Hmmm 3rd Person/RTS transition possible.

[Yakuza]

Hey guys been adding to my giant notebook of ideas. And came across one that has kinda grabed my attention.

Basically,

My idea is having a game that can smoothly transition for a full 3d RTS to a 3rd person camera view.

But keeping the gfx lvl the same as it would be as if playing a First person shooter. I know I would have to bumb the gfx down some what.

The goal would be to have the look and feel of a RTS when in the RTS mode, but then being able to switch to a 3rd Person mode with the click of a button.

Switching would go like this. Click on a platoon of soldiers and hit the 3rd person button or key. Now you are takin into a 3rd person view of your platoon and now take control as the commanding officer of that platoon.


What I am going for is somthing like an RTS were you have battles on a much grander scale but at the same time being able to switch to a 3rd person mode for a more precise and intament experiance.

what do you guys think?

 

[Ames]

Also sounds like a Natural Selection to me with its commander mode and such.

 

[Yakuza]

You can already basically do that in WarCraft 3, so I see no reason you couldn't do it for Half Life 2. Offhand, I'd also say that's a pretty neat idea, but you've no real design stuff to back it up (but still more than most HW&O posts I see ).

Actualy I spent the good part of my lunch hour jotting down ideas.

I used a ww2 back drop but I can see this idea working for just about any "War" idea.

Basicaly I was breaking down the abilities from RTS perspective and 3rd person perspective.

In RTS you can control a large number of units. You also have access to many supplies and resources.

3rd person gives you command over a small platoon or unit. Yet you have a much more intament and percise experiance.

The purpose and goal would be to switch in and out of these modes as the war rages on. You would use the RTS mode to strategicaly move your army into position drop artillary on specific points and do large raids on enemy bases and encampments.

3rd person would allow for more precision work.

Lets say that you need to capture an 88. You sneak a squad into distance. Once you enter into 3rd person mode you jump to the cammanding officer of that platoon. Here you can only issue orders to the characters in that unit. Issueing commands can be givin in different ways. By default the officer would yell out his order as if trying to reach the ears of his men over gunfire. Yet you would also have to other options. One being that you can whisper. Gathering while your close to the enemy you whisper orders to your platoon soldiers.As with stealthy animations to give the feeling that you are trying to be quite. Next you have hand motions. You give orders through the use of Hand signs. This of course would be used to make no noise what so ever. Although as with whisper your soldiers would have to be within a certain distance to hear or see your orders.

So you can attack the 88 killing all the men and leaving the 88 for your uses now.

Also going into 3rd person to clear a building.

But I was also thinking on how you could let both modes play off each other.

1) You are in RTS mode, and you want to do a raid on an enemy encampment. You move you units into place and give them all a "WAIT FOR SIGNAL" order. Then jumping into third person you control your platoon and move them into the final position. You order your radio man to call it in. This activates the SIGNAL, by the bombardment of a small cluster of Artillary. Now you rush your team to attack the enemy encampment, but now you have several other units helping you out.

Also different units will give you a different amount of soldiers to use and each time you jump into 3rd person you automaticaly go to the highest ranking soldier of that unit. Yet if you are select somthing like a Sniper unit you might find yourself alone or with a spotter. Same thing with lets say a machine gun crew.

Vehicles are the same way. You automaticaly become the driver and depending on how many soldiers are operating the vehicle determans ho many men will be under your control if you must exit the vehicle.


I am still laying it all out but I am realing finding some of this stuff that I am comming up with interesting.

 

[Yakuza]

Also sounds like a Natural Selection to me with its commander mode and such.

I know it might sound wierd but I never played NS.

 

[Kyorisu]

It's a good Idea and I must say I've been waiting for a Game Company to make a RTS first person strategy where you can take command of your units.

 

[FaM]

It's a good Idea and I must say I've been waiting for a Game Company to make a RTS first person strategy where you can take command of your units.

Thats Natural-Selection, cept its a mod not a full game...

 

[Yakuza]

you guys know that when I say RTS I mean the Isometric view right?

 

[Yakuza]

Only played tactics for a short time and i cant remmber it to well.

What I am thinking is a game that has two different functions that work at the same time.

The RTS mode would be like you average 3d RTS. I got this idea while playing the new demos for soldeirs and Panzer.

The 3rd person mode would resemble somthing along the lines of Hidden and dangerous 2. Yet more dynamic in the area of interaction and animations.