The strategic layer is where the problems are.

from Elemental Forums
  • Character development - well done! - check!
  • Tactical combat - needs an AI but otherwise well designed - check!

The strategic layer is where things become nebuluous. A big part of the problem is that the AI isn't finished, but currently winning the game involves bypassing most of the content. Everything on the map screen seems surperfluous. Does it really matter where, or how you build your city? Do you even need more than one? The wildlands are very cool, but are more likely to delay your efforts to win than help you. The only way to enjoy those is to let your faction enemies gain strength by letting them survive while you play in the wildlands. The tech tree doesn't really move things along. Most of the benefits from new tech are very incremental in nature. 

I don't sense there is a clear vision at the strategic level.

5,239 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Yeah, there's also the fact that my sovereign can solo literally anything 1v1. If he'd get beat in auto-resolve (which is unlikely but DOES happen), I can instead just abuse initiative and bow mechanics to kill off everything (even armies).

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I'd add that tactical battle is quite boring, no terrain effect, no advantages of attacking on several flanks, too easy to always have the first hit against AI, and so on...

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Cervomix, reply 2
I'd add that tactical battle is quite boring, no terrain effect, no advantages of attacking on several flanks, too easy to always have the first hit against AI, and so on...
End of Cervomix's quote

I think that once there's a serious AI effort in tactical, I think it will be acceptable. There's only a few guys working on this, so there has to be alot of prioritization. The strategic level really needs some kind of rethinking from scratch almost. There's not alot happening there at all. 

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

In regards to the wildlands: I think monsters should level up over time, and become more aggresive over time.  So yes you can ignore the wildlands next to your cities but 20 turns from now when they send out monsters and raze your capital you may regret it.

If this really is player vs. opponents vs. environment then the environment should win sometimes

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I think the monsters should build their own little civilization, to be honest. Especially the argyl or whatever it's called. Troll civ marching out and attacking me? Awesomesauce.