Developer notes

[camelotcrusade]

Good idea for a thread, but I think it's already changed to a feedback thread instead of a communication thread. I suggest making a new thread called "Dev Notes" making it sticky, and locking it so there are no replies. Use it for 1-way communication about what you're doing (which we all love to read). Then, make another one called "Dev Questions" or something like that, in there's where you put questions (such as the one about Lords) that generate lots of replies. The way it is now, we'll never find the dev notes you update due to all the responses.

And, regarding lords, no opinion yet. We need victory conditions and some strong AI tweaks to really experience Warlock 2.0, and not having experienced it I can't say whether I want Lords or artifacts yet.

Edit: If you're reading, I also suggest a sticky post called "Latest Patch Notes" where the patch notes from each update are pasted.

 

[jk_bonn]

At least a keyboard shortcut to quickly deselect a unit.

Afaik the hotkey for deselect is "backspace".

Look here:

http://warlockmota.wikia.com/wiki/Hotkeys

 

[DeclaredYuppie]

I'm more on the no to both side. A couple of hero units that visually stand apart from the spearman/archer/etc mobs? Sure. But I'd really hate to see major battles hinge off one unit with a lot of additional spellcasting power. Also the artifacts could be neat, but if it's just further unit buffs for one/some units then it's just meh. Neither, I suspect, would change how I play the game, unless you just make lords too powerful, which will probably change the game away from the strategy it is.

All in all, outside of some additional units with unique mobility (more sea/air units mostly) and some water structures, I really think the best enhancements will be "smarter" AI, improved diplomacy, expanded use of the religion system. Really enjoying the game though!

 

[unmerged(83282)]

Afaik the hotkey for deselect is "backspace". Look here:

http://warlockmota.wikia.com/wiki/Hotkeys

Thanks a lot! I have edited the post you quoted to shorten it, since your reply made the original version a useless rant.

 

[Alexey Kozyrev]

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for your thoughts! I think we now have our vision about Lords and Artifacts. We decided that we want it to be more MOM-style, so every hero will be separate unit with his own skills tree and artifact slots.

Currently we are trying to make the multiplayer work as well as working on Lords, Artifacts e.t.c.
Really considering implementing PBEM (or mordern versions of it), but multiplayer will start in beta without it.

 

[unmerged(83282)]

Thank you very much for keeping us up to date concerning your development plans, Alexey.

 

[Galdred]

Will there be different settings for multiplayer, like shorter victory conditions, and fixed alliances (fixed alliances would be great if all players from one team could move at the same time, that would seriously decrease waiting time).

 

[Bertouch]

Thanks a lot for your thoughts! I think we now have our vision about Lords and Artifacts. We decided that we want it to be more MOM-style, so every hero will be separate unit with his own skills tree and artifact slots.

Gooooood.

 

[Skyhunteren]

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for your thoughts! I think we now have our vision about Lords and Artifacts. We decided that we want it to be more MOM-style, so every hero will be separate unit with his own skills tree and artifact slots.

Nice to know what of the great ideas you went with. Is there a chance you may also put in artifacts that your great mage can use?

 

[Pugman]

I so hate acronyms. What is PBEM? What is MOM?

 

[unmerged(15561)]

I so hate acronyms. What is PBEM? What is MOM?

Play by E-Mail (i.e. multiplayer) MoM...
Master of Magic... and olde turn based fantasy game, similar to original Civ. Very old.

 

[jk_bonn]

I so hate acronyms. What is PBEM? What is MOM?

Another way to learn what the acronyms means is to google it, pretty easy.

 

[The Apprentice]

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for your thoughts! I think we now have our vision about Lords and Artifacts. We decided that we want it to be more MOM-style, so every hero will be separate unit with his own skills tree and artifact slots.

Currently we are trying to make the multiplayer work as well as working on Lords, Artifacts e.t.c.
Really considering implementing PBEM (or mordern versions of it), but multiplayer will start in beta without it.

Thanks for the information! To those who played Master of Magic--- did each hero unit have an individual, unique skill tree? Or was it more like the existing perk trees in W:MotA- where there is a Caster tree, a Healer tree, a Construct tree?

 

[Skyhunteren]

There isn't anything close to a tree =P

They have a few abilities(1 for normal heroes, up to three for the greatest heroes if I remember correct) that increase with levels. So I guess that Ino will do somehing that is slightly more complicated here.

 

[hadberz]

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for your thoughts! I think we now have our vision about Lords and Artifacts. We decided that we want it to be more MOM-style, so every hero will be separate unit with his own skills tree and artifact slots.

Currently we are trying to make the multiplayer work as well as working on Lords, Artifacts e.t.c.
Really considering implementing PBEM (or mordern versions of it), but multiplayer will start in beta without it.

That sounds great. Please implement PBEM; I would even pay for it as DLC. PBEM would be perfect for long games. Thanks for the update too.

 

[sputttnik]

Thanks for the information! To those who played Master of Magic--- did each hero unit have an individual, unique skill tree? Or was it more like the existing perk trees in W:MotA- where there is a Caster tree, a Healer tree, a Construct tree?

Here is a good resource for heroes in Master of Magic:

MoM Heroes

or to be more exact hero abilities:

Hero Abilities

 

[Gort11]

I would like to see Lords and Artifacts implemented - but with all additions I would strongly urge you to make it an optional setting you can turn on and off. That way if it turns out to be a flop, you haven't ruined the game. It might also be nice if Lords have a small percentage chance of appearing when one of your units gains an experience level - great warriors are born on the battlefield after all! You could have a pop-up when a Lord appears - something similar to "Man of the hour - Conan the Barbarian has distinguished himself in the battle!"

As far as multiplayer is concerned, I'd like you to take a good long look at how Civilisation 5 does multiplayer, and don't make their mistakes. The bad stuff about Civ 5 multiplayer is that everyone takes their turns simultaneously, which is fine and good until two humans go to war. Then it becomes a clickfest - whoever clicks fastest gets to move first, which is dreadful in a strategy game. Please do something like moving the game into sequential turns while two humans are at war to prevent this problem.

 

[Pugman]

Another way to learn what the acronyms means is to google it, pretty easy.

Try googling MOM.

 

[jk_bonn]

Try googling MOM.

Maybe try to google MoM+strategy game!

You are sitting before the all knowing trashcan,all things can be found, you only must use it....

 

[unmerged(454886)]

I like the idea of having heroes and artefacts, but I'd be very careful in implementing them.
MOM wasn't great on balance in any respect, but grooming heroes and their toys was one of the simpler ways to get unstoppable killing-machines.
And Elemental has been struggling to balance their hero units for how long now?

I would like to see Lords and Artifacts implemented - but with all additions I would strongly urge you to make it an optional setting you can turn on and off. That way if it turns out to be a flop, you haven't ruined the game. It might also be nice if Lords have a small percentage chance of appearing when one of your units gains an experience level - great warriors are born on the battlefield after all! You could have a pop-up when a Lord appears - something similar to "Man of the hour - Conan the Barbarian has distinguished himself in the battle!"

Two good ideas I am definitly in favor of.