RS 1.5 Test Upgrade

[dvk901]

RS 1.5 has been uploaded. The LINK:

http://files.filefront.com/RS1+5+TES.../fileinfo.html


This MUST be installed over Main Installer 1.10b....1.10c is NOT necessary.

NO, in will not install over RS2 Beta anything.

Install into (RTW) folder.

No unpacking, full UI is included.

If you do a fresh install, you must let the Main Installer do the unpack and repack as before, then install RS 1.5. Squid will fix the installer eventually so that no unpacing is necessary.

Squid, 'mod_0.pack' must be included in new installer, all the stuff in the 'pak' folder that did the packing\unpacking can be removed.

Test this furiously please. If you do nothing else, observe AI movements, check for blocked paths on the map, roads that don't show up that should, etc.

[cherryfunk]

Running smooth, looking good.

[swhunter]

same here! BTW I love the map!! This big map!

[cherryfunk]

Some quick feedback -- I played about 30 turns of a Seleucid campaign and 10 turns of a German campaign, both on 1-turn and H/H.

The Seleucids are bringining in about 18,000/turn, which requires real careful thought about what to build, given the size of the empire. I allied with the Parthians, securing the northern border -- maybe you should make them and the Parthians less friendly to each other, dvk? Also I think starting as allied with Pergamon, Pontus and Armenia might be too much, maybe have them neutral with Pergamon and Pontus, allied with Armenia?

With the Germans I started building up more troops and quickly ran into a deficit -- these guys are poor! Which is exactly correct, they should be dirt poor at first -- makes the opening campaign tough, you have to really think about how to expand.

Also, the new population control buildings are slick! How did you get them to be available only after a plague or extermination event? You might make them more expensive though -- 1 turn/1,000 seems awfully cheap given the important bonus you get.

Three or four Seleucid cities grow in size the second turn of the campaign -- I would reduce the population of these so the player has to wait a bit longer.

Oh, and Wooden Walls costing 10,000 -- I understand what you're trying to do, and agree with it, but 10,000 seems a bit steep, maybe 5,000?

Overall, the game is playing beautifully...

[dvk901]

I know Seleucid and Germany have their issues.....but it's a catch 22 with both. I 'isolated' the Germans with a lot of 'Free people' armies troubles, which keeps them both occupied getting past them, and stuck in their own territory for a good while. If I didn't, they would be expanding too fast into the south and causing trouble for Gaul and Rome long before they are ready for it.

Seleucid is another issue, Cherry. The problems with that Empire were it's vastness and it's huge population. I know it creates a challenge for the player, but you have to consider how to configure a faction as well so as the AI it doesn't wipe the map up. There is a delicate balance with them that I have tried to create between having so many wealthy regions and the possibility of huge income and power...as opposed to their actual historical troubles and weakness.

I personally feel that a Seleucid player, as I read one post in the forum, is going to have to 'sacrifice' the eastern part of the Empire and focus on the west around Syria and the central Empire where the money and the people are. Basically, make peace, build up, wait, and then expand when the economy and the infrastructure get better.

I don't know how else to set them up, because anything else results in either 'nuking' them into non-existance, or making them so powerful they blow everyone away around them. You have to do something to create problems for the AI...even the player. As it stands now, if you play any other faction, Germany and Seleucid stay put for a long time dealing with their own issues...which is what I want. It doesn't however, 'nuke' them the way some reputable mods do. It just 'impedes' them for a while.

I'll have a look at the walls and the population buildings.

As for Pergamon, Pontus and Armenia...again, the good old RTW 'either\or's'. I can either set them allied or at war. Setting them as Neutral doesn't mean they will be neutral. All it means is that when the game starts, the game will randomly choose what to set them at. So they could all end up at war, peace, or any combination thereof.

On a good note, one thing I've noticed in setting several factions to prefer naval invasions...including Bosporan, is that Bosporan now expands 'usually' around the coast of the Black Sea rather than straight up into the steppes. Big difference.....I've even seen them invade Anatolia several times.

[Drtad]

As for Pergamon, Pontus and Armenia...again, the good old RTW 'either\or's'. I can either set them allied or at war. Setting them as Neutral doesn't mean they will be neutral. All it means is that when the game starts, the game will randomly choose what to set them at. So they could all end up at war, peace, or any combination thereof.

