New Game?

[Zorch]

+1 Ramming Speed!

[mercenarius]

Here is a screen shot of the Popup menu in action with disabling. The idea is that the player can turn tooltips on to get an explanation for an item being disabled.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

+1 Ramming Speed!

Indeed. [:)]

[Lascar]

Very nice looking graphics.

[mercenarius]

Well, I found that in preparing the popup menu for rivers that I had to finish my scheme for fleet patrols on rivers, which I hadn't quite finalized. So I started by adding naval bases on rivers which is something that can be supported on certain rivers.

Before showing that, let me say that I realize that the game map gets pretty crowded on the Rhine and Danube frontiers with so many Roman forts and fortresses (and cities). This isn't so true here, because this screenshot is taken from the Trajan scenario and that is 98 A.D. A hundred years later and the Danube frontier is bristling with them.

I decided to change the control banner for ports to use an anchor symbol in place of a faction icon. That is more generic because the player has only the color scheme to go by, but I think that in general it will provide more clarity rather than less. Here is a screenshot of the naval base at Noviodunum with the provincial fleet in port:

[mercenarius]

Here is the naval base at Gesoriacum with the provincial fleet at sea. Now, this isn't a river port, but it shows the new anchor icon in action. There isn't a banner in the city because there isn't a garrison there (unlike Noviodunum which has a frontier army garrison in the city proper).

Anyway, if the player isn't sure about control, all banners can be toggled on with the "B" hotkey, of course. And if there is any doubt the player can simply select the port to verify the current owner. I say this because there are countless barbarian factions and their colors are not always so easily identifiable. Well, it's tough being the Emperor of Rome! [:)]

[Orm]

Thank you for the update. This looks awesome. And it sounds even better. It might indeed be tough to be emperor, but it sure do sound like fun. [:)] [&o]

[Alikchi2]

Lovely crisp art, sharp, contrasting colors, readable GUI.. I can't judge gameplay from screenshots but graphically I'm already sold.

[Orm]

Couldn't enter https://www.forcedmarchgames.com/. Wanted to check what campaigns, or scenarios, that would be included. And, of course, see if there were any updates.

[mercenarius]

Thanks for the heads-up, Orm. I ought to check my own website more often! I will have to get on my ISP about this.

I have been working on finishing up any issues with the river bases, and in doing so I see that some issues with ports in the game needed to be addressed. I also added the Iron Gates as a geographic feature (and rule) on the Danube. Here are some screenshots of part of this new logic:

[mercenarius]

Here is the info dialog on the Iron Gates. This is mostly chrome, although the navigational rule has some real effect in the game.

That Iron Gates marker is shown when the "L" hotkey is used and map labels and other "special" markers are added.

[mercenarius]

When you attack an enemy fleet on a river, you actually attack their river base. That's because the game doesn't have room to show fleets on rivers, so they must always move from river base to river base (or to or from a sea zone if accessible). Here is an example of the choice you get when you attack a river base:



I will post more screenshots next weekend.

[mercenarius]

Just a little more work on rivers and river bases. Here is a screenshot of the report dialog for the Nile. I added Crocodilopolis to the game and gave it a river base - that part is rather hypothetical. But, it's fun. This shows it in the hands of the Palmyrans at the start of the Restitutor Orbis Scenario.



I'll post something again after Christmas but before the New Year. This has been a hard year, to say the least. And for some it's been just terrible.

I hoped to have more progress to announce at the end of the year, but right now I can only say that I am still working on it.

[Orm]

Thank you for the update. [&o] [:)]

[mercenarius]

Well, 2020 has been a hard year for many people. And I don't make light of anyone's suffering.

For the much more mundane topic of "The Fall of Rome," I have to say that I had hoped to have a rough release date in view by the end of this year. Unfortunately, many things held that back.

I *do* hope to have the game published next year, but I just don't have a realistic date.

I will be updating the FMG website sometime after the New Year, and I'll be posting more content there in the future. I intend to post new screenshots in January. That way I won't be burdening this thread with periodic screenshots.

I plan (that word) to get the automatic battle resolution improved in the next month and then to design the multiplayer structure of the game. I haven't ever done a multiplayer game before. But I will report progress in that regard when I can.

Here is a screenshot from recent work on the game:



Most of the time the Roman player will want to engage in Pitched Battle for a number of reasons. It would be a VERY rare set of circumstances that would impel the Roman player (at least) to try the Robert Bruce strategy. Other player types when/if available will sometimes want to use a strategy of raiding or denial. And for future games, the Fabian Strategy!

I hope that everyone has a good year in 2021!

[Orm]

Happy new year everyone.

[Orm]

Thank you for the update.

[mercenarius]

I haven't forgotten about everyone here! I have been working pretty hard on the Fall of Rome the last 6 weeks. I just haven't had time to post new screenshots here or on my website. I am still finishing the battle options and auto-resolution for all types of battles. There are more options than there are in 'Hannibal' and that is adding some time. But I should be able to post some screenshots very soon.

[Orm]

Thank you. Looking forward to see the new screenshots. [&o]

Cool with more options. [:)]

Speaking of options. Will there be more optional rules in this game? Or random events? Battle events? Perhaps a "divine wind" that blind the enemy force?

Not trying to add to your task list. Just happy to see that progress is made. [:D] [:)]

[mercenarius]

Speaking of options. Will there be more optional rules in this game? Or random events? Battle events? Perhaps a "divine wind" that blind the enemy force?

Good question. There will be a couple of optional rules in the game. There are also some settings that are options which give default responses to certain decisions, such as the fate of prisoners. That should reduce some necessity to respond to dialogs.

There will definitely be some new battle cards, and some battle events. Now, something like the Bora (the "divine wind") is a good one. I haven't coded that yet. Some of this is chrome, but we'll have some new battle options and events for sure. And you'll be able to use most if not all of them even when fighting a battle on automatic resolution.

I said that I'd have screenshots on my website before the end of the month, but I don't think that I will quite get there. So here is a screenshot of some of the options that I am talking about. This one shows the chance to decide the fate of Roman soldiers captured in a battle. I'll post a couple more screenshots here this weekend on the Matrix Forum. But I do intend to get my own website out of the mud, so to speak. But working on the game - and doing my taxes this weekend - are higher priorities. [:(][:D]