Jump to content

Hannibal_Barca

Lobby Moderators
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    410

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Hannibal_Barca

  3. New Release: 0 A.D. Alpha 22 Venustas

    in Announcements / News

    Posted · Edited by Hannibal_Barca

    I agree that the map name could possibly sound unclear as to which area is meant but I recall the description(also mine) says something about a more 'exact' location

    Also keep in mind that the player does not have to know everything.. keeping it vague might increase interest and stir curiosity

    You may also ask my colleague @elexis as he contributed a lot to these maps

    If you have tried this map out I hope you have found it both challenging and fun.

    Try out Polar Sea(if you haven't yet) for another taste of A22's special features

    Alternatively, play African Plains for a set-biome mainland type of map(the small lakes are mostly for decoration)

  4. Is Early Game Rushing Useless

    in Gameplay Discussion

    Posted

    Spear cavalry rush is super

    Depending on the starting resources you can immediately train a batch of spear cavalry and send them to the enemy.

    Usually(low res) you can afford 4 cavalry if you wait for your 1st horse to drop 20 food off(4×80) . This makes 5cavalry ans when they are done harvest the remaining chickens and send them to the enemy. If you have a reasonable BO then while your cavalry are causing havoc at min 1.5you can keep adding till you have about 15. Even if the enemy send out skirmish horse(which beat spear ones in small numbers) with continuous reinforcements your horse can take out his for few losses. After that its only a matter of building eco and keeping enemy holed up in CC. Usually they ragequit but some try to hang on. If you reach phase 2 you can choose between building another base just next to him or being content with him crippled and proceed to phase 3 with regular checks so that he doesn't recover. Enemy spears can be simply overwhelemed and if he doesn't have a wood supply(shouldn't have) then he can't keep it up and you have won the game(or part of it)

     

    Without spear cav..

    While technically it isn't a proper rush, one could as seleucids or ptolemies get to phase 22at around min 8, secure resources for a military colony(200 each) and build one just on his border

    If he doesn't have gatherers there(scout before you choose a place) and you have enough builders(should be all or almost all your men in case he finds and attacks) then you will get it up and have no trouble building towers to support it. If you are lucky you will be able to tower the enemy fields and/or mines

     

    There are other rushes such as phase2 sword cavalry ones and fanatic rush etc. but those can wait for another time

    • Like 1

  5. Newbie questions (suggestions for the manual)

    in Gameplay Discussion

    Posted

    Skirmishers are good targets for spear and sword cavalry (basically melee cavalry), archers same.

    Slingers take more cavalry but if they are few then can be wiped out. For massed slingers you need a champion cavalry army

     

    Swordsmen.. well.. don't fit in much

    Use them to destroy siege but as of this alpha they are quite poor

     

    If lategame then its quite simple for this alpha

    A slinger spam is very op and needs champion cavalry to deal with them. Alternatively, descend on them with fully upgraded spear champions and try to close the distance between troops asap.

     

    Roman cavalry champion armies are.. OP, they only fear spear champions, anything else is not an enemy, more like walking loot

    Mace champspam is extra OP, counter it with OP brit chariots or a huge slinger spam

    Those are the 3most OP armies yet there are ways to counter them

  6. Build Order

    in Gameplay Discussion

    Posted

    Setting up 2 wood sources earlier on is a much better move. Just in case 1 woodline gets attacked, at least you're getting wood somewhere else. Even if your enemy manages to know that, he'll be forced to divide his forces, weakening his rush.

     

    A smart enemy will have scouted your perimeter and then rushes. Why should he split his forces? If he has good manpower he will do well at the first attack then go to the 2nd site and finish the job there

    Setting up 2wood sources early can damage your economy if you aren't careful

    Unless you have on the 2d site only women which invites slaughter, you would have to split your own forces and this makes you more vulnerable to rushes

  7. Build Order

    in Gameplay Discussion

    Posted

    Alternatively, use the traditional 5 women batch and set them on berries, skipping the farmstead. While this makes gathering slower, it saves wood.

    Cavalry hunts chickens and the 4 initial men go on wood. If there are a few trees reasonably near to the CC then you can skip the storehouse act too. Of the initial 4 women, 3 go on berries and 1 starts building a house, even if your civ have big houses she will finish just in time. Make sure to have houses queued for build and she will keep ahead of pop at the very beginning.

    1st batch of women on berries, 2&3 wood, 4 & 5on extra berries with farmhouse or just farm

    Around min 4 start building a barracks with your men and then continuous production

    That was a boom strat

    If you feel like rushing you can choose an alternative start

    With a spear cav civ(rome/mace) you can choose a super fast rush

    Train 2cav and set them with starting one on chickens, delay setting of house and set 4 women on berries, 4men on wood. Train cav as soon as you have the resources. Once you finish chickens and have about 6 cav its around min 1. Send these to your enemy and target his/her/it's workers. This works devastatingly well if properly done.

     

    Or.. batch queue the maximum cav you can from starting res and just send them when done.

