Unofficial Patch V1.5 - Plans and suggestions

Topic Subject: Unofficial Patch V1.5 - Plans and suggestions

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Swolte
AOWH/AOW2H Seraph

posted 12-28-05 11:51 AM EDT (US)

Note: This thread is meant to provide news about the progress of the v1.5 project. Suggestions are welcome, although more threads will be made in the future to make the information flow more fluent.
If at all possible, keep the thread a summary of ideas with a short explanation. Try and keep discussion on a topic minimal and make a thread and link to it, if you think your topic is up for discussion. Remember that suggestions are meant as a patch and the aim is wide acceptance by the AoW-community. This means that changes must be in line and compatible with existing maps and campaigns. In addition, gameplay changes should take Online, Play by Email and Single Player into account. This is different from a mod that is able to change large gaming concepts or is made for whomever is interested.

PLAN FOR UNOFFICIAL PATCH: VERSION 1.5

WHY DEVELOP AN UNOFFICIAL PATCH V1.5?
- To keep interest in Age of Wonders alive!!
- To keep improving aspects of the game.
- To keep the game interesting and dynamic on a competitive level.
- To dramatically improve the possibilities for mapmakers and modders.
- To enhance community involvement.

HOW CAN I HELP?
The development forums are here and everyone who wants to can sign up and contribute! Core members will be admitted by invitation only.

WHEN WILL IT BE RELEASED?

Since the project isn't a financially sponsored or paid endeavour, we have no strict deadline. The patch will not be a rushed product and the necessary time will be taken to fix issues and thoroughly test balance changes. Delays are possible and may take as long as months.

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE:
Currrently undetermined

WHAT IS POSSIBLE?
The teammembers will consist of very able people in the modding/playing/mapmaking/writing world that are capable of working in teams. What is possible will largely depend on the qualities of the teammembers and rules we allow ourselves to break. Decisions regarding some of these issues, as you may understand, are not allowed to be discussed in public on these forums. Please email me at swolte at gmail dot com with questions regarding copyright, hacks, etc...

In terms of additions to the game, v1.5 will be much bolder than v1.4 was.

********************WHAT IS PLANNED SO FAR?********************
This list may be expanded.

CAMPAIGN + Campaign Editor (35% complete)
The campaign will consist out of many linked maps replacing the old campaign (yes, you will be able to switch back and forth). The basic campaign structure therefore is linear but the internal design will allow for as much (perhaps even more than expected...) freedom.
We'll also attempt a campaign editor that actually works so users can make campaigns themselves a lot easier

MORE BUGFIXES (80% complete)

Fixes

RACIAL BOATS/PIONEERS/MACHINES (55% complete)
v1.5 will be a bit bolder in the sense that we will add and replace some existing units. Perhaps only with a couple of races.
- Racial Boats
- Racial Machines
- Racial Pioneers
- Extra Builder unit at Mastery Guild for some Constructor races.

This picture shows Bilge rats (the new Goblin Transport 'boat') transporting nasty Goblins and Kobolds to the human wharf. The peasants and defending pikeman are fleeing for safety towards the old mining tunnel.

NEW HEROES FOR CLASS (80% complete)
This will be the biggest change planned as it will impact gameplay as well as game feel. The intention is to replace existing hero classes with unique graphics (keeping some, but replacing most...). We have decided to go for it, in full force.
Discussion here.

ADDITIONAL WIZARDS and ITEMS. (85% complete)
Some new items and Wizards will be added to the standard library. This means that these can now also show up in the Random Map Generator.

NEW MAPS. (30% complete)
These are maps that will come with the patch. They will show some of the new editor features that will otherwise not be available when playing the game.

This picture shows more water based tiles and units. The whirlpool can suck in even the giant seamonster. On land, there is a fortress holding many magical creatures. and a Seer sees trouble from afar, when a Spiked Maw is flinching its three large, and deadly spikes on his back

MORE NEW UNITS/STRUCTURES/TERRAIN. (80% complete)
Especially mapmakers and single-players will be treated the most with these additions. None of the existing possibilities will be altered or changed. These can be considered as bonuses and have no effect on playing existing maps. Mapmakers can add them at will, the advantage is that a lot of work by fans and hidden opportunities of mapmakers will now be directed supported and easily accessible by everyone.
- New units will also now be available in standard structures (as defenders or recruits), as spirit rewards/infidels.

