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Elemental – a busy Friday

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Elemental – a busy Friday

from JoeUser Forums

I hate leaving all this for the end of the week, especially when it’s good news stuff and our community could certainly use some of that.

So here’s what’s going on!

Elemental: Arena

As some of you know, we put off v1.08 until next week since we wanted more time for QA. See, we can be taught.  But we went ahead and put up the Arena page so you can see some of the features that multiplayer in Elemental will be providing. The changes made to the single player game (data and fixes) have been ported to the MP servers and are still being tested.

https://www.elementalgame.com/arena

image Elemental: Arena – Main Screen

imageElemental: Arena – Game Screen

Development resources on multiplayer are being reserved based on what the community is looking for.  It does not come from Elemental’s single player post-release budget so those of you who love single player don’t have to worry, the two are very separate (in more ways than one).

Impulse::Reactor will automatically save your games online so you can revisit them later in the event you can’t finish the game in a single sitting. The saves are kept in “the cloud” so that you can access them from whatever machine you’re playing Elemental on.

 

Elemental: Mods

The second piece of news is that the mods web page has been put up.

image

https://www.elementalgame.com/mods

This is basically a duplicate of what’s within the game.  The difference here, however, is that players can manually download the actual XML and other assets to see how they were done. 

We have started with the maps and will be adding tiles, quests, campaigns, items, effects and then custom mods such as textures, third party tools, etc. so that the community can interact with one another more easily.  We will also be putting up links to third party resources and websites and wikis.

Elemental: Hiergamenon

The third piece of news is that the Hiergamenon page is now up. 

image

https://www.elementalgame.com/hiergamenon/techtrees

This is an on-going online resource that will, for now, let users view the XML data from the game in a more accessible way.  The next step is to make it so that players can modify it in a web-based editor and then download their creations for themselves.

Elemental: Destiny’s Embers

imageFor those of you who have bought the book Elemental: Destiny's Embers we had originally planned on releasing the first of the book series of content today but some of our changes require the v1.08 update so its push pushed this as well.

Each character has their own unique equipment and in some cases special abilities (since not all of them are Channelers).

image For those of you who have read the book, Nym is one of the characters the download code provides.

Readers who purchased a Kindle or Nook version will also be able to download the content as well, we’ve made arrangements with Random House to take care of those customers.

That’s all for tonight!

133,949 views 70 replies
Reply #26 from Elemental Forums Top

The hiergamenon webpage is a niffty piece, needs the Blunt Weapons to be added higher up with cutting weapons as a prereq for Light Armor (at least for v1.07).

I'd like to see somewhere other than forum searches how to obtain elementium in the documentation.  (online/ingame)

Looking forward to having the Win 7 64-bit OOM crashes fixed.  Please tell us this is planned for 1.08 as well.

 

Also interested in what the modding commuity will churn out...

Reply #27 from Elemental Forums Top

Spiffy website. The jQuery tooltips got a little wonky on a couple occasions here (FF 3.6.9) and sometimes the data for the global map fails to load but otherwise it all looks and works pretty good.

I'm all ready to get my ass kicked now :D

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #28 from Elemental Forums Top

Thank you for the update; I'm looking forward to Tuesday.

I love the website Heirgamenon. While browsing through it, I found a few typos you might want to fix. I'm at work, so I don't know whether these are in the game as well:

  • Advanced Archery: should be "deadly complements" not "deadly compliments"
  • Accessory -- Scout's Cloak: missing the word "by" between "commitment" and "the"
  • Magical Equipement: "Layman" is one word
  • Quests: "Torrid is not the correct word here. Perhaps you were looking for "horrid", "squalid", or "desperate".

Thank you for letting us post in reply.

Reply #29 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Wintersong, reply 6
Yay! My country is 0.76% of Elemental population.

Now to check all those sweet URLs in the OP!

