Seriously? Map size is linked to players?

[Roania]

Literally my least favorite part of any AoW game is PVP and diplomacy. I just want to play pve and explore the world, gradually building my empire as I go.

But I can't, because for the first time in the series' history (I think) map size is linked to the number of players, forcing me to engage in, as I say, my least favorite aspect of the game. Who is this for? It's not for me, but I assume there are some people who asked for this.

[sandman25dcsss]

Well, you can create a map for many human players and then surrender as most.
Nobody asked for this, it was decided by devs to make map generation easier

[darkholyPL]

I don't think anyone specifically asked for this.

[Thorgen]

I don't think it is. We did a few multiplayer games. In one I made it was 8 players on a usually 4 player size map and I could see an enemy starting town by turn 3 or 4. Then my friend made one where there are 7 players total and it is 3 times the size.

Set to normal the AI cheated pretty bad in both. In the first one it was an undead with 15 units by turn 5. On the second map it said I had the #1 economy. Despite building units every turn and boosting several when I encountered the enemy he had 18 T2 units, and 6 T1s with 2 heroes. All built by turn 15 off a pop 8 city economy.........

[The Doctor]

Originally posted by Roania:

Literally my least favorite part of any AoW game is PVP and diplomacy. I just want to play pve and explore the world, gradually building my empire as I go.

But I can't, because for the first time in the series' history (I think) map size is linked to the number of players, forcing me to engage in, as I say, my least favorite aspect of the game. Who is this for? It's not for me, but I assume there are some people who asked for this.

I am not aware of anyone asking for maps to be made this way. I would imagine that this is a design decision made solely by the devs to help them to make their realm creator work as planned and was not led by community feedback.

However, since you mentioned it in your OP, I would venture that this is not the best franchise for quiet exploration and empire building. Its focus is the tactical battles which perhaps you would prefer were just limited to clearing out maurader sites and resource nodes. This is the primary reason why I LIKE this franchise, because it does the war aspect far better than other 4X games do (Old World and WH40K Gladius being the exceptions I know of).

But if you want to play that way, just create a custom realm to your taste and play it on low difficulty with AI aggression at minimum. I can't change the game design for you and neither can I refund your money so if you want to enjoy your time with it in spite of it, I'd suggest getting used to it having more focus on war than you'd like.

EDIT to add: Or use some mods :D

[CrUsHeR]

Casualization.

They want you to start a game, have the AI build an outpost at your door by turn 5, so you can declare war and win (or don't). Repeat a couple of times and win the map in one session.



If you want actually big maps, try this

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2974322650

Set it to 4 players, Grand distance, and choose the AI players yourself.
Either everyone has to start underground, or noone

(because underground ignores the starting distance to surface players)



Also try

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2971174823

This sets the city cap increase to a flat 200 imperium

[Roderick]

Originally posted by Roania:

Who is this for? It's not for me, but I assume there are some people who asked for this.

It's for me, I found big maps tieresome after a while and especially in endgame. But there are mods to help you out. :)

[Roania]

That's all fair enough! Thank you all. I figured there were people who were interested in this, and I'm glad to see that there are people out there enjoying this.

But I've also noticed being rushed by enemy units before I hit my third tome. I'll give these mods a try, they may give me the experience I'm looking for. Thanks, everyone, for your help.

[rane]

Originally posted by CrUsHeR:

Casualization.

They want you to start a game, have the AI build an outpost at your door by turn 5, so you can declare war and win (or don't). Repeat a couple of times and win the map in one session.

Words have ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ meanings you know. Even if the picture you paint is true (it's not) there's nothing casual about forcing players into early combat in a combat-centric strategy game. It's literally the opposite of casual.

[Janthis]

Originally posted by sandman25dcsss:

Well, you can create a map for many human players and then surrender as most.
Nobody asked for this, it was decided by devs to make map generation easier

It is strange because I remember it being possible in Planetfall (they would feed you some line about "are you sure? this is less than optimal" or something, but still let you do it.)

[sandman25dcsss]

Originally posted by Johnny_B_80:

Originally posted by sandman25dcsss:

Well, you can create a map for many human players and then surrender as most.
Nobody asked for this, it was decided by devs to make map generation easier

It is strange because I remember it being possible in Planetfall (they would feed you some line about "are you sure? this is less than optimal" or something, but still let you do it.)

They changed how RMG works. Previously it generared map and then tried to place players, now it puts players first and then generates everything around them.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Roania:

That's all fair enough! Thank you all. I figured there were people who were interested in this, and I'm glad to see that there are people out there enjoying this.

But I've also noticed being rushed by enemy units before I hit my third tome. I'll give these mods a try, they may give me the experience I'm looking for. Thanks, everyone, for your help.

Personally I can relate why people "smell some C&C4 stench" with the design choice. But I too find it hard to imagine someone of the fan base asked for it, since it is basically a limitation, removal of a freedom of choice you are used to. On the other hand it is an "easy way" to ensure that the random map generator creates maps for everyone equally engaging and interesting. I have experienced it often enough in older games where I spawned next to the enemy despite setting up a large map. Or that large maps simply become unenjoyable after some playtime (I tell you, I finished Total War: Warhammer 3 map conquest mode by conquest - because I did not know about quests - it took forever for me just to find out the game cannot end even I have defeated every empire on the huge map if I would not do the quests). With 150 turns in mind the map sizes the generator is making right now is the best I can imagine. That does not prevent you from having fun exploring and such with the right settings. Try one of my favourite setups, Pirates of the Carribean, which you can find here
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2976522470
It is not that bad on a long campaign. Especially when thinking of multiplayer.