165 replies to this topic

[johnchm.10]

so, even though 1.3 is a long ways off, but going to be great regardless of what happens, i think we should have a simple poll of what the fans want the most, in general-isms, and not anything like particular models, so that way the mod staff isnt running around like a decapitated chicken

Performance: streamlining the mod wherever possible or practical so it can run better on some of the older computers, and then from there, the rest of the items can be gone over
Gameplay (campaigns) : while yes, the GC campaigns in the mod are well done, there could be a few more in my opinion
Gameplay (units/stations/buildings) : more units/stations/buildings to be added/altered. not going to say which ones for this poll.
Gameplay (environment) : adding new maps or backdrops.
Gameplay (factions) : ive been thinking about this idea where if it becomes possible, having different factions like adding some of the Warlords as their own separate factions, and similar things of that nature
Gameplay (mechanics): altering things like how much income a station will give you, or altering the effects of a special power, or build-speeds, etc
Other/Write-in : if you think there's something i missed, let me know and ill include it in the vote.

as always, any questions are welcome, and try to keep it civil

[Aizen Teppa]

Voted: Performance.

It is primary factor why I did abandon playing 1.2 (i7 920). In 1.1 AI cheated, Ai was stupid, game-play was sluggish but at least I could play as long as I wanted 50 or 500 weeks. With 1.2 I constantly run into problem of non-responsive units. I think primary focus should be limiting fighter buildup. In truth I would gladly see fighters removed as a single unit. I know it won't happen but it is what I would prefer. Maybe there is a way to tie number of fighters with number of capital ships so for planet with 2 Corelian Corvettes in orbit it won't be possible to support 500 fighters. What I found while modding 1.2 myself is that AI is ALWAYS switching to fighter model which is not restricted by population cap.

Example (sorry if I misquote names, I don't sleep, eat, breath SW ). ATR bombers. Increased cap to 4 so AI swiftly moved to X-Wings, limited those so it switched to Skips and so on, until they started to deploy ridiculous numbers of antiquated fighters and tugs!

Possible solution: perhaps it is time to borrow an idea from my favourite game family: Supreme Ruler. In SR one physical aircraft on the map = 8 real life aircrafts. One Military base can support max 15 planes (120 in real file terms), 1 airstrip can support max 7 planes (IIRC). Seriously PR don't need to be so painfully accurate, because at some stage 'realism' always losing to game-play. I really don't care that cruiser A carried 36 fighter squadrons so I have to see those 36 on the map. Slash those 36 by factor of 12. For a battleships even 25+, whatever it takes. Prevent possibility of conquering a planet with half capital ship, quarter of transport barge and 400 wings of ATRs or something along those lines. When deploying massive (like 50 dreadnoughts + vast escort) fleets I see no point with additional fighters as a separate unit(s). Any battleships carry serious amount of fighters, star-bases deploy also good number of squadrons. What is the point of constant fighter spam? Right now I can build at tiny planet (e.g.) 500 TIE-Defenders and they can defeat any fleet, no problems whatsoever. Don't waste time on Super Star Destroyers or Bulwarks. Build 3000 Tie-D or K-Wings and make defenses of your planet impenetrable!

Edited by Aizen Teppa, 11 August 2012 - 06:45 AM.

[Kitkun]

Campaigns are the domain of Ghost, and we did get Skyhook with 1.2. Maps are from Bob, we got a bunch of those new. High quality on both counts. So it's pretty pointless having them separated out.

Factions... pretty sure the engine can't do more.

@Aizen: Try clicking and right-clicking on empty space a couple times when something becomes unselectable. Then try selecting stuff again. I've yet to encounter this as a problem in any number or length of games.
Galactic population cap is coming, too. That will put a damper on unit spam by the AI. Plus that kind of super-fighter is what was being moved away from in vanilla EaW.

Edit: Ninja'd. Edit 2: Un-ninja'd?

Edited by Kitkun, 11 August 2012 - 02:43 PM.

[Ghostrider]

Just so you all know. Campaigns are underging a major revamp for various reasons.

Will tell more later.

[evilbobthebob]

Kitkun is right, maps are made as an aside to the rest of development because I can concentrate on them myself. v1.3 will have at minimum 14 brand new unique land maps, and improvements to many more.

Edited by evilbobthebob, 11 August 2012 - 09:33 AM.

[johnchm.10]

huh. apparently the Poll itself disappeared

[P.O._210877]

v1.3 will have at minimum 14 brand new unique land maps, and improvements to many more.

Music to my ears!

Thanks for your efforts evilbob.

[Ghostrider]

so, even though 1.3 is a long ways off, but going to be great regardless of what happens, i think we should have a simple poll of what the fans want the most, in general-isms, and not anything like particular models, so that way the mod staff isnt running around like a decapitated chicken

Performance: streamlining the mod wherever possible or practical so it can run better on some of the older computers, and then from there, the rest of the items can be gone over

We'll have performance improvements to report on as part of the wider 1.3 overhauls. Will report on this later.

