Random move armies and casting sequence
 

As for me - random sequences and move order aren't doing this bright game better(
May be adding ANY logical reason (movement speed,magical paths,orders...host of variants) will add new strategic level.
Am I right?
And why this two BIG and important parts of game are based on random order?!

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

To put it simple, you are wrong.

Move orders are based on several things. If you look in the manual (p71-72 long list) you will see that, for example, moving to a friendly provinces goes first.

Casting order is top to bottom in the unit view when you press 't' or 'y'.

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

Thanks about manual. I've missed this thing. ok. will revise it)))

But this casting order is unchangeable!!!
And there is only one reason - some unit id!!!
When I plan the communion - it's deadly for some variants. and for order of spells and moving. I think that there is something wrong with ID's like reason for casting order.

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

It would be interesting if the initiative system were more flexible and random. Not likely to happen in a patch, though.

-Max

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

Clarification on casting order:

1) Casting order in battle is based on unique ID (UID), which is separate from monster ID (MID) such as 862 Vampire Queen

2) Casting order for ritual magic is random.

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

I guess veto wanted to say that when action order is determined by some ID (which nothing at all in the game mechanics should me dependent by, IMO), it is much worse and inflexible than if it was determined by player. ID-based order will be perfect in this case as defalt one for those who don't like all that micro.

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

I think it's supposed to be conceptually a random order. The fact that we worked out that the "randomness" is actually just the unit ID just shows why you can never trust a pseudorandom number generator.

This is basically what Dominions does, IMHO.

-Max

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

Thanks ano for explanation of my position) my english not as good? really(

Really, it can make this game even more strategy-rich) IMO)

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

Yes, but what about symetrical situations ? The standard case is : my army in A attacks an ennemy province X. An ennemy army in Y attacks my army in A. Who moves first and why ?

I think the question has already been asked but I can't remember any clear answer. I also observe that on my current SP game where I an testing EA Abysia, I am always loosing p2p movement initiative vs Hinnom, Jotunheim & Mictlan. This is the case whatever the respective forces are : I can have bigger or smaller armies, doesn't matter, Abysia always moves after his opponents in this game.

But why is that ? Is initiative dependant on the nation ?

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

I've definitely had one nation move first in some battles, while getting held back in others.

The AI seems to have a special tractor beam though, where it's supposed to be totally random (according to the manual) but in SP it's usually only about 20-25% of the time that you get the favorable action. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

Both armies move simultaneously. Your army in A attacks X. The enemy from Y attacks A, after your army has left.

There have been claims that attacks always go in nation id order if 2 armies attack a 3rd party province and that seems most common, but I have seen it reverse.

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

That's not the case in my present game at least. Here, Y attacks A and pins it, thus A does not attack X. At least when I am Abysia and tha AI plays (actually) Jotunheim or Mictlan. One exception occured nevertheless when I tried to assassinate an ennemy commander (but not the unique commander) in Y. But it can be just a coincidence.

Maybe there's a bonus for AI as Jim suggests ?

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

I've never seen or heard of that happening.

Two possibilities:
1) Assuming X is held by the same nation as Y, could an army from X be joining the attack on A, thus stalling your army and the battle then takes place in A?

2) There is a rare bug where armies simply can't attack across certain province boundaries. The army simply doesn't move as you ordered it to. If that happened and Y attacked the same turn, it could look like Y intercepted.


Other than that you should never be able to catch an enemy army by moving into it's province, unless they're attacking the province you're coming from.

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

The AI is VERY good at performing this maneuver, since they are recruiting everywhere, at all times. I've definitely stopped taking for granted that I can attack anywhere that I intend to, and really just cross my fingers. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

The Tractor Beam has many guises. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Random move armies and casting sequence
 

1/ this is an option indeed. BTW, I can't say for sure from what province are coming the ennemy units I see on the battlefield.

2/ I didn't know that bug but it's not the case here.

Hmmm, I think I'll have to drive some tests in a controled environment in order to bring some light on this question...