Multi-Player: Live Opponent Takes Over AI Tactical Combat

from Elemental Forums

Posted a prior MP idea with respect to losing MP Players taking over an AI's faction if other Players were willing at this post:

https://forums.elementalgame.com/382415

However, giving this MP concept more thought, I think it even more important for existing players to have the opportunity to take over the AI's side in a Player vs. AI tactical battle.  One of the more tedious (and boring) aspects of MP gaming is watching/waiting for your live opponent to finish a tactical battle against the AI.  Examples of this was watching AoWSM tactical battles occur with Player vs AI--  this was a real sleeper (but we MPs allowed as, although the tactical could be auto resolved, there were frequent advantages to playing it out tactically).

On the other hand, if a player were allowed to operate the AI's army tactically against the human opponent, this would be very engaging and increase, IMHO, both gameplay involvement and enjoyment for all players.  Although I have not purchase Napolean:TW, I know they implemented such in their tactical battles up to and including an internet search for an opponent that was playing a game at the same time!  There is one game mechanic that would have to be addressed: if more than 2 MPs were involved how does the AI get assigned to one or more of these live players?  Forces are split?  Randomly assign one?  Let the initiating player select which live opponent gets to fight?  This would have to be resolved.

In summary, I think this would be a very valuable game mechanic to implement to increase MP game enjoyment.

 

 

 

5,408 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

it's a system very open to abuse... you could make the AI attack it's own troops with spells, waste mana, not attack... all without any requirement for cooperation between players but still enhanced by it... or you could play with honesty and integrity with the result of the AI simply becoming part of another player. The problem is that you're simply giving free troops to another player randomly. It would spice up some games... as an option for friends dueling to choose it would be nice if the standard AI attacks/defends poorly. For 4 player in a free-for-all match it would rely on each player being independent and of equal skill to be balanced.

Any thoughts on making it honest, removing exploits and allocation or AI control?
If not I think it should at most be an option disabled unless all players select it and with the AI allocation being decided by a unanimous vote.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Make it only available in 2v2 and up games that contain even amounts of AI per side. In a 4v4 for example, each team having 2 AI players. Team 1 would have the Human players in Slots 1 & 3, the AI player in slots 2 & 4.

The Human player in slot #1 would run all TB's for the AI player in slot #2, while Human Player #2, in slot 3, would run the TB's for AI player in slot #4.

Not really abuse-able, given all the AI is of equal Difficulty, and would make the game rather interesting as the AI gets to Build Cities, Gather their own Materials, and decide on Tech choice and Army composition, and then the Human(s) have to deal with whatever is presented, both Good and Bad, when it comes to the TB's each AI gets themselves into.

Any AI vs AI TB's are auto resolved.

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