NEW RACES + RACE SWITCHER (~ temporarily stopped ~)
Another ambitious project is the race switcher. This utility will let you play new races (also in rmg) at the cost of switching one.
Some new races planned:
- Demons
- Gnomes
- Beast
- Fairy
- Lizard

This will be the last priority. If the patch's release is delayed too much, we may opt to do this as a future add-on.

********************WHO WILL BE INVOLVED?********************
These teams will be elaborated as time goes on. This is the current status. Vacant positions will be posted in this thread.

Map Team
This team is the core design team for the campaign
- Morgul666
- Swolte
- A
- Enginerd
- Nyarlathotep
- Albaron

Graphics design Team
This team will create units and structures for the game!
- PawelS
- Swolte
- The_Groll
- Albaron
- Achilles Reborn
- Beastfeast
- TravisII
- MagicIceFlame

Technical Support
- PawelS

NOTES
- This patch will be larger in size than the previous one. For v1.4, size was a restriction for certain additions and for v1.5 we're gonna let that go completely. Especially now that we are adding movies to the Campaign, hitting 500 MB is possible.

Get the unofficial Patch v1.4. here!
My best AoW-Sm map: Drums of Death (This is the multiplayer version; for single player, or AI use different version)
Other proud AoW-sm maps: The Key of Kharzul, The Fight for Light, Waikiti Island, Goldrush Mountains
My proud AoW2 maps:The River Arne
Coordinator of the v1.4 and v1.5 patchteams, Seraph of AoWHeaven, PBEM Singles Champion 2008

[This message has been edited by Swolte (edited 10-16-2011 @ 12:47 PM).]

Author

Replies:

The Groll
Member

posted 02-24-08 12:52 PM EDT (US) 1171 / 2787

I don't like the idea of invisible teleporter. In hands of an irresponsible mapmaker it can lead to annoying and confusing effects.

I like them a lot and have suggested to make them very often. You are right. In the hands of someone that uses them in a wrong kind/way they can destroy a map. But they will destroy the joy of their own maps and will earn destructive votes for such a map.
I am not affrait of them (teleporters).

Btw is it razable?

Good question and good suggestion! If you ask me we should have both. Razeable and not razeable.
I could explain why we need them so much but this will offer people some of my secret map ideas.

Both are needed.

They are needed and a 'must have' for 1.5 and we are in a stage of the game where new things are badly needed.
The game is very old and need some fresh blood.
We can discuss this in the developers forum if you like.

AoWSM Maps: 1. Marlenes Welt 2. Marlenes Schatten 3. Marlenes Gnade
Up.1.4 Maps: 4. Secrets of Marlenia (UPatch 1.4 Map - update) 5. Gates of Elocin - Part I (Mapmaking Competition - Winning Map) 6. David�s Winter Wonderland 7. Fairy Wedding
8. Marlene�s_Laughter 9. The Gods Arena Of Magic And Power 10. The_Wilderness 11. Kayland (AoW I Mod) 12. Mia-Mina_&_The_Seadrake
11. AoW I Sound Set for AoWSM 12. Gentleman Rules Set
Need Help? The Conqueror's Fieldguide to The Groll's Universe
Proud member of the Upatch 1.4, 1.5 & 1.6 Team

Gandalf_DK
Member

posted 02-25-08 03:42 AM EDT (US) 1172 / 2787

This idea may have been posted before here - I'm sorry, but the thread is just too huge. I would like more machines for the upatch 1.5, so one suggestion is for a "siege cannon".
Graphics c(sh)ould be like that of the normal cannon, but it should have better stats (and be a formidable siege weapon of course!).

My suggested stats are:
Def 12, res 12, hits 24, moves 20. Same abilities are the normal cannon (including block), but add enchanted weapon,fire protection and marksmanship II at start (and remove fire weakness) at start. Silver: Marksmanship III, cold protection. Gold: Seeker, marksmanship IV.
Price around 300 gold. Ideally I'd prefer it starting with MM4 and going up to MM5 and MM6 at the medals (which is possible with PawelS' editor), the only question is what is balanced for the price; the idea is an extremely powerful cannon.

I'd prefer it if this cannon was buildable by humans and dwarves (requires master's guild), but I don't think changes like that are part of the upatch 1.5?

"It is better to discuss a subject without deciding on it, than to decide on a subject without discussing it" - Herbert Spencer.

iceboy
Member

posted 02-25-08 05:23 AM EDT (US) 1173 / 2787

Hi Swolte,

For the new patch would it be possible to fix the bug where when you pick start with pioneer only with random maps the computer players always die because they start with no pioneer...

