"What sold you on ZK?" Discussion

quote: Flat Tech Tree This is pretty cool! The flat tech tree is our n.1 unique feature. How can we show visitors that it's a good thing?

This is a bit tricky, since having a tech tree is something seen as required in RTS for long-term strategy. That being said, Zero-K is much more about the ability to change course with a relatively low metal/energy cost, while also using the time cost and reality of unit counts to make it trickier than it looks.

For instance, switching from Glaives to Rockos reactively when you see Warriors is a smart move, but if you did that predictively, you'd have twice as many Rockos from that extra minute or so of production (likely 14 or so rather than ~6), which with those numbers is the difference between them missing and doing nothing (because atm they seem to just barely overshoot targets), and enough scattered fire to deal with the Warriors.

Basically, you can switch between any unit in a factory anytime, but it's stronger if you scout well (which is really tricky once defense are set up) or make good reads on your opponent's composition.

quote: Unit Variety Tough to sell! We can't just claim our units are unique. Everyone claims the same.

It's not so much "uniqueness" as the way that every unit has a different standard weapon, which in quite a few cases operate like selectable unit abilities in other RTS games. Granted, this is kindof a holdover from TA, the difference being that Zero-K operates at StarCraft scales (i.e. armies of 30-80 units rather than 150+).

Dawrf Fortress didn't sold me on ZK. Its forums informed me that it exists.

quote: This is a bit tricky, since having a tech tree is something seen as required in RTS for long-term strategy. That being said, Zero-K is much more about the ability to change course with a relatively low metal/energy cost, while also using the time cost and reality of unit counts to make it trickier than it looks.

I think if we called it a "cost-based tech tree" it would be more accurate and less misleading. We still have a tech tree but it isn't unlock-based like most games.