Since you posted this I decided to make this.
Here you go, a server mod that does exactly that.
Ignore this for the time being. Somehow it works when I run it client side through console map blabla, but as soon as it is put on a server it stops working......Will remove these lines whenever I have found out why and fixed it. Cheers
The Real Shit
. Upgrades 2 Hive
.. Built on Build 261
by Chariot
This is a server mod: C082815
This mod moves the upgrade icons from Crag, Shift, Shade and Whip to the Hive. It only moves the icons, you still need a Crag to upgrade Onos, a Shift to upgrade Lerk, a Shade to upgrade Fade and a Whip to upgrade Skulk.
Cheers. Chariot
...except on lower res where they will get cut off. And of course it won't work client side with consistency on.
A tech tree can never really be "intuitive" in my opinion. Intuition relates to how well an ingame system mimics a system already encountered by the user, in another game or in reality. Th exact structure of a tech tree is almost always unique to a game and even a team within a game, and there are many games which provide access to upgrades only through another structure.
That being said, I dislike the idea of skulk or fade upgrades being solely accessible through the whip or shade. Not because it isn't a tried and tested, and accepted method of providing access to upgrades, but because it isn't needed.
In a game like warcraft or stracraft, there are so many upgrades that placing them on specific structures was a needed measure to reduce clutter. In natural-selection, this is not the case. I personally think that upgrades should not be accessed through any structure at all, not even the hive. They should simply be visible at all time, in a "general" menu.
Each life form upgrade will be accessible at any time through an always visible menu, and this menu will inform the commander as to whether or not he meets the tech requirement for it.
Read: It's not going to change because UWE doesn't want to change it. Not for another 6 months anyway.
I don't really have an issue with the tech requirements, jsut their placement. A button in the Kahmm UI that leads to the research buttons, and starts the research on the structure closest to the/a Hive is all I'd want. (Though requiring a whip for tech progression does seem silly. After all, marines don't need Sentries to upgrade weapons)
I just get angry when I see skulk upgrades being researched before gorge/upgrade chambe/2nd tech point....
Trying to explain that the "skulk" upgrade only upgrades the skulk when you have a second hive is frustrating... Then again anyone with <50hours in the chair makes me sad...
Comments
...except on lower res where they will get cut off. And of course it won't work client side with consistency on.
That being said, I dislike the idea of skulk or fade upgrades being solely accessible through the whip or shade. Not because it isn't a tried and tested, and accepted method of providing access to upgrades, but because it isn't needed.
In a game like warcraft or stracraft, there are so many upgrades that placing them on specific structures was a needed measure to reduce clutter. In natural-selection, this is not the case. I personally think that upgrades should not be accessed through any structure at all, not even the hive. They should simply be visible at all time, in a "general" menu.
Each life form upgrade will be accessible at any time through an always visible menu, and this menu will inform the commander as to whether or not he meets the tech requirement for it.
As intuitive as it's ever going to be.
Read: It's not going to change because UWE doesn't want to change it. Not for another 6 months anyway.
or it changes well before the finals.
I don't really have an issue with the tech requirements, jsut their placement. A button in the Kahmm UI that leads to the research buttons, and starts the research on the structure closest to the/a Hive is all I'd want. (Though requiring a whip for tech progression does seem silly. After all, marines don't need Sentries to upgrade weapons)
Trying to explain that the "skulk" upgrade only upgrades the skulk when you have a second hive is frustrating... Then again anyone with <50hours in the chair makes me sad...