Design Contest Q&A thread

Lol. I have read every single entry, but done my best not to decide on which I would vote for (but the event is all wrapped up IMO. Even though some of the later ones compete decently, I am still in love.)


I don't know if I can stomach a second reading of each list. Some of the ideas actually make my brain hurt. Some of the Grammar nearly gave me a concussion, and of course, then I would actually have to read my own idea and see how horribly I mangled it from the beautiful tihng that first came into my imagination ;)
 
Kael said:
I wrote this big long post that went through all of the submitted wonders that weren't picked by the design team and why. It was over the 30,000 character limit and I clicked close on the warning message which blanks the post. :mad:
Click to expand...

Just a little reminder, Kael. ;)
 
Spells like...?

(I actually think that the main effect of my last minute wonder submission would make a better spell than a wonder, although you could have both a wonder and a spell with basically the same effect, like Tower of Complacency and Unyielding Order)

Feel free to spill any info you can about Shadow, spells or otherwise. Kael might not like it, but don't worry, we won't tell ;)
 
Minor request, if it isn't too much bother:

When you post the events for us to vote on, could you format them similar to my event proposal (or anything else decently readable. Or even PM me and I'd be willing to format and PM it back to you). The way most are formatted now is quite a nuisance to read with how the requirements/results of each selection are so far removed from the selection itself.
 
Event Critiques, from the top:

Sarisin,'s Outrage of Mars:
Spoiler :
Not a fan of having an event with a name based on a Raman god when an FfH deity would fit better. If it were implemented, it would have to be Outrage of Aeron. Not a huge fan of the event, but I do like that implementing it would probably mean adding a new tag to the event triggers xml file that allows events to be triggered on the death of a specific unit. This would make more interesting evens easier to implement.

Psychic_Llamas's Bridge Between Worlds:
Spoiler :
I'm not a huge fan. Some of its effects are dealt with through the AC, the the others would be bests with guilds.


Keilden's unnamed event:
Spoiler :
Not really impressive, not memorable. Needs different chances of success, and modifiers based on religion/alignment/ presence of Inquisitors.


zxcvbnm's Hemah's Dreams:
Spoiler :

I like the concept of this a lot, but am not really impressed with the implementation. That is probably just because you were speaking in very general terms of what should be several different Hemah-triggered events with very different, very random effects.

EDIT: Kael just said that in shadow there is a PyPerTurn promotion attribute, which I think would work well with Hemah's dreams. Since your event did not have any player feedback required, I think it would work better if it didn't use the Random event interface. Instead, various strange occurances could be triggered each turn directly by the PyPerTurn attribute of Hemah's "Affective Dreamer" promotion. This would leave room for a different event to win the contest, while your still gets implemented, and I think it would be more efficient having an event trigger check for Hemah every turn. Also, Hemah wouldn't have to be in a city and his dreams could be influenced by his surroundings (for example, different terrains and features would make different events more likely).

thomas.berubeg's Reclaiming The World :
Spoiler :

Its ok, but not particularly impressive. I'd probably change the name, since it sounds more like you are reclaiming the world after the age of ice or after Armageddon instead of just discovering an ancient magical heritage. I understand that you meant for this to be one of many events in a series, which might help it live up to its name, but in general I think simpler may be better.

Rex rgis of Ter's unnamed event:
Spoiler :
Again, it seems too much like AC events, except now for some reason you can convince these powerful divine being to follow your commands. I don't buy it. They aren't that selfless; there would always be a cost for recruiting either demons or angels. Could use some random chances of different outcomes

BeefontheBone's Susurrus:
Spoiler :
Not sure what a Sussurrus is, but I don't really find the event to be that exiting

icantcmyeye's Pining for the Fjords:
Spoiler :

How dare you post an event that Kael has already promised to steal from you in this forum! Since he has probably already implemented this event in Shadow anyway, I don't think you should have put it here to take the votes away from events that will need the votes. Also, you could have gotten two events into Shadow if you had put something else.

