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?

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Not sure I follow the question jedi. All governments should have their own unique descriptions for each individual faction - though it is unavoidable that there is a lot of similarity in something like a Baktrian vs. Seleukid satrapy description, or a Mak vs. KH allied city description.

[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.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

We've got to have all factions have the same graphic for these two ranika. Sorry about that. The hand thing is a good idea though, but I think dirt might be better than water if we have to have it work for all factions.

[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.

[jedispongee]

Sorry I meant how each faction had their own specific descriptions for the different type of governments, like a Roman government II has a different description entry than a Greek government II.

Actually in hindsight, I think they'll still be there... for some reason I thought that if you made the pictures for each of the governments the same for all factions, then descriptions will become generic for all the factions as well.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Right, it's *only* the precursor icons that would have to be the same in description and image.

Every government building can still have culture-specific graphics, and faction-specific descriptions.

[jedispongee]

Damn, I'll let everyone know that I smacked myself in the face.

I should read more carefully next time, as I didn't even realize we were talking about the precursor buildings. My humble apologies. I just saw "government buildings" and "change", bringing immense fear that the cornicopia of information that came with them might get removed.

Again, as they say in the 'hood, "my bad".

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Damn, I'll let everyone know that I smacked myself in the face.

I should read more carefully next time, as I didn't even realize we were talking about the precursor buildings. My humble apologies. I just saw "government buildings" and "change", bringing immense fear that the cornicopia of information that came with them might get removed.

Again, as they say in the 'hood, "my bad".

Remember this is Europa Barbarorum. The correct response would be "mea culpa".

[Divinus Arma]

Brainstorming...

What could be good for Roman, greek, eastern, and 'barbarian' cultures...

The first thing that came to mind for the homeland resource was a large wooden door... -abstract, I know. Something administrative and shared... A Table with a map (similar to the one in the faction summary window, but not the same)... A Scroll or set of scrolls.... hmmm. Tough.

As for the "conquered: That is even harder because a greek type 2 isn't a colony or sword conquered territory. It is an athens style democracy, right?

[=E.T=]

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

[Shrapnel]

Maybe

1:A scroll signifying academic achievments
2:A spear signifying being conquered
3:A barbarian and a civilizated person signifying alliance
4:A market signifying new trade

[SwordsMaster]

Why not a headstone or similar for homelands?

Actually on second though, why not just a village icon for homelands?

Some gold for colonies.

A Crown for a puppet state.

A scroll for an allied state.

[Big_John]

Why not a headstone or similar for homelands?

Actually on second though, why not just a village icon for homelands?

Some gold for colonies.

A Crown for a puppet state.

A scroll for an allied state.

i'm pretty sure we are only talking about the precursor icons (the one's that let you know that you can build a government in the city). as such, we are only dealing with two icons: one fo the "homeland" (or type 1) government, and one for all the rest (2, 3 & 4). so, the second icon would have to work for everything non-homeland.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

i'm pretty sure we are only talking about the precursor icons (the one's that let you know that you can build a government in the city). as such, we are only dealing with two icons: one fo the "homeland" (or type 1) government, and one for all the rest (2, 3 & 4). so, the second icon would have to work for everything non-homeland.

Almost. The second one is just for type2. The type3 and 4 can be built anywhere at any time and don't require precursors at all.

[Big_John]

ah ok! so, what are the different flavors of type-2 govs that can be built by various factions?

[Han]

umm just to spark other ppls minds (no idea what you ppl are talking about)....a book? a cylinder with a flag on top of it, a plate with food on it (everyone loves food), a crown?, or maybe blinding yellow sunlight?*cough*, ya...I ran out of ideas

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Some possibilities (from the one we've got already and a couple of others suggested in this thread)?

[Spendios]

The idea is good bu they are a bit too realistic, the graphisms are not in the RTW style...the two first make me feel that this an advertising for some agricultural products...and in the third one we got maize who wasn't known in Europe and Middle-East at this time...

[MeroFromVero]

I like that middle one.

[Callum Murray]

How about a wreath with a sheaf of wheat through it for homeland
and a wreath with a dagger/sword through it representing type 2.

Something like this, but better done, (these are made in paint from stuff from google images)