[Freeciv-Dev] Re: Artillery and sea units (PR#1476)

[Thanasis Kinias <tkinias@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

scripsit Brandon Craig Rhodes:
 
> I noted a recent poll that suggested Freeciv needs more types of
> units, and am note sure I agree that more is necessarily better; I
> would assert that new units should only be admitted if their function
> is clearly different from that of an existing unit, and would further
> suggest that we eye the existing units to see whether they can in any
> way be better differentiated to offer an interesting range of
> capabilities.  From what I can tell the current tree does a good job
> of this but that goal should be explicit in our minds before we do any
> tinkering.

The problem with trying to introduce more (military) units is that the
combat system is too simplistic to allow for much variation.  The basic
A/D/M values, with a simple 1-on-1 combat model, only allow for so much.
Sure, we could make a Heavy Tank, with 12/6/2 (or whatever), but what
does that really add, except complexity?  Not much, IMHO.

OTOH, a combat system which allows different values for various types of
units in different situations would open up many possibilities.  For
example, cavalry ought to be the ultimate attacking unit pre-gunpowder,
but only in the field.  You can't make a mounted charge against city
walls -- hence cannon.

The absolute first thing that is needed, however, is the ability to move
and attack with stacks.  Once combat can be resolved between stacks
instead of 1 on 1, a variety of unit types is much more useful.

Unfortunately, I'm not a C guru.  When it comes to programming, I only
really do Perl, so I have to try to convince the more talented folks to
come up with a way to implement stack movement.  Has a patch for this
ever been done?

-- 
Thanasis Kinias
Web Developer, Information Technology
Graduate Student, Department of History
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona, U.S.A.

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