Chat with Palamedes

Just though i'd let you guys know i've just had a phone convo with Jason, aka Palamedes a CA Oz dev.

Pala was interested in the rebalancing of unit stats i'd done for LTC. The phone convo today was mainly discussing about that.

He's gonna test out some of the balancing things i've done, in conjunction with some changes CA have made for the 2nd patch to see if it improves the balance, and who knows some of my changes might make it into the next patch. He's going to try some of them out tomorrow, and we'll be having further convos.

I also mentioned the shield bug to him(looks like CA changed the way shields worked and this was an unfortunate side effect), talked about the 2 handed bug(sounds like it will more than likely be fixed in the next patch).

We also got chatting about campaign ai and changes to the campaign i've done, and he's going to have a look at some of the campaign ai mods around to see if they can be used to help improve things.

Plus he's also going to get me in touch with other CA devs to chat about this stuff to see if i can't get some other improvements i've done incorporated in the next patch.

So all in all a good day, and things sound promising for the next patch.

Sounds great!

Good to see your work being recognised...

Not just my work, we discussed other modders work as well.

That can only be a good thing.

As long as the devs are willing to use the modders expertise the game's still got plenty of potential

Excellent news! :2thumbsup:

All Hail!

Wow, I wish it was a normal day when I talked to people that make my favourite games...

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Wow, I wish it was a normal day when I talked to people that make my favourite games...

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It was a bit surreal chatting to a dev of the company who make my favourite games, about maybe including some of my changes in the next patch.

Just a note

If shield bug, 2h bug, charges and others are fixed, then balance required will be _very_ different. LTC changes are suitable for a bugged M2TW 1.1 and nothing else. So be careful.

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If shield bug, 2h bug, charges and others are fixed, then balance required will be _very_ different. LTC changes are suitable for a bugged M2TW 1.1 and nothing else. So be careful.

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Don't worry im taking all that into consideration. Apparently cav charges have been tweaked by editing certain things so they work more, and may be slightly less powerful. I've already made cav less powerful in LTC so my balances for spearmen should still work. Pala is testing the changes i've made so we'll have another convo at some point and probably talk about further balancing.

Great news!

Nice to know the devs are getting a direct feel for the community.

I hope you asked if you could use them as a job reference Lusted. Never hurts to ask. ~:thumb:

congrats :) although to be brutally honest I like the unit balance as it is. (aside from the 2h units and other bugs that throw off the balance) but thats just me, good work though!

Nice it doesn't sound like the 2nd patch is gonna be that far off.

Any idea on the patch date, oh mighty one, protector of the poor and light to his people Lusted?

(Been playing the Moors)

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Any idea on the patch date, oh mighty one, protector of the poor and light to his people Lusted?

(Been playing the Moors)

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Nope, didn't ask about that. I would think its still going to be about late Feb like a CA guy said on the official forums a while ago.

Thanks Lusted! BWY I find your posts informative and usefull.

props to both these fullas

Nice work Lusted!!

Good to hear that level of engagement is being practised by CA.

Are you going to send him an invoice? ~:lightbulb:

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Are you going to send him an invoice?

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I've got a very reasonable hourly rate for my services:laugh4:

(Edited out, sorry, wrong thread!)

Very good news, you have done wonders with balancing the 2 handed soldiers. Now I can use my Berdiche Axemen to their full potential.

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Originally Posted by CeltiberoMordred

Just a note

If shield bug, 2h bug, charges and others are fixed, then balance required will be _very_ different. LTC changes are suitable for a bugged M2TW 1.1 and nothing else. So be careful.

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Seconded.

I'd wait a couple of months after bug fix before getting any idea about balance at all.

Louis,

Excellent news! I'm glad to hear CA is being so responsive, and have high hopes for the second patch :beam:

Awesome! This approach by CA is a very good thing IMO, contrary to what some other members have suggested on this board. In software development it is impossible to think of every good change or improvement for your product, no matter how many people you have doing so, and that they realize the community has valuable ideas that deserve consideration shows a great willingness to adapt as well as a real desire to improve the gaming experience of the community through their product.

I do find myself sharing the same wariness others have expressed in this thread, as applying the various fixes that I think (knock on wood) we'll get in the second patch makes it basically an entirely different game... but by the same token, Lusted obviously really knows what's going on with the mechanics of this game, and as CA and Lusted have taken the various potential fixes under advisement, I have every confidence that Lusted's advice and input to CA will be spot-on, and that the 1.2 product will have the fixes and intuitive balance that one would expect.

