From: lidl@sura.net (Kurt J. Lidl)
Newsgroups: rec.games.xtank.programmer
Subject: Re: NewTanks
Date: 9 Apr 92 02:20:11 GMT
Organization: SURAnet -- 8400 Baltimore Blvd, College Park, MD 20740

In article <9204081850.AT00042@rtp40.rtp.dg.com> Sheeran_F@ndg.ceo.dg.com writes:
>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.

I don't have any problems with this -- In fact, before I drew those
trike bitmaps, there used to be even fewer to choose from.  Not to
mention the Panzy tank...  I'd like to see more well-thought-out
tanks body designs.  Yours seem to fit the bill...

>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.

These all sound like good additions to the game.  Obviously, I'd like
to play around with them before adding them to the game, and maybe
tweak a number or two, if it seems to merit it...

If you just post the bitmaps and the values (like you just did) to the
net, then nobody can prevent everyone from using your tanks.  Even
if we decide not to include them (which *probably* would not happen),
anyone can still hack them into Xtank.

Just because we don't include something that seems to massively tilt the
game balance, doesn't mean it isn't fun, and so forth.  When the first
hover-tread version came out, it really screwed the game balance --
skill became nothing, and the fastest tank always won (nothing like
a human guided missle).  If one of your designs gets released and
makes it impossible to win in other vehicles, something is wrong,
and things will be adjusted in the next release...  After all,
it's only a game, and one we don't get paid to work on.  Besides,
we only ever have Beta releases :-)

							-Kurt


-- 
/* Kurt J. Lidl (lidl@sura.net)       | Unix is the answer, but only if you */
/* X.500: Power Tools for Power Fools | phrase the question very carefully. */