Some ideas for implementing race modes into Arcade
Just one of those days where I feel like making a stupidly large post for something that may never come to the game. :p
But if a race mode is added, then there could be different versions of it. Not just one.
After selecting your game mode when starting a new map (or changing the mode of a currently existing map), you pick 'Race' as your mode.
Then you select a few more options afterwards before you jump into the editor itself...
- Team-based race? Or a free-for-all? The last option there would only be available for Race and Death Race modes.
Next is the type of race mode. Which one do you choose? Choose free-for-all previously, and you can only choose between two of these options.
- Race:
Basic and really no need to explain. Get to the finish line first. No bullets. Only the power of your car, your skill, and maybe some ramming into the enemy until they drive off a cliff will get you to the finish line first. Race ends once all players reach the finish line. If within a time limit not all players do so, the race will automatically end. If your vehicle goes off the road or gets stuck, the player can hold a button to respawn at the most recent checkpoint if they are available. If no checkpoints are placed, then there will be no respawning and therefore the race becomes an elimination type race. So being off-track for too long will get you eliminated and therefore you switch to a spectator camera. You cannot exit your car, which means that you will start the match already in a car. And again, no weapons. If vehicles with weapons equipped are placed in the map, then they will not be functional.
- Death Race:
Same as the normal race mode, but with the ability to use weapons. Here you will have the option to allow players to use hand weapons, weapons used on the vehicle, or both. Race ends just like a normal race, except if all other players or the other team is eliminated before crossing the finish line, then the race automatically ends. If respawning is available, then the player can spawn at the most recent checkpoint if they are available, just like in a normal race. If no respawning, then death means a switch to a spectator camera. It should also be possible to allow teammates (if teams are enabled) to spawn in other teammate vehicles. Should make turret vehicles more useful or allow players to spawn in passenger seats and lean out to take out enemy players that way.
- Car Chase:
This mode is only available as a team-based mode. Spawning on teammates available here as well. A player or team is marked as a target that must run away from the other team that will be chasing and eliminating them any way they can. Just like the previous two modes, you cannot exit your car. This mode can end any of 2 ways, which is chosen by the creator shortly after selecting this as the chosen game mode.
Those are either...
a) The target or targets must get from point A to point B (can include other placed checkpoints along the way (to encourage specific routes and/or allow spawning) before the enemy eliminates them. If it's a team of target vehicles, then not one target can reach the finish. If so, then the targets are the victors, regardless of any other targets being eliminated.
b) The target or targets must complete a set number of laps before being eliminated. Just like the above, not one target can reach the finish, or they win. This version is more ideal for smaller maps where a point A to B would be too short.
It should be noted that in both of these versions of the car chase mode, time limits will still be enabled to ensure a match doesn't continue for too long.
If any of this is added, then there should also be an option for the player to choose which vehicle they want to spawn into. The creator would have a number of vehicles picked by them that are available for the player to spawn into. Or they would only be allowed a single specific vehicle to choose, set by the creator. The choices of available vehicles could vary by team, much like how loadouts can vary if the creator chooses. And even though I had ground vehicles in mind when creating this, of course air and sea vehicles will be allowed as well if the creator allows it.