You know I'm actually really impressed with the cloth map! Could I ask that you please consider allowing players to choose to add some kind of "wear-filter" to make the map seem dirtier and faded in some places? I'm digging the look right now and it could be even better.
Scoutdog I freely admit I don't know the limitations of the engine right now. If the "hero" object is somehow unable to interact with buildings/leaders and whatever else I guess there could be a separate object called a "spy hero." It still seems easier than having a full-blown spy system and interface. Perhaps essence isn't needed, again I don't know how valuable it is. Whatever the case, you should not have "stacks" of spies or anything like that. Maybe four or five snooping around enemy te
Well scoutdog what you described is exactly a diplomatic victory from GC2, except you have to take the extra one minute to sign the alliance pacts. So there would be no need to have a separate "espionage victory." Galciv already covered the military, influence, diplomatic, and tech bases. I guess Elemental could use a "quest" victory, but that's for another time.
Scoutdog, what kind of espionage victory do you envision separate from a military or diplomatic victory? I envision a spy as either weakening an empire so you can conquer it, manipulating leaders so you can persuade them to back you up in a diplomatic victory scenario or turning them into vassals (Grima style), or causing your culture to take hold in enemy cities until they convert to you. When you say espionage victory, I'm envisioning some kind of "you stole the KFC recipe you
endofdayz, while you are right in saying that merchants are broken in KoH the fact remains that the espionage system in the game is both fun and situationally useful. You could just build a big army, conquer France, and negiotate your way to peace with all the courts around it that are their kin, or you could creatively maneuver as I described. KoH also handled counter-espionage well, for all you had to do was keep X spies in your court (depending on the threat) to catch other s
Spies should be heroes, that's a given. The evidence is clear that other systems simply don't work as well. And spies shouldn't all be alike, either. Not every spy specializes in structural sabotage. One might be useful for influencing relations and could be used to secure hard-to-get diplomatic agreements (a la Grima Wormtongue), another might be an assassin, another might be useful for turning the tide of a battle, another might be useful for creating domestic unrest/order. SP
endofdayz, you're right that esponiage was terrible (or at least not good) in the games you mentioned. However, I'll give you an example from Knights of Honor (you may not be familiar with it but it's fairly simple). I was playing as Wales trying to expand off the British Isles into the mainland. However, the diplomatic nets are too tight, and declaring war on any one player in a time of relative calm would result in an immediate coalition against me. So I marry a princess to the prin
Although I'm certainly not interested in this book (yet), I can appreciate how significantly good lore will enhance the game. I'm glad you think it's important. [e digicons]:grin:[/e]
endofdayz, the impression I'm getting from elemental is that it's not some overblown warcraft or HoMM-style fantasy extravaganza. I'm getting a much more subdued vibe from it similar to something like The Lord of the Rings or A Song of Ice and Fire. Very human(oid)-centered and all about diplomacy and intrigue amidst a greater conflict. Espionage most certainly has a place here imo.
I think Elemental could benefit from a "game of thrones" aspect added to its diplomacy. I'm not too familiar with how the channeler/sovereign mechanics work right now, so I don't know if a ruling family or feudal system could work in Elemental's context, but if there could be like a worldwide council established early on in the game (when some tech is researched or whatever) that acts like a highly sophisticated united nations from civ and has its own land like some kind of fantastical papacy
Is the NDA going to last the entire alpha? You mean we won't have a single screen or play-through story for the entire month?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
I really do hope the release date gets pushed back... I don't see how anyone here can be against it, especially when they can play the game whenever they want even before release =/
I got Knights of Honor last week off steam pretty cheap (7.50). It's not a TBS, but I'll be damned if it isn't one of the most fun strategy games I've ever played. It's likea hybrid of EU lite and total war in medieval times, meaning it's all in real-time but it is absolutely NOT a clickfest. You can slow the game speed and manage at your own pace. The battles are like simplified versions of the total war battles. The game flows very smoothly and the system for managing your rulers is slick.
I certainly like the idea. If I'm understanding you correctly, would it be possible in this model to for instance switch the "slay the monsters in the den to get the vulnerability potion" with "negotiate with kingdom X who has the information you need to create the potion?" And to complicate it even more, would it be possible to add multiple parts involving you gathering the ingredients to create this potion?
My one wish for tactical battles is that you at least make them more sophisticated than something like HoMM or King's Bounty, where there are no counters at ALL. If you could approach the level of sophistication in something like advance wars (large maps with terrain bonuses that affect stats AND movement) as well as (a few) soft counters that aspect of the game would be pristine. I think it's mostly those stupid, tiny maps that many WRPGs use in their tactical battles that ruin them. <
The fact that we get to play the game before release invalidates any complaints. Once again, DO IT! This game has so much potential that it would be an absolute shame to pass up a chance to stun the gaming world with an incredible masterpiece.
PLEASE DO IT. THIS IS THE GREATEST THING THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO FOR THE GAME. [e digicons]:grin:[/e] [e digicons]:grin:[/e] [e digicons]:grin:[/e] [e digicons]:grin:[/e]
Is the alpha still planned to be cloth map only?
Just dropping in to say to Frogboy that I hope single-player remains the (heavy) focus of elemental, considering how competitive play can so quickly ruin the fun of game (no explicit examples necessary =P). On another note, I played the Demigod demo and it seems like a pretty fun game, but is it just me or is the map pretty plain compared to Dota's forests and ambushes teeming with monsters?