Sqdef, My Tower-defense Game

[fusion_power]

Time for a micro-poll once again

In maps that have multiple paths, should the enemy herd break up and each creature choose a random path, or should it march as a whole like it does in the current game?

I personally think it would be more interesting to have it break up, it would also be better for the player since it would encourage building towers uniformly along all paths. I could also make it a mix of both worlds, where most of the herd chooses a particular path, and one or two creatures decide to stray...

1.4 is getting closer


It would be the best solution if you include a Option screen where we can set the Multi-Path break on or off.

 

[Tobriand]

I thought I'd already replied to this, but eveidently it didn't get registered.

Basically, whilst I'd like them to split apart, I think it would potentially harm your ability to survive the earlier levels unless there is a slight bias in money earned to help pay for extra towers/turrets earlier on.

Incidentally, only just discovered that four one-shot barricades combine to that mega-split one. Still need to work out if it's better than four outposts, though; still unsure on that...

 

[Alex.]

That's an interesting suggestion - how about making them split, but providing a new tower which goes in the path and allows you to control the direction they take? It would have to be expensive, but would make it interesting... it could maybe have a limited number of uses, but could be recharged at a price...

Sounds nice, but I'm not planning on making any new towers. More research options for existing ones, though

It would be the best solution if you include a Option screen where we can set the Multi-Path break on or off.

And a cheat menu too. No, seriously

I thought I'd already replied to this, but eveidently it didn't get registered.

Basically, whilst I'd like them to split apart, I think it would potentially harm your ability to survive the earlier levels unless there is a slight bias in money earned to help pay for extra towers/turrets earlier on.

That's an interesting idea. I could put in a fixed bonus based on how many paths exist, that's given after each wave. Since it would be a fixed amount, it would mean a lot in the beginning but be negligible in the later game.

Incidentally, only just discovered that four one-shot barricades combine to that mega-split one. Still need to work out if it's better than four outposts, though; still unsure on that...

Any combination of barricades into a 2x2 square will work

 

[Gruntfuggly]

Incidentally, only just discovered that four one-shot barricades combine to that mega-split one. Still need to work out if it's better than four outposts, though; still unsure on that...

It's definitely better - and you can upgrade the mega towers too...

 

[Alex.]

I thought I'd already replied to this, but eveidently it didn't get registered.

Basically, whilst I'd like them to split apart, I think it would potentially harm your ability to survive the earlier levels unless there is a slight bias in money earned to help pay for extra towers/turrets earlier on.

That's an interesting idea. I could put in a fixed bonus based on how many paths exist, that's given after each wave. Since it would be a fixed amount, it would mean a lot in the beginning but be negligible in the later game.

Or maybe the herd would choose one path, except for 2 or 3 creatures which would stray, and killing those would earn you twice the money

 

[fusion_power]

It would be the best solution if you include a Option screen where we can set the Multi-Path break on or off.

And a cheat menu too. No, seriously

Uh, I meant this serious. :blink: I want to try booth variants, Split-creatures and one big creature Wave. Of course booth needs different scoring but why not? Maybe there could be a Building that can split Waves on Multi-Path Maps or so, I don't know.
I wouldn't call it cheating. ^_^

 

[Tobriand]

Definitely a good point re: fixed points bonus.

The only thing you need to be careful of is that, because of the way credits eventually cascade in SqDef, early bonuses do have immense knock-on effects later.

As a side note, has anyone else nticed that money tends to have about three distinct possible routes in SqDef? Either it cascades - once you've managed to survive a wave starting at 13000 with ~25 1% factories, this tends to be the case. Or it just peters out (and you die, generally, since it's hard to afford extra lives). Or it begins to cascade and then tails off towards the end making the game rather hard. Usually it seems to depend almost entirely on just how early you try and trigger a cascade (i.e. finish three waves without buying anything whilst in posession of 20-25 +1% factories and starting at at least 1000).

