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Author Topic: Plot Hole???  (Read 8437 times)
FalconMWC
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Plot Hole???
« on: January 12, 2004, 09:10:34 pm »

Before I report this bug to Bugzilla I wan't to double-check that I am not reading it wrong or something of that nature. Here goes!

When you talk to the probe's homeworld (The Slyrandro) about the probes they say:

Q: You mentioned the probe's defensive capabilities. Elaborate.
           A:That behavior was hard-coded by the Melnorme.
               We couldn't mess with it.
               Essentially, the probe will only fire its weapons if it has been attacked and cannot communicate with the attacker.  

Q. And when defending itself, it uses its lightning weapon?
       A. No. The probe is armed with a battery of missiles.
           It doesn't use its electrical discharge device in combat.

Q. Missiles? It only attacked us with lightning!
            A.That's impossible! It's inconceivable!
                The electrical discharge device is used only for breaking down raw replication materials
                 into their component compounds for easy gathering.

Ok - Now when you talk to a probe about (say the weather Roll Eyes ) it say say an answer and then the reproductive program will kick-in resulting in combat with the lighnting weapon. Rightfully so because it is trying to break down minerals into supplies it can use for  reproducing itself.  (Come to think of it you would not see lightning in space because there is no atoms for the electricity to cause friction with which results in light that we see - but I like the special effects that happens when you can see it Wink )
Anyway, if YOU attack the probe (through selecting combat instead of talking) my logic dictates that the probe will defend itself with missiles. The only problem is it does not -  it dos the lighntning weapon! - See any holes in my thinking?                                                  





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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2004, 09:30:44 pm »

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The only problem is it does not -  it dos the lighntning weapon! - See any holes in my thinking?

No, but you're deliberately missing the point.

Let me be the first to ask you not to file a bug about this, as I see no chance of it getting fixed. The Probe, as programmed by the SC2 creators, does not have any sort of missile capability and there's no way the core developers would add one in.

Anyway, you're right that technically the probe should use its missiles against you if you attack without talking, but you're missing the point that the probes should always be using missiles in combat. If it bothers you that much, just assume that the probe does a priority check before engaging in combat and realizes that it should be breaking down your ship, not attacking it.
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Nic.
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2004, 09:39:54 pm »

1.  The ship, as written now, does not have a missle weapon; its primary weapon is the lightning.  So it is not a "bug"

2.  The Probe's programming is supposed to be screwed up, to the extent that accquiring raw materials overrides ALL other behaviours, up to and including self-defense.  Thisis shown in-game if you threaten to attack the probe ("DEFENSE SYSTEM HAS BEEN ENGAGED. HOSTILITIES COMMENCE.  PRIORITY OVER-RIDE. NEW BEHAVIOR DICTATED.  MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT MATERIALS.")  So one can assume that if you start shooting at them, the self-defense circuitry engages, then the priority override takes effect, so you only see the lightning weapon.

My vote:  Internally and externally consistent.
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FalconMWC
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2004, 09:42:26 pm »

The more I think about it you are right - This is not a problem for Bugzilla - However how hard would it be to add into the game?  It does not SOUND that hard, however being not a programmer I do not know. Anyone with more experience with programming can give some input on how hard it would be to put in?  
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Nic.
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2004, 09:58:23 pm »

Step 1:  Download Timewarp.

Step 2:  Add the "Slylandro Probe2" to your fleet.

Step 3:  Enjoy.
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guesst
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2004, 10:08:23 pm »

Step 4: Ignore all "I hate Timewarp" posts to follow.

Hey guys, hate it or not, it does have the missle firing Sylandro.
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Lukipela
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2004, 12:59:25 am »

And Nic makes a sound argument for why it shouldn't use missilises ing-game. Lightning wins out every time. Case closed.
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Deep-Jiffa
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2004, 01:37:21 am »

Quote
1.  The ship, as written now, does not have a missle weapon; its primary weapon is the lightning.  So it is not a "bug"

2.  The Probe's programming is supposed to be screwed up, to the extent that accquiring raw materials overrides ALL other behaviours, up to and including self-defense.  Thisis shown in-game if you threaten to attack the probe ("DEFENSE SYSTEM HAS BEEN ENGAGED. HOSTILITIES COMMENCE.  PRIORITY OVER-RIDE. NEW BEHAVIOR DICTATED.  MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT MATERIALS.")  So one can assume that if you start shooting at them, the self-defense circuitry engages, then the priority override takes effect, so you only see the lightning weapon.

My vote:  Internally and externally consistent.


I am with Nic. Again, he is right.
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2004, 05:30:00 am »

If Nic hadn't pointed it out, I would've. The defense behavior is being overridden by the mineral gathering behavior.
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Fsi-Dib
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2004, 10:30:03 am »

Nit pick: It's "MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT COMPOUNDS" Tongue
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Nic.
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2004, 10:53:35 am »

I respectfully suggest that you check your subtitle file again.  for instance, here is the relevant portion from mine:

slyland.txt
Code:
#(HOSTILE)      slyla028.ogg
PRIORITY OVER-RIDE. NEW BEHAVIOR DICTATED.
MUST BREAK TARGET INTO COMPONENT MATERIALS.
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Michael Martin
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2004, 11:21:15 am »

That's a difference between PC and 3DO.  It was "compounds" in the original.
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Deep-Jiffa
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2004, 07:06:32 pm »

Quote
That's a difference between PC and 3DO.  It was "compounds" in the original.

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Lukipela
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2004, 07:58:45 pm »

When will people learn not to argue with Nic? He is ALWAYS right.
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FalconMWC
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Re: Plot Hole???
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2004, 08:24:57 pm »

Being new to these forums I have yet to learn that! Cry  - I think I will get it eventually though.....   Smiley
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