The Idea of Assists / Tags / Bonuses

from Stardock Forums

So, I think it's very likely that any sequel / prequel to Star Control is going to continue to make use of the top down, real time combat, much like its predecessors.

Additionally, I've already made the point that the ultimate mechanics are pretty much a fighting game.  The combat's a game of positioning, timing, reaction, and balancing strengths and weaknesses, while making use of the environment.  Simplistic at its base, but with some pretty significant depth.

One of the more recent innovations in fighters has been to allow multiple characters, and to do a couple things...

First, to allow characters to perform 'assist moves' to exert pressure or extend combos, by having the character briefly appear and execute a move, exposing them to danger but potentially reaping massive rewards

Second, the ability to tag out with the primary character, possibly by performing an attack, allowing the match to involve multiple characters while controlling a single one

Third, the ability for health to regenerate when a secondary character is offscreen (within limits).

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I think all of these ideas could be used in Star Control's new game, but I'm not sure exactly what the best way to make use of them would be.  Any thoughts?

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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

From my own observation, Star Control 2 allows for people to switch ships mid combat, but does so at the price of making the ship temporarily helpless.  If the ship doesn't have the ability to gain a defensive distance, it has to rely on its population to bear the brunt of an assault - and that may not work out well.

If we do allow multiple ships in a fleet to participate, I think that we could do a few things with it.  I don't know if we're going to have a hull and crew damage type, but some things would make sense...

1.) Offscreen healing. Augmented by having certain ships in reserve (Chenjesu, Syreen, Umgah, etc)
2.) Tag-Ins.  I think any ship ought to be able to tag in at the moment another tags out.  Some ought to have special tags (Arilou - Instant Switch.  Ilwrath - Arrive Cloaked)
3.) Long-Range Attacks - I don't see any reason why a Mycon, a Earthling Cruiser, a Chenjesu, or an Ur-Quan shouldn't tag-in with a missile / plasma ball / crystal.
4.) MAYBE some assists.  I find it difficult to involve a secondary ship on the battlefield without tagging them in or out - I think it'd be awesome to have some effect, but zipping in and out wouldn't make much sense.  I think that'd be better accomplished with an 'upgrade slot' on most ships that can include some 'ally bonus' ability.

The big question is, do you think this'd be too hard to balance?  Or that it would detract from gameplay?