Soo... When is the next patch?
 

I cant wait to see a new patch for this game. The AI needs a some twitching, we need a few more #commands on the mods, a couple of maps, two or three more razes, some fixes on the UI, and im sure there is more. Im sure im not asking too much. The game is already great but some patching would really help. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Any one has any info on the upcoming patch?

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

There's a thread about this here:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...&fpart=all

Short version - you can see sort of what will be included using a link on that page, and the patch will be out *soon* whatever that means, I think is fair to say.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

For info, see the link in the previous post.

As for asking too much, I personally think it rather arrogant and in bad taste to make one's first post on a forum into basically a demand for

• AI improvements (very hard to do even at the best of times, but especially since no mention of what should be improved and how)
• 2-3 more races (each one requires a fair bit of work)
• UI changes (which in any bigger measure will be tedious, mind-numbing and work intensive)
• 1-2 maps (assload of work on each map even if the map doesn't contain specials)
• bug fixes (reasonable request, as long as you don't expect that all will be fixed all at once)
• extra mod commands (desirable, but not critical)
• an unspecified demand for more stuff

No, not being too demanding at all. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Just to put things into perpective, for most games this kind of thing would be an expansion pack with a price tag of $40 or $50. I know I should not be too harsh on new people, but get a goddamn grip and THINK before you blurt things out. Do you have any idea of just how offensive that kind of a ridiculous list of demands is when presented in a way that makes it seem as if you feel having all of those demands filled is nothing less than your due. It's guaranteed to piss people off no end.

Just to set things straight, I do NOT have anything against you personally and I'm glad to see we have new members signing up. I do wish that people did not take as much for granted as they do and paid some attention as to how what they post comes across.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

> I personally think it rather arrogant and in bad taste to make one's first post

Hi Edi http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I personally think it is rather arogant and in bad taste to make one's first answer to a first time writer on a forum a lecturing. Sorry couldn't resist http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

It is not surprising if a new player says what's on his mind the first time he writes. I assume he will play some more, read posts and reevaluate his opinions or express them in a way not offensive to players who have explained to dozens or hundreds of players how we work and what we are able to do.

So while I thank you for taking our part, I think you could have made your answer a bit nicer. On the other hand, now I will appear as uber-nice in a bad-cop/good-cop fashion http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

I dont want to slam anyones creative requests but maybe redirect them abit. In light of the fact that its already been mentioned that
A) the devs work on what is fun for them mostly
B) Dom4 is unlikely
C) there is another project in the works

So a good number of the requests could be aimed toward the community support (maps, mods, servers) which can do quite abit in those areas.

edit: heehee, didnt slip my water-down post in before Kristoffer

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Good cop bad cop eh? I'll be somewhere in the middle. That post did seem a bit rude considering it was his first. Saying that 'we' or 'the game' /needs/ a list of such things and that they aren't too much to ask for isn't right.

On the other hand the fact that you said you can't wait to get a new patch is a compliment to the game and the work by the devs. I'm with you there - I'm really looking forward to the patch too (mostly for the couple of mod commands oh and BOG BEASTS).

Actually, rude as it may be, I DEMAND boggier beasts. That or beastier bogs.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Hmm, what about a Bogmonstra, mother of all bogs, queen of the green, bringer of bile.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Sounds boggy, so I give it my poison spit of approval.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

How about "the Boggie Monster" which wanders around and frightens soldiers in their sleep?

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

HEY! I am supposed to be the fearsome, fiery dragon! How come MY tail feels like it just got burned?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I suppose I was a bit sharp with him. Probably something to do with the fact that aside from one (1) single person, all of the customers who I've had to deal with at work today have been absolute, blithering morons. Tends to make me waspish.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Fear the mighty Bogzilla !

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

> Probably something to do with the fact that aside from one (1) single person, all of the customers who I've had to deal with at work today have been absolute, blithering morons.

You should work as a teacher. There are no blithering morons at school http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Hi All

I regards to the comment by Edi I have to say this: I am not trying to be arrogant in any way. I was just listing my opinion on what the game needs to make it a Legendary game. As I said before:

This game is already great but some patching would really help.

