Multiplayer implementation

[Praytic]

Discussion of the future multiplayer

How can we implement the multiplayer mode?

1. Legacy one-player-one-base multiplayer. Players can just watch other players and can't affect each other's gameplays.
2. MazebertTD-like multiplayer. Up to 4 others can play on the same map, their tower is just shrunk to 1/4th size in the same square.

Legacy multiplayer

Pros:

• Suitable for Race mode

Cons:

• Not a true multiplayer, players cannot interact with each other (only by chat)

MazebertTD-like multiplayer

Pros:

• Allows cooperation between players in the same session
• Eliminates the need to make the map with 8 wave lanes

Cons:

• New balance calculations for such mode will be required.
• A single point of view for every game can be quite tedious for players, especially on this small map, especially for 240 waves-long games.
• LFG algorithm is more complicated than standard 2-player coop, because we should let the group of players decide how big is the party, what mode they want to play, pre-assembled groups, etc.
• Reduce towers in size, their effects and collisions might be not straightforward and may produce extra bugs.
• Screen with 4 players will have twice or trice more particles for one viewport. On bonus levels it can be a problem.
• Shared building space will produce race conditions, especially for 4 or more players.
• Not suitable for Race mode

[Praytic]

Good beginner tutorial video on how to implement multiplayer in Godot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ItA2r69c-Q

[Kvel2D]

Ended up implementing multiplayer like this:

• Co-op mode - 4 teams, 2 players in each team. Players in same team have different build spaces but can build towers near central lane so that they can clear waves together.
• FFA mode - 4 teams, 1 player per team. "Competitive" mode where each player gets one lane.