FWIW, I think you should... ...need resources to build things ...get a bonus to build rate and a reduced gold cost if you have multiple resources ...have multiple ways of getting resources ("harvesting", trade, spoils of war, raiding caravans) ...have the ability to store resources For #4 to work, though, it has to be automated. Few people want a logistical micromanagement game. If resources are stored and move around on
If you want/need the most computing power possible, go with Clevo (Sager in the U.S.). XoticPC.com and PowerNotebooks.com are both reputable resellers. The high-end Sager models are very expensive, but less expensive per performance measure. You're paying for the hardware: not the brand name.
I'm actually happy with this direction. I prefer paying for capability (WindowBlinds) over content (MyColors). Plus, MyColors and WB were and either/or proposition: I couldn't use a MyColors theme and then tweak it. Sad to see ObjectBar going away, but ObjectDock performs most of the same functions, and graphically things are moving to widgets, gadgets, and virtual windows (Fences).
Info cards are a good idea. I like it.
Downloading now. This app is great. I want Fences in my Explorer panes.
I think it'd be neat if Unit Sizes varied by Faction. Certainly some factions could be similar or, more likely, identical. But I think the concept would be nice. Additionally, it'd be interesting if Unit Sizes had a range of values, rather than a single value. This would allow two things: Collections of units merged together could receive non-production-related bonuses. The XML file already has the structures in place to allow this, but having a
One of the XML files details out the various "unit sizes". It goes something like single, troop, platoon, company, battalion, legion if I recall correctly. Since it's just an XML file, it should even be moddable if you don't like the out-of-the-box orgs.
TatertotEatalot - I'm not saying that "realistically" the diagonal squares shouldn't be safer; I'm saying that from a gameplay standpoint: what does that add, other than complexity? I tend to be all for making games realistic (I prefer sims to games, I guess), but at the end f the day, complexity for its own sake tends to do poorly. It basically comes down to: squares, hexes, or real coordinates. Hexes make it look "hard", real coordinates tend to make it "hard" (
Or make it cost 2.8. Display Movement Points as whole integers (i.e. trim fractions), but calculate real movement. If everything takes at least 1 to move along, then any remainder at the end are useless. The problem is that doing something like this makes diagonal tiles "safer" than horizontal/vertical tiles. While it adds to technical realism slightly, I'm not sure the gameplay impact is worth it. It's far easier to think of distance not as "the space between
This is a great idea. I agree that such a system needs both a) bonus to first to research and b) reduced cost to research for everyone else to be effective. It incents a technology race, but keeps the race artificially close. A Player can make a reasonable decision to lag everyone else on purpose, at the cost of never having the "best" of something. Very cool.
A "sleeping" Sovereign might be interesting. Perhaps it could be used to prepare for certain spells that are otherwise uncastable (i.e. allows build-up of mana or something), but player becomes AI-run at that point, minus any orders already given. Such a feature might best remain in single-player mode, but it could be interesting.
Any chance the primary machine is going through VPN?
Disregard above.
Meh, I was going to post something I thought was funny, but thought better of it.
GalCiv2 has the best AI of any strategy game. The original Half-Life continues to impress me to this day: it was very much ahead of its time. I'll never forget the first time I was fighting a fire team of soldiers, and thought I was being clever by popping up, firing, ducking, and then moving to a new location, only to hear them say "Flush him out" right before grenades starting going off everywhere. The Total War series is a lot of fun, but I've never had any trouble trou
1253798940 Enemy sovereign starts within 4 tiles River delta in the ocean
Nice. If I recall correctly, WETA had it's 3d graphic artist workstations setup to become a virtual render farm overnight while they were producing Lord of the Rings. This looks like a similar concept, and is a great idea. It's definitely cheaper than a dedicated "build" server or cluster. I look forward to the day when I can rent out my spare CPU cycles. :)
[quote who="daedalao" reply="11" id="2383145"]I'm laughing because this is the one thing my brother and I asked Frogboy at PAX. We were discussing AI development while he was playing with Volcanic Upheaval. Pretty sweet getting a chance to talk to the man himself.[/quote] I think the community consensus was basically "it depends on the map setup". A few seemed noticeably weaker in certain circumstances (Korx, e.g.), but all of them could do well under at least some c
We need someone to make an Elemental Windowblind...
Unless you're talking to someone on the other side of the international date line. Or if it's close to midnight and you're talking to someone just a litte bit further east.
I’m sure the Beta will be available Soon™. You know: When It’s Done™. [e digicons]:grin:[/e]
[quote who="Frogboy" reply="5" id="2373919"]Galactic Civilizations II already does this. The AI will outright tell you that it's coming after you because you keep conquering little guys.[/quote] Got that one once after taking out a single Minor: my first conquest of the game. I think the other factions were busy with other, larger problems, but it made me tread lightly for awhile. Definitely one of those "this is cool" moments.
So, I think the consensus is.... 1. The tech system in the game should be fun for a majority of players 2. The tech system in the game should be moddable enough to change it from #1 (see above). In other words, Frogboy: we want our cake, and we want to eat it too. [e digicons]:grin:[/e]
[quote who="BoogieBac" reply="38" id="2363698"]First day of fall is September 22, so it'll be available on or before the 21st http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Autumnal_equinox_2009 Also, we're planning on sending emails out to notify those who pre-order when the beta's officially available (as well as massive announcements here on the forums).[/quote] Can I pass this on to my engineering department? Their definition of "Summer 2009" seems to be more...fl
[quote who="Ron Lugge" reply="29" id="2365403"] Sounds pretty bare bones. What exactly will we be testing for in betas 1a and 1b? Engine. Does it crash? Does it run well? Can it survive alt-tabbing? Etc etc.[/quote] Will it blend?