Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-11-25 at 08:52:57
Glad to see some initiative. In that case, I'll try to speed things up a bit and see if I can't get the update version ready by then. If not, continue as you will with the Alpha version. That should be the most straightforward version for balance testing (I hope).
Progress Report: Well guys, I got it. Thanks to some preliminary brainstorming by hinoatashi, as well as help from someone else (who wishes to remain anonymous and uncredited... go figure
), I've completed the first draft of the gameplay progression outline. Here it is:
Note that this is an outline draft only. Details for missions and such will be fleshed out properly after drafting is finalized.
Progress Report: Well guys, I got it. Thanks to some preliminary brainstorming by hinoatashi, as well as help from someone else (who wishes to remain anonymous and uncredited... go figure
), I've completed the first draft of the gameplay progression outline. Here it is:- Initial period-
- Massive NPC war taking place across center of map
- Players restricted to bases
- Spawners disabled
- Duration-
- At least 3 minutes
- Central fighting has to have ceased
- At least one player from each team must have exited their hangar at least once
- Early game-
- Fallen BCs can be recovered or destroyed throughout field
- Damaged defense structures in the field can be claimed
- Duration-
- 10 minutes
- Middle game-
- Missions-
- Set targets for tactical nukes
- Covertly capture scientists from enemy spawners
- Duration-
- 30 minutes
- Missions-
- Late game-
- Spawners create burst waves of powerful units
- Duration-
- 5 minute periods between waves (repeating)
- All game-
- Spawners at key points create 'heroes' units for team/player
- More powerful heroes gained from spawners built further from base
- Recover scientists at destroyed enemy spawners for team upgrades
- Team upgrades-
- Better spawners
- Anti-Mech Missile Launcher (Ion Cannon that fires comp owned scourges in aimable directions)
- Additional money
Note that this is an outline draft only. Details for missions and such will be fleshed out properly after drafting is finalized.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by EcHo on 2006-11-25 at 11:19:50
Glad to see some progress 
.
The additional minerals is really needed because when I die I cant buy any weapons. Did you fix the pilot spawn bug?
.The additional minerals is really needed because when I die I cant buy any weapons. Did you fix the pilot spawn bug?
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-11-25 at 11:44:11
Kinda. Unless it turns up for any other players.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Marandule1 on 2006-11-26 at 02:28:48
sry i was unable to arrive to test cause i was unbeliveabley ILL :S 
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-11-26 at 09:32:53
QUOTE(Marandule1 @ Nov 26 2006, 02:28 AM)
sry i was unable to arrive to test cause i was unbeliveabley ILL :S
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I figured as much.
Hate to say this Marandule but I'm gonna need to let you go as lead. I can understand how illness can make problems, but frankly this isn't the first time you've said you're gonna do something and not do it. You could have at least told me you weren't going to make the test session, or perhaps have tried to rearrange or formally cancelled it otherwise. I'd been waiting half a week before for your previous test results, which weren't nearly enough to work with. Even the less than an hour session I managed on friday barely helped, but I covered more than twice as much ground with it.This project just isn't going to get finished unless I can count on this stuff getting done; even if it means doing it myself.
Update: I'm scratching lead tester from the roster for the time being. I'll be taking that role myself until we're past these unstable early versions. We're just not yet ready for the straightforward balancing stuff yet, it seems. I'm gonna need to be more intimate with these tests anyway until we're no longer in this sensitive stage.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Marandule1 on 2006-11-26 at 10:32:02
QUOTE(Tuxedo Templar @ Nov 26 2006, 04:32 PM)
I figured as much. Hate to say this Marandule but I'm gonna need to let you go as lead. I can understand how illness can make problems, but frankly this isn't the first time you've said you're gonna do something and not do it. You could have at least told me you weren't going to make the test session, or perhaps have tried to rearrange or formally cancelled it otherwise. I'd been waiting half a week before for your previous test results, which weren't nearly enough to work with. Even the less than an hour session I managed on friday barely helped, but I covered more than twice as much ground with it.
This project just isn't going to get finished unless I can count on this stuff getting done; even if it means doing it myself.
