Here I’m trying to collect known gameplay problems. (arranged in order of appearance during play session). Most of these problems have one or more possible solutions. Some problems are trivial and some are not even a problem. Yet I’m keeping them in for the sake of the topic - collecting the problems. Once collected we can think them through, possibly finding solutions that each solve more than 2 or 3 problems at once.
1. Complicated gameplay mechanics
Despite the genre the game is still quite complicated to a newcomer, compared to other RTS games. Basic town needs a lot of houses/units/roads/actions just to become self-sustainable.
2. MP slow game pace at the start
The game might me a bit too slow for today, especially at the start. Later on amount of decisions raises and the pace is nearly good.
3. MP games start by the template
Players build their towns by templates, always repeating the same formula until 20-30min mark.
4. Peacetime in MP
It takes 60 min before PvP action can begin. There is no PvP interaction until PT ends, which makes the game very repetitive.
5. Unresponsive army
Controlling army has inherent lag of ~1sec because of tiled unit navigation. Big armies have collision problems, part of the gameplay with armies is focused on keeping the army positioned right when moving and guarding.
6. Army control
Player loses control over groups when they engage in combat. Limits player decision making during engages. Snowballs the game after one engage.
7. Towers and turtling in MP
This problem seems to be dealt with, as players realize that towers can be destroyed with archers and/or sneaked by.
8. Leavers laggers and newbies in MP
MP games seem to be plagued with inexperienced players who lag a lot and leave them game spoiling everyone’s fun.
9. Abrupt game end in MP
Letting enemy into the base means certain defeat. Players can rarely fight back. As soon as player’s defence is breached he is likely to lose and just quits the match.
10. Abrupt game end
The game has no winning screens and graphics.
11. Low player involvement in MP
Despite being quite popular, MP game lacks support for long-term player involvement: persistent nicknames, reputation, competition, clans.
Please cast your vote on which problems are the biggest and which should be dismissed. Maybe I have forgot to list something?
1. The gamemechanism okay. Why is it problem? I like to this gamemech because it is somewhere between the round games. i mean on the table games and between the Civilization kind of games where turns are...
2.seems slow, but every second what you lost at the start makes huge difference at the PT. Anyway seems the players don't like the games with built up cities at the start...I think to every player has different opinion about the effective and good city...There are some maps where you can see prebuilded cities.Highlandwoods, lost roads or somekindf of roads......oh sorry the mapcounter stat is deleted so hard to check the popularity. Anyway the threetime speed solved this slowing problem;)
3.it is depends of the startegie. But the fast opening start or unlocking order helped lot to this. But im still missing TH, SG for making larger possibility for building part. Im sure this could solve lots of collected problems also.
(Anyway there were already an idea to placing 10-15house at the start in the same time and after start the game with shorter pt. Its like prebuilding.)
4.Please, 60min is optimistic. I think to 90mins PT is more popular. But dont forget about the No PT games. Sometimes each players taste it for fun.
6. yes this is very annoying, maybe the peek of the problems. Divides under the fights and the not fighted units can back or somthing similar option could be really good...
8.its not problem. As i see more serious and more popular games have this problems also.
9.Siege units for active defence-> will be harder to attack a city. I know there were already tons of discussion, but could be good to count with the possibilities of these buildings, units, what kind of armies could be trainable in normal pt etc... I know the balance is the most important question for tH and SG units into multigames. But when you put the market in the MP then was a simple rule there. "Do not be stronger as the classical game style"
Very small things also can change things/trategies and give chance for better defending etc... (more effective farms, cheap market, shielded units higher defends etc.)
10. sometimes i see player's playing 115hours, maybe 7left and the player just destroy each city to see the victory screen. Anyway how is it look out in the MP? seems Ive never seens yet:D
more:
12. missed Downloadable userguide for Remake with good advice and samples. Maybe could help a lot for new players.
13.unmutable spectators
14.mapstealers and trolls
15.the game doesnt have woman (still the Supermario serie also have)
16.not added snowy rocky tile
MY vote for the biggest mistake/problem is:
6