    Note that if these superfast cav rushes fail you will have a hard time recuperating. Still as spearcav are great raiders if you are smart you can manage. Meanwhile don't forget to work on base eco

    A spear cav rush will delay the enemy. With 6 or so at the start, keep training and sending to enemy while keeping the enemy boxed in. This way even if the enemy gets spears by that time you could have about 10-20 cavalry, use their instaattack skill to take out the spears if you see them vulnerable

  8. Baobob Trees on Random Maps

    in Gameplay Discussion

    Posted

    Build one storehouse where there are most trees around it

    For example, if you have 4 loosely spaced trees try to set a storehouse nearest to the middle(shortest equal distance to all). Do not favour 1 tree because once its gone workers will have to walk more to get the others.

    Baobab maps certainly do not ruin games, instead they make the player value wood,  be more economical and choose the best troops that save wood.

    This also encourages trade and expansion unlike some other maps.

    Instead of lamenting the stupidity of such a map and wishing for a rehost, try to turn this dire calamity to your advantage.

    After all, as iberians you have slingers that cost little wood. You can choose to train raiding cavalry to disrupt other players gathering the unfortunate baobabs

    Every random map challanges the player to adapt or fail, this is the ultimate test of your resourcefulness, endurance and skill

     

    Market barter can only take you so far

    Also there is a possible strategy even there. Stock up on extra food at the start and be the first to phase up and get a market. Once there, buy all the wood you can and in doing so you will ruin any players depending on barter.

     

    At the start, locate the area with the highest tree density and build a storehouse there. After, choose others etc

    If you cannot maintain villagers at work then too bad. Also, expand with barracks or houses towards possible gather sites, think of the future and prosper!

    • Like 1

  9. Fake accounts

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    21 hours ago, stanislas69 said:

    I love the phrasing /offtopic

    I feel flattered. :wub:

     

    (16:59:48) chrstgtr: you were chrstgtr

    (16:59:55) ragnarlothbrok: yeah but first i was borg

    (16:59:41) ragnarlothbrok: that was me joining as borg lol

    (17:00:36) chrstgtr: borg and mapkoc got super worked up about it last night

    (17:00:43) chrstgtr: they somehow couldnt figure it out

    Culprits caught red-handed.

     

    Avoiding 1v1 rated games to end with point loss is super easy. Just don't be in the lobby when defeated. This can be achieved easily and is a traceless way, unlike some people quitting or using elaborate methods to reach the same goal.

     

    • Like 3

  11. Multiplayer rankings

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Hannibal_Barca

    borg = borg- = borgsvn

    Cesar_SVN = Cesar

    palank = palank_svn

    fatherbushido = fatherbushido2 = fatherbushido_svn

    ffffffff = fpre

    Hannibal_Baraq = Hannibal_Barca

    JC = TurboBurger

    franksy07 = Franksy

    mo = moe__    --- mo is the used account, not moe__

     

    Also should banned accounts be left in the list?

  12. Multiplayer rankings

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Genskul = jc = zztop

    LeRoiScorpion = TheLegendary is a total troll, remove him please - no ddos-ers on the list

    drunkadius = arcadius

    txoz12 = borg-

    Merosvn = Merov

    svnUran238cz = Uran238cz

    as usual several Hannibal_Barcas and even 1 Hannibal_Baraq

    and fiji23 = me x)

     

  14. Multiplayer rankings

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    smurfs in this list:

    Trapast = pesem

    Please = smirno = Burger_III = Burger_II = BurgerExpress = JeanClaude = JC_TRUMP_World_&_Partners

    ragnarlothbrok = noobie

    LeRoiScorpion = TheLegendary

    defenderbenny = WW_Butcher

    zztop = Please

    moe__ = mo

    spolia_opima = PhyZic

    GlenRunciter = meiyo

    equilibrium = equilizer

    elexis2 = elexis3 = elexis4

    (red = banned)

    • Like 1

  15. Multiplayer rankings

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Hannibal_Barca

    This could be good but the game is full of smurfs, banned people and it's also a bit unrealistic in overall. For example trade shouldn't be really counted, some are great simmers at that. (or great abusers)

    (For more data see the a21 replays page's last few posts to get the link to my replays.)

    Also somehow i appear 3x in the list (not after arrows) :P

  16. [a21 replays]

    in Game Replays

    Posted

    Hi, I've decided to share my replays with whoever wants to see them.

    They can be found here.

    While most of the games are from a21 (comes in 5 parts), there are also some a20 and a22 (svn) games for you all to watch.

    I hope there are some replay fanatics out there who will jump with joy at this news :P

    These replays are also good if you want to learn the game a bit more, since I play acceptably well (most of the time) and I also play with "pro" people who each have their strategies.

     

    Good watching :D

    • Like 5

  20. Gameplay guideline

    in Applications and Contributions

    Posted

    1 hour ago, DarcReaver said:

    Mhhh.. I thought 0 AD features Civs during their respective "Iron Age" period or slightly later?  

