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General FreeSpace => Multiplayer => Topic started by: Mav on November 11, 2009, 07:05:11 pm

Title: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: Mav on November 11, 2009, 07:05:11 pm
Well, hi :) .

I'd like some more Shivan missions in multi, and with more ships than the Mara to select, too.
And also some Shivan participation in Gauntlets, which would require some sort of balancing, of course.

This would, thus, involve some kind of mod. And as I personally want my stats saved when I play FSNet, it'd have to be something validated.
Would that be posible?

I already made a small Shivan-Mod years ago... I just recently looked into it, and it even already has Dogfight-versions of the Shivan primaries, one of the few things that could be used for balancing.
Seeing that Shivan ships aren't too advantageous in retail   (it seems to me - please correct me if I'm wrong)   , I have slightly increased those dogfight-versions' stats...
Seeing that the Kayser is said to be reverse- engineered Shivan tech, I'd think it'd be legitimate to add it to the Shivan ships loadouts, too.

I'm not sure what missions I made for it - propably only the gauntlets and a few dogfights, not sure... So I - or someone else - would likely have to do a bit FREDing for this.



Well, I'm just posting this to see how many interest there is, and how the chances for validation are...

Another point would be to include it into Squadwar, once that starts again - I don't think I would have too much time for that, but the idea of playing with a Shivan squad would be quite nice... :)  °o°                   ( <- Shivan smiley ;) )



So - how's it? Chance of validation, interest, balancing ideas, anything? :)
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on November 11, 2009, 07:46:23 pm
We do have plans on getting all the Shivan fighters/bombers working in MULTI.  It will probably be awhile before that happens as the current priority is bug fixing the existing stuff.  Once they are in MULTI valid missions can be created with them and stats will store.

Any missions that don't require a mod can be submitted here for now.  Just post a link to the mission and we will add it to the testing list.
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: Mav on November 29, 2009, 02:11:11 am
Will they also be allowed & balanced for Squadwar??  ^^
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on November 29, 2009, 03:02:58 am
Yes but both sides will have access to the same ships and weapons.  So not GTVA vs Shivans or anything like that.
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: Mav on November 29, 2009, 07:58:24 am
Not?

Aww, thats sad... :( :sigh:


Still, better that than no Shivans at all, I guess... :)


(also, if there had been Shivan squads, why not make separate Terran and Vasudan Squads - assorting them with NTF and HoL respectively? ;7
Would pose trouble in balancing GTVA-squads at the same time, though...)
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: The E on November 29, 2009, 08:03:34 am
The problem with missions for SquadWar is that they have to be balanced to give both sides exactly the same capabilities. That's a task that gets infinitely more complicated when you have two sides with different ships and weapons.
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: Mav on November 29, 2009, 08:08:32 am
I know. That's why I suggested to make a special mod just for that balancing. :)
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: The E on November 29, 2009, 09:51:35 am
Yeah, no. Not for SquadWar.

Also, how do you propose to do that balancing? Consider that even minor changes can affect balance in a big way. An example would be the Erinyes in the 3.6.10 mvps before the patch.

Also, please remember that we simply do NOT have the player base to run extensive betas, a step that is required for any attempt like this.
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: Mav on December 05, 2009, 03:08:13 pm
Also, please remember that we simply do NOT have the player base to run extensive betas, a step that is required for any attempt like this.
Yeah ok... I see that in this case, balancing likely won't happen. That's a sad thing, though... :(
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: Aardwolf on December 22, 2009, 11:28:10 pm
The problem with missions for SquadWar is that they have to be balanced to give both sides exactly the same capabilities. That's a task that gets infinitely more complicated when you have two sides with different ships and weapons.

I'm curious, why is it that every SquadWar mission has to be perfectly symmetric? Couldn't there be some sort of 'challenge' or 'bonus' missions... (Just ideas)
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: The E on December 23, 2009, 03:20:24 am
Because SquadWar, traditionally, is all about player skill. The easiest way to make sure that player skill decides a battle is to give both sides the same possibilities.
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: chief1983 on December 23, 2009, 09:38:44 am
Odd, Counter-Strike is one of the most popular multiplayer games of all time, and it's based on completely asymmetrical game play.  Is there any way to give both teams the chance to play both sides of an asymmetrical mission and then go off of a combined score or something?  Or are all battles decided by just one engagement?
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: The E on December 23, 2009, 09:44:25 am
Traditionally, it was one engagement only. I guess if you make it a best-of-<uneven number>, you could get away with it being asymmetrical.
Title: Re: Getting something Shivan validated for multi?
Post by: chief1983 on December 23, 2009, 10:41:14 am
Well I was thinking more along the lines of make it point based and play an even number on each side.  Would call for shorter engagements though so the overall battle doesn't take too long.  Just a thought.