But the really interesting thing is the possibility of jump-starting a cascade by selling your 1% factories. How? Well, their cost is based on the quantity of credits you start your buying phase with. That means their selling price is gradually rocketting as long as you sell them pre-emptively. In particular, if you find you've spent too much (say, your credits were at 11000 at start of buying phase, are now at 7000 and you foresee spending 4000 for the next two waves, whether on guns or lives), you can sensibly sell, say, six of your super-factories and boost yourself back over the threshold to cascade; if you still have ~20 relevant factories, you'll still get a bonus of ~2700 plus whatever killing the enemies gave you. Which puts you (temporarily) in a much better position to survive.

Most of the time this fails, but it's kept me alive (just) to the end of 45 waves a couple of times now.

 

[Gruntfuggly]

That's what I love about this game...

 

[Tobriand]

Incidentally, any tips as to when to try and trigger cascades in Hotdog? I haven't been able to get it right at all so far...

 

[Alex.]

Bridges are happening!

(more map previews right here)

This will really open up map design possibilities, will be a lot of fun to play with

 

[prairiefire]

holy shi*

 

[plopperz]

holy shi*

Couldn't have put it better myself

 

[Gruntfuggly]

That looks very cool...

 

[dodgyville]

My mouth literally dropped open at that screenshot. You scamp!

 

[Magic Sam]

holy shi*

Couldn't have put it better myself

+1

 

[fusion_power]

Bridges are happening!

(more map previews right here)

This will really open up map design possibilities, will be a lot of fun to play with



Love you!
Looks very good, with the slightly "shadows" of the bridges the path is very clear to see, good solved. The Pattern of the Map looks interesting, maybe a little bit to much but it doesn't matter as long the buildings are clearly visible.
Do the Towers only shoot the creatures ontop of the Bridges? And what are these Pyramid Shapes?

 

[Alex.]

Glad you like it

Do the Towers only shoot the creatures ontop of the Bridges?

No, they shoot the ones under the bridges too, I think it would be too hard otherwise. Maybe creatures should only take 75% damage while being hidden?

 

[fusion_power]

Glad you like it

Do the Towers only shoot the creatures ontop of the Bridges?

No, they shoot the ones under the bridges too, I think it would be too hard otherwise. Maybe creatures should only take 75% damage while being hidden?

With Bridges you can have 360° "Islands" where Towers can shoot much longer becasue the wave has to go the full way around the towers. Should be neutralize the no-shoot-under-bride-problem...maybe? Has to be tested of course.
I just can't imagine how a Tower can shoot creatures under a bridge :lol:

Oh, the Pyramids are no-building areas right?

 

[Tobriand]

Awesome! Celtic knot levels, here I come!

Just had another idea too, which may or may not be feasable, fun, or what have you (in particular it might not fit on the screen, but with pridges it becomes certainly more sensible than previously).

Specifically: multiple entry points, each with their own direction of flow.
Possible extension: Each wave can be from one or both directions, indicated by a change of colour of the entry arrows.

Uses: Slightly more bizarre bridge-based maps; suddenly your turrets are divided in a slightly different way to previously, in particular, interlocking (as opposed to interweaving) paths become a possibility. The resulting gameplay would probably be not dissimilar to multiple possible paths on those levels where that's proposed, but perhaps would play slightly differently, and certainly allow for some previously impossible artistic implementations.

Just some thoughts for an Escher wannabe

 

[Alex.]

Awesome! Celtic knot levels, here I come!

Just had another idea too, which may or may not be feasable, fun, or what have you (in particular it might not fit on the screen, but with pridges it becomes certainly more sensible than previously).

Specifically: multiple entry points, each with their own direction of flow.
Possible extension: Each wave can be from one or both directions, indicated by a change of colour of the entry arrows.

Ah, layered roads that can visit each others' planes That's a very playful idea that I'll put to good use in a future game I hope to make; I planned for separate roads, but never thought of interlocking them. However, this iss beyond where I want to take Sqdef (at least for now).

@fusion_power: Agreed. I didn't think it through properly, shooting under bridges is truly awkward and messy. And yes, the pyramids are just that