Half Life 2 RTS

[Nibwoddle]

Well, basically what the thread's name is. A Half Life 2 based Real Time Strategy game. Like Age of Empires, Dawn of War and whatnot, I think this could actually work. Maybe set in the Seven Hour War or something. It probably wouldn't be able to be made by Valve.

My idea is that there are four factions, "races", or whatever you want to call them. Resistance, Combine, Antlion and Zombie. It would rely on squads of units, ranging from weak (scanners, manhacks and standard headcrabs) to strong (Advisors, D0g, Gonomes, Antlion Guards, Striders and Gunships), and builder units (Stalkers). There would most likely be new additions to the races, such as more Zombifications, more classes of Combine Soldier, and new Antlion species. The Zombie race would only be able to spawn headcrabs, but these headcrabs could zombify units of other races. There'd also be "hero" units, special units in which you can only make one of and they grant special privileges (Alyx, Barney, Kleiner, Eli, D0g, Magnusson, Breen, Antlion Guardian). There could also be special units, like Undercover Metrocops (Resistance units capable of disguising, only inconspicuous to the Combine.)

Thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea?

 

[highlander]

Half-half. It would only be good if implemented in the right way, E.g balance wise.

Nice too see another Australian on these boards!

 

[Infinity]

Although I like RTS games... A Half-Life RTS game wouldn't be a good idea...

 

[Sneaki]

Maybe as a mod loosely based on half life it would work.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

I'm with Sneaki and Highlander on this one.

 

[Naph]

Zombie Master and Empires are RTS just molded into FPS

 

[Druckles]

I believe this has been discussed many times before. It goes into the same category as a film for me.

Why bother?

 

[Omnomnick]

There already is a Half Life RTS game

Half Life 2 Wars.

Its not perfect, escpecially on some missions as enemies constantly spawn and lag the game horribly.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

OR..

Zombie Master and Empires are RTS just molded into FPS

You could play two of the best HL2 mods out there with these capabilities structured into stable and enjoyable mods played by many, as Naph already said.

 

[Sufferin-rebel]

Combine and Resistance maybe...

Combine forces and Remnants of the Worlds military would be good main races.

But Antlions and zombies aren't a big enough race to warrant there own playable race, personally I think they should be treated like certain creeps in Warcraft 3, just as units that show up during the campaign, like the naga for the frozen throne.

 

[redruM]

^ I agree, Combine versus Humans would be awesome, but there aren't any other "races" that have diverse enough units in the series to represent a whole race in the RTS, except the forces of Xen under control of the Nihilanth.

 

[Sheepo]

Combine and Resistance maybe...

Combine forces and Remnants of the Worlds military would be good main races.

But Antlions and zombies aren't a big enough race to warrant there own playable race.

Actually antlions have a greter force overall than the resistance when you think about it.

The zombies how ever are the combine's anyway.

 

[ríomhaire]

A Half-Life RTS could be good, but only if it made sense story-wise. I personnally don't like your take on it.

 

[Tagaziel]

Uh.

An RTS is NOT the way to go. A turn-based strategy game like Jagged Alliance 2, X-Com or Silent Storm would be more fitting. Primarily because the rebels don't deserve to be faceless cannon fodder.

 

[ríomhaire]

Why do people think there has to be a human faction?

 

[Sgt.Tibbs]

Zombie Master and Empires are RTS just molded into FPS

Just like Command and Conquer Renegade. Good online play.

Maybe Xen forces against Combine? Never mind. Dumb idea.

But a Half-Life RTS probably could work out if they had a good Team, such as Westwood(Command and Conquer) or Ensemble (Halo Wars, Age of *insert title here*)

 

[Tagaziel]

 

[Deinonut]

Hey, well done! Anyway, i want to command striders!

 

[kupocake]

A turn-based strategy game like Jagged Alliance 2, X-Com or Silent Storm would be more fitting.

Perhaps, but as I'm sure you're aware, hell has a special place for those who make turned-based strategy. Or something like that, because no-one ever makes the damned things, and not enough people play them.

Which is a shame, because I had a vague idea that someone could make a Half-Life themed Turned Based Strategy RPG for kicks. Though it was a bad idea.

 

[Nibwoddle]

That picture is cool! But I don't quite understand it.

 

[Tagaziel]

Perhaps, but as I'm sure you're aware, hell has a special place for those who make turned-based strategy. Or something like that, because no-one ever makes the damned things, and not enough people play them.

Which is a shame, because I had a vague idea that someone could make a Half-Life themed Turned Based Strategy RPG for kicks. Though it was a bad idea.

It's not that no-one ever makes those games (Silent Storm comes to mind and Jagged Alliance 3, which sadly is now in development hell), it's the current trend that is to blame.

