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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Jul 27, 2011 19:34:26 GMT
The Princes' Revolt This scenario will tell the story of the revolt of 1173-74, which is when Henry II's sons rose up against him at the instigation of greedy nobles. You will play as Henry II and crush the rebels. This is a single scenario on a Giant map, and aims to have a different sort of game play, halfway between King Bob's Risk games and a more traditional B&D, with a couple of extra bits. You will be able to pillage the countryside and lay siege to towns. Progress:Map Design: 100% Triggers: 100% Music: 100% Story & Other: 100%
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Post by Basse on Jul 27, 2011 20:23:40 GMT
You have about two weeks to the deadline I reckon? Best of luck with it, I hope you can finish it in time!
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Post by Watson on Jul 27, 2011 21:17:32 GMT
B&D seems to be a great way to cut down trigger work while boosting gameplay as well. Good luck, Julius. Freewill pillaging sounds easy yet interesting to visualise. Also, just two weeks? Now I regret using designing time got, on my project (which actually is going to see the light of the day) rather than on my MHL entry. The true path.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Jul 28, 2011 2:19:30 GMT
Actually, due to my lack of time I've just modified an existing map. This is a method I recommend, because remodeling the landscape is quite easy and you don't have to redo all the detail, which is what takes the time. I've flattened a mountain range, relocated or refurbished all settlements and replaced the old rivers with new. Summertime in a fictional country can easily pass for English summertime if you delete any stray bamboo. The end result is that in a couple of days I've almost completed a giant-sized map.
If I remain motivated I should definitely finish it. I think I've learned a lot about productivity in my designing career, and know the sort of thing to avoid. The main thing is to avoid the temptation to make it too elaborate, at least until the basics are finished.
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Post by Basse on Jul 29, 2011 20:14:32 GMT
I would offer to playtest once you're done, but I'll be here in Greece until after the deadline has passed, so I won't have any time. The little time I spend on my computer is for fixing bugs in Rockspring and watching an episode of Yes Minister occasionally.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 1, 2011 1:32:01 GMT
Making good progress and still on course to meet the deadline.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 4, 2011 0:35:50 GMT
Not far away from finishing now. If anyone has some background music files they wouldn't mind sharing that would be appreciated. I might even use AoE or AoK background music for the nostalgia value.
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Post by Basse on Aug 4, 2011 6:17:21 GMT
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 4, 2011 10:55:53 GMT
Thanks, Basse.
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Post by Watson on Aug 5, 2011 7:57:27 GMT
This is speeding along really quick.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 5, 2011 14:50:18 GMT
It has to really. The deadline is only a few days away.
Would anyone like to take a look at it? It's now near completion. The main thing left to do is pitch the difficulty right, and preferably include difficulty dynamics.
If I have a few hours spare I might make an introductory cutscene and a custom installer as well.
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Post by Watson on Aug 5, 2011 15:59:28 GMT
I don't really see the point in a custom installer; I've never actually found changing game data settings such a hassle. Surely it's more troublesome and time-consuming (for the designer as well) using such an implement as a custom installer?
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 5, 2011 16:07:26 GMT
I'm undecided. Messing around with data files is annoyingly cumbersome.
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Post by Basse on Aug 5, 2011 16:32:37 GMT
You can send it over if you want. I'm not sure I'll have time to play it before the 7th so you should find someone else as well, but if I do find the time I will play it.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 5, 2011 22:26:49 GMT
Okay, I think people are sufficiently familiar with data files for a custom installer not to be worth it.
Anyway, this is now essentially finished. In theory you can play from start to finish and everything be fine. However I've now got to tweak various factors to make it properly playable, as I suspect that at the moment it's virtually impossible.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 8, 2011 20:01:23 GMT
Worked through a number of bugs and it's now playing pretty well.
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Post by Basse on Aug 8, 2011 20:20:58 GMT
Good stuff. I'm back from Greece now by the way, so once you need playtesters I'm available.
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Post by Watson on Aug 8, 2011 20:29:53 GMT
How does your progress list in the topic post function? I imagine I'm missing something, seeing as I usually judge how "complete" a scenario is by looking at how far people are done with map design and triggers, but there seems to be a size-able gap in your "Story" section. Is "story" defined as things like instructions, hints, scouts, history, bitmap materials and whatnot?
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 8, 2011 21:20:03 GMT
Yes that's right, although it also includes an introductory cutscene scenario I've decided to include. The scenario is substantially complete already and is now fully playable (I think).
I'll send out a playtest version in a day or two.
