Messages

31

Development / Re: Archer targeting

« on: July 27, 2018, 03:21:30 AM »

Where do you see that?

It's that faded out text that's up at the top right of the game pages when you're playing a character on Dwilight. It currently reads, "stable". I remember noticing it myself last week and thinking it was strange, but then forgot about it.

Actually, now that I've just checked, it also says the same thing on Beluaterra.

32

BM General Discussion / Re: Discussion on Monsters

« on: July 11, 2018, 03:09:54 PM »

I think it probably needs to be slightly more complex than that (perhaps a mechanic to explicitly abandon a region if density is low, so that you can prioritize keeping the ones you actually care about, and potentially even move the realm bit by bit if part of the problem is your location)

Definitely, because without some ability to control which regions your realm governs, it could easily end up with isolated realms separated/surrounded by rogue regions with the realms unable to close the gaps because their takeover option is disabled.

Also, it might be worth thinking about whether the takeover option would be disabled just when trying to take a rogue region, or whether it would apply to all regions. If takeovers were also disabled when your low density realm was in a war with a high density realm, it could be pretty frustrating. Essentially not being able to fight back in any constructive way.

33

BM General Discussion / Something to Do While Wounded

« on: May 16, 2018, 05:16:37 PM »

I've been thinking about this for a while, but one of my characters moving to critically wounded status brought it back to the front of my mind. What I've been thinking is, wouldn't it be good if there was something you could do with your wounded character while they're out of action? Something that sort of encourages players not to see being wounded as a totally bad thing that essentially stops you from playing that character for a few days.

The thing that came to mind on this was how in celtic mythology they thought that the separation between our world and the 'otherworld' was quite thin and it was possible to slip between the two. What I was thinking was that while a character is wounded, perhaps they could slip in to some 'otherworld' area of the game where they can do something. On a strictly Middle Ages level, it's also similar to how people could have religious visions in the delirium of being badly wounded.

I don't know how easy or possible it would be, but perhaps part of the current code could be reused to form this otherworld to minimize Dev time on it. The things that came to mind were, what if all wounded characters from across the game could fight each other in some way using the dueling code? Or what if all wounded characters from across the game could communicate with each other and RP this otherworld?

The idea would need to be worked out in more detail. But all this would replace the brief glimpse of messages you see when seriously or critically wounded (which tend to be a bit frustrating anyway). Essentially, it would form some sort of mini-game that you could only play with a wounded character.

Thoughts?

34

Feature Requests / Re: Archer nerf

« on: April 27, 2018, 04:10:50 PM »

I must say that I've noticed this as well. Most tactics I've seen in the game now revolve around heavy use of archers and ranged special forces, with token melee units used to the fore to hold up the advance of the massed ranks of ranged forces.

However, it should be noted that all melee forces are almost entirely useless against the massed monsters on Dwilight, so this compels armies to use ranged forces against them. Any rebalance of ranged units should take in to account the peculiarities of Dwilight, or we'll have a lot of deeply frustrated players if the monsters suddenly become almost unbeatable.

35

East Island / Re: Redhaven

« on: January 19, 2018, 05:42:14 AM »

I love the name, who came up with it?

That would be me. I suggested a few names privately to Hector, one of them being Redhaven (literally a haven for the Redwings), and he then suggested that name to the other Xavax. A few alternative names were kicked around, but most of the Xavax seemed to go for Redhaven.

36

East Island / Re: Redhaven

« on: January 16, 2018, 06:31:13 AM »

He's basically been inactive for, maybe, 3 months. Or something like that. We're actually pretty worried about the player. Ecthelion didn't respond to any IC or OoC letters sent to him during those months, even though he (or someone on his behalf) must have been logging on at least once a week to prevent loss of titles/autopausing before now.

It's hard to imagine that Brian/Ecthelion would play the game continuously for 14 years and then just up and leave without saying a word to anyone.

37

Helpline / Re: What Happens to Bonds When You Change Realm?

« on: December 20, 2017, 04:43:34 AM »

Okay. Thank you.

38

Helpline / What Happens to Bonds When You Change Realm?

« on: December 19, 2017, 02:22:12 PM »

It's been a long time since I had a character change realm, so I can't remember what happens to the bonds that you carry. I know you take the gold you carry with you to the new realm where you can then convert it back in to bonds at your new capital city. But what happens to bonds you're still carrying when you change to your new realm? Do they go to the realm income of your old realm? The realm income of your new realm? Or do they just disappear?