The biggest flaw of turn-based gaming is that the engine usually moves ALL characters one-by-one. JA2 circumvented it nicely by moving unseen characters faster than seen ones, while Fallout and Wizardry 8 had a slider that allowed the player to force characters to move two times faster in combat. Unfortunately, SS fell into the pit trap of "move one at a time", while it could've just moved all unseen characters simultaneously, thus achieveing a better speed.

Anyways, I'm of the opinion that TB games are, by definition, more complex and tactical that RT ones, simply because more processing power is available at any given time. Especially in strategy games, where there are quite a lot of characters that have make their way around.

That picture is cool! But I don't quite understand it.

Basically those are two mock-up screens of how Half-Life: Resistance could look if it was created as a turn-based strategy game. The first one is a graphic-less inventory screen and the second how the tactical screen could work.

 

[Asknoone]

I'd love a Half-life RTS.

 

[Absinthe]

I have to say that I find the idea of a turn-based strategy HL2 game a lot more appealing now that I think about it.

Nevertheless, I'd play an HL RTS... so long as it was done right. That would mean no dumb crap like a Gordon Freeman hero unit.

Then there can be an MMO where players can raid the Citadel every week for Tier 3 Overwatch garb. I'd so sign up for that.

 

[Shoes_Buttback03]

I'm not much into RTS but I think a Half-Life RTS would be cool. I'd rent it at least.

 

[ríomhaire]

It's not that no-one ever makes those games (Silent Storm comes to mind and Jagged Alliance 3, which sadly is now in development hell), it's the current trend that is to blame.

The biggest flaw of turn-based gaming is that the engine usually moves ALL characters one-by-one. JA2 circumvented it nicely by moving unseen characters faster than seen ones, while Fallout and Wizardry 8 had a slider that allowed the player to force characters to move two times faster in combat. Unfortunately, SS fell into the pit trap of "move one at a time", while it could've just moved all unseen characters simultaneously, thus achieveing a better speed.

One by one can sometimes be a good thing. For instance, in Advance Wars when playing with fog of war enabled CPU units will only move one by one, but the camera will move to the general area of the unit being moved and the movement noise will play. If you pay attention it can give you a rough idea of the distribution of enemy forces. Of course, if the enemy has 50 units waiting for them all to move can be annoying. Thankfully the movement of each is quick.

 

[Tagaziel]

One by one can sometimes be a good thing. For instance, in Advance Wars when playing with fog of war enabled CPU units will only move one by one, but the camera will move to the general area of the unit being moved and the movement noise will play. If you pay attention it can give you a rough idea of the distribution of enemy forces. Of course, if the enemy has 50 units waiting for them all to move can be annoying. Thankfully the movement of each is quick.

Well, most in SS were outside your hearing range, so...

 

[SpotEnemyBoats]

Meh, I really don't like RTS games. They feel.. so boring. Anyways, it just isn't Half-Life.

 

[Sgt.Tibbs]

those pics do not fail. but they are kind of dry...

 

[Nibwoddle]

Wow, this has gotten more good opinions than I expected. I do kind of agree that Antlions and Zombies don't deserve the full race package, but some maps could have Antlion holes and come to think of it, the Combine could use Headcrab Missiles.
In my mind, I find that it would be cool to be made by Relic, in the same nature of Impossible Creatures and Dawn of War.

But, I'll do a unit overview on some units. Some will be added to main post.
EDIT: Darn... can't edit first post for some reason. I'll just add to this post instead.

Combine Soldiers
Default squad count: 6
Maximum squad count: 8
Default weapon: AR2
Upgrades: Shotgun (2)
Range: Medium
Speed: Slow-Medium

Metrocops
Default squad count: 4
Max squad count: 6
Default weapon: Pistol
Upgrades: SMG (2), AR2 (1)
Range: Short
Speed: Slow-Medium

Hunters
Default squad count: 1
Max squad count: 3
Defualt weapon: Flechettes
Upgrades: None
Range: Long
Speed: Very Fast
Special traits:
Strider Radar- Any enemies in a Hunter's view will be able to be targeted by a Strider at a very, very long range.

Striders
Default squad count: 1
Max squad count: 1
Default weapon: Pulse cannon
Upgrades: None
Range: Very Long
Speed: Very Slow
Special traits:
Anti-Matter cannon- The Strider can target a unit or building to use its beam on. Takes approximately 60 seconds to charge back up.
Speed Boost- The Strider ducks down and sprints for a short time. Takes about 30 seconds to recharge.

Gunships
Default squad count: 1
Max squad count: 1
Default weapon: Pulse cannon
Upgrades: None
Range: Long
Speed: Medium-Fast
Special traits:
Flying- The Gunship can fly over all terrain.