Grillick's Assistance for our brethren:
Spoiler :
Not really impressed. Would rather have events that could happen no matter who is int the world. The only real boost is the elven workers.

Personally, I think that free units from goody huts should be a random civ's version of that unitclass, thus allowing you to acquire elven (or Dwarven) workers that way. Also, I think that the Forests preserve from BtS needs to be brought back, and builible by any worker (or maybe druids/priests of the leaves/satyrs instead) of a civ following FoL after Hidden Paths (or even just way of the Forests, in case Hidden paths has been removed). This should grant additional bonuses with Guardian of Nature, and make FoL a little better for non-elves.

blueparrot1966's Turncoat(s):
Spoiler :
Another decent, but not amazing, event choice (each of them). I wouldn't want it to win given that there are better choices, but I wouldn't mind it it were implemented anyway.

khanjackal's The Magic of Money:
Spoiler :
Same as above. There is nothing wrong with it, but there are better choices

Airwreck's Barbarian Friend or Foe?:
Spoiler :

I don't think this should be something that just randomly happens. Also, the barb trait alone won't give you peace with the barbarian state, it will just stifle your research (it only affects your relations when you first enter the game. You are already at war, so the barb trait won't help). Now if only someone had suggested some more controlled, costly way to get peace with the barbs, a high AC ritual perhaps ;)

xienwolf's Specialist Economy:
Spoiler :
Specializing completely seems a little extreme. I don't think I would ever want to specialize a single city that way (especially for culture, which beyond a certain point has quickly diminishing returns). Now, if there was one that turned gold, science, an culture into production it would be a different story. (also, I assume you copied and pasted the culture idea and edited it for the other two. You changed the icons, but they all say that they convert things into pure culture) Penalties for specializing while using sacrifice the weak, and bonuses for refusing to, may be in order.

xanaqui42's Alignment of the Heavens:
Spoiler :

Interesting, but a bit complicated in its current form. I would much rather Erebus's calendar implemented, with its corresponding effects on making specific types of spells more or less powerful. (although that could be too complicated and may be better left to a modmod

charleswatkins's BRING EM BACK ALIVE:
Spoiler :
Not really a fan. All we need to do is make animals last longer through the game, not ad an uncommon minor event in the hope that it will make the menagerie easier to get. Since you don't gat a choice of where to get your cage, and since each cage has such a small effects in the game, I doubt I would aver use it unless I was one or two cages away from the menagerie, and the city chaoses just happened to be where I had the other cages.

KillerClowns's unnamed suggestion:
Spoiler :

Like I said in the thread where you first post it, this reminds me too much of the gems of creation for it to have effects so small. It could be great if it were more game changing (but then again, I think it has been said that gems of creation quests would be added in Shadow, so a better version may already be in.)

Capn Charlie's unnamed event:
Spoiler :

Part of the problem with having too many shrines is taken care of by the ability of Council of Esus recon units to steal equipment, and the fact that most shrines should be equipment. Still, the event is pretty good, but I would rather have it be quite rare but have the possibility recur (but perhaps not for the same civ or religion). (Also, a better way to balance having too many religions would be to make it so that holy cities can be moved, or at least so that a religion can gain a new holy city if its old one was razed)

it-ogo's Make a peace with barbarians:
Spoiler :

This is basically the same as Airwreck's event; my opinion of it is the same.

Maksim's
Spoiler :
( I think you were only supposed to give one event)

A Slave Ring: Seems to much like the Undercouncil slave ring ability. Its not your fault, since this ability wan't listed until the day this contest closed. Still, this event should either not be in or be closely tied to the Undercouncil's ability in some way.

Order of Sword Mages:
Spoiler :
not a fan, especially since it is almost useless for leaders with eh Aggresive trait. (does that apply to adepts? I'm not sure. I considered this trait to weak so I changed it to grant combat I AND II to all unitclasses)

A Philosophical Question:
Spoiler :
Single events changing alignment is too much, unless that event is a really major one (like, I don't know, seeing Agares himself and repenting for ever following him, thus changing to good and basically losing the game automatically). A gradual, scaled alignment system should eventually be adopted (not saying it is planned, just that I really want it), in which case such an events could be added to change alignment slightly.

