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[Taricus]

They're the "Test-bed" for new weapons technologies and the like. Only give as many points towards a technology (most likely warfare, though you cold argue in favour of any tech with the exception of industry and administration.) as it costs to manufacture a basic unit of it's design.

[GreatWyrmGold]

And hey, if I'm suggesting things for it: The ability to scrap prototypes for research points.

Why would you get research points from prototypes?

Reverse-engineering stuff?

[USEC_OFFICER]

The problem is that you only have two ways of obtaining a prototype: Either you build it or somebody give it to you. If you built it, why would you need to scrap it? You already have be blueprints and design documents for it. If somebody gave you a prototype, then they probably gave you the blueprints anyways (not to mention the fact that they probably have saved you time by giving you the tech levels directly). Yes, prototypes are stuffed with the cutting-edge technologies, but they're technologies that you put into them. Why would you get research from taking apart something you already knew how to build?

Reverse-engineering stuff?

You can't steal prototypes from other players. And probably never will, because that would be horrible to balance.

[Taricus]

Research and development, considering the difference in performance between a prototype and a production unit. (Scrapping is being used as a term for mothballing or relegating the unit for research purposes, which may sometimes involves dismantling the unit.)

[GreatWyrmGold]

You can't steal prototypes from other players. And probably never will, because that would be horrible to balance.

What's to balance?

Research and development, considering the difference in performance between a prototype and a production unit. (Scrapping is being used as a term for mothballing or relegating the unit for research purposes, which may sometimes involves dismantling the unit.)

On the other hand, you already know everything about it.


Here's an idea: Upgrades. A weaker mech turns into a stronger mech with less Production.

[USEC_OFFICER]

Research and development, considering the difference in performance between a prototype and a production unit. (Scrapping is being used as a term for mothballing or relegating the unit for research purposes, which may sometimes involves dismantling the unit.)

This is a game about giant mecha smashing each other to bits and select pilots being able to take on entire armies. Of course prototypes are stupidly powerful compared to the production model!

You can't steal prototypes from other players. And probably never will, because that would be horrible to balance.

What's to balance?

Cost, chance of success. That kind of thing. It'll either be really powerful or completely useless.

Here's an idea: Upgrades. A weaker mech turns into a stronger mech with less Production.

Yeah, that can easily be a thing. The cost would be equal to the difference in costs between the two mechs. Also, they would have to be in your Unit Pool, since it'd be hard to convert them on the front lines.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Cost, chance of success. That kind of thing. It'll either be really powerful or completely useless.

How about the ability to capture enemy mechs/Aces, or to salvage Research Points towards some technology or another when a higher-tech empire's mechs get smashed in your territory?

Also, they would have to be in your Unit Pool, since it'd be hard to convert them on the front lines.

Oh really now? You just need a quick engineer and a lot of...okay, you'd need an Ace engineer and some good spare parts.

Which brings me another idea...a more in-depth crew system. I'll detail it more in a bit...

[Taricus]

Just get the battletech charts GWG. They'll save you a lot of time

Though the idea of salvaging more advanced tech from a battlefield does seem useful, and practical. Depending on who won, and how large it was.

And this game needs more jump/jet pack equipped infantry smashing into the cockpit of mecha as well

[USEC_OFFICER]

How about the ability to capture enemy mechs/Aces, or to salvage Research Points towards some technology or another when a higher-tech empire's mechs get smashed in your territory?

Though the idea of salvaging more advanced tech from a battlefield does seem useful, and practical. Depending on who won, and how large it was.

I'll save that for GR@W 2, since I'll actually be making use of the fact that I have a program to run the battles. Which also means that robots will make individual attacks instead of pooling together attack and defense values (meaning that evasion and accuracy are much more important) and that we can have different types of mecha and battleships with different effects and stats. Also fun stuff for later on in the game.

Which brings me another idea...a more in-depth crew system. I'll detail it more in a bit...

Please do. I'd love to steal more ideas for the next game.

And this game needs more jump/jet pack equipped infantry smashing into the cockpit of mecha as well

This ain't Battletech, bub. Not going to happen.

[Taricus]

Aw come on. There has to be a counter for a prototype-equipped Ace :c

[USEC_OFFICER]

Another prototype-equipped Ace. Alternatively 20+ regular Units.

...

I'll be the first to admit that it isn't the best system in the world.

[Taricus]

Well, I guess my prototypes will just be considered better-trained troops, because I shall unleash THE HORDE!

[GreatWyrmGold]

Spoiler: Advanced Crew System (click to show/hide)

You can't have just one guy running a giant mecha, you know. It takes a team to keep huge robots fighting and in good condition.

There are a number of potential jobs for crew members.
Pilot: The guy making everything move and often the de facto leader of the crew. Without a pilot, you will have a very bad day. Skills: Moving (increases combat? speed), Dodging (increases Evasion), Melee Combat (increases punching abilities)
Engineer: The guy making everything keep moving. Without an engineer, you will not be able to repair damage. Skills: Repair (makes repair jobs faster/better), Patch (temporary regeneration of damage), Shipwork (increases speed of battleship carrying mech)
Gunner: The guy aiming and firing non-fist weapons. Without a gunner, you will not be able to use non-fist weapons. Skills: Accuracy (improves accuracy), Precision (improves damage), Coordination (try to make multiple attacks per turn?)

Levels:
As crew members gain more experience, they get better. Crew members come in the following ranks:
Rookie (free; can recruit in field)
Novice (free; apply only to those in Unit Pool)
Veteran
Expert
Master
Ace

It's just an outline, but it is.

Aw come on. There has to be a counter for a prototype-equipped Ace :c

There isn't in mecha anime. Mechanime?

[USEC_OFFICER]

It's just an outline, but it is.

...

Eh, I'm not terribly impressed. It's just the current system with more people to worry about and with an experience bar added.

[Taricus]

For a mech, you only need the pilot (Again, citing battletech. Maybe different here, but still) since the cockpit holds all the controls and the pilot is hooked-up into the machine itself. No ned for additional crew

Also, about your remark about this not being battletech: I'm here, and I'm not gonna be making a single giant mecha.