Community Patches - Hyrule Total War

[Eldren]

Well, at last I'm done with university work for the spring semester, so I should be free until the fall semester starts up.

I'll see if I can get around and start working a bit on the HTW Community Patches again, but right now a part of me wants a vacation and to focus on the story I am writing. Essentially, I now got free time, but may not spend it working on HTW 24/7.

Hopefully I can get out a new community patch before the end of May. We'll see.

Remember this?

@ Eldren

I would give a detailed reply on everything, but right now I am absolutely swamped with university work. I am far behind schedule and got to defend my Thesis within 24 hours as well as write at least an 8 page draft within 48 hours of this post. In addition, there is a group project I need to show up for, film a "fake" commercial, and a ton of other matters.

I will likely not be available until the 2nd week of May. As such, I cannot spare the time to work on Community Patches for Hyrule Total War at the present.

When might I get that detailed reply?

[SirMark9]

@ Eldren

Remember that these traits may no longer apply to the current direction HTW is going, and I haven't touched HTW in a while. Either way, here are my comments.

TLDR: The Gohma seem to have changed from a massive swarm to a focus on monstrous units. In addition, put bluntly, I believe the effort I put into the Community Patches and other matters is not really worth it and I would like to retire, but I see no one else around wanting to help out with HTW or wanting to take my place.

* * * * *

"The Gohma Swarm"

Essentially, all of your points (Absurdly Numerous, High Birth Rate, Diminutive Creatures) can be boiled down to a simple check on the unit file and ingame roster. Currently, the Gohma field larger, "monstrous" creatures instead of a "massive swarm" that the original documentation seem to imply. The only real unit that features large numbers is the basic Gohma unit, the Gohma Larvae. Almost all other Gohma units are larger creatures with a specialized role. In addition, Gohma Juveniles and Gohma Adolescents, the "upgraded counterpart" to Gohma Larvae, seem to have been removed to the game.

If you want swarm gameplay with massive unit counts, it is better to play the Kokiri or the Deku Tribes. The Fairies and Stalfos also seem to have higher unit counts as well, with other factions possibly having a unit or two with a large unit size. Currently, I see the current Gohma gameplay to be focused on "monster units" with the Gohma Larva acting as cannon fodder to occupy their opponents.

Of course, remember that HTW still requires work in the balancing department. The problem lies with trying to stick with seemingly vanilla roots by determining what official documentation is valid for the current direction of HTW, or attempt a balance revamp from an outsider perspective. Currently, I am content tweaking with the vanilla mechanics while Apani works on the balance overhaul in his spare time. I could attempt my own balance overhaul, but the motivation for me to do so is rather lacking. I simply volunteer to help out with HTW because I want to see it succeed, but I am not really getting anything for my time and effort spent volunteering.

* * * * *

Fate of the Community Patches

With regards for my efforts on the Community Patches, I get little to no feedback on proposed changes or actual changes I make to HTW, so I don't know if my balance tweaks are effective or not. Instead, many players ask for advanced features or bug fixes, and while the information is appreciated, I lack the skill set to actually execute what is requested. Also, without a dedicated modder to iron out all the bugs with HTW, maintaining the Master Bug List seems like a waste of time.

I believe that HTW needs a dedicated team of at least 2 more people in addition to Neph to get things running smoothly. The problem seems to be a lack of professional modders to work on HTW and the lack of communication to interested modders. The main ones we have present (Apani, Tedster, and I) may lack motivation to actively work on HTW on a regular basis, but even then we tend to work on our own separate projects.

If a team is ever made, I envision...
1: UndyingNephalim - The creator of HTW. Responsible for unit models, Hyrule Historia, and overall direction of HTW. May not always be present due to other responsibilities and projects.
2: The Programmer - Sole focus on fixing bugs and implementing missing features of HTW. General Traits and Ancillaries are still aspects of HTW that remain neglected.
3: The Balancer - Sole focus is on balancing the mod, preferably with a focus on the Freeform Campaign. Once that is mostly ironed out, balance out the Hyrule Historia missions as well as Free Battles.

A part of me would like to retire from making Community Patches for HTW and simply sit back, enjoy the mod, and refocus my efforts on other projects, but no one else seems willing to actively work on the mod to fix bugs and implement missing features. Hyrule Total War is Neph's creation, and I am not that invested in the Legend of Zelda series as many on this board are; I see LoZ as interesting and somewhat familiar, but have no blood ties to the franchise.

I would like to work on my RWBY Fanfiction so I can finish that story (and hope in vain that it gets incorporated into the actual anime series), finish my Battle for Wesnoth campaign (Got a list of things to do, but they are achievable if I can just find time to actively work on it), or continue fleshing out concepts for an RPG that shares a battle system with Grandia II and a Turn Based Strategy game similar to Advance Wars. However, it seems I have responsibilities here as the "Community Patch Guy", and leaving the post without someone to take over seems like a disservice to this little community. I still want HTW to be a masterpiece, but my efforts here are better used elsewhere.

