Wish-List for Dominions 4

llamabeast · #1 August 5th, 2007, 08:32 PM

The problem is not rendering time. Each unit is hand-drawn, pixel by pixel. It's an incredible set of largely great quality pixel art. Just 'improving the graphics' isn't really an option, redoing the sprites in a higher resolution would take months of artist time. It's not really like they have the team size to do it.

HoneyBadger · #2 August 6th, 2007, 12:49 AM

And a factor that a lot of people on the "better graphics" side seem to lose sight of-people like me can actually design graphics simply, even casually, and feel like we're accomplishing something we can see *in the game*-although I think I lack the patience and single-mindedness to even do graphics as well as Kristoffer.

johan osterman · #3 August 6th, 2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

llamabeast said:
The problem is not rendering time. Each unit is hand-drawn, pixel by pixel. It's an incredible set of largely great quality pixel art. Just 'improving the graphics' isn't really an option, redoing the sprites in a higher resolution would take months of artist time. It's not really like they have the team size to do it.

As llamabeast said this is not really an option without gutting the number of units. There are just short of 2000 units with the latest patch. Kristoffer can make a handful units a day, working more or less fulltime on it, with the current spritebased graphics. If the graphics were to be improved as in higher resolution or made 3d based it would no doubt take longer, especially since Kristoffer is used to his current production method and not to 3d art etc. Illwinter does not make enough money to realistically be able to afford hiring additional people. Keeping the diversity of units is simply not compatible with a more than incremental upgrade of the unit graphics.

Gandalf Parker · #4 August 6th, 2007, 05:30 PM

It might also be worth noting that Kristoffer is getting better and better all the time.

We are getting upgraded graphics, gradually.

And I agree that shifting to something like 3D and full animation would be prettier but would hurt the game in other areas. Im fine with the 2D sprites and 1 move animations. I have plenty of "pretty" games on my machine (that I played about a month)

shaihulou · #5 August 7th, 2007, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Gandalf Parker said:
Im fine with the 2D sprites and 1 move animations. I have plenty of "pretty" games on my machine (that I played about a month)

I couldn't agree more, that's why i love this game as well as Paradox's Hearts of Iron

Actual gameplay/fun > graphics(3D)

jutetrea · #6 August 7th, 2007, 08:26 PM

Item request - lvl 6 const, insert interesting and fun name, gives 10 units +0 stealth.

boots of elvenkind - lvl 2 construction, gives commander +0 stealth in forests only

spell - shadow dome - anti-astral window/spying/scout dome, gives completely oddball scouting reports. Instead of 100 men at arms and 3 mages it may show 200 giants or a dragon and 300 demons. Low cost, # gems affect duration, good for casting in a border castle before war.

Burnsaber · #7 August 8th, 2007, 03:17 PM

More "Common" blood sites and make blood sites more common. I always get my hopes up by playing blood nation and stating to cast Bowl of Blood. Blood sites are so rare that finding even one is like super-frigging-awesome.

I start my turn. Just checking out how my radar-spell went and then BAM! after 7 turns my B2 guy actually found something. I quicly rush out of the message window hit F1 and try to find the province in question. My eyes race for the real province name while my mind "perhaps it's that Demon-summon site or.. Dare I think about.. something even more cool".

Then I find the province in the F1 list and swiztly move my mouse over the blood site image...

It's another-freaking Brigand Lair! GAAAAHHH!

It's seriously not fun anymore. I want to see something other than Brigand Lairs for change. Is this somesort of a trap to make people not use blood magic? Either make Blood sites a really big deal (read: actually doing something usefull instead of rising unrest and allowing recruiment of a bland unit) or make some other common blood sites.

Please.. Just stop those Brigand Lairs. I'm gonna go postal soon if I find more Brigand Lairs in SP game I'm having (found 4! of them).

All Brigand Lairs and no Devil's Den makes Burnsaber a dull boy
All Brigand Lairs and no Devil's Den makes Burnsaber a dull buy
All Brigand Lairs and no Devil's Den makes Burnsaber a dull buy
All Brigand Lairs and no Devil's Den makes Burnsaber a dull buy
All Brigand Lairs and no Devil's Den makes Burnsaber a dull buy
....

lch · #8 August 8th, 2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Burnsaber said:
Please.. Just stop those Brigand Lairs. I'm gonna go postal soon if I find more Brigand Lairs in SP game I'm having (found 4! of them).

I can top that - five!

And I share your pain...

Kristoffer O · #9 August 10th, 2007, 11:50 AM

@burnsaber

OK, I'll make a Slaughter House for you

weimaar · #10 August 17th, 2007, 05:17 AM

I volonteer for slave work such as improving graphics 2D and 3D (if im told what to do). I also have a basic understanding of c++. If devs are interested in a slave who requires little or no pay, id be happy to help out to make dominions 4 a reality.

My wishlist:
Construction of superbuildings once national heroes/mages have reached a specific skill-level ("West point", Arcane magical academy of earth, fire...or water).

A market where magical items can be bought or sold.