Sentience

I was also thinking about having sufficient weapon types to provide a broad range of firepower.

I want it to differ from SMAC is as far as when a high tech unit goes up against a low tech unit, it is a slaughter.

Low tech units can put up a decent fight against high tech units in SMAC (hence gravships falling from the sky). It should really be a case of a start of the art mech literally annihilating a scout mech in a blazing display of pyrotechnics.

A unit with no shielding and weak armour (RMV) should just vapourise when hit by acc-am pellets*...

That way, it's important to keep your units updgraded and not to fall behind in the tech stakes.



*ACCelerated AntiMatter (nanomolecules of anti-lithium accelerated to fractionally below the speed of light) :D

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter
Hey dude!

Was just in here when I got an eMail telling me I had a PM. So I wandered off to check it and it was from you - tell me to get in here!

Madness!

Coupleofthings:

1) Still up for tonight?
spose :D. I wana go home for my tea and see my folks first, but I will later ;)2) I've been researching some cool stuff and I have a few ideas of supercool futuristicy stuff... :D
good oh. Sorry mine are just gallons of links, but theres quite a bit of inspiration going on :)

---

I'm compiling a big list of stuff to discuss/do when you come round.

You'll like....

good.

antimatter propulsion is a good one too. annihilate a nanogram or two of antimatter and provide sufficient power to travel to the outer reaches of the solar system in a couple of weeks.

its difficult to post today.

Stuff to be doing/discussing tonight

Review some of the mights

Special projects:
orbital laser platform (comes after satellite tech- allows a: to destroy an enemy factions spy/defence satellite, and b: to take pot shots at the ground below)

Techs:
singularity synthesis
photosynthetic plastics
Bioneural circuitry
Temporal invariance physics
Causality looping
Continuum distortion propulsion
Metagenic weaponry
Elementary Particle Theory
Electroweak Theory
Unified Gauge Theory
Unified Field Theory
Quantum Chromodynamics
Statistical Mechanics
Catastrophe Theory
*Antimatter Stasis (do we have something like this)

Buildings:
Biomatter resequencer
*Remember buildings are also generated from weapons/chips/reactors/armour

Weapons:
Isomagnetic disintegrator
Acc-AM pellets
Temporal inversion

Armour:
Plated Metal
Ablative

Shielding:
Plasma Deflection
Temporal Invariance
Electromagnic Reflection

Reactors:
Fission
Fusion
Anti - Matter
Probability
Particle Resonance
Particle Collider

Chips/Processors:
Lepton Collator
Neurality Causeway
Positronic Cerebrum
Synaptic Meshing
Gaydar
Mongoose Skirmish Processor
Titan Battle Command
Longbow Fire Control

AI models
Agressive
Passive
Coward
Defense
Sniper
Scout
RMV
Demolition
Suicide
RMV killer
Spotter
Road Layer
Mine Layer
Decoy ( )
Mine Clearer
Road Clearer
Ambush


Weather effects:
Lightening/thunderstorm - can burn down trees, hazardous to units
Rain - excessive rain can turn marsh to lakes, dirt to grass, grass to forest, increases rust
Hurricane - can turn trees to tree rubble, hazardous to units
Forest fire - does exactly what it says on the tin, hazardous to units
Earthquake - umm, rearranges mountains, pretty hazardous to units
Tidal waves - can turn coastline squares to sea, hazardous to units
Seabedquake - can raise islands, hazardous to units
Whirlpool - hazardous to units