In 280 Armenia's Orontid dynasty was heavily at war with Seleucia and had recently routed a Seleucid punitive expedition against Cappadocia and secured the latter's independence. The war did drag on into the 270's, but details are sketchy at best.

I'd say that for a historical start, make Armenia at war with Seleucia.

[swhunter]

Hi i have got to 20 moves in the Roman camp.
Everything runing well.
Free peoples are hising and fighting aganist rome near med.
sending dips. all around the map to check passages.
a1 is not bad so far.
I will do more tonight.

[Drtad]

Almost forgot:

I started a campaign with our African Punic buddies and everything has gone smoothly so far. I'll try to do some more tonight, but I got some work to do before Christmas vacation...

EDIT: Yay, I got my avatar 'Christmasified!'

[aja5191]

Played as Macedon for about 20 turns - everything's running fine.

Those Spartans are a pain in the ass though!

[cherryfunk]

I'd say that for a historical start, make Armenia at war with Seleucia.

I'm not sure if that's wise, given how fast the AI Seleucia seems to be collapsing, but they definitely should not start as allies.

Also, dvk, I'm not sure if this is intentional or not, but the German cities of Goria and Muria can build re-population administrations, even though they have not been exterminated or suffered plague...

[Drtad]

I'm not sure if that's wise, given how fast the AI Seleucia seems to be collapsing, but they definitely should not start as allies.

Which is why I said, "historical start." Perhaps we could start them out neutral, but with a lot of tension.

Also, dvk, I'm not sure if this is intentional or not, but the German cities of Goria and Muria can build re-population administrations, even though they have not been exterminated or suffered plague...

I had the ability to do this for a lot of cities as Carthage, so I am guessing it is intentional.

[dvk901]

The building is available at all times...it isn't dependent on plagues or extermination, nor can it be. It's simply there for the player (and the AI in particular) to use in the event that population isn't what is desired. I'm hoping the AI will use it to prevent de-population as well.

[dvk901]

The description of the 'System' actually kinda covers the whole gambit of reasons why you might want to use them.

[cherryfunk]

Well then we should definitely make them most costly, they give a hugely important bonus to small cities.

Anyone else seeing really crazy Pergamon expansion?

[cherryfunk]

dvk, the German catapult range doesn't build siege engines, but rather archers. Shouldn't it be named something else?

[cherryfunk]

Faction expansion at 493 AUC -- 40 turns in, with me playing as Germany. Interestingly, Parthia is heading north instead of south... Pergamon is a monster, Rome is heading straight for Corsica and Sardinia (the impact of the 'prefers naval invasions' I think). What are you guys seeing? If Parthia keeps heading north we need to fix that somehow...

[♔Jean-Luc Picard♔]

parthia going north might be a problem... also, does syracuse or carthage own melite?

Skan

[cherryfunk]

Carthage owns Melite, but I think I've seen Syracuse invade it.

I'm not sure what Parthia is up to; in 3 of 3 tests before I sent the map to dvk, it headed south, now it's gone north 2 of 2 times. I'll try adding some more rough terrain to the north. We also might need to start them at war with the Seleucids.

I'm also seeing Rome head north again, agh! If it's okay with you guys I want to block the roads through the northern Alps passes, and leave the ones through the western passes. Hopefully that will discourage them heading north for the Baltic.

And let me know if you spot anything at all odd or fishy about the map; I can't make it better if you don't point out where it can be fixed...

[dvk901]

Blocking the passes to the north in the Alps would probably be a good idea...though unhistorical. Just make sure there is a clear way to the west and east.

I've done all I can to Syracuse and Pergamon short of nuking them altogether.
The fact that they are allies with Seleucid drives them west and northwest. If I set them at war with Seleucid, then they'll pound on them.

Also, Cherry, if you have changed the garrisons in the eastern Seleucid territories, it will affect what Parthia does. If Seleucid is too strong there, they will go north.

Maybe just set them all at war and let the winner take all...Armenia, Pontus, Pergamon, Parthia, Seleucid.

[cherryfunk]

Well, we could maybe remove a few units or a building or two from Pergamon...

I'll make the changes to the northern passes, and try to nudge Parthia south more. I agree about the Seleucid garrisons, maybe they should stay weak.

As for a free-for-all -- wouldn't hurt to set them all at war and run a few campaigns to see what happens...