DotS Progress Report

[Resurrection]

We are nearly done with essential research and documentation we've been doing for past month. The coding of alpha ready features will begin in days the latest (as it's my job) and that should be very much done rather quickly. Then there are other related features which are progressing coding-wise but only slowly - EDU and EDB. Until those are actually coded fully or at least substantially (the working basics are there for EDB at least) the campaign won't be really playable and we cannot release. In the meanwhile Azim has integrated BBB as our traits groundwork and with the map more or less done coding of titles will begin. Family trees are also under way (largely researched and are now coded in). Also some other projects are also going on like cinematics. that preview etc. Fortunately some things like 2D Art and music are almost done.

So it looks very promising but it is hard to tell how long it might actually take to have release-able mod. First we intend to do intern alpha release with hired testers from you guys to ensure we won't be releasing a mod which will crash on turn 3. Then will be proper beta release with everything we can scramble put in. And then we will focus on getting full release done which should contain everything we have planned and prepared. As Ross said our goal is to have at least the alpha (if not outright the public beta release) in some months and that seems like a relistic goal. That itself considering the amount of work already done and yet needed is monumental task and it is yet nothing in compare to what the full release should be like. I have a good grasp of the mod and I have to say it is so monumental that I cannot even imagine it so I rather don't as it would overwhelm me dropping my motivation through the floor. :-) But we are getting there step by step.

[Meneth]

To sum it up:
We're currently in closed pre-alpha. The map works, but not much beyond the basics have been coded.
We're planning to enter invite-only closed alpha in a few months, and open (I think) beta not too long after that.
Then, a couple months after that will be the first full release.

Disclaimer: all estimates are subject to change.
~Meneth - one of the DotS scripters.

[Walkman810i]

To sum it up:
We're currently in closed pre-alpha. The map works, but not much beyond the basics have been coded.
We're planning to enter invite-only closed alpha in a few months, and open (I think) beta not too long after that.
Then, a couple months after that will be the first full release.

That's some bloody good news.

[neha123]

Guys i was only jocking.. i really dont mind when the mod will come out... take your time ... it does not matter when .. what only matters for me is that you'll have actually though of making such a complex mod is a mystery to me.

Meneth are you going to implement your sub mod in Dots too as you did for stainless steel .. i mean LLP and other submodes..
Plus if i want to be a alpa tester is it possible??

[Meneth]

Yes, I'm planning to make sub-mods for DotS once it's released.
Regarding alpha testing, send a PM to Hross or Resurrection.

[Baerke Hinn Gauzki]

Alpha testing already huuh...? Well.. I'll speak to both Hross and Resurrection...... +rep eveyone..!

[Hengest]

Ah not just yet mate! We won't test until we have the tech tree tied up with the units so testers can recruit and move units round t6he map etc. Then we will be able to run a campaign testing the scripts the traits, income levels etc. We still don't really know how the Ai or the engine will handle all the complex tech trees, the high level populations, the PSFs and the list goes on. So alpha testing sounds like a short formality between having coded everything and release but it will be a major part of the process. If testing shows flaws we have to iron them out before we release obviously.

We won't have the tech tree and the units coded for another 2 months I would think. But during that time I expect the traits and the few last map details, as well as the family trees will all be done so it APPPEARS as if everything will come come together at the same time. Well... that's the plan.

In the last 6 weeks we have compiled all the faction research, all the map research (barring PSFs), all the faction titles, all the tech tree research and all the units research. So that is a pretty good speed. Coding has begun in all those areas, and Meneth has just completed a new script for us that will be a unique feature that I am really excited about and hasn't been announced so far, so that will be cool to see later. But as Resurrection says so grumpily (!) the work we have left is pretty big. But to give you an idea Stainless Steel is around 5.95 GB and we are already up in 6.6 GB and have map work, images, codes, scripts, traits, characters etc still to add... so its good but, still

[neha123]

Meneth whenever you read this please don't integrate OST whenever you make you sub mode compilation for DOTS..
whens the latest preview coming

[Horatius Flaccus]

That's some great progress, guys! The amount of work put into this mod is astonishing!

[max666]

awesome

[Scandinavian]

Question are the faction names going to be in native tongue or English?

[Hengest]

Native yep

[paedair]

I´m so looking forward to see your work men congratulation for your ability to make this huge work and coordinate it through whole world.
no jo no moc mi to anglicky nejde

[Space_Ed]

no jo no moc mi to anglicky nejde

Probably something about England/English people/English.

Maybe saying you don't speak good English or something along those lines.

[Resurrection]

Maybe saying you don't speak good English or something along those lines.

That. :-)

[paedair]

yes, about my (not)ability to speak my ideas in english

[SeekerAfterTruth]

I too look forward to seeing the mod finished, i have been floating around this mod for quite some time and have really enjoyed reading about all your brilliant ideas and now just wanna see it in practice.
+Rep to you all

[slayer92]

Is the AI more intelligent because not only in vannila but also in other mods even if you're far more powerful than your ally he still attacks you,also even if your ally is vassal he still dare to attack you even though he is much weaker .think about it ,if you want to make a strong alliance (by helping each other for mutual benefits) the alliance should stand.If not you can have no mercy and destroy your ally when he is weaker.For me this is very important because i may use my ally like a shield(if its close to my region) providing it with army support ,money and not bothering about being attacked by others so that i can attack on other fronts other enemies.this is good for overall gameplay because the game last longer.

[Hengest]

Not sure if we can improve the intelligence of the Artificial Intelligence. We are good but not that good!
There are some ways we can give the AI more guidelines to act more 'intelligently' though, or recognisably strategical- such as hardening the alliances system so that AI factions will be unlikely to break alliances. Also you won't be able to backstab a faction, you'll have to diplomatically declare war first.
I'm not sure our boffins have looked at this yet, but from the conversations we've had we are all in agreement we want it to be harder to make alliances. Based on this we have the "Princess Dowry" feature (see: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=427020) which means you have to really pay hard cash to achieve an alliance through marriage. An alliance through any other means will be likely to be very difficult, particularly with your neighbours since the expansion opputunities open to most factions is going to be very strict. Another feature: "Claimed Regions" also means that you can start a war with your neighbours just by attacking a rebel faction if it is claimed by one of your neighbours. We are also looking at implementing protecting rebel catholic settlements that represent minor factions, with the Pope excommunicating anyone who attacks these. In this way there will be heavy consequences for Europeans to weigh up if they want to attack for instance Burgundy or Flanders -even though these are not factions.
So in most cases, the biggest danger to the game is not the AI but the player. Many of our simple features such as PSFs also have massive consequences on this kind of thing- namely PSFs allow a faction to occupy and earn cash from a region that is owned by another faction- this naturally leads to all kinds of political situations.
Most interestingly we have designated a fully historical network of relationships for the starting date, you will have factions starting at war, some as protectorates, some in alliance but ready to go to war... all very interesting situations which allow us to set the table for the way we expect the campaign to play out.
We also have an event cinematic for when a western and eastern faction come into alliance, since that will be a rare thing with big consequences.

[JorisofHolland]

Most interestingly we have designated a fully historical network of relationships for the starting date, you will have factions starting at war, some as protectorates, some in alliance but ready to go to war... all very interesting situations which allow us to set the table for the way we expect the campaign to play out.

So you figured out how to do that?