In the case that I do end up retiring, I will attempt to put out one more Community Patch and continue gathering information until July 4th, which will be one full year of "service" to HTW. I'll compile the information into a convenient post and leave it for the new generation of interested fans to handle.

[darnokthemage]

[Drazule]

Hey thanks for all your hard work. I have to stick to one version for months at a time so sorry I couldn't be more helpful here, but know that you stopping still leaves the game in a much better state.

[tedster1995]

Yes I'm sorry that I haven't been more helpful, I lost interest in modding for quite a long time (added that my hardrive decided to kill itself) if traits are something you want changing I actually did a complete change for a previous mod I made with all the heroes having at least half decent traits, would you be interested in adding that?

[Eldren]

@ SirMark9.
Thanks for your input and reply.

Yes I'm sorry that I haven't been more helpful, I lost interest in modding for quite a long time (added that my hardrive decided to kill itself) if traits are something you want changing I actually did a complete change for a previous mod I made with all the heroes having at least half decent traits, would you be interested in adding that?

I would like this to be a part of the game as well.

[DarkInterloper]

Thanks for all your work, SirMark, you and all the other Community patch contributors have made the game far more playable-it's still a rough gem, but it's starting to take on its true beauty. I was wondering if you had a list of all the people whom contributed work to the CP to add to the game credits on the wiki- I know You (obviously), Gebilde and Tedster ended up having their content incorporated, but I can't remember anyone else off the top of my head.

[Eldren]

Thanks for all your work, SirMark, you and all the other Community patch contributors have made the game far more playable-it's still a rough gem, but it's starting to take on its true beauty. I was wondering if you had a list of all the people whom contributed work to the CP to add to the game credits on the wiki- I know You (obviously), Gebilde and Tedster ended up having their content incorporated, but I can't remember anyone else off the top of my head.

Well. A few bugs I applied fixes for. Besides me, I can't remember who else helped.

[tedster1995]

I know Arya Snow (forgot his username on here) helped with some of the games text issues

[DarkInterloper]

That would be HTD.

[UndyingNephalim]

Maybe just sending me a list of pressing bugs and I can try and fix them when I have the time. If I ever have the time.

If you want swarm gameplay with massive unit counts, it is better to play the Kokiri or the Deku Tribes.

I do think this is how the Gohma ended up. It's ironic, the Kokiri were supposed to be like how the Gohma are, with cheap swarm low level units to hold enemies off until you bring out specialized and classy units like the Deku Trees. Strange how the Kokiri and Gohma switched places by accident.

[Eldren]

Maybe just sending me a list of pressing bugs and I can try and fix them when I have the time. If I ever have the time.

One Bigged concern is that a lot of units have no melee attack. Like those worthless Dodongos and Stolhounds. X< Same goes for several Gohma units.
With no melee attack these units can never win against or defeat any unit in the hole game.........

[Eldren]

@ Eldren

Remember that these traits may no longer apply to the current direction HTW is going, and I haven't touched HTW in a while. Either way, here are my comments.

TLDR: The Gohma seem to have changed from a massive swarm to a focus on monstrous units. In addition, put bluntly, I believe the effort I put into the Community Patches and other matters is not really worth it and I would like to retire, but I see no one else around wanting to help out with HTW or wanting to take my place.

* * * * *

"The Gohma Swarm"

Essentially, all of your points (Absurdly Numerous, High Birth Rate, Diminutive Creatures) can be boiled down to a simple check on the unit file and ingame roster. Currently, the Gohma field larger, "monstrous" creatures instead of a "massive swarm" that the original documentation seem to imply. The only real unit that features large numbers is the basic Gohma unit, the Gohma Larvae. Almost all other Gohma units are larger creatures with a specialized role. In addition, Gohma Juveniles and Gohma Adolescents, the "upgraded counterpart" to Gohma Larvae, seem to have been removed to the game.

If you want swarm gameplay with massive unit counts, it is better to play the Kokiri or the Deku Tribes. The Fairies and Stalfos also seem to have higher unit counts as well, with other factions possibly having a unit or two with a large unit size. Currently, I see the current Gohma gameplay to be focused on "monster units" with the Gohma Larva acting as cannon fodder to occupy their opponents.

Of course, remember that HTW still requires work in the balancing department. The problem lies with trying to stick with seemingly vanilla roots by determining what official documentation is valid for the current direction of HTW, or attempt a balance revamp from an outsider perspective. Currently, I am content tweaking with the vanilla mechanics while Apani works on the balance overhaul in his spare time. I could attempt my own balance overhaul, but the motivation for me to do so is rather lacking. I simply volunteer to help out with HTW because I want to see it succeed, but I am not really getting anything for my time and effort spent volunteering.