Resistance Spy
Default squad count: 4
Max squad count: 6
Default weapon: Pistol
Upgrades: SMG (2, AR2 (1)
Range: Short
Speed: Slow-Medium
Special traits:
Cloaking- Spys are undercover Metrocops. Combine will not be able to attack them unless the Spy attacks a Combine.

Rebel Soldier
Default squad count: 6
Max squad count: 10
Default weapon: SMG
Upgrades: AR2(2), Magnum (1), Crossbow (1), Shotgun (1), RPG (2)
Range: Medium
Speed: Medium

Vortigaunt
Default squad count: 4
Max squad count: 6
Default weapon: Vortal Blast
Upgrades: None
Range: Medium-Long
Speed: Slow
Special traits:
Vortessence charge- Vortigaunts, in temporary exchange for mobility, can aid in Resistance units when recharging other Special Traits.

Pheropodded Antlion (Resistance unit)
Default squad count: 8
Max squad count: 12
Default weapon: Claw attack
Upgrades: None
Range: None
Speed: Fast
Special traits:
Leap- Pheropodded Antlions may pounce at foes. This takes about 10 seconds to recharge.

D0G
Hero unit
Default weapon: Pummel, Throw objects
Range: Low
Speed: Medium-Fast
Special Traits:
Impervious- D0G cannot be killed by standard bullets from infantry.
Destroy Combine- D0G leaps at any Combine Heavy unit, be it APCs, Dropships, Advisors, Striders, Gunships or Hunter Choppers, tearing them to pieces. Takes about 60 seconds to recharge.

Like the idea? Dislike?

 

[DoctorWeeTodd]

There already is a mod that is a RTS set in the events of HL2. I'm too lazy to look it up so somebody google it.

I'm not opposed to one being made for retail, but I would think it would be a waste of time for Valve to make one themselves as I want something new and innovative instead of something we've already seen done in a different style. I want them working straight away on Left 4 Dead, Portal 2, Half-Life 3 and something totally mind blowing which I can't even fathom at this moment.

EDIT: I decided to look up the mod. It's not very impressive in terms of graphics or features but it works.

It looks better in action.

Official site

 

[Tagaziel]

those pics do not fail. but they are kind of dry...

Mock screenshots. In a proper game, they'd look much more juicy.

Also, Nib, you've been playing WAY too much Dawn of War. As I said, an RTS is NOT a proper genre for an HL2 game, simply because rebels cannot stand up to the Combine in an all out war.

The Street War was an uprising, nothing more.

 

[Nibwoddle]

Yeah. Mmmm. That's true. I guess I only had the idea because I wanted to control Striders.

 

[DrDevin]

Sounds like an amazing concept, none of that "acknowledged!" "affirmative!" crap!

Click on [Gordan Freeman Special Unit]: *silence*

Click to attack target: *silence*

Ahh, now just let Merle Dandridge be in some real-time cutscenes a-la C&C and I'm sure it would get solid 10/10 ratings.

 

[Nibwoddle]

Downloaded that beta mod, it's really cool but the units sometimes don't respond. And it's damn hard. Also, no Gordon Freeman unit.

 

[DoctorWeeTodd]

Downloaded that beta mod, it's really cool but the units sometimes don't respond. And it's damn hard. Also, no Gordon Freeman unit.

On their forums, 1/2 of the players claim they'll leave if they create a Gordon unit.

I downloaded it too and it's fun. But yes, it's buggy. At one point half of my units became unresponsive and had to just leave them. Meanwhile I was supposed to defend a camp from an assault from "the combines" and they didn't have the courtesy to come!

 

[Musk]

Sounds a bit like Halo wars. A shooter being turned in an RTS game. I cant see it working though for Half-life. The enemy have got so many better weapons and vehicles.

 

[Rashak]

Sounds a bit like Halo wars. A shooter being turned in an RTS game. I cant see it working though for Half-life. The enemy have got so many better weapons and vehicles.

The resistance could work like the zerg from starcraft, you can produce so many of them that brute force would be overkill. and the combine could be used like the protoss... you know what, just pick up starcraft, you will be doing yourself a favor.

 

[Ennui]

As a few of you already mentioned, this is already being done (HL2:Wars) and I'm working on it!

Lots of good ideas in this thread, some taken into consideration. Also for all of you naysaying the mod in its current state, it's an alpha (0.1!) release, so calm down. The current internal build is miles better than the public release and getting more awesome on a daily basis.

 

[Nibwoddle]

Yeah, the full version should be awesome.

 

[Musk]

Whoa you mean to say there is already a mod being made?? Looked at the video and changed my mind. I want to play this!