[MODCOMP]Broader Alignment

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

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Fall from Heaven 2: Broader Alignments

by Grey Fox
for Fall from Heaven 2 v031e
version: 1.1
Download Fall from Heaven 2: Broader Alignments

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On demand from the fellow FfH2 modding community (Magister in particular

),
I am now releasing my Broader Alignments mod.

What is Broader Alignments?

Broader Alignment adds a new Alignment attribute to players, called Broad Alignment.
It is a value from -511 to +511, where -511 to -171 is Evil, -170 to +170 is Neutral, and 171 to 511 is Good, this makes 341 steps per alignment.
Each leader then start with a certain base alignment value, and it can then change in multiple ways during the game. By religion, civics, training units, constructing buildings, researching techs, using promotions, casting spells and events.

The biggest difference between this system and the original is that more actions matter. Religion changes isn't so strict in alignment changes. Not every Neutral player turns Evil by going OO, and not every Evil civ turns Good from going for the Order for example. Some civics change your alignment a bit, and eventually Events can change your alignment as well.

NEW! (and unrelated to alignments)

Version 1.1 also includes PyPostCombatLost and PyPostCombatWon on promotions. And PyPerTurn on units.
Techs can require bonuses (not tested yet though).

Notes

Even though Events CAN change your alignment, I haven't added any changes to the events yet,
there are just so many events. I will do this sometime later, unless someone does it for me first.

The Global Defines added to the mod determine the range which the Alignment spans. BROADER_ALIGNMENT_EVIL_MIN, BROADER_ALIGNMENT_EVIL_MAX, BROADER_ALIGNMENT_GOOD_MIN and BROADER_ALIGNMENT_GOOD_MAX have been added. The Neutral range is the span between BROADER_ALIGNMENT_EVIL_MIN, and BROADER_ALIGNMENT_GOOD_MIN.
BROADER_RAZE_BASE_MODIFIER - Used as the base for the population part of the formula. Only counts if population is above 1 or the city have culture.
BROADER_RAZE_MODIFIER - Counts for every 2 population, same conditions as the Base modifier.
BROADER_POPRUSH_BASE_MODIFIER - The base for the Alignment modifier when pop rushing.
BROADER_POPRUSH_MODIFIER - Alignment modifier per population point rushed

Important Notice: The values I've used for the leaders, religions and civics etc, are just what I felt was right atm and I haven't put much thought into them. Please come with your own suggestions. I also need help with what Events choices need to modify the Alignment.

INSTALLATION GUIDE

1) Copy the Fall from Heaven 2 031 folder and rename it properly
2) Copy all the contents of this mod into the folder, overwrite when it asks
3) Make a shortcut to the mod or start the mod like you start any other mod. (Or load mod in Civ4 BTS menu)(Or load mod in Civ4 BTS menu)

Spoiler Changed SDK Files :

Spoiler Changelog :

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

Do you lose druids (and similar units) if you change alignment?

If so, might need to change how alignment specific units work...

Tarquelne · Apr 7, 2008

Excellent!

Is there a function for alignment "drift"? A per-turn alignment change?

How do you add alignment changes to events?

Hmm... what do I have to do to be "Good" with Ashen Veil as my state religion?

"New Family Friendly Mass-Sacrifice Policy!" "Come and see what diseased corpses can do for you!"

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

I think it's impossible atm, but if you are Sabathiel or Capria, you would probably only be neutral (Actually, all good leaders will be neutral with Veil). And when events are added, you could possibly become good. And then you could use Public Healers to solidify it a bit.

But I think it would be pretty hard to achieve and would require quite a lot of good choices in events.

MagisterCultuum · Apr 7, 2008

Very nice. Too bad I won't have any time to play or mod for a while, maybe not until this school year is over.

Currently, no units abandon you because of alignment changes. You just can't build more.

