Missions

[Polemists]

So, maybe this was covered before, but I didn't see it.

In Rome, you got missions from Senate. In MTW2 and Kingdoms you got them from Nobles, Pope, Guilds, etc.

In Empire Total War?

Are we getting missions still? From who?



I know some people found missions annoying but I thought it added some purpose. You know, aka, hey you did good sacking gaul, we wanted you to sack gaul, here's a boat :)

[Sir Beane]

This topic hasn't had it's own thread yet, as far as I know.

I think missions will be handed out by the Council of nobles (for a Maonarchy) parliament (For a Constitutional Monarchy) or by the Senate (for a Republic.)

Additional missions might be handed to you by companies such as the East India Trading Company.

I would like to see missions in the game again, possibly with succesful completion netting you money or prestige rather than useless units.

[Polemists]

How dare you view the wardog as a useless unit.........I mean they were.....but they were a gift :P

[Sir Beane]

How dare you view the wardog as a useless unit.........I mean they were.....but they were a gift :P

I'm only accepting wardogs in my army if they walk on two legs and can carry a musket! :P

[Fisherking]

This topic hasn't had it's own thread yet, as far as I know.

I think missions will be handed out by the Council of nobles (for a Maonarchy) parliament (For a Constitutional Monarchy) or by the Senate (for a Republic.)

Additional missions might be handed to you by companies such as the East India Trading Company.

I would like to see missions in the game again, possibly with succesful completion netting you money or prestige rather than useless units.

:laugh4:

May I add to that useless and expensive units.

It could be nice to get a high quality special unit however, so long as you don’t need to decommission half a dozen ships to afford it’s upkeep.

[Polemists]

That is probably a special forces unit :laugh4:


That said, I am hoping for missions, I'd like to see them make sense this time though. Not after a 10 year war with greece I suddenly have to attack some random province in gaul. Etc, etc.

[Sir Beane]

I would like to see missions mandated by public opinion, with loyalty penalties and possible civil war if enough of them are failed.

For instance your PM's tell you that their voters really want to see an improved road system. You get a message to build better roads, you don't and then your cabinet get voted out.

Or let's say you are neighbouring a country the public really hate. They could pester you to go to war, with cash incentives if you do (or a statue in your honor or something like that)

Basically I want the public to actual have an affect on the country, at least in a reppublic or constitutional monarchy.

[Polemists]

Even under a monarchy I wouldn't mind seeing something like,


Do to recent acts by France, a large partriotic fevour desires vengance, if the anger filled citizens are not quelled , thier anger could turn elsewhere.....


Or something like that.


Like in Rome, when I got blockaded 920980 times and people were surprised when I went to war. :laugh4:

[Fisherking]

I would like to see missions mandated by public opinion, ... their voters ...then your cabinet get voted out...

Basically I want the public to actual have an affect on the country, at least in a reppublic or constitutional monarchy.


Uhhumm! That Republicanistic rhetoric is treason!

Take that man to the gratings!

Boswian!
Get the Cat!

A hundred lashes for a start!:whip:

We’ll beat those ideas out of his head! Rule by the common man indeed!!!!:smash:



:yes:

[Sir Beane]

Even under a monarchy I wouldn't mind seeing something like,


Do to recent acts by France, a large partriotic fevour desires vengance, if the anger filled citizens are not quelled , thier anger could turn elsewhere.....


Or something like that.


Like in Rome, when I got blockaded 920980 times and people were surprised when I went to war. :laugh4:

What did you say general? They've declared war? Preposterous! All we did was march entire armies through their provinces, blockade all of their ports, raid their countryside and maybe kill off a small army or two. How could they possibly view that as an act of aggression?!

I'd like to see a few jokey missions thrown around, just for fun.

'Parliament are unhappy because a university in Paris has researched a fancy type of new wig, but will not sell to Britian. Use a gentleman to steal the technology, and quickly!'

[Polemists]

Clearly...missions would be far more useful...and clearly identified...if we had......(yes not even Beane can contain me) a Demo :)


On to missions

Funny would be nice, I think TW games are a bit to serious sometimes......then I blow up my own units and laugh :laugh4:

[Sir Beane]

Clearly...missions would be far more useful...and clearly identified...if we had......(yes not even Beane can contain me) a Demo :)


On to missions

Funny would be nice, I think TW games are a bit to serious sometimes......then I blow up my own units and laugh :laugh4:

I tried so hard to stop him, but in the end what could one man do against such single minded passion? :laugh4:

TW games have a habit of being really funny in certain areas (such as General's speeches and Ancillary descriptions. I still remember some of the wonderful speeches in Rome and the ancillaries such as the Pet Sheep. And the description of qquaducts. "What did the Romans ever do for us?"

I just wished the humor would leech out into other aspects of the game. :laugh4:

[Polemists]

You know....a great way to show that humor exsists in a game (i am the juggernaut of one mindedness) WOULD BE.....a..............DEMO



On to topic.

