Random Screenshot

[Konstantin Fomenko]

Our approach to naval combat - let player do whatever they want with ships. Task any units on the ship and they`ll board it - as many as will fit. Any units other than Dragons and Ogres. Note that really packing the ship with units will slow it down.

Some interesting ideas:


-Get a trebuchet, some archers, and melee units for well rounded all uprpose ship.
-Pack it up only with melee units for a great boarding ship, if your looking to capture some enemy ships.
-Only archers for a great ship-killing vessel.
-Put only a few units on the ship, to get a really fast moving scouting vessel.
-Pack ship with only trebuchets and catapults - to get yourself something like AoE3 bombard galion
-Or even pack the ship full of cows and peasants, and make a floating farm




Here`s a screenshot of a ship I packed with 15 archers, 20 swordsman, 1 trebuchet, a hero, and a few cows for good eating later, 'where`s the rum?'

[Darvin]

Or even pack the ship full of cows and peasants, and make a floating farm

I somehow have trouble picturing that :-P

Couldn't you make that somewhat less illogical by just implementing fishing for peasants on boats?


Also, you didn't answer my question specifically with regards to the performance of siege units placed boats. How will a catapult or trebuchet operate differently on a boat than they otherwise would have on land? Can they fire while the boat is in motion? Will they have the same range/rate of fire? Will there be some kind of ammunition limitation for these weapons?

[Ovocean]

All of this information sounds extremely pleasantly to my ears !

Do we still control individual units movements and actions aboard ? And how do they pass from one ship to the other when a boarding takes place ?


PS : Sweet, there's water refraction !

[Jean=A=Luc]

Nice screenshot.

Konstantin, will there be ramming ? Maybe that's something the low-tech Orcs would resort to.

[Konstantin Fomenko]

I am afraid that`s a No to ships ramming each other.

As for Siege weapons on ships - same as on land. This goes for any other units - they can all be individually selected and tasked. When u control the ship full of untis it`s quite simple really - click anywhere on the ship to select it - the sails, the body of the ship e.t.c, or click on any individual unit on the ship to select it - or use drag and select for select some/all units on the ship.

With regard to Ranged siege having limited ammunition - we are actually toying with this idea, most likely Catapults, Trebuchets will only fire if player has sufficient Stone resource. But things can still go 50/50 on this.

[Ovocean]

This will so much add to the pleasure of naval combat. Possibility to defend against multiple ennemy ships, and all the strategies already mentionned, with the liberty of the crew composition, it sounds really good!

I hope there's some "camera follow ship" functionality, otherwise I imagine it could be problematic to select and give orders to units. "This guy, I'll send him to the deck where he'll be more useful... Oops, missed it... Come on, I'll catch you dude.. hey not here you fool!! Man overboard!"

Will the spell casters be of any use aboard ?

[Darvin]

I think it might be prudent to look into providing some limitations for siege weapons on boats (like perhaps it can only fire when the boat is not moving).

Because a siege equipped boat can move while firing, it gives it a distinct advantage in a situation regarding a coastal exchange of firepower. The land-based catapult is essentially stationary, while the sea-based one is moving freely. Essentially the only counter is to come out and attack either with an archer-equipped boat or a boarding party.

The problem I see here is the woefully common instance where a player has had his navy wiped out and needs to re-establish it. However, if "bombard" type boats are too strong he cannot get close enough to the water for any prolonged period of time to build that navy, and is essentially pinned down. Typically, as a result, land-based siege is always made to be a counter to sea-based siege. This means that in any long-range shootout, the land-based player is at an advantage, forcing the sea-based player to make a landing to prevent him from rebuilding his navy.

I do not feel that would work out if sea-based siege units have the same firepower as land-based units, but also have the advantage of mobility. Some form of limitation is necessary here, I believe. However, so long as the above problem is dealt with in some manner, I'm happy.

[The Witch King of Angmar]

Maybe sea based siege could have a weaker fire power.

[LordSlayer]

Can any one please explain what are the bows and the mace icons in the upper left corner of the last sreen?

[WearisomeWall]

I would guess hotkeyed units.