What do we need to make E.B better?

[Viking_Wårlord]

The title says it all

[PriestLizard]

Honestly I dont see much need for improvement on EB. Of course there are some things that are annoying, but most of these things are hardcoded (like AI). There are two things that make me wonder though and which could be something I'd like to see improved:

1. I don't understand why the hording ability is unabled in vanilla EB. At least there should be a official fix for BI/Alex users.
2. I hope you guys don't get me wrong but I don't see a reason why the Saba have been included - in change for the Senate faction which made missions possible. The Saba are rarely played (from what I read on the board) and basically dont play a role when AI controlled...

These are the only things which come to my mind... but like I said: EB is really awesome and I wish I had more time to spend with this mod. ;)

[bovi]

1) Because there is no hording ability in RTW, and using the expansions are not supported.
2) What, you actually liked the braindead missions in vanilla RTW?

[Zarax]

Ah, somebody is truly calling for submods...

Nobody forbids you guys to make a BI submod with hording and other expansion features... imho it would compliment nicely EB if done right.
And regarding the senate, it just needs a bit of love and LOTS, LOTS of work... http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=184343

[Mediolanicus]

I play Saba... And I prefer them above "senate" missions (alexander's tomb, etc...).

I wish I had hording ability though...

[PriestLizard]

Actually I never played a version of EB which had missions *lol* :D
I only played Baktria in 0.8 and now in 1.1 missions have already been removed. I just thought the idea was quite nice? I might be wrong.

Anyway like I said... these two things came to my mind spontaniously... =)

[gamegeek2]

Hording is ridiculously overpowered. If you've played BI, you know it

[Zarax]

Luckily modders excel into that tricky art called game balance...

[gamegeek2]

I know, I know. Just saying, it's still pretty cheap when you eliminate the Sarmatians and they spawn new guys.

[Intranetusa]

^ The Senate missions were ridiculously stupid in vanilla RTW. And if they included a Senate faction, that would mean that the main Romani faction would have to relocate their capital, and with the high risk of the Senate faction rebelling and attacking them.

[Zarax]

The senate can be easily tamed, it's just that very few people bothered doing it... Automatic missions can be slightly improved, just don't expect miracles...

[Pontius Pilate]

yes, the senate missions in RTW vanilla were quite stupid indeed - why would I want to blockade Londinium when I have yet to secure the Italian Peninsula? but I do agree that the faction Saba should not have been included, there's no real point in having them other than to fill in the emptyness or vastness of Arabia.

[TruePraetorian]

Uh, since we are talking about hordeing...did no one try my minimod for that? I made one about 3 months ago...

[Foot]

yes, the senate missions in RTW vanilla were quite stupid indeed - why would I want to blockade Londinium when I have yet to secure the Italian Peninsula? but I do agree that the faction Saba should not have been included, there's no real point in having them other than to fill in the emptyness or vastness of Arabia.

Actually it does play an important role, game mechanics-wise. Before, often it was the case that Parthia would find itself in a large part of the Arabian peninsular as it was the only suitable (and it wasn't suitable) faction to have those provinces rebel to. We also felt that it was important to represent that important part of the world that played an important role in trade to and from India. Compared to the Alex Mission, the inclusion of Saba was a wise choice. There was no chance that the Senate as a faction would make an appearance, so I don't even understand why that choice is even being considered as an alternative to Saba.

Foot

[Zarax]

You could always get rid of unimportant factions like rome, parthia or armenia to make room for the mighty senate [/joke]

Seriously talking, all this is something that would concern a sub-mod, although making one of such scope for EB would be hard indeed

[DionCaesar]

Actually it does play an important role, game mechanics-wise. Before, often it was the case that Parthia would find itself in a large part of the Arabian peninsular as it was the only suitable (and it wasn't suitable) faction to have those provinces rebel to. We also felt that it was important to represent that important part of the world that played an important role in trade to and from India. Compared to the Alex Mission, the inclusion of Saba was a wise choice. There was no chance that the Senate as a faction would make an appearance, so I don't even understand why that choice is even being considered as an alternative to Saba.

Foot

+1

And think of the ppl who actually created all of Saba's units and descriptions.. By saying '' Saba shouldn't have been included '' you're actually saying '' your work is worthless'' .. Besides, it's always nice if you have a big Empire (like Imperium Romanum) and have some other factions outside your borders, so you've still got a kind of a challenge in defending those borders.
Last but not least, we don't want two exactly the same factions, do we? Variation is the best we can get, IMHO, and Saba has units that are totally different from any other in entire Europe (barbarorum :P)

At least, that's my opinion.

