What do you want fixed / improved in 2.0 ?

from Elemental Forums

Hi all,

OK so according to Frogboy a while back, there will be a LH 2.0 at some point - which if memory serves me correctly he indicated will likely have a significant focus on diplomacy improvements (which would be great).  We haven't heard anything since however the gang is obviously fairly busy with other things just at the minute (some space strategy game thing or whatever).  I expect there will be another patch, though they're obviously going to be coming to and end at some point.

So with that in mind (the fact that might only be 1 or at least not many more patches), I was thinking what I'd like to see in terms of things fixed/improved in the next patch.  I thought i'd post my thoughts here and if others chime in we might be able to get some consensus on what are the most annoying bugs and/or opportunities for just improving some stuff.... and, possibly get some of it included in the next/future patch.

I'm thinking of stuff that fits into this criteria more or less:

- bugs

- ai issues / opportunities for improvement

- any low hanging fruit type enhancements where there might be opportunity for big gain from not much work

It's pretty obvious at this point there's no point asking for major changes/additions to gameplay, or anything that would require tons of coding or new stuff (models etc).  I'm also not personally going to mention diplomacy (although I think it's probably one of the main areas that could use some work), because it sounds like that is already going to be looked at.

 

 

 

19,844 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I've got a couple of things to start things off...

 

The first one, I've actually stolen from DsRaider... who has pointed out recently (and I think he's spot on) that the main reason for lack of serious competitiveness from the AI is:

1) AI training troops in fortresses and making use of strategic spells to improve trained unit quality

AI isn't very good at getting the most out of trained troops by training them in a fotress with appropriate improvements and/or strategic spells like heart of fire, aura of grace etc.  It's a big reason why Initiative becomes such a big factor.... the human player can stack up Init bonuses but the AI is not so good at working that out.  It leaves the human player with a big edge.  DsRaider explains it better then me in point 1 of this thread:

https://forums.elementalgame.com/454092/page/1/#3465858

I think (outside Diplomacy) that's probably the #1 items that I'd like to see addressed/improved.  It would make a big difference in terms of the games staying power if the AI was just that bit better building a stack of high quality units.

 

2) Get the AI to upgrade wild improvements such as the Iron Mine, as well as Shards

We got the AI to upgrade Outposts in the last patch, which is awesome (thanks Frogboy), but it would be great to get it to do the same for these ones also.

 

They're the 2 things that stand out for me, interested to know what you guys think.  I'm sure there's some bug that's been hanging around that drives you nuts, let's hear it.

 

Cheers.

 

 

 

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

It seems that the community is eager to help, providing a strong support for modding might allow us to help finish many areas where the devs dont have time/resources to improve.

Then, as always, it can be incorpored into the game if the company likes what the see... =)

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Diplomacy in its current state is so anemic, that any meaningful improvements (not just added flavor text), would probably require significant coding changes.

I just hope the DLC made to pay for the update is decent.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Borg999, reply 3

I just hope the DLC made to pay for the update is decent.

I asssumed 2.0 is already budget for as Frogboy said it was "approved", but who knows I guess.

 

Quoting Borg999, reply 3

Diplomacy in its current state is so anemic, that any meaningful improvements (not just added flavor text), would probably require significant coding changes.

Yeah diplomacy is the big one, there is obvious room for some improvements there and that would be what I would hope for (and the items listed above).

 

The other thing I would add is more effort to get the AI to use all spells.  It's great that AI now uses Arcane Monolith, but there is still a few more that i'd like to see.... Cloudwalk, Birth of Summer, Bladerush.. there are probably others.

 

Surely there's some pet annoyances or bugs that have been driving people nuts that you'd like to see fixed ?

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting abob101, reply 4

Surely there's some pet annoyances or bugs that have been driving people nuts that you'd like to see fixed ?

 
 
Petty annoyances? well how about pathfinding, including friendly units not blocking your path, and auto explore units not walking up to monsters and saying "please kill me"... and monsters attacking the AI equally.
Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Borg999, reply 5

Petty annoyances? well how about pathfinding, including friendly units not blocking your path, and auto explore units not walking up to monsters and saying "please kill me"... and monsters attacking the AI equally.

I had a game a few days ago, where I could not settle a second city until I cleared the roaming monsters.  As I was doing this, the AI had 5 or 6 pioneers wandering safely through the contested area, nabbing all the cities and placing outposts.  I ended up declaring war just to get a second city.  The AI should not be immune to roaming mobs. They should prioritize clearing an area, before creating pioneers.   My war worked, because the AI created pioneers instead of soldiers.  

Also, I created a scout, that was supposed to be able to have a reduced chance of getting targeted by the roaming mobs.  I don't think that ability works.  whenever I ended one of these scouts next to a Bear, or whatever, it got targeted/killed.  (not sure it was every time -- of course, you only notice when it happens)