Matrix Games Forums

Some news on ToS WS.

We decided to further improve on grafics so the game will be
delayed. Work on missions is also going on. The editor done by Christian is getting better and so are the possibilities to create
real challenges to even the most die hard veteran.

There is a BIG difference between random generated battles and missions. Its not only the atmosphere of playing a squad but the challenge is much more demanding. The AI can be set to patrol an area or to hold positions as well as to hunt down special titans. We are adding buildings like repair bays or just to destroy to trigger victory conditions. Players no longer can just hide at an advantage position till the AI pops up peacemeal.

My personal change log for the battle module is just at position 230 so you might guess that there are lots of improvements/bug fixes.

Currently we are tweaking charisma to allow faster rank promtion and give it some more necessity to buy.

We also lifted the limitation of allocating hqs team1 to battles team1, you can now load any hqs team (now called squad) to any position in battle.

There is also the menu driven selection of team weight balance so you can battle a bigger enemy team.
The AI is now capable of finding the best path in any given landscape and will now longer move into bad positions.
This pathfinding also allows players to set automoves at the start of battle to any visible hex without the need to manually do any turns/runs.

The weapon array is supplemented with Vibra Claws (meson like piercing CC weapon), the EMP pulser (system affecting energy weapon) and the dreaded energy seeking short range missile.
This will add another weapon for the guided skill.

All modules are supporting high res grafics as well as ingame switches from fullscreen to windowed mode.

This is supplemented by different streaming background tunes
and ambient sounds. Each weapon will get two sound effects also.

Of course we also improved on the rule system, adding selectable shield levels, self destruct, hit points for the landscape and a bravery modifier for skill checks.

The hq will allow sorting titans by weapon class/range/name, the factory can export/import titans so no more need for a clumsy tmerge.

There is more but I'm getting tired ....

That's exactly the info I was looking for in my recently started thread, but it doesn't matter where it's posted.

With all those changes TOS:WS will really be an almost *new* game compared to the TOS freeware.
And after all, it's good to hear that so many of the sometime (I don't want to use the word 'long') ago discussed options will now be available.

I hope there will be more news when the last beta test is in progress, maybe some battle reports from random battles which will give all of us something to imagine.

ahh, great hearing about it.. i can't wait =D
is it 3D yet? *g*
i was haveing a fantasy the other day, ToS in full 3D...

Hey, I know... Make it REAL-TIME.

If you want to play something like this in real time play BattleTech
Tos is for Chess Players

But what if I would like to play chess in real-time?

Real-time chess... That could be good.

nah... well mebe. it sure would be fun to watch, as it would probably follow this sequence of events:
1. someone says "GO" and the players begin moveing their pieces as fast as possible
2. a player protests the other player's move
3. the game would rapidly degenerate from there into an all-out brawl.

DON'T DARE TO MAKE IT REALTIME.

Sorry. Had to say that.


Coool... self destruct.. .finally... hear that, Hetzer? Now my targeted engine explosions *will* get you.

Can I trigger self destruct and eject? Meaning, will eject jock finally be moved to movement, and not to weaponry?

Self-destruct is part of the eject sequence according to Larkin. There is no kamikaze stunts in ToS.
If eject was moved to move mode, then what would stop you from ejecting and firing your weapons while doing it?

Please excuse my jumping out of the shadows to throw in my two cents. But there actually is a real-time chess game. It's an online one called Kung Fu Chess. It's a tad difficult to get used to, but fun nonetheless. It can be found at www.kungfuchess.com.

I now return to my regularly scheduled lurking...