Terrain effects and magic

from Elemental Forums

I am curious how learning new spells is even going to work.  I mean the way that talk about it, I get the idea that very few people are magicly inclined.  That means I wouldn't expect hordes of people researching magic for the channeler.  I wonder if it is going to be something along the lines of having to find spell, maybe seeing them cast, and just getting powerful enough to expand on things you already know.   For example it doesn't seem like it should take a lot more know how to cast a storm spell vs make it drizzle, just a lot more power. 

Brings up another thought.  Has anyone heard anything about terrain affecting combat.  Just a thought but like in Heroes of Might and Magic it bugged me that your heroes movement got limited over bad terrain but the creatures did not once in combat.  It could add a lot to the strategic element of the game if for example fighting in a desert foot troops had more restricted movement.  You then build a fort or something there and use more ranged units which would have a longer time to pepper the enemy before they can even get close.  Then you could also work in like casting a storm around one of your cities when you see an enemy moving in to slow him down and then slow his troops once in combat outside your city.

 

Just a thought.

6,837 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Well there was a really big discussion about research with tons of great ideas in the later pages of one of Frogboy's posts 

As for your other point, we haven't heard much, but Im hoping for this as well. I think it would be cool to use the terrain on the battlefield as natural shields and those would have to be destroyed before you could be hit. Ex. I could post some swordsmen behind a tree, and the enemy would have to destroy the tree (fire magic being most effective i would imagine...) or wait for me to move before they could hit me with arrows or whatever. Id also like to see some units (mostly like earth elementals or cyclops from HoMM) capable of lifting terrain, like rocks, and hurling them across the battlefield as projectiles. Itd be really awesome |-)

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm hoping to see a variety of terrain features by the final release.   So far, the primitive maps we've seen generated in things like boogiebac's ascii videos don't seem to have any real sign of elevation (other than perhaps signs of beaches)  but I hope that by the finished version we will see such things.

 

In HoMM's defense.  Logically, a whole army would be hindered a lot more by changes in ground over long distances (outside of combat) than they would on a smaller scale such as a tactical battle.  I do agree, however, that HoMM does not really use terrain to its advantage.

 

The tactical battles for Elemental are often compared to Total War and X-com, both of which use terrain a great deal.  X-com you can't see 3 feet in front of you because of how terrain effects line of sight, and Total War has a bunch of different advantages based on higher ground, trees, and other terrain features.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting landisaurus, reply 2
I'm hoping to see a variety of terrain features by the final release.   So far, the primitive maps we've seen generated in things like boogiebac's ascii videos don't seem to have any real sign of elevation (other than perhaps signs of beaches)  but I hope that by the finished version we will see such things.
End of landisaurus's quote

That screenshot in one of the FAQs has a giant hill with a city in the background. I presume that the hill is passable terrain, considering it has a wolf standing on it, looking down at the city. So there already is elevation, to an extent. However I'd like to see more than just hills and stuff; it'd be neat if the terrain could gently slope upwards, then rise up into a mountain range or a plateau or something. Not all of the 'flatlands' should be at the same elevation.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting RisingLegend, reply 1
Id also like to see some units (mostly like earth elementals or cyclops from HoMM) capable of lifting terrain, like rocks, and hurling them across the battlefield as projectiles. Itd be really awesome
End of RisingLegend's quote

I'm not sure what the likelihood of creatures being able to toss terrain will be, but I agree it'd be great if it was in the game.  More than that though I just hope that various types of terrain both a) exist, and b ) affect combat and movement.  Archers and other ranged units able to attack units farther (further?) away as well as being able to see a larger area.  As well as similar effects for the other terrain types.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting landisaurus, reply 2
I'm hoping to see a variety of terrain features by the final release.  
End of landisaurus's quote

I also hope we see not only a variety of terrains, but unique strategies and uses with those terrains.  Here's a list of terrain ideas I posted earlier this year:

https://forums.elementalgame.com/345423

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

I also hope we see not only a variety of terrains, but unique strategies and uses with those terrains.  Here's a list of terrain ideas I posted earlier this year:

https://forums.elementalgame.com/345423

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lol.  I'm the last post in that thread already.  (other than you)

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting landisaurus, reply 6


I also hope we see not only a variety of terrains, but unique strategies and uses with those terrains.  Here's a list of terrain ideas I posted earlier this year:


https://forums.elementalgame.com/345423





lol.  I'm the last post in that thread already.  (other than you)


End of landisaurus's quote

 

I know you've seen the thread already, lol,  since we've both been on these forums a long time.  I provided the link for all the other community members which haven't seen the terrain thread.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting landisaurus, reply 2
The tactical battles for Elemental are often compared to Total War and X-com
End of landisaurus's quote

I've never played Total War, but speaking of X-com, i bought it off Steam the other day because of the comparison made above and might i say it is a great game! I understand why its been voted a couple of times as the best game of all time. I love the tactical battles, the fact that your people dont always die when they get shot but for a second your like :X anyways. The only thing thats a little ridiculous is that you can't see very far, and those stupid civilian walk out of their houses in the dead of night when they know aliens are out there??? :\ But a great game overall, and im happy to hear its being used as inspiration |-)

And on an unrelated note, i can't get it to play anymore when i click on the link... :'(

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

And on an unrelated note, i can't get it to play anymore when i click on the link... 
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sounds like somebody needs to contact support.    Does it just not respond at all?   like if you right click and select 'launch' in steam?  or when you open the file directly?

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

I got it to work, turns out my computer had reverted to an earlier date, and i just had to unistall/reinstall steam to get it to play. Thank you for offering your help tho! :grin:

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

[edit- double post] stupid stardock pigeons... lol