Improving Independents

[NTJedi]

Some issues I hope are addressed with Dominions_3 for the independents:

1) Allow independents to patrol castles and break sieges.
#patrol and #break siege would give more options for map makers.

2) Allow assassin independents to remain hidden and then assassinate enemy commanders which have recently moved into the province. I recommend adding #hidden and #assassinate.

3) Create an option during game setup where fleeing independents retreat into neighboring independent provinces. Since it's an option the previous method will still be available as well.

4) Create a new #random_move which instructs this group of independent to randomly travel into another nearby province owned by independents. Another new option for map makers.

[Argitoth]

and what happenes if human independence moves into lizard independence? that would be totally unrealistic of course. you'd need to establish independence as a bunch of CPU players almost.

[NTJedi]

Argitoth said:
and what happenes if human independence moves into lizard independence? that would be totally unrealistic of course. you'd need to establish independence as a bunch of CPU players almost.

Yes it would be possible for lizards, humans and undead to all share one province with this option. Since it's just an option I'm sure gamers and map makers would enjoy the feature. If the developers have time they could work towards a more realistic independent fleeing.

[SafeKeeper]

I, for one, have wanted more "active" and inter-active independents for quite a while now.

I think there should also be some diplomacy and limited fighting between them, and maybe they could even move into player-controlled provinces if they're a particularly violent breed or if you give them enough of a reason to.

and what happenes if human independence moves into lizard independence?

They've signed a peace treaty due to the existance of a common foe [you]. Hah.

Seriously, though, if there was a diplomacy system implemented for them, with some natural bonuses and penalties to different races, it could work really good. Some independent provinces allowed fleeing neighbours to enter, others didn't.

you'd need to establish independence as a bunch of CPU players almost.

Which I wouldn't mind at all, although most of this will probably have to wait til Dominions IV.

[Folket]

Well, I have nothing against the option but I doubt I would play with it since it makes no sense.

Independents are just people defending there homes against an occupier. Why would they ever want to move away and leave their home and family without protection? If they would move all pop should move with them.

To make all indipendet weak AI makes more sense. They would rebuild ( and/or build) armies and perhaps even a strong independent would conquer some weaker provinces (or start with several provinces). But prio one for them would be homeland security. But since they are not under the divine influense of a god they will probably be eaten sooner or later.

[Agrajag]

Maybe make it so an independant province automatically recruits as much PD as its income allows it?

[vanedor]

Folket said:

Independents are just people defending there homes against an occupier. Why would they ever want to move away and leave their home and family without protection? If they would move all pop should move with them.

Random events produce independants that are much more than that. Barbarian bands, marauding knights, adventurers...

[NTJedi]

Folket said:
Independents are just people defending there homes against an occupier. Why would they ever want to move away and leave their home and family without protection?

They flee in battle... leaving their homes and family without protection thus leaving the pregnant wives and children behind. As a result a new province defense matching that of the nation which invaded is created and it's only natural for the existing population to mate with the new military males unless it's ERMOR of course. When facing a greatly more powerful army or SC it's only natural for some of the independents to run away as within history.

Folket said:
If they would move all pop should move with them.

A single healthy male can travel much much further and survive much much longer on his own compared with bringing his wife and young children with him.
For example try crossing a desert or mountain range on foot by yourself... and then try the journey with 4 children.