Maksim:
Spoiler :
there certainly is a one event maximum. I'm not going to critique your other events because you broke this rule :p

White Elk's Apprentice Jack of all Trades ~ Quest:
Spoiler :

I think that it is impossible to extend the limit on a unitclass for one civ, in game, and that adding a new unit class to get around this is too inelegant.

mindlar's Hoardric Intervention:
Spoiler :

now thats just silly. The cow king? thats Bull ;)

Jono's Trickster Encountered:
Spoiler :

It just doesn't seem to stick out all that much. Its not the worst event proposed, but I can't see it seriously competing with many of the others. I doubt I would ever bother picking anything but choice A (and never choose choice B, especially since we already know the effect, and it is purely negative with no chance of a good result). There should be (at least the opportunity for) more mixed blessings, and the text needs to be more flavorful

GoodGame's Your kingdom is in the sign of...:
Spoiler :

I think that I wasn't reading the Alignment of the Heavens post carefully, and confused it with yours. What I said for him is what I meant for you.

beorn's religious schism:
Spoiler :

I like the idea of schisms, but I think Kael has said (and I agree) that it is probably very difficult to implement. While I'd like to have schisms, thy would need a much more complicated change of coding, not just this minor event.

CXDamian's Travelers Plea:
Spoiler :

This seems kinds like it might be too complicated for what it is, but I'll propose complicating it further anyway. There should be other positive options that require you have a unit with Divine Life 2 in the city, which can cure the disease. It should probably be left immobile for a while, and would have a small chance of dieing, but also a better chance of healing them than you could have otherwise. Gives a diplo-boost with good civs. More likely to work with Public Healers.

Morganknight's Mana Enrichment:
Spoiler :

Nice, but I'm not sure its possible. Currently buildings can only grant 3 types of resources, and all in the same amount. If implementing this event means changing the xml's set up to allow for an arbitrary amount of each of an arbitrary number of resources, then I might be convinced to vote for it.

TravelingHat's MAGICAL RESEARCH (s):
Spoiler :

Not bad. Perhaps it could use some kind of bonus for Arcane trait leaders, or for wonders like the Catacomb Libralus or magic oriented equipment. I was just thinking, this might be better as a quest: instead of paying gold, you have to acquire certain pieces of equipment. This could make it more powerful for Esus civs, as others might need to declare war in order to pull it off. It could also be nice if it said that the manuscripts were stolen from a rival civ, so it would also give some diplomatic penalties.

kevjm's cult thingy:
Spoiler :

Not a huge fan. It seems like it could be implemented much better. I feel like it should be tied somehow to the Prophecy of Ragnarök wonder but I'm not quite sure how.

TheJopa Disease has struck!:
Spoiler :

This is not bad, but doesn't stick out a whole lot. It may be too similar to the Travelers Plea if both of them are to be considered in the poll, but I'm not sure which one I prefer. His seems like it might be a bit too complex (relying heavily on python, and slowing the game down), and yours seems a little too simple. Perhaps you could work together to make a better disease related event.

Cadaveres's Glorious combat:
Spoiler :

Reminds me too much of the champion event, but its not bad. The best thing it it probably would mean adding a new xml tag for event to be triggered by combat results (which would make adding better events easier). It also seems like there should be at least a chance that a unit will gain the hero promotion from at least one option. It might be interesting if choice 2 had a small chance of giving a unit hero, and a larger chance of making it gain some levels but loose experience/promotions (making it much harder for it to get promotions) to symbolize the hubris that such adulation could produce. Also, I think choice 3 needs a chance to give a free military instructor specialist in one city (great commanders should be able to join cities as these specialists, like warlords can, and give units in the city +2 xp)

westamastaflash's merpeople thingy:
Spoiler :

Eh, I don't know. I'm not a big fan, especially as I think of the People of the Mer as Danalin's favored people who have been extinct for ages.

