Yes, a compendium would be awesome. The AoE1 manual and online help offered historical background information for every civ, trainable unit, building, and technology, and general information on human history, too. For AoE2, the civ histories and more about the Middle Ages were made available in-game, while background info on units, buildings, and techs remained in the manual.
In AoM and AoE3, the player can also learn about heroes, animals, plants, and other objects, pretty much everything that can be selected comes with an in-game history.
AoE2 DE, on the other hand, completely lacks unit, building, and tech histories, while the CD version had them (in the manual), which is a step backwards, in my opinion.
Iām not expecting that much, either, but I wish they would at least fix some of the āomissionsā I listed in the original post, rather than leaving RoR in its current state.
I expected the flower terrain of the spring mod as a new terrain in the Scenario Editor, since it was seen in the Shu civ overview, but it looks like that the person who took the screenshots simply used a modā¦
Yes, they need to add the terrains introduced in the Spring Theme Event in 2023/2022. The grass yellow flower/red flower terrains including the shallow water terrain need to be added along with other realistic modded graphics like the orange bush should be added given the assets already exist. @Cysion help us!
Yeah, itās sad to see how a classic is given so little attention, or, at least thatās what I believe happened in all this time. Maybe Microsoft has been indeed preparing something? But if that would be true, why not communicate more with fans and costumers?
Yeah, thatās the least that this mode should have, since every Age of Empires game exists thanks to the classic, original one.
Of courseā¦ Long awaited, yet never delivered to this day. And the other two unique scenarios from the demo campaigns named Bronze Age art of war and Last stand would be really nice to have as well; that would finally turn Return of Rome into the full, modern interpretation of Age of Empires 1.
Yes!! Why not!? For me itās rather time-consuming and not an easy task to create custom scenarios, but for Microsoft, as big as it is, should really be one of the simplest things to do development/creativity wise; because, come onā¦ resources is not something that the corporation lacks. And now that AI has evolved pretty much, they could use it for inspiration in order to have scenario/campaign ideas created for them (not that I prefer that, but itās way better than not having new content developed at all). Same goes for other assets; current technology allows for way more stuff than late nineties!
Yeah! To finally implement content that was cut in the past is a perfect idea, with refinements, of course, but would be nice to have those things added.
Personally, I am not interested in ranked games, nor I like the whole multiplayer thing, but undoubtedly, that feature will bring more players and consumers to Return of Rome (actually, AOE2DE), and, as a consequence, it would mean more money to the owners and big bosses as well as the rest of the staff, while satisfying the clients/costumers at the same time.
I can think of the farms, but no blurry textures should be in the most modern version of any game, specially a classic like Age of Empires 1.
Never understood why not all objects available in Age of Empires II: DE or even Chronicles, were not made available from the start between game modes. Canāt they be made streamlined andā¦ set limitations regarding units, buildings, technologies, etc. for each mode? This seems like lazy work to me. Come on, Microsoft! Do something! - Love your gamesā¦ but please donāt treat costumers like they are simple cash cows.
This should be fixed ASAP in any game mode where itās foundā¦
Yes! Yes, and yesā¦ For that, a female cavalry unit could be created, and hence, a new unit with it! Possibilities are everything but limited!
I crave for those little elephants (and whales too!) why not bring them back?!! Besides, it would be great to have two types of eles for campaigns, and every scenario that depicts Africa. Overall, more fauna units would be amazingā¦ I love the art style of the first AOE games, so having more and more details would only enrich the experience.
Missing features that are really iconic and a shame they were not ported over.
considering what microsoft has done with the castles in aoe2de, it would be very cool to FINALLY have each civilization, old and new, have its own wonder in the game. More architecture types would also be fantastic.
I upscaled a pic of one from AOE1, unfortunately, the detail is very low:
YEP! just a bit more attention to detail would improve the game SO much!
Yeahā¦ the more quality content, the better. This could be part of an āimmersion updateā, or something like that, with features that were ignored, discarder, or simply not considered back then. PLUS, it would mean not thinking much, nor focusing lots of resources on creating something thatās actually new to the game.
Yes, I do like that as well, of course. But more than anything, I believe weāre more likely to witness the restoration of existing content rather than the introduction of entirely new additions. I hope Iām wrong, and that Microsoft surprises the community with BOTH fresh content and the return (pun intended) of missing features. We can dream.
One thing is certain: when we spoke, our voices were heardāat least to some extent. So, we can influence future updates, adjustments, or improvements in the game. I know this from experience; back when I used to play AOE1DE and actively participated in its dedicated forums (it was my favorite game back thenānow, Return of Rome holds that title), I saw bugs being fixed and new features added through updates, sometimes even after reporting specific issues myself. For instance, the player score UI was enhanced with a dark background for better readability, and the teleportation bugāwhere units would warp beyond walls if a building was placed too closeāwas resolved, as far as I recall. It was great to see developers listening to the community, addressing these issues, and taking other playersā reports into account.
Honestly, had it not been for the creation of Return of Rome, I probably wouldnāt have installed AOE2DE on my PCs at all. Now that AOE1 is integrated within AOE2DE, the potential for improvements, new features, and ongoing support far exceeds what AOE1DE players could have ever hoped for.
I agree that RoR deserves more content. Basically I care about RoR more than about basic AoE 2, as I saw its counter rock-paper-scissors system better than in AoE 2. Also endless changes and adding new and new civilizations plus their countraintuitive unique units to AoE 2 is not good for me. I have tried also skirmishes in Chronicles, but did not like it much - so far.
