Writing Strategy and CBM

[OmikronWarrior]

I play most of games with a group outside of shrapnel forums, and these games are all played with out mods. However, I recently started paying attention to the games being offered in the subforum here, and I noticed a very high percentage of them use the Conceptual Balance Mod. When I write my guides, I write them for Vanilla Dom3, as do most people. Yet, if most people are using a game changing mod (which makes rainbows and growth scales a heck a lot more attractive, for example), then are my guides and advice worth while to people?

[Edratman]

The guides are very worthwhile.

[fungalreason]

I think an interesting aspect of many guides is not necessarily the specifics of what spells or units to use. One of the most helpful things is gaining an understanding of how to look at the huge list of stuff available to a particular nation and identify the strengths and shore up its weaknesses.

I know there have been plenty of cases where something someone has mentioned in a guide has made me realize that a similar tactic can be used with a completely different nation. I think if you're able to get that from a guide, it doesn't really matter if it's written based on CBM or the normal game, it's always going to be useful.

[Tifone]

Originally Posted by fungalreason

I think an interesting aspect of many guides is not necessarily the specifics of what spells or units to use. One of the most helpful things is gaining an understanding of how to look at the huge list of stuff available to a particular nation and identify the strengths and shore up its weaknesses.

I would have said the exact opposite. The more you speak about which spells and units you like and you explain WHY you do, the better when the player will see if the strong point of this unit the guide was talking about has been nerfed, the weak one improved, the spell has gone up or down the research tree...

And well, if one doesn't talk about units and useful spells, what does he talk about in a guide

[K]

Since the CBM mod is so poorly documented and makes so many minor changes, only a few people can write or even understand a "CBM guide" version of a guide

So don't sweat it. Rest assured that most players are like you and don't use the subforum or mods.

[Crust]

Even if not directly applicable (or entirely correct, take everything with a grain of salt) any guide contributes to understanding the game, and I'd imagine anyone playing with CBM would consider what the differences are and decide for themselves.

[Sombre]

Originally Posted by K

Since the CBM mod is so poorly documented and makes so many minor changes, only a few people can write or even understand a "CBM guide" version of a guide

So don't sweat it. Rest assured that most players are like you and don't use the subforum or mods.

Personal bias much?

I don't think CBM actually is poorly documented. Every change it makes is documented after all - what it actually lacks is guides like the one being suggested in this thread.

Plenty of people do use CBM for MP and of those players, many are longtime veterans, so it's definitely worth considering it as an option.

Also if you were to write a CBM version of a guide, I would hope everyone could understand it, since you'd presumably highlight the ways in which CBM changes things for that nation.

[K]

Originally Posted by Sombre

Personal bias much?

I don't think CBM actually is poorly documented. Every change it makes is documented after all - what it actually lacks is guides like the one being suggested in this thread.

Really? I was considering playing a CBM game a few months back and I couldn't find all the changes on the threads dedicated to the mod (just a few changelogs). If there is a list somewhere, I'd be interested in a link.

[MaxWilson]

Originally Posted by K

Really? I was considering playing a CBM game a few months back and I couldn't find all the changes on the threads dedicated to the mod (just a few changelogs). If there is a list somewhere, I'd be interested in a link.

Last time I looked, the mod file itself was pretty readable. I'd count that as documentation. I prefer not to play with it for other reasons.

-Max

[Sombre]

It's included in the attachment as a text file iirc.

I never look at it because, hey, the dm is right there and is by definition more accurate.