Broken Hawk's Bar Fight!:
Spoiler :

What, only Dwarves drink and fight when they are drunk? I'll never support an event that only goes to perpetrate this racial stereotype ;)

dscarron's Take the Palace:
Spoiler :

Nice. I always wanted a way to keep a captured palace (without resorting to worldbuilder). However, I'm not a huge fan of the diplomatic effects. I would prefer something like a chance that the civ would agree to become you vassal.
It would also be nice if the civ that had its palace captured would not get a new palace elsewhere, leaving it without a capital. Then, if it cannot regain its capital within a few turns then the civ would be in danger of collapsing completely, leaving its other civs as barb cities, or making them revolt and join the nearest civ (if they had foreign culture).
If they do retake their capital, it could be a huge morale boost and turn the war in their favor in some way or another (not quite sure how. Perhaps a morale promotion for all units? and/or a golden age?).

[NWO]_Valis's True Ways:
Spoiler :

I love the concept but hate the implementation. For one, I'm not a big fan of some of the sins (really, only the ones for the order or fellowship are decent). RoK civs being penalized for having too much gold is a horrible idea, and would destroy the Khazad. Since they value hard work, perhaps having idle workers/having cities focus on generating culture/research/gold instead of building something real would be better? I don't now, it still isn't a great implementation. The Empyrean is a rather peaceful religion, so it shouldn't penalize those who refuse to declare war. It values fairness an equality and condemns ego, so its sins should be more like making an arrogant demand, refusing to negotiate when someone is asking for peace, not liberating cities, and having too many vassals.

Frozen-Vomit's Prophet Child Born:
Spoiler :

Not bad, but not top tier. The concept is pretty good but it could use some tweaking. This is one event that I think really needs to have different chances for different results. For instance, in option 2 the child turns out not to be the foretold prophet and you look like a fool, or his own people reject him and hate you for supporting him (either could cause a diplomatic penalty). The prophecy could have been misinterpreted and he makes the civ switch to a rival religion, etc. If you choose to kill him, there should be a chance for martyrdom (bad for you), success (good for you), or failure (also very bad for you. He grows up to be a High priest/Inquisitor with the Hero promotion (a free unit for the rival) and leads a crusade against you))

Scott Alexander's Religious Interference:
Spoiler :

Ok, but not stellar. Corrupted religions seem to important to handle with only such a minor event. It would have to have a bigger effect or none at all. (I personally would love it if this was implemented as the civ actually converting to the Council of Esus, changing its real religion and alignment, but appearing to the world and to most of ts citizens to still be following their old religion/alignment. There could then be some event tied to the world finding out about their corruption)

Marksman77's Mana Fluctuations:
Spoiler :

I like. Sweet and simple. However, I think it could use more flavorful wording. It might also be nice if there was a chance or the mana to disappear completely, or for more mana to spawn nearby.

kwarriorpoet's The Underworld Portal:
Spoiler :

do you really expect us to read a pot this long? ;) (I still haven't gotten around to it, but I suspect that it is likely too complicated for its own good.)

ggdabuh's The dark bosquet:
Spoiler :

Not a fan. What good would vampirism be to a Treant? They cant gain any promotions anyway, and I doubt the barbs would have a bloodpet on the same tile for it to use feed. It would just be getting a slight strength boost, and a weakness to Sun spells.

AMBusam's Barbarian Invasion:
Spoiler :

This would be a very good event for normal BtS, but here it is way overpowered. Imagine if this event were triggered while the 4 horsemen and the Avatar of Wrath were in your borders. You choose choice c, and instantly become the most powerful civ in the world, at almost no cost. If implemented (and I doubt it will be) it should only happen when the AC turned off.

