Inb4 getting flamed for this response, but I believe it's coded as minions that are ghosted to just their own team. I'm not an engineer or tech designer, however, so I couldn't tell you exactly why they sometimes feel clunky.
Wait a second...
coded as minions
does this mean i can banner of command the base gates
RiotRiotRepertoir10 votesdoes this mean i can banner of command the base gates
No. To clarify, when we say 'coded as a minion' we don't mean that we copy a caster minion, make him invisible, and stick him somewhere. It's more like just a blank unit placed at a certain location, usually to attach something to. In the case of the base gates, they're probably just a blank object or objects that block pathing for a single team.
Banner of Command specifically looks for a certain type of lane minion.
Zenthon Prime2 votesAw, that's disappointing. I was also looking forward to those next-level Sion E base gate snipes. ;(
I will say that this is really interesting insight on how "coded as minions" works. I think a lot of us DID assume it was actually invisible caster minions lol.
Zone of Endless2 votesAw, that's disappointing. I was also looking forward to those next-level Sion E base gate snipes. ;(
I will say that this is really interesting insight on how "coded as minions" works. I think a lot of us DID assume it was actually invisible caster minions lol.
Like J4's wall. I heard it was recolored minions or some shit idk
ULTRAF0RCE1 votesalso before the reworks they have been doing to the skill shots most of those were coded as minions, syndras balls still are minions with a particle coloring them.
KevinDelMarr2 votesThe ground of the rift is full of crushed and grounded minions, so when Cataclysm creates the walls they are filled with minion bodies
Rahunei1 votesDidn't the developers of World of Warcraft do this for scripted events with invisible 'Infernals' that sit around having designated jobs?
RiotRiot Reinboom15 votesAhh, I'll fill in what base gates actually are to better arm you (and anyone else reading it) with that info.
So in response to specifically this:
Inb4 getting flamed for this response, but I believe it's coded as minions that are ghosted to just their own team. I'm not an engineer or tech designer, however, so I couldn't tell you exactly why they sometimes feel clunky.
Base gates are a combination of two things:
(1) Selective pathing terrain, each connected to the quality of "team". We added a new terrain pathing type back in preseason just for them. This functions exactly as you would expect them to.
Fun fact: Currently, teams are used as the only quality. They could be specified down due any number of 'dependable' rules. Such as "Ranged champion only" or "Cats only" (though that last one would take a bit more work to hook up).
(2) A new type of vision rule (but only on the inner cells of a base gate). There are four basic vision rules before base gates for terrain: "I can see into and through this" (most walkable terrain) "I cannot see into this or through this" (walls) "I cannot see into this or through this unless I have vision inside it" (Brush) "I can always see this" (Crystal Scar outer circle)
Base gates introduced a new vision rule. "I can always see into this and out of this, but not through this."
Now for why the base gates sometimes feels clunky:
Initially to get the vision behavior the center of the gates were actually brush with an invisible minion inside that selectively gave vision of the brush to nearby enemies. When we did this we already knew it was just a temporary behavior, it was just something to hold over until the vision tech got into place. Patch 5.3 removed the minion and introduced the real vision tech for the gates.
However, when we removed that minion... the clunkiness reports were still there. And it seems that they still are (but ideally to a much lesser degree).
The reason for that is actually due to height differences in that area. Basically, the pathing system DOES navigate "vertically" and not just in a 2D game. Height does matter for pathing. For the most part, this isn't significant. Most of the changes in height are subtle and slow.
For base gates however, there was a distinct "drop" that the pathing system actively avoided because it evaluated that as a sudden massive increase in time to traverse. Unfortunately, the inside of the base and the outside are at a very distinct height difference, so even our smoothings that should've cleared most of it up won't clear up all of the behavior.
SpecterVonBaren2 votesMaybe you could just put a small ramp in front of the base gates?
RiotRiot Reinboom1 votesYes! There is one, actually.
You may recall, but when the base gates initially released there wasn't a lot going on in front of them. That area is a bit more busy now.
I believe we need to do just a bit more smoothing of height.
SpecterVonBaren1 votesNo. To clarify, when we say 'coded as a minion' we don't mean that we copy a caster minion, make him invisible, and stick him somewhere.
Although it does sound like a good idea for a funny comic where all the buildings on the rift are made out of minions painted gray.
Count Buffon5 votesOH MY GOD 
JUST 
-CONSUMED THE BASE GATE! 
IS CHARGING STRAIGHT AROUND THE FLANK WITH 
AND 
FOR TONS OF DAMAGE! HASHTAG LCS BIG PLAYS, GG!!!
Akali is SO HOT1 votesBasically, if you have played this game long enough, you will know that everything is coded as minions in all of the spaghetti code so if you believe hard enough you can Banner of Command ANYTHING! :^)