The Lords (Patch 1.2)

[The Apprentice]

So the patch is out and being downloaded. Lords and Artifacts being one of the major additions, I thought I'd start a thread where people can post observations about the new content. Just to get the information out there, and share cool stuff/mechanics you noticed.

How do I use Artifacts?
There is a new button in the upper-right, near the diplomacy scroll. If you click on it, it takes you to a "Hall of Lords/Artifact" place. From there, you can magically send your artifacts to your lords, at a mana cost. If your Lord is within your borders, there is no mana cost to equip the artifact. There are 4 slots for Hero/Lord Units.

Perks/Artifacts
New Perks: It seems that each individual Lord may have unique new perks. The Cruel Creature, for example, can select Small Creature or Terrifying Leap- neither of which has been reported on other Lords to date. Additionally, each Hero gets an innate "Hero." Thus far, posters have noted: Usual Heroes, Famous Heroes, and Legendary Heroes.

New Artifact Slots: Magic Weapon, Melee Weapon, Ranged Weapon, Armor, Magic Item. Each Lord/Hero (the game is not consistent with its terminology) has 3 slots of varying types. The Cruel Creature has 3 Magic Item slots, while the First Sharpshooter has a single Ranged Weapon, Armor, and Magic Item slot.

Lord Information
- The Imp-Advisor and Blademaster from the first DLC counts as a Lord- they appear in the Hall and has artifact slots. All Lords appear as a single entity on a hex.
- Lord units level faster as they require less XP to gain levels. Lvl 1 is 10 as opposed to 20, and level 8 is 100 as opposed to 300. Lords can also surpass the former level cap of 10- one poster reported his Imp-Advisor reaching level 12.
- Lords spotted thus far are: Chosen One (Human Warrior Lord), First Sharpshooter (Goblin Archer, the basic type), Elder Ogre (Looks like an Ogre with a reinforced tree trunk), Healer Lord, Rrat Prince (Basic Rat), Cruel Creature (Rabbit from Hell), Olden Ghost/Red Ghost (unsure if the same Lord), Dark Mage (Mage/Magister?), Elven Archer, Supreme Vampire, The Spirit of Kings, Balfour, and the Skeleton King.

Thanks to Atlatea for digging in, reporting about some of the higher tier lords in particular. (http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...Patch-1.2)&p=14118941&highlight=#post14118941)

 

[jww]

THIS GAME IS BROKEN NOW!

Sorry, I haven't actually played with the patch yet. FInishing up a Civ V game first I started while waiting on the patch. But I've never written a "this game is broken" post before, so I thought today would be a good time. Besides, someone is bound to decide the game is broken over some change in the patch the person doesn't like, so I thought I would beat that person to the punch. I'm looking forward to trying out the patch in a day or two. This is a very enjoyable game with great potential.

 

[The Apprentice]

:blink:

Anyway, had a visit from an Artifact merchant. He offered to "purchase" an artifact- by which I mean he wanted to sell one to me. I bought a shield of Jan Ben-Jan, +20 Melee/Missile resist. Alas, my Demon Imp can't equip it because it is of the "Armor" type. He has no slots for the Armor type. He does have slots for "Magic Weapon" and "Magic Item" (x2), however...

 

[unmerged(512844)]

Thanks for the patch ! Etienne

 

[unmerged(495697)]

So 100 turns into the new patch. The artifacts are a nice addition, though it's a bit sad when you have several items that require a different lord type, and all you're offered are melee lords. The Lords themselves seem a bit beefed up versions of normal units, with a couple new perk names, and some mixing in the perk effects. They're ok, though I might have preferred something like special abilities I can choose. Maybe later, or on different hero types? Time will tell. The new moster spawns were a bit of a surprise. Not sure how to feel about them yet, though if nothing else, it makes things interesting. The AI seems better with diplomacy. Now it doesn't even do the demand-war dance every time you meet. So at least a step up there. The only bad thing with the patch I noticed, is that now I'm getting a fair bit of game-slowdowns. It get's a bit painful on some enemy turns...

 

[Grombeard]

I haven't found any items yet, but so far two heroes offered their services to me. It was a human healer and an orc archer. I hired the healer and have just gathered a little army around him to clear a holy ground. We'll soon see if this hero is worth something. But not before tomorrow as i'll get some sleep now.

Happy playing to everyone! Enjoy the new patch!

@The Apprentice: With "Demon Imp" do you mean the guy from the first (preorder) DLC? Does he count as a real hero now?

 

[unmerged(230577)]

How do you use artifacts?

I've purchased 2 of them, and can't find or use them. Any idea how to use them?


Thanks

 

[Grombeard]

though I might have preferred something like special abilities I can choose.

I was able to choose a new ability for my healer at levelup. First she had only a healing skill and now she has learned a shield spell. Is this what you mean? Maybe not every hero gets new spells, though.