Having Dain be more evil than Valledia is definitely wrong (ok, I think I misread their alignments, but still, Valledia is much more evil than Dain). Kael himself has stated that he is afraid of Valledia. Don't you remember Valledia's pedia entry? She freed the convicted necromancer Sammuel and ordered him to use his forbidden knowledge to do some pretty horrible things to Einion Logos's wife. She was tortured, driven insane, made to curse her husband, and made unable to die until Einion killed her my removing the rune on her chest. She is ruthlessly efficient and unhindered by morals, although not evil for the sake of being evil or from a huge ego. (I consider the Council of Esus to be the most appropriate religion for her.0 This was done to encourage the Elohim to keep fighting the Infernals, since she believed that the demons would attack the Amuites next. Calling to the Order to help doesn't redeem such an action (although in your system it could have been done to keep her alignment neutral, I guess). She should be more evil in this system. Dain was outraged at this, although he had no idea how bad her actions really were. He is a much kinder, more philosophical individual. (I always consider the Empyrean to be the best religion for him.) His alignment should be closer to good than evil. I consider him a little more good than Falamar.

I would definitely think that Tasunke is a neutral-evil leader while Rhoanna is neutral-good. Tasunke's is fiercely competitive, and his views are not that different from Charadon's. He is a very jealous and violent person who will hurt almost anyone to make himself better off. As evidenced by the race both leaders were involved in as children, where Rhoanna was easily beating Tasunke but stopped to help him back onto his horse, Rhoanna is not interested in hurting others. She is trying to unite and civilize a fractured people. Although a better rider than Tasunke, she is a diplomat rather than a warrior.

I don;t consider Sheelba as evil as Jonas. I don;t consider Mahala as evil as Charadon. In both cases, the famale leader is trying to bring civilization to her people.

Thessa should probably be less good than Amelanchier. Thessa is an archmage (which according to one of Kael's campaigns basically requires an individual believe the end justifies the means) who has studies forbidden texts on necromancy that were captured from the Calabim. On her wedding night she murdered her husband in a necromantic ritual in order to use his soul to increase the power of a spell to cleanse the forests of the strange corruption. I also think that Amelanchier should be no more good than the Dwarven leaders. They are merely not very ardent in their fight against evil, while Amelanchier violently combats both good and evil if they encroach on his land.

Good Veil should be really hard to achieve. I'm going to add a really nice Good-only AV-only hero to encourage people to try for it.

Evil Order seems like it would make more sense; this religion did become corrupt after all. Would it be possible to make this religion not inherently make you more good, but to make other alignment changes more significant? It seems like its fanaticism could easily lead to them being strongly good or evil, never neutral. Evil Order probably fits the Calabim pretty well.

I think I'm going to make priests always buildable, but have state religion and alignment requirements for their spells. A good god would not give spells to evil men who are acting in his name.

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

Great input Magister, and I agree with it all.

EDIT:
Should Sabathiel be even more good? The problem I see here is that he is not the one implementing his leadership. Should Capria be even less good, or kept at the same level as Sabathiel?

Who is the more Good dwarven leader? (Of both civs). In my mind Arturus is more of a traditionalists who holds true to the Khazad honour and culture. Kandros is more someone who would do almost anything if he believes it to be the right thing to do. Still true to the Khazad way, but if he believes something is done the wrong way, even if it is ancient tradition, he won't agree to it.
I am right when I say that Beeri Bawl feels slightly more good than Garrim Gyr?

How evil is Faeryl really? She is truly an egoist, and powermonger. She'd lie to, sleep with, play with feelings, torture, anyone or anything without regret it seems. Even when the elves were united she faked her feelings towards Arendel and schemed and always saw more behind what Arendel said than actually was there. Suspicious and deceiving. A backstabber if there ever was one.

Alexis and Flauros. Two different kinds of personalities. Equally amounts of evil? Just different? Alexis is a bit like Faeryl, only perhaps more of a jealous person. A greedy child who wants what others have just cause they have it and she don't. Kills without regret. Will do anything to not die.
Flauros. Carefree, planner. Smart. Plays with his "food". He is the kind of guy who would be able to plan and execute the Holocaust. Doesn't necessarily kill without hesitation like his sister. Able to cooperate with anyone if it suits his objectives.

