Unlocking units

Hello,

After the recent Steam release, the player base should be getting larger every day. However, the game still cannot handle newbies. While the campain adds some learning potential, many players just seem to ignore it (or instantly forget everything they learned).

Point is, 99% new players end up playing one (or more) of the following (not-that-great) "strategies"
- porc in the centre of their base
- shields everywhere
- big bertha as the only "unit" they own
- missile silo cuz its awesome
- 10 different factories in 10th minute of the game
- strider / superweapon rush
- too much storage
Some take it to the next level by ignoring any communication during games (no english?)

I have seen several threads proposing to ban certain units for new players. Such feature is clearly possible, as the campain allows you to build only certain units. Please, is there a way in which we could make this game into a magnificent RTS instead of a bad clone of the SimCity?

For the newcomers that are really experienced players coming from other RTS games, I'd suggest unlocking units based on either level or skill. Something like 1 new unit per 1 level, or everything unlocked above 1600 elo.

Pretty much everything you complained about new players doing, are what the campaign teaches you to do. The campaign is all about teraform turlting until you can slowly static def crawl your way across the map.

I don't understand your logic at all.

New players will take a long time to learn the game, thats a standard feature of RTS and its not a problem. The singleplayer campaign teaches the right lessons, if played on a higher difficulty and if you try to complete the secondary objectives. If you can get away with turtling, you're probably playing it on Normal or Easy, where anything works.

If you don't want to play with new players, stick to custom games, 1v1 or massive teamgames. Or play in a party.

quote: If you don't want to play with new players, stick to custom games, 1v1 or massive team games. Or play in a party.

1v1 is fine, though this should be a team game and it should offer a way of playing in teams. Other games do...

Massive games have always had their share of newbies. And that is where they may get away with their tactics, because their team may be able to hold the opponents even without them. I can only imagine what the outcome of such games is for them.

You often have to wait for a long time until your custom game gets enough players. Today, there is usually just one massive game, few and match-maker games. Most of the custom games are coop.

Playing in a party is just a partial solution. Parties should be optional, not mandatory in order to get an acceptable teammate.

I understand that these issues should disappear once the player base grows. But it will not grow on its own...

====

I agree with your arguments about handicaps in late-game stages. However, I am sure we can find a way around it - allowing superweapons, factories and singus after certain metal per second income, just to give an example (though I am not sure that is the way to go).

====

Or, another proposal, include a mandatory test of English into the tutorial. Or just find a way to make newbies listen. I have been a part of countless games where superveterans like Chesti or Firepluk try to help and are completely ignored, or (in some cases) their help is rudely refused.

Bottom line, this game is supposed to be FUN. Instead, it is full of raging veterans and unhappy newbies wondering why did the team resign, as their super-defended base full of storages still stands and barely anyone attacks it...

I learned this game at a time when no campain was there at all. If players are passionate about the game, they
will learn it by asking other players, reading wikis and stuff and so on. Most of the people you described are the kind
of guys that want to relax. For them, the only important thing is to beat the ai while not putting too much efford in. It´s the same than with the pevious thread of cerevox. why learn more and put more energy and stress into it if you can already pwn the CAI daily? People just find different things fun in this game. Some want to relax, others want to compete and try hard, others want to experiment, other want to... well... troll, anyway.

Sadly, in my opinion this will stay a problem for ever.

Zero-k is a very difficult game, like 100 differrent units, maybe 1000+ different unit combos. And a very frustrating learning prozess, because you get recked so many times at the beginning.
I remember that people complained so hard when i started playing my first multiplayer games... Very intimitating back then.


I agree that blocking certain units for certain players would be a very good idea. In my opinion a lvl 20 or less player does not need anything out of the striderhub, neighter do they need nuke, superweapon or commorph beyond lvl 5.

I dont see any reason why they would need it, because it will just block their way to real knowledge about how to play this game on an "high" lvl. Btw i dont expect everybody to be pro, but my god, some people in this game... God can't help me there... he already quit.




Athon, i would advice you to either use the party mode, play in a clan with friend (mumble is still an option for everybody) or just join disscord or mumble and i'm certain that you will met somebody that knows the power of teamwork :)

have fun!



Edit:
One more argument!
The reason why in my opinion gameplay without striders, nukes, or heavy porc shit (ddm, lucifer, bb) is important comes from personal experience. When i started trying to approve in this game, what i did was playing bot games, many games.
And instead of using a porcpush tactic, i try to play on big maps (Inculta v2, Comet Catcher Redux, ...) without using anything then my startfac, airfac, and out of porc, only stinger, stardust, defender and lotus. (faraday sometimes too, but rarely, and more for testing) And in my opinion that rly helps alot to improve eco management, production and mikro at the same time.

Having a Nubtron back to give advice to new players could help. Things like explaining why that storage you selected is a bad idea right now (only build one if you loose your Commander), that you need more energy or buildpower, that you should expand faster, asking if you really need this second factory, why that superweapon is a bad idea...

Only it shouldn't be called Nubtron or use a Clippy-inspired look. While it's pretty funny, some players may feel made fun of (consciously or not) and may not listen to it as much.
Something like naming it Assistant (or not naming it at all) and the somewhat cute but vaguely creepy smiley computer face in the film Moon, for example.