Funny things are fun, and I honestly hope our generals get some humorous dialogue. It got kind of boring to just hear. They are weak, we are strong, we will crush them, huzzah

[Sir Beane]

You know....a great way to show that humor exsists in a game (i am the juggernaut of one mindedness) WOULD BE.....a..............DEMO



On to topic.

Funny things are fun, and I honestly hope our generals get some humorous dialogue. It got kind of boring to just hear. They are weak, we are strong, we will crush them, huzzah

The best generals are insane generals, or the ones that have scary mother in laws.

Generals with the insane trait in Rome had some truly memorable speeches, that had me laughing out loud so much that I couldn't ven fight the battle properly. :laugh4:

[Martok]

I'm trying to remember where I read it, but I'm pretty sure there are going to be missions in Empire. What details I can recall:


As in the two previous games, they'll be optional.

Rewards will more frequently be in the form of prestige points (read: fewer useless/expensive units as "rewards").

Missions will now make more sense. We should see fewer requests to blockade some far-away port of a faction against whom you have no grudge (and/or have barely interacted with).


I also want to say you can even receive missions from both the nobles and the commoners, but don't quote me on that. :book:

[Sir Beane]

I hope you are right Martok! I actually wasn't expecting missions in the game this time around since there was no central authority to issue them. Here's to being pleasantly suprised! ~:cheers:

[Polemists]

i'd be pleasantly surprised with......(you guessed it)..........a DEMO

That said, peasant missions? I guess the less missions you do the more likely they are to revolt. Still if your king and listening to the people, what's point of being king :laugh4:

[Fondor_Yards]

Personally, I hope they take out missions. I've found them only to annoying and pointless. Really merchant guild, you want to try with Portugal? Then send your own freaking diplomat...

[pdoyle007]

The missions could have a bearing on your own future. A revolt in a foreign power might sound good (especially if they are a rival) but if their commoners start to have a better standard of living then your own peasants might get their own ideas.

A message such as 'Your peasants have seen the glorious revolution in......... and are starting to wonder if they too could benefit from a change in leadership'.

Maybe have to help out the old regime elsewhere to protect your own back?

[Polemists]

A message such as 'Your peasants have seen the glorious revolution in......... and are starting to wonder if they too could benefit from a change in leadership'.

Maybe have to help out the old regime elsewhere to protect your own back?

This almost reminds me of the whole side with whatever hier who is trying to reclaim the throne...thing...

I'd be nice to see such a message......


IN A DEMO

[Sir Beane]

Personally, I hope they take out missions. I've found them only to annoying and pointless. Really merchant guild, you want to try with Portugal? Then send your own freaking diplomat...

Rather than remove them completely it would be nice if CA made them less anoyying and pointless, by tying the missions and the reward into the wants of your countries citizens.

It would make a lot more sense to be doing missions to appease a unruly mob back home, and being rewarded with people calming down and going back to work. Or for a king to be doing missions to keep his nobles from kicking him out.

Historically even absolute rulers had to do things to appease some section of the population. A king or ruler very rarely has the total power we see in a TW game, and it would be nice if CA used missions to reflect that.

[Polemists]

That's true, even in monarchies there were other families that would take control. I mean look at england, constant monarchy replacement every 3-4 generations.

I think CA has the right idea, with your punishment only being a new govt or having to take a small financial hit.

I just hope your govt and people don't get like the Senate, where they start by giving you units and end by threatening to look into your financial record lol

Of course.....we will all know the truth...once we have....a demo

[Sir Beane]

That's true, even in monarchies there were other families that would take control. I mean look at england, constant monarchy replacement every 3-4 generations.

I think CA has the right idea, with your punishment only being a new govt or having to take a small financial hit.

I just hope your govt and people don't get like the Senate, where they start by giving you units and end by threatening to look into your financial record lol

Of course.....we will all know the truth...once we have....a demo

I doubt that. :laugh4: No previous demo has ever voyaged into the wild waters of the campaign map. The cruise safely in the tranquil coasts of the battle map, and possibly the exotic Bay of Naval Battle.

[Polemists]

At this point i'd settle for two units of riflemen going at it (With bayonet charge option of course).



As for missions. I think the mission rewards should be a risk/reward thing.

You want me to go get trade rights, fine, small reward.

But if you want me to wipe out England, I want some shiny stuff dang it :P

[Sir Beane]

At this point i'd settle for two units of riflemen going at it (With bayonet charge option of course).



As for missions. I think the mission rewards should be a risk/reward thing.

You want me to go get trade rights, fine, small reward.

But if you want me to wipe out England, I want some shiny stuff dang it :P

A larger variety of missions would be nice to. I always liked the 'Assasinate my father' mission you occasionally got from a rival faction.

Speaking of which it would be nice if allies could request aid in the form of missions.

"You have five turns to take out this army attacking our towns. If you do you get X gold and favourable trade deals."

[Polemists]

This all goes back to the AI and if it's as good as they say.

For example I remeber when the bandited around the


'Assasinate my father' nission you occasionally got from a rival faction.

