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Thread: Unmanned Ground Vehicle [Suggestion and WIP]

  1. #1
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    Wink Unmanned Ground Vehicle [Suggestion and WIP]

    Whoa, hold on.

    Coding is hard. Implementation is hard. Testing is hard. Balance is hard. I have no idea what the amount of time and effort would be required to even get something like this working. Hell, not sure what I'm proposing is even possible. So if it's not, I'll consider this just a creative exercise and learning experience. Developers have a really tough job, and I felt that if I was going to suggest a new feature that it was really important to try to put an effort on my part to present something semi-cohesive rather than bring a pie-in-the-sky idea to the doorstep and nothing else.

    Thanks a lot to user lengord who went super over and beyond my expectations by actually taking the time to improve the sprites I had made. Freaking super cool.

    If nothing comes of this, I'll donate the sprites to open game art.

    I propose that the marines have a UGV for an asset. I wasn't sure the best way to do this, so I'm using a Gaming Design Document template I got from gamasutra.

    _____


    Introduction:

    Squad Engineers have the option of three weapon systems from the Engineer System Vendor to support the marines either offensively or defensively. Currently engineers from each squad can vend one of the following from a limited pool of assets:

    UA 571-C Sentry Gun
    M56D Mounted Smartgun
    M402 Mortar


    These three weapon systems are primarily static battlefield assets. The Sentry Gun and Mounted Smartgun are typically used to strengthen the forward operating base (FOB), while the Mortar provides long-distance artillery support.

    I propose a fourth asset for Engineers: An Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV). Such an asset would introduce a fourth option of mobile fire team support and reconnaissance.

    Background:

    Unmanned robotic systems are currently active in the military to perform a variety of dangerous activities without the risk to human life. With an established robotic sentry gun and synthetic personnel within the game universe, the UGV should fit well within the Colonial Marines setting.

    This UGV is designed after the popular Talon robot which has an extensive history of service in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) destruction missions. UGVs fitted with weapons are currently being developed and this combat version would be the eventual product of such experimentation in the future.



    Foster-Miller TALON SWORDS units equipped with various weaponry.


    Description:

    The UGV is a standard Talon-esque design with a mounted weapon system. Rather than reinvent the wheel, the robot can be fitted with an existing pulse rifle for it�s armament. It is remotely operated with the use of a portable control station. The unit is fast and able to perform on sand, snow, and shallow water. It cannot, however, climb ladders or interact with objects.

    Main Features:

    Camera and Sensor Array - IFF tracking prevents bullets from hitting fellow marines. Allows the user to toggle night vision off and on.

    Combat Capabilities - The UGV is equipped with a pulse rifle for harassment, ambush, and defense. It cannot reload by itself, but comes with a large box magazine for linked ammunition.

    Quick Deployment - The robot is nearly completely assembled, but requires Engineers to fit both the mounted pulse rifle and sensor array.

    Limitations:

    Light Durability - Though constructed of light-weight Plasteel, it is only durable against light damage from small arms or xenomorph slashing before being destroyed. It requires a Blowtorch and Wire Coil to repair.

    Limited Mobility/Interaction - The UGV cannot drag, open, or otherwise interact with objects. It is unable to climb up or down ladders.

    Expensive - The robot is an expensive asset.

    Remote Operated - If the operator is interrupted during control, the UGV is rendered helpless and inactive.

    Design and Spriting:

    I am an amateur at spriting...and art in general. I looked at a SWORDS Talon UGV model and created some quick concept art based around that:



    I wanted the robot to be very simple and easy to deploy without having to reinvent much. It comes in a crate ready to go save for the Engineer to mount the rifle, box ammunition, and camera/senors. Also, a mounted Pulse Rifle seemed sensible enough. It's a super standard weapon and probably won't strike fear into the hearts of xenos even with the IFF. If anything, it's more like pepper spray for the survivability of the robot. The robot isn't for rampaging into the heart of the hive. It's for recon and squad support.

    Initial Sprites:



    I hate sprite work. Some people seem to really like it, but I don't. This was my initial try at it.

    What is missing is: destroyed sprite. It might also be good to include a damaged sprite. Also, when firing, I'm wondering if there should be some muzzle flash. It's not animated, so there's no movement of the tank treads or blinking lights. Also, if the the Engineer has to partially assemble the robot, the individual parts mentioned above need to be sprited as well. The crate/container the UGV comes in as well should look unique as well.

    lengord's Sprite Improvments:

    After viewing some of lengord's art, I asked for his help in improving my sprites and he was kind enough to do that and then some:



    As you can see, he really improved the sprites quite a bit, gave the 'towards' sprite way more depth and improved the colors, shading, borders, added detailing, and adjusted brightness.

