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Elemental: Game Play Example – Part 5

Elemental: Game Play Example – Part 5

Note: This part of the AAR is being run with the Day 0 build so you will see features that weren’t in the gold edition

Yithril vs. Capitar Climax

For years, Roland’s kingdom of Capitar had grown at the expense of the Empire of Yithril. Emperor Verga had been occupied with events in the west.  When his son was killed in battle, he began to revisit the “Thief in the East” issue.

image

The battles would go on for over two years.

imageEven Verga’s wife would come out to fight [AI note: Going to make it so that the spouse doesn’t come out, especially if she has no weapon].

Verga’s wife would escape the battle but the rest of their army was wiped out.  It was then that Roland realized that Verga had moved the bulk of his forces from the West…to the East.

For while Roland was nipping at the edges of the Empire of Yithril…the Empire of Yithril had conquered the Kingdom of Gilden.

imageimage

 

Veterans of War

As the war progressed, both sides were able to recognize the considerable [to the point we thought it was a bug] benefits of experience.

image

With experience came durability. Veterans knew how to survive far better than raw recruits. As a result, the hardened veterans began to be seen as a valuable resource onto themselves.

image

The wealth of the kingdom was going into combating the growing westeron threat. Yithril had taken Haru and lost it. Roland had put out the word that the Kingdom

Verga meets Roland

imageThe two Channelers would meet in battle. Sorcerer vs. Sorcerer.

image  Roland

 

image Verga

The Kingdom also came with a Catapult

image

Verga’s Sorcery wiped out Roland’s crusaders.

image

image Roland’s allies, the Black Widow Fiends, had traveled and fought beside him for years. Now, these immensely skilled [level 5] friends were down to two.  The situation had become so desperate that Roland himself had to enter the field of battle…

A NOTE FOR PLAYERS:

Risking your sovereign when attacking enemy territory is VERY RISKY.  YOU SHOULD NOT DO THIS.

imageIF you (The player IS the sovereign) die in battle in enemy territory you die. It is over.

Roland has an escape route. He could safely leave the battle and fight another day.

 

imageThe catapult finished off the heart of Yithril’s force.

 imageimageRoland’s Wilding ally was down too.

  image

This was one of those moments that could change the course of the world.

Only Roland and his catapult remained. Out of mana, he had no spells up his sleeve. However, Verga was out of mana as well. His morale and that of his catapult were low [which is a penalty on attack].

Yithril still had for soldiers in the battle including Verga himself.  Roland knew he might not ever have another chance.

Roland decided to fall back at first. Could the catapult soften Verga up enough to even the odds?

Morale was getting dangerous.

image

 image

[AI note: He should go after the ranged unit first]

imageRoland vs. Verga: ONE ON ONE! 

imageVERGA FALLS! 

 

imageVERGA ESCAPES!

 

[The Stardock dev team actually watched this live as it was pretty bloody exciting actually]

Yithril had lost its eastern fortress.

157,189 views 87 replies
Reply #51 Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 48
Even from my version to the day 0 build there's a ton of changes that just don't show in my screenshots but you guys will start finding out tomorrow what I mean.
End of Frogboy's quote

Woooooooooo nellie!

So, does that mean you will give us more snippets showing changes, or we can get it and see for ourselves?

In my younger days I broke up with girls for less! :P

Reply #53 Top

[

Quoting Siktdjup, reply 25
'Weaknesses:

Ugly - fewer children"

 

Lol, we all know females prefer the bad guys, and that manly chin should hardly be a deterrant
End of Siktdjup's quote

 

Dude was 10ft tall yo..

Reply #54 Top

Quoting charon2112, reply 51

Quoting Twohawks, reply 42
Quoting charon2112, reply 38can I just ask one thing?  Are these the final graphics...?

What we are seeing now, if not final are very near it.. they chose an artistic style based on Alphonse Mucha works, you can read more  in a interviewe with  Stardock's Scott Tykoski from Aug of 2009 on ign http://pc.ign.com/articles/101/1019369p1.html there has been other discussion both on these forums and in other interviews it was just the one  I found first.