To Do:
Write in scorched Earth routines
Add in screenshot function
Add in project detail screen (use senMsg for this)
Correct display issues with mainmapscreen
Add in communications clues
Add in profiling to faction stats
Add in more factions?
Add in benefits to projects
Add in infiltration screen
Compile definitive list of infiltration effects
Create infiltration code blocks
Create project code blocks
Find out why monster houses can't be killed
Script bonus resources for killing houses
Code benefits for house death
Add in code for generating monsters
Add in monster AI
Add in event effects for diplomacy
Tidy up research screen
Compile definitive list of weather effects
Create weather code blocks
Add in win scenario code
Add in project complete screens
Add in win/lose screens
Add in unit scoring system
Add in resource scoring system
Create mfd in place of textbox
Faction overall comparison
Units
Buildings
Resources
Components
Technology
Projects
Create some form of unit overview screen
Add in the unit cycle +/- keys
Expand on tutorial screens
Correct fault with mech design screen and tutorial
Correct fault with template listview being back to front
Add code behind the load/save buttons on template screen
Add in delete template command
Correct fault with component display screen crashing
Flesh out options screen
Add in ranged combat
Add in pod code blocks
Add in bonus resources
Correct documentation navigation faults
Expand on documentation
Add in DNA screen
Add in Monster research
Add in monster contact checks
Add in faction contact checks
Add in AI's
Road Laying
Mine Laying (similar to above)
Correct flaw with AI that prompts infinite loop
Compile definitive list of buildings
Correct flaw with walls not drawing properly
Add in link to faction dets from comms screen
Add in creation of sea units
Add in framework support for sea buildings (maybe new graphic set?)
Correct frmMechDesign to display torsos correctly
Factory & Construction yard back to front in tutorial
selecting options from the game menu (and I discovered later from the main menu) gives an error [ERROR.JPG]
The mountains look dark on the world map (in fact all the graphics look odd.)
When alt+tab ing out, you cant get back in.
pressed '5' to centre the map, but this just made the unit tile (was mobile admin) black
Unit started on a monsterhouse, and was unable to go back after it had stepped off.
chip graphics are mixed up under industry screen
mech graphics in-game are very dark

Quote:

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Originally posted by Behemoth
good.

antimatter propulsion is a good one too. annihilate a nanogram or two of antimatter and provide sufficient power to travel to the outer reaches of the solar system in a couple of weeks.

its difficult to post today.

---

I thought you'd have loads of time to post today - don't tell me you're actually doing work!!!

So, what time do you think you'll be round then?

Quote:

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Originally posted by Arbiter


I thought you'd have loads of time to post today - don't tell me you're actually doing work!!!

So, what time do you think you'll be round then?

---

It might be really busy, but that doesn't bother me. The two problems are:
1) the gay problem with VBF that makes posting a pain in the arse
2) My boss isnt in today, so I won't get told off, but her boss is (and he can cause me some serious earache if he wanted)

Probably not half as much earache as some big hairy yeti man standing up, tearing his arms off and bludgeoning him to death with them.

oh, and "after tea" :D. I expect early evening, since my folks are off at the moment for xmas, tea should be a bit earlier than normal...

Useless! :rolleyes:

I'm working on using senMsg a bit more to give useful info to the player.

In about 30 mins I'll have added some more code to the warehouse screen, so when you click on a resource, it gives you some info about it.

I thought it'd be nice - it's things like that, that the give the game a more polished feel.

You may wish to review the descriptions as I'm only typing them straigh in off the top of my head....

http://slashdot.org/books/00/05/21/2046205.shtml

http://www.netlib.org/utk/lsi/pcwLSI/text/node33.html

You know, I've been thinking about the alloys that we have...

Std
Strong
Light
Strong/Light

At the moment the resource costs are specified in the inis after we scrapped the idea of having them dynamic.

I'm thinking of going back to the idea of having them dynamic - i.e. the ini only specifies the cost of creating them with std alloys and Sentience adds/removes benefits depending on whether you use a different alloy.

Tell me your thoughts on this matter. Please make them in depth and meaningful - this is a big change and I want to know exactly what you think.

Ignore the problem of how much work is involved in changing it - I want the game to be the best it can be regardless of how much effort needs to be thrown at it.

I have some ideas on this subject but I wish to hear your thoughts first......

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter
You know, I've been thinking about the alloys that we have...

Std
Strong
Light
Strong/Light

At the moment the resource costs are specified in the inis after we scrapped the idea of having them dynamic.

I'm thinking of going back to the idea of having them dynamic - i.e. the ini only specifies the cost of creating them with std alloys and Sentience adds/removes benefits depending on whether you use a different alloy.

Tell me your thoughts on this matter. Please make them in depth and meaningful - this is a big change and I want to know exactly what you think.

Ignore the problem of how much work is involved in changing it - I want the game to be the best it can be regardless of how much effort needs to be thrown at it.

I have some ideas on this subject but I wish to hear your thoughts first......

---

I honestly didn't remember us changing this - I suppose I had assumed that was how we were doing it.

I prefer it that way (the second), allowing more flexibility in designin units. Does a mech cost the same regardless of what type of resources is used?

What about components that use mixtures of different alloy types (i vaguely remember some of these) - is there then going to be no opportunity for customisation? I'd like to hear the other ideas you have.

Right, I've finished the descriptions in the resource warehouse screen. I might add them in for the components warehouse bit as well.

That might be more tricky.

Still eagerly awaiting your reply on the above....

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Behemoth
I honestly didn't remember us changing this - I suppose I had assumed that was how we were doing it.

