I’ve been wondering since Chronicles whether the game might even undergo another evolution at some point. A kind of AOE2 2.0, so to speak.
With the different versions of the town centers in Chronicles, there were hints in that direction. Perhaps there will be more in the future.
The new DLC, with its many cosmetic changes, is also another evolution.
Of course, the core game should always be retained, if only for the sake of the competitive player base, but perhaps there are also opportunities for other players?
Personally, I would find it extremely exciting to have more options in the areas of economics and diplomacy, for example, on the existing basis of the game.
Additionally, perhaps modes characterized by random events. A lot of ideas would be conceivable in this regard.
So the question is, what do you think? Would it be realistic or not?
From what I understand, all of AoE2’s 2D sprites originally come from 3D models, which means there’s already a solid foundation for introducing a 3D mode.
Of course, this wouldn’t replace the classic 2D graphics—especially for competitive play, as the current style offers quick unit recognition and readability essential for gameplay. However, imagine the possibilities for single-player campaigns, casual play, or simply enjoying the aesthetics of your growing empire. Having the option to toggle into a fully 3D view could offer exciting new perspectives on battles, city-building, and storytelling.
Implementing such a feature would likely require significant engine updates or perhaps even an engine rewrite, but this could also open up improvements in other critical areas like pathfinding, overall performance, and even expanding possibilities for deeper gameplay mechanics in economics and diplomacy—areas you mentioned being interested in. It could also allow for increasing the maximum player count from the current 8 to, for example, 16.
I think this could be a realistic and highly beneficial direction for AoE2’s evolution, enhancing both visual appeal and gameplay depth while preserving the integrity of the classic experience.
We already have a 3d version of aoe2, it’s called aoe4 (not the exact same mechanics, but similar enough). Making a 3d version would not require a new engine, they could take the one from aoe4/aom retold, but at this point we would have 2 games in the same time frame with the same units and mechanics. It’s kinda useless useless in my opinion.
This is extremely situational, but it would be super cool. We have so many civs in Europe and Asia, but only 8 of them can fight at the same time. They even introduced 480x480 maps, those look quite empty with only 8 players.
If anything, I think the standard civs will stay the same, but they will use chronicles and other dlcs to experiment new ideas.
I also think we will see more and more “games” within aoe2, the devs open pandora’s box with return of Rome. If a period or an ip seems interresting as an rts, instead of making a whole new game devs can take aoe2’s code and mechanics (and player base) that already work well.
So we might see DLCs similar to Chronicles, but in different settings (at least that’s what I think will happen), maybe for IPs Microsoft already own: things like halo, the elder scrolls, or wild things like “Chronicles:Neanderthal”.
AoM(R) having 12 player support is one of my favourite things about the game. And that game doesn’t even have 12 different civilisations (just barely enough major gods).
There are so many cool scenarios (espeically multiplayer ones) that would be possible if there were more possible players.
Also the AI is kinds stupid. If I want to give one civilisations multiple cities it won’t know how to handle them, especially if they are physically disconnected like by a river or something. It’s much easier to make each city it’s own player. But then you run into the limit super quickly.
Personally, I’d find it exciting to have interaction with the villagers. A tax system that can be used strategically. If I raise taxes, they collect resources faster. After a while, however, they’ll rebel and work more slowly if you don’t reduce the burden. I could even imagine them switching sides later on, transforming into militias/rebels and attacking your own military units and buildings.
Something like that would also be a strategic tool in competitive games.
Many things are conceivable. The more often you raise taxes, the shorter the villagers’ fuse becomes before they rebel.
Something like that would add so much more depth to the game in one fell swoop.
Of course, it must be said that the AI would have to be fundamentally overhauled for things like this. With the current AI, such things or even further diplomatic options would be unthinkable.
Personally, I wouldn’t go for 3D. 2D is a key reason why AoE2 has been so successful and continues to be so successful over such a long period of time. But there’s incredible room for improvement in AI, which would open up incredibly exciting new possibilities in terms of gameplay depth
Do you really want Age of Empires 2 because the kind of changes you want are turning this into a pretty different kind of game.
A lot of people like the game how it is completely changing it would make it an entirely different game.
Squeals and Spin Offs exist for a reason. Most people don’t want mythological units and god powers in AoE2, thats why AoM exists.
Gameplay-wise, it’s rock solid, I don’t expect any significant departure from what it is. There is the eternal question of game balance but it shouldn’t evolve much, even despite new gimmicky UUs. Improvements would mainly QOL features.
A 3D mode would be a gimmick too. I don’t think it should be official as the game looks extremely clean in 2D.
The biggest improvement would be visuals, going toward unique architectural styles per civ and at least regional unit skins. More varied animations for harmless eye candy.
I love they go this way as long as the content from each version stay completely separated and independent from one another.