 

No, I understand about the style, and I like it.  It's more the ground and scenery, like the trees.  It seems very bland, like just one flat shade of green to represent a grassy tile.  And the same couple of tree models repeated over and over.  

 

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Stardock and their games, I have faith that Elemental will be incredible.  And I know that a game can be great without super realistic graphics.  I guess I'm torn, because I can buy either this or Civ V, and I don't know which way to go yet.  Graphics ARE part of that decision for me.
End of charon2112's quote

 

In a Civ game you are prevented from zooming in close enough.  I just like being able to zoom in (personal preference) even if it shows the textures in a poor light.

Reply #55 Top

Quoting charon2112, reply 51


No, I understand about the style, and I like it.  It's more the ground and scenery, like the trees.  It seems very bland, like just one flat shade of green to represent a grassy tile.  And the same couple of tree models repeated over and over. 

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Stardock and their games, I have faith that Elemental will be incredible.  And I know that a game can be great without super realistic graphics.  I guess I'm torn, because I can buy either this or Civ V, and I don't know which way to go yet.  Graphics ARE part of that decision for me.
End of charon2112's quote
First off, between this and Civ V, definitely buy this. They're doing some not very nice things there, from a business standpoint, and it's not likely to be all that great at first because of that. I'd recommend pirating it or waiting for the eventual repackaging, when it will be cheaper and include whatever content they're currently withholding for the sake of microtransactions.

Now, as far as Elemental's graphics... I agree that it often looks overly simplistic. I think it could benefit from some induced noise in a lot of places.  that's something that could be induced later, as a patch, though it might be tough depending on how things are implemented. Overall, though, I'd say it's fine as is, it just takes a moment to get used to.

Reply #56 Top

Quoting aerowreck, reply 9
Looks like the AI, while still in development, already is more than a match for many players.
End of aerowreck's quote

*feebly raises his hand*

you can count me in that number... but practice, as they say, makes perfect... and i aims to practice... ;)

edit: oh, and thanks again for these installments frogboy!

Reply #57 Top

(Playing GalCiv2 on suicidal to hold me over). God one more day... just one more... :time: \o/

Reply #58 Top

Quoting Xaltwind, reply 33
My mistake, I misread the question entirely. *Goes to the corner in shame*
End of Xaltwind's quote

Actually my query was relating to BOTH player and NPC sovereigns so no need to go to the shame corner are you were partly right ;)

And if the game does end if you sovereign dies then thats kind of poor as it straight away negates the relevance of a Dynasty system...i.e next in line as stated on the dynasty info page being irrelevant.

Reply #59 Top

Quoting Cruxador, reply 56

Now, as far as Elemental's graphics... I agree that it often looks overly simplistic. I think it could benefit from some induced noise in a lot of places.  that's something that could be induced later, as a patch, though it might be tough depending on how things are implemented. Overall, though, I'd say it's fine as is, it just takes a moment to get used to.
End of Cruxador's quote

i dont know... i personally dig the color scheme, pallette and overall graphics design... maybe im just getting old... :p

Reply #60 Top

I like the art style, but the ground could definitely do with some more 3D elements. If oblivion could manage this: http://i44.tinypic.com/2mzmcl0.jpg there is no real reason the tactical map couldn't do something.

Reply #61 Top

Here's something I'd like an answer on:

Two sovereigns have one child each. These kids are married, and have one child. Then they die in battle. The baby is raised up to adulthood, but then his grandparents on either side perish, and he inherits two kingdoms.

What happens there?

Reply #62 Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 55

In a Civ game you are prevented from zooming in close enough.  I just like being able to zoom in (personal preference) even if it shows the textures in a poor light.
End of Frogboy's quote

When I'm watching spells being cast and things being hit I'm a "Zoomed In" gamer too. I do pull the view out when I need to see the whole battlefield though for moving my units around. I don't see where the textures look bad really.

Reply #63 Top

Quoting TheProgress, reply 61
I like the art style, but the ground could definitely do with some more 3D elements. If oblivion could manage this: http://i44.tinypic.com/2mzmcl0.jpg there is no real reason the tactical map couldn't do something.
End of TheProgress's quote

 

http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=30054

http://tesnexus.com/downloads/images/30054-1-1270773578.jpg

(images > user submitted imagery)

Godrays, DOF, motion blur, the list goes on.