As to not being specific with my "requests." I was not really requesting anything I'm just giving my opinion on what i believe the game "needs". And dont get me wrong the game works great the way it is in its current form but I think this game can be a legendary.

(Changing the subject a little)

This game has so much content and Lore and so much depth its awesome. I discovered the game a few days ago and I havent been able to stop playing it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Cant wait to start MP. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Having read this thread, I understand that, because it's not my first post, I can ask everything I have in mind, so :
3D graphics ( but running smoothly on MY PC)
Awesome nations (no idea, but wanna them to be awesome)
Me winning even if whatsoever...
I also want a 200 % decrease in cost ( pay me for buying..)

Have all a nice day !

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

*Unleashes the hounds to chase and eat Humakty*

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

No ! Noooo ! AARGHH ! (ears the noise of jaws gnawing into flesh)

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

hey... why no Dom 4 anyway?

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

As i understand it lots of the code in dom3 is still from dom1 and now stretched to the max. A dom4 would need a major recode of everything, and the devs said that they rather do something new than another dominions.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Ow well a strategy game will be fine.. fantasy themed even better.. the same world and races are not neccesary or they could hire a serf to do the nasty stuff for them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

> I also want a 200 % decrease in cost ( pay me for buying..)

We were considering this, but figured it would knock out all other computer games, and that would be bad for the computer industry as a whole.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Actually, it might set a pleasent trend...

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Hmmm as nice as that sounds, the newsgroups for discussing strategy games has gone from hundreds of posts a day to a couple of dozen posts over the last year. There just doesnt seem to be much to discuss after we all figured out that we were playing games that were a few years old.

Somehow I dont see the pleasant trend getting us more games.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Yeah, it's depressing. The trend for strategy seems to be going all towards Real Time Strategy, with not much turn based strategy being created. Which sucks, cause I'm old, and I can't keep up with the RTS games.

There's Civ, and GalCiv, and Dominions, and a handful of less popular historical games. Ahh well... at least there is still a good group of players for Dominions.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Stardock the creators of Galactic Civilizations are developing a Fantasy TBS game for SP and MP. They wanted to create the sequel for MastersofMagic yet Atari didn't want to sell the name. I believe its estimated release is the end of next year.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

What really killed the creation of new 4X games (and more classical strategy games) is the passion editors seem to have with 3D. You end up with games offering you very small maps, and most of the time repetitive strategies.

What also is strange is the tendency to publish all games on the same period at the same time.(I can't play any WW2 games anymore, got totally disgusted...)( they did the same with greek mythology)(all that to say that, when they've got an idea(WHAW!!!), they use it to produce 10 to 20+ games on a period of 2+ years).

3D doesn't favorise mods either.(and creating mod friendly games isn't the trend anymore).

If anyone here is working in the marvellous game edition domain, I wanna say (as usual) I'm so sorry...

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Well, it's logical computer (un)evolution.
Now you can have very nice graphics with cool 3D effects that are catching eyes of potentiale buyers. In the past, the relativly poor graphs were a good pretext to offer deep strategy games. Unfortunatly for us, like all industry, the game industry focus on what sells better. So only few editors take a risk to publish strategy games. And even them put more time and bucks on graphs that on deep of scenario or quality.

So we have to count on fantastic teams like Illwinter that will coninue to do games we like.

Personnaly I prefer amator games with relativly simple graphics like Dominions 3 that we can easly custm that projects where you have to be almost a 3d designer with thousand dollars software needed to edit a simple unit.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

I have to say the last year has been dire for strategy games.

Fortunately, I have had Dom 3 to play during that time.

Other than GC2, Dom3 and Civ4 expansions what else has there been?

Can anyone name any good strategy games released in the last year that I may have missed due to my immersion in Dom 3? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Slitherine produces historical 4X games which are supposed to be pretty good, but the only game of theirs I bought was a very odd RTS hybrid.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Does SE5 count?

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

SE5 does not count. Big disappointment over SE4 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Are you saying this because of the numerous bugs at the original release (most of which have by now been fixed), or for other reasons?

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

It's essentially the same game with different graphics. More like a patch than a new game. It didn't add any new content. It feels wrong to call it a new game.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Well Sword of the Stars .. Even with its expansion its still pretty simple economic and colony wise .. But hopefully its the start of more turn based strategy games making use of pretty graphics and such in that way ..

