Pocus - Medieval Empires?!?

[elxaime]

Two questions which shouldn't require revealing any state secrets.

1. When the next game using this system is released, is there likely to also be an update/patch to FOG:E that would include any improvements to game mechanics or new features (plus of course any outstanding FOG:E bug fixes along the way)?

2. Will the new game have a greater variety of scenarios than just a huge campaign of many hundreds of turns? While the big ones can be fun, usually player attrition rates are very high given the time commitment needed. It would be great if people could have MP battles in scenarios lasting 50-100 turns, for example scenarios for Peloponnesian Wars, Second Punic War or Caesar v. Pompey. FOG:E has the Pyrrhus learner scenario, but after that just the big ones.

Also, FYI - I have posted in Slitherine forums that they should add in-game, turn-based, messaging to their multiplayer turn based games like FOG:E that use PBEM++. They seem to think this means adding some kind of real-time chat system, which is not what is meant...it would be the ability to privately message people (or groups, for alliance purposes) without having to swap your personal emails or set-up a third-party program. Many people want this feature added, but Slitherine seems to confuse this with adding a real-time chat system, which is not what is meant here as regards turn-based play (where a plus for many players is that you can do MP without everyone needing to be online at the same time). If you can add your voice to this maybe Slitherine will listen. From their answer, they seem to agree it would not be a big deal, but I think they left it out because they confuse RTS chat with turn-based messaging, which are two different creatures.

[Pocus]

1. If time allows, but no guarantees. There will be an Empires patch (or two) dealing with bugs before the release of next game though. Now if you count as improvements stuff related to UIs improvements, yes.
2. We would like to add some middle-sized scenarios yes, but again this will depend of the beta and if it progresses fast or if that's a painful trip to bug-land (we are adding tons of features requiring many testing). I know it could be of great interest for faster MP games indeed.

I have added a note to the thread you mention, even if Pip replied to your precision.

[elxaime]

1. If time allows, but no guarantees. There will be an Empires patch (or two) dealing with bugs before the release of next game though. Now if you count as improvements stuff related to UIs improvements, yes.
2. We would like to add some middle-sized scenarios yes, but again this will depend of the beta and if it progresses fast or if that's a painful trip to bug-land (we are adding tons of features requiring many testing). I know it could be of great interest for faster MP games indeed.

I have added a note to the thread you mention, even if Pip replied to your precision.

Thanks! This is very helpful to hear. And thank you for the nice post in the Slitherine thread about in-game messaging for PBEM++. I will be mentioning this post in FOG:E PBEM games I am in, and urge other players to add their voice!

[Pocus]

I started playing WEGO PBEMs with Dominions II, back in 2003 I think. So I understand your pain of not having a more elaborate messaging system, diplomacy plays a big part in MP. I also know it involves overhauling the PBEM Server and that's not trivial. This is a good sign though that Pip added this to his (long) TODO List.

[Yarev]

C'mon Pocus it is time to reveal something about your new game before we move to the competition, its kind of a threat to force your hand

[elxaime]

April 2nd is the 1275th anniversary of birth of Carolus Magnus, also known as Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Lombards and Emperor of the Romans. I can think of no finer date to announce the new game.

[Yarev]

April 2nd is the 1275th anniversary of birth of Carolus Magnus, also known as Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Lombards and Emperor of the Romans. I can think of no finer date to announce the new game.

Hear, hear !!!

[Pocus]

Announcing a game means devoting each week some hours in keeping the expectation at a decent level, while not having the hype machine going nuts with promises we can't hold. So that's the main reason the game is not announced yet. And certainly not to bother or frustrate our players base
About Carlus Magnus, aka Charlemagne in French, did you knew that Philippe Auguste was the first king that systematically used at some point "Rex Franciae", King of France, and no more Rex Francorum (King of the Franks). What a fascinating bit of trivia. I don't know why I read it though.

[primevalangel]

Carlus Magnus [..] I don't know why I read it though.

Is this a new new game clue? IF the answer is you read it when you worked for the new game research, it would mean that Charlemagne's reign (800 – 814 CE) intersects the new game's time range

PS: correct is "Carolus Magnus" btw

[gaius21]

if its middle medieval times it would be excellent news, rise and golden age of islamic states/powerfull eastern roman empire/rise of feudalism etc.
also fog2 with its dlcs covers the period up to middle 11th c, it would make sense (well for me lol) for the second empires game to use fog2 again.

[kokkorhekkus]

Because FoG Empires with FOG II is in my opinion the best gmae i've ever played, for many reasons (and i've played MANY wargames), I'm little sad about no others DLCs for it ! Medieval FOG is very good two, but the "chess equilibrium" attained by the first with antique "nations", the variety of game playing for one attempt to another, when you play many times and record scores...an infinite pleasure...I dream about many DLCs around the crisis of the third century, or around the fall of the tetrarc system (Constantin, Gelere, Licinius and others to restore the Empire...)

[NikiforosFokas]

April 2nd is the 1275th anniversary of birth of Carolus Magnus, also known as Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Lombards and Emperor of the Romans. I can think of no finer date to announce the new game.

Emperor of the Romans ?!
He was as emperor as a prince is the Nigerian who emailed me yesterday wanting to send me some millions of dollars
The only real Emperor of the Romans was in Constantinople

But seriously now! A Medieval FoGE is excellent news!

[ErissN6]

did you knew that Philippe Auguste was the first king that systematically used at some point "Rex Franciae", King of France, and no more Rex Francorum (King of the Franks).

So, assimilation took seven centuries after Clovis.

[elxaime]

Thought I'd stir the pot, now that is has been three months or so, and see if we summon The Pocus to lay down his wisdom:

- any closer to release of next FOG:E system game?
- any hints on what it will be?
- will the game have more than just a big campaign scenario, but also smaller campaigns?
- will the game add functionality like: a) in game player to player private messaging (per thread elsewhere) and b) the ability of players to join a position mid-game (to address the attrition issue in lengthy MP games)?

[grahamed]

Thought I'd stir the pot, now that is has been three months or so, and see if we summon The Pocus to lay down his wisdom:

- any closer to release of next FOG:E system game?
- any hints on what it will be?
- will the game have more than just a big campaign scenario, but also smaller campaigns?
- will the game add functionality like: a) in game player to player private messaging (per thread elsewhere) and b) the ability of players to join a position mid-game (to address the attrition issue in lengthy MP games)?

Yea how about it Pocus, any news?

[Pocus]

The game has never been closer to release than now. Oh wait, now is a now in the past, this is the new now, and the game is even closer to release!

Yes.

To which questions? Probably to the one regarding adding more scenarios, within reason. And I do hope that there will be new functionalities added for PBEM yes.

Also, the game will have horses.

[grahamed]

The game has never been closer to release than now. Oh wait, now is a now in the past, this is the new now, and the game is even closer to release!

Yes.

To which questions? Probably to the one regarding adding more scenarios, within reason. And I do hope that there will be new functionalities added for PBEM yes.

Also, the game will have horses.

Kryptic as ever

[marek1978]

The game has never been closer to release than now. Oh wait, now is a now in the past, this is the new now, and the game is even closer to release!

Yes.

To which questions? Probably to the one regarding adding more scenarios, within reason. And I do hope that there will be new functionalities added for PBEM yes.

Also, the game will have horses.

[mustardtiger5]

The wait is unbearable!

[elxaime]

The wait is unbearable!

Apparently, the wait is over! Hopefully more details can now be shared...