POssible suggestion for the arena battles.

[draconuszero]

I don't know if this could be possible, but could the arena battles be modified in such a way that your opponents would attack not just you, but others as well?  Its a bit strange to have everyone gang up on you in an arena battle when its everyone for themselves in an arena where the main goal is to win and be #1...

[peter]

Yes, it would be possible for them to all be on separate teams and all be enemies of each other as well as the PC.

 That would make it way too easy for the PC, because the AI always attacks the closest enemy that's in the firing arc of a weapon (or of its longest-ranged weapon, I don't remember).  It doesn't know anything about watching out for an enemy that's circling like a vulture, and temporarily cooperating with other enemies to make sure it doesn't get toasted really easily once it's killed whoever it's currently attacking.

 So yeah, it's strange, but it makes for a better game.

[Anticheese(Guestmode )]

Indeed, I've allways found it wierd that the arena battles were horribly stacked against you.

Quoting: peter

That would make it way too easy for the PC, because the AI always attacks the closest enemy that's in the firing arc of a weapon

I'm pretty sure that this is how it works, I've tested it with Drones.

Perhaps if the A.I learned to tackle the most threatening target first?

[Joseph Hewitt]

The trouble with this is, as was mentioned, it would make the fights way too easy. An alternative idea would be to change things so that the player always fights just a single character.

[peter]

Quoting: Anticheese(Guestmode )

Perhaps if the A.I learned to tackle the most threatening target first?

 Or the least armoured but most dangerous.  This might even go as far as liking to attack mecha with low piloting skill but high artillery/gunnery (accounting for targetting/sensors).  So a sniper with bad piloting skill in a Longman would draw a lot of fire.  And enemies would pick on your weakest lancemate.

 I have thought about this before, but I don't have any ideas that I really like or am planning to implement.

 I've been worried that it could start to get computationally intensive to do anything very complicated each turn for each AI in combat.  Maybe I should try profiling gearhead to see where it's spending most of its CPU time. Has any profiled GH recently?

 Every time an AI can fire, it could scan all possible targets and figure out a weighting for each weapon it could fire at each possible target, and then take the best one.  See what I mean about computationally intensive.  It might work to have an AI pick a target and prefer to stick with it unless another target looked a lot better.  It might work well to have the AI find the target that had the least cover and was at the best range for its weapons, and move so it could shoot at it.  So the AI would be thinking about targets and cover when moving, not just distance.  Well, that sounds nice anyway, but I don't have a more detailed idea of how that would work.

[draconuszero]

Hmm, the arena can be called a gauntlet instead I guess, thus showing that everyone is against only you.  Could it be possible to also have an option in the arena where you can choose a gauntlet (everyone vs you), duel, or free-for-all?

[macksting]

Perhaps GH2 could have all of those above available in separate arenas.

[Anticheese]

I like the idea of a variety style arena...

Rounds 1-3: Dueling
Rounds 4-7: Free for all
Rounds 8-9: Team Arena
Round 10: Gauntlet

It would make sense if each arena threw in their own twist, Anything between a random burst of DC10X5 LINE BURN through a random Y axis in the arena (It worked in the last D&D game I played) to goodness knows what...

Currently the only twists are the fact that the Warhammer Arena lets you have full salvage rights..

Hmm, Having a thought out tournemant style system would be  great for showing off the weapon theme generator...

"You may have beaten me in the first round, But now I return with the power of...FIRE!"

[Joseph Hewitt]

Well, here's an idea I was thinking about for GH2: Currently, there are two arenas, and both work pretty much the same as the arenas in GH1. What about if I model the arenas as a series of events using the Quest system? You could have to work through individual challengers and events one by one until reaching the championship. The individual compeditors could have their own side stories, there could be different competition venues and events... A typical arena would have 9 matches before the championship, just like the GH1 arenas. Perhaps completing the championship would unlock a special "infinite arena" that works just like the ones in GH1 and can be visited every day.

The inspiration for this came from the Motorball issues of Battle Angel, which I've only just gotten around to reading.

[Epsilon]

A more arena-like arena combat system would be cool. I'd like to see team battles too, perhaps a special team-based arena?

Joseph, that's a cool idea. Maybe have special arena maps that can be loaded? Fight across the banks of a river or in space debris (An unidentifiable chunk of metal hits Starkun for 21 damage).

What would be REALLY cool is mecha capure-the-flag, but that's just my love of capure-the-flag shining through.

[Joseph Hewitt]

I've also thought about adding mini-games to handle certain mecha events, like racing, that wouldn't work well in the basic roguelike environment. I had this idea for GH1 as well but gave up on it because I usually hate mini-games in other games. ^^;

[William Davis]

Quoting: Epsilon

What would be REALLY cool is mecha capure-the-flag, but that's just my love of capure-the-flag shining through.

Oh, heck yeah! Thorshammer flag guards, with Vadels and Zerosaikoi racing all over the map.

[Epsilon]

Quoting: William Davis

Oh, heck yeah! Thorshammer flag guards, with Vadels and Zerosaikoi racing all over the map.

Three words: Buru Buru meatshields

[macksting]

(Edited)
Oh my...
Point-value based teams having it out on your screen!
Randomly generated teamates, some built on the Theme basis.

And, if you're honestly considering throwing tourneys in as a plot device, here's a few thoughts.
An underground arena, not a requirement for completing the other arenas because it is not officially recognized.
Random chance of your Nemesis showing up in the arena, slightly above the target difficulty level. Probably not going to happen unless he's within 50% of the PV you're set to face.*
(Edit) Alternatively, simply weave the arena battle into a manhunt for your character, as in GH1 when AOL would send an individual after you. In this case, have it be more likely just a higher-than-appropriate random opponent, and have the arena owner comment on how the match-up was highly irregular. Essentially, a plot element in an otherwise ongoing manhunt for you might be inserted in an arena battle as a clue to the next phase.
Chance of developing a nemesis by winning against random theme opponents in arenas. Preferably only one nemesis per game, but it would be a heck of a way to get one.
Randomly picked element (based on a Leadership check modified by number of lancemates?) of themed opponent who loses in the arena showing up and asking you for a job. Best not to happen often, maybe set as once-only. "With my mecha gone and me out of the championship, I figure I may as well go with a winner, especially if you've got a mecha for me." If the player says yes, it might be best to eliminate the theme from the character's description thereafter; equipping said character with an Esher emphasizing missiles would make Fire dialogue pretty dumb.

* However, if you'll consider random lancemates for a gameshow arena, it would be immensely comical to have the nemesis spawn as either a "friendly," with a Lawful check to determine whether or not s/he'll turn on you, or as the only enemy on the map because s/he's sure s/he can take it. Pretty consistent with some of the nemesis scripting I've seen.
"I knew I'd find you here! Ever since you left me for dead in that duel, I've been hunting you, and finally I've found my chance! You die today! By FIRE!!"
If this happens, it should launch conversations, I think. On another note, if the player decides to attack the "friendly" nemesis on that same basis, there should probably be repurcussions.

[macksting]

Did I get too ambitious again?