Minor factions + other questions

from Elemental Forums

First of all, this is my first post on the Elemental forums, so Let me start off by saying that this game sounds amazing. As a huge Fan of the Civilization series, the Total war series, Fantasy games, RPG's in general, and all Stardock games this sounds like a game strait out of my own imagination. I've been hoping someone would make a combination of a Civ stlye game with epic Total War tacticle battles. Then I found out that this game has a huge RPG element to it.....well...this game sounds like a dream come true for me lol. Not only that, but it's being made by Stardock, which I believe is the best game company out there, and makes some of the highest quality game to date. I will pre-order soon, because I can't wait for the beta, and I know stardock will make this game amazing.

Now...to my questions...I've read in the journal that there will be 12 major factions in the game (6 Human and 6 Fallen). My question is, will there be Minor factions in the game like there are in GalCiv2? I think stardock would be remiss if they do not put them in the game. First of all if you are playing on a huge map they could help fill in some space, and would just add general flavor to the game. They could be just like in GalCiv2 were their objective isn't to win, just to survive. You could also add in strong diplomatic options so that people will have an insentive to not just wipe out the minors.

My next question is about customizability (spelling) of the main character and heroes. The game seems to focus alot on user created content, so will the players character be customizable (such as physical characteristics, and equipment like weapons and armor) or does each faction have their own conjurer(or set of them) that you will play as every time you play that faction? The second part of this question is the same, but for heroes/champions. Are there going to be specific heroes that are in the game, and show up in every game, or can players create and customize heroes the may or may not show up in the game.

Lastly I was wanting to know just how strong of an RPG element are we going to see in the game? This is more of just a general question. Like, will a player be able to go out and activley level up and get stronger and find better items (Diablo style), or will the game be less focused on this where the player just lvl's as the game goes along with only a few noticible differences.

*spoiler alert* Im hopeing for a strong RPG element

 

elemental
9,901 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

We have at least partly discussed the possibility here.  To include vassalization, and other diplomatic options inherant in minor powers dotting the land.  A lot of people also appear to be hoping for a strong RPG (or at least character development) element.

 

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Many of us are hoping for a very strong RPG orientation as the core gameplay element.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Awesome, I really hope we will be able to use other races in our armies...though I read in one of the interviews that the battles would be 99% human vs. Human. I hope they don't stick with that, and add in alot of other races that can be used in your armies. Maybe this is where the custom races bit they mentioned comes in.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

At first 99% human batles may not sound fun, but it's for higther fun actualy. This means each creature will be valuable, rare and fun to have, it will have overall more consideration. If someone explore and is able to find an unicorn, that by the tales is very very rare, then it can protect your armies and heal them. They will be strategic units. Just like they said having 2 or 3 Dragons means you won. I liked that so much, because that means fantastic units are very important and thus more fun to discover and get them by your side.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

At the same time though, having those units be SOOOO rare (and most likly, irreplaceable) will end up making people too afraid of loosing that unit that they don't use it that much. It would seem like having just one or two extra-ordinary units will make them not that effective in large battles...thats just my opinion.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting StoweMobile, reply 5
At the same time though, having those units be SOOOO rare (and most likly, irreplaceable) will end up making people too afraid of loosing that unit that they don't use it that much. It would seem like having just one or two extra-ordinary units will make them not that effective in large battles...thats just my opinion.

You raise a valid point, however to counter that I'd imagine Stardock would make those units so powerful that the act of killing one would be an impressive feat in and of itself. The interview did mention that a single dragon could take out hundreds of humans and having three in your army would essentially be enough to streamroll an opponent (hence why having three will properly be quite an undertaking to achieve).

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

For dragons it certaily makes since that there should be only a few in the world, but to say trolls are as "rare" as dragons cheapens the value of dragons in my opnion. I don't know, I just think it would be better if you could recruit like a regiment of Lizardmen, or a clan of Minotaurs or something like that. I suppose I am thinking rigidly as I am used to most sentient beast races in most fantasy setting being in groups, and not that much stronger than a humans (with exceptions such as dragons obviously).

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Most fantasy games and worlds approach things from the premise that humanity is the most common species and dominates by virtue of its numbers.  Most games don't stay true to that initial premise however, and by end game you have next to no regular humans in your armies.  I really don't think that human masses should become obsolete, but that is exactly what having huge quantities of nonhumans in your armies will do.

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm not saying you should be able to recuit beasts like you can humans. I still think the units should be rare, just not all single soldiers that don't stand out on the battle field. Have a pack of trolls be a single unit. Sure there are a 10-20 of them, but that doesn't mean finding and recruiting that unit can be done easily or would be common place.

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Well if we were to quantify things I think a 100\1,000\10,000 to one (1) ratio for beasts going from uncommon to mythological, such as dragons would be a solid base line.

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Do mean thats how many soldiers they would be equal to?

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting StoweMobile, reply 11
Do mean thats how many soldiers they would be equal to?

In the most general terms possible. One hundred surfs are no one hundred blood knights. :wulf:

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

Well, the difference between regular knights (heavily armored mounted warriors born and raised in a warrior tradition) and peasants should be huge... but so should the cost, both initially and ongoing.  A knight consumed far greater resources than a peasant on a daily basis.  And if the shock effect of the knight can be blunted, then those peasants are a much better deal in terms of cost.

Personally that is one thing I really want to see.  The situational strengths of strong and expensive units, while its weaknesses are manifest as well (in which case the cheaper units become a better deal).  That way the bulk of each army is made up with relatively inexpensive and numerous units, while elite and powerful units form the core.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

To go back to my second question, does anyone know about the heroes. I'm hoping players will be able to create their own heroes that can appear in the game...though I imagine with dread as Im sure at least once I'll go into battle and see that the enemy has recruited an awesome hero that I've created....NOOOO

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting StoweMobile, reply 14
To go back to my second question, does anyone know about the heroes. I'm hoping players will be able to create their own heroes that can appear in the game...though I imagine with dread as Im sure at least once I'll go into battle and see that the enemy has recruited an awesome hero that I've created....NOOOO

Well, take solace in the fact that it hasn't been confirmed either way. A hero creation option would be kinda cool though, even if it comes back to bite you.