    Where to go from here:

    I would like to (possibly) add some highlights for a light source. According to some of the SS13 sprite guides I've briefly and reluctantly thumbed through, all the light source is assumed to be from above. There needs to be a rear-facing sprite created and then all the parts for deployment in their own nice-looking crate. I'm sure all of you might have some suggestions for improvements. This is all just a huge work in progress and it doesn't even come close to addressing the most important part...

    How does it work, code-wise?

    Anyway, huge idea post which might not result in anything at all, but thanks for your consideration and feedback (and whether I should continue to work on this at all or just stop now). Huge amount of respect to the dev's for all the work that goes into getting anything in the game working at all.
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    This not being seen by benos behind walls is a must. Otherwise there is barerly a point in one. Besides it would be cool.

    However I was thinking back in the old forum that dead marines should have chance to return as such drones to help USCM (before DEFCON was giving reinforcements). In this case there wouldn't be much coding I guess, just repurposing classic SS13 drone, by adding gun on top of it. Engineer could have another job of reloading and repairing drones who can work on themselfs, but have their synthetic laws. And at this point we could add also classic AI to the player pool (whitelisted of course). Way cooler.

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    Synthetic Council Member QuickLoad's Avatar
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    Wow, this is a really interesting idea.
    You did a great job with the spriting and concept art btw.

    I think that it could definitely diversitise the playstyle of engineers, however at the same time like CABAL said it needs the purporse of low profile. Or any purpose for that matter.
    ATM it looks like it's purpose beyond anything is going to be scouting, especially given the armament, armor, utility, and cost. It also requires constant micromanagement from its operator, which requires the operator to be either elsewhere safe or otherwise.
    A sentrygun is autonomous, the M56D can be used by anyone, which usually means after the engineer has deployed them they can return to other duties such as cading, repairing cades, so on so forth.
    and the mortar has a dedicated engineer, though there's only one. So the drawback to this is definitely micromanagement and then purpose. God forbid we see all 8 engis of a team on their RC cars in FOB hahahaha

    It still has some great utility for scouting and disarming traps with facehugger, acid, etc.

    Dunno how hard this would be to implement.
    Either way I really like the idea and look forward to more discussion for it. Nice concept.

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    Senior Member Madventurer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CABAL View Post
    This not being seen by benos behind walls is a must. Otherwise there is barerly a point in one. Besides it would be cool.
    This is determined by whether the drone would be an object or a mob.
    Marines, xenos, synths, etc. are mobs.
    Tank for example is an object.


    As for the idea itself, it's great, I've suggested something similar but less extensive before, but I have some concerns on how it'll work out.
    If this is a new toy for engineers, then the already-overworked engineers would be even more strained. Usually there's not a whole lot of free time with FOB/field fortifications to mess around with stuff like this.
    Dedicated drone operator would might be interesting, but it raises questions regarding the replacement/loss of drones, what else would they do etc.
    And if they are ghost-based, then we have a swarm of people who just drive around in deathballs. They'd be competing for the same ghosts as xenos, too, who are already less-than-popular.
    Tyson 'Bunny' Sphere


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    Whitelisted Captain 50RemAndCounting's Avatar
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    This is a great suggestion, however I share the other replies' concerns.

    Namely, due to the sheer work engineers already have to do, making the UGV an engineer-exclusive toy would be a hard "no".

    So, following on that, how would the UGV's availability be regulated? And would it be okay if UGV assembly (if required) and operation required no Engineering skill, i.e. could be done by any marine?

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    I like it. It could work like the mini-drones in R6 vegas for scouting around!

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    I like this, just please make it not super hard to kill if a beno hits it. We already got 1 tank and that is more then to many.

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    Little idea I've kicked around before was to make the drone into something that has a limited range and limited interactivity.
    While I would love for the engineers to get more toys they are overworked or out of resources so often its not funny. Like the drone idea to be a third option from the Combat Engineer vendor though. Ground model for defense and perhaps the silly flying one I made once upon a time to be a scout.

    Capture.JPG test.gif
    Last edited by soundwavesghost; 09-08-2019 at 04:12 PM.

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    You all silly buggers
    Drone with gun, gotten from an engi vendor, only one, but otherwise a handy little friend.
    Reminds me of PAI pads!

