(1) scripted events, which would allow a tutorial mode and various scenarios. Apparently this is a tough integration into the existing engine.
(2) to make combat formations really work, so there's some sort of tactics to combat. You can do some of that, but it generally turns into a mob fight.
Good news is it looks like they're intending both of these already.
Personally, I'd like to use their engine and assets to create a turn-based combat game; RTS is a bit hectic for me.
Your claim is true for most barbarian, irregulars, and fanatics, but false for regular troops, and some irregulars like Greek style hoplite.
The main things 0ad is missing to reflect ancient combat are:
- Morale, as most fights had been decided by one side fleeing.
- Training, as its a real difference if one side has trained regular legion, hoplites or immortals, and the other side just barbaric irregulars, when it comes to the question if they follow commands, stay in formation, or just fight their own. ( e.g. pursue into a trap )
- Formation, as some troops fight in close formations, others in lose formations.
- Role, some troops are to hold and block, others have a shock of impact (Roman legion) or a shock of momentum (Greek hoplites). Same with ranged combat, as there is a real difference between skirmishers, who charge, throw their javelins or fire their bows, and run away hoping the opponent will break formation and pursue, and archers who stand (behind shield bearers) and deliver.
There are also some weapons missing, e.g.:
- There are no horse archers with bows, witch makes Persian light cavalry feel wrong with their javelins.
- Its not possible to have melee troops with additional ranged weapons, so a typical Roman shock of impact is not possible, as are Persian immortals who are trained with spear and bow, on horse and on foot.
Still, 0ad is one of the best RTS for Linux.
I've put a lot of hours into playing 0AD and it's a joy. Very polished, really good gameplay, addictive, and engaging.
The bots can be ruthless at times, others you can figure out and trump. If you need them, then there are cheats to help whilst you learn.
I just went and tried to give money, and it's going to take me a while, incredibly all my disposable cash is in PayPal and my debit card is linked to an empty account, so I have to do the PayPal > bank shuffle, but I'll be supporting this as soon as I can.
The campaign comment page points you to the 0AD site, where they tell you that:
"Donations via PayPal go to a a private bank account in the US, that is a legacy of the time before we became affiliated with SPI."
But don't explain whether that money actually ends up with them.
They've made it such a problem, all I want is a PayPal address that will get the money into their hands. "Shut up and take my money.".
One thing though: what's the frame-rate supposed to be? I'm getting 2-3 FPS, which is I suppose playable, but pretty jerky when things get hairy. Is it just my system, or is this just the nature of the game? [I guess if it's recalculating the world with every frame...]