Hi!
As you might've read in the thread about Machine breakdown mechanics, this idea is off-topic enough and stands as a suggestion alone, hence the new thread.
Rationale:
IC2 is perceived as too easy by experienced players.The breakdown mechanic, from my point of view, doesn't make the game harder but more tedious.
Idea:
Find ways to make the game harder without making it annoying. In order to do that, increase the power of the config file and release a set of "tournament rules". Advanced users can play with these on, leaving easy ways to quick success out of the game and requiring more planning, caution and introducing new dangers to seemingly everyday operation.
Suggestion:
(Note: The list can be expanded greatly in the course of this discussion. These are only my initial thoughts.)
- Wind mills have a high chance to break. Its average lifespan is two in-game weeks before turning into a regular machine block.
- Geothermal generators don't accept pipes and output only 10 EU/t while not consuming lava slower than now.
- Geothermal
generators have a chance to leak if over-filled. A Generator that's
filled over 25% is expected to turn into a lava source block within the
week. - Solar panels have greatly fluctuating output. A single
packet can be as large as 33 EU, so regular setups are expected to
explode within three weeks. - If not repaired early enough, Nano armor is destroyed when its energy depletes.
- Extracting resin gives 2 rubber.
- Every energy storage loses a percentage of its current energy every tick. (Easier if it's a percentage of the maximum amount.)
- Bronze tools and armor are weaker and less durable than their iron counterparts.
- Macerating an ore only has a chance of doubling the output, but it's not a guarantee.
- Equipment left in a charging station can overheat and be destroyed.
- An active nuclear reactor will damage you unless you wear full nano or quantum armor.
- No rubber saplings.
- Lappack storage is halved.
While these ideas are arguably "lazy difficulty", it illustrates how much of the discussion about "what should be how easy or how hard" can be fixed if there was more awareness about and more power in the config file. An official set of "tournament rules" would imply that anyone who beats certain challenges with these rules would have to publically agreed-on recognition of these forums.
Of course, nobody said we can't have "Super Tournament Rules", too...