Currently, in order to create a new civ you require a third party software. Additionally, we cannot add new mod civs to AOE2:DE, unless we create a unique tech in the Dark age that changes an existing civ to the new one (see Tamil civ mod).
This custom civilization builder would allow players to easily create and add new civs using an in-game feature similar to that of Empire Earth. Moreover, this system would create a shareable file to upload as a mod on the ageofempires.com website for single player or multiplayer use.
Yes, the developers confirmed that their future plans for AOE2:DE do not include adding new civs. Cysion said āno new civsā in an interview during the AOE2:DE release promotion. Topic on reddit here:
The main argument against new civs is that pro players said that new civs do not vary significantly so as to offer new gameplay. Personally, I believe that new gameplay mechanics can be added. For example, some civs could turn into nomadic civs with packable buildings and an animal herding economy rather than a farm based economy. This of course will require the appropriate balance giving advantages and disadvantages over a farm based economy and static buildings.
BlockquoteAOE2:DE but are highly requested by fans including: Chola/Vijayanagara Empire (Dravidians), Tibetan Empire, Kanem Empire, Jurchen Empire, Ghurid Empire, Thai Kingdom, Moldava/Transylvania kingdoms (Romanians), Georgian kingdom, Burgundian Kingdom, Bantu (Zimbabwe + Kongo) etc.
I dont want to sound all negetive here but pretty much all the civis here can be represented by current civs.But there are areas of the world they can touch base on but rather they made a whole expansion on horse people.
Empire Earth doesnāt really offer a good civilization builder. Because sometimes civilization with tons of bonus still makes them bad civ by design(Take Saracens for example) and sometimes one single bonus will make them overpowered.
On top of that there is UU. Where can you manage them? Each civ uses slightly different UI. Itās actually better to seek for third party tools rather than providing something like official.
DE currently offers no ability to add new civs but with Userpatch you can add civs like said. From programmers and designersā standpoint itās better to use third party tools like Advanced Genie Editor, SLX Studio.
You know, to me this would actually be pretty cool. Thereās such a massive amount of unique units, bonuses and team bonuses now that just by ticking a few boxes you could build something very close to your ideal civ. You could make some overpowered stuff by piling on bonuses and technologies for the same things (say faster cavalry, stronger cavalry, cheaper cavalry, more HP cavalry, bloodlines and full blacksmith), so no ranked multiplayer games, but it would be cool to mess around with.
A problem might be that the game was not build with this in mind, getting it to handle these custom civs in a nice and flexible manner might be quite a bit development work thatās better spent elsewhere, at least for now.
Empire Earthās custom civilization builder was not good I agree, but the one for AOE2:DE does not need to be the same. It will be improved on all aspects such as how civ bonuses are set, which techs a civ will not get etc.
Regarding UU and UI, a modder would be able to import models into the game for the custom civ if he wishes so. Other options would be being able to change the appearance of units and buildings within the framework of this custom civ builder. The easiest thing to do would be to use an existing model of a unit and an existing building set. For example, an Iroquois civ could be created and the user could use the Iroquois warrior as a UU.
I am not really interested about the Userpatch or third party tools in regards to AOE2:DE. The point is to make both obsolete by improving AOE2:DE.
Iām not sure Iād even go that far. I think by the time youāre creating custom units and even architecture sets youāre in the domain of modding, which is cool, but not really what Iād aim a tool like this at. Iād probably keep it simpler, just recombining the units in the game.
For a North American civ as an example maybe either go Meso civ architecture or Eastern European architecture with their heavy use of wood, and Meso civ monks. let them build stables with the scout line and/or those new pseudo-knights but give them eagles as well. Some form of cavalry archer would be nice, generic from the stable works, or you could use the unique unit slot for this. Depending on the exact civ conquistadors might be weirdly appropriate for late game. Or you could throw in something like jaguars, throwing axemen or woad raiders for a bit more of a āfierce tribal warriorā feel. Throw in the Mongol hunt bonus if youāre going for a āplains tribeā feel, maybe scout line of sight as well (but start with an eagle, because things donāt have to make sense), or do something like Berber villager speed or a farm bonus if that suits the civ in question better. From thereā¦ Maybe a nice infantry bonus? Infantry speed maybe? Something for archers? Have them miss at least one final armor upgrade but get all the attack ones? I donāt know enough about North Americaā¦
Itās not as good as something designed from the ground up with new mechanics, but thatās not going to happen with an ingame tool anyway.
I bet none of you tried to mod the game before or have any idea how data structure of the game really works. Didnāt even played old AOC version of the game. Try to mod the old game version yourself then youāll realize how units, technologies, etc. really works. For example, youāll want X bonus working on Y unit. Can you do that easily with Empire Earth civilization builder? Those civ crafting you saw around the forums really wonāt be any useful because of the genie engine limitations.
Besides, some of the community civ crafters makes their dream civs true to some extend via community mods. You still can play them. In Userpatch completely making new civs is possible. HD/DE forces you to replace the civs still.
Even so if you want Empire Earth like civilization builder then you better wait for openage when it comes out. Itāll offer much more freedom than any versions of the game out there. It might offer that user-friendly interface you want.