Kharaa Tech Tree Idea
PsiWarp
Gifted GorgeRichmond, B.C., Canada Join Date: 2010-08-28 Member: 73810Members
Gifted GorgeRichmond, B.C., Canada Join Date: 2010-08-28 Member: 73810Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Brainstorm for alternative to D/M/S style</div>Moving this from the twitter thread to avoid cluttering that one :)
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/5729271395_6a49380ca8_b.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->1) Allow all chambers to be available at start, with appropriate costs to gauge usefulness.
2) Each Hive unlocks one mature chamber, to be chosen in the Hive upgrade menu (for free, normal chambers must pay T-Res to upgrade to mature chambers)
3) A Hive can evolve into a Hive Colony, which permits an additional mature chamber to be unlocked. Hive Colony requires 2 existing Hives to research, and only 1 HC may exist.
4) Killing a Hive that has researched a mature chamber will allow the Marines to isolate a particular lifeform's tech structure, making it possible to find and destroy these mature chambers before a new Hive is complete.
5) Mature chambers UNLOCK lifeforms: M. Crag = Gorge, M. Whip = Lerk, M. Shift = Fade, M. Shade + Hive Colony = Onos (to keep Onos as end-game lifeform).
6) Only Mature chambers can research lifeform upgrades. Passive Melee/Armor upgrades are researched at Hives.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
According to the tech tree idea, all chambers will be available at the start of the game (albeit, with balanced T-Res costs for their various functions). This gives the Commander a lot of options in base building, allowing numerous combinations to create a strong foundation of base defense in the early game. As Commander, you'd want to manage between spreading infestation, fortifying positions, triggering helpful abilities and providing upgrades for your team.
In order to expand on the troops' choices, the Commander may select a mature chamber type for his starting Hive. Using the Upgrade (or Chamber Research) submenu, the Commander can choose 1 of the 4 mature chambers available, either for free (like D/M/S style) or for a small T-Res cost, it will then unlock the Mature upgrade for that chamber.
The Mature upgrade is similar to the current system where the cost of upgrading is nearly/more than double the T-Res required for the chamber itself. Mature chambers are likely larger in appearance and perhaps sport some visual distinction (Babblers in Crag's shell, Acid sac on Whip's tentacle, etc.)
By upgrading to a mature chamber, the lifeform corresponding to the chamber will be unlocked, so will its basic upgrades. Expansion is emphasized by requiring 2 Hives or a Hive Colony to unlock advanced upgrades. The Onos and its upgrade require both the Mature Shade and Hive Colony; this is mainly due to the Onos' role as a siege breaker/end-game tank.
When 2 or more Hives are on the map, the Commander can upgrade one of them to a Hive Colony. A Hive Colony enables melee 3 and armor 3 upgrades, as well as advanced lifeform upgrades on the mature chambers. It can also support 2 of any mature chamber types, allowing the Commander to decide which mature chambers are more important to place on a Hive with higher health.
There can only be 1 Hive Colony, mainly to continue encouragement on expanding after its completion (when advanced lifeform upgrades and Onos are available, but the fourth mature chamber and lifeform are not).
As for lifeform abilities, I think the number of Hives unlocking the abilities like in NS1 will suffice, even more emphasis on the importance of Hives.
Anyway, that's the basic idea. What do you guys think and what would you change?
Edit: Just read KuBaN's idea from 7 days ago (with lots of similarities, actually O_o): <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=113412" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...howtopic=113412</a>
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/5729271395_6a49380ca8_b.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->1) Allow all chambers to be available at start, with appropriate costs to gauge usefulness.
2) Each Hive unlocks one mature chamber, to be chosen in the Hive upgrade menu (for free, normal chambers must pay T-Res to upgrade to mature chambers)
3) A Hive can evolve into a Hive Colony, which permits an additional mature chamber to be unlocked. Hive Colony requires 2 existing Hives to research, and only 1 HC may exist.
4) Killing a Hive that has researched a mature chamber will allow the Marines to isolate a particular lifeform's tech structure, making it possible to find and destroy these mature chambers before a new Hive is complete.
5) Mature chambers UNLOCK lifeforms: M. Crag = Gorge, M. Whip = Lerk, M. Shift = Fade, M. Shade + Hive Colony = Onos (to keep Onos as end-game lifeform).
6) Only Mature chambers can research lifeform upgrades. Passive Melee/Armor upgrades are researched at Hives.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
According to the tech tree idea, all chambers will be available at the start of the game (albeit, with balanced T-Res costs for their various functions). This gives the Commander a lot of options in base building, allowing numerous combinations to create a strong foundation of base defense in the early game. As Commander, you'd want to manage between spreading infestation, fortifying positions, triggering helpful abilities and providing upgrades for your team.
In order to expand on the troops' choices, the Commander may select a mature chamber type for his starting Hive. Using the Upgrade (or Chamber Research) submenu, the Commander can choose 1 of the 4 mature chambers available, either for free (like D/M/S style) or for a small T-Res cost, it will then unlock the Mature upgrade for that chamber.
The Mature upgrade is similar to the current system where the cost of upgrading is nearly/more than double the T-Res required for the chamber itself. Mature chambers are likely larger in appearance and perhaps sport some visual distinction (Babblers in Crag's shell, Acid sac on Whip's tentacle, etc.)
By upgrading to a mature chamber, the lifeform corresponding to the chamber will be unlocked, so will its basic upgrades. Expansion is emphasized by requiring 2 Hives or a Hive Colony to unlock advanced upgrades. The Onos and its upgrade require both the Mature Shade and Hive Colony; this is mainly due to the Onos' role as a siege breaker/end-game tank.
When 2 or more Hives are on the map, the Commander can upgrade one of them to a Hive Colony. A Hive Colony enables melee 3 and armor 3 upgrades, as well as advanced lifeform upgrades on the mature chambers. It can also support 2 of any mature chamber types, allowing the Commander to decide which mature chambers are more important to place on a Hive with higher health.
There can only be 1 Hive Colony, mainly to continue encouragement on expanding after its completion (when advanced lifeform upgrades and Onos are available, but the fourth mature chamber and lifeform are not).
As for lifeform abilities, I think the number of Hives unlocking the abilities like in NS1 will suffice, even more emphasis on the importance of Hives.
Anyway, that's the basic idea. What do you guys think and what would you change?
Edit: Just read KuBaN's idea from 7 days ago (with lots of similarities, actually O_o): <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=113412" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...howtopic=113412</a>
Comments
Or how did you think with making a onos skill require same thing as the onos itself?
Or how did you think with making a onos skill require same thing as the onos itself?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Actually, Bone Shield was an upgrade on the Crag last I saw (don't know if it still is?). If you've upgraded a Mature Shade before Hive Colony, you can research Bone Shield when Onos is available.
Phantasm's just the advanced ability for the Mature Shade, nothing to do with Onos :)