The Groll
Member

posted 02-25-08 01:37 PM EDT (US) 1174 / 2787

Hi Gandalf_DK

I have one unit under construction but it�s a hard work to make it available for AoWSM.
This is a sige unit and if it makes the jump to the upatch it will be the most powerfull machine ever seen in AoWSM.
Let�s hope that I find the time and will to work on it and that Swolte accepts my wish for the stats of this unit. I have talked with PawelS about it and we have dreamed together about this 'thing'. It will cost 1500 gold when I get my will

The Groll
Member

posted 03-08-08 06:42 PM EDT (US) 1175 / 2787

Don�t know if I ever suggested this but I badly want some cannons for ships. Can we have a ship with a cannon or even some kannons maybe recolored and a little smaller in firepower and size that have the ability to swim?
Then we mapmakers can create nice sea battles with pirates and cannons.

MagIceFlame
Member

posted 03-12-08 04:45 AM EDT (US) 1176 / 2787

Is it possible to make the scenario/map -generator make underworld ground you can tunnel through?

Or maybe it would be nice if the new terrain and it's percentage on the map is selectable at the beginning. This would be nice for sea battle maps too.

Characters like Mab, that allready had a negative two-skill-ability (technophobe), do have only two standard positive abilities. (They should have three positive abilitys.(AoWSM german version))

I am looking forward for the Unoffical Patch V1.5 the UPatch V1.4 allready was great.

Swolte
AOWH/AOW2H Seraph

posted 03-12-08 01:21 PM EDT (US) 1177 / 2787

Ship w cannon is definitely doable!

Is it possible to make the scenario/map -generator make underworld ground you can tunnel through?

Yes, there are good mods that already does that:
http://aow2.heavengames.com/downloads/showfile.php?fileid=784

Or maybe it would be nice if the new terrain and it's percentage on the map is selectable at the beginning. This would be nice for sea battle maps too.

This is too hard to do, the best bet would be to have a scenario be generated by a third party (which you will find here easily).

Characters like Mab, that allready had a negative two-skill-ability (Technophobe), do have only two standard positive abilities. (They should have three positive abilitys.(AoWSM german version))

Yes, you are right. Any suggestion for an extra skill?
I have added Conquerer for now...

Alrik Fassbauer
Member

posted 03-14-08 06:53 AM EDT (US) 1178 / 2787

Great idea imho: I recently thought of cannons, too.

Kilian Houston
Member

posted 03-14-08 06:06 PM EDT (US) 1179 / 2787

The invisible teleporter reminded me of a wish of mine: Is there hope for teleporters in water? Watercaves where possible, so this shouldn't be that hard to realise.

There is "wrong" and there is "more wrong"; unfortunatelly there is no such thing as "right" even less "more right".

Travelling faster than a speeding bullet is not of much help if you and it are headed straight towards each other.

The Groll
Member

posted 03-14-08 06:38 PM EDT (US) 1180 / 2787

Hi Kilian Houston

The invisible teleporter reminded me of a wish of mine:

Yes it was my suggestion but it was not easy to get it.

Is there hope for teleporters in water? Watercaves where possible, so this shouldn't be that hard to realise.

Good suggestion too. You can belive me that I have suggested some more very strange things for this new upatch

Sometimes it�s hard to get this ideas throught in our crew

.
Therefore your suggestion makes me very happy.
Means I am not the only mapmaker that wants such maybe strange things.

PawelS
Member

posted 03-20-08 10:22 AM EDT (US) 1181 / 2787

I remember I tried to make a water teleporter some time ago, and there were problems with the TC map... I don't remember the details, I'll try again when I have time.

A proud member of the Unofficial Patch team.
Creator of the AoW1 Mod.

The Groll
Member

posted 03-20-08 02:47 PM EDT (US) 1182 / 2787

As far as I remember your tests you only said that it looks strange because in water there is the land TC map of the teleporter and that looks strange. But I still think it would be nice to have it. I have made two maps with water teleporter events for ships but of course it�s not the same as real water teleporters that the AI can use too.

Swolte
AOWH/AOW2H Seraph

posted 03-21-08 00:13 AM EDT (US) 1183 / 2787

Good news, Grolleke, it looks like it works just fine!

