MAC Pathing Broken? (and rant)
JediPhreaK
Join Date: 2012-11-05 Member: 167028Members
Join Date: 2012-11-05 Member: 167028Members
<div class="IPBDescription">MAC(s) Getting Stuck Without Obstacles etc</div>This morning I was commanding a game on Mineshaft and MAC(s) were getting stuck in the most bizarre places without anything blocking their way. It was seriously frustrating trying to get them to go repair stuff or go build when they couldn't get around non existent obstacles and yes I did scan to make sure alien structures weren't blocking their way.
If MACs are going to remain their pathing needs work. Many have suggested they just fly over obstacles which I agree with since they are already floating in mid air. However even just a simple few fixes would be nice so they don't get stuck or trap themselves behind structures. Heck why not a recycle button too? MAC's should be recyclable as well.
While I'm talking about MACs I would like to see EMP either improved or removed in place of something not so totally useless. For instance here are a few ideas.
<ol type='1'><li> Make EMP drain 100 Energy (adrenaline gives you over 100 so many aliens with it would be fine)</li><li> Replace EMP with a sacrifice button that makes a MAC build/repair 2x or 3x faster but then die costing additional res.</li><li> Replace EMP with a command that turns the MAC into a temporary power source that can power nearby structures for a limited duration. (This would enable it to build a phase gate somewhere and power it for say 2 minutes perhaps so you can assault a forward position or maybe power some spawn portals if power is down.)</li><li> Replace EMP with a welder speed increase when a MAC is within range (limited use but would allow for faster player building or something)</li><li> Remove EMP and add the ability that when they are standing still they are invisible to enemy units if you research cloaking tech for them or something of that nature. (when they repair they would be visible.</li><li> Let MACs Path through Vents ??? (might be interesting and they are small enough)</li><li> MACs have welders right? Let them do some damage to those attacking them, it would still be of limited use and you could make it so the MACs have to be told to do so or something.</li><li>MAC Storage Unit - A small structure which you can store your MAC's in and later make them come out again, just like the way you can store units in RTS games. It would be one way to keep them out of the way.</li><li>Tie in MAC's with Observatories so when they are within the radius of an obs they would go repair anything within the radius of said Obs to better utilize their repair abilities.</li><li> Remove EMP and instead let MAC's slowly restore Ammo to a player facing them and holding down E without moving. (not health just ammo)</li></ol>
Just some thoughts, but really do fix MAC pathing and do something about how useless EMP is.
If MACs are going to remain their pathing needs work. Many have suggested they just fly over obstacles which I agree with since they are already floating in mid air. However even just a simple few fixes would be nice so they don't get stuck or trap themselves behind structures. Heck why not a recycle button too? MAC's should be recyclable as well.
While I'm talking about MACs I would like to see EMP either improved or removed in place of something not so totally useless. For instance here are a few ideas.
<ol type='1'><li> Make EMP drain 100 Energy (adrenaline gives you over 100 so many aliens with it would be fine)</li><li> Replace EMP with a sacrifice button that makes a MAC build/repair 2x or 3x faster but then die costing additional res.</li><li> Replace EMP with a command that turns the MAC into a temporary power source that can power nearby structures for a limited duration. (This would enable it to build a phase gate somewhere and power it for say 2 minutes perhaps so you can assault a forward position or maybe power some spawn portals if power is down.)</li><li> Replace EMP with a welder speed increase when a MAC is within range (limited use but would allow for faster player building or something)</li><li> Remove EMP and add the ability that when they are standing still they are invisible to enemy units if you research cloaking tech for them or something of that nature. (when they repair they would be visible.</li><li> Let MACs Path through Vents ??? (might be interesting and they are small enough)</li><li> MACs have welders right? Let them do some damage to those attacking them, it would still be of limited use and you could make it so the MACs have to be told to do so or something.</li><li>MAC Storage Unit - A small structure which you can store your MAC's in and later make them come out again, just like the way you can store units in RTS games. It would be one way to keep them out of the way.</li><li>Tie in MAC's with Observatories so when they are within the radius of an obs they would go repair anything within the radius of said Obs to better utilize their repair abilities.</li><li> Remove EMP and instead let MAC's slowly restore Ammo to a player facing them and holding down E without moving. (not health just ammo)</li></ol>
Just some thoughts, but really do fix MAC pathing and do something about how useless EMP is.
Comments
You can order them to attack marines. Its just insanely hard to click on a moving marine. Try it next time you have a drifter near a marine that is building or standing still for some reason.
Also works for MACs against aliens.
MACs and drifters can target most structures. Some won't work due to surrounding level geometry that interferes with pathing near that object.
They do pretty well, I've noticed no one complaining about the infestation lag update to visuals ... Am I the only one experiencing this or are a non complainant breed?
If a starship intending to get to mars and back smashes into the moon instead, it is "broken".
It doesn't have to have successfully have gotten there before in order to be broken, it just needs to intend to work a certain way, and if it's commonly accepted as slightly possible or greater to actually accomplish that objective, the actor can indeed be "broken".
In this case, many RTS games have had non-broken AIs. NS seems to not quite be one of them. I'll forgive it, but they ARE broken.
Indeed they are...