 

[The Apprentice]

There is a new button in the upper-right, near the diplomacy scroll. If you click on it, it takes you to a "Hall of Lords/Artifact" place. From there, you can magically send your artifacts to your lords, at a possible mana cost. Hmm... I'll add that to the OP.

New Perks seen: Usual Hero
New Item Slots: Ranged Weapon (in addition to Magic Weapon)

Demon Imp was the pre-order DLC guy, yes. And he is visible with other Lords in the Hall of Lords (and can now equip Artifacts), but his Demonic Education perk doesn't refer to him as a Lord.

 

[unmerged(495697)]

I was able to choose a new ability for my healer at levelup. First she had only a healing skill and now she has learned a shield spell. Is this what you mean? Maybe not every hero gets new spells, though.

That would be exactly what I mean yes.

 

[fuinril]

I just tested a game on impossible, xl, supercontinent, 6 AIs.

First I should tell I was used to roll on the AI at this difficulty setting.

Well I cannot tell much about new hero system as I loose this game (I quit when it became obvious I had no chance at all) at turn 60 with one hero.

The hero system seems quite nice, not sure how they will do against end game units but in my game they were just fine.

The AIs, however, are more flaw than ever ! They are much more agressive but more dumb too... As usual they demand an extravagant amount of gold 3 turns after I encounter them, I refused and immediatly they begin to attack me. That was a nice surprise.
What was not : the war begin near turn 10, I defended well, the war seemed a dead end at this point, and near turn 20 I demanded the peace... refused. Well. Turn 21 or 22, I was pretty confident with my new unit : a troll...The AI answer was to upgrade all his units in veteran...Well, I could have manage my ressources better, but at this point I was in negative in food, all I had was for the war. It is totally impossible for a human player to have enough money to upgrade 15-20 units into veteran on the same time at turn 20...
Obviously my army was wype out, I was forced to back and in my mind I already gave up the contest city. Not much cries here, after all it's impossible setting and I know the AI begins whith much more ressources than human player (even if I think it's a bit exaggerate).

And then... the AI demands peace ! (turn 25-26). I just cannot begin to understand why : the contested city was defenseless with 0 hp and the AI had at least 6 units to capture it....

Well, when someone give a gift I take it ! So I continued to play... and another AI I just encountered declare war with me (no demand, just "war"). I just had time to rebuild my army, I gathered them and I went to assault this impudent mage. My main force was anhilate by a spell... don't know wich... it seemed to be the Grum-Gog spell Corrupted Vapors but with something like 12 damage and a one turn spellcasting time (I took 3 in a row). Of course I fled with the ruins of my army and then the first AI declared a new war against me (again no demand, just war - turn 50). And again I left the first contested city alone to gather my forces and prepared a counter attack. The ennemy toyed with the city without taking it, why I just cannot fathom, I was crushed when I launched my counter attack and I stoped the game.



Well I will retry with a lower difficulty setting, hoping the AI will perform as good in end game too...

Another deep regret : still no way to induce a god other than hoping from quests or build temples...

 

[alex0809]

Are the Lords from Powerful Lords DLC... uhm, are they Lords too now? OK that question sounds a bit stupid, but you get what I mean

 

[The Apprentice]

Probably. The Imp guy is, in that he can equip artifacts and appears in the Hall of Lords. Its in the OP.

Also- Holy Something or other! Turn 27, and the AI is attacking me with 4 units- 2 Veterans, a Cleric, and a Mage. I'm not complaining (Impossible Diff), but WOW, what a different experience. Going to try to bribe the AI before it destroys my wimpy Hunters...

Edit: Make that 10 units of various types- and aggressive spell casting. AND the AI's magic users showed up pre-buffed with spells. Definitely an improvement.

 

[unmerged(495697)]

Seems the AI is rather random now, but in a good way. So far I've only had one AI declare war on me, the rest offered non-aggression pacts =D

EDIT: just to clarify, yes on impossible.

 

[LordTheRon]

Seems the AI is rather random now, but in a good way. So far I've only had one AI declare war on me, the rest offered non-aggression pacts =D

EDIT: just to clarify, yes on impossible.

According to the patchnotes on Steam ai's have different personalities now. That might explain different behaviour.

 

[Rhaegor]

This is great news. The game might be worth playing now.

 

[Czin]

To anyone thats been wondering, there is a chat in-game option, just hit "t" to type. Although a sound would be nice to notice it, since the white font isn't easy to notice. Also I believe it should be bolded.

 

[Skyhunteren]

I got a dark wizard from a ruin and man he rocks. Also betwen the new spawns, agresive ai and more aggresive neutrals I end up feeling pressed now and again.

 

[UncleJJ]

Just downloaded the patch and started a new game. Only 15 turns so far and nothing special has happened yet. But it is my bedtime now. What others are reporting sounds very good and I look forward to playing this game out tomorrow.

 

[The Apprentice]

Also noticed Lords level much faster later on than normal units- level 6 only costs 60xp for my Advisor, while a normal unit costs around 150ish XP.