Currently, CFC is divided between fans of stacking and fans of 1UPT. 1UPT is generally well received, but AI 'uncompatibility' with it, along with 'logistic problems' with 1UPT, make it not perfect.
1UPT can be improved, but in the meantime - this is my idea for combat system, which is tactical, realistic and balanced
So... This is basically alternate version of Heroes of Might and Magic/King's Bounty system. When I think about it, it seems so natural:
- units TRAVEL in stacks on hexagonal map of the world. Logistic and most of AI problems - solved.
- units travel with or without generals, there is some limit on number of types/quantity of units in stack, for example only X Slots can be filled.
- in each Slot there can be X amount of units of single unit type, example: Warriors.
- there are X amounts of Slots, for example seven, so one army can have 5 Swordsmen Cohortes (units), 3 Archer Cohortes, 2 Chariot Cohortes, 10 Spearmen Cohortes, 6 Catapults C, 4 Horsemen C and 2 Scouts C but no more unit types (this seems fair )
- COMBAT. Each stack of X slots with Y units is on the single hex tile and has a zone of control of adjacent hexes. When one stack enters zone of control of other stack, battle begins.
- ...and then, like in HoMM/KB 'World Map' is changed onto 'Battle Map'. Remember those six ZOC hexes and one stack hex? Those World Map Terrain Hexes are 'converted' (like in HoMM/KB) into bunch of smaller hexes (so whole battlefield consists from, for example, 7x7 smaller hexes)
- As in HoMM/KB, each Slot is represented as one animated unit on one battle hex (so we have unit of 20 warriors or 20 archers). Two armies, each consisting from maximally 7 Slots, stand on the opposite sides of the map, defender can set his forces before battle.
- And now, finally, the battle begins, and it works similar to Civ5 'World Map' 1UPT system : units move, use their special abilities, ranged units shoot through the battlefield, cavalry has bigger movement and so on. Strategy matters. We maintain realism, archers don't shoot through lakes, we avoid traffic jams, overcrowded map. AI even if is as silly as Civ5 AI performs much better in this system (like HoMM/KB's not very bright AI can be dangerous), it doesn't have to struggle with traffic jams and obnoxious city sieges.
- Eventually... few arcade cool elements, like units with Active Abilities (oh my God, Viking Berserkers enter Battle Rage!) or... historical generals with Active Abilities
Animated Napolen or Truong Sisters on elephants
- Terrain on the World Map when battle has started matters on the Battlefield Map - mountains impassable tiles on the WM become impassable on BM, rivers appear on the battlefield map, along with forests and so on...
- Naval Battles, well, designing them would be more difficult - few types of ships and no 'terrain obstacles' - but I am pretty sure it would be possible. Also, already 1UPT naval combat is also primitive
- Sieges - like in the Total War: cities can be conquered by hunger/capitulation (on the World Map, when X turns pass city surrenders) or via direct attack, which could be also based on HOMM/KB one: wall in the middle of the battlefield and siege engines trying to destroy it
- This combat system would become a bit unrealistic in the XX century eras, but I believe it could be also handled (hm, City Battlefield Map? :0). On the other hand, 1UPT system is unrealistic in all previous eras
- Aircraft. This is really simple. Airplanes station in cities/airports/carriers. On those stations, they have Operational Range. If there is a battle in their Operational Range, certain side can use aircraft attacks on the battlefield (limited by number and type of the aircraft units), or use its own fighters to destroy incoming enemy planes (so interesting tactical decisions )
- If player doesn't want to fight with enemy, he can negotiate
- If player doesn't want to MANUALLY fight with enemy, because he doesn't like tactical combat/1UPT he can choose Automatic Battle which immediately calculates its outcome.
- Fresh units can arrive to armies via 'Caravans' or 'Reinforcements' or nice mechanic which is less tedious than current moving of units.
- ...optional idea: each army is connected to cities/military bases by Reinforcement Line/Supply Line. As long as this Line exists, this army receives equipment and regenerates losses. If this Line is cut by enemy or bad natural conditions, army suffers on attrition. <This doesn't apply to certain units, like Scouts or Special Forces> +10 to realism and strategy!
- Eventual RPG Systems - each General/Admiral gains experience and artifacts, like in HOMM/KB
So, this system would be balanced, tactical and strategical, more capable for AI than 1UPT, pretty epic, would satisfy warmongers but also peacemakers, would allow on interesting game mechanics, would be more realistic than stacks/1UPT
What do you think about it?
