[Features and Suggestions] 129 hours and still loving it

from Elemental Forums

First let me say I held off on buying this game but always followed it's progression. Finally took the plunge with Legendary Heroes and I am impressed. The initiative system is superb. The city building system (snaking) is also superb. I've been playing with dense insane monsters and expert AI, I think I'm about ready for ridiculous AI. I'm having a blast but I want more! Here are several suggestions in no particular order.

1. Please allow trading between heroes anywhere within your empire. With every turn being a season long, there is no reason a speedy courier couldn't run items back and fourth between heroes. Make it an early tech if you must but I personally would just naturally allow it.

2. The army icons on the left side of the screen need to better represent which units have moved and which have not. Maybe a little green foot superimposed on top of the ones which haven't moved.

3. We need better control over the random map parameters. Things such as water, mountains and essence prevalence would be good. On smaller maps with fewer players there seems to be a tendency for maps to have long snake shaped tentacles with the player placed at the very end far away from the next city placement (perhaps I've just been unlucky).

4. Tactical combat could use some more love. First, the swarm mechanic feels overpowered. The effect should be lessened for units that are in front of the enemy. Slightly increased for units that are on the side of the enemy. The maximum effect should be for units that are behind the enemy. The overall effect of a completely surrounded enemy should be less than what it is now. Next, I would (if at all possible) add larger maps and terrain bonuses/penalties. I'm not a fan of having no setup phase in combat. Worse yet is armies starting right on top of one another on small maps. I understand there was a recent change here that made armies start closer for 'teh axchun' but it completely throws out a large chunk of tactical gaming in formation and maneuver. At least give us a setup phase.

5. Evaluate ranged items (magic and bows) tech tree positioning to better allow incorporation of ranged units in to early armies. Off the top of my head I would move every 1st tier ranged weapon to a lower spot in the tree. To fill gaps I would add another ranged weapon to the tree where appropriate.

6. Scrap the current manual upgrade system and use the shop window so we can select exactly what we want for the equivalent cost. This should include equipment (rings, amulets etc) as well.

7. More armor tiers. Leather > Ring > Chain > Light Plate > Full Plate

8. Add base weapon tiers to match the above armor tiers. Add polearms and pilums.

9. On the subject of more items, add tower shields. While you're at it, add the missing +lightning damage equipment. More interesting items and equipment are never a bad thing in a game like this.

11,157 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

3.  This please.  the CIV games had many map types to pick from, pangaea, fractal, continents, etc..  Although since navies aren't really a thing in this game continents wouldn't work. 

4.  Armies starting so close together overpowers trog battleaxes (probably other stuff too).  Just build stuff out of a lv3 fort with strikegarrison, equip charge, boom cleave everything dead before the other guys get a turn.  Half the time you don't even need charge to close the distance, it only helps to set up a more favorable cleave.

5.  Ranged weapons are already ridiculous.  They're fine where they are.  That's just my opinion though. 

6.  That would be nice.  I'd like to be able to make a basic unit say a mounted archer.  Later after much tech redesign it with say a +2 initiative belt.  Then you can designate all units of "mounted archer" to upgrade to the new schematic.

7.  I'd rather have more tiers of leather armor.  Right now there's leather and a couple robes.  Metal armor has plenty of varieties IMO.  Of course more armor sets are always better.  For example, padded armor > leather, studded leather> troll hide (requires a troll layer?)

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

1. Disagree.  I don't really have anything to say beyond my disagreement other than it doesn't make sense.  I guess my disagreement isn't very strong.

2. Very much agree.  That green surround box is barely noticeable.

3. Meh.

4. I feel there should be a reverse mechanic for Swarm.  Swarm is basically something from old tactical combat games, and I remember Military Madness in particular would give you a defense bonus for units surrounding yours.  So, if you had a line of 3 guys up against a line of 3 guys, the swarm bonus to attack would be negated by the swarm bonus to defense.

4 (still). I and many other have requested a setup phase for tactical combat.  I very much agree with this.  I mean, it makes sense that you would get to setup your army arrangement.  I certainly wouldn't have one guy 10 tiles away from everyone else, which happens often on at least one of the maps.

5. I could see adding the Crude Bow (or maybe something weaker) to a lower tech.  It does seem like archers ranged units aren't available for a long time.

6. Agree.  The current trained-unit upgrade system is a bit ambiguous.  "Upgrade!  To what, you ask?  Do it and then you can find out."  I'd rather select my own upgrades.  It should at least tell me what the upgrade is. 

9. Tower Shields are already in the game.  Look under "Heavy Armor".

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

For the armor thing I have been pondering for armors is removing pants as a separate item such that it would go like this,

Padded => Leather Jerkin => Leather Armor (Chest and Legs) => Chain Shirt => Chain Armor => Plate Chest-plate => Plate Armor

The thought here is that I have never seen where pants are used as a single equipment item.  Plus lets think about this, what would your magic pants be exactly?  O:)

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I wonder if clothing <ArtDef> can be used for Armor...  if so, I have some work to do.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

It can i made a gambeson like that.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Darxim, reply 2

1. Disagree.  I don't really have anything to say beyond my disagreement other than it doesn't make sense.  I guess my disagreement isn't very strong.

Getting new gear is fun. Getting new gear but not being able to use it because the hero that needs it is halfway across a large map, not so fun. Armies might not be the most mobile of units but couriers that run items back and fourth between armies are very fast. Think 18th century communication couriers. It's just a way to rationalize instant trade between heroes within borders. Perhaps this could be a use of horses/wargs? Horses or Wargs used per item transfer. I actually like this.

 

Quoting Darxim, reply 2
4. I feel there should be a reverse mechanic for Swarm.  Swarm is basically something from old tactical combat games, and I remember Military Madness in particular would give you a defense bonus for units surrounding yours.  So, if you had a line of 3 guys up against a line of 3 guys, the swarm bonus to attack would be negated by the swarm bonus to defense.

I like this. I think this combined with what I described would be a very nice setup.

 

Quoting Darxim, reply 2
4 (still). I and many other have requested a setup phase for tactical combat.  I very much agree with this.  I mean, it makes sense that you would get to setup your army arrangement.  I certainly wouldn't have one guy 10 tiles away from everyone else, which happens often on at least one of the maps.

I remember watching a video describing the 'armies starting closer to one another' and rolled my eyes. teh axchun! Hopefully we can get this.

 

Quoting Darxim, reply 2
6. Agree.  The current trained-unit upgrade system is a bit ambiguous.  "Upgrade!  To what, you ask?  Do it and then you can find out."  I'd rather select my own upgrades.  It should at least tell me what the upgrade is.

It makes sense. The UI is there. Things like changing weapon type could be prohibited or cost more (money/xp) to reflect retraining. Things like adding rings or other equipment should be a simple purchase commensurate with the cost of adding said item to a new unit.

 

Quoting Darxim, reply 2
9. Tower Shields are already in the game.  Look under "Heavy Armor".
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