Intelligence Gathering to increase Combat Effectiveness

[GeneralSGJist]

Subject:
Intelligence Gathering to increase Combat Effectiveness

Description
This idea involves both the capturing of structures and Husk units, doing so will unlock unit specific upgrades to better counter the enemy's technologies.

Currently we just capture structures to sell them, and in some cases build tech of that faction, but I think that is not maximizing the purpose of capturing enemy technology.

The Real world purpose is not to just use the enemy's weapon's against them. But to learn form it, and build appropriate counters. As well as sometimes borrowing technology.

So, I suggest a Secondary upgrade system, which involves the use of the intelligence gained after encountering the tech in battle.

In C&C3, we just gathered technology for story purposes, and in KW, Nod made the Redeemer from analyzing the MARV, sure it took them like 5 seconds, but they were on the right track.

Capturing Structures will not only allow you to use the technology, but adapt some upgrades and counters to the research and units the structure is responsible for.

EX:
GDI captures a Scrin tech center, youmust hold it for X time as you analyze say, the shield technology, the result may be that GDI develops weak shields for some units, or a better shield penetrating weapon, like a Sonic resonator, which could disrupt shields, Note that this does not make Scrin shields useless, but it does significantly decrease the effectiveness of the Shields.

So, now GDI has unlocked a new technology.

To make this more balanced, it could be required that the capturing Engineer must return to the MCV and share this data.

As for [U]Captured Husks and Hijacked units, /U] You would needto also bring them to the MCV, upon which the unit will be analyzed, and then you will unlock some upgrade for some units to make them more effective against the unit you brought in.

Furthermore, the unit brought in is unusable as a combat unit after examination.

Pros:
-encourages more use of engineers capturing structures instead of just destroying structures out right.

-Encourages better defense of one's base to ensure none of your faction technologies are analyzed. which would make it less effective.

-Encourages players to both fight more and better defend units with husks, and all units that can be hijacked.

Cons:
-Could be difficult to think up additional upgrades to counter faction that is not already a normal upgrade.

-What if we examine a fully upgraded unit, Does the capturer get to one up that as well? How is that then Balanced?

[BettSwinger]

I like this idea. Reminds me on RA2 "Spy in Techcenter" or "Spy in Barracks/Factory" which gave you special units or veterancy. Your suggested system makes sense, sounds very interesting and could possibly offer a lot of new strategies and game depth.

[Moongrave]

HAHA nice idea

Would go well if EVA says 'New Technology Achieved'

[StormWolf]

Pretty good idea, it just needs to be implemented correctly then it could be a important feature to the game.

[nodforev]

Nice idea, yea this does remind me of RA2/Yuri revenge. So i for example i capture the husk of an avatar i would need to bring it back to my Conyard and protect it for like a minute so i can find a counter or my own tech from it.

What if we let people choose wether they want to make a counter or get tech from the captured husk/unit.

[RightHandOfNod]

Interesting idea. Could definitely work if it were implemented and balanced correctly.

[GeneralSGJist]

Making an upgrade that counters it would do both, Since yyour countering the tech.

It would just depend on the tech,
I think primarily making counters is more effective then Just taking the tech, and adapting it, it allows for more diverse upgrades.
Since we also want to maintain faction diversity.

[RightHandOfNod]

How does this sound?

If you get an engineer inside an enemy tech building and capture it, a timer starts (something like 30 seconds, perhaps). If you manage to hold the tech center that long without it being destroyed, your engineer manages to transmit data back to your own base. This is opens up a new upgrade for research at your own tech building, depending on the type of tech building it was you captured.

[LukaColic0]

great idea !!! must have !!!

[GeneralSGJist]

How does this sound?

If you get an engineer inside an enemy tech building and capture it, a timer starts (something like 30 seconds, perhaps). If you manage to hold the tech center that long without it being destroyed, your engineer manages to transmit data back to your own base. This is opens up a new upgrade for research at your own tech building, depending on the type of tech building it was you captured.

Sorry, but that's just too simple.

I think the engineer captures the tech structure, then you select an enemy upgrade to deconstruct, which takes X time, as you say, but uploading the research would just be too easy, so after the timer runs down, the engineer comes out with the research, and you must then bring the engi back to base to make the counter.

If it dies in transit, another engineer can pick up the research crate, but all the enemy need do is to kill the engineer and destroy the research crate.

This system needs to be balanced and be a risk reward like thing, just uploading from the enemy structure is just too simple.

Sorry.