Enemy unit graphics

[Hobbes]

I think it is a shame that a player rarely sees the colourful enemy units that he is up against in the game. Unless you can be bothered to click on the detailed combat results you generally just see the opposition leader graphics such as this:
[ATTACH]21993[/ATTACH]

It would be very nice when the tooltip appeared as above if the enemy unit graphics also briefly appeared in the lower display like this (but obviously with the power values, stars and abilities etc removed - just the basic graphic on a plain background would suffice). I would enjoy the game even more if that was the case. For example here are the enemy Bellator and Pedites - I can currently play the game never realising that I am up against naked men!
[ATTACH]21994[/ATTACH]

Cheers,
Chris

[Ebbingford]

I don't want to know if I am up against naked men!!!!!!

[PhilThib]

I think it is a shame that a player rarely sees the colourful enemy units that he is up against in the game. Unless you can be bothered to click on the detailed combat results you generally just see the opposition leader graphics such as this:
[ATTACH]21993[/ATTACH]

It would be very nice when the tooltip appeared as above if the enemy unit graphics also briefly appeared in the lower display like this (but obviously with the power values, stars and abilities etc removed - just the basic graphic on a plain background would suffice). I would enjoy the game even more if that was the case. For example here are the enemy Bellator and Pedites - I can currently play the game never realising that I am up against naked men!
[ATTACH]21994[/ATTACH]

Cheers,
Chris

No idea if technically possible. May be you should ask Pocus...?

[Pocus]

This could be a good idea, this is, but I would say it needs roughly one day of work, a bit less perhaps (depends if I take these purple pills ).

I would see that as a pop-up when you click on an enemy stack though. Perhaps during the ACW2 beta, as there is no fixed agenda at this time, I can find this day for that.

[leftguard]

Certainly looks like it would be a cool new feature, and apart from being able to see the unit graphics (a big plus in itself), it would assist in assessing the enemy force.

[Hobbes]

That's fantastic Philippe! I'll pop the purple pills in the post!

I don't know whether you will be able to show the different unit colours or if you will just get the graphics raw from the /units directory?
If it is not possible to show the regular unit colours maybe a neutral background colour that matches the unit detail panel colour would look best?

Example like the Sassanid grey here:
[ATTACH]21997[/ATTACH]

Cheers,
Chris

[bob.]

Hobbes, from what scenario are these Sassanids? I don't remember ever using them...

[Hobbes]

Hi Bob it's one I'm working on about Aurelian (shameless plug). It will probably only be playable as Aurelian v AI (but maybe Palmyra as well).
As Sassanids and others will be AI only I thought it a shame if all these lovely unit graphics go largely unseen in the scenario.

Cheers,
Chris

[Carnium]

I second that idea. Being able to choose between simple battle view (like the existing one) and a more detailed where you would be able to see the great unit graphic and combat phases in more detail would be great to have. Active units in combat could have "normal" background, retreated red ones and something else could be used for others.
AGEOD unit graphic are the best for my taste and it is a pity that we don't see them more!

[PJJ]

An excellent idea! Not that I'm particularly eager to watch naked men.

That sounds like a very interesting scenario, Hobbes. May I ask when it will be released and in what format? DLC like the Cantabrian Wars?

[Hobbes]

I'm hoping for the end of the year. Not sure whether I will post as a mod/patch inclusion or DLC yet. Up to the powers that be! Maybe a naked Zenobia would be more appealing? Uros, are you suggesting something else? My post was not about the battle screen where you can already see the enemy units by clicking on the detailed combat report button but for normal play when scrolling around the map.

Cheers,
Chris

[Franciscus]

Chris, let's discuss further the naked Zenobia issue...

[Carnium]

Uros, are you suggesting something else? My post was not about the battle screen where you can already see the enemy units by clicking on the detailed combat report button but for normal play when scrolling around the map.

My suggestion is this, plus even MORE detailed optional combat mode (not report) where you could see your and enemy units in full graphic glory

Naked Zenobia idea is interesting. Naked men and Zenobia... would they even fight?

[Hobbes]

My suggestion is this, plus even MORE detailed optional combat mode (not report) where you could see your and enemy units in full graphic glory

Naked Zenobia idea is interesting. Naked men and Zenobia... would they even fight?

If it can benefit ACW2 it sounds like it might have a chance of being backported into AJE (but I hope to see this change in the game before we petition Pocus for any others - there are only so many purple pills available)!

As for naked Zenobia we await word from Pangi I'm sure her modesty can be guaranteed by a random sword or shield.

Cheers,
Chris

[bob.]

