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[GreatGold]

Hey -

 

Well, an interesting issue just popped up. So I'm editing a draft of the Access Lift from JohnEvans (a damn good draft might I add), and he's included an interesting sentance or two. To sum it up, it stated that there are devices which explode the entrance point from above ground, and therefore close of and end any attempts of infiltration by aliens. I really like this idea.

 

Obviously, though, in-game this cannot happen as it would kill gameplay. But it sounds damn good and makes sense. So, what I suggest is this. In the facilities X-Net entry, it originally says what JohnEvans wrote. Then, after the first time a base of yours is attacked, after the attack you get a memo saying something to the affect of "oops, somehow the aliens jammed the remote explosives, and most automated controls. We don't know how, were looking into it."

 

In the X-Net, this memo would then be added to the bottom of the entry. This allows for some really interesting ideas to play out...

 

Gold

[Fred the Goat]

Nice. I definitely agree. The whole "We're a top secret organisation and we've got EVERYTHING covered...oh crap, these are aliens we're dealing with, and they've got some unexpected surprises" thing really adds realism and flava. That's an excellent example, and we should try to add that kinda stuff whenever possible. Unforseen equipment uses, malfunctions, side effects, happenstance discoveries, whatever. It's good stuff.

[Nickisimo]

I like it. Maybe the aliens even fired something from the b-ship as they landed...like a stasis field or something over the access lift to neutralize all devices before landing. Anything that adds to realism is ok in my book. :happybanana:

[Breunor]

I guess I'll be the devil's advocate here... would anybody really blow up their main entrance to keep out intruders? What about the hangar bays? I think it's much more likely to have some locking mechanism that slows down the intruders, long enough for non-combatants to seek shelter. That's why you never see them in a base defense, they have several minutes to escape (somewhere). But eventually the aliens get through and attack. Sort of like closing the blast door when a jedi's cutting through the normal doors... just slows them down a little bit.

 

On that note, has the grav shield been written up yet? If not, perhaps it's more of a tractor beam system, which slows down the ship long enough to get 2 shots off instead of one.

[Nickisimo]

As always, Bru, you make a good point.

 

In the text regarding a base defense, it says something to the affect of "all non-combat personnel and equipment have been evacuated..."

 

So, that means the X-Net boys need enough time to get all of the scientists/engineers/aircraft out of the base. I would imagine that the soldiers would allow alien entry into the base provided that those guys can escape rather than lock themselves down with the civies inside. :happybanana:

[Kenshiro]

I say we dust off and nuke the site from orbit.

 

It's the only way to be sure.

 

Seriously though, I was really hip on the idea that your scientists and such are still in play when the aliens get there. Maybe they're all in a designated safe area (perhaps the room furthest from the entry point, or a room picked by the player) and the player not only has to eliminate the aliens but keep security on that room. The AI for the civies needn't be anything elaborate - they'd probably just stay put in that type of circumstance (or even remain paralyzed by fear).

 

What do you think?

[Breunor]

That's definitely an option to consider for v1+, and any casualties are reflected after the battle as well. Even nastier, was to have all your craft be vulnerable to weapons fire, so as the aliens come in they take pot shots and damage your stuff. In a multiplayer system all this becomes key. I could attack your base, quickly lay waste to your craft, and back out before you respond. Now I've got a week or two of free access as you repair your craft, and I terror raid you risk free. Or I go in to kill all your scientists or engineers, or if I can destroy your lab current research is lost, etc. Imagine if you're 80% done researching the avenger, and I come in a vaporize your labs and scientists. Not only do you have to start over on research, but you can't start until you repair the lab or build a new one. Very fun possibilities....