Keep up the hard work, this game is improving

from Elemental Forums

I know there's a lot of (legitimate) complaints on the forum regarding Elemental and in typical intarwebz fashion, it's usually expressed in the most crass and melodramatic fashion possible.  

I'm a player who was disappointed by numerous things about Elemental's release and put the game on hold after 1.06.  I've told myself that I was going to wait until 1.1 before giving the game a go again, but after seeing the 1.09 patch I decided what the hell, lets fire it up.

While there are obviously still design problems (stuff I know Stardock is working on), I have to say that the user and game experience is much improved.  Everything flows a lot better, both from a technical/performance perspective and a game perspective.  It's substantially improved from the release version of the game.

There's still a lot of work to be done, but I wanted to congratulate the team on what they've accomplished thus far.  Don't let all the negativity get you down, I can see the improvements coming along and if you can keep at it, I think this might turn out to be a very solid TBS game.

elemental
14,457 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Thanks.  We're having a good time working on it and interacting with you guys.

This week I've been working on the new outline for a re-done manual for v1.1 since it's such a significant departure.

 

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top


I know there's a lot of (legitimate) complaints on the forum regarding Elemental and in typical intarwebz fashion, it's usually expressed in the most crass and melodramatic fashion possible.  

I'm a player who was disappointed by numerous things about Elemental's release and put the game on hold after 1.06.  I've told myself that I was going to wait until 1.1 before giving the game a go again, but after seeing the 1.09 patch I decided what the hell, lets fire it up.

While there are obviously still design problems (stuff I know Stardock is working on), I have to say that the user and game experience is much improved.  Everything flows a lot better, both from a technical/performance perspective and a game perspective.  It's substantially improved from the release version of the game.

There's still a lot of work to be done, but I wanted to congratulate the team on what they've accomplished thus far.  Don't let all the negativity get you down, I can see the improvements coming along and if you can keep at it, I think this might turn out to be a very solid TBS game.

End of quote

I'm with you. I have been playing since the release date nearly every day. Hold off for the latest patch? Nope. The game is additively fun no matter what. Kudos to Stardock---great philosophy & culture. You guys rock!

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Even -I- would agree that its heading in the right direction, with the caveat of separating attack and defense as well as adding damage types.  Fire spells should not harm fire elementals any more than swords against chainmail.  I understand that attack and defense will be separated, but have heard nothing on the second.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I agree 100% with the OP.  Elemental is a lot of fun to play and just keeps getting better every patch.  Kudo's to Stardock for all the hardwork they've put into improving this game.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Raven-sb, reply 4
I agree 100% with the OP.  Elemental is a lot of fun to play and just keeps getting better every patch.  Kudo's to Stardock for all the hardwork they've put into improving this game.
End of Raven-sb's quote

Same here, that is why i bought it despite it state month ago. So far I trust Stardock.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting hairrorist, reply 3
Even -I- would agree that its heading in the right direction, with the caveat of separating attack and defense as well as adding damage types.  Fire spells should not harm fire elementals any more than swords against chainmail.  I understand that attack and defense will be separated, but have heard nothing on the second.
End of hairrorist's quote

This is REALLY important for the success of this game when it comes to magic.  If there is no form of magic resistance AND element resistance, the game will never reach its true potential.  Adding resistances adds a whole new level of strategizing.   It would be nice to see Brad or Boogie or some Stardock person comment on this.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Stuie_acs, reply 6

Quoting hairrorist, reply 3Even -I- would agree that its heading in the right direction, with the caveat of separating attack and defense as well as adding damage types.  Fire spells should not harm fire elementals any more than swords against chainmail.  I understand that attack and defense will be separated, but have heard nothing on the second.

This is REALLY important for the success of this game when it comes to magic.  If there is no form of magic resistance AND element resistance, the game will never reach its true potential.  Adding resistances adds a whole new level of strategizing.   It would be nice to see Brad or Boogie or some Stardock person comment on this.
End of Stuie_acs's quote
They have and it's being worked on.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting hairrorist, reply 3
Fire spells should not harm fire elementals
End of hairrorist's quote
The Master of Fire cannot use his knowledge to disrupt the natural flow of a Fire Elemental and harm him using his own element? I could accept a "no" with a newbie channeler but a devoted channeler of an element should do "impossible!" things with it. That would suppose some kind of specialization system with proper "rewards" for it.

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

@ Winter

Yes.  I'd say that it makes more sense for a 'master channeler' to have the wherewithall to use an element other than fire when attacking a creature made of the stuff.

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Wintersong, reply 8

Fire spells should not harm fire elementalsThe Master of Fire cannot use his knowledge to disrupt the natural flow of a Fire Elemental and harm him using his own element? I could accept a "no" with a newbie channeler but a devoted channeler of an element should do "impossible!" things with it. That would suppose some kind of specialization system with proper "rewards" for it.
End of Wintersong's quote

Like being able to cause it to explode harming nearby units?

