Question? tech trees or no tech trees?

Evil Phil

tech tree, tech tree.

I've always liked games with tech tree's. Every since I played UFO (remember that, what a class game) I've loved the idea of combining strategy with research.

How about some admin stuff thrown in as well? Feed the unwashed masses, maintain your base, that kind of stuff.

nesf

It's hard to keep game balance with a complicated tech tree though, but I for one love, games with nice complicated research paths, Alpha Centari for example, but on a web game, simplicity might be best.

You'll be forced to choose between game depth and a free for all in my opinion.

Snaga

Hmmms, good point, ive been thinking about writing a webgame myself too.

Ive played a few myself, the ones with game worlds that last a long time tend to have tech trees of some description, as it adds something for the player to aim for.

But then it limits the chances of a newbie joining later as they will be hopelessly outclassed ala ferion( http://www.ferion.net ).

So i guess id base it on lenght of gametime,
long = yes tech tree
short = no techtree(or VERY small one)


Evil Phil - Im actually in the middle of a game of UFO right now - I love that game to bits.

[This message has been edited by Snaga (edited 01-06-2001).]

Lord Khan

balance tech tree is ackward :-) but I'd like to at least decide on a tech tree or no tech tree. like I've got most of it game done so far ( no graphics yet ). the idea is that the game would be more war orientated ... ie more attacking and stuff :-).

like atm the units are basicaly 5 diff ones
air unit
ground unit
tank unit
infantry unit
magic/spec ops unit

plus standard peasants.

god I hated ferion as a webgame ... you really had to log in regular ... i had to do it like once an hour to keep up.

I'm not going with ticks either ... did some tests it is easier to actually used accumulated turns instead.

those of you who've played earth2025 will know what I mean.

Evil Phil

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Lord Khan:

plus standard peasants.

</font>

lol

Lord Khan

what :-)

I'm thinking of renaming them to peons anyway :-) or calling them all DeVores :-)

Snaga

hehe

What are you writing it with? And how long will an instance of the game world last - as in does it have a round length ala PA, ferion etc, or will it just keep on kicking (that karate game thingy ?

Celt

Accumulated turn based games are the worst ones there is in imo.
The only good one of those i played was astronest and AN was just attack attack attack.
Im talking to Platon about making MechWars planetary but he's pretty busy.

Lord Khan

well story is :-)

I'm making a webgame at the moment, so far it looks very much like earth2025 or utopia in the play style ... no galaxies or countries. it supports clans too

but I'm kinda stuck ... I'm not sure if I should put in a tech tree or not?
Like I know tech trees are fun and all ...
but I dunno so far the game is a join in and join the fray, with the units that you have.


any ideas about it?

Lenny

Remeber VGA planets
would anyone be up for a game of that if we could get enough players?

Celt

Someone did, got us to give him our e-mails and that was that.

Lord Khan

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by WhiteLancer:
Someone did, got us to give him our e-mails and that was that.</font>

yeah that was Dr Teeth :-) he was moving and got kinda busy and then forgot I always make it a point to bug him about it :-)

don't think Platon will be adding planets to it.

I just want to game to be attack and organisation hence the clan option :-)

basically I want to get a system working ... then I can expand and develope it. it's just easier to acculumate turns for me... give players 1 ever 40-50 mins or maybe even every 5 ... the target audience is really UNI students here in UL ... but the game will be open to everybody once I finish.


Using PHP what else? MySQL stores the data PHP handles everything else ... there is a few perl scripts just for the crontabs to add up the turns and controlling market prices :-)

Celt

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Lord Khan:

Originally posted by WhiteLancer:
Someone did, got us to give him our e-mails and that was that.</font>

yeah that was Dr Teeth :-) he was moving and got kinda busy and then forgot I always make it a point to bug him about it :-)

don't think Platon will be adding planets to it.

I just want to game to be attack and organisation hence the clan option :-)

basically I want to get a system working ... then I can expand and develope it. it's just easier to acculumate turns for me... give players 1 ever 40-50 mins or maybe even every 5 ... the target audience is really UNI students here in UL ... but the game will be open to everybody once I finish.


Using PHP what else? MySQL stores the data PHP handles everything else ... there is a few perl scripts just for the crontabs to add up the turns and controlling market prices :-)

Easiest way isnt necessarily the best or the most enjoyable.
Oh and what is a planet? It's just a name, could have MechWars planetary with continents, still the same.

Dazzer

Need a hand with any of the GFX Lord Khan? Id be more than willing to help ya out

Kegser

Interesting... Any more info you like to release about it Khan? Anything you new