I prefer it that way (the second), allowing more flexibility in designin units. Does a mech cost the same regardless of what type of resources is used?

What about components that use mixtures of different alloy types (i vaguely remember some of these) - is there then going to be no opportunity for customisation? I'd like to hear the other ideas you have.

---

Ok, thanks for replying big guy. Now, please answer the following.

1) Second way? Do you mean we specify, or Sentience specifies?

2) Mech cost the same? In what way? You mean energywise? No, the mech will cost different if the might of the components change.

3) Mixed metal components. As all figures are arbitrary at the mo, then this is moot. If Sentience specifies the component metals, then there would be no mixed metal components.

I'll post my ideas in a sec - answer these though please.

The way I was thinking of having it work is that we simply specify the base metals that a component requires and then Sentience calculates some variants based on alloys.

Otherwise we'd have to specify each variant in the script.

If can also come up with some method of amending the graphics to represent the variant (something I can apply across the board) the S can draw its own variant graphics.

It might be something as simple as an image in the corner of the component graphic, but we'd need to distinguish the components at a glance.

Sentience would apply a standard modifier on all the components, which should help keep things fair.

e.g.

Ammo made with stdallys would fire faster and weigh less than that made with base metals.

Ammo made with strong alloys would do more damage but weigh more than std alloys (and by proxy, fire faster, do more damage and weigh roughly the same as that made with base metals)

See where I'm coming from?

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter


Ok, thanks for replying big guy. Now, please answer the following.

1) Second way? Do you mean we specify, or Sentience specifies?
**QUOTE: I'm thinking of going back to the idea of having them dynamic - i.e. the ini only specifies the cost of creating them with std alloys and Sentience adds/removes benefits depending on whether you use a different alloy.

2) Mech cost the same? In what way? You mean energywise? No, the mech will cost different if the might of the components change.
**mech A costs 200 std alloys. Does mech B (a light version of exactly the same) cost 200 light alloys?

3) Mixed metal components. As all figures are arbitrary at the mo, then this is moot. If Sentience specifies the component metals, then there would be no mixed metal components.
**oh. OK. I mention it since we discussed building weapons and ammo. I vaguely remember mixing metals in ammo, but if thats not the case, then fine.

I'll post my ideas in a sec - answer these though please.

---

2) Mech cost the same? In what way? You mean energywise? No, the mech will cost different if the might of the components change.
**mech A costs 200 std alloys. Does mech B (a light version of exactly the same) cost 200 light alloys?

- Yes.

Omega lead!

Omega lead, please respond!

Support units - I want a 3 mile sweep, Omega lead is down, repeat, Omega lead is down.....

*zzst* Omega lead is immobilised - you move forward without me. Support team is en route. *crackle*

*BOOM!*

I got a CDRW for xmas! yay!

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter
The way I was thinking of having it work is that we simply specify the base metals that a component requires and then Sentience calculates some variants based on alloys.

Otherwise we'd have to specify each variant in the script.

If can also come up with some method of amending the graphics to represent the variant (something I can apply across the board) the S can draw its own variant graphics.

It might be something as simple as an image in the corner of the component graphic, but we'd need to distinguish the components at a glance.

Sentience would apply a standard modifier on all the components, which should help keep things fair.

e.g.

Ammo made with stdallys would fire faster and weigh less than that made with base metals.

Ammo made with strong alloys would do more damage but weigh more than std alloys (and by proxy, fire faster, do more damage and weigh roughly the same as that made with base metals)

See where I'm coming from?

---

I didn't write all this for you to just ignore it.

I want some salient comments please....

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Behemoth
I got a CDRW for xmas! yay!

---

Whooo!

Now you can ARCHIVE YOUR GRAPHICS IN A SENSIBLE MANNER!!!

:D :D

For the scorched earth graphics, I want six different 40*40 images of damage that can be transblitted on top on normal map tiles.

I'd like you to set them out in one bitmap spaced left to right, with the least damaged on the left.... i.e.

Code:

---


------------------------------------------------
|  .  | . '  | .' : | :' : | ,:':  | ::,: | ::::|
------------------------------------------------

---

The image should therefore be 240 pixels in length.

Thanks!

Be sure to add the above to your 'to do' list otherwise you'll forget.

I take you still have your up to date 'to do' list..... :o

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter


I didn't write all this for you to just ignore it.

I want some salient comments please....

---

:o hurumph!

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter
For the scorched earth graphics, I want six different 40*40 images of damage that can be transblitted on top on normal map tiles.

I'd like you to set them out in one bitmap spaced left to right, with the least damaged on the left.... i.e.

