18 ms·

Districts mechanics is great, I can’t imagine going back to the old everything in city center model. Loyalty mechanics is a mixed blessing, after so many years

by oefrha 4y ago

Districts mechanics is great, I can’t imagine going back to the old everything in city center model. Loyalty mechanics is a mixed blessing, after so many years I can’t say whether I like it or not. I find climate mechanics a nice yet minor addition. AI is crappy as ever. But since you only stopped playing after Gathering Storms you should already know what I said above; the game hasn’t changed much since, even one major bug was left unfixed. Secret societies are fun but not at all balanced.

corbulo 4y ago
Everything you said was basically my impression of the game when I left it. I didn't know about the last part, it doesn't surprise me they underdelivered on it.
- oefrha 4y ago
  To be clear secret societies is an optional game mode, and it’s not half bad for what it is, especially if you enjoy overpowered gameplay.
  - NhanH 4y ago
    Interesting, how is secret societies imbalanced? That wasn’t my impression and I still play the game somewhat recently (certainly no more imbalance than the different civils themselves)
    - oefrha 4y ago
      Vampires combat strength is calculated as base strength of the strongest unit you have trained, plus 1 for every unit that has died in an adjacent tile (bonus from barbarians capped at +10). They don't normally die either, they retreat when brought to 1HP. You can intentionally sacrifice scouts around them to boost their CS. So you can realistically have unstoppable +30 CS vampires by mid game (as comparison, tank is +35 over a knight, two eras earlier), and unlimited CS by end game, as if you need an end game. Did I mention they also gain a -5 CS aura by industrial era? Their only weaknesses are lackluster movement (2, made up by earlier "airports" i.e. vampire castles), weaker passive healing (-5 HP per turn, made up by +50 from pillaging), and inability to form corps/armies (but you can get way more than +17 anyway). Another big source of imbalance is of course the AI's inability to use any of the secret society powers effectively.
int_19h 4y ago
I find district mechanics as implemented to be too much of a micro-optimizing puzzle game, especially once you get to late game tech. Make a single mistaken placement early on in city development, and you can block yourself off from important wonders or buildings in that city.
- atom058 4y ago
  I agree so much with this! I played a bit with friends who were more experienced, and this placement issue is such a negative experience when you notice on that you made a mistake on turn 4, but now it's turn 105 and you cannot correct or adjust to the mistake. And then you know you've already lost, but it takes 100 more turns before the game ends. Couple that with an incredibly hostile UX for new/non-expert players and the massive time commitment, and the experience is one of frustration rather thay joy & escapism. It's like work, but you just get the pain of failures and none of the rewards.

by oefrha 4y ago

corbulo 4y ago

Everything you said was basically my impression of the game when I left it. I didn't know about the last part, it doesn't surprise me they underdelivered on it.

oefrha 4y ago
To be clear secret societies is an optional game mode, and it’s not half bad for what it is, especially if you enjoy overpowered gameplay.
- NhanH 4y ago
  Interesting, how is secret societies imbalanced? That wasn’t my impression and I still play the game somewhat recently (certainly no more imbalance than the different civils themselves)
  - oefrha 4y ago
    Vampires combat strength is calculated as base strength of the strongest unit you have trained, plus 1 for every unit that has died in an adjacent tile (bonus from barbarians capped at +10). They don't normally die either, they retreat when brought to 1HP. You can intentionally sacrifice scouts around them to boost their CS. So you can realistically have unstoppable +30 CS vampires by mid game (as comparison, tank is +35 over a knight, two eras earlier), and unlimited CS by end game, as if you need an end game. Did I mention they also gain a -5 CS aura by industrial era? Their only weaknesses are lackluster movement (2, made up by earlier "airports" i.e. vampire castles), weaker passive healing (-5 HP per turn, made up by +50 from pillaging), and inability to form corps/armies (but you can get way more than +17 anyway). Another big source of imbalance is of course the AI's inability to use any of the secret society powers effectively.

int_19h 4y ago

I find district mechanics as implemented to be too much of a micro-optimizing puzzle game, especially once you get to late game tech. Make a single mistaken placement early on in city development, and you can block yourself off from important wonders or buildings in that city.

atom058 4y ago
I agree so much with this! I played a bit with friends who were more experienced, and this placement issue is such a negative experience when you notice on that you made a mistake on turn 4, but now it's turn 105 and you cannot correct or adjust to the mistake. And then you know you've already lost, but it takes 100 more turns before the game ends. Couple that with an incredibly hostile UX for new/non-expert players and the massive time commitment, and the experience is one of frustration rather thay joy & escapism. It's like work, but you just get the pain of failures and none of the rewards.