Free floating turret

I would love to have a free floating turret in the game, sort of like a round, ship thing, with one or two guns, that would be able to shoot at enemies coming from any direction. They would probably have more health and/or attack than normal turrets.

These would be useful because, it is really easy to defeat a current turret by attacking it from an angle that It can't get you from.

Thoughts?

[bobdaduck]

An idea that has come up at least ten times on these forums alone.

I sort of like the mechanic of being able to beat turrets from a certain angle.

[Skybax]

I had even made a picture for this.

[sam686]

This idea seems almost the same as Sentry Drones.

An idea that has come up at least ten times on these forums alone.

Prove this by giving us 9 more links pointing at different topics. If you didn't prove it, then I will think this idea haven't come up that many times before this, in this forum.

I had even made a picture for this.

Exactly what I was thinking of.

This idea seems almost the same as Sentry Drones.

Yea, well I haven't been that active on the forums for the past few months. I've missed a lot.

Now, to think of something no one has yet though of...

[Skybax]

This idea seems almost the same as Sentry Drones.

An idea that has come up at least ten times on these forums alone.

Prove this by giving us 9 more links pointing at different topics. If you didn't prove it, then I will think this idea haven't come up that many times before this, in this forum.

I've been here since the zetas, and I only remember myself and maybe one other person (?) ever bringing up floating turrets.

[karamazovapy]

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1104&p=9988#p9459

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1071#p9003

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=661&p=4299&hilit=floating#p4299

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=202&p=1241&hilit=floating#p1241

This is why we keep old posts.

[Skybax]

I don't consider Satellites as floating turrets.
And in the other three links, I was the one who brought up floating turrets.
So my statement still stands.

There's nothing wrong with re-posts just as long as you legitimately try to bring a new angle and don't spam the idea. I'd wager a portion of the concepts implemented in Bitfighter had been discussed on several occasions. In fact, without occasional recycling good ideas will simply get lost in the sea of posts!

[Skybax]

I'd reeeeally like it if that Sentry Drone thread would be revisited by some people involved in coding...

http://www.bitfighter.org/forums/viewto ... 9988#p9459

http://www.bitfighter.org/forums/viewto ... 1071#p9003

Why not replace all them threads with this one?
People just keep thinking of floating turrets. Let's do something about it?

[karamazovapy]

If you'd read any of them, you'd see that none of the threads are all about floating turrets.

If you'd read any of them, you'd see that none of the threads are all about floating turrets.

They're pretty darn similar. Sentry drones, satellites, and floating turrets...what's next...the nonwall-attached turret?

This is why we keep old posts.

Wellz, people don't tend to search for every thread they makez.

Whatever though...I think we need an unattached turret because why not? Also, the turret could shoot in a 360 degree angle instead of 180 degrees.

Wouldn't putting two turrets on opposite ends of a "wire wall" produce the same effect as having this "free floating" turret thing?

[Skybax]

If you'd read any of them, you'd see that none of the threads are all about floating turrets.

My original Floating Turret thread got deleted somehow.

Wouldn't putting two turrets on opposite ends of a "wire wall" produce the same effect as this "free floating" turret thing?

No.

Wouldn't putting two turrets on opposite ends of a "wire wall" produce the same effect as having this "free floating" turret thing?

To me, yes... In some ways it's better because there's two separate turrets instead of only one.

[karamazovapy]

My original Floating Turret thread got deleted somehow.

Maybe it got merged with something else? We generally don't just delete Features threads.

I'm fine with some kind of non-moving 360º turret. The current turrets are pretty easy to overpower if you have the right modules.

I'm fine with some kind of non-moving 360º turret. The current turrets are pretty easy to overpower if you have the right modules.

Yeah, one can just go behind the normal turrets and shoot them without getting hurt in certain situations.

[Skybax]

My original Floating Turret thread got deleted somehow.

Maybe it got merged with something else? We generally don't just delete Features threads.

I don't think it got merged. I searched for the exact words I had used and I couldn't find it. And I don't think I would have posted it in Off-Topic.

I honestly don't remember the thread, but I remember the idea.

Bouncy turrets? What?
In the editor, I was thinking that the path of the moving turret could look a lot like the green line that goes from warp to drop point, but without an arrow at the end, and more keyframes. Keyframes being the waypoints along the line that would shape it. Like a wall.
Yes, it's basically a turret that doesn't have to be on a wall, and can patrol a set path. A bot doing this job would be weird because, not only would you confuse it with normal bots, but wouldn't it show up on the player list as well?
I'm going to recycle the image I had for floating turrets.

That post from the sentry drone thread is proof that there was a thread on floating turrets before this one, unless Skybax has the forgetfulness. I couldn't find that old thread either.

[sam686]

I don't think it got merged. I searched for the exact words I had used and I couldn't find it. And I don't think I would have posted it in Off-Topic.

I might be guessing that, you might have talked about it in either PM, or in a different forum, not Bitfighter's phpBB forum, that might have been deleted. This could be a mess if we don't keep the history.

[watusimoto]

2 possible solutions using available off-the-shelf technology

1. 4 turrets attached to a little square wall

2. A bot that doesn't move and just shoots at any enemies within range

What about changing the graphic of bot of the #2 solution later on?
I like #2!!!

I'm thinking this will later develop ideas into dungeon "bosses"

I think I'm starting to hate dungeons now. It's kinda like photography where someone sees a really awesome photo and tell themselves that they can do the same, and in doing so, they end up taking some pretty cruddy pics.

[karamazovapy]

Let's keep this topic from forking into a dungeon discussion.