39

East Island / Re: The War

« on: December 17, 2017, 02:55:34 AM »

Ivo decided not to seek re-election.  He'd already stayed in office a lot longer than he wanted. Thomas then won the election.

40

East Island / Re: The War

« on: December 14, 2017, 06:28:41 PM »

Same here although I hope you're not trying to argue this specific case here :p

No, I was just making a broad point about how people perceive Generals and/or Marshals in the game.

41

East Island / Re: The War

« on: December 14, 2017, 04:17:03 PM »

Consistency is what makes you a good general. If your success is only limited for a couple battles, you suck period.

That depends on the nature of the war. Very few wars in Battlemaster are evenly matched. There's usually one powerful side and one underdog. Several of the Generals I've seen called 'great' during the years I've played have actually been ones that led armies that already had a numbers and power advantage. The really strategy game minded players often tend to be attracted to the realms that already have established military reputations too.

A General who leads a small realm and wins a couple of battles could actually be punching well above his or her weight. People would probably still say, 'oh. they suck' because they lose a majority of their battles. But it's probably the case that it was very hard to win battles anyway.

42

East Island / Re: Greater Xavax Imperium

« on: December 13, 2017, 04:59:38 PM »

All of this is also a timely reminder that having your realm destroyed is not actually the worst thing in the world. We all have realms that we love (or have loved, in the case of fallen realms), but there's always the ability to create something new. Some times, those new creations will fly, other times they'll fall flat. But a proportion of them will work. Over the years, I've seen so many players quit when a realm is destroyed (and I've often felt that's probably the biggest way we lose players who've been around for a while), but they could go on to be part of new things.

Creating new thing is part of the fun of the game. The East Continent had become stale, and it's these new opportunities that have brought it back to life. The other aspect of this is that old, established, realms need to always be open to allowing spaces for new creations.

43

BM General Discussion / Re: Memorable Heroic Deaths

« on: November 18, 2017, 02:37:20 AM »

There are only two hero deaths that have ever stuck in my memory.

The first was the death of Rhidhana Dubhaine during the final battles in Krimml that led to the end of Fontan. That character was almost a physical embodiment of the ideals of Fontan and she was absolutely loyal to the realm. The death of the character exactly at the time of the death of the realm is the most fitting and poignant death of a hero I've seen.

The second is the death of Armstrong Ironsides in Oligarch when Sirion took the city. Again, it was an entirely fitting death for the character. Armstrong had become world-weary and wanted a meaningful death. To that end, he created the single-region realm of Fane in Oligarch knowing that Sirion would never accept it. Then he remained in the city fighting in every battle and hoping one would lead to his death. I can't actually remember whether it was a battle that finally killed him or whether it was a death duel. Either way, it was an heroic death that also led to a RP funeral in his home region that really was attended by friends and enemies alike.

44

BM General Discussion / Re: Dwilight monsters destroy realms

« on: November 07, 2017, 02:08:32 PM »

Westgard would seem to disprove the theory that monsters alone are killing interaction between realms and forcing players to leave Dwilight (and the game) due to a constant grind against monster spawns. We're the realm that does most of the heavy lifting in the monster fighting and we seem to maintain a position as either number one or number two realm in terms of numbers of players. I think the lowest we've ever gone (so far) is the number three spot.

Of course, constant onslaughts by monsters and undead will limit other actions realms can take (particularly Westgard, D'Hara, and Madina), but that doesn't mean that those realms have to be boring or don't interact with other realms. Westgard tends to have three types of nobles. The ones who arrive and stay. The ones that arrive, stay for a few months, and then move on. And the new players who arrive and then stop playing. I think that's pretty much normal for most realms across the game. Just speaking for my realm, I don't feel like we have a poor retention rate. I'd probably say we have a better retention rate than many other realms. I suppose what monster fighting doesn't allow is a total victory over an opponent, which perhaps a certain number of players enjoy.

45

Dwilight / Re: The Shameless Westgard Recruitment Thread

« on: September 28, 2017, 02:35:34 PM »

Sounds like monsters are having fun again. Westgard is back! Back to fighting for real.

Roll up, roll up! For the greatest show in the West!

See the monster grinding machine of Westgard in full action! Free hide rugs for every warrior per 100 monsters slain! Weekly chance to win that horde leader's head mounted on an attractive mahogony plaque you've always wanted for your feasting hall! Free spears and arrows for every peasant who joins the army! Free ale for all if we have to spend the entire winter on Gelene's walls eating the horses in the Royal stables!

Roll up, roll up!