Maybe just sending me a list of pressing bugs and I can try and fix them when I have the time. If I ever have the time.

If you want swarm gameplay with massive unit counts, it is better to play the Kokiri or the Deku Tribes.

I do think this is how the Gohma ended up. It's ironic, the Kokiri were supposed to be like how the Gohma are, with cheap swarm low level units to hold enemies off until you bring out specialized and classy units like the Deku Trees. Strange how the Kokiri and Gohma switched places by accident.

So maybe to bring the Gohma back as a swarm faction. All we need to do is add a building to the second tier of the possible building options of the Gohma unit building. I would say make it be able to recruit 4 Larva units, and nothing else. Call it a Hatchery.

We can fine tune this idea to get it right. (Nerf or buff) if we are off on the balance or other things.

[tedster1995]

I think it's because they are technically horses not elephants which is why they can hurt with a charge but can't fight up close, I mean horses are especially vicious are they , perhaps a few experiments by making a few of them elephants and see if that works?

[Eldren]

I think it's because they are technically horses not elephants which is why they can hurt with a charge but can't fight up close, I mean horses are especially vicious are they , perhaps a few experiments by making a few of them elephants and see if that works?

Or As I have been saying for a while now. Split the graphics of the unit Model between the rider and the Mount.
For the Dodongos and Stolhounds. the Head would be the Rider. And the Body would be the Mount. This would fix the bug of having them with no melee attack. Because the Rider of a Horse Mount Units is the one that attacks. not the mount. And because they have no rider. they can't attack.

Now for the Gohma units. Make their Claws the rider. And keep their Body as the mount.

Edit:
Did I mention that there are others that have no melee attack ether. X<
Like the Gout Flock of the Ordona. And as I have stated any other unit like this has the same problem.
If the Deku Tribes Plowers are still classified as a horse unit and not an Elephent unit. Then it has the same problem.

[tedster1995]

That just seems unnecessarily complicated when just making them elephant units would probably fix the problen, plus it wont work for the dodongos because they have a rider unit aswell

[Cielo the Pachirisu]

Actually, Plowers seem to work fine for me. Maybe it was because I got the community patches...

[UndyingNephalim]

I'm actually considering turning the Pincergohma into infantry, seeing as they were relatively slow in canon Zelda games, and just making the Long Legs a bit smaller and their cavalry unit.

[Eldren]

I'm actually considering turning the Pincergohma into infantry, seeing as they were relatively slow in canon Zelda games, and just making the Long Legs a bit smaller and their cavalry unit.

What about shield Gohma then? Making them Heavy Infantry to keep pace with the regular Infantry. Would match their lore and purpose.
I'd say make them hard to kill like a Darknut. But with terrible attack and Damage.

On the other hand. Maybe make them like the Plowers.

Ether way. Based on this website: http://hyruletotalwar.wikia.com/wiki/Unit_types
They could have these traits.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Heavily ArmouredEdit


These units are usually outfitted with excessive suits or armour, shields, or are otherwise naturally resistant to damage. They are usually very slow in both movement and attack but can hold out against superior numbers. Heavily Armoured units have no passive combat bonus against other unit types, but suffer a penalty when being attacked by Magic or Construct unit types.
Heavily Armoured units have an icon of a Shield on their unit cards.

FortificationEdit


These units are designed to secure and hold a location on a map, and are usually stationary and deployed before combat begins, though this is not always the case. Fortifications are usually manned by Crew or Ranged units, and inherit any bonuses those types of units have. Fortifications have no passive combat bonuses against any unit types, but suffer a penalty when being attacked by Siege unit types.
Fortifications have an icon of a Barrier with Lodged Arrows on their unit cards.

[tedster1995]

As SirMark wishes to retire from making community patches after a long career of doing so. So I suppose I will step up and take the mantle I have some questions for you lovely people:

1- Does anybody want me to start working on the next community patch, I warn you now I can't balance stats or costs as that is beyond my skill or understanding, I can make the odd change here and there to improve things.
2- If people want another community patch would people like me to include the techtree changes I made?
3- Does anybody have any requests that they would like addressed or for me to look into, bearing in mind I'm still quite a novice when It comes to modding
4- Does anyone wish to volunteer and help?
5- Could someone maybe make a list of any bugs or glitches that need to be looked at and maybe prioritise them.
6- Ages ago I remember someone posted a fix for the crashes that occur if you linger on the selection screen too long, can anyone remember who it was or still has the link?

Any thoughts or ideas. Also if anybody still remembers or cares that I had a submod a while ago consider that dead for the time being, I have lost interest in working on it :/, but maybe the community patch will spark my interest again.