#kaepe

Preface: We needed to design the structures for our top view tower defense game, Kaepe. We wanted them to add an element of strategy to the game, instead of simply having the game be an upgrade fest, like so many other TDs. We had before this already planned them to be "extendable" but we did not do much else planning.

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iamscissors: Hunter

iamscissors: lets talk about factories

Hunter Dubel: agreed

iamscissors: I remember specifically deciding how they would be built

iamscissors: but not what the extensions did

iamscissors: -.-

Hunter Dubel: Oh boy

Hunter Dubel: Not good

Hunter Dubel: I'll find it

Hunter Dubel: I would have bet we wrote it down in docs

Hunter Dubel: Okay well each factory did some sort of bonus

Hunter Dubel: The trick was there was a greater selection than you can build

Hunter Dubel: and I believe certain selections work better together

iamscissors: oh, hmm

iamscissors: well

Hunter Dubel: to an overall factory boost

iamscissors: we have 4 options, NSWE

Hunter Dubel: So let's cap it at either 2-3 buildable

Hunter Dubel: Leave the front open?

iamscissors: maybe just side by side?

Hunter Dubel: So 2 max?

iamscissors: that lets you see everything best

Hunter Dubel: agreed

Hunter Dubel: So 4 options

Hunter Dubel: 2 buildable

Hunter Dubel: Certain selections will give better bonuses together

:

Hunter Dubel: ---side note

Hunter Dubel: What if you built like 2 factories next to each other. Should we make a small "neighbor" radius so that factories can aide each other?

Hunter Dubel: Like 1 factory has two of type 1 upgrade

Hunter Dubel: other one has two of type 2, they can work together to be more "efficient"

iamscissors: So its like an industrial zone?

Hunter Dubel: Yeah

iamscissors: we can make it kill trees

iamscissors: xD

Hunter Dubel: A house there could either benefit/hurt depending on the factory next door

iamscissors: interesting

Hunter Dubel: House can supply more workers, but less room?

Hunter Dubel: Or the factory can't work at a full potential due to pollutants?

iamscissors: hmm

iamscissors: how would the mechanic look in the actual game?

Hunter Dubel: I feel the actual game is bland, so we need little strategic "battles" that you must plan around

iamscissors: like you cant build the upgrade without a house near to the factory for workers?

Hunter Dubel: That could work nicely

iamscissors: interesting

iamscissors: so you need to plan the industrial sector

Hunter Dubel: mhm

iamscissors: I like the strategy

iamscissors: building combos would be a cool feature

Hunter Dubel: and if we do factories working together, they have to be touching

Hunter Dubel: So no U F U F U

Hunter Dubel: It has to be U F F U

Hunter Dubel: (Upgrade, Factory)

iamscissors: so literally, one upgrade would be another factory

Hunter Dubel: yeah

Hunter Dubel: So, upgrades

[9:39:29 PM] Hunter Dubel: Coin Bonus, Attack Bonus (Radius), Defense Bonus (Radius), Factory, House, &

Hunter Dubel: (House is more of a requirement)

iamscissors: I think you should not be able to build any upgrades without a house

Hunter Dubel: mhm

iamscissors: like, when you hit upgrade

iamscissors: it pops up a warning

Hunter Dubel: But I see houses being able to be placed North or South

iamscissors: yes

Hunter Dubel: since upgrades are only East and West

Hunter Dubel: There was one more upgrade

Hunter Dubel: Ohhh

Hunter Dubel: Wait

Hunter Dubel: the last one was an actual tower

Hunter Dubel: We had one as a wall to defend the factory center

Hunter Dubel: another was like a "catapult" that launches attacks slowly

iamscissors: mhmm

iamscissors: like a guard tower type thing

iamscissors: East+West: Coin Bonus, Attack Tower, Defense Bonus (Radius), Factory

North+South: House

Hunter Dubel: Yes

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iamscissors: This is an important idea

iamscissors: the planning of building placement

iamscissors: Is there anything else we can do with this idea?

iamscissors: like having houses near enemies lowers production?

iamscissors: and we already have houses near avatars increase production

Hunter Dubel: Well I'd say enemies attack houses first

Hunter Dubel: Maybe if an enemy line is next to a house, it becomes "abandoned". That is until the line moves

iamscissors: well, the enemies go for your base first, but randomly shoot buildings if they can

Hunter Dubel: Technically, that house is in a warzone

iamscissors: interesting

iamscissors: that's a good idea

iamscissors: it makes the wall placement important (shields houses from enemies)

Hunter Dubel: yeah. makes them important again

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iamscissors: ok

iamscissors: this is good

The upgrade screen gets upgraded! It is still not very pretty, but it is a lot easier to use. (You mouse over the character you want to upgrade)