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Agent of Kharma
Agent of Kharma
Join Date 02/2008
+31

Symmetry vs. balance

February 4, 2009 6:50:25 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

With all this crap about moving SBs vs. non-moving ones, it occurred to me that many people are confusing symmetry with balance.  They think that to have balance, you must have direct symmetry.  "This race has a moving SB, make the other races having moving SBs.  This race has a torp cruiser, make all races have torp cruisers."  Otherwise, the game isn't balanced, they think.

Incorrect.  It means the game isn't symmetrical.  Balance and symmetry are two different things.  You can have an asymmetrical game that is still balanced.

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Agent of Kharma
OsirisDawn
Join Date 09/2004
+30
Reply #1 February 4, 2009 9:40:16 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

I agree.

I mean Advent gets that very very cool allegiance module, which just rocks your economy (and not just credits).

I like it much more then the Vasari SB.

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Agent of Kharma
wbino
Join Date 02/2008
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Reply #2 February 4, 2009 10:06:27 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Ditto You could have a race that has NO capitals just frigates.  Or tiny swarming ships smaller than most frigates but larger than bombers.

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Agent of Kharma
Superchimp8
Join Date 02/2008
+2
Reply #3 February 4, 2009 11:22:03 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Hoping that we'll see less symmetry myself as the expansions are released. A good example of an asymmetrical strategy game is the Dawn of War series, although I like Sins much more

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Agent of Kharma
EadTaes
Join Date 03/2008
+25
Reply #4 February 4, 2009 11:35:24 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

How ever int he dawn of war serriers the sides are pourly balanced. At least the 40k was.

 

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Agent of Kharma
ToJKa
Join Date 02/2008
+9
Reply #5 February 4, 2009 11:39:38 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Also there's Universe at War, with three very different races. If anything, the Sins races are already too similar, keep the moving starbases for Vasari only!

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Agent of Kharma
Cptn_Miller
Join Date 03/2008
+2
Reply #6 February 4, 2009 11:56:55 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

There is a fine line between symmetry and balance... making 1 races sb mobil adds a clear advantage that is not offset by torp cruisers... when adding a major structure such as a star base -  there has to be both, the line has been crossed.

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Agent of Kharma
Agent of Kharma
Join Date 02/2008
+31
Reply #7 February 4, 2009 12:16:49 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

I agree, Universe at War: Earth Assault *IS* the most asymmetrical game I am aware of.  All 3 factions (especially Novus and Hierarcy) play very differently.

Quoting Cptn_Miller,
reply 6
There is a fine line between symmetry and balance... making 1 races sb mobil adds a clear advantage that is not offset by torp cruisers... when adding a major structure such as a star base -  there has to be both, the line has been crossed.

As of right now, top cruisers clearly win.  Nothing can stand up to them (structure-wise, that is).  As such, I think a lot of the complaints about the SB's have less to do with real balance concerns, and more to do with "coolness factor."  In other words, a moving starbase is just plain cool to most people, where as torp cruisers, while highly effective, are just boring old cruisers.

 

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Agent of Kharma
Levelheaded
Join Date 12/2007
+7
Reply #8 February 4, 2009 12:19:32 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Well, neither dow nor uaw should be mentioned in the same sentance as the word "balance" .

 

 

 

However Agent of kharma has a valid point:

 

Symetry isn't required for balance.

It's the lame, the easy way.

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