Add Black Villagers to African Kingdoms Civs.

[Davman]

Mods locked the last thread and we didn't receive any news or updates on the matter. I also wasn't finished talking about the subject, and didn't get to respond to some really good posts.

We need black villagers added to increase immersion, improve gameplay, and make the game more aesthetic. Not to mention, it just makes sense. If the Galactic Battlegrounds could add unique alien villagers, I'm sure you can add some black villagers.

1. This is not a troll thread, this is a serious discussion on the matter. The FE development team, tried to implement black villagers before, but they came short. We simply want them to continue the efforts. I have over a few thousand hours put into age of empires 2 combined on steam and voobly. I can honestly say, this is what I believe the game to be lacking the most. When I play an African Kingdom Civ, it doesn't feel like a true African civ, in the slightest. It feels like a European colony with african mercenaries.

2. This is not a "SJW" thread. This has nothing to do with equality or modern society. The addition of black villagers would only improve gameplay.

You have now been converted to the cause.

[Oni]

+1
Yeah. I was going to post it right now.
I could say the same to oriental units. So strange to see "european" units in japanese.

[Davman]

Originally posted by jonoliveira12:

I doubt they would change the units, as they want them easily recognizable. It would also be strange to see Japanese with Chinise style armour and weapons, and vice-versa, for example.

I could see the villagers being changed but I doubt it will happen, as it would require changes to all Villagers.

It's been done before as pointed out in the earlier thread with the Galactic Battlegrounds. I think if they really are trying to flesh out a new aoe2 and promote all these new unique designs for every civ, then including the villager with the package is a must as well. I doubt they'll change it too, but I hope I'm wrong.

[Davman]

Originally posted by Z̶o̶So̶ Oni das Alagoas:

+1
Yeah. I was going to post it right now.
I could say the same to oriental units. So strange to see "european" units in japanese.

Agreed, I think if theyre going to go big with this game, they need to go BIG. But let's be honest, the definitive edition, is probably going to be super rushed, considering the game is already having beta tests, and its microsoft, they want to get their money asap.

Another problem, people are expecting this game to be an exact replica of aoe2 just with better graphics. Which I don't think it should be, we already have aoe2 hd edition. How many times are they gonna re-release the same game like skyrim.

If this game is to have any appeal to it (aside from the nice $20 price tag and the new civs), they really need to focus on what the game has always been lacking and that's uniqueness between all civilizations. I don't want to look at the Persian town center, then the turk town center and wonder, wow, I wonder what civ that is, let me check the alliance tab. I want to be able to tell without a doubt if I am up against the persians, because wow those are without a doubt the persians. If people want all the units to look the same again, they can play the hd edition.

[Davman]

Originally posted by jonoliveira12:

Originally posted by Darkbringer35:

It's been done before as pointed out in the earlier thread with the Galactic Battlegrounds. I think if they really are trying to flesh out a new aoe2 and promote all these new unique designs for every civ, then including the villager with the package is a must as well. I doubt they'll change it too, but I hope I'm wrong.

Galactic Battlegrounds had 8 civs, while AoE2:DE will have 35. I cannot imagine them taking the effort to make every unit distinct, as not only would it anger the purists, it qwould also be a massive task.

AoE2 was successful both back in release day, and 2013, while having the same units and villagers for every civilization. I doubt they will want to change the winning formula.

I doubt it as well, but I am hoping. But back to point of the thread, at the very least, they could add black villagers.

They dont need to change the units for every civ, but it would make the game much more interesting. Also when it comes to a purist concern, if they're a true purist, they can just play on Voobly or keep playing HD (Which I'm sure they will because most of them will pretend to be appalled at the DE) and not give a damn about the DE.

However, you have to remember how massively successful aoe2 hd was, and now they are working directly with microsoft, a massive multi billion dollar company, which I'm sure they get a lot of their budget from. Making every civ unique, shouldn't be difficult for their studio now. But I'm not on the development team so I can understand if I am wrong.

[Barrufet 1600]

+1 very important

[Mean]

You should bring that up in the official DE Forum. This thread could be deleted by the mods because your are pretty much only allowed to discuss the game in the offical closed DE forum

[Davman]

Originally posted by Mean:

You should bring that up in the official DE Forum. This thread could be deleted by the mods because your are pretty much only allowed to discuss the game in the offical closed DE forum

Where is the official DE forum?

[gagman]

Originally posted by Darkbringer35:

Where is the official DE forum?

there where only beta insiders have access

[gamer guy]

Originally posted by Darkbringer35:

The addition of black villagers would only improve gameplay.

how

[Sgt. Rock Coxler]

Originally posted by TaNZhar:

Originally posted by Darkbringer35:

The addition of black villagers would only improve gameplay.

how

It wouldn't, that's how. A villager with a different skin color will add absolutely nothing to the already well established gameplay.

[licidy]

Originally posted by Darkbringer35:

Originally posted by Mean:

You should bring that up in the official DE Forum. This thread could be deleted by the mods because your are pretty much only allowed to discuss the game in the offical closed DE forum

Where is the official DE forum?

As AOE2:DE is still in beta, that section of the AOE Forums[forums.ageofempires.com] is restricted to just beta participants at this time.

[Davman]

Originally posted by TaNZhar:

Originally posted by Darkbringer35:

The addition of black villagers would only improve gameplay.

how

It would increase the aesthetics and the immersion of the african kingdom civilizations, which were rushed out. Black villagers not only makes sense for the setting for historical accuracy, but would make the african kingdoms stand out.

Originally posted by F1zzzy90908:

Originally posted by TaNZhar:

how

It wouldn't, that's how. A villager with a different skin color will add absolutely nothing to the already well established gameplay.

I don't believe this to be true. In a game which is supposed to reference history, it just feels awkward to me playing as an african civilization, especially the malians, and seeing the generic european villager. Again it makes it look like a european colony, rather an african civilization.

Gameplay benefits would be:
-increased immersion
-historical accuracy
-a more unique appeal to the african kingdom civilzations

a bonus for this
-the work they put in to develop this villager, can be used as a gateway to further diversify the rest of the villagers per culture, so we could eventually get meso-american villagers, and asian villagers too.

[Nickk]

Black villager would have to wait 15 years after the Asian villager comes out to stay true to the original game.

[Tempires]

They should just make all civs have separate categoring and let players do what they want in cost of increasing game size more. This is already done for units and buildings for wololoo kingdoms mods althout vills probably weren't part of it

[gagman]

Originally posted by Tempires:

althout vills probably weren't part of it

because hardcoded mechanics, like the shepherd animation, that leads the animals to the tc or mills, and the AI also gets confused right now if you change the villagers.
in the past i tried to mod this for personal use, it was semi successful.

the vills looking fine imo (and most recognized are only the male vlls due missing shirt lol), no need to change the current set, but how you said, it would be fine to open the possibility for modders.