"Project 84"

This is a relatively new idea that I've thought of. I will be starting another project after The Third War is finished. This is one idea I have. I thought, instead of another expansion mod, why not attempt a TC (total conversion). I have two concept ideas at the minute, one has been floating around for a year or so now and I'll keep it hidden until I see its viability for development. This one however just came to me last week.

Instead of a TC based on an already existing story or universe, I thought I'd try and make up my own world, storyline and factions. This led to the initial concept of Project 84, as I've dubbed it.

It's a total conversion mod, featuring 3 sides, each quite different from the other, and several changes from the traditional YR method of play.

Firstly, the sides:

1. The Techno Alliance

• High-tech units and structures.
• Very militaristic and totalitarian.
• Rely on basic infantry and vehicles in early game, then begin to unlock the power of their Ion technology later into the game.
• Technology and units are similar to modern day equivalents.
• Units are all different classes, need mix of units to succeed.

 

2. The Council of Deliverance

• Low tech and experimental units and structures.
• Religious fanatics.
• Weak in early game, relying on few units.
• Begin to use Matter-Energy Conversion technology later into the game. Grants them 'supernatural' abilities.
• Technology and units are unique in style.
• Some units are mixed classes.

 

3. The Merchant League

• Medium tech.
• Traders, merchants and mercenaries.
• Balanced style of play throughout game.
• Gain access to their economic powers and Armada later into the game.
• Technology and units seem rather thrown together to reflect the mix of people in the League.
• Some units can cover the functions of half a TechLevel, others are highly specific.

Now, you may have noticed I mentioned 'TechLevel'. No, that's not a reference to the C&C technology limiting standard, I'm referring to the new construction method employed in this mod.

Players start out with a Command Centre, Golden Tower or Base Ship depending on side at the start of the game. This is the basic Construction Yard. It provides all structures for TechLevel 1.

The player can then construct a 'TechLevel 2 Lab', which advances construction options to the next TechLevel. Here, the player loses the ability to construct the more simple structures and factories, and instead gains access to higher tech ones.

This continues up until TechLevel 5 (but a tiny bit further in the case of the Council), at which point the super weapons and highest technology comes into play. For the Techno Alliance, this means mechs and SpecOps infantry. For the Council, this means the most powerful of the abilities are at your hands. For the League, you gain access to support from your orbiting armada of ships, and economic bonuses.

Now, this may seem like games would last forever. That is my idea, not for forever, obviously, but a drawn-out duel to the death, not some tank-spamming-over-in-3-minutes game. But, to accomodate those who may not be willing to handle the long gameplay, I have devised several game modes accustomed to certain styles of play.

Game modes:

• Skirmish
  • Default game mode.
  • Players can access all TechLevels.
  • No restrictions.
• Team Skirmish
  • Same as Skirmish, but alliances must be made.
• Open Skirmish
  • Same as Skirmish, but no alliances are allowed.
• Minimalist
  • Low tech level gameplay.
  • TechLevels 1, 2 and 2.5 available (TL 2.5 is a limited version of TL 3)
  • No high tech units or super weapons.
• Team Minimalist
  • Same as Minimalist, but alliances must be made.
• Open Minimalist
  • Same as Minimalist, but no alliances are allowed.
• Embargo
  • All TechLevels.
  • Economic restrictions.
  • Low amounts of available resources.
• Team Embargo
  • Same as Embargo, but alliances must be made.
• Open Embargo
  • Same as Embargo, but no alliances are allowed.
• Turtle
  • All TechLevels.
  • All vehicles and infantry have increased build times and cost.
  • Most low tech vehicles and infantry unavailable.
• Team Turtle
  • Same as Turtle, but alliances must be made.
• Open Turtle
  • Same as Turtle, but no alliances are allowed.
• Rush
  • Similar to Minimalist.
  • Only TechLevel 1 avaiable.
  • Building-damaging vehicles and infantry available at TL 1.
  • Vehicle and infantry cost reduced.
• Team Rush
  • Same as Rush, but alliances must be made.
• Open Rush
  • Same as Rush, but no alliances are allowed.

Of course there may still be more game modes than that.

The veterancy system also gets an overhaul. Vehicles will not be able to be promoted. Infantry however will have several different promotion levels, consisting of them working their way up the rank ladder to a certain point (I've already devised a working method of doing this using the RockPatch).

For example, the Techno Alliance's basic grunt is the Private. Upon promotion, he becomes 'Private E-2', and gains some bonuses. After promotion again, he becomes Private First Class, gaining a stronger weapon. This is as far as that unit goes, since a Corporal unit already exists and has a different function.

One of the later tech Alliance units is the Sergeant, who has the ability to call in EMP artillery when deployed. Upon promotion, he becomes a Staff Sergeant, and can call in more shells. After another promotion he becomes a Sergeant First Class, and can call in an HE shell in addition to his EMP ones. These promotions are all signified by a unique insignia to the lower right of the unit, much in the same way as the current veterancy system in YR.

Again, I must stress, this is still a concept idea, although one I've put a lot of time into recently. If, whenever I have The Third War at a good enough stage that I can let it be for a while, I may start developing this idea. As with any TC mod idea I come up with, there is a major problem - art. My SHP skills are limited to cameos, recolours and copy-pasting from existing buildings. My voxelling skills are greatly limited in that I can't seem to draw anything that has circles, rings or slopes. I could code the thing single handedly if I had to (I am currently doing so with The Third War), but I doubt I'd be able to rely on community assets for this idea.

If you would be willing to submit yourself to my almighty will develop SHPs and/or voxels for this mod (if and when development starts), don't hesitate to contact me.

I've probably typed enough in the past fifteen minutes to have given myself RSI, so I'll not bore you any longer. Adiós.

~Nighthawk.

Idea © 2007 and onwards. Mwa ha ha.

Current screenshots of WIP stuff:

Techno Alliance Ion Barrage:

Last Update: 1103 4th January 2008 (added this last update thing :P)