From: Sheeran_F@ndg.ceo.dg.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.xtank.programmer
Subject: NewTanks
Date: 8 Apr 92 17:50:00 GMT
To: xtank@eng.umd.edu
Cc: jacobs@cs.ukans.edu

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CEO document contents:  
FRANKS TANKS...

I have had three major difficulties with the tank assortment in Xtank.  The
first is simply that there are not quite enough - that is, there are huge gaps
in the progression between the Lightcycle/Trike pair, the Hexo/Spider pair,
and the rest.  This has been partly addressed by the addition of 2 models in
the Spider/Psycho gap, and one in the Trike/Hexo gap which could use another 1
or 2 contributions.

The second is due to our playing style - we like race mazes with bottlenecks
with bad-ass robots stationed in them.  There are thus 3 new chassis that we
use as stationary death traps.

The third is also due to our nasty gravity/electric wall mazes - the Malice
seems optimal and nothing really compares - the other big tanks are slow/bad
handling whereas the Spider/Hexo/Trike are too small.  So, I have added the
Manta, most comperable to the Malice.  The Trident is more drivable than the
Medusa, so it may compete favorably as well.  Lastly in a tame maze the zippy
Corsair with a load of armor may be competive.

I have aimed to differentiate these new models from the standard models and
from each other.  The first new axis of differentiation I employed was varying
the "size" that is used to calculate armor weight and cost.  Picture putting
1cm of lead armor on an egg, then 1cm on a 8.5x11 sheet of paper.  Although the
egg is much heavier and voluminous than the paper, its armor would be weigh and
cost much less.  The strange shape of the Trident and HedgeHog give them alot
of surface area to put armor on, meaning a higher "size" and heavier armor. 
They compensate with better than average drivability.  The FruitFly, Corsair,
and Pill with smooth bodies require less armor for their size for a given
protection factor.

The Corsair, depending on the maze and other tanks could range from the top cat
to completely useless - it has awesome drivability and can be heavily armored,
but offence is poor when compared to the big boys.

BASES

The Pill, Pod, and Trefoil weren't designed to be driven in player-player
competion.  They would probably be maximally boring, but if your you and your
little playmates want to, have fun.

At first I gave them space and weight limits, but I decided to trust that
fellow gamers would rather have the flexibility.  The three bodies are very
different, so they dont require further differention by size as well.  When
designing for with these chassis, you probably wont find yourself using their
maximum weight or space.  Maybe you just want an Autocannon next to the goal. 
Maybe an autocannon with 200 Tungsten armor.  Maybe 6 autocannon, or maybe 6
HRL with 25 heatsinks.  You be the judge.

COST

The chassis cost is negligable in a tank design, so I just guessed randomly
some round figures.  I personally think that if all vehicle prices went up
1000% it would make them a factor in play, but we have been ignoring cost,
usually racing the same tank, or deigning our own Malices.  If someone has
some adjustments, or complaints, edit away.

 Body_stat body_stat[] = {
 /* type     size weight wghtlim space  drag hndl trts cost */
 {"Lightcycle", 2,   200,   800,   600,  .10,  8,  0,  3000},
 {"Hexo",       3,  1500,  5000,  4000,  .25,  6,  1,  4000},
 {"Spider",     3,  2500,  8000,  3000,  .40,  7,  1,  5000},
 {"Psycho",     4,  5000, 18000,  8000,  .60,  4,  1,  5000},
 {"Tornado",    4,  7000, 22000, 12000,  .80,  4,  1,  7000},
 {"Marauder",   5,  9000, 28000, 18000, 1.00,  3,  2, 10000},
 {"Tiger",      6, 11000, 35000, 22000, 1.50,  5,  1, 12000},
 {"Rhino",      7, 12000, 40000, 30000, 2.00,  3,  2, 10000},
 {"Medusa",     7, 14000, 40000, 25000, 1.20,  4,  3, 15000},
 {"Malice",     5,  4000, 20000, 15000,  .40,  7,  1, 17000},
 {"Trike",      2,   400,  1600,  1200,  .15,  6,  0,  4000},

    /* type     size weight wghtlim space  drag hndl trts cost */
    {"Corsair",    1,   800,  3600,  2500,  .13,  8,  0, 15000},
    {"FruitFly",   3,  2500, 11000, 14000, 1.60,  8,  2,  5000},
    {"HedgeHog",   6,  3000, 14000, 10000,  .40,  7,  2,  5000},
    {"Manta",      5,  4000, 19000, 25000,  .30,  4,  1, 20000},
    {"Trident",    8, 10000, 36000, 19000,  .75,  6,  3, 20000},
    {"Pill",       4,  1000, 99999,  9000,  .50,  2,  1,  2000},
    {"Pod",        6,  8000, 99999, 18000, 4.00,  8,  0, 10000},
    {"Trefoil",    8, 20000, 99999, 45000, 8.00,  0,  3, 25000}

};

CORSAIR: About the size of a big sportscar.  Thanks to the sleek body it is
speedy and efficiently armored.  Fits between Trike and Hexo as far as size,
but is fairly deluxe, warranting its higher price tag.

HEDGEHOG & FRUIT FLY: Fit between the tiny Hexo/Spider and the Psycho.  They
ought to be fairly matched in combat and race.  The Fly has handling and space
with very low top speed, the Hog speed and size but is hampered by inefficient
armor.  

MANTA: A variation on the Malice, it is faster and very roomy but the handling
will probably cost it many deaths on electric walls...

TRIDENT: An opponent for the Rhino/Medusa.  A bit smaller but much speedier.

PILL: a little nothing of a graphic: a circle with a turret.  You can't see
it's facing so it's a little confusing to drive.  Actually intended for
computer robot-manned Base duty, probably not suited well for player to
player combat.

POD: Looks like a turret off a WWII battleship, because that's the idea.  I
suppose you could put treads on it.  Typically the weapons go on the front and
the body turns.  Someone write a robot for it.

TREFOIL: The opposite of the pod, the body cannot rotate but has 3 turrets.
A symmetric crystal-looking thing.  Scatter 'em around the goal!  Driving
excitement should equal approx. 0.
Newsgroups: rec.games.xtank.programmer