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I do find myself sharing the same wariness others have expressed in this thread, as applying the various fixes that I think (knock on wood) we'll get in the second patch makes it basically an entirely different game...

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I think you are right, but I also think it will be a better entirely different game, at least from an intuitive balance standpoint. :yes:

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I do find myself sharing the same wariness others have expressed in this thread, as applying the various fixes that I think (knock on wood) we'll get in the second patch makes it basically an entirely different game... but by the same token, Lusted obviously really knows what's going on with the mechanics of this game, and as CA and Lusted have taken the various potential fixes under advisement, I have every confidence that Lusted's advice and input to CA will be spot-on, and that the 1.2 product will have the fixes and intuitive balance that one would expect.

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Don't worry im being wary as well, and trying to take into account various changes to things that Palamedes has told me about. My only aim through my convos with him is to make a better more balanced game.

wariness aside, this is probably for the better. Egosoft have a system called Devnet where people can at first register to join it to just give ideas on the specially moderated boards there. As you go higher up the ladder you can contribute more and more to the game and may even get a job at Egosoft itself!
one or two crazy people have complained about the system but it improves the game, gives the developers an organised place for new ideas and such, instead of monitoring different boards, and the more the merrier. Its strictly monitored but it would be worth it if some people really wanted to help CA (because to some people modding files and seeing the results is fun) and work with their favourite game series.

Anyway its an idea, plus it helps an indie developer to create a more polished game.

I hope this isn't an isolated instance and is a sign of future CA dealings. I wonder if they'll give you a credit under Special Thanks or something.

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I hope this isn't an isolated instance and is a sign of future CA dealings. I wonder if they'll give you a credit under Special Thanks or something.

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Well given the fact that CA are talking to the community more in general(Caliban has been helping out modders with some things), i an also hopeful it is a sign of future CA dealings with the community.

And yeah im hoping they include me under special thanks as well.

T'would be a shame not to. Now if i can squeeze my name in there somehow :laugh4:

And to think, I was going to catch public transport to go to CA and rant about in front of the building with a camera :laugh4:

:bow: I love CA (as i said in a very grovel-ly PM to a CA member.)
I really hope to get a job there...that will have to wait a few years though.

Go Lusted!

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Originally Posted by Lusted

Pala is testing the changes i've made so we'll have another convo at some point and probably talk about further balancing.

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I still remember the blog before the game was released.
To be honest, I would like that someone of the community could test the game fixed by CA, before the patch is released, to be sure that the game will work for us, because the time to test all the stuff isn't very much and there is no time for another patch i think :no:
BTW I hope that Lusted changes can work with CA fixes very soon :yes: be carefull m8!

(praying that they will do something about the longbowmen)

Great to see ca so active.

Just an update for you guys. I've had a few more msn convso with Jason, and things are going well. I've emailed him stuff about how i got the better ai army composition in my mod, and other good mods that improve the campaign.

We've also been discussing unit balance more. Fromt he sounds of it units will be much better balanced in 1.2.

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Originally Posted by Lusted

We've also been discussing unit balance more. Fromt he sounds of it units will be much better balanced in 1.2.

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Such a tease you are. So, what's the sense of the direction of the buffs n nerfs? Cryptic generalizations are fine.

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Such a tease you are. So, what's the sense of the direction of the buffs n nerfs? Cryptic generalizations are fine.

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You'll have to do with cryptic comments, such as i know of several big bugs which are fixed but cannot say which.

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Originally Posted by Lusted

You'll have to do with cryptic comments, such as i know of several big bugs which are fixed but cannot say which.

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I guess they're holding your family hostage until the next patch is released, eh? Or maybe they are blackmailing you to force secrecy. CA is beginning to sound like the C-I-A, lol.

I sure hope those big bugs are the same big bugs I have in mind, Lusted...

Lusted:

When you say "unit balance", what exactly are you referring to. Do you mean that units are balanced relative to their price? Or that their performance matches their overall statistics? I've noticed that Foz's shield fix goes a long way in balancing both these perameters.

Warren

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I guess they're holding your family hostage until the next patch is released, eh? Or maybe they are blackmailing you to force secrecy. CA is beginning to sound like the C-I-A, lol.

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Lol.

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I sure hope those big bugs are the same big bugs I have in mind,Lusted...

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Im sure they are, but alas i cannot say what they are.

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When you say "unit balance", what exactly are you referring to. Do you mean that units are balanced relative to their price? Or that their performance matches their overall statistics? I've noticed that Foz's shield fix goes a long way in balancing both these perameters.

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Both, and improving the basic rps balance as well.