Anyone else looking forward to the Fallen Enchantress Campaign? I know that the sandbox mode is the bread and butter of any strategy title, but I am really looking forward to seeing what Mr. Jon Shafer has been concocting for the campaign component of FE. Would it be too much to ask to get a portion of say ACT I in a future Beta release?
If it was up to me, they could scrap the campaign. Its sandbox all the way
Same here.
Sand box please.
I always enjoyed the campaigns in RTS-style games. Not everyone enjoys starting a game by being thrown into the deep-end. It's nice to be introduced to a game via a well-built narrative that establishes the lore with voice-acting and all the bells-and-whistles.
Speaking for myself, I'm looking forward to it.
Though I think I'll be in the minority on these boards. The campaign is to attract new players, so I don't think the people in the Beta are the target demographic.
For sure, sandbox is why i bought this game (WoM), but a good campaigne could help people to understand/dive into the lore. I really like good campaigns with a good story.
It sounds like you want tutorials and not campaigns They could be a bit of both..
I would like a campaign to see a bit of the lore of the game, get a feel of the Sovs and their nations. I think a campaign could be fun.
Agreed. If there is one thing about Sins of a Solar Empire that I really wanted, it was some lore to draw me into the world. A campaign is a perfect way to achieve this...of course it needs to be done correctly and not be a mess like WoM's was.
Thats what i mean to say...
They need to have a story to play to. Reviewers are not nice to raw simulation only games. Part of any great game is to play through, ie be a part of great story. Not everyone can just jump into a random sandbox game and have fun. Given the IP they seem to have made, I think it would be a mistake to not have a play through campaign to build up the story. They have a book. I have not read it... but if that can do that they should be able to make a story line to play through that would be fun
just my two cents...
I always loved Campaigns in RTS games. I'd go as far to say that in RTS I prefer the campaign while in TBS I usually prefer the sandbox.
But then again, I don't think I've seen a real campaign in a BTS before, I think the closest thing to come was in a mod- the Fall From Heaven scenarios.
I think most TBS campaigns (including Gal Civ) was like "here you go, an extra part of the story has been revealed, an extra weapon is unlocked, and here we have to take over the galaxy again (or take over a new galaxy).
No ... I think the Campaign should not be about taking over the same (or similar) maps over and over again.
Instead, start small, with each campaign the map gets a little bigger and you have to take over a little more (consistent/progressive).
Equally, some Campaigns should not involve cities in any way, and just be questing. You can still get gildar from defeating foes and selling loot however, so you can also use that gold to buy Mercenaries and potions.
--> "Each level should 'add' to the previous levels, as opposed to having to start from scratch, imho"
--> Some stages control of the cities should be taken away from you. Heck, maybe there is a civil war and most of the cities now belong to an enemy, or something.
--> Maybe you get deposed from the throne and you now have to SOLO against your former kingdom, relying only on mercenaries (and perhaps a few loyal soldiers).
I really think any campaign in the Fallen Enchantress universe should be very lore focused and story focused, with good story telling elements such as a strong hook, a sense of actual progression, possibly some twists, and a low point near the end (Dramatic turnaround by the enemy, followed by a necessary counter turnaround by the heroes)
Maybe the gates to the shadow realm are unleashed, maybe the hero needs to enlist the aid of either the dragons or the exalted ones (gets to choose between ancient heroes or dragons to help him).
Most 'conquer and expand' scenarios should take place on the same map, with previous progression saved for the next stage.
Primarily quest based (solo) expeditions can take place in entirely different maps however ... as a travel to other worlds, other continents, etc. (into the wildlands of the Calebethon, etc)
If you have to solo against your old kingdom however, you should be taken back to the same map your progress is on, and your own units, techs, and cities will now be working against you.
I would add that from a newbies perspective, it's going to be REALLY important that they understand that you can "die" and your heroes can "die" and you don't lose the game.
I'd put in a chapter where you start in a battle against an unbeatable monster and your army is obliterated and then you return to your city and need to race to build up your army and heroes to the point where you can destroy the beast before it reaches you.
I've always liked campaigns. It's great for a first playthrough. My only issue would be if the sandbox mode suffered in any way. I thought the scenarios/missions in Fall From Heaven were fun.
I am excited to see a good story from the campaign.
Never much liked campaigns in other games.
I expect it could be a good intro to the game world for new buyers after the game comes out, but by that time most of us here will have already gotten most the intro we need from the beta.
I like campaigns, but for a game with an engine like this one, I think that independent scenarios would work better. Follow the model that the Civ games used: a sandbox mode that takes the player through history, or independent scenarios that engage unique rules and objectives.
Thus, if there is a specific story to be told in the game, it needs to be told in 'sandbox' mode. I think of how Alpha Centauri did this, and of course the Civ games do this, too, through retelling the progression of human civilization's history.
Hmm ... yes perhaps a different "open world" scenario for each of the factions, in a different period of time (right before that nation's rise to power)
If we are stuck with one faction for all the scenarios though ... (or have at least one 'progressive campaign' that does multiple scenarios with one faction) then I still prefer my own idea (a few posts back).
I"ll bet we will be pleasantly surprised by what they have come up with.
I actually sorted liked the campaign in EWoM - if it had stopped crashing on me and I'd been able to complete it (during the beta). If an FE campaign could show some of one or more (preferably more) faction's lore and special talents/abilities, I think it would be a big plus to new players (and reviewers).
I am really not interested in the campaign. Generally find them rather teeth grinding. Particularly after the disaster of the various iterations of the WoM campaign I will be steering a wide berth around this one.
But I am quietly hopeful (maybe even quietly optimistic ) that we'll get quite a good campaign this time.
I'm afraid that the campaign won't be part of the beta, so you'll just have to wait until the game is officially released before you'll be able to play it.
We've put quite a bit of time into it, so those of you who were disappointed by the WoM campaign should still give it a shot. All I'll say right now is that it's fairly long and has a good amount of optional content.
- Jon
Yeah, I wasn't expecting it in the beta. But my previous comment still stands.
I agree. Campaigns in TBS games always suck. Sandbox FTW!!!!!!!!
Edit: However I will give it a try but if it is in the same format as other TBS/RTS campaigns where you do a series of small/medium maps at a time then I will soon quit it and go to Sandbox.
Looking forward to the Campaign!
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