The Random Random Faction

[GeneralSGJist]

Subject:
The Random Random Faction and Game mode

Description:
I just had a hilarious idea,
There would be a New faction you could choose, called Random Random.
Normally if you select Random, it just cycles a random faction, however, RR would do this with the entire faction, this means that you would randomly be given a unit from the selection for its tier & combat function.

ex. RR in KW: you would get either:
1. Riflemen
2. confessor
3, Awakened
4. Buzzer


The game would randomly choose one, and same for the rest of the units in the faction, it would cycle through all the possibilities, and select one.

I'd suggest this to be a separate game mode, since the results of this would be highly unpredictable, and may be weird to balance.

So it really depends on the game structure, if RRs should play with normal factions, or just with other RR players.

Pros:
- it would force each faction to be balanced on a unit level, which would be overall a good thing.

-allow higher skill players to continually test their skills in a dynamic way.

-be overall fun and hilarious.

Cons:
-Force a unit by unit based Balancing system, which may limit diversity

-Might be frustrating to new players who aren't as familiar with the game

-would make the access of support powers & upgrades rather confusing

[RealWar]

Subject:
The Random Random Faction and Game mode

Description:
I just had a hilarious idea,
There would be a New faction you could choose, called Random Random.
Normally if you select Random, it just cycles a random faction, however, RR would do this with the entire faction, this means that you would randomly be given a unit from the selection for its tier & combat function.

ex. RR in KW: you would get either:
1. Riflemen
2. confessor
3, Awakened
4. Buzzer


The game would randomly choose one, and same for the rest of the units in the faction, it would cycle through all the possibilities, and select one.

I'd suggest this to be a separate game mode, since the results of this would be highly unpredictable, and may be weird to balance.

So it really depends on the game structure, if RRs should play with normal factions, or just with other RR players.

Pros:
- it would force each faction to be balanced on a unit level, which would be overall a good thing.

-allow higher skill players to continually test their skills in a dynamic way.

-be overall fun and hilarious.

Cons:
-Force a unit by unit based Balancing system, which may limit diversity

-Might be frustrating to new players who aren't as familiar with the game

-would make the access of support powers & upgrades rather confusing

Could be fun. Somewhat like the randomizer mods for TF2.

[hellodean]

this is similar to something i suggested a while ago where the units could also have random weapon assignments.

red alert 1 aftermath/counterstrike map "lunar battlefield" and some missions had this sort of thing

[Golan2781]

I doubt this works outside of fun modes. If they're going for a high-quality game with defined factions (which I hope they are), those will be planned thoroughly - just throwing together random units can potentially leave a player ridiculously ill-prepared for a specific task or without any of the deliberate weaknesses.
Quite frankly, I also hope that the factions are diverse enough to not actually allow this; of course it'd work in a game such as KW where every faction follows the same basic buildup, but take for example RA3 with its even just slightly diverse teching and building methods: how would a soviet base faction unlock allied upgrades? When would an allied warfactory be allowed to built high-tier EotRS units? How would EotRS build airplanes? Imagine a ZH situation and GLA getting Laser Tanks as their MBT - without the ability to build PPs.
Quite frankly, I think the first two "pro"s you've listed are unsuitable. Units shouldn't be balanced unit per unit, that defeats the entire purpose of having diverse factions. There also isn't really any more skill involved, as you are basically disintegrating the floor under people's feet - the result is extremely dependent on luck and has next to nothing to do with regular gameplay.

[Lauren]

Yeah I did a mod for Generals that did exactly that... as Golan said, it's not viable outside of fun games. As the units of different factions have different strength and weaknesses you have a good probability of just loosing because you're out of luck.

[...] of course it'd work in a game such as KW where every faction follows the same basic buildup, but take for example RA3 with its even just slightly diverse teching and building methods: how would a soviet base faction unlock allied upgrades? When would an allied warfactory be allowed to built high-tier EotRS units? How would EotRS build airplanes? Imagine a ZH situation and GLA getting Laser Tanks as their MBT - without the ability to build PPs.[...]

He was asking about a Random Faction, not a predefined faction that can get other stuff, so for your Laser Tank/GLA example: as the faction is based on any faction you also have the option to build a random PP, so you get either a China Reactor, a Nuke General Reactor, USA PP, Laser General PP, or SW General PP. That thing actually works quite well.
The thing of an allied warfactory being allowed to build high-tier units of another faction is also quite simple. Just call the button "Random Tier 1 MBT" and you get either a Crusader, Laser Crusader, Battlemaster, or Scorpion. As with TW and KW Generals actually had no diversity in unit types, but diversity of how exactly they play out.

[stormgear]

care to share that mod of yours so players who have the game can give it a spin?

[Lauren]

care to share that mod of yours so players who have the game can give it a spin?

If you can travel back in time to ~2004/2005 :P
Never saved my Generals mods when I reinstalled my PC after BfME2 came out.

[GeneralSGJist]

Indeed, however the thing is Golan, I defined the mode as a non traditional mode of play, calling it that, and claiming that is a weakness is just using a tautology.

And you should have have noticed, the 1st pro and the 1st con acknowledge Unit by Unit balancing concerns.

I listed your concerns in the cons, which I acknowledged.

@ Lauren, that indeed is the entire point, complete random set ups would force players to test their skills in a novel way each time they played.

In the end, I'd say the point of this mode is not winning, but to learn what kind of abilities units/ powers/ structures have when they are isolated from their traditional build, which encourages a deeper understanding of every part of the game.

[Borreh]

I like this idea.

This would be pretty fun additional game mode. Kinda' in the vein of all random 8 players FFA's which I played a few times in Generals (good times!).

It would be neat if there would be some crazy maps or game settings coming along in this game mode..

[RealWar]

The strangest thing would be upgrades, to be honest.