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Wintersong, reply 8

Quoting hairrorist, reply 3Fire spells should not harm fire elementalsThe Master of Fire cannot use his knowledge to disrupt the natural flow of a Fire Elemental and harm him using his own element? I could accept a "no" with a newbie channeler but a devoted channeler of an element should do "impossible!" things with it. That would suppose some kind of specialization system with proper "rewards" for it.
End of Wintersong's quote

 

I think Wintersong means 'fighting fire with fire' here. It reminds me of an anecdote I once heard.

Ah hemm. Long ago, an athiest went up to a man of religion and said, "If your God is so great, tell me how He can punish Satan by damning him to burn in Hell, if Satan himself is a creature of fire?" The man of religion looked sternly at the athiest for a moment and didn't speak. He then bent over and picked up a hard caked clump of earth, and slammed it into the face of the athiest, causing his nose to break and bleed profusely.

Incensed, the athiest had his case brought before a judge. The judge asked the religious man, "Why did you respond to this man's question with such a violent action?". The religious man finally broke his silence and said to the judge, "This man wanted to know how a being of a particular element could be harmed by the same element. Are we not all of the Earth, and formed as the clay is molded?" The judge took a moment to register, and then a knowing look was evident in his eyes. The case was dismissed.

 

I embellished a little, but the meaning is understood I think. But yeah, I agree with Wintersong.

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

I agree, the game is awesome and its only getting better and better, Stardock really has done a great job with patching this game up so far  and it looks to only get better!

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Istari, reply 11

I think Wintersong means 'fighting fire with fire' here. It reminds me of an anecdote I once heard.

Ah hemm. Long ago, an athiest went up to a man of religion and said, "If your God is so great, tell me how He can punish Satan by damning him to burn in Hell, if Satan himself is a creature of fire?" The man of religion looked sternly at the athiest for a moment and didn't speak. He then bent over and picked up a hard caked clump of earth, and slammed it into the face of the athiest, causing his nose to break and bleed profusely.

Incensed, the athiest had his case brought before a judge. The judge asked the religious man, "Why did you respond to this man's question with such a violent action?". The religious man finally broke his silence and said to the judge, "This man wanted to know how a being of a particular element could be harmed by the same element. Are we not all of the Earth, and formed as the clay is molded?" The judge took a moment to register, and then a knowing look was evident in his eyes. The case was dismissed.

I embellished a little, but the meaning is understood I think. But yeah, I agree with Wintersong.
End of Istari's quote

Continuing the metaphor, I imagine if you hit a person with the same quantity of fire as there was earth in the hard caked clump of earth, they would have a fair bit more than a broken nose.

To use DnD terms, damage Resistance would adequately represent a master enchanter being able to harm a fire elemental with fire. You need to do more than a certain amount to even harm them, and even then that would be lessened. After all, sure a master enchanter would be able to manipulate the fire in such a way to hurt them, but that same master enchanter dousing them with freezing water would be far more effective.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

At version 1.09E+ the game is fun and so far pretty stable.   A lot of progress has been made from where it was a launch.   However, the best part is the promise of a great game experience that is there - with the right changes and additions this can be a classic that will be fun and interesting for a long time.

In a time when most game companies don't fix problems - they just walk away - Frogboy and the whole StarDock crew deserve a lot of thanks for all the hard work.

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting CrazyHarlequin, reply 13

Quoting Istari, reply 11
I think Wintersong means 'fighting fire with fire' here. It reminds me of an anecdote I once heard.

Ah hemm. Long ago, an athiest went up to a man of religion and said, "If your God is so great, tell me how He can punish Satan by damning him to burn in Hell, if Satan himself is a creature of fire?" The man of religion looked sternly at the athiest for a moment and didn't speak. He then bent over and picked up a hard caked clump of earth, and slammed it into the face of the athiest, causing his nose to break and bleed profusely.

Incensed, the athiest had his case brought before a judge. The judge asked the religious man, "Why did you respond to this man's question with such a violent action?". The religious man finally broke his silence and said to the judge, "This man wanted to know how a being of a particular element could be harmed by the same element. Are we not all of the Earth, and formed as the clay is molded?" The judge took a moment to register, and then a knowing look was evident in his eyes. The case was dismissed.

I embellished a little, but the meaning is understood I think. But yeah, I agree with Wintersong.

Continuing the metaphor, I imagine if you hit a person with the same quantity of fire as there was earth in the hard caked clump of earth, they would have a fair bit more than a broken nose.

To use DnD terms, damage Resistance would adequately represent a master enchanter being able to harm a fire elemental with fire. You need to do more than a certain amount to even harm them, and even then that would be lessened. After all, sure a master enchanter would be able to manipulate the fire in such a way to hurt them, but that same master enchanter dousing them with freezing water would be far more effective.
End of CrazyHarlequin's quote

 

I'm looking at it a little differently. Perhaps fighting fire with fire is not the best way to put it. Let's take Magneto as an example. His special domain of all things metal allows him to turn metal upon itself, and he plays with it as a child does a toy. So, a channeler with masterful expertise in fire should be able to manipulate fire in such a way as to turn it upon itself, or weaken it, or even extinguish it by order of command. You might say such a channeler possesses the hidden secrets of fire.

From a game perspective, I think this would be a very interesting path to take and it would be quite fun to try out specialisation in different elements.