Countdown to Open Beta - Features and Gameplay

[Marinakis]

have you guys gotten a script together so carthage and rome come into conflict again. Like how the CA script did?

P.S. this preview is utterly amazing. i cant wait for this mod!

[Spendios]

This preview is simply amazing EB will be a completely new game!!!
Congratulations !!!

[Steppe Merc]

Marinakis, not sure about that specific event, but I do know that we will not force factions to go to war with a specific faction at a specific date. This is because depending on how a faction expands, different wars would start.

But ER can answer it better.

[Epistolary Richard]

That's right. We did discuss recreating the Punic wars and so forth as they historically started, but it was decided that that was against the idea of 'setting the table'. While EB has put every effort into making the start date as authentic as possible, we felt that it should be then up to the player to decide how to develop his faction. Obviously we have taken the trouble to recreate some events, but it's intended that they be provoked by the player's (or the AI's) actions and not just set at a date, which is historically accurate but perhaps completely out of keeping with how the player is playing the game.

[khelvan]

The goal is to, wherever possible, understand and set conditions for specific things happening. Not to simply script those things to happen on a particular date; to understand why they happened, and then look for that cause as the game progresses.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

At our start date, all kinds of things are possible. A Roman-Carthaginian alliance against the Greeks maybe, the very next year? Hey, it could happen! Look it up!

[Marinakis]

That's right. We did discuss recreating the Punic wars and so forth as they historically started, but it was decided that that was against the idea of 'setting the table'. While EB has put every effort into making the start date as authentic as possible, we felt that it should be then up to the player to decide how to develop his faction. Obviously we have taken the trouble to recreate some events, but it's intended that they be provoked by the player's (or the AI's) actions and not just set at a date, which is historically accurate but perhaps completely out of keeping with how the player is playing the game.

sounds about right, thanx for the response

[UglyandHasty]

Done. And still tweaking it.

Thank you sir. I will download the open beta as soon it's released. You gents are creating a lot of expectation with your mod.

[Tricon]

Awesome.
I had a lot of expectations... but you surpased them. The little history buff in me can't wait to experience your mod.

[Zero1]

How in the...What?, Thats...

Wow, just, just WOW...This mod has transcended the status of a mere "mod" its like a totaly remake!

I am awed by your infinite genious

[econ21]

It all sounds excellent, Khelvan. I really liked the Glorious Achievements of MTW - although they were half-baked for some factions - and personally find conquering X provinces rather dull and lacking in historical flavour. Sounds like you are proposing something similar to GA here, but in an innovative way.

[shifty157]

I thought victory conditions were hardcoded. Howd you manage to get around the 'take rome and 50 provinces'?

[khelvan]

We didn't, as far as I know. We just have the system ignore it when it happens, I believe.

[shifty157]

Ah. I see what youre saying. So when the faction specific conditions are met you get a little message saying congratulations but you technically dont actually win? So technically the game really doesnt have an end?

[khelvan]

I don't know, this is out of my league now, Epistolary Richard is going to have to answer this one.

[Southern Hunter]

Extraordinary

That looks like an amazing set of changes and additions, and as others have commented, appears to take the game to 'where it should and could have been'.

Cheers,

Hunter

[Wishazu]

Good Work EB team, ive said it before but this preview easily surpasses whats come before, some of the new features look amazing. I love the idea of the Olympic games, i allways thought that vanilla was a bare bones game, but it seems youve quite nicely fleshed it out. The best thing of all though is that your not showing us everything so there is more to look forward to btw, im not sure if this is the correct thread but i missed out on the closed beta so i would like to spare some of my time to help out if i can. I dont have any particular skills, but i do have plenty of free time

[Chester]

fantastic work. It looks as though you want the player to experience a closer connection with the faction members.

[therother]

Very much so, yes, it's one of our main objectives in this area.

[Rodion Romanovich]

Very nice preview as usual! Can't wait to the open beta... Really cool that you've managed to add all those useful features despite all hardcoded stuff in R:TW!

[GoreBag]

This is all awesome news. I'd still like to hear more about governments - I'm sure this will somehow tie into the diplomatic relations with independent cities or 'sub-kingdoms' as Richard put it.

Also...couldn't help but notice, the notice that the player will receive upon capturing Babylon (messagebabylon7kc.jpg) should read "magnificent feat", not "magnicifent feet". Unless, of course, I completely misunderstood the context and the messenger really is trying to get his lord to compare foot size with that of the Seven Hanging Heavens...

[Ellesthyan]

Dude...



I mean like, DUDE!

May the six Chinese smilers make the sky above your house turn blue!

Magnificent stuff. Two questions; what will be the benefit of capturing a famous city for the general? And what famous characters can we expect, and will new ones pop up from time to time? I'm thinking about the obvious Hannibal, Caesar and Mithridates for example.

[khelvan]

Sorry, I can't answer the first - I think it depends on the general. I believe, though, various factions may have Triumph or Triumph-like awards given to/in honor of the general.

On the second, there is no chance. We can't create a character by name, unfortunately. :(

[caesar44]

If just EB's could make the Punics to invade Italy in 264 and again in 218 no matter what , that is , to some how combine historical events with the gameplay .
Another idea is to prevent faction to invade some provinces until a fixed date according to history , the Roman could not invade Germania until 54 bce or some thing like that . in MTW VI the british tribes could not invade Scandia no matter what , why ? for the sake of history . ha ?

[jerby]

what about the plague in makedonia ? still there?

[Conqueror]

If just EB's could make the Punics to invade Italy in 264 and again in 218 no matter what , that is , to some how combine historical events with the gameplay .

While you're at it, make it so that they also lose in the end no matter what, along with all the other peoples that lost to the Romans. Yeah, that'll make for a nice game...

[khelvan]

If just EB's could make the Punics to invade Italy in 264 and again in 218 no matter what

Why would we want to do that? The game begins in 272 BC. The conditions that created the Punic wars may not exist 10 years later. We don't script wars (although there may be something to said for wars of independence). That is up to the player to decide, and the factions.

We're not recreating history, why would we? We're setting the table, and allowing the players to write a new history, which may or may not include Punic wars.

[kayapó]

what about the plague in makedonia ? still there?

I heard these are hardcoded. Could be wrong thou.

kayapó

[jerby]

nah. it's an event. cheaters change teh date ofthe plague to be able to manipulate the game. sending plagued-spies everywhere...it's an event, and can therefore be modded..a bit.

great preview. but still...How wil players "handle" the olympics. what doe steh player need to do?
what about the government? the religion system? ("pick a god, any god" is probably out teh window?)

[Malrubius]

How wil players "handle" the olympics. what doe steh player need to do?

Have a family member of a Hellenic faction who isn't busy fighting or doing something else, who is also fairly young and athletic, when spring of 272, or 268, or 264 BC, etc., rolls around. Then he might become an Olympic competitor (this is more likely for Makedonians and the Koinon Hellenon, least likely for Baktrians). So, not much has to be done, except to keep the guy inactive during spring of Olympic years, so he is able to "travel" to Korinthos.

what will be the benefit of capturing a famous city for the general?

This varies widely, and of course, depends on the city and the general's faction. This area is still very much in development. We've done a handful of these, so far, as examples of what can be done. Some factions have more special events/traits/ancillaries than others, but we're trying to do things for all of them.

Also...couldn't help but notice, the notice that the player will receive upon capturing Babylon (messagebabylon7kc.jpg) should read "magnificent feat", not "magnicifent feet". Unless, of course, I completely misunderstood the context and the messenger really is trying to get his lord to compare foot size with that of the Seven Hanging Heavens...