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unmerged(40707)

Just call me Yoda in private!
Mar 1, 2005
20.187
5
Hello everybody, and welcome to our first development diary for ‘For the Glory’ (FTG). I know this is not Wednesday…

The story began with the announcement of the Europa Engine License Program in January 2008. FTG project was launched in June 2008 and we started the hard work with a main goal in mind: enhancing Europa Universalis II (EU2) but not changing it. Some members of the team are also leaders of one of, if not the most famous mod for EU2: AGCEEP (more than 10,000 historical events and growing, a 1,000 page book for all historical descriptions covering all the continents). With this mod EU2 was pushed to its limits, and with a complete knowledge of the game, we wanted to add what was “missing” in EU2, not redoing some kind of EU3. They are different approaches for different players and different play styles, but both are complementary to one another.

AGCEEP is bundled with the game as a mod and other scenarios are available for those who prefer them. Any other mod or scenario can be added to FTG.

Let’s start introducing the team:
Dietmar1982
Garbon
GeneralSnoopy
MichaelM
Wreck
and I, YodaMaster

Some new members will be mentioned in future dev diaries. Some other members joined the team but were unable to be involved or resigned for personal reasons. I just want to thank them now for trying to participate.

Our main tasks in the project:
GeneralSnoopy, MichaelM and Wreck handled the conversion of the source code to the new development platform. The result for players will be compatibility with most recent Windows systems, including Seven. For us, the result was a better control of the source code and bug hunting.

They also focused on game mechanism enhancements, with Dietmar1982 focusing on settings for the game. MichaelM also greatly enhanced the script engine and added many interface improvements. Garbon, as “technical advisor” (i.e. not a programmer) encouraged us and enhanced game scenarios. Well, he has another secret task that started few years ago...

And finally, with Wreck’s new database engine, I was able to build a fully reworked database structure, breaking almost all the limits of the Europa Engine. I also focused on interface and new game features.


Let’s take a look at the interface.

The screenshot is for a 1280x960 resolution. I didn’t dare post a 1680x1050 screenshot but it could have been possible with my 22” wide screen! FTG supports any screen resolution beginning with 800x600. I also had the choice but I preferred to use a modern font and enhanced shields for this screenshot. Selection is easy in the Settings screen before starting a scenario or loading a save file.
This is also the default interface for all countries if no one is defined for the played country.

On the screenshot, you can see the political map mode and yes, it is playable. I can switch display of armies on or off if I want.

On top of the screen, you will find a reworked bar where information adjusts according to the chosen resolution. More room for information, even in 800x600. Just under the top bar, you can see little red flags with different symbols. They are reminders and warnings (notifiers) for the player. Thirteen notifiers are available in the game.

On the left, there is the classic information window. All information windows have been enhanced. In this one, uniforms are exactly the same as on the map and icons for infantry, cavalry and artillery are now shiny gold. Just over the mini map, five icons for different map modes. From left to right: terrain, political, value and... just guess the last two ones. Under the mini map, the three buttons for menu and zoom in/out. Shortcuts for zoom are +/- but why not use the mouse wheel instead?

At the bottom of the screen, no surprise here with the information log.

Let’s take a closer look at the displayed map now. This is indeed the old EU2 2D map. Don’t try to find 3D in this game, Europa Engine was not made for it. As a consequence, FTG is compatible with all maps created for EU2. The same 2020 provinces limit but this is the only limit that didn’t change. All others have been broken and numbers are now unlimited except the number of possible countries: 1000.

If you look closer, you can see Russian cores on the map. I play Poland in the standard “Age of Mercantilism” scenario (1617) but I can check the cores of any other country. All the cores shown on this screen are national provinces of Russia. We could have trouble with Russia in the future because of Livland. You can see national provinces have a symbol over the shield and a banner just under. The symbol and the banner are important. All cores are not necessarily national provinces now.

Again, if you look closer you can see the Russian city set for Russia but take a look at Smolensk. Obviously, the culture of this province is not Polish. The city will evolve with time even if the culture of the province doesn’t.

In the next diary, we will see settings and integration of mods in detail. To be continued...
 

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Very nice! I like the look of the interface. Many interesting changes, for sure. It's weird to see the units in the political map. :D I can't figure out what the new mapmodes are though. Why can't we see Poland's cores?

I will read through it one more time when I get home; much information to digest here. Btw, how often will you post diaries? Every week?
 
Why can't we see Poland's cores?
Because Russian ones are displayed in the screenshot. ;)

For displaying the cores of a country, just click on the capital. For readability of the map, especially for control of units movements, display of the cores can be switched off. Same for the display of the units.

Btw, how often will you post diaries? Every week?
Yes
 
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Ah, at last! :) Looks quite good, I can't wait to see the AGCEEP map being implemented into the mod. And I cant wait to see Interregnum ported to FtG as well. ^^
 
just guess the last two ones.
Looks like a mapmode for provinces captured by rebels. Can't see what the other one is.
All others have been broken and numbers are now unlimited except the number of possible countries: 1000.
What was the old number of possible countries?

All cores are not necessarily national provinces now.
Didn't you mention claims some months ago?

Again, if you look closer you can see the Russian city set for Russia but take a look at Smolensk. Obviously, the culture of this province is not Polish. The city will evolve with time even if the culture of the province doesn’t.
Nice. Looks like you have changed the graphic for naval manufactories as well (Småland)?

Great. :D

Can we see some screenshots of the other information windows, or will you save that for later?
 
Can't think of what the two new map modes can be, unfortunately - the icons aren't that clear.

Edit, took a closer look on that. One is probably about revolt risk (like Olav said), and the other about cultures. Right? :D

Love the different types of core provinces as well.

Everything seems so cooool here! :D I just can't wait for the next diaries, not to mention the game itself...
 
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Very elegant, EU2 looks refreshed and I like the way it begins to shine again. :)
I wonder what "53" in the upper panel means...

Apart from reminders, shall we see something such as an EU3's outliner in this edition?
 
I am glad to see the notifiers ! :)

Let’s take a closer look at the displayed map now. This is indeed the old EU2 2D map. Don’t try to find 3D in this game, Europa Engine was not made for it. As a consequence, FTG is compatible with all maps created for EU2. The same 2020 provinces limit but this is the only limit that didn’t change. All others have been broken and numbers are now unlimited except the number of possible countries: 1000.

Does this mean the region limit is gone ? And nice to see more nations ! :)
 
Excellent news :)

Great to see those "reminder" icons, they're are really something I love in newer P'dox games and so are a much needed addition to the EU II line. Other changes look very good as well.
 
There. I was wondering whether Byzantium was gonna get a realistic treatment if it survived after 1453 and beyond. Also, you aren't planning on doing some kind of convertor, are you?