Merc Tactics

tactical squad-based strategy · By Astronautz

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Progress implementing Door feature

A topic by Astronautz created Apr 22, 2022 Views: 154 Replies: 4

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AstronautzDeveloper2 years ago

I have most of the new door feature implemented. You can see how the feature works in the game in the linked video below.

Soldiers can open and close doors from either side using the open/close door button in the HUD.
Opening/closing a door costs 3 AP
The player can drag a path though doorways and when executed it will open doors automatically. A open door icon is shown at closed doors.
The path takes into account the open door position (i.e. door behaves like a wall after opened)
If a soldier is behind an inward-opening door then you will not be able to open it
If an unknown enemy is behind a door, the player will be allowed to try to open the door. The enemy becomes visible after trying to open
If AI sees a soldier and then he hides and there is a door nearby, the the AI will assume that the soldier is behind the door
AI may try to open door, or try to enter building from a different entrance, or wait at door exit on overwatch
If a soldier opens door and there is AI on overwatch, the interrupt will trigger sooner than a normal interrupt

petf1 year ago

Hi Ed!

Good to see the project advance. Do you already have a schedule for the next release?

Some observations of the door feature:

<<If an unknown enemy is behind a door, the player will be allowed to try to open the door. The enemy becomes visible after trying to open>>

IMHO the visibility of the enemy is in conflict with the fog of war that the game sticks to. Making the enemy visible allows a player to see the weapons the enemy is carrying and in what direction the enemy is looking. This could allow a player to attack from another angle without taking the risk of being interrupted.
Suggestion: When trying to open a door, there could be just a message telling "The door is blocked". So it is up to the player to decide if it worth the risk to take a look inside that building from another door or window.

In the video when the AI moves you can see doors opening and closing that apparently are out of view. Those movements should remain invisible unless there is line of sight.

Kind regards!

Peter

AstronautzDeveloper1 year ago (1 edit)

Thanks for the feedback. The next version should be in released in May.

> visibility of the enemy is in conflict with the fog of war that the game sticks to

Not really, because once you try opening the door you can see the guy behind it (as you can see in the video).

> Those movements should remain invisible unless there is line of sight.

It's not really a problem, because it only gives a hint where the enemy is without revealing the exact position.

petf1 year ago

> It's not really a problem, because it only gives a hint where the enemy is without revealing the exact position.

Hmm, I don't know. This reminds me of the remote nade shelling that revealed enemy positions anywhere on the map, even if out of sight. I remember that you planned to limit the range where those explosions are visible for the player. Maybe you could add the same feature for opening doors? When you make opening doors visible only in a certain range of the player's units, enemy movement on the other edge of the map wouldn't be revealed.

AstronautzDeveloper1 year ago

For the time being I will just leave it the way it is. Hiding the doors would cause confusion, when they suddenly appear when the player gets near. It doesn't actually give the player much tactical advantage if he sees a door open, because he doesn't know where the soldier went after opening the door.

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Merc Tactics

Progress implementing Door feature