seanw3

Just got the beta downloaded and I have say, despite all the colorful screenshots on the site, black and white was an interesting choice for the beta. I guess we will really have to focus on gameplay with no color. But I just don't get why you replaced all the Sovs with my little ponies. I think maybe the pressure is getting to you guys. [e digicons]:P[/e]

And I suspect that library is a nothing but a speakeasy! [e digicons]8C[/e]

Maybe the AI can add traits to their faction's unique units. I would hazard a guess that these three base units are there to make sure the AI is properly using its bonuses. It shouldn't be unreasonable to assume that the AI can add traits that are acquired throughout the game.

I am suggesting that there are thousands of improvements, but you only get maybe 100 in each game. Random techs and random quests would provide much of the random opportunities. I am talking about replayability here. Especially from the city leveling system. Maybe it would be better to focus on thousands of weapons or spells, but dammit I want thousands of everything! I will probably make my first mod just content additions.

I got OCD from the XML. [e digicons]8|[/e]

Maybe reducing the total number of improvements is a bad idea. Setting a size limit to cities and having thousands of buildings to choose from sounds more fun to me. I would like to see how the game plays, but I think 9 tiles should be the largest a city gets in general. After that the city should start building up instead of out.

What exactly do you think the Human player is going to be able to do that the AI won't? The whole point of these units is to make sure the AI can build good units. Humans building custom units will not be inherently superior to AI unique units. Much of any war in the gaem will likely be decided on a strategic level. The AI having specific units makes tactical AI much easier to perfect. Humans getting to build custom units won't cripple the AI's abilities. I really ca

The Sith use fear. I use a remote detonator.

Two days and the snow that has halted my town from functioning is supposed to be gone right when this beta launches. Bad timing. [e digicons]>:([/e]

I am a Sith Lord and I approve this message.

I believe i have several ideas already on how to thin the herd of improvements. The real question is how much rewriting can be done to make improvements different. This seems like a good place for me to go after I go over the unit traits and faction traits. A basic idea I have been thinking about is the random improvement we get from leveling a city and the magic card look of the old spell design system. I want to see the beta before I overthink any details,

The first thing I will be doing on Thursday is going through the XML for traits. Then I can see exactly what there is and how the player comes across it. Assuming the game is stable, the beta testers will be able to focus on the fine details of the game. My only fear is that every trait can be had by any faction. That would put alot of pressure on the uniqueness of factions to dissuade users from deciding on the best traits and only ever using those. I may even post some of, it

So noted.

The AI may also be capable of using the lower land spell to clear a path to any object of value. That would be how I would solve it with this kind of non scripted AI. The only thing I don't think the AI can or should do is try to wall in a human player. It would just be a waste of time. Although, it would be pretty cool to have a terraforming war that leaves the earth shattered and broken. The point that these spells should be high up there and costly is absolutely right. I

There are many more spells. That is just what we got a few months ago. They are all the spells from WoM. Great new look. I did a spit take when I opened this up a few minutes ago. Need to clean my monitor.

People who preordered from Gamestop will get their disease on the 19th, but the beta the following week. [e digicons]:P[/e]

You could always rip off the Quest UI from SWOTOR. [e digicons]:)[/e]

So we should wait until the beta release to start a debate on the unique units system. Naysayers seem to miss the point that A faction's traits are what make their unique units desirable. Sure Umber could make a few Magebane soldiers. But it wouldn't really be helpful without the Pariden's traits to allow them to reach their full potential. I am sure there are a few units that will cross over nicely to other factions. I, however, would guess that if you are custom making u

It is funny to see what people think is going to be overpowered. I think it will be Gilden getting unbreakable trade routes and -50% to all unit costs. They will be very easy to steamroll with.

While I think setting the AI to counter a raise land spell is easily within FB's grasp of AI writing (If Human casts Raise land to block off a capital, then Computer Player counters by casting the opposite spell on the same tile.), I am thinking of trying to lower land my way through a wildlands to get to the gooey center. Oh the exploits we will come up with...

The big difference i notice is how every screen uses color to liven things up. Compared to the WoM menus it is a huge improvement, but what about using some color on the numbers to relay information? ex: -1 is yellow but -5 is red. It would make the data easier to glance at and find outliers for when those lists get really big. P.S. One thing I would like to learn how to do is add a Spell of Kings option area to the setup screen. This would be a very good thing to

Making unique units better or cheaper would screw over people that prefer custom units. The way Derek has it now, your incentive to train them is that they will be better complimented by the faction's bonuses. But there should always be room for the player to make custom units to benefit from advantages that are gained during the game.

In WoM regular troops had 10 levels of experience. There has been no indication of any changes to that mechanic. Although as far as UI goes, a name instead of a number would be very pleasing.

Just when I was starting to believe the rumors about Derek Paxton... Wow, alot of my wishlists are being put into the game. I am thinking that it makes more sense now to plan extensions of each race's abilities. They have so much character now it doesn't make sense to allow any faction to receive the special buildings I have been thinking about. Derek doesn't post often, but when he does, it blows me away. I especially like the razing strategy getting some th

Derek probably doesn't have time to post because he is trying to justify delaying the beta by one day, everyday for the next millennium! Muahahahahahaha. But seriously Derek, you need to be using your powers for good. [e digicons]:annoyed:[/e]