Initial Impression - Steep Learning Curve, Good Game

from Elemental Forums

Hey,

 

Like the game. Steep learning curve, though. Very different, interesting way of doing things. Building cities is like a hybrid of RTS placement and TBS queueing. This took me a bit to understand; once I did city management became much easier.

AI so far is good. Annoyingly good.

A lot of negative posts; understandable for first day. The game is difficult to get into, has a steep learning curve, and is NEW. It blends together a horde of elements from different genres and games. Can't just turn of strategy gaming auto-pilot; have to think about things. It's like the Spaced of the PC gaming world.

Video tutorials help.

First Impressions: Different, and awesome.

elemental
48,689 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Finally, a nice post. Let's postpone legitimate critics/suggestions to a later time, when we'll have familiarized with the game and said critics won't be lost in the sea of the day-1 craziness.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Enjoying it as well.  Only complaint is the memory leak I'm experiencing but I take it in stride as I know Stardock will do its darnest to correct those issues ASAP.  I think people in general are less patient than they were lets say 15 years ago which makes a developer's job far more difficult than it already is. 

More video tutorials will certainly help quell some of the current complaints. 

Having been in the beta, I've seen just how hard these people work so I'm confident things will settle down in good time.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

If you have any questions, feel free to post :) Those of us from beta can help with the learning curve.

They are putting in more hints and notifications and explanations for the actual day0 update, according to another thread, so that should help a bit as well.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Excellent game.

Overview
I have really been getting that one-more-turn feeling. My thoughts are that it is really good.

However, it is also a platform to build on. Now they have a working engine we need to browbeat them to ensure that the next three or four expansions add lots and lots and lots of content.

The Expansions and Patches Requests

Spells - Wants more spells. Interesting global enchantments please. Armageddon anyone? Eternal Darkness? Season of Light? Chaos Channels? Global Fertility? Battlefield spells - Prayer, Darkness, Mass Confusion, Rain of Fire etc. etc. The devs should basically rob the MoM, Dominions 3 and AoW 2 spellbooks.

Artefacts and Equipment - So much more. And more interesting swords, rings and amulets than just +1 - +5 please?

Equipment Abilities - To give more special ability options for regular troops? Bandage pack to give healing power - training component to give First Strike etc. etc.

Building Art Content - more and varied building components for the mod section (crystal buildings, spires like in AoW 1 & 2 for the elves, rounded domes and organic buildings like WarCraft 1 Orcs and organic structures like Zerg or something)

Creatures - Wants more monsters (not just humanoids).

Races - Non humanoid, maybe different gameplay mechanics?

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

You'll meet plenty of new monsters if you research Adventure  *hint hint*  :grin:

 

As for different races and all that jazz, keep your eyes open for player mods.  People will take care of creating new races and new art for the most part.  That's why Elemental's modding tools are so powerful; to let us participate in our own way and make our own version of the game.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Meh, I don't think it really has too steep a learning curve. I'm not exactly a big 4X player (the only other ones I've enjoyed have been GalCiv and SoaSE, though I only played the latter extensively), but I was used to it and knew how to do most things within an hour. Then again, I am used to ArmA 2, which I've been playing for months, and I still don't know half of the controls.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting DynamicEcho, reply 6
I was used to it and knew how to do most things within an hour.

True enough. Not as steep as a Paradox title.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting fujisawasensei, reply 5
You'll meet plenty of new monsters if you research Adventure  *hint hint*

Yeah, I can speak from first hand experience.

Last night I was feeling invincible with my little warband consisting of experienced scouts, axemen, and archers.  I was rolling over everything I encountered.  I went to "investigate" this lone building out in the middle of the wilderness.  Next thing I know I encounter these ginormous black widow spiders.  After wiping out the smaller spiders with chain lightning, the two larger spiders proceeded to lay waste to my forces.  My attempt to make a stand in the higher ground was to no avail.  *Thwack* Your hero has been pwned for 23 damage.  Down she went.  The others panicked and soon met their demise as well.

4 hours of game play and pwned by spiders.  Tonight I'll get my revenge on those bastards.  I just hope the loot is worth it.

(speaking of which, it would be awesome if the corpses of my fallen warband could be looted later)

Moral of the story, don't get too cocky early in the game. x_x

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top


AI so far is good. Annoyingly good.
      

 

To me that is an awesome sign :) 

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Steep learning curve? You must not have played The Guild, Victoria, Europe Universals, Majesty 2, or the Total War Series. :P

Nah, it's kinda difficult but probably not steep... unless, there is a small incline.