Leaderboard

So, as promised: a few screenshots with notes. Here I remodeled the ventilation meshwork at the side of the roman 5. Step one, the model with the old one removed. Step two, model only two wooden beams, uv-map them, use mirror-modifier (for right-left symmetry). Step three, use the array modifier to have as many of them at hand as one wishes. Step four, use the curve modifier, together with a curve (nurbs in this case), to have the mesh fit the opening. Also change the array modifier from fixed count to fit curve length. Step five, apply modifiers and manually adjust vertices when needed (use proportional editing to save time). Step six, example bake of this high quality 3D model to an incomplete low poly mesh with only 12 polys for demonstration. As you can see, simple baking already produces pretty good results, however in this case some texture editing would be required to really have convincing textures.

Hmm.... capturing. I think it would be good to limit capturing buildings to something more special, like you destroy all buildings like old school, but capture civic centers (and mercenary camps). Capturing civic centers becomes something special and focused.

The following is more about the general direction rather than a simple balance. To keep it short I'll just point the main things. Reduce general movement speed: sometime with fastest units I get trouble clicking on them (even mine). Reducing the movement speed will contribute to get longer battle and have more time to react, which was one of the key point of alpha 18 rebalancing. Review pikemen: add speed, damage and reduce armor to be more threatening (and useable). The long range differenciate them from spearmen when they fight in pack with a lot of them on the same target (plus initiative), but they should still be weaker individually. I already suggested from pre alpha 18 to try to mostly stick to the counterscheme from the design documents (with softcounters) but it must be clear that it is still relevant before spending more time adjusting stats in that way (otherwise play Delenda Est). I made some changes in that direction if it interests someone.