FaustVs's The Call of the Deep:
Spoiler :

Its not bad, but its name makes it sound like it could be more important than it really is. It should be made seriously game changing, or renamed.

Willgar's Uprising within the ranks:
Spoiler :

Not bad, but it really also shouldn't be possible in cities with the Tower of Complacency or Unyielding Order. You should also be able to liberate the city to form a colony, ignoring any normal requirements like number of cities or being on different continents--if these requirements are even still around in Shadow (I hope they won't be). Also, it shouldn't always turn barbarian if you fail to secure it; there would be a small chance that it will form its own civ, even if you don't chose to liberate it (this civ would start with all your techs and a decent army, and be at war with you.)

Xuenay's long chain of events related to feuds:
Spoiler :

I don't feel like reading long chains, so I haven't gotten to you. Naughty Three Shoes?! what kind of name is that?

rusty217's The famous weaponsmith:
Spoiler :

It's fine, but I think that in order for it to be good you would need to add many new pieces of equipment to the game, and have one randomly chosen. I don't think Kael wants to implement that many equipments.

My Pact with Agares:
Spoiler :

If I didn't think it was a good way to deal with two of the games biggest problems (the lack of rituals and the irrationality of AV civs raising the AC), do you think I would have suggested it?
 
Interesting, but a bit complicated in its current form. I would much rather Erebus's calendar implemented, with its corresponding effects on making secific types of spells more or less powerful.
Click to expand...
This sounds interesting on the face of it, but I think it would wind up being something confusing and beyond a players control, so more frustrating than fun.
 
Yeah, it probably would be a bit confusing to new players. Perhaps it is best for a modmod, along with graduated alignments

The actual effects are already in the FfH world, just not in the game.

Spoiler :
Astrology

Greater Constellations:

Night Sun (Lugus)- Crosses the sky opposite the moon and at 2AM on a full moon is blocked by the moon for 10 minutes.

Hunters Bow (Amathaon)- Always pointing toward the north.

Bronze Owl (Sirona)

Eye of the Heavens (Nantosuelta)- When before the Open Tome all good Mage spells are cast as if 2 levels higher, all evil Mage spells are at 2 levels lower (1/month).

Arms of God (Sucellus)- When above the Scales of Balance all good Priest spells are cast as if 2 levels higher, all evil Priest spells are at 2 levels lower, neutral Priest spells are at 1 level lower (1/month).

Shield of Valor (Junil)

Scales of Balance (Dagda)- When the Arms of God and the Blazing Sword are directly left and right, all neutral Priest spells are cast as if 1 level higher, all good and evil are cast as if 1 level lower (2/month).

Grey Shroud (Arawn)

Great Tree (Cernunnos)

Open Tome (Oghma)

Sleeping Dragon (Kilmorph)- Dark Constellation

Silver Tears (Danalin)- Dark Constellation, follows the moon, laments for the evils of the world

Hero's Pegasus (Tali)- Dark Constellation

Raging Phoenix (Bhall)- Dark Constellation

Great Serpant (Agares)- Dissapears at 2AM when the moon is full causing the entire sky to darken for 10 minutes

Thieves Signal (Mammon)- Fades 2 minutes before the great Serpant dissapears

Obsidion Scepter (Aeron)

Jeweled Mask (Esus)

Blazing Sword (Camulos)- When above the Scales of Balance all evil Priest spells are cast as if 2 levels higher, all good are at 2 levels lower, neutral are at 1 level lower (1/month)

Midnight Candle (Ceridwen)- When before the Open Tome all evil Mage spells are cast as if 2 levels higher, and good are at 2 levels lower (1 month)

Hungry Wolf (Mulcarn)- Missing Constellation

Lesser Constellations:

Broken Man (The Warrior, The Passage-elven, The Soulforge-dwarven)- The symbol of Perserverance, the story varies but always involves the man continueing to try when most others would have given up to acclomplish something great. The Barbarians see it as a warrior who fights and kills his enemy even after he has suffered a fatal wound. The elves see it as the elf who after being poisoned by an orc arrow manages to run, crawl, and drag himself back to the elven village where he warns his people of the attack and then dies, and a pure white tree sprouts from where he dies, from which the elves quickly make arrows that fire through the orcs shields and armor, saving the village (man those elves are long winded). The dwarves see it as the smith who works at the forge until his heart gives out, leaving his last piece of work, a mighty warhammer, as a relic of the dwarven kingdom.