In before the lock?
End of Wintersong's quote

I know which country is... ;)

Reply #30 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 20

It also represents an example of where I was wrong in thinking that balancing isn't that big of a deal. It's been so long since I've had to make a new game totally from scratch that I'd forgotten how long in man years it really took to balance GalCiv.
End of Frogboy's quote

You mentioned something once about the two ways of playing 4X games.  Simulation of an empire vs. understandable boardgame-type rules.  Here's where the boardgame guys go "Whhaaaa-RARARGLE?!?!?"  Without balance, you lose the game aspects and you get more of a sim.  A simulationist can just say: this is how it is and so you need to plan accordingly.  But what boardgamists understand is that balanced options lead to interesting choices.   Those choices can be a lot more proactive when the system is understood as opposed to reacting to what exists.  

You can't play paper, rock, scissors without defining what scissors IS.  What are your balancing strategies?  How are people expected to play?

Reply #31 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Simplicity123, reply 30



Quoting Frogboy,
reply 20

It also represents an example of where I was wrong in thinking that balancing isn't that big of a deal. It's been so long since I've had to make a new game totally from scratch that I'd forgotten how long in man years it really took to balance GalCiv.
End of Simplicity123's quote



You can't play paper, rock, scissors without defining what scissors IS.  What are your balancing strategies?  How are people expected to play?
End of quote

I agree some cross pattern balancing strategies are very important.  For example no single player should be allowed to research all magic spells, all weapon types, all armor types and all building types otherwise the strong players will never have any weaknesses.  Every three completed research paths/spells should close one research path/spell thus a player may have a weakness with fire magic  or  cutting weapons   or  enchantments and so on.  If the strong players dominate the researching without weaknesses the underdogs have almost zero chance since no weaknesses exist.  The only scenario where this should not apply would be the higher AI difficulty levels.  I hope this helps Stardock.

Reply #32 from Elemental Forums Top

Very nice!

This is an on-going online resource that will, for now, let users view the XML data from the game in a more accessible way.  The next step is to make it so that players can modify it in a web-based editor and then download their creations for themselves
End of quote

This was listed directly under the Hiergamenon section but I'm guessing that also applies to the Mods section above it.

Do you have a timeframe for the web-based editor?  I know it's risky answering this cause people are fanatics.  I'm just curious if we're talking end of month, next month, next year timeframe.

Reply #33 from Elemental Forums Top

For those of us who didn't buy the book, will heros be updated in a later version to also have unique spells and skills, because frankly speaking I would like to see all heroes be unique. Just a question :)

P.S. Good update.

Reply #34 from Elemental Forums Top

A Dance with Dragons 

This breakthrough allows us to read the fifth book of  "Song of Ice and Fire"  :rofl:

But  seriously, the hiergamenon webpage is nice and helpfull. |-)

 

 

 

 

Reply #35 from Elemental Forums Top

Nice work. The Hiergamenon section is great. The descriptions help but what would be even nicer is to include a brief tag that tells what the tech provides so we dont have to read the full description such as: + Experienced, + Party, + Goodie Huts, + Sovereign Notable Locations Level. I realize you guys have a lot to work on but this would be great when you have some time.

Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top

Good stuff! I'm curious how the titans will be modeled in game, being immortal and all :) I'd be down for a business game too. :)

Reply #37 from Elemental Forums Top

How up to date with the Homnomnom webpage be kept? 

I do really like the idea about letting users tweak it and create their own XML Tech Trees. +1 for that, great idea. 

Reply #38 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting bonscott, reply 23



Quoting Frogboy,
reply 12

We can't. They're not ours to sell.  In the end though, there will be an expansion pack's level of content all free for the price of a $10 book. Random House has done something really interesting here, it'll be interesting to see how it works out for them.



Cool.  I was going to pick up the book eventually anyway but if it comes with a ton of free content as well I'll go get it.

So I assume one can get the book from anywhere (say Amazon) and then the codes are in the book?  (Any worry people will go to an actual book store and right down the code and take them home?)

And then you input that code into Impulse I'd gather and the free content will then appear for download?

And finally, is there a list anywhere of what free content is available via buying the book?

Just trying to get a handle on this.

Thanks!

