A mod I'd like to see: fixed amount of mass on the map

[RocketRooster]

Hi guys,

I don't know if such a mod exists already, but I'm going to assume that it doesn't and explain my idea.

Very simple idea - there is no mass income, merely a fixed amount in the bank that your ACU starts with, and then reclaim on the battlefield as a supplement. Whether it's possible to execute successfully is an entirely different matter and that's where I'd like your input.

The mode of play I'm envisioning is that players have to fight for the mass that is available on the map, and there is a fixed, finite amount of it. This will require extensive changes to many things. I've given it some thought and here are some salient points:

1) Mass storage is infinite by default, and mass storage becomes obsolete. Or, alternatively, reclaiming yields zero income (and does not affect the object being reclaimed) if you don't have storage for it.
2) Reclaim values must be 100% of construction mass cost
3) Mass generation of any kind is removed - Mexes don't produce, mass fabs are out, ACU/SCU income is zero, Paragon is bye bye.

The most difficult part is to ensure that all initial mass stays on the map in some way. This means that stuff that costs mass to build, like tac missiles, would require zero mass but which is balanced in turn by having heavy energy requirements. In other words, the trade-off in not having to spend mass on missiles means that you have to invest it in turn on power generation. Same goes for nukes.

Another big problem to overcome is the fact that aircraft are often destroyed outright, or if not, their momentum might take the wreck off-map. No map mass or wrecks should be destroyable by any means, not by nukes, artillery or what have you.

Another obvious problem is that mass points become pointless and therefor the very important aspect of fighting for map control takes a back seat to defensive play. But imagination can come to the rescue here. For example, each mass point you control with a mex, allows you to build a factory, or it enhances your build power, or a mex gets Intel and/or AA/TMD abilities or anything you can come up with to keep the fighting for and controlling of mass points a core aspect of the game.

I'd also like to see some sort of unarmed but heavily armoured harvester unit, perhaps with good basic regen, that can only move about and perform reclaim duties as an essential part of raiding and stealing mass from your opponent.

What does everybody think? Do you think it would be an interesting mode of play?

Thanks!
Ryan

[RocketRooster]

Another idea regarding mass points: a mex acts like an engineering station, upgradable to t3 in the normal fashion but as if it was a factory. It can then build structures within a limited radius around it based on its tech level. In addition, you remove engineers from the game, or else only give them build assistance and repair/reclaim ability. Your ACU/SACU can build mexes and defensive structures anywhere, but nothing else except non-structural experimentals. So, essentially, controlling mexes gives you real estate upon which to build. (YOU NEED ADDITIONAL PYLONS. )

[Sprouto]

Greetings RocketRooster!

It would certainly be an extensive mod - cutting into not only the core functions but a great many units as well.

The idea of finite mass may be more easily addressed by leaving the core mechanics as is, but making the mass deposits themselves finite. As I do recall, the data for mass points actually has an AMOUNT value, which is not used, that may very well have been created with that in mind. It's quite likely that they originally envisioned mass points as not only being finite, but having variable output levels, along the lines of Total Annihilation.

[RocketRooster]

What I would be concerned about is the potential for a game to reach a stalemate because the map as a whole runs out of mass and nobody can build anything any longer. A finite amount of mass underneath a mex, like a warcraft goldmine, would certainly work, but the core problem of ensuring that any extracted mass remains available throughout the game remains, and I have no clue whether this can be accomplished.

Another method could be to remove all reclaim altogether and award mass value for kills into the killing player's coffers, but I anticipate that this could lead to boring games as everybody hunkers down behind their shielding and PD.