Force-Fire Mechanic

[Gben 20]

Feasel explains the curious lack of Force-Fire in C&C4

Ooo, I get to answer this one!

 

Force-fire is implemented in some situations, to make it much more clear to the user and also to make the denial mechanic less DOTA-y and more CnC4-ish (we want users to use the delete mechanic specifically as a more visible method of denial).

 

All units can force-fire on goal or tech structures to reduce the capture timer. Units can also force-fire on garrisonable structures to pre-emptively destroy them.

 

In addition, all artillery and AOE units can force-fire on the ground. Any unit that can't force-fire doesn't do AOE damage (or does it in such a small circle as to only hit stacked aircraft). We did this to make it much more clear which units do AOE and you should use force-fire with to do maximum damage, and which units do not do AOE and should be focused on single-targets.

 

The only units that break this rule are Laser-class units, which do line damage and are specifically balanced around needing a single target.

 

I've been reading up the Rev & Design notes. And reading an interesting discussion about whether the crystals should be picked up by a non-combat unit (ie. Harvester) or with the current mechanic or everything. I think because it's been made clear that it's only place-holder art, I haven't thought too much about it. I think it's fine the way it is, without Harvesters. I think it would be a mockery to use the harvies to collect crystals in this method.

 

But what I like is Feasel's next post...

As I specifically mentioned in the update, all of the art is super temp and no where near the final. We have some really cool and story-driven methods by which the Tiberium will be dropped off, gathered, and deposited.

[Nmenth 291]

Now they've removed force-firing too? Something else that has always existed? I'm not really surprised anymore... but at what point will it stop, when they remove tanks?

 

By the way, I'm not blind or illiterate, I do see it's only partly removed, but that's like somebody robbing you at gunpoint and giving back your wallet half-full as if that will justify the robbery.

 

And I don't have an obsession with force-firing, although in solo matches, I have been know to assassinate my own troops and my allies', nevertheless, my point is that there is no reason to eliminate something that has been with us since the beginning. Unless I'm missing something from the original post (which I can't access).

[Gben 20]

Heh - I only have time to force-fire in sandbox mode... it's too frantic in MP.

Anyway I was curious as to why I couldn't force-fire sometimes as I was using it to test firing animations, so it was kinda frustrating when I realised I couldn't. At least now I know there is a reason.

 

I was not implying that it was completely removed.

[Nmenth 291]

I was not implying that it was completely removed.

That was a preemptive counter I threw out there, gben, don't fret about it.

[Malevolence 6]

I don't like this. They should not remove that! When I first tried the beta I was so frustrated that I can't Ctrl+Attack on empty ground except some limited stuff.

[Gben 20]

That was a preemptive counter I threw out there, gben, don't fret about it.

 

what me worry?

[Luk3us 63]

I was annoyed at first not being able to force fire. But they introduced the ability to "delete" units.

 

Now, I'm less fussed about it.