Development method for EBII

[paramedicguyer]

I was just wondering how you guys are going about assembling the mod. Since you pretty much have a good base from EB1 I'm assuming you pretty much have a very clear picture about want you want to accomplish. I'm just wondering what kind of steps your taking, when do you begin scripting, when do you skin and stat units, when do you work on the map, and when do u do all the stuff I didnt mention. Also will EBII be like EBI where ther are multiple versions (there was a lot leading up to 1.2) or is there a much clearer picture and thus only small fix patches will be necessary?
Finally how long does it actually take to skin a unit (I taking into consideration multiple skins for a single unit)?

[JMRC]

Tough question...

First of all, we have defined the goals to accomplish and their priorities and we don't work in the low-priority stuff. Some good ideas pop up and either we put them in the medium or high priority stuff and get worked on, or they fall in the low-priority and are put aside for the moment.

Then, we've defined the coordinators for the main areas: game mechanics, unit development, faction historians, etc. These guys are responsible for advancing with their areas and make sure they don't lag behind the others.

By having a large team we can make several things at the same time, so while someone is working on the map (and making changes constantly), others are creating units, developing the stat system, the recruitment system, the game mechanics, etc. During all that time, we have historians researching and defining how they should be (unit models and skins, government systems, building models, etc).

It's important to note that EBII will be a far different mod than EB1. Most of it is being refined and extended and even the text descriptions are under revision. This means that it's like a fresh start, and probably we'll take the same steps as EB1 in regards to deployment of the mod.

As for the time taken to skin a unit, it really depends on how many objects (faces, torsos, shields, weapons, etc) and how many skins are needed. We expect to reuse a lot of models and skins in many units, and thus reduce time.

[APX]

I've previously read that all units and factions are being researched again. Is this true? Wouldn't it be a waste of precious time because (presumably) all the historical research was finished before the first release of EB?

[Moros]

I've previously read that all units and factions are being researched again. Is this true? Wouldn't it be a waste of precious time because (presumably) all the historical research was finished before the first release of EB?

New discoveries have been done in both the archeological field and history since 2004. Also back then it were other members, different views,... But also after digging for 5 years you come closer to the truth and get more detailled information. I'd have a completely different vision on the Sabaeans when I started researching them than I have now. And over a year my ideas will probably have changed a bit as well and will be more correct.

[Skullheadhq]

So, that means rewrited descriptions?

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Some descriptions need a change, of course. Just a superficial nod.

Also will you make your historical research open after release? Plz !

[Krusader]

Some descriptions need a change, of course. Just a superficial nod.

Also will you make your historical research open after release? Plz !

No.

[Ibrahim]

So, that means rewritten descriptions?

much better.


now,where was I: of course new description might be written: the new archeological and textual stuff is going to have to be factored into every single aspect of unit developement-especially historical description and appearence.

as to the answer Krusader provided to ATHN: why not? is the research from copywrited material?

[Teleklos Archelaou]

In my personal opinion, it's somehow appropriate that the little hammer "smashy" guy right next to the exclamation mark is there at the end of a fan's request to put all our historical research on public threads: "Put them in public, then get ready!"

[abou]

as to the answer Krusader provided to ATHN: why not? is the research from copywrited material?

Well... where else would it come from?

We've already made a bibliography that will be updated at some point. What more do you guys want?

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

In my personal opinion, it's somehow appropriate that the little hammer "smashy" guy right next to the exclamation mark is there at the end of a fan's request to put all our historical research on public threads: "Put them in public, then get ready!"

[1770 Gentleman's Magazine Dandy Voice ON]

Call that a "polite request", if you will. Blimey, clearly for something as open as a public mod, as opposite to a large scope military project [gently pats his hand on his arm], there are no big riddles or mysteries, at least not for a kind of information as abstract and non-directly related to game mechanics and tricks as that within a historical compilation, which might not compromise the special secrets of the craft art of course.

And "copyrighted" info is not "so far away that none can see it" - I am anxiously awaiting for the kind of papers and other closed sources you name into your beloved Bibliography. Then the few good souls with general dispositions to read and research, but not dedicate their times into modding, might bother to do so that they may check them... too, either as a curiosity of their own or as a compliment to their historical studies. [Makes gesture with hands] Besides, how would you get the whole group of the Team to access something that is copyrighted if the license does not extend to them legally in purpose?

