[Freeciv-Dev] Re: (PR#4044) veteran level v4

["Arnstein Lindgard" <a-l@xxxxxxx>]

<URL: http://rt.freeciv.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=4044 >

I think the veteran icons look pretty cool! Noticed that in iso-view,
green units mistakenly get one stripe. They seem to fit nicely with
trident_shields as well. My "Mission Orders" patch uses an
underscored "G", which barely collides with 2 lone pixels at the top
of the tallest of the veteran icons, shouldn't be a problem.

But I do think the large number of levels is dodgy. It doesn't make
all that much sense to have more than 3-4 levels, including green, in
this game engine. A fair bit of unit management is already required
just to bring any veteran from where it is to the front.

In Civ3, there are conscripts, understrength units that are insta-
produced at the expense of city population. They have less hitpoints,
but I don't think there's a sprite. If I recall correctly, there is
Conscript - Regular - Veteran - Elite. So you can build barracks, and
gain one more level. I think that's about right.

Also worth pointing out, is that overpowered ships is part of the
smallpox problem, just ask Mike Jing. If you wanted, you could use
the introduction of new veteran levels to give infantry an advantage:
deny ships extra levels (that are effective for bombardment). Of
course, that option will slow down the game.


Arnstein