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

I thought it was a great example of the 3D comment. It stepped up the graphics to the point that it did not receive the community modding support that SEIV had. And mods was what made SEIV worthwhile.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Bugs - and i'd say some of them are still not fixed. But mainly because it's a big stepback comparing to SE4 in terms of required micromanagement and user interface useability, without anything really improved over it.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

I loved SE4, especially with all the mods for it. SE5 feels like a step backward to me. I don't hate it, but it didn't grab me like SE4, Dom2, and Dom3 did.

I too lament the decline in turn-based games (I'm an old fart too). And while I do play some RTS games, I don't feel they are all that strategic.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

I completely agree... so many developers and publishing companies are lured into believing gamers care more about pretty graphics than game quality and game content.
This has hurt even the RTS games such as Warcraft_3 with the 96X96 size map limitation. It's frustrating to see so much effort being forced into better graphics which results in small maps, less game options, and a less satisfying overall product.
It's like discovering your favorite vehicle has a new model available, yet when you look under the hood it has worse performance, uses more gas, less safety, fewer options, etc; , and all just for better appearance. The worst part is this has been continuing in the gaming industry for 5 years now. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif
We're stuck waiting for the game companies to return with building quality instead of focusing on appearance.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

> yet when you look under the hood it has worse performance, uses more gas, less safety, fewer options, etc; , and all just for better appearance.

But opposite also sucks. The new M3 is tons better than mine, but looks like ***. I want the machine (to kick a certain monster S60R) but I do not want "stepped on" apprearance.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Warcraft three is actually pretty mod firendly, if you work around quite a bit. Things like map size limits are bypassable, with difficulty. See maps like EotA, which, reportadly, nearly crashes the creator's copy of the editor with its size and complexity. Not that War3 couldn't be better, but Blizzard does a better job that most mainstream game studios, up until WoW at least. MMORPGs don't even deserve the game title, let alone role-playing

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Or, in some cases, the MM (see: Guild Wars.)

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Rolling back this conversation a bit:
Does Gandalf know something we don't? IS SOMETHING NEW PLANNED!?

I will only approve if Bogus is somehow involved...

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Actually Kristoffer dropped it abit back but many people missed it.

I like the comment about Bogus though. Apparently you know something of the history of Bogus pre-Dominions.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

oooooooo i want details details !!!

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

I want details too, anything comming from illwinter team cannot be missed!!
I blatantly agree on MMORPG, who are RPG because you have a character with stats (original !) and who sometimes even fail to be MM, like valandil said. ( so elves can sometimes be right, Ooo, strange idea..)
I call for a big protest walk on Big Profit Inc.(with ropes n' guns)(n' axes)(n' small sharp pieces of metal..)

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

MM? What does MM mean.

Are you complaining about Guild Wars Valandil? GW was a very good game, at least from a PvP perspective. I've spent 1-2k hours on it. Mostly in team arenas with JK, my brother and a finn of half my age http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. Most bang for the buck I've ever had game-wise. I've probably played more GW than I have played dominions.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Then we'd better involve him http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Massively Multiplayer

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Ah. That simple.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Let's not forget the random map generator and the game editor. These greatly add to the replay value.

Artificial Intelligence
For best AI results I recommend multiple personalities with a scriptable AI thus new personalities can be added to the random selection or existing ones improved within the community. Any AI personality script should have the option of being disabled in case it's bugged.

Random Item Formula
Also besides adding your favorite fixed items I'd suggest creating a Random Item Formula = Allows items within the game to be more unique and thus increases replay value.
Examples = Variables A, B and C are randomly selected from separate lists.
Kings(A) Poisonous(B) Axe(item) of Death(C)
Ice(B) Knife(item)
Dukes(A) Helm(item) of Minds(C)
Fire(B) Boots(item) of Speed(C)

Using a random item formula means each new game will have new unique items!
Forging items can also be incorporated where an average axe and old skull will allow a necromancer to forge a death axe.

Re: Soo... When is the next patch?
 

Personally, I'll put in an opposing vote for "not Diablo."