Distension Beta Suggestions/Bugfix thread

[jngy slate]

I thought the terrier doesn't get the pod if killed by the weasel.

[Mjollnir]

Implemented the time system described above. We can try it out tomorrow.

Also, escape pod should prize you with all of your goodies after respawning. I'll have to check out why it's not. I may consider re-allowing multiple refires as well, since the new Weasel ability can end the streak rather simply. That will increase the value of the Weasel as well.

Please do not allow multiple refires since it only advocates suiciding. To increase the value of the Weasel, you could make it so that the Terr doesn't get prized any specials (or even some other upgrades) for the pod, if killed by a Weasel.

[Vergilius]

Warpspot bug- used the bottom bar-roof one, it happened to me that i got warped back, nothing new there, but i couldnt get away. i tried flying away, rocketing away from the spot, kept warping me back. I even warped manually into base - no effect, 2 seconds later i was back on roof. Only way i quit it was by speccing.

[gdugwyler]

Implemented the time system described above. We can try it out tomorrow.

Also, escape pod should prize you with all of your goodies after respawning. I'll have to check out why it's not. I may consider re-allowing multiple refires as well, since the new Weasel ability can end the streak rather simply. That will increase the value of the Weasel as well.

[gdugwyler]

Sorry to be absent a bit lately. I've been more successful writing the past few days than I have in quite a while, and am focusing more on that. While I haven't read back everything here, I will soon.

I made one change to the time system so that with larger groups, less time is required to win the round. With 35+, 50 seconds is required to win; with 40+ (or maybe 45), it's 45 seconds. Also, with a large 1-flag game only 1:45 is required rather than the full 2 minutes.

Based on some suggestions here I've sort of re-thought how the time might work. It would be more of a push toward the standard timed game as seen in base, but maintain the feel of needing consecutive time to really clinch the victory. The idea is to have an overall time required by each side, such as 5 minutes, with time added to this clock when a particular army has a sector hold. But unlike normal base timers, there would still only be one number displayed: either for one side or the other. So let's say freq 0 has the advantage, and the counter reads 3 minutes. If they secure another sector hold, time is added normally. However, if instead the other side secures, time is subtracted from that counter at a very fast rate -- say, 3 to 5 seconds per second held -- until the counter reaches 0. At that point, the "advantage" changes to the other frequency, and the timer begins to count up toward 5:00 again (or whatever number is found to be most pleasing for your pleasures). In this fashion it's more like a tug-a-war, and possibly adds a bit to the tension and overall feeling of victory. Right now you're never "on the ropes" or just about to win... half the time it's just a lucky break -- maybe a terr on the other team left or was DC'd -- and you take advantage of the weakness. This sort of time system might still encourage strong basing offense and defense, while not getting the losing freq too discouraged when the other freq is getting close to a win. (This last reason is why, when I implemented the pub timer, I chose to use consecutive minutes; however, Distension is more competetive and a hybrid of the two systems, such as this, may be better.)

How does it sound? It might be a bit hard to understand at first, but an LVZ graph showing progress of one freq or another might make it easier. I could also have it alternate between these two game types to find out which one is better, or even just leave it that way for variety.

[Viruk]

End of game message is a little unclear

Told me I have won 6xxx (-75% avarice) + 7xx for holds/breaks Total: 7xxx RP

Is this a bug or is the initial 6xxx the modified figure after avarice?
If a bug is it a bug with the text or the actual amount awarded?

The averages and breakdown with time, participation, etc is of interest for diagnostic purposes but also sometimes rather spammy.
I often struggle to pick out my total end of game bonus from all the scrolling info. Would be nice to have this on a separate line at the bottom with some sort of formatting that makes it stand out from stats, awards and kill messages.

[dako]

Theres way too many

Scissors> Nerf rock. Paper is fine.

arguments going on. If you have ever played jav before jngy, you would know that more often than not, jav bombs (especially level 2) are almost a guaranteed rep unless the shark dies / there is no shark. Sure they are devastating by themselves, but I am a sitting duck for a full 8 seconds before i can shoot another one. If anything, lancs are increasingly dominating both the FR and mid base, just because of their 4 shot level 3 spam. Which is impossible to dodge at any close range, and still annoying at a distance. However, the real problem here is the 60% leech that many lancs are enjoying. Probably their only weakness is their inability to dodge / turning radius of an aircraft carrier.

And I have noticed the decline of spiders and wbs recently. Presumably because they are worse in regards to flag room battles. Cmon now, spiders are the staple of basing, and get routinely owned by lancs.

Also, I just started weasel as my last ship to get ops. Yeah. Rofflewaffle. I just pray that no one pays attention / misses all their bullets on me. I got bored after 1-19.


EDIT: Averice still doesnt work, and is still rewarding full RP, I messaged dug about this a week ago, hopefully he will see it here.

