Re: [glob2-devel] Alleyways, and pathfinding

[MUNTEANU Olimpiu Andrei]

Andrew Sayers wrote:

> Matthew's idea for one-way forbidden areas is appealing, but smacks
> somewhat of micromanagement.  Also, having 8 new types of area would add
> quite a bit of complexity to the UI and to path-finding.  I think it's
> best left as something to look at when we're in a better position to be
> doing quite high-level work, and when all the more artificially
> intelligent solutions have failed.
>
>  

I don't agree with micromanagement-based refusal of ideas. I don't think 
that any idea that will introduce micromanagement should be criticized 
because of this. At least as much as micromanagement remains optional 
and used only from time to time. The goal of the game is not to forbid 
micro-management to the user.  This will create more a SimCity-like 
game, and nobody wants it.

The aim of the game is to alow as much micro-management as the user 
want, but also to alow the user not to do micro-management when he does 
not have time.  For example, if building a new base requires a lot of 
micromanagement, then let the user do that only on that part of the 
screen for a short time. Micro-decisions should be possible, but the 
user should not be able to do all of them and he should be able to 
choose the few places to do micro-management. 

I see direction areas or one-way forbiden areas with min speed should be 
possible but optional to the user (he can uise them or not). Realy, if a 
user don't use them it's ok,  but if ever he has a terible congestion,  
he can put this kind of area. Also, lets imagine a user want to bring 
all globules home. If he puts forbiden area, globules that are at the 
enemy will not be able to return.  With one-way areas globules will be 
able to return while new globules will not be able to go there any more.

Other possible idea could be using scripts or AI to help player in 
difficult areas. Why not use speicalisez AIs, AIs that will only take 
care of the atack,  or the base.  When the player want to focus on 
developping the base, let the AI do the atack and constructthe new base 
a little far. This is macro-managament ev everywere, while developping 
the main base remain micro-management and then the user can change and 
take care personally of atack, etc...

So don't put censorship on ideas that introduce selective and optional 
micromanagement, only on ideas that will force players to do 
micromanagement.  And since for any micromanagement there is the 
possibility to create specialised AIs that can help, there are not many 
places where micro-management can be imposed on the player...