Author Topic: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!  (Read 7528 times)

Offline keith.lamothe

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AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« on: June 08, 2013, 05:56:31 pm »
(Crossposted from this blog post)

This one addresses several things but mainly reworks the new expansion's Core Turret Controllers to better achieve their goal: easier distributed defense, and being more of a benefit to distributed defense than chokepoints (not trying to nerf the latter, just trying to not buff them much either).

Basically, the core turrets you can build with the new controllers won't co-exist on the same planet with lower-mark turrets of the same basic type, so you can't stack I+II+III+V turrets on a single planet, but have to choose between I+II+III (if you have II and III unlocked) or V.

On the other side, the controllers now both are more numerous and give more turrets each, and all mkII+ turrets (include core ones) cost way less m+c.

This patch also adds a "decolonize" option for when you want to abandon a planet without triggering the Shark plot (doesn't apply to other consequences of losing a planet) for situations where you're trying to capture something only for a short time (ARS on Dyson planet, etc).  It's possible this enables too much cheese, but in general if you think a particular usage is too cheesy you can just not do it; either way, we'll see.

There's also fixes for a few longstanding issues with AI units getting stuck trying to attack radar-dampened units but not wanting to close far enough to actually fire, etc.

Oh, you might also notice the cool new main menu background ;)

Enjoy!

This is a standard update that you can download through the  in-game updater itself, if you already have 4.000 or later. When you launch the game, you'll see the notice of the update having been found if you're connected to the Internet at the time.  If you don't have 4.000 or later, you can download that here.
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Offline Tridus

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2013, 06:10:22 pm »
:o

Need to go start a new game now!

Offline Faulty Logic

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2013, 07:23:05 pm »
Quote
<Core Turrets>
Interesting. I fear you've gone too far with quadrupling the firepower the core turrets give you, and doubling the controllers, but we'll see how they do.

On the main background, after about 3 seconds, my opinion changed from "that's cool"
to "get that light out of my eyes!"

And while I'm nitpicking graphical choices, the VotM logo should line up with the others, use a different font, and have a red, not purple, tint. But that could just be me.
« Last Edit: June 08, 2013, 07:26:16 pm by Faulty Logic »
If warheads can't solve it, use more warheads.

Offline Aklyon

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2013, 07:30:19 pm »
Why red? The purple tint looks fitting to me.

Offline keith.lamothe

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2013, 07:32:38 pm »
Quote
<Core Turrets>
Interesting. I fear you've gone too far with quadrupling the firepower the core turrets give you, and doubling the controllers, but we'll see how they do.
Yea, this is kind of the other end of the binary search for balance, you might say.  I don't expect these core turret numbers to last to 7.0, but we'll see.

Quote
On the main background, after about 3 seconds, my opinion changed from "that's cool"
to "get that light out of my eyes!"
Interesting.

* keith.lamothe makes notes on new AI tactics for Diff 10.

Anyone else have feedback on the new title screen? :)
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Offline Faulty Logic

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2013, 07:52:39 pm »
Quote
Why red? The purple tint looks fitting to me.

Red is the AI coloring, while purple is the "enemy-to-all" coloring.

Quote
* keith.lamothe makes notes on new AI tactics for Diff 10.
You'd better not  ;)
Don't make me hack the game.
If warheads can't solve it, use more warheads.

Offline keith.lamothe

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2013, 07:56:27 pm »
Don't make me hack the game.
In this case, editing RuntimeData/Images/MainMenu.png (iirc) wouldn't really involve hacking :)
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Offline Faulty Logic

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2013, 08:01:26 pm »
I meant should you implement those annoyance based tactics (not that I expect you to).
If warheads can't solve it, use more warheads.

Offline keith.lamothe

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2013, 08:14:29 pm »
I meant should you implement those annoyance based tactics (not that I expect you to).
Yea, I'll probably hold off on the MkV Flashlight modules for H/Ks.  For now.
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Offline Qatu

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #9 on: June 08, 2013, 08:49:41 pm »
 I just found out about the thing that mobile repairs can build mk4 units if i have an mk4 factory. Would it be possible to do the same for space docks, so they can build mk4 units if i have an mk4 factory? And the same for starship builders if i have the mk4 starship builder?

 In that game I dumped one of my mobile repairs on my main fleet building world to make my mk4 units and loved having less boring logistics to do and more bad guy shooting instead.

edit: i though spire corvettes mk4 had got their entry in the design screen but either i dreamed that or its not working in this release
« Last Edit: June 08, 2013, 09:42:53 pm by Qatu »

Offline LaughingThesaurus

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #10 on: June 08, 2013, 09:26:40 pm »
I meant should you implement those annoyance based tactics (not that I expect you to).
Yea, I'll probably hold off on the MkV Flashlight modules for H/Ks.  For now.
Keep that idea around for a bonus ship or for an AI Plot.

Offline Aeson

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #11 on: June 08, 2013, 10:13:56 pm »
Or for a "Cop" or "Alien Abductor" AI.

Be funny as a bonus ship for the human player. "What does that one do?" "It blinds me." "Does it do anything to the AI?" "Can't tell - I can't see anything when it's on screen."

Offline Tridus

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #12 on: June 08, 2013, 10:19:46 pm »
Anyone else have feedback on the new title screen? :)

It is pretty bright, but I like it. It draws the eyes.

Offline Aklyon

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #13 on: June 08, 2013, 10:35:26 pm »
Its certainly distinct in comparison to the other title screen. And blue-tint, like the Vengeance logo.

Offline chemical_art

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Re: AI War Beta 6.043 "Controllers Out Of Control" Released!
« Reply #14 on: June 08, 2013, 11:08:27 pm »
As someone paranoid of economic death spirals, the thought of turrets being the same cost over marks actually is very, very enticing, and fundamentally adjusts their value in later game.
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