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Post by sparrowhawk on Sept 13, 2004 14:22:56 GMT
I have been busy working on a new feature, caravans. Main points:
- New graphic (modified horse gfx - with a pack on its back!) - Created at garrisons for 100 gold pieces (this may need flexing up or down) - zero attack or defence powers (they take no part in battles) - Can be captured by the enemy - When you capture a stronghold, you get a free caravan with all that stronghold's stores - movement speed is same as infantry - transfer stores from garrisons or from other caravans - currently no limit on how big a caravan can get (not sure whether this will change)
I have had to make some quite significant changes to the code, and as a result there may be the odd bug introduced. I am testing quite heavily (only thing left to complete is the Capture code)
I hope that this will add an extra element of fun, without actually being something that people need to use. So purists can ignore caravans, and others can have supply routes to assist in front line campaigns.
It will now be possible to go and fetch those idle stores at Gard, Gloom and Xajorkith and make good use of them!
Please post any preliminary thoughts here. I expect a release tomorrow at the earliest.
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Post by celebaglar on Sept 13, 2004 15:18:38 GMT
It covers most of the points I suggested in the "More stores" suggestions thread.
The only thing I'd mention is that I think an upper limit for the amount or stores each caravan can carry would improve the strategic challenge.
The other thing is a question: how are caravans implemented? Are they an additional lord record, like riders and warriors, or something else?
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SkulkrinBait
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Post by SkulkrinBait on Sept 13, 2004 15:19:05 GMT
Sounds interesting, can caravans be seen from afar?
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Post by celebaglar on Sept 13, 2004 15:43:47 GMT
Sounds interesting, can caravans be seen from afar? Good point. A caravan needs to be visible from distance, not hidden. Whether it needs a separate graphic to standard armies is something I'm unsure about.
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Post by sparrowhawk on Sept 13, 2004 18:14:18 GMT
I think that playing few a few games will give us a feel as to what that limit should be.
The are implemented as standard lord records with 0R/0W and with a race of Caravan.
Not at the moment, as I do not have a set of graphics that would suit. If anyone's volunteering. My feel is that they should NOT be visible as far away as armies are. Maybe 3 leagues/squares max?
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Post by celebaglar on Sept 13, 2004 19:33:39 GMT
So caravans are effectively new lords while active, like garrison commanders...
If so, how do battles work? Say you have a couple of allied armies plus a caravan attacked by three or four enemy armies? Do all the allied armies have to be wiped out to the last man before the caravan is captured?
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Post by sparrowhawk on Sept 13, 2004 19:41:34 GMT
You will not be able to capture a caravan whilst enemies are in the same location, allowing for rescues to be staged
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SkulkrinBait
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Post by SkulkrinBait on Sept 13, 2004 19:55:04 GMT
It would be great if the caravans looked bigger the more stores they carried! ;D Come on Jean hurry up and get it done There should be an option for the caravans to destroy their cargo if they think they are about to be captured.
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Post by celebaglar on Sept 14, 2004 0:31:16 GMT
There should be an option for the caravans to destroy their cargo if they think they are about to be captured. I beg to disagree. It's already very hard to capture a caravan [1], so if you give players the option of destroying it rather than having it captured it will become impossible to capture "moving" stores at all. The odds are already stacked very heavily in favour of the caravan owner. [/li][li] [1] You only need a minimal army to stop the caravan being captured, as long as you have armies within 2 days march of the caravan when it is attacked. The attacker cannot capture the caravan straight away, and the next day the caravan can move one day's march towards reinforcements and the relief army can march one day's march towards the caravan thus providing it will enough cover for other armies to arrive later.
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Natmus
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Post by Natmus on Sept 14, 2004 7:37:25 GMT
So purists can ignore caravans, ... Thank you, I will No further comments from me on this subject
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Post by sparrowhawk on Sept 14, 2004 8:11:50 GMT
I beg to disagree. It's already very hard to capture a caravan [1], so if you give players the option of destroying it rather than having it captured it will become impossible to capture "moving" stores at all. The odds are already stacked very heavily in favour of the caravan owner. [/li][li] [1] You only need a minimal army to stop the caravan being captured, as long as you have armies within 2 days march of the caravan when it is attacked. The attacker cannot capture the caravan straight away, and the next day the caravan can move one day's march towards reinforcements and the relief army can march one day's march towards the caravan thus providing it will enough cover for other armies to arrive later.[/quote] I had considered a disband option but decided against, for much the same reasons as Bill raises. Regarding capture: I forgot to mention that caravans cannot run away if enemies are present. So they will not be able to once after enemy lords have "Attacked" them. Vassal/Allies can come to the rescue, but if none are nearby then the caravan must stay put and will be captured by the enemy next turn. Hope that that covers some of your concerns. Natmus: Yes, I had a feeling that you might chose to ignore them. But will the temptation be too great?!
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Post by celebaglar on Sept 14, 2004 11:51:16 GMT
Regarding capture: I forgot to mention that caravans cannot run away if enemies are present. So they will not be able to once after enemy lords have "Attacked" them. Vassal/Allies can come to the rescue, but if none are nearby then the caravan must stay put and will be captured by the enemy next turn. Hope that that covers some of your concerns. Yes it does. As to graphics, how about adapting the army graphics so as to drop the banners? That would at least be a temporary solution, and it would also cater for the suggestion of having different sizes depending on how many stores are being carried. When there are also armies in place, the army graphic should be pasted on top of the caravan graphic so that a small army cannot completely mask a large caravan.
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Matija
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Post by Matija on Sept 14, 2004 12:14:49 GMT
Switching horses for camels? The hairy twohumps, of course, suitable for cold climate.
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Post by sparrowhawk on Sept 14, 2004 13:33:05 GMT
Camels in Xajorkith, polar bears in Doom Square maybe!
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Post by sparrowhawk on Sept 14, 2004 13:34:22 GMT
As to graphics, how about adapting the army graphics so as to drop the banners? That would at least be a temporary solution, and it would also cater for the suggestion of having different sizes depending on how many stores are being carried. When there are also armies in place, the army graphic should be pasted on top of the caravan graphic so that a small army cannot completely mask a large caravan. I tried that, but it looks complete pants. Tried lifting some old b/w mule train photos from the Web but to little avail. I'm afraid that my complete lack of artistic ability has let me down here.
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