My random idea (from someone who does not know any coding) is: What if you make the objects that define the race track drones, and just make it really easy to produce them in massive quantities from the "Racer's Room" base? Then you could order them around the map and... well, it would at least be easier to set up than deploying probes one by one. /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> [Edit: Actually I just thought about it and no, maybe it would not be. >_< But if you make the drone objects LARGE, like I describe below, you wouldn't need many of them, and then this would be much much easier.] I don't know how the coding works, but maybe there's some way to make drones interact so they'd align with each other to make it a bit easier?
Also: Perhaps a custom object can be created to define the course? Flying between two lines of probes is very confusing and it's easy to stray from the track. >_< Perhaps a very simple, low-polygon, "gate" shaped object (basically a box with two sides missing that you fly through) could be created instead?
In fact, you could make several different kinds. If they were drones, you could build them all in the same base, but they'd come in different shapes to save time. Like, if you need a long straight stretch of racecourse, there would be a drone shaped like a really long box. And there would be smaller drones or even ones with curved shapes to define different parts.
The only real problem then would be getting them to face in the right direction. >_> But if you make them very manoeuvrable, and just order each drone a command to go towards the next one, perhaps you could get them to line up on their own for the most part, with auto-pilot. >_>
ANOTHER RANDOM IDEA: As an alternative, instead of making racers follow a path between two lines of probes, make one line of probes, and make racers stay within a certain distance of it. Perhaps some sort of coding could be used to make the probes "know" when a racer gets too far from the track? After all, there are things in Allegiance that can track their distance from ships, like towers and TF bombs and such. Then the probes could perhaps do something to make the racers know they've gotten out of range. Like... shoot them. /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />
But I like the low-poly tunnel idea more.
Maybe there is a way of adding turrets here, too. For example: The course could be made out of many small gates, with small bits of space between them. Then the course would still be well-defined, but it would be possible for pilots to fly out of it anyway if they manage to miss the next gate. Drone turrets could be mounted outside of the gates, and these would shoot the pilots. However, they would be restricted as to how far they can turn, so they can only shoot "outside" the track.
Anyway, those are my random ideas. ^_^ Also, I really hope mines are incorporated in SOME way, because dodging them is always an important Allegiance skill. ^_^
Also, I really like the "rocket" ship because it is cute.
Edit: Mines are objects you can fly through, but take damage. >_> Sooo race course objects could be big, solid objects (like the boxes I describe above) that you can still fly though, but take damage from. That would make staying within the course a bit more challenging. ^_^ Plus the tower idea.
