Hi there devs I’m sorry the forum is on fire. I don’t like the new DLC either but damn.
I come to you today, humbly, to suggest a direction future content updates to the game can go, as I recognize there is a substantial fatigue with new civs and concerns of power creep I do agree the next new civs added to the game should be some time later, after careful deliberation.
The campaign crowd I think would take to a more carefully crafted DLC, and do believe that’s a valid option with more deliberate effort put into it.
However I’m not here to talk about that today. I’m here to talk about CUSTOM GAMES. A longrunning staple of the RTS, a longrunning staple of AOE2 too, however it is something that I feel has fallen by the wayside in the modern day, and has always been smaller relative to other successful RTS like Warcraft 3.
I suggest that the devs release an expansion entirely focused around bolstering the scenes custom games by putting the means to play them in the players hands more directly and bolstering the abilities of the scenario editor.
What I think should be included in the expansion:
Updates to the systems in the scenario editor and make it possible to achieve “Warcraft 3 tier” customization of the game for custom maps. Better support for unique assets, perhaps a “Sprite maker” that can handle models and automatedly rotoscope them into AOE style sprites. Better support for custom scripting, custom units, and custom mechanics. If I can’t make a DOTA clone in the AOE2 scenario editor you haven’t gone far enough!
A substantial collection of official versions of beloved custom games from across the eras of AOE2! Castle Blood Automatic, Nothings, exploding kings and Diplofish certainly, but now-forgotten and oft unplayed customs like Dodgeball! Perhaps even ports of popular custom maps from other games, such as Kodo Tag from Warcraft 3! Easily hostable by any player who wants to without having to track any obscure map down!
An official AOE2 dota! (DOTC? Defense of the Castle?? Maybe Defense of the Wonder?) Which has the potential to pop-off as a third branch of the competitive ladder.
A collection of single player scenarios that take advantage and specifically show off what the improvements to the scenario editor are capable of (Think Mario Maker levels vs regular Mario levels in terms of how different it would be to a normal scenario)
Tutorials on how to use the scenario editor effectively!
What I think needs to happen in the patch coinciding with the expansion
Officially ban and begin purging all Xbox rewards host lobbies as it kills the lobby browsers viability
Add a “Take me to a custom game” button that will instantly find you an official custom game that is being hosted/host a random one for others to join if none are available.
Ability for players who don’t have the expansion pack to play on maps that take advantage of the new assets
Growing the custom games scene I think would do wonders to help the games longterm health. It’s a wonderful cross section between the hardcore scene and the casual scene. Still multiplayer, but with varied rules that can even the playing field. Keeping this branch of the game healthy will be healthy for comp and single player fans as well!