*Thanks to D-RiNGER and Orko for helping me developing this FAQ*
Unofficial DARKREIGN F.A.Q Version 1.3
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Updated July 13
Introduction
Gameplay
Customization
Multiplayer
Game Engine
Graphics
Credits
Introduction
ÀWhat type of game is Dark Reign?
Dark Reign is an RTS "Real Time Strategy" game that features some
of the most incredible new technology that you will see in a
strategy game for some time to come. It will give players an
amazing level of detail and customization that has not been
seen before.
ÀWho is programming and producing the game?
The game is based on the Tactics Engine, which is designed
by Auran. DarkReign is being co-designing with Activision, who
will also be handling beta testing and marketing
ÀWhat is the storyline of Dark Reign and its missions?
In the 27th century, civil war rages across the galaxy. The
Imperium, with control of precious water resources,
commands the fate of a thousand worlds. They are under
siege by a small but dedicated resistance, the Freedom
Guard, who are attempting to break the Imperium's grip
on the galaxy's water supply
ÀWhen will Dark Reign be released?
The Unofficial release date was originally June, but has been pushed
up to September
Gameplay
The Imperium vs. The Freedom Guard
ÀHow many different sides "races" are there in DarkReign?
Freedon Guard, Imperium, and the Togran race
ÀHow are the sides different?
Different units, different goals, different everything
ÀDoes the Torgan race have any units?
Unknown
ÀWhat are the different type of single player missions?
There are many different types, each mission has something
unique (examples: rescue, capture tech, defection, etc.) Of
course we still have some of the good old kill everything
missions that everyone knows and loves
Resources
ÀWhat are the resources?
Water & Taelon.
ÀWhat is the importance of water and Taelon?
Water is sold for credits & Taelon is used to power your generators.
ÀHow are these resources mined or collected?
They are found in naturally occurring pockets located around the map.<
ÀAre the resources inexhaustible?
Yes, both resources are inexhaustible.
ÀSince the resources are unlimited, does the player's rate of
mining the resources increase with more "mining" buildings?
No the rate of resource collection is limited by the rate at
which a water spring refils the water table (that way once a
well is dry you have to wait for it to fill back up) this
prevents one player from getting more water out of a single
well than another player can.
Units and Buildings
ÀHow many units will each side have?
Freedom Guard has 26, Imperium has 21, over 40 units in all.
However they share a few (like the construction rig and freighter).
ÀWhy do the Freedom Guard have more units?
The Freedom Guard has more units which have a specific singular
function (like saboteur, or mechanic) whereas the Imperium has
a more generalized brute-type force. The FG is also more
centered around infantry units.
ÀWill you be able to upgrade the structures in Dark Reign?
Structures, Yes.
ÀWill you be able to upgrade the units in Dark Reign?
Units, no.
ÀHow will the upgrades and technology research work?
Similar to War Craft 2.
ÀHow many units will the game allow on a map?
The number of units on the map at one time is limited only by memory.
ÀMust a player build one unit at a time or is there some type of
queue feature?
Yes, queuing is provided.
ÀIs the "building order" of DR like C&C and WC2 in that certain
buildings need other buildings to be built first?
Yes there is a pre req system in the game. You must have the pre
reqs to be able to build something. Also since the game is engine
based, the pre req system is definable. You can change it easily.
ÀHow units suffer from damage?
Some specific abilities are lost if a unit takes too much damage (i.e. units which phase will lose this ability if there health drops to red)
ÀDo units have weaknesses against certain weapons or will the damage be the same in proportion against all units?
Yes, each unit has some specific weakness against particular other units or weapon types. This is what encourages the use of unit combinations and prohibits the tank rush. We've spent a lot of time really flushing out these relationships so that plYo ave some sort of screen based display (i.e. they have an associated building). However, one of the super weapons could be interpreted to fit with what you are describing.
ÀWill there be any way to defend against the super weapons?
Yes.
ÀAre there any water units in Dark Reign?
We felt that with the hover units, it didn't make too much sense to have exclusively naval units 700 years in the future.
ÀDoes Dark Reign have Air To Air Combat
Yes.
ÀWill you be able to select units while in flight unlike C&C?
Yes.
Terrain
ÀHow many different types of terrain tilesets?
The game will ship with 4 tilesets.
ÀHow many levels of terrains?
There will actually be ten elevations reserved exclusively for land units. Additionally there will be two levels reserved for terrain deformation (i.e. craters). And an elevation level above all of the other ones reserved for flyers.
ÀHow altitude would be shown? Will it be color-coded (i.e. shades of brown)?
Altitude will be displayed in a multitude of methods... First we will be ramping the pallete on the elevations to give depth. We will be rimming large elevation changes with rimming tiles to indicate what can pass. And will be adjusting all of the d ure) there are plans to include things of a similar Nature in DR2.
ÀHow will terrain affect unit movement?
Yes, as units move over different terrain types their speed can be affected. When this happens they accelerate and decelerate to the new speed.
ÀHow will terrain affect unit movement?
It will prevent certain types of units and slow others.
ÀIs there de-facing of the terrain?
Yes.
ÀHow hard will it be to deform terrain?
Terrain is deformed when large objects are destroyed.
ÀWill Dark Reign have formations?
Yes, formations will be used.
ÀHow important is terrain in Dark Reign?
It is vital.
ÀWill there be bridges in DarkReign?
Yes, bridges will be implemented.
Movement
ÀIn terms of movement, how are the units controlled?
Select and click.
ÀWhat are the added features of the waypoint system?
More specific control of unit movement.
ÀHow does the waypoint system work?
