Screenshots: Future Tense - BORG

[MrVulcan]

As promised, here's an update on the Borg side.

Previously, we had a modular concept for the borg, where each station was somehow attached to the rest of the unicomplex. It looked sweet, but the AI just refused to play along. So after considerable deliberation, we decided to rework the unicomplex.

We had kept some of the modular concepts, and changed around anything that didn't please the AI. So now, some parts of the unicomplex are still built from the central hub in modular fashion. Others, like shipyards and mining facilities, are build by construction ships.

Also, the modular components had their models updated to allow for much better pathing through the unicomplex. Now all the little ships will be able to fly right through the centre of the unicomplex, dodging in and out between modules and tram links.

All in all, I think the transition was great and the Borg are a lot more fun to play with... yes, I suppose that's possible

Anyhow, enough of the text. Here are the screenies:

The Borg Domain:


Large capacity mining facility




Dilithium harvester making maneuvers


Standard cube posing


Assimilation sphere opening up its jaws.


Construction ship making its way through the central hub


Tactical cube under construction


Done!


Tactical cube posing alongside a dilithium harvester. Or maybe the harvester is just trying to get out of its way.

[MrC_921]

Amazing... just amazing!

[Phantom]

Some Borg Vs Sernaix shots:

1) A Borg Cube opens fire on a Sernaix Constructor


2) A Tactical Cube helps attack it but proves to be too strong for both cubes!


3) Time to Assimilate...


4) A Borg Sphere detects a Sernaix Cruiser


5) And fails to Assimilate it...


6) The Cube comes under fire from a Sernaix Destroyer


7) ... and is left a burning mess in space




More to follow...

Ad'

[Dell]

2) A Tactical Cube helps attack it but proves to be too strong for both cubes!

Then howcome the cubes have full shields and the sernaix shield are allready red?

[Phantom]

Sernaix have rapid shield regeneration, a few seconds after the shot it was on 100% shields.

Single fire weapons like Phasers graze them, high yield or rapid fire weapons are more likely to inflict damage.

You'd definately need more than one ship or a ship with biological weapons to destroy them.


Adam,

[MajorPayne]

Phantom. What did you edit to allow the ships to fly closer to the unicomplex??

[MrVulcan]

MajorPayne,

Didn't see your question earlier, just stumbled upon it somehow.

Armada uses spheres for object avoidance. If you have a very long or wide model, nothing will be able to get closer to the ship/station center than 1/2*length of the largest dimension. That is, you can imagine your models as spheres bouncing off of each other, even if visually there may be empty space around the models.

One way to overcome this is to make the models more round, without actually squishing the models . Most unicomplex models have tram links extending out from one module to another. This stretches the avoidance sphere far too much.

The solution was to contain the tram links inside of the main structure, and then then animate them to extend out when the module is built. Adds another layer of eye candy, and makes avoidance work properly.

For ordinary models that can't practically have animated parts, there is the avoidance class line. For most things, we set it to zero for the smallest avoidance sphere possible.

You may also want to change this line in RTS_CFG.h

COLLISION_SAFETY_MARGIN

I can't confirm that it actually works though.