Perpentach and Keelyn. Perpentach doesn't seem to have an agenda. But maybe that's what he wants you to believe? This guy is smart, but insane. But he likes to be insane. He got alot of friends in his head, and enemies. They are all copies of course, and probably distorted by his own mind. He would probably be a wise person if he wasn't insane, and he probably still is, in his own way.
Can change his mind in an instant, but possibly planned it that way from the beginning. Sees the world as a stage and himself as the leading role and writer.
Keelyn however, isn't insane, not like Perpentach anyways. Deranged perhaps, and childish. But to take control of an empire when the king is away? Clearly she is capable.

Sandalphon seems very neutral. Wants to be left alone by friends and enemies alike.

xienwolf · Apr 7, 2008

You do not lose Druid/Pally/Eidolon on alignment changes.

EDIT: Yeah so I am slow in the mornings

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

Ok, I finally reached a result I am satisfied with. Here is a screenshot of the alignment meter I've been working on:

Like it? What should I change otherwise? Post what you think.

stp · Apr 7, 2008

I think that Perpentach should be more evil than Keelyn. He was one of the corrupt Archmages of Patria and there is a text where Kylorin himself mentions his wickedness.

Keelyn simply lacks the concepts of good or evil. When your only friends are demons and other summons, you will likely not learn a lot about good ideologies.

Another thought: It might be cool that Perpentach randomly changes his alignment around his base value. He randomly shows some mercy in his insanity (see Beri Brawl).

By the way: Why do you see Beri more good than Garrim?

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

stp said:
By the way: Why do you see Beri more good than Garrim?

That's just a hunch I have. But Garrim seems more into the arcane, and that usually means a characteristic that is driven by the end justify the means. But I am not sure at all.

xienwolf · Apr 7, 2008

I like the alignment bar. How does it look in City Zoom though?

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

xienwolf said:
I like the alignment bar. How does it look in City Zoom though?

It doesn't show in city zoom.

xienwolf · Apr 7, 2008

Sweetness

In that case I think I just plain love it

What will the indicator of your current location be?

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

It's that tiny line almost at the center (it's not at the center if thats what you thought it was). You can't miss it really if you know what to look for.

xienwolf · Apr 7, 2008

Ah, I saw that but since it was centered I thought it was just to mark the middle of the road

I do like that it is chunked into 6 portions, makes it 2 bars per alignment and allows you to know when you are about to switch over.

MagisterCultuum · Apr 7, 2008

I think it would be a good idea to make research effect alignment too. Researching Way of the Wicked, Corruption of Spirit, Necromancy, Deception, Malevolent Designs, etc., would move you towards evil (especially if you were the first to research them). Researching Way of the Wise, Honor, Righteousness, etc, would move you towards good.

Building units (mostly heroes) and buildings (mostly wonders) should effect alignment too.

I also think that casting spells should be able to alter your alignment. Something like raise skeleton could could move you 1 towards evil, while spells like summon Balor should move slightly more. (Only something like Worldbreak would have a huge effect though.) I also think that certain spells should require you have an alignment in a certain range.

Making the player's contribution to the AV count towards their alignment would probably be good (this could actually take care of most of the buildings/unit changes)

I think that population rushing moving you slightly towards evil could be good too.

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

Probably need to increase the alignment range for that, but that's no real problem (only the alignment meter would have more points per pixel, it's already at 4.78 points per pixel).

JDexter · Apr 7, 2008

Nice indicator graphic (and of course modmod), I like it and think it's functional.

MagisterCultuum · Apr 7, 2008

Why does Slavery make you move towards good? I think the <iAlignmentModifier>16 is meant to be -16

Grey Fox · Apr 7, 2008

Ah yeah. Typo. Suggestions for civic alignment modifiers btw?
And anyone dared to start on the events?

Btw, next version I will open up more functions to python so python modders can get more to work with. And add the alignment modifier to techs, units, spells, buildings, add some Defines for various stuff like alignment change at pop-rush, and stuff like that. Also, I'll add broadAlignmentRequirement to most stuff so that it can require a certain value instead of the strict alignment.

I'll also start adding GameText stuff, so you can see how much you change your alignment through the choices you make. (Playing blindly is never good in my experience)

Any requests for the next version?

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