Hack Attack [Revived]

[Noslen]

Okay, I'm new to CC but I enjoy content creation for many other things. So heres the idea.

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***Revised Idea***
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****Graphics****
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I have two options here. The first is to do a computer screen type map. So very digital. I have an example of the map below.
[bigimg]http://homepage.ntlworld.com/martin.nelson4/worlmap3.gif[/bigimg]

The second option is a world map in relief. The territories that can be conquered are terminals and servers. The terminals would be represented by computer screens, the main servers by server stacks/buildings.

This is the original concept sketch where the white circles will be main server positions and the black circles will be local servers/terminals.
[bigimg]http://homepage.ntlworld.com/martin.nelson4/ConceptSketch2.jpg[/bigimg]

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****Gameplay****
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There are six 'continents', one special zone, and 23 territories to conquer. These are:

US - Comprising of canada and the US - 4 terminals, 1 main server(2 bonus for holding this area)

South America - 2 terminals, 1 main server (1 bonus for holding this area)

Western Europe - Comprising france, UK, germany, spain, italy, etc. - 4 terminals, 1 main server (3 bonus for holding this area)

Aisa - Comprising China, mongolia, austrailaisa, etc. - 4 Terminals, 1 Main server (3 bonus for holding this area)

Africa - Comprising Africa, madagascar and india - 3 Terminals, 1 Main server (2 bonus for holding this area)

All terminals and main servers wll be able to attack each other.

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***Special Areas***
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Antarctica Sattelite base - This area can attack ANY other main server and can be attacked by any main server.

Holding this area gives 10 bonus.

[t-o-m]

you could be onto something - finding it hard to picture, and i think this could have been posted in the new ideas announcement instead of making a new thread; but ah well.
-
are you making a quick draft or something?
ide like to see how this turns out

[Noslen]

sorry, for the post, was unsure where to post it.

and here's a quick sketch

imagine PC's and laptops in place of small boxes and server stacks in place of big boxes.

[bigimg]http://homepage.ntlworld.com/martin.nelson4/quickexample.jpg[/bigimg]

[t-o-m]

i get the idea - but if you laid it out like that -
it would be fairly symetrical and monotonous,
and if you controlled the big box you could defend the cont by one terit so would be crap gameplay,
but it would obvs change, looks ok!

[Noslen]

The pic was just a 30 second scrawl. As I said they wouldn't be boxes they'd be laptops, server stacks etc., and they could even be laid over a country map or an overhead of an office.

May I enquire about the big main area? would cutting that out and having the 5 medium boxes connected together be better do you think?

[Mr. Squirrel]

I think you should take out the center box. The idea sounds cool, but its hard to tell without a good draft. Why don't you add internet connections on some of the territories where they could all attack each other? This would add more borders and allow for more attack routes. What you really need to stay away from is a symmetrical map where everything is the exact same thing.

[Noslen]

To be honest I originally thought about that. But it could get very complicated with the connections. I'll try to come up with a better example asap.

[TaCktiX]

A simple idea, something like Chinese Checkers with the main hub in there.

What to avoid:
- Obvious symmetry: make some networks bigger than others, have ones with more connections than others, etc.
- Bottlenecking: While having a main hub of servers sounds great, in practice there should be some other way to get to different servers. Perhaps have a "hacker" computer or two that start neutral and allow you to access another network without hitting the main hub.
- Schematically boring graphics: I know what you have is a rough sketch right there, and that's not what I'm talking about. I'm more referring to when you make the actual map. Avoid the temptation to make it look like a clipart description of a network at all costs.

Good luck further developing this idea, I will warn you that computer-related maps have not done the greatest in the Foundry historically.

[t-o-m]

Perhaps have a "hacker" computer or two that start neutral

that would be good with zombies on!
if the hacker could bombard other comps and things/attack them!
it would be like ur being infected!

[Noslen]

Okay, here's another quick sketch.

[bigimg]http://homepage.ntlworld.com/martin.nelson4/example2.jpg[/bigimg]

The problem is getting the connections right I think.

I should mention the map is a photocopy/scan not my work!

[Mr. Squirrel]

I like the idea of putting the systems on a map, but I don't think Europe is the right area. Why don't you do a world map with the major industrial areas of the world as the center hubs. For example, the largest ones would be in US, Europe, China, Russia, and Japan. Smaller ones would be in Australia, middle east, and other Asian countries. South America and Africa would be almost nothing and be your +2 bonus countries.

[Noslen]

I could see how that would look. What would you say to country borders if it was a world map. What I mean is that would I need individual country borders or could I just do a world outline?

