C&C 4 Developer QA Session #5

[Sonic 296]

Another round of questions and answers from the Command & Conquer 4 development team have been posted on the Official C&C Forums. Check them out below.

 

How does veterancy work, and what advantages does a unit or defense structure gain from it?

In CnC4, veterancy is gained both from picking up green tiberium cores that are created when units die or are dismantled, or by killing enemy units and structures. In both cases, the unit gains damage reduction for every point of veterancy. A high-veterancy unit can withstand quite a bit of punishment! We have moved weapon damage bonuses off of veterancy and onto blue tiberium cores (a mechanic unique to the Offense class), structure upgrades, and global upgrades, to provide for a wider variety of potential upgrade mechanics and unit customization. Veterancy is still being tuned through balance play-tests.

 

Are all types of rockets and projectiles 100% accurate, or is there a chance of a missed shot?

It depends on the unit and weapon type. For the most part, cannon weapons have a chance to miss when the tank is moving, while rockets have a chance to miss against moving targets. This makes for a very different micromanagement priority system when using one type of unit versus another. Upgrades can be purchased to mitigate the chance to miss, and some units, like the GDI Commando, are so elite that they never miss their targets.

 

How do the Mastodon and Mammoth tank differ in terms of roles on the battlefield?

The Mastodon is a slow-building, high CP, long-range artillery unit (especially good against structures) that can be upgraded to do AOE damage around itself. It is susceptible to fast-moving units, and especially those armed with laser weaponry. The Mammoth is slightly faster and does additional damage to medium-sized targets, such as your average tank, and also has a special weapon known as the “taunt laser.” Any unit that the Mammoth is firing on is forced to fire on the Mammoth, and with an upgrade that gives the Mammoth reflective armor, this can be deadly for enemy forces.

 

Do air units need to reload like Orcas did in C&C3?

There are several different reload mechanics in CnC4. Some units fire in a burst and then reload single shells or missiles over time, allowing a player to get in, fire off a burst, and get out to fully restock. Many machinegun-using units have a “fast reload” ability, that reloads their gun clip at an accelerated pace, exceptionally effective when used near the end of the clip. The fastest units in the game are the speedy Vertigo and Firehawk bombers, which have a very long reload time but reload more quickly in the presence of the Crawler. These fixed-wing aircraft will always return to the crawler after dropping their payload, but do not have to dock to re-arm.

 

Is reverse move still in the game? What advantages does reverse moving have?

Indeed it is! Reverse-move no longer slows down most units, with the exception of hover units and most aircraft, meaning that it is now an effective way to keep the enemy units spaced apart as they attempt to follow your mass of backing-up tanks, and allowing the player to funnel the enemy more effectively into a cone of damage. Units with slower-than-fullspeed reverse move generally have other advantages, such as cliff jumping, to make up for the lower in-combat manoeuvrability. In addition, many units can only fire in front of themselves or have a turret that takes time to turn around. When using these units, you will always do more damage using reverse move. Finally, after extended testing, directional armor might be making a comeback; expect to hear more as gameplay develops.

Have a question of your own that you would like answered in the future. Then post in the Ask A Developer thread on the Official C&C Forums.

[Gben 20]

I *like* the taunt ability of my Mammy.

GDI FTW.

[Troopzor 5]

I'm actually glad they added in the good old scrap mechanic from the GLA

[Malovolpe 3]

I think its gonna be kinda cool to see the Mastodon (Mammoth Mk 2) and the Mammoth tank in the same game.

[ORCaLoVeR 0]

So where in what class is the Mammoth Tank placed and in what class is the mastodon placed?

 

Because if they are placed in the SAME class= Epic sweet badass

[Malovolpe 3]

So where in what class is the Mammoth Tank placed and in what class is the mastodon placed?

 

Because if they are placed in the SAME class= Epic sweet badass

 

O.O now i am thinking of all the sweet destruction that can be caused by a huge force of Mammoth tanks and Mastodon's. That would bring whole new meaning to the term Overkill.

[Malevolence 6]

Nice updates. Now I can't wait to try both the Mastodon and the Mammoth on the battlefield.

[Nmenth 291]

now i am thinking of all the sweet destruction that can be caused by a huge force of Mammoth tanks and Mastodon's.

You can stop thinking it now, with pop caps, you will never have a huge force of anything, especially large vehicles.

[Luk3us 63]

He might get 2 of each if he's uber lucky.

 

I actually forgot there was the Masterdon AND the Mammoth tank in game. Hopefully they are both on the offensive class's build list.

[Inferno 22]

Meh, my defensive class will pwn your silly tanks

[EA_2POC 0]

They are both in the offensive class

[Malovolpe 3]

They are both in the offensive class

 

 

OH RIGHT ON!!!! EPIC OVERKILL HERE I COME!!! =D

 

[Mighty BOB! 5]

Seriously? A "laser taunt?" AOE damage just for being close to the Mastadon? This game makes me facedesk so much... So much for dark and gritty...

[Gben 20]

Meh, my defensive class will pwn your silly tanks

 

Your *infantry* will pwn my mammies???

 

Heh. Heh. I don't think so.

[Mighty BOB! 5]

But, but, they have power suits! [/sarc]

[Malevolence 6]

So what if they have power suits, mammy > infantry anyways.

[Gben 20]

Heh Heh, power suits... I didn't realise I was fighting the Power Rangers!?!

[BioBen 3]

Obelisk > Mammies anyways

[Inferno 22]

Your *infantry* will pwn my mammies???

 

Heh. Heh. I don't think so.

Obelisks + infantry definitely pwn your mammies

[ORCaLoVeR 0]

They are both in the offensive class

Sweeettt

[Malovolpe 3]

Mastodon to take out the Obelisks and the Mammoths to finish the job.

[Luk3us 63]

Infantry spam > Tanks.

 

Especially since you can't run em' over any more.

[hagren 0]

Seriously? A "laser taunt?" AOE damage just for being close to the Mastadon? This game makes me facedesk so much... So much for dark and gritty...

These are if I may say so, pretty neat gameplay mechanics and have nothing at all to do with the atmosphere. I personally look forward to some cool upgrade combinations.

[Gben 20]

Infantry spam > Tanks.

 

popcap > infantry spam.

 

It's just a guess, but I think almost every screenshot shown, has a "max popcap" for each side.

That's something to keep in mind...

[Inferno 22]

Exactly why the defense is gonna win