I really like the medieval setting of the game. I’m passionate for history in general, but the middle ages is by far my favourite period. I can’t express how much it annoys me to open the editor and see iron age units. Or open the tech tree and the first civ that pop ups in the list is Achemenids. I hope they hide those elements under a checkbox: “display crossplay content” or something like that
Something similar about this but taken to a higher level of independence. I wouldn’t mind them to use the AoE2 base engine for non historical settings, but keep them as a different “client”, a different “.exe” (idk how to express what I mean. hope you understand). To me, AoE is about history. The side bar should be used for historical instances of variations for AoE2.
Just to be clear, I don’t want to change the game’s fundamentals in any way. New ideas, in particular, can be tested first in spin-off DLCs and then eventually incorporated into the main game, provided the majority of the player base can support them. New ideas and mechanics can also be optional, so they can be kept out of competitive games. I more than understand the concerns of these players, and my intention isn’t to completely turn the familiar game on its head for the masses.
With my idea regarding the villagers, I simply wanted to say that it’s my personal wish. I find it a shame that the most important unit in the game (and actually in reality) is portrayed in a comparatively “flat” or one-dimensional way.
Villagers are currently just robots for resource gathering. This wasn’t entirely different in medieval reality, but a second dimension in the interaction of/with villagers would be very interesting in my opinion.
A tax system was just an example. Perhaps there are much better ideas that could be more easily integrated into the existing game.
In the form of the Flemish Militias, a nation has already acquired such a second dimension in its villagers. One that is actually very interesting and can have tactical benefits in certain situations.
I think it would be really cool if they could find something and apply it to all races, which would also open up a second dimension.
As someone who only plays custom scenarios, what I like about Chronicals is the fact that they’ve implemented a variety of units that aren’t found in the tech tree, but can be wonderfully used and integrated in the editor.
Hopefully, this approach will be continued in future DLCs. I think it would also strike a very good balance between the different interests within the player base.
As I said, I don’t want the game to develop more towards my interests. I’m just hoping for more/new ideas that are interesting to a player like me, but that are introduced into the game in a middle ground that is acceptable to everyone. Be it object/unit design, new mechanics, or additional AI options. These could all be things that are only available in the editor. Even if it’s just giving each hero their own spirits, for example.
As a “scenario player,” I would be more than happy with such innovations/changes.
In a campaign called “Constantinople - the end of the ancient world” in scenario 7 you can test how the game would be with a taxation / popularity system.
You can choose 4 different taxation levels from the TC and the more burdensome ones are the same to decrease your popularity more.
You can regain popularity by making alliances (instead of wars), by distributing food (send tributes to rebels) and by repairing damaged buildings in your city. This is for the “civilian” part, there’s a whole separated but similar mechanic for the army.
In both case you can run into a rebellion with as you can guess villagers becoming “Flemish” militia and then you have 3 options to pacify them: either kill them but that’s unpopular, convert some of them (if you manage to it’s the best choice) or pay them and lower the taxation.
There are many other details but if you play custom scenarios maybe you would like to try this and see how villagers could be more than robots indeed.
Things like this are exactly what I’m looking for. Ultimately, I’m not necessarily interested in making a ton of changes to the existing mechanics or the game’s balance; many things could be restricted to the editor, so that people like me could then use them to realize their own medieval fantasies by designing their own scenarios.
The thread discussed here regarding additional unique buildings also goes in a similar direction. If such buildings for each civilization prove to be inappropriate for the “main game,” either because they would be too problematic for the balance of civilizations or because they are simply rejected by many, especially competitive, players, they could still be added to the game optionally and/or via the editor.
AOE2 is one of the most awesome games ever programmed, and that’s why it’s been so successful for over a quarter of a century. But there’s still so much hidden potential in this ingenious implementation of a basic idea that it shouldn’t be left unused for a definite market within the gaming community. Especially since there are definitely ways to integrate it into the game in a way that everyone can accept.
The mere fact that there are now many semi-professional designers willing to invest time in further development is something that a company shouldn’t ignore. And the latest DLCs also show that they’re in the process of utilizing these resources.
Funfact: One of FE’s devs started as a modder for AoE 3 (he was one of the two ppl behind the Napoleonic Era mod). He mentioned in a Podcast that he actually made a private mod where he tried to remake AoE 2 in AoE 3’s version of the Bang Engine i.e. the Engine used by AoM and AoE.
The podcast was in German, so probably not everyone has heard of it ^^
Not sure about this but having a 5v5 or even a 6v6 would be awesome.
Imagine the possibilities with team bonuses.
Now that I think about it, it may create some broken games.
In connection with my aforementioned idea for a tax system, I had the idea of tying the availability of relics in a scenario to the number of villagers, since relics subsequently generate a steady increase in gold.
More specifically, I tried to always have a relic appear when you create 10 villagers.
However, I haven’t yet found the appropriate condition that would guarantee this. So the question is, is this even possible via the editor, and if so, which conditions would I have to choose or combine?
About relics I once proposed that they can be put in wonders, in which they yield more gold than in monasteries. To make wonders more useful (and as more are religious buildings anyway).