If we dont Quid Pro Quo, this is the last dance

Age of Empires IV IV - Discussion
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Since the launch, the game has always felt somewhat incomplete. Not because it needed to have everything from day one, but because at almost every stage there was this constant sense that something was missing.

At the beginning, as with any game, there were obviously many things to improve. But here, even the most basic details—like color selection or ranked games—were lacking. We were forced to play in just blue or red, when an RTS in 2021 should at least offer some colors as a bare minimum.

We’ve also been dragging an input delay since release. To this day, we don’t know the real reason why it persists, but it reduces the impact of player skill and remains a frustrating burden for someones.

Regarding civilizations, of course we didn’t expect all of them at launch. We knew the game would grow. While that was a disappointment for some, it also carried the hope of future expansion.

Balance has had its ups and downs, but overall it has improved. The new biomes are amazing, seasonal changes are a fantastic touch, the new game mode looks brilliant, and the expanded player color selection was a much-needed improvement.

Then came variants. From the very beginning, they generated strong rejection, especially for those of us used to playing empires. Suddenly, we were being asked to play with individuals (Jean…).
But I admit that if handled well, variants could become one of the best decisions ever made for Age of Empires IV. From both a developer’s and a player’s perspective—casual or professional—it’s a clever way to maximize development resources.

But variants should complement civilizations, not invade all their ecosystem. Right now, we have 12 base civilizations and 10 variants. The number of variants is impressive and can definitely be improved further, but the 12 base civs feel too few.

I understand these have been tough years for Relic, and I’m not sure if Microsoft is investing as heavily as I expected in such an iconic franchise of them.

That’s why I want to make something clear: you have my full support. I own the game, I’ve bought every DLC, and I’ll continue to back this project. I even spoke with all my RTS friends and urged them to buy all.
Complaining for the sake of complaining only leads to closed doors and abandonment. What we need is a quid pro quo: we provide financial support and community engagement, and in return we ask to be heard—and at the very least, not left in radio silence.

If immediate support isn’t enough, try early-access preorders. Trust me: players’ eyes and wallets will burn with desire if you offer certain long-requested features.

Just to finish and to open this forum for debate and proposals, Here’s what, personally, would rekindle my passion for the game a lot more:

Civilizations (short-term priority):

  • Spanish and Portuguese (easy to research, close historical ties).
  • Slavs (transition from Vikings to kingdoms, implemented however you see fit).
  • Mesoamerican civilizations
  • Poland and Lithuania.

Gameplay & Technical fixes:

  • Input lag: at least provide information about what’s being done.
  • Translation errors: in Spanish, many texts are cut off or confusing. Example: Templar age upgrades show incomplete text, and “Spearmen” and “Lancer” use the same term. These fixes shouldn’t take long—and if you need help, ask.
  • Competitive ranking system: show it in-game, and add rewards for Top 10 and Top 100 players. Motivate people to compete and stream.
  • Post-game statistics: improve the interface, add key data (villagers killed, villagers lost, idle Town Center time, army value on timeline, etc.).
  • Editor: can it be improved or expanded?
  • Multiplayer notifications: currently excessive. Joining a group feels like getting spam mail.
  • Desynchronization / reconnection: allow rejoin, and above all avoid remakes in competitive matches (especially for pros). It damages both Relic’s and Microsoft’s image.
  • Co-op mode: I assume this is already being considered.
  • Replay controls: please, allow us to rewind!

Developers, you have my full support to make this game reach the level we all know it deserves. Everyone here plays AoE out of love for the series—now let’s work together to turn that love into its best version yet.

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I can share most of the post but not the main point.

I quid pro quo’d up to Knights of Cross and Rose. Now it’s over. I won’t boycott the DLC but I’ll never pay more than half its price. It’s still a compromise, actually, but not so favourable to the Devs as you say.

No more blind trust and carte blanche from me. I don’t feel like me or mostly anyone is heard nor spoken clearly to. So enough of that.

What was the last time a survey was taken? Did they even bother fathoming for Variant Civs reception before putting them out and degenerating the game? Most of the fans aren’t just competitive players that only want a balanced and varied gameplay, what about all the historic representation this game can’t be without? If they think “history based” Variants are the winning formula well then they totally aren’t listening to us.

So it’s rather the time to quit quid pro quoing.

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I backed The Sultans Ascend for the two civs and the campaign, not the 4 variants. Now I only got 6 variants.

Unless they come out and make the promise (which, of course, they could and would manipulate later, but better than nothing), I think our money will only fund more and more variants.

Edit: the unquestioned trust of “they are cooking something good” is precious. It was carefully maintained for two decades. Yet they take it for granted and exploit again and again until no one trusts them anymore.

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Respectable. I just hope the funds raised this year will be used to create main civs from 0 with new voices, sounds, aesthetics… Last dance for me!
But the radio silence is also what infuriates me the most. This year I will try to be more active on their main Discord to see if they at least start by fixing the Spanish translation.

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