Pioneer: XP from Building Improvements + Promotions [ACCEPTED]

[nci]

I think that nobody would complain about it, but would somebody actually care?

I believe building improvements should take a lot of time and effort unless many Pioneers are used. Giving Pioneers free XP just for doing their job, and promotions making their job faster, will greatly diminish the need for them, consequently lowering the need for tools and making the game much easier. Thus, I believe Pioneers should not have any special promotions, and should not gain XP from building improvements, or other sources besides combat.

 

[raystuttgart]

I believe building improvements should take a lot of time and effort unless many Pioneers are used.
... will greatly diminish the need for them, consequently lowering the need for tools and making the game much easier.

What you are talking about is basically just a matter of balancing.

I have no intention to speed up the game in general (especially not early game) or make it generally easier.
If you saw all my other implementations then you should know that is not the way I implement new content.

Usually all my concepts have 2 goals:

1. Make the game more challenging
2. Add more strategic choices

We could do something like this e.g:

1. Time to build an Improvement (new) base value: 125% of current value
2. Time to build an Improvement with "appropriate level 1 promotion": 100% of current value
3. Time to build an Improvement with "appropriate level 2 promotion": 75% of current value

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1. It would allow strategic choices for specialized Pioneers. (Strategic choices are fun.)
2. Early game would be slowed down a bit. (More challenging and fun)
3. Late game would be sped up a bit. (Less tedious and fun.)

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Guys, do not worry about balancing.
Balancing will always be adjusted when new game mechanics are implemented.

Focus on the game memachnic itself if they sound fun or not.
In this case I really think it might add some fun and challenge.

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It may not be the most impressive concept we ever created, but it should add a little fun.
I also see no way that it could in any way damage game play if we just balance right.

 

[devolution]

Just chiming in here, but I'd like to voice my opinion that building improvements should cost tools (just like the original colonization) and perhaps also timber. I know this is a dissenting view though

 

[raystuttgart]

... building improvements should cost tools (just like the original colonization) and perhaps also timber ...

Generally it is not dissenting for me. It might add challenge and fun.
I just do not know how to implement it without ruining AI ...

But if you are interested to implement it, I do not mind that idea.
We could simply give it a try and see how it works in our internal testing.

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If you want to, let us discuss it.
Maybe you could start a new thread for it.

 

[nci]

What you are talking about is basically just a matter of balancing.

Indeed. I'd definitely tone down the impact improvements make, but I am a Marathon player, and lack perspective on how the game plays at other speed settings. For Marathon, even 10% per skill level improvement is impactful enough.

 

[Schmiddie]

I thought about civil promotions for city workers and found this thread for pioneers - which is to my understanding still in "accept" status. Maybe a feature for a version WTP 4.2 which we should have in mind?

 

[raystuttgart]

Sure, I still like this concept and plan to implement it at some point in time.
There is just really a lot of stuff that could be kept in mind for WTP 4.2.

 

[Schmiddie]

We should make a list for possible features....

 

[raystuttgart]

At the moment I would rather take things step by step as people are motivated and find time.
All the big planning has shown to be pretty pointless in the past ... nobody really cared about it anyways.

People shall work on whatever they are motivated whenever they are motivated.
If something is created at all ... little by little ... I am already happy.

 

[Schmiddie]

Agreed, as long as new modders do not destroy the previous work because they do not know what they are doing in the mod.

Nevertheless, we should somehow hold the current ideas or topics that are in the back of our minds or that are already being worked on?!

I for example would be interested in what you are currently planning - maybe I can support with grapics or achievements etc.