[Gameplay] Don't display detailed information about opponent monster, army, city, champion, Sovereign, etc.

from Elemental Forums

Please consider removing detailed information displayed about an opposing force/city/etc.  Why?

--Because you are the opponent.  You shouldn't know exactly their stats and abilities and hit points and etc. unless you have a magical way of getting it.

--Your sources of information/scouts simply couldn't tell you this much without prolonged and dangerous observation

--It makes the game more exciting to challenge a city/army/creature/unit of unknown strength/advantages. 

 

Begs the question, what information should be displayed?

Overland

--general troop numbers

--easily observable large or extraordinary creatures and magic enhancements with well known auras

--approximate guess at armor, equipment, organization, and resulting battle value

--general troop condition? (harried, fresh from the garrison, good morale, bad morale, etc.)

 

In combat

--general idea of opponent unit condition (green/yellow/red is enough, not exact hit points!)

--morale?

 

I believe this would add an extra element of strategy that is more realistic than the battle strength calculator, and knowing their strength/hit points/armor exactly. 

 

Thanks for your consideration.

4,616 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Good idea.

Suggestion for City Encounters

City (Level 1) cannot hide strength of an army, only that of champions

---- A City Level 1 with a champion(s) for a defender would appear as if it was undefended.

City (Level 2) can hide a 200 point or less army (and all champions)
City (Level 3) can hide a 300 point or less army (and all champions)
City (Level 4) can hide a 400 point or less (and all champions)
City (Level 5) hides armies of all sizes (and all champions)

Perhaps a new branch of research: Diplomacy > Espionage (determines actual strength in city)

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Great idea. I always thought it weird that the player could see whatever he wanted of the enemy's territory. Limiting that somewhat would make for a more natural and interesting experience.

 

I really like Edwin99's idea too. It would make leveling up cities all the more interesting and important, and if you tie it in with the Diplomacy tree, it would strengthen a currently weak tech tree branch.

Also, I'd suggest the exact opposite of Edwin's idea. If cities are changed so that their stats and garrisons are hidden, the natural next step is to have a tech line or hero trait line (FE) for uncovering the hidden information. Maybe that's where Diplomacy > Espionage comes in. Taking Edwin's example, say a city is level 2, and its garrison is hidden. Normally, the only way I could discover the garrison's strength is by blindly attacking it with my army. But since I've invested in Diplomacy > Espionage to Espionage III and have a scout/spy near the city, I can see the garrison and other stats.

Cool ideas, guys.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

IronKaiser, good explanation about how espionage could work.

To make it more interesting, why not add counter-intelligence tech?

Exampe: A garrision in a level 2 city is hidden, your espionage tech level (I) would normally show you the garrison and other stats of the city. However, your enemy has Diplomacy > CounterEspionage I, this means that you see no garrison 50% of the time.

Example: A garrison in a level 3 city is hidden; howver you have Espionage Level 3 that shows you the garrison. However, you enemy has counter espionage Level 1, there is a 25% that you get a false picture of the cities strength - it shows as empty when it is garrisoned.

You could even limit counter-intelligence to a city garrisonned with e friendly champion - then the player could decide where the opposing player would likely receive false information.

i.e.

Level 2 city - Espionage Level 1 - you know 100% what is in the city

Level 2 city - garrisonned by a Champion with Counter-Espionage Level 1: The enemy with Espionage 1 has only a 50% to know what waits for him in this city.

Why not a Hero with the Sun Tzu Trait Deception Trait. A army with a Sun Tzu champion appears half as strong to a weaker enemy army and twice as strong to a stronger enemy army.