Ageod American Civil War 2!

[DrPostman]

There is a lot of polishing up, like the interface, many graphics, and several features also (historical options). We are also designing a brand new feature of interest also.

Any idea how much it will retail for? Ballpark is fine. I'm poor and I need to figure out how much to set
aside for it. I won't hold you to anything, just a good idea.

Have they started beta testing? If not is there a way to get in on that? Thanks!

[gekkoguy82]

I really enjoyed the artwork from that Facebook post...is that a glimpse of what will be in-game?

[Boomer]

I was looking forward to ACW 2 since its announcement, but now I'm REALLY looking forward to it. 2013 so far has been a horrible year for game releases... most of which I'm glad I didn't bother sinking my money into.

[Pocus]

Yes for the arts, all units will be redone by this same artist.

DrPostman, I don't know what the price will be, probably 40$, but don't quote me on that, I'm not in charge of that. For beta testing, it will start soon and we will probably make a call in public, just don't miss it Right now we have an alpha tester group, but this is too late to enter it.

[DrPostman]

Yes for the arts, all units will be redone by this same artist.

DrPostman, I don't know what the price will be, probably 40$, but don't quote me on that, I'm not in charge of that. For beta testing, it will start soon and we will probably make a call in public, just don't miss it Right now we have an alpha tester group, but this is too late to enter it.

Thanks. I'll keep my eye out for the announcement. I assume it will be on this board and other places.

[Mickey3D]

The AI can now benefits from a lot more scripting options, including 'AI agents' help, so it should be better

Could you provide more details regarding these agents ? Is it scripts we could develop for specific game purposes or call to outside programs ?

[Mickey3D]

I hope we will not loose that old school map graphic style that made ACW, ROP, WIA and RUS so special for me. AJE like map graphics are easier to make I guess but doesn't have the same flair and style. Don't know if other people feel the same way.

+1

[khbynum]

I also like the style of the current AACW map. However, may I respectfully suggest that you reduce the decorative borders around the edge of screen menus? The wood and iron borders, flags etc. just take up too much space. They are artistic and add the period ambiance of the game, but just obscure too much of what is important; the map.

[DrPostman]

I also like the style of the current AACW map. However, may I respectfully suggest that you reduce the decorative borders around the edge of screen menus? The wood and iron borders, flags etc. just take up too much space. They are artistic and add the period ambiance of the game, but just obscure too much of what is important; the map.

Or perhaps to allow the option to retract parts of the map that are unneeded or unwanted. Lots of games
do that where you can minimize various menus and info panels. I'd like to be able to have the option of
having all map on the screen, especially since the next map looks like it will be almost twice the size of
the current one.

[Pocus]

AI Agents are added by scripts but once done, they are more or less permanently hosted by a leader, to guide him, a bit like an advisor (or parasite hehe). This has a great potential and it used in BOR for some leaders.

[Narwhal]

Looking at the map, it would not need a lot for you to make it a "WiA" map as well. Just include Eastern Canada and that Island East of it and you can sell DLC for FIW, AWI, ...

[ERISS]

reduce the decorative borders around the edge of screen menus?
obscure too much of what is important; the map.

Or a hotkey for: full interface / fullscreen map / minimized interface (just removing art)
It could help for AAR screenshots?

[Mickey3D]

AI Agents are added by scripts but once done, they are more or less permanently hosted by a leader, to guide him, a bit like an advisor (or parasite hehe). This has a great potential and it used in BOR for some leaders.

If I understand well, agents are not something a player can develop ? There is a predefined list of them and, by script, you can link a leader with the agent of your choice ?

[Pocus]

You can do that, but with a script, so a player can do that if he mods a bit...

[Ace]

AI Agents are added by scripts but once done, they are more or less permanently hosted by a leader, to guide him, a bit like an advisor (or parasite hehe). This has a great potential and it used in BOR for some leaders.

What are AI agents?

[Pocus]

Technically, they are an entity in the memory which stays associated with the leader and will alter the missions the AI module will give to the leader. They won't prevent the AI module to propose all missions to a leader with an agent, but the missions the agent is scripted for will be much favored.

Practically, it means that if a leader has an agent that want him to stay in an area of operation, he will do that ... But the general AI module will still check for say 'resupply mission', which will come every turn more and more in force depending of supply shortage, to the point that at a given time it will take precedence over the Agent missions, and so your stack of units will seek a supply source, the best one, even outside the area of operation of the agent.

[AndrewKurtz]

Not sure which thread is being monitored for ideas. Here's one I just posted about abstracting river control.

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?14801-AACW2-wishlist&p=269955&viewfull=1#post269955

[DrPostman]

Not sure which thread is being monitored for ideas. Here's one I just posted about abstracting river control.

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?14801-AACW2-wishlist&p=269955&viewfull=1#post269955

I don't think it matters as much with just about everyone active on the board excited about version 2 coming
out by the end of Summer (if it's still on that schedule). Interesting idea you posted.

