Multiplayer woes
Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2017 12:16 am
Hey there,
first things first, I´d like to state that this is a decent wargame. It´s basically a neat tabletop ported to the PC. I wouldn´t bother writing this if I would think otherwise.
So, the battles themselves, their engine, their rules, their look, their feel etc are great. But finding one is unneccessarily hard!
Please note, that - for a layman, like me, at least - the proposed solutions don´t look like they require super sophisticated coding or a time-intensive revamping of the engine.
Matchmaking
a) why can I only message my fellow player at turn´s end? Why can´t I message those who opened a challenge?
b) when creating a custom game, why is there no option to let your opponent choose his own faction?
c) why can´t I name my challenge and only add a super short description in my custom game? The scenarios have 3-4 paragraphs.
- taken together, the above is making finding an opponent unneccessarily difficult and clunky. Basically you have to offer one combination of maps and factions after another until someone bites. Or spam them. You can´t even ask anyone what kind of game he would like to play. You don´t even know who is currently looking for one. And even if someone accepts you might find out too late he/she can only play one turn per week.
-But this can and has to be solved between players. So offer them a way to communicate. Like a lobby with chat or (concerns about moderation or privacy or whatever) without one. At least allow private messages to people offering a game. They are evidently looking for people, so noone will complain if he gets contacted by a stranger.
-Also having the option to let your opponent choose his own faction is standard practice in wargaming. Right now all you can do is randomizing it when you make a challenge. Few want that. I wouldn´t. It is perfecty normal that people root for specific factions and if they absolutely want their late era romans and noone else, why can´t I just let them?
Arranging games must be smooth and not result in many false starts. You also don´t want to force people to use a 3rd party tool just to be able to play your game. Not only is that disruptive, but it is out of your control. In addition, you most likely loose those players who aren´t part of a player group with their own reddit/forum/teamspeak, but would try out MP if it would be easy and fast. Because right now, if you are on your own, you really have to be comitted to get the game you want. Or a game, at least.
Misc
d) why is there no save function for army selection/army lists? That´s like a super familiar thing for tabletop players.
e) why is there no option to see the replay of your opponent´s turn again? Sometimes you just miss stuff.
f) Speaking of replays...why not make a replay of the whole battle which you can save? Seems like an obvious move and the technical aspect is already implemented.
g) why can´t you have a look at an ongoing battle, even after you confirmed your turn?
first things first, I´d like to state that this is a decent wargame. It´s basically a neat tabletop ported to the PC. I wouldn´t bother writing this if I would think otherwise.
So, the battles themselves, their engine, their rules, their look, their feel etc are great. But finding one is unneccessarily hard!
Please note, that - for a layman, like me, at least - the proposed solutions don´t look like they require super sophisticated coding or a time-intensive revamping of the engine.
Matchmaking
a) why can I only message my fellow player at turn´s end? Why can´t I message those who opened a challenge?
b) when creating a custom game, why is there no option to let your opponent choose his own faction?
c) why can´t I name my challenge and only add a super short description in my custom game? The scenarios have 3-4 paragraphs.
- taken together, the above is making finding an opponent unneccessarily difficult and clunky. Basically you have to offer one combination of maps and factions after another until someone bites. Or spam them. You can´t even ask anyone what kind of game he would like to play. You don´t even know who is currently looking for one. And even if someone accepts you might find out too late he/she can only play one turn per week.
-But this can and has to be solved between players. So offer them a way to communicate. Like a lobby with chat or (concerns about moderation or privacy or whatever) without one. At least allow private messages to people offering a game. They are evidently looking for people, so noone will complain if he gets contacted by a stranger.
-Also having the option to let your opponent choose his own faction is standard practice in wargaming. Right now all you can do is randomizing it when you make a challenge. Few want that. I wouldn´t. It is perfecty normal that people root for specific factions and if they absolutely want their late era romans and noone else, why can´t I just let them?
Arranging games must be smooth and not result in many false starts. You also don´t want to force people to use a 3rd party tool just to be able to play your game. Not only is that disruptive, but it is out of your control. In addition, you most likely loose those players who aren´t part of a player group with their own reddit/forum/teamspeak, but would try out MP if it would be easy and fast. Because right now, if you are on your own, you really have to be comitted to get the game you want. Or a game, at least.
Misc
d) why is there no save function for army selection/army lists? That´s like a super familiar thing for tabletop players.
e) why is there no option to see the replay of your opponent´s turn again? Sometimes you just miss stuff.
f) Speaking of replays...why not make a replay of the whole battle which you can save? Seems like an obvious move and the technical aspect is already implemented.
g) why can´t you have a look at an ongoing battle, even after you confirmed your turn?