    Quote

    “0 A.D.” is a time period that never actually existed: In the usual calendar, one goes from 1 B.C. to 1 A.D. and skips zero. This reflects the historical fiction in the game: Who would have won if all the factions were pitted against each other when each of them was at its prime?

     

    0 A.D. features each civilization at it's prime.

    • Like 1

  21. Application - Gameplay Developer

    in Applications and Contributions

    Posted · Edited by Hannibal_Barca

    On 3/13/2017 at 12:41 AM, DarcReaver said:

    Stuff that requires more work (create a script or some 2d editing on existing models):

    - adding metal/silver resource split
    - creating different damage types for balancing unit types against each other (imo having only hack/pierce/crush is not enough)
    - creating building dependencies (right now only possible with techs as a workaround)
    - unit production in batches instead of single units (as a first step into the hard lock battalion system) ------ I hope you know batch production is already there, just the hard battalion stuff to add
    - adjustment of bad game content (like the current trade. Depending on the solution new Art might be required or additional or edited scripts that affect trading)
    - hero abilities apart from inspirational auras

    My guess is that this will require more thought initially but also be relatively fast to be put in the game. As I'm not a talented coder I can't estimate the time it takes to modify a script, but my guess would be that stuff like above could also be done in a couple of weeks.

    Stuff that will require the most work (below again a selection of features I could think of):

    - hardlocked formations

    - unit combat: depending on how tactical the combat should be (and what can be done within the game engine limits) there are entirely new features to be implemented (below are examples):

    - unit turning & flanking bonuses
    - charge/trample system for cavalry/chariots/Elephants  --- Already planned for alpha 24.
    - sea combat with capturing (in case it's wanted) --- Already planned for alpha 24.
    - unit vision/truesight
    - varying accuracy over distances  --- Already in.

     

    • Like 1

  23. Gameplay guideline

    in Applications and Contributions

    Posted

    Redirecting conversation from Application: Gameplay Developer conversation:

    Quote

     On top of that every unit of course is trained in a couple of seconds so the enemy has enough villagers to raid within the first 30 seconds of the game...

    This isn't true, unless you are thinking of 2 horsemen "raiding". And it isn't just a matter of training time but of resources, if you produce men very early your economy will be will near 0 and if that raid fails the enemy will gain the upper hand.
     

    Quote


    I actually forced myself to play 2 more games yesterday evening against some random dudes. Apart from lagging the game itself was boring as @#$%. 20 minutes of fiddly economy management, followed by forcing 100 ant soldiers through a cliff to meet up against a horde of swordsmen to be slaughtered.

     

    The player can always choose the gamepace (or another player). If you choose to quietly eco boom and manspam then you will have that. You can choose to go on offensive with cavalry or build a 2nd CC next to the enemy and hope to wrestle his land away.

    Quote

    0 Formations, no tactical micro required apart from "right click next to army"  and "set barracks rallypoint", then a manspam train to get the battle going on.
    What is the point of having to manage 4 resources if all you need is to mass up one unit type for wood/lumber and then clash up the enemy?

    Firstly, you have 4 resources right? Food is needed for everything except building basically, wood for anything military, stone for building or slingers and metal for mercenaries/champs. If of these 4 resources you choose to only use 2 - thus creating "trash" armies- and fight using those, against an experienced player this will be for naught. That guy can either choose champs + siege or a mixed army of citizens, champs and seige. A good army needs all of the 4 resources, mostly wood and food (stone for slingers), but the better quality stuff needs metal.

    Fights also depend on how you arrive to the battlefield and in what way you engage. If you arrive in a long line you will probably get slaughtered. In a fight you can choose to detach a force to attack possible ranged units behind enemy melee, or attack any enemy siege threatening your buildings.

    Quote

    Second game : cavalry rushing around, taking out villagers until the player left after 10 minutes. Even though there was more action in this game it was still dumb. No strategy required, just build 5 women, train 3 horses and start raiding. without any thought or teching or a buildorder.

    Remember that the enemy can do almost exactly the same units as you can, if one can't defend vs. a cavalry rush with spears and cavalry...

    Quote

     

    Sure, it should be possible to rush/boom/turtle in an RTS, but those strategies should require buildorders or teching to differentiate between each other.


     

    Rushers tend to do less women, instead making first/2nd batch a batch of men. Building a barracks earlier is often done, and the type of food gathered usually is more vegetarian for non-rushers. (due to cavalry hunting) Also this way it is quite flexible, if you fail in rush you can try a smooth transition to an eco-centred build.

  24. Gameplay guideline

    in Applications and Contributions

    Posted

    1 minute ago, drsingh said:

    I have been playing rts since AoE1. I knew about the mod in those days. Rediscovered the project last year. And have read through a lot on the forum and that page you linked. :P

    I just want to help this game reach its potential faster. but i dont have any necessary skills to aid. :( 

    Play, get to be good, suggest, test, (learn from our most active dev in the lobby), in the end you might even become a moderator or just someone who is asked his opinion before things are done. This is my suggestion to everyone like you, I am online a lot of the time and can help you if you want. :)

    • Like 4
×
×
  • Create New...