[Bug][0.952]Zone of Control is a black box; help me open it!

from Elemental Forums

The UI needs to provide information about the Zone of Control (ZoC) for a player's cities/outposts. Reasons for the need for additional information:

1. Now that outposts have a game mechanic where not being connected to a ZoC will result in less production, I need to know some steps I can take to increase the ZoC for either my cities or the outpost(s) impacted.

2. Currently, ZoC increases through two methods- population or buildings (is there another option?). But there is some information missing in the UI currently- when do the population levels do they increase? Are there any technologies to improve/increase this?

3. Is there a minimum distance between outposts? If so, how is that communicated in game?

4. What is the real function of ZoC? Does is repel monsters? Does is repel AI? I know there are some ZoC benefits outposts can provide to this, too, but what's the game mechanic impact with cities?

5. Finally, are there plans for Pioneers to show a ZoC representation for when they settle an area? Knowing this will really help me with outpost/city placement.

As a final note, I'll make a few other comments and questions:

A. Why can't I buy ZoC with gildars directly? How about spending influence on it? Casting spells? Why is it only limited to population and buildings?

B. Why are outposts the only thing that can add benefits to ZoC?

C. If an outpost is inside a ZoC, do it's benefits permeate throughout the ZoC, or just its area? If it's just its area, how can I tell what that is within the ZoC since it all just combines together?

Did I miss any understanding/use cases? Any additional information anyone can provide on understanding this would help, too.

11,607 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top


1,2)  Outposts can expand your ZOC even further.  Upgrading said outposts with High Tower will expand it again.  As far as when the population gives a boost, no it's said in-game.  It just happens as your population increases.  As far as buildings go,  you'll see +1 ZOC on things like Monument, Town Hall, etc..

3) Must be 3 tiles apart, it won't let you build if you don't.  Box will be greyed out.

4) No and No.  Sometimes wandering monsters will wander in.  Other players may be pains and try to run scouts/pioneers across your territory.  Even if you say get the crap out or we're at war.  They're doing the same junk next turn.  Function? It's like your empire/kingdom's borders. One other thing, some lair monsters may or may not attack you once their lair becomes in the ZOC. 

 

5) doubt it.  Cities initially form a 3 x 3 box around the center, where the pioneer settled.  Outpost have larger radius, 2 tiles out from center.

 

A) Cause they want to limit it to a certain extent.

B ) They just are, makes the outpost do something.

C) The portion of the ZOC where the outpost is.  2 tile radius from the outpost. 

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Thanks, Shogun for some of the info. Sounds like a lot of the points I raised just aren't addressed in-game. ZoC seems a bit like one of those left over game mechanics from WoM. It's certainly getting better- the upgrading of outposts sure make them more relevant, but it seems like something that should provide greater benefit and also increase in clarity. As it stands now, other than Outpost benefits, ZoC is almost counter-productive because Monsters will attack you if it grows too big. I'd love to see ZoC become more functional and understandable.

Am I alone in this opinion?

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

After playing around with FE a bit more, I've come up with a couple other features/benefits of ZoC (addressing point #4):

1. It gives you access to resources.

2. It pulls back the Fog of War so you can see what's going on within your areas of influence.

Given that info, knowing how and when it expands is really helpful. Currently I've really enjoyed when the ZoC for my city increases, but it just sorta happens, and it's not obvious it's related to population.

Please, can we get some info in the UI on this? And does anyone know the levels at which ZoC expands for population sizes?

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Lord, reply 3
Given that info, knowing how and when it expands is really helpful. Currently I've really enjoyed when the ZoC for my city increases, but it just sorta happens, and it's not obvious it's related to population.

Please, can we get some info in the UI on this? And does anyone know the levels at which ZoC expands for population sizes?
End of Lord's quote

I have never seen my zone of control expand due to population, but only due to buildings I have built.

If you have any suggestions about how to get the info into the UI I will probably agree in the suggestion, :D

Sincerely
~ Kongdej