P.S.  Love the tech tree online.  I already understand it a whole lot better and I can map out a strategy properly on what tech to go for next.
End of bonscott's quote

1. People could do that as there is no seal or whateva to hide the code. I suggest you buy it from Amazon brand new and not second hand, i saw someone  selling the a DLC code on Ebay.

2. http://elementalgame.com/destiny

3. Elemental: Destiny’s Embers Character Pack (Xander, Geni, Nym, Galor, Ambrose, Mirdoth, Calis) [SOON]
    Elemental: Destiny’s Embers MAP Pack [COMING IN SEPTEMBER]
    Elemental: Destiny’s Embers: Part 1 – Xander & Geni [COMING OCTOBER]
    Elemental: Destiny’s Embers: Part 2 – Calis & Tandis [COMING NOVEMBER]
    Elemental: Destiny’s Embers: Part 3 – Nym & Talax [COMING DECEMBER]

Reply #39 from Demigod Forums Top

Random House has done something really interesting here, it'll be interesting to see how it works out for them.
End of quote

Hope it works out well for you as well.  I haven't started reading the book yet, but hope its good stuff!

i saw someone selling the a DLC code on Ebay.
End of quote

hopefully the codes are unique?

Reply #40 from Elemental Forums Top

Wow, the Elemental tech tree is a lot more extensive than I thought.

Reply #41 from Elemental Forums Top

fantastic update... indeed a busy friday! definitely interested to dive into the mod area...

Reply #42 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting 1SuperG, reply 14
As to the question about DL content, it was stated earlier that all DL content will be released to EVERYONE 90 days after it is released to those that bought "x". So, whatever I get for buying from BestBuy others will have 90 days later. Stardock apparently gave up some pretty good coin for that to happen.

 

Well, Brad posted before I did and in fact I'm dead wrong it seems.

 

 

Huh.
End of 1SuperG's quote

IIRC, that was the Walmart (or Bestbuy?) retail version DLC. They wanted something special for the retail box, and that's the thing Stardock can give out in 90 days. The book content is different apparently, probably because everybody can buy a book but anybody who pre-ordered from Impulse to be in the beta can't go buy a retail copy.

Reply #43 from Elemental Forums Top

Arena page is looking cool. Is it going to track coop games as well as competitive ones? Also, is the player location based on their profile, or by IP geolocation?

Reply #44 from Elemental Forums Top

Nice. Awesome improvements to an already awesome game. Can't wait to play it.

Reply #45 from Elemental Forums Top

Just got the book for my nook, where is the code to enter for your free DLC when it comes out?

Reply #46 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 20
...It also represents an example of where I was wrong in thinking that balancing isn't that big of a deal...
End of Frogboy's quote
As I understand it, you folks wrote Elemental code so that the act of changing the numbers for balancing purposes is quick&easy.  Unfortunately, one can't write code so that the decision regarding what numbers to change and what to change them to to achieve good balance, is quick&easy ;)

That still takes a lot of time and the input from many people to get it right.

Hey, if it was easy, anyone could do it.

Reply #47 from Elemental Forums Top

I bought Elemental off the retail rack the first day it was available.   (gnashing of teeth and pulling out of hair)

Almost gave in to despair and removed it from my hard drive.   I'm really glad I didn't.  It's becoming one of my favorite games.

You guys have been doing a great job. Keep up the excellent work.

Reply #48 from Elemental Forums Top

Thanks for the updates and maintaining an open line of communication with the community. I know many companies forgo that for the obvious problamatic individuals, but it is one of the things that stardock has over other larger companies. There will be bad times, but there will also be good times thats just life. I cannot tell you how great it is to see a company so open about its ongoing processes and taking time to help others in the mod community to understand and develop content that isnt going to profit the company.

Please keep heading down that path. :beer:

w34sl3

Reply #49 from Elemental Forums Top

We can't. They're not ours to sell. In the end though, there will be an expansion pack's level of content all free for the price of a $10 book. Random House has done something really interesting here, it'll be interesting to see how it works out for them.
End of quote

Question: It is not too late to get the book, is it? ^_^

Reply #50 from Demigod Forums Top

Question: It is not too late to get the book, is it?
End of quote

nope - pick it up on amazon.