Update: I'm scratching lead tester from the roster for the time being. I'll be taking that role myself until we're past these unstable early versions. We're just not yet ready for the straightforward balancing stuff yet, it seems. I'm gonna need to be more intimate with these tests anyway until we're no longer in this sensitive stage.
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Hate to say this Marandule but I'm gonna need to let you go as lead. I can understand how illness can make problems, but frankly this isn't the first time you've said you're gonna do something and not do it. You could have at least told me you weren't going to make the test session, or perhaps have tried to rearrange or formally cancelled it otherwise. I'd been waiting half a week before for your previous test results, which weren't nearly enough to work with. Even the less than an hour session I managed on friday barely helped, but I covered more than twice as much ground with it.This project just isn't going to get finished unless I can count on this stuff getting done; even if it means doing it myself.
Update: I'm scratching lead tester from the roster for the time being. I'll be taking that role myself until we're past these unstable early versions. We're just not yet ready for the straightforward balancing stuff yet, it seems. I'm gonna need to be more intimate with these tests anyway until we're no longer in this sensitive stage.
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since when? this is the first time ive not been able to do sumin as requested... the first test.. we came up with a few bugs and from what you posted quite early on that you have fixed those exposed bugs.
you can let me go as lead cause im not bothered that much about it... but i can always test exstensively cause atm ive now got alot of free time on my hands.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-11-26 at 11:39:41
Well you said you'd scheduled both an alpha and omega session earlier but you only got that one test with zeratul. Plus I'd asked if you could get more tests by the end of this week for each team (at least 2), and you couldn't manage even the one you'd posted about above.
Mainly though, I'm just now finding out there's several key issues hindering proper balance testing to begin with. But if there'd have been more tests sooner I would have at least been able to catch those then and replan as I am now rather than end up putting it on hold for several days, doing my own tests, and then replanning.
But in any case, I'll be holding off balance testing (and need for leads as a result) for awhile anyway. I'm reverting back to focus and bug testing until things stabilize again (an entirely seperate issue).
Mainly though, I'm just now finding out there's several key issues hindering proper balance testing to begin with. But if there'd have been more tests sooner I would have at least been able to catch those then and replan as I am now rather than end up putting it on hold for several days, doing my own tests, and then replanning.
But in any case, I'll be holding off balance testing (and need for leads as a result) for awhile anyway. I'm reverting back to focus and bug testing until things stabilize again (an entirely seperate issue).
Report, edit, etc...Posted by EcHo on 2006-11-26 at 13:09:34
Sorry, but was there another testing yesterday? Ive been on all day yesterday and frequently checking Op sen but only one person and a bot was there.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Phyrion on 2006-11-26 at 13:24:42
There was supposed to be a test yesterday, but no one was in either of the alpha or omega channels.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by EcHo on 2006-11-26 at 13:33:26
Oh! Channel Omega or Alpha. :/
I liked it better when Tuxedo notified me
I liked it better when Tuxedo notified me
Report, edit, etc...Posted by JaFF on 2006-11-27 at 12:52:51
I'm back, and will organize a test with a random teammate(s) tomorrow.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by EcHo on 2006-11-27 at 16:02:34
Were there any recent tests? I'm sorry If I missed any
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-11-27 at 17:29:06
No, I'll send out PMs when I'm ready. Feel free to test the alpha version if you wish, and report back (or simply send replays).
Progress Report: Progress has been a bit on/off lately as I get things fixed up. I was originally planning to have started gameplay progression by now, but with the new batch of bugs and my revision to the mech's drag system, my schedule has gotten a bit thrown off. I'm redoing the mech drag system almost from scratch, which should make some of you happy since now the mechs won't feel quite so ball and chain.
However I am looking for a way to slow down mech cockpit movement without actually halting it (using the move unit underneath trick doesn't work well for quicker units I've noticed), which is what everyone dislikes about the current method. If anyone has any ideas for that, it would be helpful.