A reminder to the cavern world of the Higher Studies is that there is room for learning outside of it, and not just the mysterious contemplation of an enigmatic craft art with awe and astonishment, although that certainly is part of it, should the souls who become interested in the art ever run through its wondrous products. The secularized Priesthood of EB, in the same stance as the Priesthood of Astrophysics and all other section of human knowledge and bookish venture, will be right if it chooses to share some of its gifts of *terribly intricate and deep esoteric knowledge* with the laymen, as the Aedilis Plebis shares his grain with the People.

[OFF]

[abou]

Uhm... okay?

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Nah, just being facetious to the extreme Good luck and good job!

[antisocialmunky]

Are there going to be more Indo-Iranian Light Cavalry sized descripts this time around?

[abou]

Are there going to be more Indo-Iranian Light Cavalry sized descripts this time around?

God, I hope not.

[oudysseos]

[1770 Gentleman's Magazine Dandy Voice ON]

Call that a "polite request", if you will. Blimey, clearly for something as open as a public mod, as opposite to a large scope military project [gently pats his hand on his arm], there are no big riddles or mysteries, at least not for a kind of information as abstract and non-directly related to game mechanics and tricks as that within a historical compilation, which might not compromise the special secrets of the craft art of course.

And "copyrighted" info is not "so far away that none can see it" - I am anxiously awaiting for the kind of papers and other closed sources you name into your beloved Bibliography. Then the few good souls with general dispositions to read and research, but not dedicate their times into modding, might bother to do so that they may check them... too, either as a curiosity of their own or as a compliment to their historical studies. [Makes gesture with hands] Besides, how would you get the whole group of the Team to access something that is copyrighted if the license does not extend to them legally in purpose?

A reminder to the cavern world of the Higher Studies is that there is room for learning outside of it, and not just the mysterious contemplation of an enigmatic craft art with awe and astonishment, although that certainly is part of it, should the souls who become interested in the art ever run through its wondrous products. The secularized Priesthood of EB, in the same stance as the Priesthood of Astrophysics and all other section of human knowledge and bookish venture, will be right if it chooses to share some of its gifts of *terribly intricate and deep esoteric knowledge* with the laymen, as the Aedilis Plebis shares his grain with the People.

[OFF]

There are no sources available to us that aren't available to you, eh? JSTOR requires a password, but most Universities give their students access- hell my local public library has a JSTOR work station. The bibliography thread is pretty large (do a forum search). Questia is a good source for online reading, although you have to pay. So it's all there for you.

If you mean, will we open up our unit development threads? No. We already share our *terribly intricate and deep esoteric knowledge* in the form of the mod- that's the whole point of it after all.

[JMRC]

This issue has been raised many times and I think it's very important to explain to those who wish to look at the material that our historians researched why we are not showing that info.

The reasons are multiple:

- we won't open our internal forum, where the research material is posted and discussed, because it's our Sanctuary and the place where our good and bad things start and must end. Many people have no qualms in publishing their diaries (although I'm sure they ripped off a few pages first...) but we have!

- even if we wished to make a selection of the posts, it would be a near-impossible task, because of the very nature of forums: only by reading from post #1 to the end (often many pages) can someone grasp the results of a single thread. And we have many hundreds! This is a task that no one will be able to do, even if he dedicated entire years to it.

- on top of that, someone would have to present that material in some organized way and that would take even more time.

- even considering that the above project was done, there are tons of discussions on how to interpret the evidences and the logic behind certain decisions, which could lead to useless debates, that wouldn't center in the mod itself but in vague personal issues.

- considering all those reasons and the fact that our spare time is very limited and should be concentrated in the mod alone and not in how to present the research to the public, this is not something we're even considering to do.


I hope this explained our reasons well.

[Skullheadhq]

This issue has been raised many times and I think it's very important to explain to those who wish to look at the material that our historians researched why we are not showing that info.

The reasons are multiple:

- we won't open our internal forum, where the research material is posted and discussed, because it's our Sanctuary and the place where our good and bad things start and must end. Many people have no qualms in publishing their diaries (although I'm sure they ripped off a few pages first...) but we have!

- even if we wished to make a selection of the posts, it would be a near-impossible task, because of the very nature of forums: only by reading from post #1 to the end (often many pages) can someone grasp the results of a single thread. And we have many hundreds! This is a task that no one will be able to do, even if he dedicated entire years to it.

- on top of that, someone would have to present that material in some organized way and that would take even more time.

- even considering that the above project was done, there are tons of discussions on how to interpret the evidences and the logic behind certain decisions, which could lead to useless debates, that wouldn't center in the mod itself but in vague personal issues.

- considering all those reasons and the fact that our spare time is very limited and should be concentrated in the mod alone and not in how to present the research to the public, this is not something we're even considering to do.


I hope this explained our reasons well.

That's clear