February Poll + small update

Since there has been some clamoring and speculation over some of the more mysterious aspects of DORF's faction design - namely NWO-faction units and structures, and some of the more fantastical concepts such as magic/psychic caster units belonging to the Warband faction, I figure this month's poll should focus on fleshing out these elements.

For some brief descriptions as to each, NWO units, as previously seen, focus more on advanced technology and smaller numbers of more expensive units. While we have some a few of theirs - light tanks equipped with fast-reloading autocannons, sleek transport helicopters and top-heavy tanks armed with multiple heavy miniguns - there unit roster is still fairly limited as of now, especially compared to the more fleshed out Empire faction. Future planned units for this faction include elite stealth assassins, which can quickly kill enemy infantry on the field and are adept at close-quarters fighting and capturing enemy structures, a bipedal light artillery mech, and an anti-tank powered-exoskeleton.

NWO structures will also follow the same advanced scifi theme, but with the added feature of (most of them) being able to undeploy and slowly walk across the map, in case they need to be repositioned. While the engine will need to be updated to allow this system to reach its full potential, a sort of semi-functional visual demonstration of this system could be made in the current engine, so we can show off NWO war factories and resource structures being able to redeploy and move around.

Lastly, the barbarian Warband faction - comprised mostly of junkyard jalopy vehicles and brutish warriors equipped with looted weaponry - will have some unique high end units of their own, to counteract the more sophisticated forces of the two opposing factions. These include ogremen, hulking humanoid creatures who carry weapons befitting of tanks, and the even more towering giants, which can act as brute force melee units, and as a sort of light artillery, capable of hurling boulders at great distances. As well as these, Warband will have access to psychic units, such as Astralytes, physically frail humans who can cast deadly psychic energies and create illusions to deceive enemies.

Also, as just a general update, work on the resource system is continuing as planned. I have posted earlier about our plans for how this system will work, but here's a visual test for the new pipe system, and how it interacts with existing structures. In this case, oil pipelines connecting to silos, to move resources around. Currently this fluid-transport logic is in a very early state and can't actually be demonstrated ingame, but this screenshot should give you a rough idea of the potential for such a system.

Finally, I feel I should also apologize for the previous two months in which there were no community polls. As you've seen, we've been entirely focused on implementing the new resource systems, and so it wasn't really sensible to include community poll options that likely would not be fulfilled before the end of the month. While there is still very much to do regarding the updated resource logic, since a lot of the necessary test artwork for this system is now in place, I can move back onto creating new assets in other areas for the remainder of the month. From now on, though, if the current roadmap necessitates focusing on a specific area of design, and makes it illogical to allow for community polls that would distract from this roadmap, I will post in advance that there will be no poll for the month.

- Henske