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[inky]

Very common criticisms all. Path-finding was exceptionally poor during the beta, I could actually make my units get lost in the forest by sending them in particular groups, although I agree that seeing some units dance back and forth was really fun back then.

I agree with attack move as well. When you send a good sized infantry unit only the front line will attack the enemy, while the guys in the back will cluster together to chit chat or something. I also don't like who archers never stick to the back lines, that is some grouping 101 shit.

I didn't realize there was no audio cue when you get attacked. Are you sure? Maybe its because I'm constantly looking at my mini-map (where it is obvious when you are) that I have not noticed it.

All in all, it's a fun game, but if you go free you soon hit the wall for stuff (especially cluttering you inventory) that you can't really use or do.

 

[REV 09]

I actually really like the game. I agree with some of the complaints, but the game is generally more casual than other RTS games and I'm finding it very enjoyable. I do miss the story from AoE2...though i don't remember much of it. I hope the game sticks around for a while, and if it does face an immature death; hopefully a full-fledged AoE game will take its place.

 

[ElRenoRaven]

The more I play this game, some of the initial sheen is wearing off. I guess my ongoing feeling towards it will depend on how well some of these problems are addressed, presumably the MMO part of it will call for ongoing patching and support and fixed alongside the DLC coming down the pipeline.

-Co-op becomes much, much choppier and sufferes from frame rate drops compared to playing by yourself. It's really not conducive to a good co-op experience.

-The co-op problems already mentioned (one partner can't see quest objectives and so on) are still a little frustrating.

-Pathfinding is atrocious. My friend and I were trying a co-op naval mission together and we were trying to get 20 of our triremes through a narrow channel. It resulted in a hilarious yet aggravating traffic clusterfuck that took nearly a whole minute of co-ordinated manual fiddling to disentangle. This is just one example, the boat pathfinding is in general terrible and the ground pathfinding is better but not by a whole lot.

-the Attack move command seems to have very few, if any, priorities. That means my units will as soon attack move a wall as the guard tower standing right next to it.

-Attack move is often broken. For example, attack moving 10 triremes to a location near an enemy will result in the first 4 or 5 triremes attacking that enemy, but the ones towards the back will just sit there, not moving or attacking. Right clicking on that specific enemy will force them to go in and attack.

-There is no reason for most maps to start with just 5 villagers. That might make sense for the multiplayer, but in single-player why not just start the player off with 10 or 15 once the missions get going. You need several dozen villagers, so why not speed it up a little. The first 3 or 4 minutes of each mission is just setting up your villagers yet again.

-Why on earth is there no audio cue when your units are under attack? In that same naval mission with my friend, there were two separate occasions where an enemy trireme fleet demolished all my boats while I was managing my base and I didn't even notice.

A lot of this fairly basic RTS stuff (pathfinding, audio attack cues, attack move) and I hope it gets fixed quickly.

I don't co-op so I couldn't say anything about those. The pathfinding has always been atrocious from the beginning. It was believe it or not a hell of a lot worse in the beta. Half your troops would just stand there and not move half the time. Then when they would they'd get stuck easily or would go 5 million miles out of the way to go around something. You still see that stuff somewhat but it's a hundred times better then it was.

Also there is a short sound when you're being attacked as well as a notification on your mini map.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

If they would change three things about this game I would love it.

1. House population is way too small for how long it takes to build one. I thought the days of spamming houses were over once AoM came out.

2. No detailed stats for units is really stupid. I don't care how clean you're trying to make the interface, give us the option for detailed stats.

3. The delete unit/building confirmation popup should optional. I don't want to spend 15 seconds deleting what should have taken me 1.

And of course, fix things like the pathfinding bugs.

 

[elrechazado]

If they would change three things about this game I would love it.

1. House population is way too small for how long it takes to build one. I thought the days of spamming houses were over once AoM came out.

2. No detailed stats for units is really stupid. I don't care how clean you're trying to make the interface, give us the option for detailed stats.

3. The delete unit/building confirmation popup should optional. I don't want to spend 15 seconds deleting what should have taken me 1.

And of course, fix things like the pathfinding bugs.

Totally agree. I'd spend 20 skill points just to make houses give ten pop instead of 5. So annoying.

 

[FieryBalrog]

The worst part is you can't queue up houses and queued units take up population (and you can't queue anymore if you don't have pre-existing population room for them). The system is pretty much copied straight from Age 2 which is a little bizarre and lazy.

If you want to queue up 6 triremes, 4 villagers and 6 soldiers you better have the headroom for 28 population.

 

[inky]

Well, you can queue up house construction. Shift+H or shift+click house and just keep placing them (you can do this with any building). Of course, they don't raise your virtual pop limit until they are actually done, but yes, the limit is pretty small per house so you pretty much have to spam them at some point.
(I love how in Red Alert 2 there wasn't a set pop limit, but you could build up to how many resources you had. Massive battles were insane).