It sounded cool, it sounded awesome, and when you saw it in game you went "OOOooooo".

Then though you did it, and despite the promise of better relations, and new trade, and a stronger empire, you got blockaded in one turn :P

It was about as useful as allying yourself with egypt in Rome total war,

"So egypt, we are allies right, no attacks this turn?" "Of course Carthage, we would never attack you.....as long as Numidia is there."

or the marriages with Frances princess with five hearts early on for heirs only to later realize France attacks everyone.

Some smart Ai in diplomacy is key, there is one screenshot of a diplomatic screen in one of the early videos, but sadly I am not skilled enough to enlarge it and make it non blurry enough to read.

Of course we could see if the AI is any better in battle at least

if we had

A demo

[Sir Beane]

This all goes back to the AI and if it's as good as they say.

For example I remeber when the bandited around the



It sounded cool, it sounded awesome, and when you saw it in game you went "OOOooooo".

Then though you did it, and despite the promise of better relations, and new trade, and a stronger empire, you got blockaded in one turn :P

It was about as useful as allying yourself with egypt in Rome total war,

"So egypt, we are allies right, no attacks this turn?" "Of course Carthage, we would never attack you.....as long as Numidia is there."

or the marriages with Frances princess with five hearts early on for heirs only to later realize France attacks everyone.

Some smart Ai in diplomacy is key, there is one screenshot of a diplomatic screen in one of the early videos, but sadly I am not skilled enough to enlarge it and make it non blurry enough to read.

Of course we could see if the AI is any better in battle at least

if we had

A demo

Well CA have been making a really big fuss over the AI this time around, so I think we can be hopeful that it has seen at least some improvement. I'll be happy if it ends up as good as the AI in Medieval or Shogun. But they might even surpass that. (Hides behind a sofa from the legions of Shogun fans who now want to kill me.)

[Polemists]

Sadly in some ways I felt the AI in MTW2 was a step backwards from the AI in MTW 1, now the AI had it's problems in MTW 1 but it did seem compotent enough in attacking, diplomacy and use of units.

The battle AI seemed better in 2 but the diplomatic AI seemed worse then 1. May just be me though, that bribe mechanic annoyed me to no end.


I think it should be a improvement as supposedly they did away with the A tries to do B, and if it can't just keeps trying now they are supposedly doing A thinks about B, thinks it's to tough and does C.

Of course A, B, and C are all welcome

in

THE DEMO

[pevergreen]

Comparing AI for games such as Med and Med 2 is...unfair.

Med just had a 2d board. You could move here, here and here.
Med 2 gave the ai massive sea possibilities, many ways into provinces and many more borders. it also had to consider more, even though the vanilla code left many things out! (bonuses you were meant to get, just didnt happen)

On the topic of the kill my father. You couldnt kill him in battle, they wanted him assassinated for your mission to be successful.

[Sir Beane]

Comparing AI for games such as Med and Med 2 is...unfair.

Med just had a 2d board. You could move here, here and here.
Med 2 gave the ai massive sea possibilities, many ways into provinces and many more borders. it also had to consider more, even though the vanilla code left many things out! (bonuses you were meant to get, just didnt happen)

On the topic of the kill my father. You couldnt kill him in battle, they wanted him assassinated for your mission to be successful.

The risk-style map of Shogun and Med made it much easier to program the campaign map AI. The fewer rules and possibilities there are the better the AI will be.

Just look at chess programs. The hardest can devastate all but the best of human players. You can't say that about a game AI that doesn't use cheats or unfair advantages to win.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Polemists - Your Demo requests remind me a little bit Stronghold 2 where the advisor said "You need wood!" when you .. well.. had none. And those things were really funny! :2thumbsup:
Especially this one: "Well.. it comes from forest and it's kind of woody!"

:focus:

[Polemists]

Well i'm not a programmer but I am confident that CA can make a game as fun and entertaining and AI complex (even more so) then they have in the past.

For missions, since they seem to be in the game, they should be done right.

I mean if they are going to put them in the game they might as well put them in right.


Same way if your making a game, you might as well make

a

DEMO

[Martok]

Rather than remove them completely it would be nice if CA made them less anoyying and pointless, by tying the missions and the reward into the wants of your countries citizens.
Agreed. So long as missions feel more natural and less nonsensical this time around, I'll be perfectly happy to fulfill them. :yes:



Well CA have been making a really big fuss over the AI this time around, so I think we can be hopeful that it has seen at least some improvement. I'll be happy if it ends up as good as the AI in Medieval or Shogun. But they might even surpass that. (Hides behind a sofa from the legions of Shogun fans who now want to kill me.)
Heh. I don't think you have to worry about any STW fans sending ninjas to kill you in your sleep. ~;)

Truth be told, if the AI in Empire actually manages to be equal and/or superior to that of Shogun/Medieval, most of us "oldies" won't mind a bit. If anything, we'll be (perhaps slightly perversely) proud -- much like a parent watching their child do better in school than they did at the same age. ~:)