New patch??

[Ironhawk]

Kristoffer O said:
Anyway, I think a nation will generally benefit from me playing it. So if there are other nations percieved as unfun, weak, or graphically unpleasant let me know for my next MP signup.

Hey KO, I know other people have mentioned Abysia - but I just wanted to point out a pet peeve I have with them. Abysia is "immune to death scale" in terms of suppply, right? But the fact is that Aby cannot ever take Death scale because all its mages will die off... basically immediately. Any chance you can do something about that?

[Sombre]

I it's too late to do anything about that - the manual and that ability gives new players the idea that Abysia should pick death scales, when in fact it's suicide for them. Can't do much about that,.. other than maybe make death not alter Abysia's income either.

[Ironhawk]

No disrespect, but who are you do say that? Clearly Aby has special code that protects it from the supply checks. All that needs to be done is to place a similar check into the death component of the old age affliction code. This does not seem so back-breaking of a request.

[thejeff]

Or simpler yet, decide that Abyssia's non-human mages have longer lives than humans. Enough to compensate for their fire magic at least. Or drop their starting ages.

That's even moddable.

[Ironhawk]

That would be easy, yeah. But I dont know if its thematically in line with what the devs had in mind for Abys mages. After all, "the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long". They just need to not be effected by Death, like they are supposed to be

[Kristoffer O]

Why should everyone live longer than humans? I like shortlived Abysians They are supposed to burn out! I'm more inclined to make them cheaper and even more short lived.

Edit: Or since we like them expensive, just make them more short lived

[Sombre]

Ironhawk said:
No disrespect, but who are you do say that? Clearly Aby has special code that protects it from the supply checks. All that needs to be done is to place a similar check into the death component of the old age affliction code. This does not seem so back-breaking of a request.

Just going by what the devs have said. They like Abysians that die off from old age quickly.

K O just said as much in this thread.

Since the manual already says "They do not farm or hunt for a living, so their income and supplies are not affected by the growth/death scale of a province." I can only assume that new players are taking death scale with them, not realising it's suicidal. I know I did.

From what I understand their income isn't immune currently, despite what the manual states, so I think the first change would be to make that the case. Maybe that way people might actually be tempted to try and take advantage of Abysian death scales.

[Ironhawk]

I know that, but this isnt a design choice, its a bug. You can't offer a bonus like "abysia is immune to death scales" and then turn around and make it technically impossible for Aby to actually take Death scales. Its a design flaw that needs correction.

Either they should take away the Abysians "bonus" or fix it.

[MaxWilson]

In GURPS terms, it's a quirk. (A feature which follows logically from Abysian history/physiology but has no real game impact.) Thinking that a quirk is a real advantage is a mistake, which the manual unfortunately makes. Fortunately the manual also has a disclaimer about all the strategies it suggests.

-Max

[WraithLord]

Well I'm not so sure about EA Marverni being very weak in early game, I recall discussing this in another thread so I won't elaborate here again. They could use some "love" from the devs for more thematic depth IMHO.

As for Abysia I don't think its a bug. The "immunity" goes for standing armies in terms of provisions (don't starve) and not for economy or population immunity to death scale.