 

[FieryBalrog]

learn something new, I tried doing shift-H and it didn't work although maybe I was doing something wrong (perhaps you have to hold shift as you give the first command). I'll try it out.

Edit: neither one works...

Double edit: weird, now the "left click" option works, the shift-H option has not worked at all though. Sometimes when I alt-tab, hotkeys stop working until I hit "esc" and then resume the game from the menu. I think that was messing it up.

 

[Hoffer]

I have a game play question. How do you queue up repairs on a fence? I know it can be done, but I can't figure it out. You hold down shift to queue up building and moving around the map, but it doesn't seem to work for me on repairs.

I ended up buying the $40 deal for both premium civs and defense of crete. I'm no star RTS player and just enjoy building up armies and rolling over the enemies. I hate playing a match for 10-20 minutes only to get beat by the AI. So, I often watch an upcoming quest on youtube so I know what to expect. Yes, I'm lame.

I got my Greek civ to 20 last night and my Egyptian civ is at 10. My gamertag is Hoffer and I'm on Abydos. Reading back on the thread, it seems people around here chose Athens?

 

[ElRenoRaven]

I have a game play question. How do you queue up repairs on a fence? I know it can be done, but I can't figure it out. You hold down shift to queue up building and moving around the map, but it doesn't seem to work for me on repairs.

I ended up buying the $40 deal for both premium civs and defense of crete. I'm no star RTS player and just enjoy building up armies and rolling over the enemies. I hate playing a match for 10-20 minutes only to get beat by the AI. So, I often watch an upcoming quest on youtube so I know what to expect. Yes, I'm lame.

I got my Greek civ to 20 last night and my Egyptian civ is at 10. My gamertag is Hoffer and I'm on Abydos. Reading back on the thread, it seems people around here chose Athens?

I did. Don't know about the others. At the time I got to play which was the pre-release phase that got in Aug 1st there were only 2 english servers at that time. Athens and Marathon. So I went with Athens cause it was first on the list.

 

[FieryBalrog]

I'm on Athens as well (FieryBalrog). I have no idea how to queue up repairs on the fence, though.

 

[Djamb3]

Installed it this week and been loving it so far. However where are the pvp modes? Do you need a specific level to unlock it?

 

[elektrixx]

I gave up on this game. The Egypt level where you have to defend you base for 10 minutes really pissed me off. It's impossible.

What really annoyed me before that level was how little the game was actually teaching me how to play. I learned about queueing and grouping from Giant Bomb's TNT.

I hate how you can't automatically set new units to a group. Such an unrefined game.

Halo Wars was much better. The All Units button was reliable!

 

[Dynoro]

If they would change three things about this game I would love it.

1. House population is way too small for how long it takes to build one. I thought the days of spamming houses were over once AoM came out.

2. No detailed stats for units is really stupid. I don't care how clean you're trying to make the interface, give us the option for detailed stats.

3. The delete unit/building confirmation popup should optional. I don't want to spend 15 seconds deleting what should have taken me 1.

And of course, fix things like the pathfinding bugs.

You can get detailed stats for units by mousing over the unit portrait if memory serves.

 

[Tworak]

build slinger build slinger build slinger build slinger build slinger build slinger

x]

 

[ElRenoRaven]

I gave up on this game. The Egypt level where you have to defend you base for 10 minutes really pissed me off. It's impossible.

What really annoyed me before that level was how little the game was actually teaching me how to play. I learned about queueing and grouping from Giant Bomb's TNT.

I hate how you can't automatically set new units to a group. Such an unrefined game.

Halo Wars was much better. The All Units button was reliable!

You talking about the sandstorm quest or whatever it was after you took the oasis? If so yea ranged units will be your best friend along with a few of the units that destroy mounted units. You get plenty of those two then fill in with melee. I remember yanking my hair out over that one.

 

[FieryBalrog]

On that mission you start with a bunch of Desert Archers. I built a bunch of slingers and some spearmen for the cavalry to add to that. Remember to mine stone so you can repair walls and towers. Oh and get some priests to heal your dudes, priests make everything 2x easier.

Its not hard to add units to a control group. If you want to add some units to control group 1, select them and press "shift 1".

 

[elektrixx]

Adding units to a group is hard because you have to manage every single dude that you build on the fly. And then there's always a villager standing right next to everyone I want to highlight just to piss me off.

Fuck this game.

And yes I was talking about the Sandstorm level. The same level where I tell villagers to repair walls and they run around to the opposite side of the wall.

FUCK THIS GAME.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

You can get detailed stats for units by mousing over the unit portrait if memory serves.

You can, but that's hardly convenient and they're still not very detailed.