[John S. Mosby]

My only input, (because Pocus knows what he's doing, he doesn't need any advice from me), is to take the time and polish the game before release. If it delays the release a few months that's okay. Don't let impatient players rush the release. Take your time and do it right.

[Captain_Orso]

Not sure which thread is being monitored for ideas. Here's one I just posted about abstracting river control.

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?14801-AACW2-wishlist&p=269955&viewfull=1#post269955

I can give you a tip on how to maintain control of long stretches of river as the Union[SUP]1)[/SUP] at the least cost in nerves[SUP]2)[/SUP]:
stack 2 gunboat squadrons (2 gunboat elements each) with 1 riverine transport squadron (4 elements--I have no experience with 2 element riverine transports) together into one patrol, then post them somewhere along a stretch of river you want to "control" in Defensive Posture. As long as their transports can draw supply along the river or from some local harbor your patrol-squadron will stay in business.

They may take some hits in winter from storms, but I've had the entire shippable Cumberland River plus much of the Tennessee and lower Ohio Rivers blocked throughout a summer and winter without having to pull a single patrol squadron off from weather damage or loss of cohesion.

As long as they are not sailing up and down the river from one river region to another, they will use relatively little supply and take little Wear-n-Tear™ and rarely lose cohesion.

[SUP]1)[/SUP] I'm not sure the parameters for CS patrols as they have their own supply capacity and might get by without having riverine transport in each patrol squadron, or maybe only interspersed every other patrol squadron. The CS usually doesn't have the gunboats to patrol more than selective parts of the river at selective times.

[SUP]2)[/SUP] I don't expect there to be any major changes in how patrolling/blocking-crossings work.

[MarkCSA]

Pocus, I take it you will draw your beta-testers from your veteran Corps of AACW 1 beta-testers first?

[charlesonmission]

Captian Orso, I thought the boats (4 non-transport elements) had to be offensive posture to have river interdiction.

Charles

I can give you a tip on how to maintain control of long stretches of river as the Union[SUP]1)[/SUP] at the least cost in nerves[SUP]2)[/SUP]:
stack 2 gunboat squadrons (2 gunboat elements each) with 1 riverine transport squadron (4 elements--I have no experience with 2 element riverine transports) together into one patrol, then post them somewhere along a stretch of river you want to "control" in Defensive Posture. As long as their transports can draw supply along the river or from some local harbor your patrol-squadron will stay in business.

They may take some hits in winter from storms, but I've had the entire shippable Cumberland River plus much of the Tennessee and lower Ohio Rivers blocked throughout a summer and winter without having to pull a single patrol squadron off from weather damage or loss of cohesion.

As long as they are not sailing up and down the river from one river region to another, they will use relatively little supply and take little Wear-n-Tear™ and rarely lose cohesion.

[SUP]1)[/SUP] I'm not sure the parameters for CS patrols as they have their own supply capacity and might get by without having riverine transport in each patrol squadron, or maybe only interspersed every other patrol squadron. The CS usually doesn't have the gunboats to patrol more than selective parts of the river at selective times.

[SUP]2)[/SUP] I don't expect there to be any major changes in how patrolling/blocking-crossings work.

[Ace]

Not any more, it was inconvenient to maintain the blockade due to cohesion loss when in offensive posture. Now every non transport element in non-passive posture has 23% chance to block movement across the river, with the maximum chance of interdiction being 92%. So 4 gunboats have 92% chance of river interdiction.

Orso, you are right, gunboat mechanics are fine the way they are now.

[Pocus]

Not only veterans of ACW1, we want to have newer people join, if they have good credentials. We will post in a few weeks a message to recruit beta testers, rest assured.

[FENRIS]

hello !

It will be more realistic to change the mobilization mode for 1861 : no more total mobilization in the early months.

[marecone]

hello !

It will be more realistic to change the mobilization mode for 1861 : no more total mobilization in the early months.

Agree. Hated when Athena used every chance she got to mobilaze or draft.

[Ace]

hello !

It will be more realistic to change the mobilization mode for 1861 : no more total mobilization in the early months.

Agreed.

And mobilization laws could be tied to engagement points cost.

And if mobilization is restricted, ws production should be reduced. In current game, if players agree not to mobilize, they have unusual high amount of ws, that's highly unrealistic.

[Jerzul]

Maybe I'm the only one but I'd like to see a brigade builder option. Where you could select which elements to put into a brigade when you create it instead of only having the pre defined options. For example, you could build individual regiments or elements, our select multiple elements and build a custom brigade instead.

Any chance for something like this?

[MarkCSA]

Not only veterans of ACW1, we want to have newer people join, if they have good credentials. We will post in a few weeks a message to recruit beta testers, rest assured.

I was just trying to 'jump the queue' for beta-testers

Regarding what people are saying here about mobilization, yes, please. Disable early mass mobilization or stick severe penalties (NM and loyalty hits, escalating draft riots etc.) on it.

[Pocus]

@Jerzul: Honestly, no this won't be a feature. Too complex and against our will to on the contrary streamline the game.

About historical options like Draft, they will be all revised, the engine can do much more things now and is more versatile on that!