    It would be easy to make it a PAI with a gun and shit!
    Just make a whitelist for PAIs (less demanding than Synths, but still a basic "Yes I do speak English and is not dick" list to fill out) and there we go.

    Once the drone is assembled, the engineer activates the processor (any whitelisted ghosts/observers are informed one is active and can join) and bingo, PAI with a gun.
    No need to worry of murderball drones, as the max drones would always only be 4 (if noone grabs mortar or other kits)

    So ya, PAI with a gun.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by CABAL View Post
    This not being seen by benos behind walls is a must. Otherwise there is barerly a point in one. Besides it would be cool.

    However I was thinking back in the old forum that dead marines should have chance to return as such drones to help USCM (before DEFCON was giving reinforcements). In this case there wouldn't be much coding I guess, just repurposing classic SS13 drone, by adding gun on top of it. Engineer could have another job of reloading and repairing drones who can work on themselfs, but have their synthetic laws. And at this point we could add also classic AI to the player pool (whitelisted of course). Way cooler.
    You bring up a good point about the UGV not being visible. Also, yeah, would be a really fun way of dead players getting back in.

    Quote Originally Posted by QuickLoad View Post
    Wow, this is a really interesting idea.

    It also requires constant micromanagement from its operator, which requires the operator to be either elsewhere safe or otherwise.
    A sentrygun is autonomous, the M56D can be used by anyone, which usually means after the engineer has deployed them they can return to other duties such as cading, repairing cades, so on so forth.

    [...]

    It still has some great utility for scouting and disarming traps with facehugger, acid, etc.
    Thanks for the compliments. You're right about the micromanagement. The engineer is expected to perform a lot of tasks. They couldn't just sink all their time dicking around with an RC car on steroids. Also, if it could disarm traps with facehuggers, wouldn't that be too great a pain for xenos? Maybe the facehuggers would only be triggered by things that are alive?

    Quote Originally Posted by Madventurer View Post
    Dedicated drone operator would might be interesting, but it raises questions regarding the replacement/loss of drones, what else would they do etc.
    A dedicated drone operator does sound interested, but if they lose their toy it's the end of that role for them. You don't have to have a specialist to man the MG, perhaps you don't need to for the UGV either.

    Quote Originally Posted by 50RemAndCounting View Post
    So, following on that, how would the UGV's availability be regulated? And would it be okay if UGV assembly (if required) and operation required no Engineering skill, i.e. could be done by any marine?
    Perhaps anyone can use it, like the MG. The engineer just needs to put it together.

    Quote Originally Posted by nekcy View Post
    I like it. It could work like the mini-drones in R6 vegas for scouting around!
    Who knows, maybe it doesn't even really need a gun. Just an arm. Then it can zip around, drag bodies to safety, open doors, etc.

    Quote Originally Posted by conthegodoffire View Post
    I like this, just please make it not super hard to kill if a beno hits it. We already got 1 tank and that is more then to many.
    I would imagine xenos could trash it without too much trouble.

    Quote Originally Posted by soundwavesghost View Post
    Little idea I've kicked around before was to make the drone into something that has a limited range and limited interactivity.
    While I would love for the engineers to get more toys they are overworked or out of resources so often its not funny. Like the drone idea to be a third option from the Combat Engineer vendor though. Ground model for defense and perhaps the silly flying one I made once upon a time to be a scout.

    Capture.JPG test.gif
    I love your drone! It's great! Also, your idea is pretty good. Yeah, the engineers have too much to do. Best to have the UGV kit as something anyone can use once it's deployed.

    Quote Originally Posted by Alfred-Rattling-Reach View Post
    You all silly buggers
    Drone with gun, gotten from an engi vendor, only one, but otherwise a handy little friend.
    Reminds me of PAI pads!

    It would be easy to make it a PAI with a gun and shit!
    Just make a whitelist for PAIs (less demanding than Synths, but still a basic "Yes I do speak English and is not dick" list to fill out) and there we go.

    Once the drone is assembled, the engineer activates the processor (any whitelisted ghosts/observers are informed one is active and can join) and bingo, PAI with a gun.
    No need to worry of murderball drones, as the max drones would always only be 4 (if noone grabs mortar or other kits)

    So ya, PAI with a gun.

    A whitelisted job role for a player sounds good too. The murderball was mentioned before and makes a lot of sense. Given the best way to steamroll over the xenos, you can always expect players to go with that option over and over again.


    I really appreciate everyone's feedback. I'll try to work on the missing sprites this week when time permits and will post the results here. If the xenos scrap the UGV, would be fun to see some robot gibs flying!

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