(After I changed the terrain type to transparent) I did a few tests and the only disadvantage I could find was that the TC map looks a bit warped. The teleporting itself seems to work fine.
I was afraid of bugs and crashes, but even with the weirdest combinations of creatures it wouldn't crash (ships, etc). I guess we were overly careful with these for v1.4 and decided not to put them in (play it safe).

~ S

kaskoid
Member

posted 03-21-08 10:12 AM EDT (US) 1184 / 2787

I volunteer to work with the map team as a "painter". The scenarios/maps I'm working on right now are for the Dwiggs mod, but I'd be happy to do some "painting" for Patch maps.

Arch-Enemy of the Annoyingly Dense
Practitioner of Whimsy
Celt,Finn & Swede Elder Gamer

[This message has been edited by kaskoid (edited 03-21-2008 @ 10:15 AM).]

PawelS
Member

posted 03-24-08 02:31 PM EDT (US) 1185 / 2787

I'm glad that the water teleporter works, I think it should look like a whirlpool (if we manage to make the gfx for it).

A proud member of the Unofficial Patch team.
Creator of the AoW1 Mod.

[This message has been edited by PawelS (edited 03-24-2008 @ 02:31 PM).]

Swolte
AOWH/AOW2H Seraph

posted 03-29-08 00:46 AM EDT (US) 1186 / 2787

So, here is the waterteleporter (so far). We already have a whirlpool (see top post) as a cave.

There are still some minor issues, so the implementation isn't final. For example, the teleporter-interface seems to come up once defenders are placed on it, otherwise it doesn't (or when you move a unit on and off it)...

The picture underneath is by The Groll.

[This message has been edited by Swolte (edited 03-29-2008 @ 02:13 AM).]

MagIceFlame
Member

posted 03-29-08 07:36 AM EDT (US) 1187 / 2787

Looks great!
By the way do you think it is possible to make an option that allows you to play only heroes of your own people /or choosen people.
For Example:
A Syron player often gets a hero that isn't a shadow-walker.
Undead, anarchist with death-shere gets goblin-, orc- ect. heroes too, but i don't want to have them in this case.

It would be nice if diplomacy generally would react more on what you do in play.

Maybe it woulbe be good, if you could coose the starting-alingment for your wizard.

It would be great, if you could choos just one starting-ability of the wizard (like: fire resistence).

Last it would be an advantage, if you could choose wizards to level up.

I know ist is much and maybe most of it (maybe all) won't be to realize in game. But who knows, maybe something is doable.

Bye.

nvc_for_the_soul
Member

posted 04-04-08 05:08 AM EDT (US) 1188 / 2787

Thanks to all those involved in this promising work! You guys really keep me interested in AOW.

MagIceFlame
Member

posted 04-06-08 07:43 AM EDT (US) 1189 / 2787

I am sorry about the last time I wrote, because I know you all do the best and I know how much work it is.(and it is very, very much work)

I still have some suggestions for the UPatch, I think they will be more useful than last time (Again I'm sorry but after all you decide what you will do - or not):

-The speacial building of the undead resurrects creatures that can revive on their own (for example :vampieres on gold grade as zomies). I guess it's a bug.

-Concealment seems not to work against computer controlled enemies, they will always find you and attack. I think it is a bug too.

-Unknown Players may pass through locked shadow-gates. That Player will declarate war afterwards and attack your citys. I guess it would be better if unknown players may disenchant the shadow-lock spell but cannot pass while the gate is locked.

I'm not sure of having read somthing like this before and that it is impossible, but is it possible to change the look of the battles? For example: That town walls have six edges whith each just one double door.
Or to make walls and doors harder to destroy.

-Is it possible to make computer enemies build other towns?
-Can you give the wall breaker (draconjans) tunneling? I guess it would fit.

Thank you again for all the time you invest on creating the Upatch 1.5 (and on reading this). Always remember I don't want to rush someone. All here is just suggestion.

The Groll
Member

posted 04-06-08 08:19 PM EDT (US) 1190 / 2787

Hi MagIceFlame

-Is it possible to make computer enemies build other towns?

You can give them pioneers using events. Then it will build new towns. The AI will not produce own pioneers. MAybe because they can�t attack anything. Giving the pioneer an attack value could push the AI to produce them but I don�t know if this would be a good idea. Maybe for mods but not for upatch.