That's oblivion.  Yeah.

Reply #64 Top

Thank you for posting up all these AAR about your kingdom.  I am delighted to see a developer who is actually playing their game, taking down notes about things that went wrong (including AI mistakes), and planning to correct them.  I seriously wonder sometimes if some of these other developers ever even play their own games. 

The game looks like it has come a long way since beta 4 in just about every imaginable area.  From the UI, to the tactical battles, to the strategic map, everything appears to be improved.  The AI may still have its issues, but I know you will be right on top of them.  So, umm, thank you!

 

Reply #65 Top

Quoting Windexglow, reply 64

http://tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=30054

http://tesnexus.com/downloads/images/30054-1-1270773578.jpg

(images > user submitted imagery)

Godrays, DOF, motion blur, the list goes on.

That's oblivion.  Yeah.
End of Windexglow's quote

What's your point? I wasn't trying to compare quality; just stating that oblivion had tons of ground cover.

Reply #66 Top

I think the point was that if you need little things like grass to be 3-D, it really raises the graphics standards of the entire game.

Sure the ground cover could use "a little bit of induced noise" but that doesn't mean having ground textures actually be 3-D. With the current art style, 3-D grass would likely look out of place.

 

There are already many objects (in some locations/settings) that are indeed 3-D, just not the most basic or minor ones.

Just my opinion anyways.

Reply #67 Top

Quoting Tasunke, reply 67
With the current art style, 3-D grass would likely look out of place.
Just my opinion anyways.
End of Tasunke's quote

Why not just make all the buildings and units 2D as well - I don't see how adding additional 3D elements while keeping to the established art style will suddenly break the look of the game.

The grass wouldn't even have to be "3D", it could just be planes oriented perpendicularly to the ground with a simple grass texture.

 

Reply #68 Top

Well, the overall style is actually immensely "2-D" so yea ...

I see what you are looking for, and even though I don't think its needed ... if you wish you may create 3-D grass and see if you like it better.

Reply #69 Top

Quoting Tasunke, reply 67
I think the point was that if you need little things like grass to be 3-D, it really raises the graphics standards of the entire game.

Sure the ground cover could use "a little bit of induced noise" but that doesn't mean having ground textures actually be 3-D. With the current art style, 3-D grass would likely look out of place.

 

There are already many objects (in some locations/settings) that are indeed 3-D, just not the most basic or minor ones.

Just my opinion anyways.
End of Tasunke's quote
I don't think 3d grass may not look quite right, but I don't think introducing some 3d scrub would be inappropriate. The problem is, that sort of thing is all (or mostly?) handled by tiles now. So it may not be something that flows naturally from current design.

Reply #70 Top

I have absolute faith that Stardock will produce an incredible game.  And I definitely want to support them as a business.  I'm just nitpicking...

Reply #71 Top

I personally don't mind the ground textures but I wouldn't be surprised if a modder made some more intricate ones eventually. I know it's been done for a lot of games, although Mountain Blade is the only one that comes to mind immediatly...

Reply #72 Top

one other question.  If I buy the deluxe version, or the regular retail box version, what is the manual like?  I love a good printed manual, but these seem to be going away lately.  I'd be happy if it was as nice as the one that comes with Galciv 2 Ultimate Edition...

Reply #73 Top

Brad - What program do you use for the screenshots?

Reply #74 Top

Quoting Mobella, reply 60


i dont know... i personally dig the color scheme, pallette and overall graphics design... maybe im just getting old...
End of Mobella's quote

I missed this before.

I like it too, I think it's great. That's mostly a potential fix for a problem someone else perceived. There's always details that can stand to be improved a bit. Doesn't mean it's not beautiful as is.

Reply #75 Top

Quoting charon2112, reply 73
one other question.  If I buy the deluxe version, or the regular retail box version, what is the manual like?  I love a good printed manual, but these seem to be going away lately.  I'd be happy if it was as nice as the one that comes with Galciv 2 Ultimate Edition...
End of charon2112's quote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kqgK_K3-dA

You can see it here when they unbox the LE.