Unit Animations

I think that making units actually fight each-other is worth looking into. I know it might not be even feasible, but when units engage, they should look like they are in an actual sword-fight or some such. This would be a gigantic thing to market if done right. So many people would play the game just cause it looks cool. The weapon types would probably have to be limited though.



If this were to be implemented in some way, it would be cool if health bars instead steadily decreased during the fight until depleted and a killing animation would follow. Tougher units "endurance" would decrease slower or decrease the opponents faster or both. A Hero unit would literally mow through normal units, one shotting them, etc. This would be the next step from the traditional RTS method of whacking each-other with their sword. Armor types would play a role too; chain mail could be more effective against swords, plate armor against arrows.



Arrows and pikes could be simulated, to see who they hit. Hit by either one, and the units takes massive damage, possible one shot, but then ranged units would not hold up long in close combat. Also charged commands would be nice, it would slowly drain the endurance bar, so it would be useful against archers, but not other infantry. Or if Calvary was charging, it would be useful against footman, but not pike-men.





I want to know what people thing of my radically, and possibly horrible idea, that I cooked up.|||I like where this thought is going, and it would be great to see some of it implemented, however it is not widely innovative, though it would be great to see.



As for arrows and 1 hitting, arrows would work great, as you see an arrow fly off plate armour, maybe a glancing hit takes down the health significantly less than a hit that appears to puncture the unit, also seeing units in chainmail be speared right through by a large pike would be truly great to see. though you must think of technical limitations in this as every animation would have to be either pre plotted, which would increase the size of the game, or fully dynamic, which as far as i know would involve each unit having human intelligence, which would kill the requirements for your computer.