Regarding old, not ported AoE 1 campaings: I have doubts that this is what I need. Just observe the difference between old campaigns and new Macedonian one, which is more rich to the options and sidequests. New campaings will be always superior in terms of content, dynamics, replayability, overall feeling. Thatās why I would not care much about historic authenticity and story, I am more interested in mechanics. It would be great if I could get one huge and dynamic campaing that could be played on different difficulties and with a different players civilization too! Some events and reactions of AI players could be triggered by players civilization choice. Probably it could be made-up campaign simulated as wars for worldās territory, similar to turn-based strategies? This is how would a civilization fight against its neighbours first, then expand and fight with more exotic nations.
For me it is important to play with more opened tech tree civs (Palmyrans, Macedonians, Carthagians).
I did a lot of research about tech trees and basically I did not see much space for a new civilization now, unless new units are introduced. I would agree with slight changes, in reasonable scope - not like AoE 2 - so I am waiting for the heavy charior archer.
Btw, I am more concerned about AI, as I have created my threat about that.
An upscaled version of the newest render you provided. It now is possible to view the image with even more detail. Well, now itās up for Microsoft to TRULY enhance and implement the sprite!
It is very interesting what they did with the tool units (feudal). The horse with additional damage against archers and pierce armor, the bowman with additional damage against light infantry, and axeman with additional damage against cavalry.
It would be very interesting for the axeman have a bronze improvement to turn him into a spearman, he already has the additional damage. I know they are totally different weapons, but in the Bronze Age, the most common type of weapon was the spear, which replaced another type of infantry.
While itās an interesting idea, it would need to be tested to see how it performs. It could throw the spear at fast-moving ranged cavalry units (this way, keeping the clubman-line cavalry bonus intact), and use it in hand-to-hand combat against all other units, buildings, towers and walls.
The spearman, as an upgrade to the axeman with better armor and attack capabilities, could be a great addition to the game, especially after so much time without updates of this kind; last time new military units were added to Age of Empires 1 was back in 1998.
The comment above yours revolves around the idea that a spearman would need to be made differently than the hoplite/phalanx/centurion; it should have a weaker arrmor, and probably be able to perform different tactics, such as throwing its spear agains certain types of units, to differentiate itself from archers, and other hand-to-hand units.
Butā¦ a new soldier using khopesh would be really cool as well, maybe even cooler, and I think it would be a better fit for an upgrade to the axeman, since it would not change its basic functionality, but only performance and endurance in battle:
Considering the history of AOE1 and how units were implemented, a melee-only soldier with enhanced armor and a higher-range weapon (such as the khopesh) would be preferable to one with a longer, throwable weapon that adapts its usage based on opponents. While the latter could feature a longer melee weapon capable of being thrown under specific circumstances but primarily used in close combat, and would still differenciate from the existing hoplite-line and also foot archers, to add a dynamic unit instead of a more classic-styled one, like the one you suggested before, remains debatable.
Well. If we discuss new units and counter units, I think great number of units (like cataphract line, ballista, archers, heavy infantry, elephants) can destroy light infantry, so there is no additional space. But I see that the system merged two things - chariots as ātrash unitsā and as counter to priests. So there is some place for creation of new units as a 1) new trash and 2) counter to priests.
Unit that switches two modes - between melee and archer/javelin thrower isnāt that bad, probably throw mode could have a minimal range, so switching to melee mode would be more important and it would prevent this unit from being overpowered.
It would be really cool to have one new unit made in Academy, but I doubt it would be anything like hammer / trident combatant / gladiator as in some location it would be just fantasy.
Throw mode could also be as charge attack meaning it will throw itās javelin once per 10-20 sec etcā¦ and it can only be done vs units which is at least 2 square away (one empty square between him and target), with max range 5.
Exactly. I mean a trash unit like aoe2 pikeman. Remember that the axeman only costs 50 f.
Actually the axe deals 5+4 damage against cavalry. Its upgrade could have just 1 more base damage, but more additional damage. something like 6+8. Axe upgrade (spearman?) will continue to be useful but does not replace the swordsman, as it is a golden unit.
Honestly I think the 3K civs should have been added to ROR. Rework the Shang into one of the factions, add the other two, and add UUs to every other civ as well.
Yes, AoE 1 deserves more respect and still has potentialā¦ in fact, the ancient period of AoE 1 always attracted me more than the medieval period of AoE 2 and 4ā¦ the colonial period of AoE 3 is also interesting, but itās not as popular as the ancient periodā¦
Yes, the Spearman at least one that can be used in the Bronze Age (it could be an earlier upgrade to the Hoplite)ā¦
Yes, the Khopesh could be something of an alternative upgrade to the Axemanā¦
Yes, although at this point I see it as more likely for Chronicles and that there will be 6 civs (Achaemenids, Spartans and Athenians and then Wu, Shu and Wei)ā¦
Yes, it feels more like a Chronicles campaign than an AoE 2 campaignā¦
I never considered RoR as the best fit for the Three Kingdoms, but Chronicles instead. They belong in LATE antiquity, so being accessible through RoR does not make enough sense, and while the Yamato are there, they have no excuse to still remain in RoR either, and should instead be moved over to AoE2 in my opinion (and also have their 1997 campaign ported to AOE2DE so Yamato also have some dedicated content instead of just casually adding them to the main game).
As for unique units, I think I already said this, but still, it would be amazing to have one for each civilization in Return of Rome and would add more reasons to play it in the first place, since some people donāt like AOE1 because āall civilizations look the sameā, at least units wise.
Thatās what I want Chronicles to include, and not the Three Kingdoms civilizations and campaigns having their own game mode, being isolated. The more game modes, the more ridiculous AOE2DE will be, with a mess of content and disorganized. Chronicles would have two, distinct campaigns, while also having six ācivilizationsā to play with via custom games with AI and inside ranked play also. Eventually, more civilizations and campaigns can be added from there on.
