Z-axis

Yes there is a Z-axis, and you can order ships on it.

I don't remember the command key involved, I've never had any need to use it.

Thank you; the fact that it exists is enough for me and is about a ton more motivation to buy the game, not that I wouldn't have anyway.

yep, u can control in 3d.... ill find u a vid of it... theres one on youtube where its obviously 3d control

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ9yWrFzk9w

Above YouTube video is of a bomber flying around during a battle. It gives the best feel for the Z axis that i am aware of.


The Z axis as far as i tell exists to the extent to allow your combat ships room to maneuver and as eye candy (eg, placement of static structures around a planet along the Z axis serves no tactical purpose, it just looks cool). It does not exist like in HW where you have 3 dimensional battles that go as far up as froward, but having played HW i can say i can live without that.

here we are:CLICK ME!!

around minute 3 its obivously been steered "up"

also, the distance from which that ship i mentioned is firing shows that range must only be computed on the x and y axis... so it pretty much allows multiple ships to be in same place as far as range goes

glad there isnt any z axis bs in this game. i mean it wasnt even that useful in hw2 just an annoyance..

wow, that's a lot more Z axis play then i thought the game had.

But if the weapon range is only dependent on the x & y axis then the only use for the Z axis is to stack your fleet up like a wall so they all can fire at once. No sneaking around defenses.

Great vid, thanks! One of the best I've seen, incidentally.
I disagree with Bob about the z-axis... why should it be an annoyance? But I agree that I can live without the total freedom of movement... not that it's bad.

I understand that the bomber is steering "up", but the question I was asking (and now have answered thanks to Ron) is whether or not the play can actually order the bomber (or any other vessel, for that matter) to move "above" the common x-y plane, or indeed below it.
Thanks for your input.

You can, although you'll probably not be using it much because there won't usually be a reason to.

Also, weapon ranges and grav wells are spherical, so there's still no sneaking around defenses really

Well, it makes more sense to me if they are spherical anyway...

Yeah, I get how there usually isn't a reason to, but the knowledge that it's possible is comforting to a space-game zealot like me
Of course, you could say that it doubles the flanking opportunities, couldn't you?

Defending a planet in full 3D would be a night mare, now just imagine 5 ongoing battles like that in a 4x civ.


Full 3D battles in HW would have NOTHING on that.

Well, think about it. If defending a planet in full 3D would be a nightmare, doesn't that give you more attack opportunities? Thus you could easily defeat a turtle who forgot to look "up"... neat, eh?

Besides, it makes the game more realistic. One should never forget in space that one doesn't have a proprioceptory frame of reference.

i just think it would be too complex. i mean i remember playing hw2 and how having to travel twice as much or more because of this z axis bs. im just glad its so simplistic here in SOASE. good choice from the devs!

Remember that the devs did actually include the z-axis for movement, as other discussion points in this thread have stated.

And why would z axis movement be bs? It just doesn't make sense. I've never seen reason in a space game, of all things, to take out an entire dimension of movement because it's "too complex". Hell, do you realize how shallow HW/2 would be without it's z-axis? How shallow Nexus would be? How shallow the tactical battles of MOO3 already are? Despite the fact that most people don't use the axis doesn't mean that it's inclusion is unnecessary or "too complex"; it simply means they are missing out on a tactical opportunity, and shouldn't complain if someone gets them from above or below - besides, it makes sense in the game universe. So I'm glad that although the devs didn't include z-axis travel as essential in this game (something that doesn't bother me all that much), they still made it an option, so those wishing to exploit the earth-bound (2d) defence habits of others can do so, and not be restrained by an illogical system.


Your statement is an insult to SoaSE, though I'm sure you didn't mean it such. Make sure you know what words like "simplistic" mean before you use them. It avoids confusion. That statement on its own could be seen to reinforce my point rather than yours - a simplistic movement area is unfavourable, but a simple, easy to use one isn't.

i fully agree with Sibilantae.

havin' a space RTS without the z-axis is like watching black-and-white television, when there is HD TV!

as fantastic as SoaSE looks like, if there would be no z-axis i would not even think of buying it.

there has been "genesis rising". as i played the demo and recognized there is no z-axis i immidiately uninstalled that bs...

so i am looking forward of using my beloved z-axis.

greetz
Einstein

ps: its close-mindedto ignore the z-axis. thinking in 3d is pretty cool if u r able to ^^

Oh goody! A like-minded space strategist *salute*

i dont know whats so hard to get about me saying the battles in sins are more simplistic compared to hw2 with sins lack of the z axis feature.

but hold on a minute. the other guy said there will be the z axis feature in sins? im pretty sure i read how it was only with bombers and fighters.

Nope, you can control z-axis movement...but it's not going to make a difference apparently.

And z-axis is *very* important in a space-sim/space strat. game, simply look at say HW vs. SotS (horrible game btw).

Z axis makes sins look pretty.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure has a really good Z-axis control. I pwn at that game!

z-axis control is definitely a key feature for space-based games. i'm glad there's going to be some level of control, even if it's not used or if most people find it unnecessary. i like it.

I'm glad you all agree

Bob, though your input it much appreciated, don't use the word simplistic unless you know what it means, for crying out loud!
Simplistic is BAD: It means "overly simplified, simple beyond reasonableness"; you seem to be ignoring some posts.
We've already said that the z-axis will be allowed, and you're only now catching up? READ! It does help if you read what other people say before you reply to them. Come on! How many times do we have to repeat ourselves?
And again, if you want to praise Sins, use "simple", not "simplistic", because "simplistic" is perjorative. Perjorative means "negative ideas associated with this word".
*annoyed*