This is not a <i>real time</i> strategy game. It's something completely different. I expect multiplayer will focus on mind games and misinformation instead of reflexes.
The concept is just that brilliant. If you learned about all the intricacies of NS , Achron should be within your reach.
If you didn't get the memo , Achron's multiplayer alpha version is out. Tricky stuff. Tactics are very detailed as both players constantly adapt them to the situation. Strategy is difficult to handle as you have to constantly change your build order to counter what the opponent does , did , might be doing or might decide to undo. It ends up not being very optimal , you have to learn a new kind of intuition from scratch. It's also very easy to be overconfident and think your victory is guarranteed while an unopposed attack at the right point in time can defeat you.
Time travel is hazardous , too. It is not rare for players (myself included) to defeat themselves with an untimely chronoport or hasty decision.
Right now its in for 30$.... thats a bit too much for me because I'll probably get this <a href="http://www.theindiebundle.com/" target="_blank">http://www.theindiebundle.com/</a> :P
Though that game sounds like a lot of fun to me =)
This game needs more players. Get it before it's in beta !
All races now playable , so proper balancing has started. They feel very different , not only with regard to time travel. In multiplayer , you get to choose your race *after* the game starts - so you can do things like zerg rush , then switch to human to tech up.
With large numbers of community-made maps (including mine) comes a greater gameplay diversity. Most of the graphics are done by now.
The RTS aspect is still there , it's best to anticipate your opponent than wait until he reveals his forces , putting you at a chronoenergy disadvantage. Chronoenergy serves as an effective cap on APM , but that doesn't mean Achron is a slow game - you have to keep track of everything at several points in time. Getting distracted is much more dangerous than losing units.
Oh , and paradoxes do happen in multiplayer. You can even use them to clone units for free. Rarely worth it however - it doesn't cost real resources or chronoenergy but your most valuable , time. Normal production is far easier to manage.
Meta-time aspects means that you can rush your opponent by farming resources , unlocking chronoporting tech early and then sending lots of units back in time. However , the opponent can counter that by changing his build to a standard rush , destroying your undefended base. If you were the one to strike first , this causes a paradox that can still turn in your favor - more timewaves carrying your victory means better odds.
NeonSpyder"Das est NTLDR?"Join Date: 2003-07-03Member: 17913Members
<!--quoteo(post=1804652:date=Nov 5 2010, 08:55 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Nov 5 2010, 08:55 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1804652"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You could always buy it now, wait for it to be completed, then send it back in time to yourself. You can be playing it years ago!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1804652:date=Nov 6 2010, 02:55 AM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Nov 6 2010, 02:55 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1804652"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You could always buy it now, wait for it to be completed, then send it back in time to yourself. You can be playing it years ago!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Funny indeed, but it requires that I wait for the game the first time. As I said I cant be arsed to do that :P.
<!--quoteo(post=1804652:date=Nov 5 2010, 06:55 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Nov 5 2010, 06:55 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1804652"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You could always buy it now, wait for it to be completed, then send it back in time to yourself. You can be playing it years ago!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Of course, the fact that none of us have received any time-travelling copies yet means that the game will never actually be completed for us to send back!
I bought this a while ago and was impressed with the concept but disappointed with the execution. I'm download the latest version to see if it's improved at all.
<!--quoteo(post=1804670:date=Nov 6 2010, 01:17 AM:name=Scythe)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scythe @ Nov 6 2010, 01:17 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1804670"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I bought this a while ago and was impressed with the concept but disappointed with the execution. I'm download the latest version to see if it's improved at all.
remiremedy [blu.knight]Join Date: 2003-11-18Member: 23112Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester
<!--quoteo(post=1804682:date=Nov 5 2010, 10:27 PM:name=SentrySteve)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SentrySteve @ Nov 5 2010, 10:27 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1804682"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->same here, let me know what you think<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> and I.
Graphically it hasn't changed. It suffers from supcom syndrome, masses of near-identical units which're difficult to differentiate. The muddy, muted colour theme doesn't help at all.
Performance-wise it's much, MUCH better. Mouse cursor is snappy and there's no missed clicks. Much more responsive.
Still no less confusing to play though. Needs a solid tutorial that introduces all the units and explains the time mechanic. Sometimes crazy stuff happens that you couldn't've possibly predicted. Maybe I just need more time with it.
