StarDestroyer.Net BBS

White Haven wrote:I just hope that SC stays away from the Corner Base problem. I sooo hate it when games use completely artificial corners and map-edges as a part of an ideal base location.

What if you have an impassable terrain feature somewhere else in the map as a side of the base?

An impassible terrain feature that just so HAPPENS to extend all along the borders of the map all around in a perfect rectangular shape? *snorts*

Why not have maps like Civ 4, where there are no edges to the map because it is a 'sphere'?

Because that would mean that every map has to be planet-sized, or take place on a rediculously small planetoid that still has the same gravity and atmospheric density as a full-sized world.

Accept the abstraction, better that than the game requiring 4 gigs of ram and quad SLI graphics cards just to run, eah?

At least if it required that sort of hardware, games could stop pandering to the lowest common denominator...

White Haven wrote:Because that would mean that every map has to be planet-sized, or take place on a rediculously small planetoid that still has the same gravity and atmospheric density as a full-sized world.

Don't be redicoulous, the map would represent a full Earth-like planet. This is what every RTS has done since forever. Current computer power just doesn't allow a 1-1 scale while still maintaining decent graphics and enough processing power for computations other than rendering can take place.

Oh, so every battle in, say, Command and Conquer represents all of the Earth? Nice try, but most games ARE to scale, terrain-wise.

White Haven wrote:Because that would mean that every map has to be planet-sized, or take place on a rediculously small planetoid that still has the same gravity and atmospheric density as a full-sized world.

Civ maps have NEVER been to scale worlds, they've just allowed for movement along them similar to how one would travel along a sphere.

And in any case, Civ is hardly the norm where strategy games are concerned.

White Haven wrote:I just hope that SC stays away from the Corner Base problem. I sooo hate it when games use completely artificial corners and map-edges as a part of an ideal base location.

So, I'm going to guess that you're not necessarily advocating planetary maps, and are instead advocating something like bases and resources starting well away from the edges, such that there's incentives not to huddle up in the corner?

Otherwise, I'm not sure what else could be done to address the issue.

I don't really see a solution: wherever the map edges are, they'll always be easier to defend than anywhere else. Maybe having a perimeter area around the map that you can move units through but not build, so that there's nothing interesting out there but edges and corners don't provide and invincible flank?

I'm more thinking of solving it via map design. If there are no appetizing places to PUT a base in a corner/against an edge, then even if an opponent manages to fort up such a location, you can just bypass it and smash his resource outposts. Nice, hilly regions with little to no extractable resources.

As I understand things you will be able to create your own maps, so even if the standard ones dissapoint you, modification is within your power.

I always liked games with "wrapping" maps. Made it a lot more interesting.