[Pontius Pilate]

Actually it does play an important role, game mechanics-wise. Before, often it was the case that Parthia would find itself in a large part of the Arabian peninsular as it was the only suitable (and it wasn't suitable) faction to have those provinces rebel to. We also felt that it was important to represent that important part of the world that played an important role in trade to and from India. Compared to the Alex Mission, the inclusion of Saba was a wise choice. There was no chance that the Senate as a faction would make an appearance, so I don't even understand why that choice is even being considered as an alternative to Saba.

Foot

I didn't say I want the senate to be included.

[Foot]

I didn't say I want the senate to be included.

Ah, so the inclusion of the Alexander Mission is of far more import than a powerful faction from Southern Arabia with strong trade links to both Egypt and India. Just so I'm clear.

Foot

[ludwag]

thats a good point. I have never liked saba, and they are no threat to anyone. I dont think anyone finds them intresting or plays as them. But there is a good point that there couldnt be only elutheroi there. Trade are important, and having someone dominating there.

[Divie]

I find them great fun to play, and also to play against, the realm that alexander never got to invade is currently in my seleucid sights

[Hax]

thats a good point. I have never liked saba, and they are no threat to anyone. I dont think anyone finds them intresting or plays as them.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the common Western thought of pre-Islamic Arabia!

[Kromulan]

What's all this bagging on Saba? They're one of the more unique factions in the game.
Certainly better, from a flavor standpoint, than yet another greek or gallic faction.
Better, from a realism standpoint, than another roman faction.

What do we need to make EB better?
Certainly not eliminating existing factions, especially the ones that provide very different play challenges on both strategic and tactical levels. . . even if their best troops are dolts with sticks!


Hax & Divie got in there before I finished typing.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Yeah, they are just a pain in the ass after all. Who needs Saba? But Saba is not the only faction that is totally superfluous. Who needs Aedui and Arverni? One Gallic faction should be more than enough. Who needs Epeiros? We all know that Pyrrhos, the Epeirote of some importance, was killed just a few turns into the game's start... Who needs Baktria? Aren't they just a Seleukid satrapy? They should be removed! The KH - just rebels... Makedonia? They got annihilated just 110 years into the game and never played an important role... All these backwater factions are only taking away precious space for the Romans. Without them, we could have a senate with funny missions, and, most important, three instead of just one Roman faction, so that we would be able to play out epic civil wars, with lots of lorica segmentata! Yeah! We would have much unit space free, so we could include the real important units: western Roman legions, eastern Roman legions, western Roman evocati, eastern Roman evocati, western Roman Antesignani, eastern Roman Antesignani, legions with lorica hamata, legions with lorica segmentata, Praetorians with lorica segmentata, early Roman archers, middle Roman archers, late Roman archers, auxiliary Roman archers with lorica hamata, auxiliary Roman archers with lorica segmentata, Praetorian cavalry, Praetorian cavalry with lorica segmentata, urban cohortes, urban cohortes with lorica... ah you get what I mean! ROMA VICTOR! ROMA VICTOR! ROMA VICTOR!

[anangryelitist]

rofl

[Lovejoy]

Saba is great fun! one of my favourite factions. Very unique. You learn to love skirmishers!

And for the topic of the thread:

Not much can be done better... different but not better. AI expansion is pretty good but could be improved for a few factions. Hm...
I think ships should be made cheaper. The AI dont build any ships(I guess because of the price), you get pretty lonely on sea besides the pirates. I want some sea action! :D

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

In my current game, the Romani and Karthadastim build plenty of Navies and ship around troops frequently, especially the latter ones. Even the Lusos have a navy.

[Intranetusa]

thats a good point. I have never liked saba, and they are no threat to anyone. I dont think anyone finds them intresting or plays as them. But there is a good point that there couldnt be only elutheroi there. Trade are important, and having someone dominating there.

I wouldn't say they're not a threat. In my current campaign, Pontus, Baktria, Parthia, and Saba and taking turns dividing and conquering the mighty Silver Death.

[Celtic_Punk]

you know what, I cant even think of a way to improve EB that wouldnt be hardcoded. If only the AI was amazing EB would be the most perfect game ever.

[anangryelitist]

personaly saba was my first choice even though i didn't play them for too long

[Pontius Pilate]

Ah, so the inclusion of the Alexander Mission is of far more import than a powerful faction from Southern Arabia with strong trade links to both Egypt and India. Just so I'm clear.

Foot

Are you kidding me, I said I DO NOT like the Senate and I DO NOT want them to be in the game.