May update (More info...)

[JRichert]

I have been lurking around these boards for months, but I need to speak up now...

First off, I have played several games of EiA to completion, mostly with France, but also with Austria.

The reason I mention this is that it is absolutely necessary to include dominant status in the game. The ability to both gain it and lose it. The reason for this is simple, if GB or Fr really screw up, they need to be penelized. If any of the other powers perform extraordinarily well they need to be rewarded. It also makes for more strategic decisions. Does Prussia create Poland? Should Austria accept France's request for peace, or should she try and take Lombardy so she can form the KoI so she can become dominant?

Also, when fighting on mainland Europe, even if Austria or Prussia do well in one war against France, chances are that in the next war they will be defeated and lose everything they had gained. Giving them the ability to go dominant can change that dynamic.

Second, the New Political Combinations/Kingdoms from the original game should be included. I would imagine the coding for each of the different combinations would not be all that different. However, each of these combinations play a role in the game. Also, you need to make sure that the multi-district minor powers are treated as such (Denmark and Norway, Sicily and Naples).

Third, another item I have not seen is GBs power to suck VPs from an opposing power during the Victory Point phase. GB wins the game if it goes the full length and no one has been declared the winner. She was able to use 1/3 of the VPs she was due that phase and could reduce the number of VPs another plaer had by that number. It could be a very powerful weapon, especially if someone overbid for a country.

Fourth, as someone mentioned before, I request that the basic EiA rules be coded and implemented, and then the EiH rules be added as an option. While many loved the EiH rules, some did not. While this is a niche game, you do not want to alienate any players by forcing them to play with rules they may not like.

I have not seen this addressed anywhere, but has any thought been given to playing with the UMP rules with fewer than 7 players? I know some people find them clunky, but I know some people that would prefer to play with those rules rather than an AI.

Finally, I think it is great that some one is finally making a computer version of the what I consider the greatest wargame of all time.

[denisonh]

Since EiA is a great wargame, our expectations of the computer version are very high.

But since we are "translating" the game into a new medium, there are rules that need/must be changed to accomodate this, as well as rules that will change for the better because of the transfomation to a computer medium.

It is my sincerest hope that the flavor of EiA is maintained, and the change to the new genre can accomplish some things to make it better than the original. (was "bidding" in the original rule set BTW?)

Yes, I said "better than the original".

Limitations from a boardgame in terms of non-player activities and bookkeeping intensive activities stand to be improved in the computer version. And if not, they should be.

If we get too narrow in focus of what it should and shouldn't be, then we will get a "MOO3", instead of the kick @ss game we all expect.

Of course, if you expect the absolute direct translation, you will be disappointed in any case, since that is not a realistic expectation in regards to every aspect of the game.

[JRichert]

What was wrong with MOO3, aside from being a different way of playing the game rather than micromanaging everything?

I am all for upgrading EiA, HOWEVER, the way to do it is by building it up from the main game. Create the basic game, which would be a direct EiA port (with all the bells and whistles), and then add the options on top of this chassis.

For example,

EiH rules
National Aspiration rules
Advanced Naval Combat
Hulks
Increased leader casualties
UMP rules

I feel the UMP rules are important for two reasons... I have played both with multiple major powers and UMP rules, and the UMP rules are a bit more natural. Playing with multiple major powers you basically create Superstates that are inseparable. With UMPs you do not have Russia being GBs lackey on land, or Turkey becoming an extension of France for 10 years. UMPs enable other powers to exert some degree of control of a country within reason. They cannot run it into the ground.

Just my .02.

[ZONER]

My two Cents

I feel that the core rules should be followed as much as possible. Deviations should only occur out of necessity. Rule variations should be introduced through option toggles that can be turned on and off. This will allow two things: there are strong opions on certian rules that some people just won't live without. Toggles would have the benifit of letting people play the game they are acustom to and draw a larger customer base. Second it would give you the oppertunity to add to the game in future patches/mods. I noticed in the original post a comment about time required to do programming, I realize that inorder to be profitable you cannot drag a product out over a long period of time, but I hope that shortcuts in streamlinning rules to make for easier programming does not occur.

[Harald]

As a regular Turkey player:

Feudal corps is a must.


All rules from EiA has to be incorporated into the game ie creating new political combos. Otherwise the game will not be interesting.

[Foro]

Hello all, i am new to this forum so its my first post here.
Having played EiA mostly with friends from my hometown i am a bit worried about AI diplomacy.
For me diplomacy is and allways was a key element in this game and its also the most "human" part of it.
Talking with enemy, neutral or allied major powers, tricking them, making strong allies who keep on your side when you keep your promises or seeing major powers losing land, power and money because sometime earlier in the game they tricked a so called ally and didnt keep its promises (picking surrender conditions granted to the other allied power in the dipomacy phase for example) are things a computer AI cant simulate.
Will the AI remember a major power who took a conditioal surrender from an enemy leaving the AI alone and subject to a distrous defeat?
Will it react differently to the human in the future?
Even trying to describe it is difficult for me (or maybe my knowledge of the english language is not sufficient ;p)

Am i missing something allready mentioned in other threads maybe ?
Or is it just my style of play that i think its dang important ?

Well I hope you have some answers for me

Thx in advance

[Von Rom]

One major thing I would like to see included in this game would be for ALL or almost ALL files in the game to be open to gamers so they can be modded/changed/enhanced with a simple hex editor like notepad.

Just take a look at Paradox, which makes all of its games very accessible to modders.

No game maker/scenario designer can possibly take into account all of the variables/ideas/and abilities that exist in the gaming community.

I would suggest that AI files, sound files, music files, leader files, battle files, as well picture files, etc, etc all be left open for modders.

It would also be great if a scenario editor can also be included.

Nothing sells a game faster than for people to see all kinds of additions/new scenarios/enhancements being made available for a game.

There is a wealth of knowledge and abilities in the wargaming community. A modder-friendly EiA would go a long way to tapping into this community.

Cheers!

[Le Tondu]

Originally posted by Von Rom
One major thing I would like to see included in this game would be for ALL or almost ALL files in the game to be open to gamers so they can be modded/changed/enhanced with a simple hex editor like notepad.

Just take a look at Paradox, which makes all of its games very accessible to modders.

No game maker/scenario designer can possibly take into account all of the variables/ideas/and abilities that exist in the gaming community.

I would suggest that AI files, sound files, music files, leader files, battle files, as well picture files, etc, etc all be left open for modders.

It would also be great if a scenario editor can also be included.

Nothing sells a game faster than for people to see all kinds of additions/new scenarios/enhancements being made available for a game.

There is a wealth of knowledge and abilities in the wargaming community. A modder-friendly EiA would go a long way to tapping into this community.

Cheers!

What nice thoughts. I'd say that he is onto something. Good going Von Rom.

[mmurray821]

Yes, I will always buy a game with modding/editors over a game that does not have them. It really opens up the replay value.

Cudoos to Von Rom for the idea.

[Black Hat]

The other "new" Kingdoms are important to France. They allow you to munipulate at +2 and add the +1 for creation to stay in or regain the highier point boxes durning extened peace.

Without the minipulation it pushes france to war more.