 

[ElRenoRaven]

Adding units to a group is hard because you have to manage every single dude that you build on the fly. And then there's always a villager standing right next to everyone I want to highlight just to piss me off.

Fuck this game.

And yes I was talking about the Sandstorm level. The same level where I tell villagers to repair walls and they run around to the opposite side of the wall.

FUCK THIS GAME.

LOL. Yea That's just another example of the AI and pathfinding not being that great.Plenty of room on the inside of your wall where they can't get killed so fast yet they half the time go gee I'll run out into the huge mob trying to kill us. That's why I micromanage the villagers to prevent that. It's more work but helps keep them alive.

 

[elrechazado]

I have to rant about boat ai. We all know the terrible pathfinding on galleys and whatnot.

But FISHING BOATS WTF. They can be 2 feet from a patch of fish, but if you didn't send them there, they'll just idle. Villagers can go find new wood, fishing boats in aoe2 weren't this freaking stupid. So annoying.

 

[FieryBalrog]

Adding units to a group is hard because you have to manage every single dude that you build on the fly.

Most RTS have this problem. The few that don't, have an opposite problem. Like in TA/SupCom 1 where the factory itself had to be part of the hotkey group and every single unit that came out (engineers and all) was added to the group. Also you had the annoying problem where if you wanted to add a new unit to the group, the factory got deselected out of the group.

If you want pitch perfect hotkey grouping you're going to have to micromanage either way.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

I know this is my own fault for jumping into PVP at a relatively early level (pre-20), but goddamn does it suck to have someone on the ropes and not have powerful enough units to kill them off. In some games, I've had 90% map control, a ton of resources and units but not been able to deliver a killing blow.

 

[famousmortimer]

I am new and still low level (8) but thus far I am absolutely smitten with the game. I can see some of the problems but so far they get a pass from me just due to the scope of the game. It really is like a MMO, so much like World of Warcraft I'm ok with the battlegrounds (pvp) being a bit unbalanced because thats kinda the nature of a grindy, level based RPG. Its just odd because it's a rts.


If and when I want serious, hardcore pvp.... I have (and love) Starcraft 2. That isn't what this is going for. This game just clicks with my OCD is all the right ways. "Just one more quest" turns into an all night affair. And yeah, maybe my guys get lost in the woods or a fishing boat doesn't know to fish from a site 5 pixels away... but the sum is greater than the parts.



That said, fix this shit Microsoft. Early WoW was in the same boat but over time they were able to squash their major problems. Hopefully gas powered games can do the same.

 

[FieryBalrog]

GPG has posted a list of proposed/upcoming content and changes somewhere, I'll try to find it. I was annoyed to see that pathfinding was not on that list.

 

[LuchaShaq]

Two small questions if anyone knows.

If you lose a type of unit during a point reset what happens to their gear?

Is it normal to ask others if they can make something for your own materials + a tip wow style? Asked a few times in trade but it blasts by so fast noone reads anything

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Any word on when the Celts will be available? I've stopped playing this game as I have no interest in the Greeks or Egyptians.

 

[FieryBalrog]

Supposed to be December IIRC.

 

[Winnie the Pimp]

i still haven't tried this yet, is it worth it still if i don't wanna invest money?

 

[falastini]

i still haven't tried this yet, is it worth it still if i don't wanna invest money?

You might as well give it a shot, you won't lose anything. It can be slightly annoying as a non-paid account, but you still get a decent amount of content for free.

I'm at level 16 Greek atm, and I have no intention of paying $20 for one civ. I still find it pretty enjoyable. I do have a few gripes (price being one), but I'll get into that another time.

 

[Batgirl]

Celts and the Skirmish Hall Booster Pack will be released Holiday.

Persians (the first pro civ!) will be coming this October (as currently scheduled, as always, subject to change but we're hoping not (Note I'm saying this just to cover my bum))

/shill mode active
There's no monetary cost to try, so there's really not a reason to not try the game out.
/shill mode deactivate

 

[ElRenoRaven]

Celts and the Skirmish Hall Booster Pack will be released Holiday.

Persians (the first pro civ!) will be coming this October (as currently scheduled, as always, subject to change but we're hoping not (Note I'm saying this just to cover my bum))

/shill mode active
There's no monetary cost to try, so there's really not a reason to not try the game out.
/shill mode deactivate

Um sorry to tell you that there is. Someone has to pay for the internet to play the game and the electricity.

Glad to see you show up around here again btw.

 

[Batgirl]

Um sorry to tell you that there is. Someone has to pay for the internet to play the game and the electricity.

Glad to see you show up around here again btw.

Smart aleck.
I never left! Just been SO busy I've only had time to lurk!