I'd be slightly worried that a world map might look too similar to current maps. Do you not think that would be a problem?

Maybe the neutral player could be the virus?

[greenoaks]

the problem is you think this idea is a virus map but it is really a computer network map.

[Noslen]

Yeah I've realised that. even so, I'd love to try it.

[Mr. Squirrel]

You wouldn't want to make it look like the classic map with the territory borders. Instead your computers and terminals would be the territories. It would look just like the outline of the world with your new hacking routes on top of it.

As for the hacker, instead of making one territory that can bombard anywhere on the map, why don't you just make a territory that weakens everyone else's main territories. For example, if it was captured, all major hubs on the map (Washington D.C., Europe, China, Japan) would lose a certain amount of territories per turn. I think that if you made one territory that can bombard all others, the player that controls it would be waaaaay overpowered.

[demon7896]

seeing the europe picture made me think, hey, where's U.S.? and then i thought, heck, why not the entire WORLD. so it could be like, world domination, one laptop at a time

[Noslen]

As interesting and great as that concept would be my XML is not great and I think I'd really struggle to get it all done without help. I do like that idea though. I have also rethought the positioning.

I would have an outline map of the world. very simple blue sea, green land. No country outlines. There would be four (maybe five) main servers.

US
Europe
Africa
Far East
South America? (A possible extra)

The hacker could then be based offshore maybe?

[Mr. Squirrel]

As interesting and great as that concept would be my XML is not great and I think I'd really struggle to get it all done without help. I do like that idea though. I have also rethought the positioning.

I would have an outline map of the world. very simple blue sea, green land. No country outlines. There would be four (maybe five) main servers.

US
Europe
Africa
Far East
South America? (A possible extra)

The hacker could then be based offshore maybe?

Most mapmakers these days have people help them with XML, but if you wish to do it yourself, I'm all for it. It's your map after all.

These are the servers I suggest:

N.A.
Europe
Middle East
Africa
Far East & Russia
S.A.
Australia

You shouldn't leave S.A. out just because it isn't known for its computer prowess. It is still a major continent and should be represented. Also, when you make the map itself, don't just make flat green land like Feudal war. Instead add major mountain ranges (i.e. Rockies in America and Himalayas in Asia), lakes/seas (i.e. Great lakes in N.A., Caspian and red sea in Asia), etc. Even though these things will not add to the gameplay, they will make the map aesthetically pleasing. After all, how interesting can a bunch of laptops and servers look?

[yeti_c]

Phishing attacks from Nigeria...

C.

[Natewolfman]

this is a neat idea, cant wait to see some real expansion on it!

[t-o-m]

Phishing attacks from Nigeria...

C.

mail order brides and all of that...

[Noslen]

Okay so how's this for the revised concept?

******************
****Graphics****
******************

The background is a world map, possibly in relief form. The territories that can be conquered are terminals and servers. The terminals would be represented by computer screens, the main servers by server stacks/buildings.

*******************
****Gameplay****
*******************

There are six 'continents', two special zones, and 42 territories to conquer. These are:

US - Comprising of canada and the US - 7 terminals, 1 main server (4 bonus for holding this area)

South America - 2 terminals, 1 main server (1 bonus for holding this area)

Western Europe - Comprising france, UK, germany, spain, italy, etc. - 10 terminals, 1 main server (5 bonus for holding this area)

Eastern Bloc - Comprising the old soviet bloc and the near east. - 5 Terminals, 1 main server (3 bonus for holding this area)

Far East - Comprising China, mongolia, austrailaisa, etc. - 6 Terminals, 1 Main server (3 bonus for holding this area)

Africa - Comprising Africa, madagascar and india - 3 Terminals, 1 Main server (2 bonus for holding this area)

**********************
***Special Areas***
**********************

Antarctica Sattelite base - This area can attack ANY other main server but can only be attacked through the Hacker territory or the south american main server.

Hacker territory - This area ONLY links to the Antarctica sattelite base.

(Holding both these areas give 10 bonus)

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****Other Ideas****
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I'd appreicate any people can give me. I'll post a graphical example later if people want me to.

[AndyDufresne]

I'd start work on some sort of map graphic...more comments will stream in when people can have a look.


--Andy

[Noslen]

I have a concept sketch on first post now. I have also worked a few textures for areas, and a computer screen for the terminals. I'd like to know what people think of the colours of the textures please.

Land Texture?


Water/Background Texture?




Monitor/Terminal Graphic


The monitor/terminal graphic will be used for local areas only, and each area's screens will be different colours.

[greenoaks]

put it on the map so we can see how they go together. then we can comment.