All of the 'limitations' on minelayers (tech price/time, unit caps etc) come from people wanting to discourage people using minelayers to turtle (i.e igbo's old mine curtains).
This is understandable - this type of playstyle is non-interactive and frustrating to play against.
However, the current state of minelayers is just poor; buried all the way at the end of tech trees, usually for a high price, and then they struggle to do any dps before being sniped (long build times also).
I'm gonna try this on the test mod:
Minelayers
todo
Build time:
HW1:35 => 27 (-22.8%)
HW2:45 => 35 (-22%)
Movespeed:
HW1, Hgn:233 => 320 (+37.3%)
Unit caps:4 -> 6 (+50%)
(if necessary?) Mines cost ru:0 => 10
More units can clear mines: (any anti-strike unit should be able to do this)
Research:
HW1 time:100 => 80 (-20%)
Vgr:
Time:100 => 80 (-20%)
Cost:1500 => 1100 (-20%)
Weapons:
HW1 Mine movespeed up:200 => 300 (to match hw2)
faq:
Q: hgn and vgr mine tech is not aligned (due to adv. module etc)
A: not a real issue to be honest, stuff like this is extremely negligable - over playtesting duration may try to align better but at the bottom of my prio list
Q: how is this different from just buffing dps?
A: These changes only encourage using mines during battles and as harassment units, mine curtains will be extremely niche due to mines not being free, as well as extra anti-mine coverage
Q: won't this be OP?
A: almost certainly not, nobody is making minelayers right now, this unit needs a rework. Playtesting is ongoing anyway
I've definitely discussed this before, but
All of the 'limitations' on minelayers (tech price/time, unit caps etc) come from people wanting to discourage people using minelayers to turtle (i.e igbo's old mine curtains).
This is understandable - this type of playstyle is non-interactive and frustrating to play against.
However, the current state of minelayers is just poor; buried all the way at the end of tech trees, usually for a high price, and then they struggle to do any dps before being sniped (long build times also).
I'm gonna try this on the test mod:
Minelayers
faq: