I was playing an attack/defend game with my friend on a modified Maginot Mission, and I thought of something; wouldn't it be useful to have some way to tell the AI coming out of your dropships what to do before they are released?

Individually plotting goals for any more than five AI takes time that could be better spent. I suggest this: when buying troops, you can buy a "waypoint" for each infantryman. There would be one for "dig gold," one for "sentry," one for "patrol," and one for "go to." When you buy a "go to" waypoints, you go into the regular waypoint mode and set the route you want that infantry guy to take when he comes out of the ship.

I figure that with this, using mass amounts of troops (like the opposing bot AI does) would be slightly more viable. Drop 4 guys with rifles on both sides of an enemy base with orders to infiltrate it, and then give them some bazooka support from safety, or something. Currently, while giving your guys waypoints, they are left vulnerable and motionless, whereas with this ability all troops exiting a dropship would move towards their objectives at the same time.

Criticism (constructive, duh)? Additional ideas?


Also, could someone tell me if there is a difference between hitting fire or zoom when placing waypoints? Thanks.

Unfortunately, the AI in its current state is in no way, shape, or form, capable of delivering Cortex Command from its current extreme micro management fallacy to a streamlined, squad tactics side scroller.

Could you order a dropship then set a waypoint for every unit, as in you can only set one. I'm sure that would be less intensive.

Well, the enemy AI already has preset waypoints, so why can't we?


Good idea. I was trying to think of a good way to rid CC of the "one waypoint per unit" thing. Perhaps even a different ingame menu could be used, where you can do things like; select multiple units to set waypoints for, set a "global waypoint" that all inactive troops try to complete (which would affect all newly dropshipped soldiers) and so on. Have one more menu called "orders" or something.

I guess this a good suggestion. It would certainly make it easier to make DIY AI attack forces on the run and spam them at your buddy as long as you have cash and you dont over do it.

I'll keep this topic in mind.

It wouldn't need to be spam, per say. Really I'm just asking for some way to control our units indirectly much faster.

The main purpose of this would be the possibility of quick distracting attacks, flanking maneuvers, etc. It would be cool to be able to simultaneously send multiple units stationed across the map to attack somewhere, while you directly control one guy providing sniper cover or something. Having to attack a bunker with just one guy is very tough, and the the it takes to direct enough troops to effectively do anything just isn't worth it.

Yes, because buying units isn't convoluted enough as it is.

Nobody is forcing you to use these waypoints, duh.

Also, I could say that the current AI method is the exact opposite.

Waypointing is great. Not saying it isn't.

Trying to implement it into purchasing time is bad design--especially considering how the product purchasing system is clunky and unintuitive. There is no reason to make it more so.

That's why I began suggesting some sort of second menu for orders.

However, I like the idea of being able to tell one guy to attack point A, one guy to attack point B, and a third guy to patrol, all in the same dropship.