Hi all,
not many people enjoy the AoE2 naval battles, even less watching them. The visuals are just absolutely bonkers, and totally unphysical as well.
In Anno 1404, from 2009, naval battles are just 10 times more enjoyable to watch. Yes, it is 3D, but still, please AoE2, get rid of your cartoon-style, mal-dimensioned naval battles.
Sorry to say that, but it really is an insult to my eyes.
Have you head of a game called Age of Empires 3?
But jokes aside. I think the issue is that the engine doesn’t allow units to shoot from their sides.
Its possible to do you just need to change the graphic a little,e ven fire on ships is doable.only thing is do we really need these things?
how does the hussite wagon work then?
There is many things.
True. But isn’t that 360°?
Ships would realistically only be able to fire from the side an also not turn quickly. Naval battles used to be mostly about positioning and using the winds to your advantage.
Very different from the way the micro works atm and not sure if it would be build in into the engine in a way that feels fun to play.
You want ships to be bigger, less agile and have multiple damage states?
Multiple damage states are generally realistic but that would apply to like all units and buildings but literally only one unit has that, the Jian Swordsman.
I’m often torn by your comments. It’s clear you’re rather resistant to many ideas for innovations. I can partly understand that, because if we were to implement many of the ideas already discussed here, we’d eventually end up with a completely new game.
On the other hand, I think we should allow certain developments to happen. Otherwise, Age of Empires 2 risks losing all its appeal, simply because it’s become too outdated. Generally, I don’t think engine overhauls are dangerous for the core gameplay experience. Spears are for thrusting, so why shouldn’t ships realistically fire volleys from the side? The question isn’t whether we need it. Ultimately, we don’t really need anything. We don’t need more civilizations either. But in my opinion, it’s also about optimizing the game wherever possible.
Yes, literally the naval battle of Anno 1404 is the naval battle of AoE 3…
still more cartoon-ish than Anno 1404 but yes, getting there.
AoE2 is inherently cartoony.
Is it realistic that Crossbows can reload while marching at full speed? No.
Is it realistic that a Catapult can turn within a second and also reload while moving? No.
Is it realistic that Cavalry can dodge cannon balls? No.
The way units work is very simplified, gamified if you want to call it that. If you want to change all those things the game becomes an entirely different game. It’s like asking to add weapon malfunctions and simulation of injuries to Call of Duty.
So AoE3 and AoE4 trying to find a compromise between the very abstract ways of AoE2 and the realistic ways of like a Total War. But they are other games that generally function different then AoE2.
Some eye candy such as animated sails and oars, and sinking animations would be very welcome. But let’s see how much comes with the naval rework.
Making units more realistic in their behaviour would indeed make it closer from a TW. I don’t say it would be bad, but it would be a radical departure from what we have, and the game balance would need being entirely redone to accomodate that.
The discussion in this thread raises the question for me: what further development is even possible in your opinion before the game is changed too drastically?
Where do you see potential for improvement that wouldn’t cause problems?
Reskins, diplomacy, the economy (resources, food, trade), or, as is currently the case, water?
Where else do you see possibilities? I could imagine innovations in all of the areas mentioned above.
I hear AoE3 is pretty much finished. Couldn’t some of its content be used in AoE2?
I think the bigger point is: Why do anything radical to an established game like aoe2. for radical changes aoe4 exists. if they want to have another new game, make aoe5
I think we already crossed that point in the DoI expansion
I think something elementary changed when new civs started to distinguish themselves through gimmicks instead of stat changes
Another major difference : broadsides were not from the time of AOE2, that’s AOE3’s territory. AOE2 is moving toward a melee sea combat, as was the case at the time.
Yes, but it’s mostly because of the large ships and their slow animations, but all in all, they have realistic attacks (the galleons and frigates turn sideways to attack and the monitor ship attacks from long range like the cannon galleon from AoE 2)…
Yes, the fauna and flora of that game… I proposed batch creation of certain units that take a long time to create, but some people told me that would be too much…
Of course, broadside combat in AoE 2 wouldn’t make sense, since there are no naval gunpowder units and weapons until the Imperial Age… at most, naval combat should be like in AoE 4, and it will be with the upcoming naval rework to resemble AoE 4 (which incorporates the Hulk/Carrack line) and the explosion attack of the Fire Galley line when is sunked…
because everyone hates the ugly, clunky and undimenisonal naval battle. It’s aweful to watch in tournaments.
thats totally fine, but make it look REASONABLE and not cartoonish, teddy-ish and totally unphysical
Improving the collision boxes (yes overstacking is ridiculous) and having more animations such as sinking animations (and as I’m greedy when it comes to visuals, add alternative sinking animations depending on the damage taken : bombarded burned with fire arrow, greek fire, exploded, rammed…) would solve much of the visual feeling.
