As the color scheme of AOE2 unit models are largely player color and white, it actually makes regional unit skins easier.
If the models have large patches of metallic parts then removing the metallic textures for mesoamericans might end up with units looking drastically different from afar.
But white and player color is very flexible and easily justifiable. Adding a white plume with player colored tip, or changing the shape of the player colored emblems like the ship models, is barely noticeable when zoomed out but enjoyable to look at when zoomed in. There are already quite a few good examples in this thread.
2 Likes
with the release of the dlc return to rome the could use some of the unit sprites on aoe2
like for the mesoamerican civs archer line
instead of bow>xbow>arb use slinger>improved bowmen> composite bowmen sprites
they are quite simple and easily recognized
Cosmetic changes could and should be done, not in a large scale though, so they donât disorient new players.
Everyone would love to see new skins, including myself but they can be overwhelming for those unfamiliar.
A fine line would be to introduce few skins here and there in future updates.
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i agree small changes overtime would be nice specialy if they make specific regional skins
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People can learn and adapt. We are not fighter pilots where a slight change in environment will disorient and crash themâŠ
I think that the point of my argument is how many cosmetic changes could be adapted by the average player, not hardcore fans like us. There are many people who buy this game and barely can tell the difference between units. Reskins might bring more confusion.
I am just trying to explain the devs point of view, the way I believe they view it.
Donât get me wrong, I would love to see full reskin of civs and units but I believe that devs will not do it even if they wanted to.
I am sure small cosmetic changes will happen in time but not in large scale.
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It seems like the hardcore fans are the ones opposed to new content, maybe because it will impact their multiplayer experience and win ratio due to a few slower clicks. Everyone needs to learn how to play a game and AOE2DE is one of the easier ones compared to AOE3 for example. Even cosmetic changes like the trade carts came abruptly and others like priests/monk skins have yet to come in to date despite the graphics being already available. Anyone can recognise a monk as a guy waving their hands in game. Itâs not rocket science.
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its also not rocket science to see their track record on breaking things with newly added mechanics on literally every patch since release of this game
When did cosmetic changes like the change in the appearance of the trade carts break the game in any way? Straw man argument.
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it didnt happen before doesnt mean it wont happen. again you didnât read and cant comprehend what ive said. read it closely and try to understand it
We all know that you are against any new feature (unless you suggest it yourself) because it will break anything.
But since regional skins would just change the data file and not the code, does that mean you should be against any balance patches because giving Jaguar Warriors +1 Pierce Armour might brake the pathing?
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I can read perfectly fine. The problem is that you are making illogical statements without knowledge of anything to do with how the game works.
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sounds like you wanna jump in and take a jab, though nice try on that.
I have said many times I want new civs and mechanics but not bugs
@PeakHornet46539 clearly you canât hence Im asking you to read again, try reading it carefully this time
All right, you two. Can you stop arguing?
If true, they need not worry. Just as they use mods to turn resources into simplistic cubes, they could just turn any cosmetic DLC stuff into boring planes, cubes, or single-points if they wanted if it is environmental fluff⊠maybe they could even make the DLC disappear. If it is unit skin or civ building stuff, mod it to keep the original (non-DLC) graphics.
Or, actually, since itâs optional DLC, they maybe should just not purchase it in the first place
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Hey we kinda got regional skins now!
You can play the 3 new ancient civs against the old civs (outside of ranked) and most of their units are just reskinned AoE2 units (outside of the water).
I wonder if this is some kind of test for regional skins coming to AoE2 in general.
They are also testing some other features like being able to trade for wood on water maps or the general naval rework with 2 naval buildings and a more complex counter system.
5 Likes
Hopefully later on the unique aspects will be a reality, I have been suggesting this for some time since it is the only way that AOE II DE can be modernized and thus obtain a better quality of life for many more years, I think that the new Chronicles DLC is the door for everything that would come in the future, as a fan and player of AOE I think that we must somehow support the project of this new DLC to pressure the developers to add unique or regional aspects for all civilizations
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I hope it is. If they start to bundle regional skins with campaigns like they are doing with chronicles I will buy everything.
Easy revenue stream for them.
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and more fun for us 
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I know its unpopular but if we get regional skins I would like for a hame mode where units get slightly diferent stats. Something like making African cavalry lore of a glasscannon, make castle age archers replacing crossbows fire slightly faster but deal less damage, make mesoamerican militia weaker but armor piercing, etc
Not anything that upsets the counter system, but stuff to diferenciate them because at least to me havibg all very diferent looking units be exactly the same is a waste