Mexes & Mass storages

[Crotalus]

There have been earlier discussions about economy upgrade being cumbersome for players, especially building mass storages. You need to setup templates to make it less micro-intensive and also make sure you walk around with enough engineers to build them. One suggestion was to remove / lower mass storage adjacency to reduce the need for building them.

I've made a mod which is a compromise, trying to solve the above problem:

* Mexes are able to build mass storages themselves, just like an upgrade. This reduces micro to a single click and removes the need for a template.
* You are still able to assist the mex to make it build faster, just like any other builder.
* The normal way of building mass storages are ofc still possible

Please try out the mod and come with your opinions, is this something that would benefit the game? The UI logic isn't polished so there may be weirdness / bugs

Mod is called "Mex builds Mass Storages", search for "Mex builds"

[IceDreamer]

Interesting solution to the problem. Mex surround has always been more efficient post-T2, so I think it would be best for such an upgrade to only be available to the T2 and T3 mex. There is a flip-side to the argument though, that it is yet another thing which uses up your attention resource and separates two players, which in my opinion is a good thing. SupCom's all about these incremental advantages...

[rockoe10]

interesting. Not sure how I feel about it yet, I'll give it a test try when I get back from work

[Crotalus]

At the moment mass storage is on the same tab as upgrade if it's advantagous to use it, for T1 mexes it's "hidden" under the T1 tab, thus you have to manually switch to that tab if you want to build storages anyway.

[Lionhardt]

This reduces the importance of engineers, and keeping them alive. Especially at the front far away fom your production. Therefore it heavily alters the gameplay.


I am not necessarily saying this is bad. Just pointing it out.

I think managing your engineers is an important part of the game though. On the other hand I love automation that reduces micro and allows you to focus more on the bigger strategic picture... after all advanced UI and smart control schemes is what seperates SupCom from StarCraft and co. the most. The 'actual' solution would be more autonomous engineers and area commands though! (This is one of teh sharpest edges PA (and Zero-K and co.) has on FA(F) imo)

[Crotalus]

Yeah, but with the current direction / plans of removing mass storages adjacency altogether this would be the case anyway.

I guess it depends on the reason for removing the MS-bonus, if it's due to the complexity of economy this mod will help but not if it's about reducing the exponential effect of the economy

[Lionhardt]

I am not aware of such plans?

[Crotalus]

Discussion of economy, I would guess it heats up 5+ pages into the thread
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3380

I guess you could even lower the income or raise the cost a bit for T2+MS / T3 mexes with this mod as penalty for having extra buildpower / easier to build the storages.

[Sheeo]

How is a thread over a year old with no actual consensus a plan?

Interesting idea though, I'll give it a try in a few games.

[Crotalus]

Well, I've heard Zock for instance would suggest some changes to economy next balance round(someone even did a mod with his suggested changes). I don't think the idea of removing mass storages adj is dead at all.