make any significant
changes
> > and I'm certainly no friend of another ET series like we have with
> the
> > Anti-Fighter ETs.
> >
> > Just my 0.02$
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.games.vgaplanets4 (More info?)

I agree.
Minefields are not pefect- but then what is?
Mines are good enough the way they are now.

Lordfire

<ron_nac@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1112650127.223474.139700@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>I agree. The cutdown of mines in any way, mostly barbs, is wrong
> headed. They are considered a time waster? Slowing down games? They
> are so marginal that they are considered a time waster and not a
> deterrent. Well that pretty much says it all, doesnt it?
>
> Any cutdown would have to be balanced out by and enhancement. It would
> be a pain. Its up to Tim in any event. No change is the least work,
> and wont hurt.
>
> minime-hammer wrote:
>> I happen to agree with Sparrow.
>> Mine fields work good as they are right now.
>> In fact some races have a major penalty tied
>> mostly to laying only one type of mine even if they
>> own a different mine layer capable of laying different mines.
>>
>> Any redo now of mine laying or when the mines explode vs cleared
>> would have a far reaching impact to the game that you can not
>> plan for in advance. Mines work good enough as is. So do not go
>> messing around with any changes please.
>>
>> Sparrow wrote:
>> > 3 races have huge advantages by detonating MFs:
>> > 1) Xtals web mines
>> > 2) Bot Novas
>> > 3) UEA Grav
>> > Those are the ones who could stop an enemy fleet - or even worse
>> > prepare a complete takeover in case of the Xtal and the UEA. On the
>> > other hand all those MFs can be cleared - even if the Web or Grav
> are
>> > cloaked. I don't see a big problem there.
>> >
>> > Cloaked Barbs are the only ones who would be able to detonate on
> top
>> of
>> > an enemy without a chance to clear them before hand. On the other
>> hand
>> > there are limits of how many can blow up on top of you and you
> could
>> > also get rid of them by detonating your own Barb MF over their
>> center.
>> > I never have seen any game where exploding Barbs stopped a well
>> planned
>> > attack.
>> >
>> > I see no problem with the MFs as they currently are. They are no
> full
>> > protection, but they do help. I wouldn't make any significant
> changes
>> > and I'm certainly no friend of another ET series like we have with
>> the
>> > Anti-Fighter ETs.
>> >
>> > Just my 0.02$
>