thoughts on current fac plop at game start

coming from the latest cold take https://zero-k.info/Forum/NewPost?threadID=37904

what if you are not limited to a fac to plop for your com?

suggestion:
* you have a credit of X metal/energy. (default = 800m/e so fac stays ploppable). maybe noobtron could advertise facplop?
* you plop anything instantly as long as you have credit.
* if you dont have enough credit (project costs more than available credit), planned unit/building is partially built instantly to the progress which uses the available credit.
* your credit is displayed at your com like the current "gift fac icon".
* start credit could customizable / be a game option


this would broaden/boost the strategy mix at game start.
this would probably be confusion/bad for new players or lead to disadvantage if used poorly.
you also could think of a hybrid approach. facplop + credit.
boosts game start even further. makes games faster/restart game faster. more games. this could improve finding games relating to small player base.

discuss

I like the idea, but I'm afraid this will significantly buff all kinds of rushes. Maybe something like free factory and ~ 200 credits to build initial mexes and solars faster while not allowing 5 lobs to flash build singularity and die to flash built odin in the first minute of the game

Seems like there are multiple variables you could solve for here.

"exit setup faster": [like in the article]
One option: Start the game with a free sparrow, somehow I feel this would limit creative openings a bit too much.
Another option: Engineer coms start with sparrow in the "engineer slot" regardless of fac. OP? Idk..

"sizeable army earlier":
One option: Facs have coupons too, can insta-build 1k worth of units.
Another option: Facs spawn in a few raiders to kickstart your army.
Both of these could lead to extremely quick matches, but I think it would somehow streamline play too much.

"sizeable economy earlier":
One option: First con is plopped together with the fac for free. Really hard to theorycraft on this one..
Another option: Increase com passive income. Also hard to figure out what this would do to the game.

"game over faster":
Lose commander = auto-resign. Would make FFA more fun to watch. And possibly even more disheartening to play.
Note that this is unlike BAR, where whole team can survive on one com..

I like all the points, I might add my own little cent.

I like the very early stage of the game. To me, it is like the calm before the storm: Trying to catch the enemy's scout, expanding your sim city safely, knowing that it is all downhill from there.