Three Brothers (Two Brothers, The Kings-elven)- The symbol of Courage. Made of three stars, one white, one blue and one black (those that don't see the black star call in Two Brothers). A tale of Heroism and Valor, of three brothers daring to challenge the gods themselves and with their courage alone, succeed.


Calendar

7 Days per Week, 28 Days per Month, 84 Days per Season, 336 Days per Year

Monday Moon Day, Day of the Moon 1 8 15 22
Tuesday Tree's Day, Day of Nature 2 9 16 23
Wednesday Wind Day, Day of the Wind 3 10 17 24
Thursday Day of the Earth 4 11 18 25
Friday Fire Day, Day of Fire 5 12 19 26
Saturday Day of the Ocean 6 13 20 27
Sunday Sun Day, Day of the Sun 7 14 21 28

4 Weeks per Month, 12 Weeks per Season, 48 Weeks per Year

First Week Full Moon (on the 1st of the Month)
Second Week Dark Moon
Third Week No Moon (on the 14th of the Month)
Fourth Week Bright Moon

12 Months per Year, 3 Months per Season

Alturiak; The Claw of Winter \
Ches of the Sunsets > Spring
Tarsakh of the Storms /

Mirtul; The Melting \
Kythorn; The Time of Flowers > Summer
Flamerule; Summertide /

Eleasias; Highsun \
Eleint; The Fading > Autumn
Marpenoth; Leafall /

Uktar; The Rotting \
Nightal; The Drawing Down > Winter
Hammer; Deepwinter /

4 Seasons per Year

Spring Season of Air, Time of Storms
Summer Season of Fire, Time of Growth
Autumn Season of Earth, Time of Harvest
Winter Season of Water, Time of Rest
 
MagisterCultuum said:
thomas.berubeg's Reclaiming The World :

Its ok, but not particularly impressive. I'd probably change the name, since it sounds more like you are reclaiming the world after the age of ice or after Armageddon instead of just discovering an ancient magical heritage.
Click to expand...

i was thinking of much more than just those two events, but never got around to oputting them in. i really don't think the erebus. as it is now, looks like it's already been covered in great empires. those empire would leave something behind, wouldn't they?
 
Jono: I think he just hasn't gotten to you.

Rex: Name not required for submission. Just a good memory prompter for critiques.
 
MagisterCultuum said:
Rex rgis of Ter's unnamed event:
Spoiler :
Again, it seems too much like AC events, except now for some reason you can convince these powerful divine being to follow your commands. I don't buy it. They aren't that selfless; there would always be a cost for recruiting either demons or angels. Could use some random chances of different outcomes
Click to expand...

That's a good idea. I am assuming that the beings have been warring for eons and are thankful for destroying their enemies, or you simply enslave them.
 
Yeah, maybe, but that doesn't explain the neutral option where the remnants of both sides agree to serve you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

The_J
Congratulate the winners of our contests who get a Civ7 founder edition!
2
Replies
24
Views
1K
The_J
The_J
The_J
  • Locked
CFC is giving away a founder edition: Tell us your civ story
2
Replies
21
Views
2K
The_J
The_J
lymond
  • Locked
CFC is giving away a founder edition: Banner contest for Civ7
2 3
Replies
49
Views
4K
lymond
lymond
Gedemon
  • Locked
CFC is giving away a founder edition: Modder's raffle
2
Replies
27
Views
3K
Gedemon
Gedemon
P
Deciphering the 'game-speeds.xml' file...
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
Michael Wagner
M
Back
Top Bottom