Discussion: Potential Next Major Update

[darklordabc]

There are a few potential avenues to explore for the next major update.

Panorama Item Menu

Pros:

• Allows adding of items from other mods, and dynmically enabling and disabling them.
• Could improve replayablity for single players
• Creates a brand new aspect of Redux of new items

Cons:

• Creates a brand new aspect of Redux of new items. Is messing with the meta in a serious way.
• How to decide what items to add, what item expansions will be standard, should any extra items be standard.
• Bots won't use these items unless we specifically hack them to use them.
• May require work on the existing panorama shop.

Coop Mode/ Zombie Survival

Pros:

• Will be good for single players and small groups of friends
• Could create a option that converts a game into a coop game, for games where too many players have left and its doomed.
• Coop is a popular gamemode in general and will help sustain playerbase

Cons:

• Requires a lot of planning and work. Do we go original coop design or copy one of the other coop games like Dota 2 Horde. Prehaps Diellan could help
• Long-term project that will require balancing and improvements, depending on how detailed we want to make it
• Will have to customize some multiplayer only mutators like Duel, so that they are applicable in coop mode
• Bots will need to be carefull considered to make sure the coop mode doesnt ruin their AI

12 Ability Layouts

Pros:

• A long requested feature from players
• Will be a very unique feature. Most other custom games only have 6 abilities max
• Will be a distinct advantage over original LoD
• Will probably be fun for lots of single player games
• Will solve the issue of not having anything to level up during late games
• Will enable other features that require more HuD space, e.g. we could add the hero perk as an ability, in builder mode we could have structures take up some slots.

Cons:

• Will require a lot of work on Panorama and backroom script
• Is a "noob" feature request, which may not add much to the competitive serious side of Redux
• Could become a feature that ruins every playing 6 skills, because everbody will want to always play as 12 abilities. Like how voting democracy hurt original lod.
• May run into some technique difficutles as Ash always said it was either "12 abilities OR bots", and I don't know why that is, but if Ash said it, he probably had a good reason

Vote Menu

Pros:

• Will allow the game to be changed during ingame settings, allowing mutators to be activated that were forgotten.
• Empowers the players to not be stuck in a static mode, can choose to spice things up whenevery they please, which will also be good for single players
• Allow changing bots mid-game, or adding bots etc

Cons:

• Will require significant work, some mutators may not easily activate mid-game, may require backroom reworks
• After debacle of original LoD and voting, there is a chance this will be like a drug that players will abuse and ruin the laning phases and dumb down the game.

[darklordabc]

@Yahnich @SwordBacon @TideSofDarK @Wouterz90 @K1llMan, @CarpeSwag and anyone else, this is where my thinking is right now for the next major update. Please let me know what you think and let me know if I missed any major project idea (besides redoing bots Yah 😛) or if I've missed out on some pros/cons. I still think we should finish off some bugs and focus on stability before we embark on any of these major projects.

[SwordBacon]

Hmm, I want to consider the idea of simply creating more mutators that people can play around with.

Adding Mutators Weekly

Pros

• Very flexible discussion and much less work.
• An opportunity for community involvement (suggestions, recommendations, and weekly polls).
• Framework is already setup for adding mutators.
• Mutators are global, less likely to affect balance.
• Something new every week for dedicated players, keeping things fresh.
• Does not have to be "the big project"

Cons

• Possible difficulties with having mutators overlap eachother.
• There's no end to this, so players would expect new content every week.
• Too much random?

[darklordabc]

Yeah, I like this idea, the issue for me is management and overseeing devs working on mutators. I'm a bit distracted with other features/bugs but anyone should feel free to add any mutators they want, and I'll reimburse you for all your efforts.

Obviously I would have to have final approval on the mutators, so please check with me before you start work, but I'm generally going to approve all of them, my only real requests is that they work with bots, and that they don't compete or overlap with other mutators or perks.

But yeah, it would make my life easier if any of the devs wanted to develop any of their favorite mutator ideas semi-independently, like @BlueKingBar did with fat-o-meter.