Gandalf_DK
Member

posted 04-06-08 09:50 PM EDT (US) 1191 / 2787

Personally I think it is a very good idea to give the pioneers an attack skill to make the AI build them (and found cities with them) also in Upatch 1.5. Have you discussed it in the team - or tried a vote here on the site? It could be that with the large production bonus etc. that AI emperor gets, it could get too powerful if it started building cities too, but on the other hand, AI doesn't use enchantments, and it performs poorly both in tactical battles and in moving its units on the overland map, so all in all it shouldn't be a problem defeating an AI that builds cities either. On custom maps you can just disable outposts if you don't want the AI to build new ones.

"It is better to discuss a subject without deciding on it, than to decide on a subject without discussing it" - Herbert Spencer.

IskatuMesk
Member

posted 04-07-08 01:21 AM EDT (US) 1192 / 2787

In my mod the AI very aggressively expands. Even on lower difficulties I find this makes them much more challenging which is pretty desparately needed. I also have them building wizard towers and teleportation gates and that helps them out, too. I'd say go for it!

Unnapu
Member

posted 04-15-08 10:51 AM EDT (US) 1193 / 2787

Would it be possible to steal some spells from the book of magic of a wizard you have defeated?

Low_K
Member

posted 04-15-08 03:25 PM EDT (US) 1194 / 2787

*Edited away due to de-railing*

Kind regards,

Low

Author of the Lords of Celederion and Wizard's Folly maps.

[This message has been edited by Low_K (edited 04-16-2008 @ 04:14 AM).]

MagIceFlame
Member

posted 04-17-08 08:15 AM EDT (US) 1195 / 2787

Yes, stealing spells by defeating wizards would be a good add too.
And what about some kind of trading pacts or research pacts. They would increase the use of diplomacy. Are they possible?

Maybe the patch is not the right place to make such things, except it could be made optional in the beginning when you are starting a new map. (Or maybe the patch is the right place. I don't know.)

Warqueen
Member

posted 04-18-08 09:08 PM EDT (US) 1196 / 2787

Oh you marvelous creative types. What you're doing is fantastic.
I'd like to suggest a female dark elf unit who is of ruling caliber. A Matriarch, who boosts moral(through fear of punishment of course), intimidates opponents and holds her own as a combat unit.
Also I would suggest a horned Queen Wizard portrait and sprite. Hoho!

Edelward
Member

posted 04-20-08 09:26 AM EDT (US) 1197 / 2787

Hi,Swolte-you have not answered about Dwarven Slayer unit,neither about Dark Dwarfs(but this is old one)
Greets

[This message has been edited by Edelward (edited 04-20-2008 @ 09:40 AM).]

Swolte
AOWH/AOW2H Seraph

posted 04-21-08 01:48 AM EDT (US) 1198 / 2787

Stealing some spells would be a whole new feature, so unfortunately that is beyond our capabilities! I like the idea a lot, though!
Warqueen, we have something in mind for that. Perhaps a bit more demonic looking, though...
Not sure about the Dark Dwarves, Edelward. We're trying to add units that compromise races which are unique, so we'll see how far we get!
A Beastrace is almost done, and we're also quite far with a Gnome race (but they look different from Dwarves). As in Dwiggs, we can have a Fey and Demon race.

Warqueen
Member

posted 04-21-08 04:03 AM EDT (US) 1199 / 2787

Demonic? I found the succubus somewhat disappointing.
Must all the Dark Elf elite be monsters?
I suppose I shouldn't criticize, you may have something exceptional in mind...

Edelward
Member

posted 04-21-08 12:43 PM EDT (US) 1200 / 2787

Swolte,-Dark Dwarfs is a sinister evil race corrupted by Chaos,they employ Golems-like Earth Elemental,some Necromantic element:like Skeletal Dragons and advanced machinery canons tanks-for themselves they are cowardly.
So I've been talking about implementing them as a race .
I mean this game should have some dramatic touch ,while those of All-Devourer they are simple insectal race-with Hive collective mind.So the main drama is some conflict with mindless bugs-Ha !
Making game sweeter and sweeter like adding to halflings,dwarfs,feys,wee-folk even more gnomes and pixies won't make it fun.It is kind of too sweet for the military game .
There's no sense of drama.challenge no evil to fight against.
People greatly love bloodshed for entertainment,as Shakespeare said,but we still want justified bloodshed for entertainment.In given context it means:more sinister races,make them tougher,make them a threat worthy to fight against.

[This message has been edited by Edelward (edited 04-21-2008 @ 02:57 PM).]

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Age of Wonders 2 Heaven » Forums » General Discussion & Suggestions » Unofficial Patch V1.5 - Plans and suggestions

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