Code:

---


------------------------------------------------
|  .  | . '  | .' : | :' : | ,:':  | ::,: | ::::|
------------------------------------------------

---

The image should therefore be 240 pixels in length.

Thanks!

---

no problem. shouldn't take long...(famous last words)

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Behemoth
no problem. shouldn't take long...(famous last words)

---

Thankyou.

I'll discuss with you this evening about the way the ground will get damaged, but I've already coded the display routines for it.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Behemoth
:o hurumph!

---

Please

It's very important to know what you think, because if you concur with me then I can begin on it now, whilst I'm not too busy.

If there are any amendments you think should be made then I need to know them before I begin on the overhaul...

Amending the framework to correctly bill for units/buildings power and to shut them down if energy is lacking.

This is great fun :rolleyes:

Pretty much what I was thinking myself. The only think that gives me any cause for concern is:

Quote:

---

If can also come up with some method of amending the graphics to represent the variant (something I can apply across the board) the S can draw its own variant graphics.

It might be something as simple as an image in the corner of the component graphic, but we'd need to distinguish the components at a glance.

---

We really need to come up with something solid for this.

But the rest of it's ok, and I'm fine to proceed with amending to what was discussed?

yeah, i cant see any glaring errors. go for it.

Cool as.

I've also just added the health bars for buildings - I think. (Bear in mind I can't actually run the thing here, so I'm coding in the dark.... :D )

I'm now working on the ping. I think a single ping will do if it's made flexible enough. You can bolster your pings effectiveness by funnelling energy into it, but it's a diminishing returns investment that I've arbitrarily penned as...

benefit = Sqr(energy) * 2

This will give a bonus %age to add to the chance of success.

Whaddya think of those apples?

Ummm...

How are we calculating the locking of horns in infiltration?

Is it merely:

Initial chance of success * (1+((attdipben - defdipben)/100)) + benefit of (invested energy - energy cost of action) ?

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter
Cool as.

I've also just added the health bars for buildings - I think. (Bear in mind I can't actually run the thing here, so I'm coding in the dark.... :D )

I'm now working on the ping. I think a single ping will do if it's made flexible enough. You can bolster your pings effectiveness by funnelling energy into it, but it's a diminishing returns investment that I've arbitrarily penned as...

benefit = Sqr(energy) * 2

This will give a bonus %age to add to the chance of success.

Whaddya think of those apples?

---

and the more energy pumped into it, the higher the chance you'll piss the othe guy off?

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Arbiter
Ummm...

How are we calculating the locking of horns in infiltration?

Is it merely:

Initial chance of success * (1+((attdipben - defdipben)/100)) + benefit of (invested energy - energy cost of action) ?

---

sorry, didn't see this. will discuss it further tonight...

Rightho.

Give me a buzz then when you're going to pop round

Right my hairy friend. I'm in, and I'm ready to kick some bottom!

I'll post again in a short while after I've collated some info.

Special projects:
orbital laser platform (comes after satellite tech- allows a: to destroy an enemy factions spy/defence satellite, and b: to take pot shots at the ground below)

Techs:
singularity synthesis
photosynthetic plastics
Bioneural circuitry
Temporal invariance physics
Causality looping
Continuum distortion propulsion
Metagenic weaponry
Elementary Particle Theory
Electroweak Theory
Unified Gauge Theory
Unified Field Theory
Quantum Chromodynamics
Statistical Mechanics
Catastrophe Theory
*Antimatter Stasis (do we have something like this)

Buildings:
Biomatter resequencer
antimatter storage facility (high tech battery)
*Remember buildings are also generated from weapons/chips/reactors/armour

Weapons:
Isomagnetic disintegrator
Acc-AM pellets
Temporal inversion
microsingularity engine - generates a tiny but unstable black hole at the target, which collapses into nothingness after causing its damage

Armour:
Plated Metal
Ablative
synthetic chitin

Shielding:
Plasma Deflection
Temporal Invariance
Electromagnic Reflection
shock recycler - absorbs most of the force from a blow and transfers it into energy which can be fed back into the grid

Reactors:
fossil fuel
Fission
Fusion
Anti - Matter
Probability
Particle Resonance
Particle Collider
micropile (and the other ones you came up with a long time ago)

Chips/Processors:
abacus
quantum net
neuroresonant conductor
Lepton Collator
Neurality Causeway
Positronic Cerebrum
Synaptic Meshing
Gaydar
Mongoose Skirmish Processor
Titan Battle Command
Longbow Fire Control