Chris, I love the idea of a scenario that is vs the AI and has AI that is actually coded to fight well against the player! Apart from the fact that the scenario is very interesting!

[Hobbes]

Chris, I love the idea of a scenario that is vs the AI and has AI that is actually coded to fight well against the player! Apart from the fact that the scenario is very interesting!

Yes I agree. I have always made scenarios primarily for PBEM in the past but this scenario doesn't lend itself well to that. Aurelian has a tough job against the various barbarian tribes, the Gallic Empire, Palmyra and potentially the sassanids (and small groupings such as the blemmyes, pirates and various usurpers) but none of those would make for much of a game played individually by a human. It also makes a scenario much quicker to make when you don't have to consider displaying text events etc for multiple sides (although the AI will still have events and options to consider) and testing is less onerous. I will also make it as replayable as possible with quite a few events randomised although only if plausible historically. For example Aurelian will have a chance each turn to be murdered once the scenario reaches a certain point (as happened historically) but it may not happen at all or if it does, not on exactly the same date. If he is murdered or killed in battle the lesser emperor Tacitus will take his place and possibly even Probus (better) if Tacitus doesn't last for long. The Gallic Empire will probably remain fairly static unless Aurelian overreaches himself in the east for example. The onus will be on Aurelian to take on the enemy but Athena (AI) will certainly not sit still. It is quite liberating being able to make a scenario for one side only. Balance will be far easier to achieve.

[PJJ]

Naked Zenobia idea is interesting. Naked men and Zenobia... would they even fight?

Well, there are also better things to do than fighting.

Regarding this Aurelian scenario, if being able to control only one side means a much improved challenge from the AI, it's definitely a good thing. Not every scenario needs to be designed with mostly PBEM in mind.

[Pocus]

Now if I want to be fair, we all see the enemy portraits when we check the detailed battle reports... So is it really needed?

[Hobbes]

It's a feature I tend not to use much. I would much rather be able to click on an enemy stack during the planning phase to easily see the units.
I'm sure many players of this game, like miniatures wargamers, would like to easily see the colourful dress of the enemy soldiers - especially in a game like AJE with such a diverse opposition.

Cheers,
Chris

[Erik Springelkamp]

Now if I want to be fair, we all see the enemy portraits when we check the detailed battle reports... So is it really needed?

Combat units that are combined with a leader are not even shown in the detailed battle report.
That is generally the case in the detailed battle reports of RoP, where I mostly see just enemy Leader faces.

So those combat unit icons of the enemy would be hidden forever.
However, to show them in a tool-tip or pop-up would require some inventive UI as well, but that would be well worth the effort, I think.

I find the small text in the black tool-tip hard to visualise.

[PJJ]

If at all possible, please do make the improvement. It's a shame that we can't really see all the beautifully made unit graphics, but it would also serve a purpose in helping to visualize the formations, like Erik wrote in the post above mine.

[Hobbes]

I think it is a good point that by clicking on an enemy stack you could gain a better understanding of their force composition if the graphics were shown. After realising that I hardly ever see opposition units I have started to click more often on the detailed combat results but I'm still left wondering what certain stacks might look like before I meet them in combat or wondering afterwards if they have had new units join them. Seeing the graphics would help far more with this than just the current dry tooltip list. After all the effort put into making the unit graphics the more opportunities given to see them the better. If this feature was already in the game I'm sure it would not be removed for any reason and if it takes only a day to code and improves future games I can't see any reason not to do it. I personally would enjoy the game far more.

Cheers,
Chris

[Ebbingford]

Would a commander know the exact make up of an enemy army though?

[bob.]

Would a commander know the exact make up of an enemy army though?

Well, when you read the info when you hover over an enemy stack you know the strength and name of the unit anyway. Which I'd say is far less likely to be known than the image. And any experienced player knows what units have which name so it would help the inexperienced players to know which units are in the stack and it would be nice to visualise it for everyone So I really like this idea.

[Ebbingford]

It should be tied in to the amount of info already given in game.
Like you mention bob, sometimes you can see the whole enemy OOB and in this case you should be able to see all the troop types.
On other occasions however, depending on patrol/evasion/loyaly etc, stack in the same or adjacent region, you don't get as much info at present. Here perhaps you shouldn't know what the make up of the enemy stack is.

[Hobbes]

It should not be shown unless the tooltip would also show the unit type as first post - not just regular etc.

[Moncajo]

I think a very interesting proposal, also containing details of seeing it implemented. Moreover, as already said by email PhilThib also would like to set the map "impassable mountains" along the lines of WWI, as many times get confused with the path being followed, being impassable. Also submit this proposal to the forum. (text via google translator).