I’m working on a table-top turn-based strategy game which uses Hex Paper and which is set in the near future. I’ve noticed a few similarities to StarCraft are unavoidable, but my story elements and my spell casters and stuff are all different. How different do I need to be to avoid intellectual property infringement? I wonder?
I have Commandoes, basic combat unit.
Hell Hound -a pyrokinetic unit which is sort of like a “failed mage”.
Tanks (ground vs turret, no siege mode)
Hovercraft (Ground vs air unit)
Jet Fighters
Choppers
Mages (They have Frost Armor, Fire Storm, and Rust spells)
Aerial Transport. It heals or repairs units inside itself slowly, 10HP per round per unit inside.
Workers harvest 10 Gold per turn or 10 Oil per turn per worker. There would be 12 gold mines and one Oil Field which supports 5 workers per field. Which gives 12 on gold and 5 on oil per base.
The maps are on hex paper and typical maps have 2 expands per player for 1vs1 maps.
The game is intended for 1vs1 and 2vs2, and since you can see what your opponent is doing, build order perfection is a MUST.
There are rules about stacking units. You can’t have more than 12 cargo space worth of ground units on each Hex of the map, this prevents “death ball” strategies from being overpowered.
I’m working on having the tech tree for structures be more unique than StarCraft, but it’s hard, or either I’ve got a failure of imagination going here.
I also have speed build mechanics and a Market mechanic, so you can sell 100 Gold to buy 75 Oil, or sell 100 Oil to buy 75 Gold.
I’m working on increasing the differences in the game, but some similarities seem unavoidable.