A "dynamic" worldmap

from Elemental Forums

I'd like to throw out there the possibility of having the world map change without specific player action.

One proposal that I've seen a few times is having "automatic" roads or paths that are created as trade between cities without a formal road-link creates it's own scar on the earth.

The caravans themselves are another example of a dynamic world.

Other ideas:

monsters/animals learn to fear humans and move away from civilization and hover around the edges

"barbarian" tribes as in the civ games that don't have their own channelers, but still fight and grow (or run out to the outskirts of civilization with the monsters)

towns growing at crossroads (if there are any)

clearcut areas emerging around cities

parties of adventurers running around

 

These types of changes to the worldmap would create a living world for the player to react to, and that reacts to them, rather than a dull, static landscape. I don't see this as "necessary," but if there is the time and resources to do it, I think that it would make a great addition.

Please, feel free to post other "dynamic" ideas, or a critique!

5,754 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I have mentioned this before, but would like to repeat it. I am very attracted to the idea that the "barbarians" would settle and create a civilization in a part of the map that players/AI has neglected.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

The terrain deformation is a very exciting aspect of Elemental and I'm hoping that we'll be able to make interesting things happen with it. I personally hope to have sprawling cities as terrain.

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Oooh, especially if the barbarians could be of a subspecies .... lizardmen for example :)

the only downside of having the barbarians being subspecies, hybrids, or pure fantasy, is that you would need alot more character models, and possibly armor for them ... talking about yikes!!! for anything other than post-game modding.

Still, I would like for these barbarians, probably human, to have their own unique culture, separate from any of the playable factions. Perhaps allowing these natives to develop, grow, and then forming diplomacy with them could allow you to very niche techs. However, deciding wether the niche tech or the land is more important ... is the interesting strategic decision.

Orrrrr, you could even decide between them giving you the niche tech, or simply serving as manual labor .... or you could have them Bribe you, send you regular payments of gold and other resources, to keep from killing them off. There are many ways to exploit a native tribe that has grown up in your backyard. Perhaps even befriending them and accepting the (arguably useful/useless tech) would greatly increase your prestige.

Example would be a niche tech for Jungle-fighting. You make peace with them, allow them to keep their land, trade with them, and they will allow you jungle-fighting tech for free, as well as the ability to recruit their soldiers if needed (for regular payment of course) ... although depending on how friendly you are with them, these soldiers of theirs could be anywhere from Mercenary sized prices to your own nation's upkeep prices (much lower, for a much stronger friendship).