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Post by Watson on Aug 10, 2011 8:38:19 GMT
What with losing my MLH scenario and the arrival of the PTC, I've completely lost motivation in completing mine anymore, so I won't crank out anything to meet the deadline.
I'd be interested in taking a look if you need.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 13, 2011 18:09:26 GMT
I flagged a bit and there's probably not time for a round of play-testing, but I have now finished everything. All that remains is to do some testing myself and perhaps tweak the balance, as I suspect it's too hard for most.
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Post by Watson on Aug 14, 2011 20:59:40 GMT
Good stuff. How does one keep focused on a scenario, by the way? I seem to have a real problem with that.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 14, 2011 21:18:04 GMT
I did once also. But over time I realised (some of) the reasons for disillusionment.
1. Working on ideas without first properly considering whether they'd be fun to play. Massive RPGs sound great, but rarely are. The fundamental problem is that the AoK engine is really quite limited for RPG scenarios.
2. Getting a feature or conversation or bit of map design half done and then thinking I'll come back to this later, and moving on. Without fail I ended up with a morass of triggers and lots of dispiriting blank areas on the map.
3. Adding in features that weren't suitable to the scenario. Projects take so long that you feel like you need to include all your ideas in one, but that usually goes badly.
Basically, try coming up with an idea that sounds good and still sounds good in the cold light of day. Don't over complicate. Don't be too ambitious in terms of scale. Design in chunks. Don't add on miscellaneous extras until everything else is done.
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Post by Watson on Aug 15, 2011 9:01:37 GMT
Quite. Thanks.
Also, one day to deadline. Or two, whatever.
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 15, 2011 21:16:39 GMT
Uploaded today.
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Post by Basse on Aug 15, 2011 21:32:43 GMT
Changed the title a bit. Good to hear you finished!
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Post by Watson on Aug 17, 2011 12:44:15 GMT
I've been playing it. It's really good. Love the concept, and I like the balance; not too frustrating while packing a good challenge as well. Also, edited data is excellent as well, the game shows the true power of the longbow and crossbow.
Question: The stream of units it produces it makes it very hard, and not even a huge conscript army of Men-at arms and Spearmen can break it. The soul of my army is made of crossbowmen. Doth ye have tips on how to break the garrisson at Nottingham?
Bug: The enemy men-at-arms begin to spawn at Lincoln despite the place being under my ownership, late in the game.
I've been playing on Standard. Nice work Julius.
Also, what is the use of creating trade carts in the market?
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Post by The 'Associate' on Aug 17, 2011 14:36:04 GMT
How do I get food? The only mills I see say "supply to London." And how do I control the castle and the town center?
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Post by Julius CMXCIX on Aug 17, 2011 17:15:35 GMT
Hmm. I don't know why this happens but I'll look into doing an update after the contest is finished. For now I'm going to declare it an added challenge as Lincoln rises up against you to avenge the Lincoln fair of 1141. Nottingham is the toughest nut to crack and has no obvious weakness. However if you've taken out Durham and Bishop's Lynn you will surely overwhelm it. On the other hand, if you want to be nasty, destroy the mills that supply it and in a while it will be crippled. And if you're on Standard then you can most likely afford a better quality army involving knights. Have you besieged any towns yet? You'll find that the carts are useful for that purpose. You can't. I didn't want the player to be gathering resources or have a significant fortification. Then if you hold London they are giving you food. If you want more, either capture more towns or destroy mills that supply enemy towns (but of course if you later capture those enemy towns you won't receive the benefit of them). Other mills definitely exist, and they will be pointed out to you if you advance to Oxford and Lincoln.
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Post by Watson on Aug 17, 2011 18:02:07 GMT
Bear in mind that the ownership of the place has juggled between the enemy and me (only to be recaptured by me a few seconds later). Possibly this could have confused the mechanics quite a bit? Ah, yes. Uhh... How would you define "besieged"? Stationing troops en masse outside places like Nottingham and Durham? And what do the carts do if I were to utilise them? Haven't taken Durham yet, thanks a lot. I find Knights to be a secondary countermeasure if the enemy were to overwhelm my defences (trundling out hordes), as the powerful crossbowmen (and their spearmen friends) tend to take them all out in offensive battles. The enemy at Nottingham also tend to pile up near the gates so it's a nightmare to try and get in. Also, there seem to be a lot merchant carts staying idle along the countryside. Are they reserved for purposes like trading with Durham or stuff once captured, or have they fulfilled their commands in the game? I'm seemingly running out of gold quite quickly and I could make some quick money by killing them, but I wouldn't if they were planning on giving me gold.
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