[jngy slate]

That first game today in the second session was really short. And you can't stay on another frequency permanently because most players will want to go to the freq with the most skillful players and that will lead to inbalance. The bot tries to balance the two armies by levels but there's also skilled involved, which the bot can't measure right now. Maybe it should take in account the amount of kills/deaths too.

Another thing, this happens rarely, maybe once every 3 days. My terr ship doesn't get the speed, thrust, rot, etc upgrades but it gets the burst and portal. Then after I die it goes back to normal.

[Oops]

Two things

I agree with Oops. Many times I dodge their bombs thinking I'm safe but their range kills me. And sorry for telling you to shut up the other day.

Its all good jngy. First, the bot stopped telling me if i had a streak or not today while i nterr and im 100% sure i had like 8 kills without dying a given number of times. #2 is The genious, jngy, flibb, AND aquatiq were all on the same team that game, that team also had 16 players, while my team had 10 players. Im not really sure how the !assisting system works but we got dominated and that team was stacked, so that brings me to my next suggestion. Why cant i permanently switch armies? i noticed i can only assist until assist is no longer needed, what if i want to join freq 1 and STAY on freq 1?

[moltenrock]

dugwyler...

Max Energy Upgrade Cost for

Levi: 25 (Someone told me)

Wabird: 60

What the hell. Why are you killing warbirds so much? What did they ever do to you?!

[jngy slate]

I normally dont have a problem with weasels unless i forget xradar and the weasel gets in a lucky burst. But javs, that yellow bomb i think is way overpowered. jav can burst and shoot that bomb quickly , and if it lands on the same side of the fr thaat im on, or even in my general viscinity im likely to be killed. I think the range of damage for that bomb should be reduced a little.

I agree with Oops. Many times I dodge their bombs thinking I'm safe but their range kills me. And sorry for telling you to shut up the other day.

[DankNuggets]

with the way ships' bombs are set in distension, the jav is supposed to have the strongest weapons (lvl 2-3 bombs). I don't see how it's overpowered to have the best weapon in the game if that's how it's supposed to be. Kinda like the levis in pub, everyone complains about their bombs b/c they're the most destructive. Think of the jav's bombs more like the levi bombs of pub: they're going to annoy everyone but the one guy who's shooting them. And that guy's having one hell of a good time.

[Oops]

As a terr

I normally dont have a problem with weasels unless i forget xradar and the weasel gets in a lucky burst. But javs, that yellow bomb i think is way overpowered. jav can burst and shoot that bomb quickly , and if it lands on the same side of the fr thaat im on, or even in my general viscinity im likely to be killed. I think the range of damage for that bomb should be reduced a little.

[Mjollnir]

Sigh.. call me Mr positive about my weasel, i dont mind. Getting terr kills isnt easy, i meant that your weasel can be perfectly equipped to go after the terrs. It is hard, yes, but training makes perfect. Well, at least better. Mjoll, you can compare to the jav. You make tons of kills with every bomb you fire, and that's not the case in weasel. Compare the time to rank; that is discussable, not the amount of kills you get. Give me statistics. How much RP is it to lvl? 200k? The weasel isnt built for a lot of kills, so the required RP isnt that high. And about being hard to get a claim; sorry, but that is just ridiculous. Last test i played i had 22 sector holds and 23 sector breaks, both the maximum of the team. The only ship that might compare to that amount is the shark. And ehm.. killing a terr without rockets impossible? Yes, rockets are a big part in that. Thats also the reason you get to buy the first rocket pretty early. But is it the only way? No. Try using your portal wisely. just a hint. that works too.

Edit: I do agree on the terr's bullet speed tho. In a non-fr battle those are deadly for weasels. even with 20-lvl difference.

Just wow. I guess your response was a mix to me and Singu but I don't like it. I give up.

[Vergilius]

Sigh.. call me Mr positive about my weasel, i dont mind. Getting terr kills isnt easy, i meant that your weasel can be perfectly equipped to go after the terrs. It is hard, yes, but training makes perfect. Well, at least better. Mjoll, you can compare to the jav. You make tons of kills with every bomb you fire, and that's not the case in weasel. Compare the time to rank; that is discussable, not the amount of kills you get. Give me statistics. How much RP is it to lvl? 200k? The weasel isnt built for a lot of kills, so the required RP isnt that high. And about being hard to get a claim; sorry, but that is just ridiculous. Last test i played i had 22 sector holds and 23 sector breaks, both the maximum of the team. The only ship that might compare to that amount is the shark. And ehm.. killing a terr without rockets impossible? Yes, rockets are a big part in that. Thats also the reason you get to buy the first rocket pretty early. But is it the only way? No. Try using your portal wisely. just a hint. that works too.

Edit: I do agree on the terr's bullet speed tho. In a non-fr battle those are deadly for weasels. even with 20-lvl difference.