Progress Report: Progress has been a bit on/off lately as I get things fixed up. I was originally planning to have started gameplay progression by now, but with the new batch of bugs and my revision to the mech's drag system, my schedule has gotten a bit thrown off. I'm redoing the mech drag system almost from scratch, which should make some of you happy since now the mechs won't feel quite so ball and chain.
However I am looking for a way to slow down mech cockpit movement without actually halting it (using the move unit underneath trick doesn't work well for quicker units I've noticed), which is what everyone dislikes about the current method. If anyone has any ideas for that, it would be helpful.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Phyrion on 2006-11-27 at 19:59:52
Hey Tux, I know you're busy but when you get the chance, could you put me on the testers list? 
Anyone who wants to test the infantry only version of the map let me know.
Anyone who wants to test the infantry only version of the map let me know.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-11-30 at 14:06:44
Didn't I already? Thought I did...
Ok I'll add you. But I'm almost done with the update so you might as well wait until I get it before you do anymore new testing.
ADDITION:
Progress Report: Ok, after a very slow week, I crawled my way to finishing the latest batch of fresh bugs. I'm sure that's not the last of them by a long shot, but hopefully this should bring us back up to the balance testing stage again.
I may be sending out PMs to arrange a new test session soon, so stay sharp!
I'm also trying to get the gameplay progression outline to its final draft, as well. If only Hinoatashi can get back to me on his progress...
Ok I'll add you. But I'm almost done with the update so you might as well wait until I get it before you do anymore new testing.
ADDITION:
Progress Report: Ok, after a very slow week, I crawled my way to finishing the latest batch of fresh bugs. I'm sure that's not the last of them by a long shot, but hopefully this should bring us back up to the balance testing stage again.
I may be sending out PMs to arrange a new test session soon, so stay sharp!
I'm also trying to get the gameplay progression outline to its final draft, as well. If only Hinoatashi can get back to me on his progress...
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Xx.Doom.xX on 2006-11-30 at 14:10:45
Sounds great Tux, hope the bugs are fixed and everything works.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-11-30 at 16:13:53
QUOTE(Frenzy @ Nov 30 2006, 02:10 PM)
Sounds great Tux, hope the bugs are fixed and everything works.
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Hope for the best, expect the worst. In fact, screw hope. Optimism is an occupational hazard when doing this kind of stuff.
I just focus on what I need to get it done.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by EcHo on 2006-11-30 at 17:01:48
Well, all you have to do is PM me on sen or message me on MSN. I'll probably be avaliable for almost all tests.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Laser_Dude on 2006-11-30 at 18:19:34
I would also like to help testing, if you have any room.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-11-30 at 18:53:44
Of course. I'll add you to the list.
I'm probably gonna do a test this weekend (looking at Saturday some time).
I'm probably gonna do a test this weekend (looking at Saturday some time).
Report, edit, etc...Posted by OhManTfe on 2006-11-30 at 21:15:21
Yeh my holidays are on so I'll test for ya however in my opinion I'd prefer you be working on Rush Ep 2 
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Sarge999 on 2006-11-30 at 22:05:54
Sounds like a fun map, cant wait to play and goodluck
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Dark_Marine_123 on 2006-12-01 at 05:55:47
Pardon me for my bleak absense from the testing of your wonderous map ;O Some issues came up for me, but for the most part I should be coming back. Not to mention with the holidays coming up, more free time for us all ;D
I'll try my best to show up for the next test
I'll try my best to show up for the next test
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tuxedo Templar on 2006-12-01 at 15:09:51
Wonderous map. Lol'd.
I'm looking at tomorrow at noon. We're gonna do some bug testing first, so that'll just be messing around. After that, we'll do some gameplay stuff, and hopefully with the latest fixes (which you might not notice... they're mostly undetectable trigger stuff) it shouldn't end up as big of a mess as it did last time.
I'm looking at tomorrow at noon. We're gonna do some bug testing first, so that'll just be messing around. After that, we'll do some gameplay stuff, and hopefully with the latest fixes (which you might not notice... they're mostly undetectable trigger stuff) it shouldn't end up as big of a mess as it did last time.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Laser_Dude on 2006-12-01 at 15:11:20
12:00 Eastern? or Pacific?