It is scalable, From the simple use of the tab key (just hold it down and click to lay down waypoint, when you release it your unit will move) to complex waypoints which can patrol or loop paths and which can be saved to assign to other units. You cae way
n do local waypoints that just show up on the playing area, or map-wide waypoints that make a path across the minimap
ÀWhat is Line of Sight?
The realistic portrayal of what a unit can see.
ÀHow does Line of Sight work?
The Line of Sight "LOS" is calculated taking into consideration the different terrain elevations, overlays, and buildings. It is true LOS. If the unit shouldn't be able to see something, then it can't. Units can see anything at or below their terratr and the strategy involved in information warfare.
Artificial Intelligence
ÀWhat is Artificial Intelligence?
How "intelligent" are the units?
Stupid to very intelligent (it depends on their settings).
ÀDoes the Artificial Intelligence of Dark Reign stay smart ? "WC2 and Red Alert's AI were only strong in the beginning of the game then they tend to weaken after the initial attacks."
Yes it does stay smart. Most other games have AI that works on triggers. The AI can only do so much for so long. In Dark Reign the AI is constantly evaluating its situation. It will do whatever it can...down to the last man...to find some way to 's unt of units allowed on the screen at any one time?
Only by the fact that no two units can occupy the same tile. But each tile displayed can have a unit in it.
ÀWill there be random maps?
Yes.
ÀWill you be able to set the victory conditions on your maps?
Yes.
ÀHow easy is it to make a map?
Very easy.
ÀWill you be able to cut/paste from one map to another?
No.
Units
ÀCan you create your own units?
Yes.
ÀHow difficult is it?
Not difficult at all.
ÀCan you edit what a unit looks like?
Yes.
ÀHow does the player created the animation for a unit, and kind of program do you need to make the unit graphics and which programs do you suggest?
We suggest you use a 3d program to create the unit graphics. it will make your job alot easier to create the different rotations. Any 3d program can be used. As well as rendering the units we do alot of retouching on the graphics to tidy them up. A uur s each unit have its own palette or is there a standard one for Dark Reign?
Standard pallete.
ÀHow does a person create the unit's weapon type?
With the unit editor.
ÀWill you be able to create new projectiles/projectile graphics?
Not only will you be able to change the projectile graphics, but you'll also be able to change the properties of the projectiles as to what kind of movement they use for travel and the like.
ÀCan you edit unit stats to make "Heroes"?
Yes.
Buildings
ÀWhat is the maximum number of units and building?
Limited only by memory.
ÀIs it possible to design new buildings in the editor?
Yes.
Artificial Intelligence
ÀCan you tell the Artificial Intelligence how to act in your maps?
Yes
ÀHow is editing the Artificial Intelligence done?
There will be a utility for editing the Artificial Intelligence
ÀWill the unit editor have any sort of Artificial Intelligence scripting language?
The exact details of how you edit thie AI will be released in the Tactics Engine Manual.
ÀAre there difficulty settings?
Yes.
ÀIs there some sort of unit to power ratio so as not to create a unit that is grossly over powerful?
We have left this up to the people making their modifications. We have a CRC checking feature in multiplayer that does not let players that don't have the same text files to play a game players have their own versions of the text files if someone chae e Off and Air Force One.
ÀWill the construction kit have an option for changing sounds?
Probably.
Multiplayer
Connection
ÀWill Dark Reign have a free server for people to connect to?
Yes, ActiveNet.
ÀWhat are some features of activenet?
Activenet will serve mostly as a player matching service, the key functionality will be focused around setting up games and meeting other players.
ÀWill it allow you to create your own id/pw?
There will not be exclusive password or logons; however there will be the option to create private rooms, etc.
ÀWill there be some kind of ranking, etc?
We are working on a ladder system however we want to do it right so it will not be implemented by the time the game releases.
ÀWill Dark Reign allow you to set up your own servers?
Individial users will be able to connect games though manual IP setup so you don't have to go through ActiveNet. There should be an ActiveNet server near you though. We should have 50+ up and running around the wordl once the game released.
ÀHow many players can be handled in a multiplayer game?
DarkReign will support up to four players over the Internet. Modem, serial and Lan will also be supported.
ÀWill latencey be a big issue?
Reasonable play is 300 and below. Higher pings will mean that there will be delays between user action and response.
ÀIs there a "spawning" capability for Dark Reign?
Still undecided.
Options
ÀIs there a multiplayer save?
No.
ÀWhat type of alliances are there?
Enemy, Neutral, and Ally.
ÀCan a human player form an alliance with a computer?
Yes.
ÀHow are Line of Sight, resources and units shared?
Players can select who to give the aforementioned items to.
ÀCan an Imperium player and a Freedom Guard player be allies?
Yes.
ÀIn multiplayer, is it possible to take screenshots at any time?
Yes you can take screenshots at anytime during the game. There is also a new super screen shot mode.
Game Engine
ÀWhat is the Tactics Engine?
Auran's strategy game engine.
ÀHow long has the Tactics Engine been in development?
About 2 years.
ÀWhat language is it writen in?
C.
ÀWill DR have it's own language similar to QuakeC?
DR uses config files. It is not a language like quake but a set of configuration files that tell the engine what to do and how things work. It like this on purpose to make it easy for non programmers.
ÀWill it be used for other games in the future?
Yes.
ÀCan it be used for 3D games?
Yes, with some modifications.
ÀWhat is the official Activision position on total conversions?
We will encourage people to do what they want with the engine. But we will not allow anyone to sell their games that use the tactics enigne. If you create an awesome game with the engine, let us know and we will probably be more than willing to pubr