 

[ElRenoRaven]

Smart aleck.
I never left! Just been SO busy I've only had time to lurk!

uh huh sure you have. lol

 

[Fitz]

No idea how rare it is, but I just bought 4 lucky chests from the Empire Points store, the first three gave me sacks of coins that vendor for 1 gold, but the sack of coins from the fourth was Epic and sold for 5000 gold to the vendor. I haven't come across anything worth spending money on yet though unfortunately, everything good requires various city points it seems.

 

[Rodney McKay]

Will you be able to play the new races for free or will they only be paid content?

 

[ElRenoRaven]

No idea how rare it is, but I just bought 4 lucky chests from the Empire Points store, the first three gave me sacks of coins that vendor for 1 gold, but the sack of coins from the fourth was Epic and sold for 5000 gold to the vendor. I haven't come across anything worth spending money on yet though unfortunately, everything good requires various city points it seems.

Yea. It's so nice when you get the epic sack and those 5k gold. lol

 

[Batgirl]

Will you be able to play the new races for free or will they only be paid content?

The Celts will have the free to play component like the Greeks and the Egyptians. The Persians will be a Pro civ (You start at level 20), but will have a "demo" quest where you can play as or against the Persians.

 

[bangai-o]

is this a browser game? I cannot dl any programs on the Uni computers.

 

[Des0lar]

Adding units to a group is hard because you have to manage every single dude that you build on the fly. And then there's always a villager standing right next to everyone I want to highlight just to piss me off.

Fuck this game.

And yes I was talking about the Sandstorm level. The same level where I tell villagers to repair walls and they run around to the opposite side of the wall.

FUCK THIS GAME.

I don't want to sound like a dick, but have you played any RTS before AOEO? It's ways been like that in most RTS. It's relly easy to manage that actually, if you know your hotkeys.

Rally all your troops to a location where no villagers work.
Select your group (i.e. group 1) -> Shift + doublelclick (or draw a bix with your mouse if you want to add every unit) on the units you want to add -> press ctrl+# (i.e. 1)
Done.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

is this a browser game? I cannot dl any programs on the Uni computers.

No, it's a dedicated client with relatively advanced 3D graphics.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

I really wish Egyptian priestesses counted as both civilians and military units so enabling easy military select didn't make it harder to task priests and villagers on the same building.

 

[Fitz]

Has anyone managed to purchase anything for this game recently? I've been trying to buy Defence of Crete for 2 days but no matter if I try through the dedicated GFW marketplace program that opens with AoE or the website itself, I keep getting an ambiguous "An error has occured" message.

 

[Batgirl]

Has anyone managed to purchase anything for this game recently? I've been trying to buy Defence of Crete for 2 days but no matter if I try through the dedicated GFW marketplace program that opens with AoE or the website itself, I keep getting an ambiguous "An error has occured" message.

Hey Colkate, what region are you in?

 

[Fitz]

Hey Colkate, what region are you in?

Sorry, I was away for a few days so I've only just managed to get back on my PC, I'm in the UK.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

So I tried to boot the game up today and...it apparently has deleted itself. The shortcut on my desktop points to nothing, it doesn't show up in my Windows 7 Games folder and trying to launch it through the GFW Marketplace gives me an "Unspecified error".

Wtf :|

 

[ElRenoRaven]

So I tried to boot the game up today and...it apparently has deleted itself. The shortcut on my desktop points to nothing, it doesn't show up in my Windows 7 Games folder and trying to launch it through the GFW Marketplace gives me an "Unspecified error".

Wtf :|

Wow. Did you do any big changes to your computer? The Windows 7 a new operating system? Repair of it? anything like that?

 

[FieryBalrog]

Is anyone still playing this? It's weird, I thought this game would explode ("the perfect casual formula") when I first played it, but I'm not seeing many people on and hardly anyone is talking about it =/

I played a little today and I was just struck by how much I would rather be playing Dawn of War 2, Starcraft 2 or Red Alert 3. It just doesn't fix any of the problems which plagued AoE 2 regarding pathfinding and combat and is in some ways a step backwards (or actually many, many steps backwards regarding PvP).

I was just playing for the sake of unlocks and XP and that MMO hook never resonates that well with me. Normally I love skirmish mode and PvP the most, and the former's not in, while the latter's just broken.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

There's nothing really special about it gameplay-wise, in my opinion. I also rather dislike the Facebook game art style, and neither of the current civilizations interest me in the slightest. Needing to grind a ton of bullshit missions to unlock tech is kind of boring, too. That stuff is fine in an RTS campaign with a proper story, but it's more akin to WoW-era fetch quests than anything like that.

With that said, I'll definitely give it another try when the Celts are released.

 

[Apath]

I loved Age of Empires I & II, and I've been playing skirmishes in 3 a lot lately. However, I just don't have any interest in this. I don't know why.

My favorite thing has always been designing awesome looking fortresses (or in the case of 2, castles) and fending off sieges, and I just don't get the feeling that you can do much of that with this. So maybe that's why? Dunno.