The Planets - Utapau image - Rise of the Mandalorians mod for Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
The Empire has fallen and a New Republic is born out of the conflict. But in the ashes of civil war, yet another life stirs...
A curious world located in the outer rim, Utapau's geologic history is somewhat unique and has given the planet very distinct features as well as offered somewhat unusual but effective advantages to the native Utai and Pau'an peoples.
In short, Utapau's crust layer is comprised almost entirely of soft limestone and other calcium carbonates, which erode quickly. This, in combination with the fact that Utapau has a gigantic underground ocean, and you will not be surprised to find that the entire surface of this world is pock-marked with enormous sinkholes that are sometimes several miles across and many miles deep. Many such sinkholes are so large they can be seen clearly from orbit however, the holes are so numerous that the vast cities hiding within them are often difficult to locate for any orbiting navy intent on attacking the world. This natural form of protection has led the locals to safely adopt a somewhat pacifist mentality, as anyone attacking the world would have to do so from the ground, not from space.
In-game, Utapau will make all bases and units on land invisible to enemies and further, will slightly increase health of all fighters as the unique technologies of the Utapau Skyforce and their resilient Porax starfighters are integrated into your fleet.
Note: The Porax fighter will not be available to build, you will merely benefit from the exchange of knowledge to increase health to your own fighters.
So... is the land map going to have actual combat within a sinkhole city, or just the vanilla Tatooine ripoff landscape/settlements with a giant impassible circle in the center?
Oh that reminds me, I always wanted to make a map that represents one of those cities. Basically it would have to be completely in a cave except for the sinkhole in the middle.
Well, the sinkhole could be just on the edge of the map, but I think it needs to be there in some way, otherwise the map is losing a lot of character.
Still, the cave is a bit of a challenge, either you try to make a really funky skybox or you do it with props. Both ways are tricky, but interesting.
Man, you really got me thinking now... XD
I would say a Battlefront II like map would be a good bet. The sinkhole can be just on the edge of the map. What's important is that you get the architectural style of the city right. You would start from that sinkhole then fight your way deeper into the city.
Mirsh, Sly, this is actually a really good idea :)
I think the way to accomplish this would be some creative tricks using object distance fading and the alpha (transparent) shader on props. I might look at some Age of Mythology campaign maps too for ideas. They were the first that I know of to really attempt map making for an RTS from within a cave. Oh, and the Diablo series might have some ideas too...all that 3rd person, top-down stuff :)
Have seen The Clone Wars mod's Utapau? There's is kind-of in a sinkhole. Unless they changed it, it's been awhile since I've seen it.
Didn't the FoC campaign have a few maps with indoor parts?
And I kind of want to re-install Age of Mythology now. :D
Yes. There was the droid factory, the Imperial museum with the Dark Side Adepts, etc. However, I think Diablo and AoM did it better, honestly :)