1UPT can be improved, but in the meantime - this is my idea for combat system, which is tactical, realistic and balanced
So... This is basically alternate version of Heroes of Might and Magic/King's Bounty system. When I think about it, it seems so natural:
- units TRAVEL in stacks on hexagonal map of the world. Logistic and most of AI problems - solved.
- units travel with or without generals, there is some limit on number of types/quantity of units in stack, for example only X Slots can be filled.
- in each Slot there can be X amount of units of single unit type, example: Warriors.
- there are X amounts of Slots, for example seven, so one army can have 5 Swordsmen Cohortes (units), 3 Archer Cohortes, 2 Chariot Cohortes, 10 Spearmen Cohortes, 6 Catapults C, 4 Horsemen C and 2 Scouts C but no more unit types (this seems fair
)- COMBAT. Each stack of X slots with Y units is on the single hex tile and has a zone of control of adjacent hexes. When one stack enters zone of control of other stack, battle begins.
- ...and then, like in HoMM/KB 'World Map' is changed onto 'Battle Map'. Remember those six ZOC hexes and one stack hex? Those World Map Terrain Hexes are 'converted' (like in HoMM/KB) into bunch of smaller hexes (so whole battlefield consists from, for example, 7x7 smaller hexes)
- As in HoMM/KB, each Slot is represented as one animated unit on one battle hex (so we have unit of 20 warriors or 20 archers). Two armies, each consisting from maximally 7 Slots, stand on the opposite sides of the map, defender can set his forces before battle.
- And now, finally, the battle begins, and it works similar to Civ5 'World Map' 1UPT system : units move, use their special abilities, ranged units shoot through the battlefield, cavalry has bigger movement and so on. Strategy matters. We maintain realism, archers don't shoot through lakes, we avoid traffic jams, overcrowded map. AI even if is as silly as Civ5 AI performs much better in this system (like HoMM/KB's not very bright AI can be dangerous), it doesn't have to struggle with traffic jams and obnoxious city sieges.
- Eventually... few arcade cool elements, like units with Active Abilities (oh my God, Viking Berserkers enter Battle Rage!) or... historical generals with Active Abilities
Animated Napolen or Truong Sisters on elephants - Terrain on the World Map when battle has started matters on the Battlefield Map - mountains impassable tiles on the WM become impassable on BM, rivers appear on the battlefield map, along with forests and so on...
- Naval Battles, well, designing them would be more difficult - few types of ships and no 'terrain obstacles' - but I am pretty sure it would be possible. Also, already 1UPT naval combat is also primitive
- Sieges - like in the Total War: cities can be conquered by hunger/capitulation (on the World Map, when X turns pass city surrenders) or via direct attack, which could be also based on HOMM/KB one: wall in the middle of the battlefield and siege engines trying to destroy it
- This combat system would become a bit unrealistic in the XX century eras, but I believe it could be also handled (hm, City Battlefield Map? :0). On the other hand, 1UPT system is unrealistic in all previous eras
- Aircraft. This is really simple. Airplanes station in cities/airports/carriers. On those stations, they have Operational Range. If there is a battle in their Operational Range, certain side can use aircraft attacks on the battlefield (limited by number and type of the aircraft units), or use its own fighters to destroy incoming enemy planes (so interesting tactical decisions
)- If player doesn't want to fight with enemy, he can negotiate
- If player doesn't want to MANUALLY fight with enemy, because he doesn't like tactical combat/1UPT
he can choose Automatic Battle which immediately calculates its outcome.- Fresh units can arrive to armies via 'Caravans' or 'Reinforcements' or nice mechanic which is less tedious than current moving of units.
- ...optional idea: each army is connected to cities/military bases by Reinforcement Line/Supply Line. As long as this Line exists, this army receives equipment and regenerates losses. If this Line is cut by enemy or bad natural conditions, army suffers on attrition. <This doesn't apply to certain units, like Scouts or Special Forces> +10 to realism and strategy!
- Eventual RPG Systems - each General/Admiral gains experience and artifacts, like in HOMM/KB
So, this system would be balanced, tactical and strategical, more capable for AI than 1UPT, pretty epic, would satisfy warmongers but also peacemakers, would allow on interesting game mechanics, would be more realistic than stacks/1UPT
What do you think about it?