I got the impression that I wouldnt be able to play it if I bought it now when reading your answers, but I decided to look it up anyway, and they state clearly that if I buy now, I can play now!
Thus I decided to buy the game (getting an aco###### so I can buy it atm), anyone who would like to add me on steam (feha92) to later play with me (and maybe help me learn it), feel free to do so ;)
EDIT: Wow that email took long time, and now I see I can only buy using credit cards, while I prefer paypal (never actually used my credit card before for buying stuff online).
I will go to bed and take care of this tomorrow then...
EDIT2: Ok, bought it, it is soon done dling aswell!
<!--quoteo(post=1804699:date=Nov 6 2010, 10:23 AM:name=Scythe)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scythe @ Nov 6 2010, 10:23 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1804699"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Graphically it hasn't changed.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Strange that you would say that , it had an engine overhaul earlier. Matter of settings maybe. It's true that many human units look nondescript , other races have clearer roles however.
By the way , most people seem to skip the official forums for some reason. It's the place to look for technical or gameplay support and submit feedback , the game devs are very active but can't help you if you don't post there. Be sure to join the Achron steam group also. Games are typically arranged on IRC.
remiremedy [blu.knight]Join Date: 2003-11-18Member: 23112Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester
Yeah I kinda want to do a far simpler implementation of this time travel rts idea... I think that Achron might be trying to hard to be like a normal complex RTS and then also having time travel rather than simplifying other elements so that all the action and strategy revolves around the time travel rather than having the time travel just being another confusing element to deal with.
Comments
The concept is just that brilliant. If you learned about all the intricacies of NS , Achron should be within your reach.
Time travel is hazardous , too. It is not rare for players (myself included) to defeat themselves with an untimely chronoport or hasty decision.
Though that game sounds like a lot of fun to me =)
All races now playable , so proper balancing has started. They feel very different , not only with regard to time travel.
In multiplayer , you get to choose your race *after* the game starts - so you can do things like zerg rush , then switch to human to tech up.
With large numbers of community-made maps (including mine) comes a greater gameplay diversity. Most of the graphics are done by now.
The RTS aspect is still there , it's best to anticipate your opponent than wait until he reveals his forces , putting you at a chronoenergy disadvantage. Chronoenergy serves as an effective cap on APM , but that doesn't mean Achron is a slow game - you have to keep track of everything at several points in time. Getting distracted is much more dangerous than losing units.
Oh , and paradoxes do happen in multiplayer. You can even use them to clone units for free. Rarely worth it however - it doesn't cost real resources or chronoenergy but your most valuable , time. Normal production is far easier to manage.
Meta-time aspects means that you can rush your opponent by farming resources , unlocking chronoporting tech early and then sending lots of units back in time. However , the opponent can counter that by changing his build to a standard rush , destroying your undefended base.
If you were the one to strike first , this causes a paradox that can still turn in your favor - more timewaves carrying your victory means better odds.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR9E5apzw-U&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">Updated demo video</a>
I'll have to try it out again and see how it's doing.
Funniest godamn thing I read all day.
Funny indeed, but it requires that I wait for the game the first time. As I said I cant be arsed to do that :P.
Of course, the fact that none of us have received any time-travelling copies yet means that the game will never actually be completed for us to send back!
--Scythe--
--Scythe--<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
same here, let me know what you think
and I.
Performance-wise it's much, MUCH better. Mouse cursor is snappy and there's no missed clicks. Much more responsive.
Still no less confusing to play though. Needs a solid tutorial that introduces all the units and explains the time mechanic. Sometimes crazy stuff happens that you couldn't've possibly predicted. Maybe I just need more time with it.
--Scythe--
Thus I decided to buy the game (getting an aco###### so I can buy it atm), anyone who would like to add me on steam (feha92) to later play with me (and maybe help me learn it), feel free to do so ;)
EDIT:
Wow that email took long time, and now I see I can only buy using credit cards, while I prefer paypal (never actually used my credit card before for buying stuff online).
I will go to bed and take care of this tomorrow then...
EDIT2:
Ok, bought it, it is soon done dling aswell!
Strange that you would say that , it had an engine overhaul earlier. Matter of settings maybe.
It's true that many human units look nondescript , other races have clearer roles however.
By the way , most people seem to skip the official forums for some reason. It's the place to look for technical or gameplay support and submit feedback , the game devs are very active but can't help you if you don't post there.
Be sure to join the Achron steam group also. Games are typically arranged on IRC.