Suggestions

[Candlejack]

The distances between asteroids are quite long in comparison to the size of the Dyson trees, so I don't think growing the vines would make sense. Maybe Dyson trees should automatically start releasing seedlings with threads on them after while and they weave the bridges from tree to tree slowly over time. Then again, this might cause problems because of so many strings being rendered at once and destroying a tree would break the web(maybe they could barrow strength from other connected trees).

[ab aeterno]

neither do I, which is why I suggested making bridges instead

if I were to have to think of one way I considered ideal for this kind of thing, it'd be to make you have to use up a tree slot at the cost of 20 seedlings which creates the bridge, and after a while the bridge would start producing hybrid seedlings from the two asteroids.

[Alex]

Could we set up a seperate section on the forum for levels, level packs, and level creation? That would be great.

Flowbot

Great idea, will do.

Others: Really fun ideas, I love how organic they sound!

[flowbot]

Great idea, will do.

Others: Really fun ideas, I love how organic they sound!
[/quote]

Thanks!

[Candlejack]

neither do I, which is why I suggested making bridges instead

if I were to have to think of one way I considered ideal for this kind of thing, it'd be to make you have to use up a tree slot at the cost of 20 seedlings which creates the bridge, and after a while the bridge would start producing hybrid seedlings from the two asteroids.

But my idea is prettier and involves keeping track of less seedling types.

[ab aeterno]

but your idea involves using seedlings to build a bridge by having them attach threads to the other asteroid, meaning the seedlings would have strings attached to them, which is just awkward graphically and brings up the question of whether or not they are able to fight or not.

and who really tracks seedling types

[Alex]

and who really tracks seedling types

In the final implementation, you will be able to track seedling types and we're going to make it so that this will actually be something that will help you win if you do it.

Regarding linking up asteroids, we probably won't do this. It does sound like it might work as a method of improving transportation for the player, so that there's less clicking around, but it's quite an elaborate solution to the problem and introduces problems with attributes (e.g. if two asteroids are linked, what happens to the attributes? if all your asteroids are lined up, what happens then?). It's a cool idea though, be it strings or vines

[ab aeterno]

then, instead of all the complications of another structure, why not just allow us to place a destination for newly sprouted seedlings to go to so that we don't have to waste time dragging them across a map?

[Candlejack]

That's already being added.

[ab aeterno]

how do you know? maybe i've missed this somehow

[Alex]

I don't think we're adding rally points, at least not yet. We're looking at better ways to control the game though One of these will be the ability to send seedlings anywhere you actually own or could send to. This should reduce clicking a lot. It's the best elements of the old system and the new system put together.

[Vlad]

I don't think we're adding rally points, at least not yet. We're looking at better ways to control the game though One of these will be the ability to send seedlings anywhere you actually own or could send to. This should reduce clicking a lot. It's the best elements of the old system and the new system put together.

Woohoo!  If I'm understanding you right, that's exactly the solution I was hoping for.

How will it work if you've got seperate clusters of controlled asteroids, though?  Say you've got two groups of asteroids, A and B, with overlapping "sending areas".  Will you be able to send asteroids from group A to an asteroid within the area of group B, or would you have to join the two groups together first?

<-- Hoping for the latter.

[Alex]

We're not decided on that yet - it's perfectly possible to do either, as the routefinding code we have in the library will let us determine if one asteroid is linked uninterrupted with another by asteroids of the same owner.

[totally]

We're not decided on that yet - it's perfectly possible to do either, as the routefinding code we have in the library will let us determine if one asteroid is linked uninterrupted with another by asteroids of the same owner.

Waypoints (like in Starcraft or similar) are still probably the best solution for that. No need to invent a wheel when it is already invented I look forward to see how you guys will solve this problem.

I don't know exactly how the other solutions suggested in this topic will work to solve the problem (bridges direct the movement of the newborn seedlings, but what about regrouping and merging groups together?). Different dyson tree structures are a nice idea to bring more diversity into gameplay.



Tracking seedling types (and maybe separeting groups of seedlings based on characteristics)? Very cool idea. I'm all for that. Dividing group with fast and weak seedlings and slow but tough seedlings into two groups will be very useful.



Also please don't add a sun into the game universe. "Sunfree" or "sunless" universes with life are rare and will help to differentiate this game from others. Evolution of the different dyson organisms will be very interesting.

[Alex]

Let's imagine the star is in the third dimension, shining into the world and distributing energy uniformly Kind of like midichlorians in 2D!