Question for beta testers

[Teleklos Archelaou]

We've got some options already ready for those ghastly looking "goverment resource/precursor" icons that you've been seeing. Some are already done (not in game now though), but I was wondering if anyone had a divine revelation about what would work perfectly there for all factions.

If someone had a really terrific idea about how to represent a "homeland" "resource" and then all the ideas that go into the type2 government ("colonization" may be most appropriate term, but doesn't fit exactly for all), then there's still some latitude about what we might go with.

I'll mention that one possibility is a sheath of grain for the homeland resource icon (a bit abstract, but easily noticeable) and a spear for the type2 resource icon. It's also possible to just leave them alpha'd out and invisible (though the space would still be there).

So, how about it? Any absolutely wonderful ideas that would work well with our other icons and still convey these thoughts in a tiny icon ?

[Simetrical]

Would a house look too silly? Could be varied by culture, too, to represent characteristically different architectural styles.

[O'ETAIPOS]

What do you think about big letters "H" and "C"?

[Teleklos Archelaou]

I've just been informed that they would vary (though) inappropriately. If we use an image it will probably need to work for all factions/cultures. The reason is that the scripts place those precursors at the start of the game depending upon who the human player has chosen as their faction. But the icon would show up (if we had culture variations) as the type of whatever the local people are. We could theoretically have the Pontos faction have a 'homeland' precursor icon that looks like a Seleukid homeland (if they had their own).

Or we could make these variations and insert them in the build and then follow the EB practice of calling this unexpected arrangement a 'feature' .

[Big_John]

for "homelands", what about an image similar to the "hand touching the ground" image that is on the info card (for carthage at least)? maybe something evocative like a hand holding soil, or sand running through fingers? kind of like this:
http://www.keystone.ch/public/viewIm...rce=156.203111

i'm thinking of something that gives the impression of a person squatting down and grabbing a piece of the land, as if in a kind of communion with the land of their home.

for the "conquered" or "colony" type, what about a scroll of some sort? a scroll could represent the "contract" between the controllers of the province and it's previous masters. i think this would work well for "conquered" provinces that serve essentially as mercenary pools or "client states".

hmm... i'll think about it some more..

[jedispongee]

A question about the updated governments; Will each faction have unique descriptions like it currently is? Or will it revert to generic ones for every faction?

[Ranika]

for "homelands", what about an image similar to the "hand touching the ground" image that is on the info card (for carthage at least)? maybe something evocative like a hand holding soil, or sand running through fingers? kind of like this:
http://www.keystone.ch/public/viewIm...rce=156.203111

i'm thinking of something that gives the impression of a person squatting down and grabbing a piece of the land, as if in a kind of communion with the land of their home.

for the "conquered" or "colony" type, what about a scroll of some sort? a scroll could represent the "contract" between the controllers of the province and it's previous masters. i think this would work well for "conquered" provinces that serve essentially as mercenary pools or "client states".

hmm... i'll think about it some more..

I rather like this idea. For barbarians, perhaps instead of holding earth, having a hand in running water; sacred rivers were big in barbarian places. Many Celtic tribes even took the names of holy rivers they made their homes near.

[Simetrical]

The precursors can't be placed with the player's culture every time instead of the locals'?

[Teleklos Archelaou]

They are placed, but there is no way to specify what culture it 'assumes'. They just have to take the culture of the controlling faction (AI or rebel). They would all be very varied when they are supposed to show you what the faction you are playing can do with governments. I think they will have to either be alpha'd out or all exactly the same.

[=E.T=]

For Celtics may use "hand On the tree" (Sacred trees and forests)