[Skybax]

That post from the sentry drone thread is proof that there was a thread on floating turrets before this one, unless Skybax has the forgetfulness. I couldn't find that old thread either.

This wasn't a thread on floating turrets. It was a thread on sentry drone than kind of morphed into moving (and floating) turrets.

I might be guessing that, you might have talked about it in either PM, or in a different forum, not Bitfighter's phpBB forum, that might have been deleted. This could be a mess if we don't keep the history.

I'm positive it was on this forum. I'm not really worried about it or anything, everything I said can be restated by myself, I'm just saying that the thread is gone.

1. 4 turrets attached to a little square wall

2. A bot that doesn't move and just shoots at any enemies within range

1: This would have way too much health, would take up more room, and would make it possible for you to be shot at with two turrets at once.
2: When a bot dies, it explodes. When a turret dies, it does not. This is crucial to the turret mechanics that I described in the aforementioned thread.

Is there really a point to having floating turrets during battles? Is it to make it a wee bit harder, cuz it would. They would have to code the new turret completely from scratch maybe.

Yeah, one can just go behind the normal turrets and shoot them without getting hurt in certain situations.

And that's fine, if turrets were more powerful. As it is I can just dodge left and right and the turret's slow tracking speed allows me to take very little damage. If the turrets could actually keep up with me then we probably wouldn't need the 360º turret.

[karamazovapy]

Free floating turrets will respond even more slowly initially because they'll be facing the escape path of the previous ship instead of the approach vector. Without barrier protection, players should be able to circle strafe them in a continuous arc without ever getting hit.

[Skybax]

A turret spins faster than a ship flies. If they went in one direction, the turret would kill them, because the turret aims at where you're going to be. The only reason you can evade the tracking of the current turrets is because you go back and forth.

[karamazovapy]

Fair enough, if you think so. If the turret was 180 degrees away from you, you could keep it confused as to which direction you were going to fly and it would never actually about-face to meet you. It would never establish line of sight and would never fire a single shot before being taken down.

Free floating turrets will respond even more slowly initially because they'll be facing the escape path of the previous ship instead of the approach vector. Without barrier protection, players should be able to circle strafe them in a continuous arc without ever getting hit.

It's hard to evade in a curve-like-pathway. This requires more skill than evading the normal turrets; however, it can be done relatively easy. Therefore, like I posted, is there a point to the floating turret, other than the level of hardness? The point I see in it, is it looks cooler and saves space.

Also, we could just make the floating turret have more barrels to shot out of, like 4 barrels, so it's harder for it to miss. 3 of the barrels will shoot around the ship, while 1 barrel shoots directly at it. Pretty much 4 turrets in the same about of space as one turret= 1by1 square of space.

Good points, but ultimately I would imagine that if we really wanted a powerful 360º turret, it could be done -- wildly increase the tracking speed and rate of fire.

[Skybax]

Yah. Just hype it up. Problem solved.

[karamazovapy]

You're right - I'm just grumping about it because I'm not a big fan.

It does lead to the question though, do we want turrets to be more deadly?

[Skybax]

Having options would be nice. Having a turret that's more difficult to beat than a normal turret could be used in a lot of different scenarios.
EDIT: And yet still be beatable, unlike a turret with regen.

What about creating one with engineer module? I was thinking that there are these 1by1 square boxs (platforms) of where you can place these new turrets on. So then you can't just make these new turrets everywhere.

[Skybax]

I'm thinking they would be non-engineerable. Cause you couldn't set paths for them in-game.

I'm thinking they would be non-engineerable. Cause you couldn't set paths for them in-game.

Woo Woo Woo...you mean that path-thingy of the floating turrets moving around?

The platform (1by1 square) just allows the floating turret on it and it stays there to shoot at ships in a 360 degree, in my mind.

[Skybax]

I think that would be more effort and complexity than it's worth.

I think if 360º turrets are going to be as tough as we're making them, they probably shouldn't be engineer-capable.

They can be placed anywhere. That right there is a red flag for abuse. Even if we had smart developers prevent users from blocking bottlenecks, it'd still be one hell of a way to screw up an enemy spawn.

And I think that's reasonable. If you think of an engineer in this game as a guy with a wrench and messenger bag, he's not going to be able to install a highly sophisticated device on the spot.

[Little_Apple]

I think 360 turrets should be engineer compatible but slightly less powerful then wall turrets. I think they should be a little bit slower in turning or have a limited field of view that changes depending on the direction of the turret. I can make somthing to illustrate my idea...

[Skybax]

If they're weaker than wall turrets, they will be too easy. Read the posts that came before yours.

[Little_Apple]

I did. But if they are better than wall turrets, what's the point of wall turrets?

[Skybax]

Situations where the level designer doesn't want a 360˚ turret.
And for use by engineers.

I did. But if they are better than wall turrets, what's the point of wall turrets?

He has a point...why even use 180 degree turrets then? I wouldn't if the 360 degree turrets shoot more accurately or does more damage. Just put it on top of a wall still...lol (in level editor). It would be a 360 turret that can only shoot in 180 degrees (since it's on a wall)...lol. I think it's best to leave some of the things that were created in Zap alone.

[Skybax]

That would look stupid.
I'm going to say it again. 360˚ turrets would be non-engineerable.

That would look stupid.
I'm going to say it again. 360˚ turrets would be non-engineerable.

But it works and is a better "new 180 degree turret." It could just completely replace the old turrets. It does mostly depend on the level editors though.

I don't want the old turrets to be left out in terms of effectiveness. Maybe make the 360 degree turret have more hp, instead of more damage or more precision?