Gameplay (campaigns) : while yes, the GC campaigns in the mod are well done, there could be a few more in my opinion

We know. It's always on the list of things to add. Each time we have a mod overhaul it leads to campaign revamps of the existing ones. It's always on the list of wants though.

Gameplay (units/stations/buildings) : more units/stations/buildings to be added/altered. not going to say which ones for this poll.

As always, we have a wish list of what we want to add. There will be something. We never get the whole wish list though....

Gameplay (environment) : adding new maps or backdrops.

Evil bob has done some stunning work here. Lots to talk about.

Gameplay (factions) : ive been thinking about this idea where if it becomes possible, having different factions like adding some of the Warlords as their own separate factions, and similar things of that nature

We actually have a wish list of Warlords and Hutts at the very least. New factions are very challenging from and AI perspective. I'll leave PR to discuss the technical challenges of adding new factions. We want to - but it may not be 1.3 as we have other projects underway at the moment.

Gameplay (mechanics): altering things like how much income a station will give you, or altering the effects of a special power, or build-speeds, etc
Other/Write-in : if you think there's something i missed, let me know and ill include it in the vote.
as always, any questions are welcome, and try to keep it civil

I think you will like the mechanic changes for 1.3. It affects all aspects of the game and the campaigns and has resulted in several months of work for me at least.

[johnchm.10]

lol. i was trying to put this in a poll, but i guess i've hit my poll limit for the week. still. thanks for the status updates. its comforting to know that one of the best mods out there hasnt died. lot of that going around lately.

[smashedsaturn]

harder AI, I want to fear the empire's might as the rebels.
other than that a few more ships is always a fun time

[P.O._210877]

I think you will like the mechanic changes for 1.3. It affects all aspects of the game and the campaigns and has resulted in several months of work for me at least.

When are you planing on starting the information sharing, days, months? I admit you picked my curiosity.

harder AI, I want to fear the empire's might as the rebels.

100% in agreement. Soon the Rebellion will be CRUSHED...

[Phoenix Rising]

Hopefully we can get to the point where the old campaigns won't need to be continuously overhauled, bar new units. Maybe after v1.3. Then Ghost will be free to focus on new additions.

Any new faction possibility is virtually impossible without a dedicated artist. It's no longer a technical question: I've almost worked all of those out...

[melbournelad]

So will 1.2-1.3 be a shorter development time than 1.1-1.2 with less things to do? Could we expect 1.3 sometime mid next year?

[Madurai]

Is there a way to make strife last longer on newly-conquered planets?

[Ghostrider]

So will 1.2-1.3 be a shorter development time than 1.1-1.2 with less things to do? Could we expect 1.3 sometime mid next year?

Yes. We are really keen to have much shorter gaps between releases. The "AI rebuild" and the "create land from scratch" were epic developments.

V1.3 is progressing well and we are seeing considerable improvements. However, I'm still in the process of revamping all the campaigns to match the developments, and It's tough as I go to work and have much less spare time than I'd like.

Basically, though the development cycle should be faster now. 39 months was far too long for a release. It will be quicker, certainly, but we don't have a "schedule" or "timeline".

Quicker is better.

Is there a way to make strife last longer on newly-conquered planets?

Yes. PR's found that one.

When are you planing on starting the information sharing, days, months? I admit you picked my curiosity.

I've started writing my next news post.....

Edited by Ghostrider, 17 September 2012 - 05:56 PM.

[P.O._210877]

I've started writing my next news post.....

Sweet!

[skie9173]

With strife time increases being implemented will there be any planetary bonuses to reduce strife? I'm sure, if it is doable, PR has already done it. Examples might be planets like Alderaan with its Diplomatic Corps, Caamas, or maybe some CSA planets via "cooperate take-over" type strategies.

Just a thought

[Phoenix Rising]

Probably not as an advantage, but the Politician hero skill already does it.

[johnchm.10]

So will 1.2-1.3 be a shorter development time than 1.1-1.2 with less things to do? Could we expect 1.3 sometime mid next year?

Yes. We are really keen to have much shorter gaps between releases. The "AI rebuild" and the "create land from scratch" were epic developments.

V1.3 is progressing well and we are seeing considerable improvements. However, I'm still in the process of revamping all the campaigns to match the developments, and It's tough as I go to work and have much less spare time than I'd like.

Basically, though the development cycle should be faster now. 39 months was far too long for a release. It will be quicker, certainly, but we don't have a "schedule" or "timeline".

Quicker is better.

in those 39 months, you took what was already great mod and turned it into an even greater mod, so i would be content.

[R-TEAM]

Hi,

would love to see more realistic scale between big ships and fighters - if this possible ....

Regards
R-TEAM