One of Sûl's best ideas that I really liked is the BIG conversion to the "library system" of upgrades... It's a major change to the game that fit PERFECTLY in the idea I had with SEE from the beginning. This thing will require a LOT of work though in an insane validation of AI needed. The topic could generate lots of problems and matters so that's why I want to have this matter discussed in a thread of it's own
This is from the current ToDo List:
All factions: Learning Centres or "Library buildings" if you will, for uprades...
- This would be a HUGE modification to the game's structure, but I defenitely LOVE the idea that Sûlherokhh suggested since it would highten the "realism" factor. The idea (taken from the "Suggestions Thread" and modified to fit my directions, hehe) is this:
A) Add a 'library' building (Learning Centre) for each faction that provides upgrades for Heroes and possibly other units. Especially magic ones would be suitable for this and much more logical than just suddenly be able to do them after leveling up from battles on the battlefield.
B) Let heroes start with only 1 power, and DO NOT let them gain more by simply increasing their rank. Rank should only affect DAMAGE, ARMOR (dodging) and such, like it already does. Instead let them gain additional powers by 'buying' them in the library, like mentioned in point A! Maybe some of the hero powers are still gained by rank though? Purely physical ones like 'berserker-rage', 'spear throw', etc., but not magic spells or FO-artillery!
C) The library might either have a submenu for each hero and their specific powers, or it might provide general upgrades, used for each and every hero (specifically, this is the only fitting way for the CaH)...
Some suggested (and some altered) names would be:Naturally these structures would be expensive, like half a fortress maybe, and all this would also require some serious AI Coding to even be considerable. That's the downside to it, unless this mod is going to be Multiplayer only... Without functional AI, I won't have this done. But I love the idea...
- Library of Minas Tirith (MotW),
- House of Learning (Elves),
- Hall of Alchemy (Dwarves),
- Temple of Doom/Black Magic (Mordor),
- Chamber of Artifacts/Sorcery (Isengard),
- Pit of Black Magic/Summoning Pit (Wild).
And these are the structures I've chosen for this after spending 2½ hours in Worldbuilder just scanning through all available buildings in BFME2... I posted screens along with each citadel/keep/fortress so you'll see how they match up! I know some of them are quite big, but we can scale them if nessesary
This would be the "Library of Minas Tirith" for Men of the West... The Stone Maker from BFME1 could be implemented again as well. Maybe it could affect the cost of ammo for Trebuchets and armor for walls and such? The others I also like and maybe we can find use for them as well. If they all fit that is, since Men porter allready have loads of structures to build.
Here's the tree house that would fit as the "House of Learning" for the Elves... Same with the other two like above, maybe we can use them too for something nice.
And a really suitable structure that could act as the "Hall of Alchemy" for the Dwarves...
This is what I'd like to see as the "Temple of Doom" for Mordor... The Sauron statue will give Mordor troops healing. I think Evil side could use that too, not only Good side!
For Isengard's "Chamber of Artifacts (or Sorcery)" I'd like something that resembles Orthanc, but still isn't off course. Orthanc can only be in Isengard, but I need something similar. Guess how glad I was when I realized that this structure from Wild faction was in Worldbuilder. The statue would fit good since Isengard was a slave under Mordor...
And finally, for the Goblins (this was hard) I think I like the round tent best, but that would recuire some reskinning or remodeling since it uses the Isengard flag on top. Other ideas would be to use a scaled version of the wild goblin pit, and use the currebt pit (scaled up) as "Pit of Black Magic". I also kept some other structures that might work some way... The goblin statue is really good.
Just bare in mind that we will have problems with:
1) Build ups! RenX can't import BFME2 structures properly according to Zimoo, so making build ups will be pretty impossible. We have to experiment and "lend" from other structures like I did for the Dwarven Diamond mine :/
2) Damage states. These structures seldom come with damage states :/ I think a good solution would be to use a combination of the fire explosion from Rain of Fire and the magic explosion from Drogoth's death. Logic would be since it's a magical structure, it will explode when "it's had enough" instead of falling apart... Thats the best way to work around lack of damage state models I think...
EDIT:
CHECK UPS on damage states in game
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- Temple of Doom : OK! (3 damage states)!
>>> Does anyone know on which maps can check the other structures for damage states OR could someone help out and playtest those for me?
Edited by Nazgûl, 27 July 2008 - 11:23 AM.