Possible Cheat/Exploit

[tgb]

I read elsewhere that if you quit the game in the middle of a race, the last save point is just before in the market screen, so it's as if the race never happened. I haven't tried it myself, but if true it's a huge exploit to get out of bad races, and should be fixed, imo.

[Temple]

I'll respond (respectfully!) here to tgb with the same comment I made on another forum:

I'll just say what I always say about single player games; if you don't like an optional feature, don't use it, but respect that some folks are going to want to use that function some time. Perhaps what you can request, instead of "fixing" thus feature, is that an "Iron Man" mode be added as an option before starting a campaign which would remove the "X" option.

I think retaining the quit option allows those folks who don't have lots of time to play a way to enjoy the campaign without getting so frustrated. And by adding an "Iron Man" mode, you allow other players to challenge themselves to a campaign with no possibilities to reload and get around a bad race. I think by providing both ways to play would make more people happy.

[Javolenus]

Think I agree with this -- an optional "Iron Man" mode might be the way. Perhaps "Iron Man" mode might generate higher potential scores or "kudos"?

Another thing: I like the "random event" cards but wonder about them being revealed pre-race? Point is this -- if a player doesn't like the "random card" (and some of them do make winning very hard or impossible) there's nothing to stop him/her quitting the game, rebooting, and getting a different "random card". Possible room for refinement?

Also, some of the random cards tell you that your driver/horses have been drugged or that your chariot is damaged -- at which point, one could argue, the only sensible thing to do is pull out of the race -- especially if the "reboot your campaign" option is removed or "fixed".

[SteveD64]

Another thing: I like the "random event" cards but wonder about them being revealed pre-race?

That's a good point. Some of these you would know ahead of time (muddy track, 4 lap race etc), some you would not know.

[LaStarza61]

The way I've always handled cheats and exploits in games is to NOT cheat or exploit the game. I've never understood why anyone would want to cheat.. where's the fun in that?

[Temple]

ORIGINAL: LaStarza61

The way I've always handled cheats and exploits in games is to NOT cheat or exploit the game. I've never understood why anyone would want to cheat.. where's the fun in that?

As a very, very, <sigh> very long time player I would reply that in a single player game, or in the single player mode of a game with SP and MP modes (excluding SP modes where the results are posted to online leaderboards without proper notification), there is no such thing as a cheat or exploit. There are only available styles of play. Some folks don't have a lot of time to grind through a game and if they choose to reload a save, that fine. Or if they hack a save game file, that's fine too. It's up to each person to define their own play style.

It's really a matter of self-control. If you don't think reloading a save game is the proper way to play, then don't do it. And if someone else wishes to do it, then it's live and let live.

[SteveD64]

When I'm dealt a bad event I look at it as a challenge and try to get at least third place. I just wish that prize money would be awarded on straight finishing order, rather than on just finishing. It makes playing much more interesting if I'm way behind and can beat out other drivers for fourth or fifth. Hitting auto-finish (which the game encourages) is my only complaint so far.

[Temple]

ORIGINAL: CLEVELAND

I just wish that prize money would be awarded on straight finishing order, rather than on just finishing.

I like to think of the minimum amount as starting or appearance money, the cash you receive for just being in the race. After all, Caesar wants a good spectacle, so he's willing to pay for quality. To better reflect this, the cash awards should list starting money, then the additional reward for finishing first, second or third. This additional feature can be put way, way down the priority list [;)]

[76mm]

I agree that it's hard to complain about cheating in a single player game--a player should be able to play how they want. Personally I've never reloaded, but I use autofinish frequently to save time when I'm limping around the track with two horses, etc.

Regarding the random events:
1) I don't think that you need to pull out of a race if your horses are drugged, quadriga, damaged, etc. First, I've won many races despite these handicaps. Second, even if you don't win, all you have to do is race a bit more conservatively and you'll survive.

2) I thought it would be cool to be able to pay extra to get pre-race "intel" (ie, see the random event before selecting your team). Then you could either select a different team, or if you want, skip the race. This is realistic enough, as you could be bribing your contacts for them to feed you info. Of course other events (muddy track, etc.) it seems would be known in advance).

[Niessuh]

If I avoid that cheat somehow it would still be possible to came back after a bad race by saving the campaign file before and overwriting afterwards [;)]

[NefariousKoel]

Iron Man mode would be great!