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Post by philr1 on Feb 14, 2014 9:35:25 GMT -5
Hi there,
Been playing this a lot lately along with Star Traders.
I do have a few suggestions on hopefully improving an already great game.
1) A fast travel option. Lets say you travel to one of the factions main town, you could have a fast travel option to go back there. You have to make sure you have enough resources i.e food for the crew, otherwise you can't fast travel.
2) Interacting with other ships. I feel at the moment, it takes ages to traverse the sea because you get stopped so frequently. Wouldn't be so bad if it was enemies to avoid or battle against but it seems to be mainly friendly ships where you either salute or avoid. Also could it be possible to implement same system as Star Traders where you automatically continue your journey instead of having to press the arrow once you've finishing dealing with the ship?
I'd also like to see friendly ships getting suspicious if you avoid instead of salute and if you keep avoiding a friendly faction they eventually send a war galleon at least 2 levels above your own.
3) No challenge on challenging. I must admit early-game it IS a struggle on challenging difficulty but as soon as i get a war galleon fully upgraded, nothing can touch me. I can get through any battle just by advancing and boarding. I can even defeat 5 Kracken & 2 Ice Demons without having to go to port to repair or get additional crew. My combat is now just advance until I board and duel. With Star Traders, you know you can't get away with that tactic as there is always a ship stronger than your own.
4) This would work in either Age of Pirates or Star Traders. When you first start playing one of these games, it can be baffling to work out what goods to buy and sell. To make this a bit easier, how about having a guide price so you can see whether it's worthwhile buying or selling. Example guide price for buying spices could be 5 silver. This would be shown in ALL ports along with said goods. If a port sells spices for 3 silver, you know you have a bargain on your hands!
5) Officers. I know this is being worked on so won't go into detail. I found two officers who joined my crew on the story mode with Nathaniel but struggling to see what they offer. They don't interact with you, offer advice etc. Would be good to have more officers as well.
6) Upgrades. I don't know whether it's me or not but it's difficult to work out which upgrades are the best. Do I go for more sails or is more masts better? What exactly does the luxury cabin have to offer gameplay-wise? Does it make the officers have more morale?
Thanks for reading anyway, A lot more than I thought I'd write!
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Post by Cory Trese on Feb 14, 2014 19:59:01 GMT -5
I'm guessing you're on the Free editions?
1) This doesn't seem very interesting to me.
2) We're working on this, relative to a CK-style encounter system.
3) All depends on your play, there are optimal and non-optimal. I'd love to see a screenshot of your build if you're on Elite-Impossible!
4) That would ruin the fun for me.
5) There are 6 in the game right now.
6) That's the fun of experimentation.
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Post by philr1 on Feb 14, 2014 23:58:13 GMT -5
I'm guessing you're on the Free editions? 1) This doesn't seem very interesting to me. 2) We're working on this, relative to a CK-style encounter system. 3) All depends on your play, there are optimal and non-optimal. I'd love to see a screenshot of your build if you're on Elite-Impossible! 4) That would ruin the fun for me. 5) There are 6 in the game right now. 6) That's the fun of experimentation. Hi Cory good to hear from you. I will answer everything you said. No, I don't have free versions, I have Elite for both AoP & ST. What made you think I had free? Have I somehow missed something blatantly obvious! 1) I just thought it would be a good idea to have a fast travel option as it takes so long to traverse the sea. I don't mean going from the Western side of the map to East, just to be able to go quickly to a friendly faction port. Useful if you have strict deadlines to keep. Couldn't think of a better way! 2) This is good to know. I did have free version of CK and eager to try and get into it again. I swear sometimes it feels like some ships are stalking me! 3) That sounds a challenge if ever I heard one! When I finish story on this build, I'll create an impossible build and see how I get on. 4) Well you developed the game so obviously you know all the prices! A newcomer wouldn't. Perhaps it could be a check box like turning permadeath off (can i use that feature on impossible?). I tend to just sell everything i have when i loot and just keep food. Maps i keep for a while as they don't weigh anything. I sell timber ASAP because of the weight. 5) Six officers? Interesting. I know there is one less officer in story mode although i won't say why to not risk spoilers. I got one officer after giving him 5000 silver and I don't really know what he does. Is there a list or thread on this board telling you how to get all officers and what actual benefits they have to gameplay? 6) Ok so put me out my misery -what exactly does the luxury cabin do? I got the large gallery in that upgrade slot and i doubt there is a better upgrade for that slot. What do you normally go for - sails or masts? I have always gone.with sails myself. One last thing - any chance in sandbox mode we could start near the faction we choose rather than Ruesland all the time? It'd be great to start in southern or eastern part of the map! No need for fast travel then
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Post by fallen on Feb 15, 2014 7:58:37 GMT -5
philr1 - thanks for the posts and welcome to the forum! Great to see you sharing some ideas about how to make Age of Pirates better. We are working hard on a lot of these subjects right now, such as #3.
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Post by philr1 on Feb 15, 2014 9:02:31 GMT -5
Hi Fallen, good to hear from you too. And thanks for the welcome! Nice to be in a place where devs actually interact with fans of games you make. When i first came across your games, i downloaded this one because i am a massive fan of sid meiers games like pirates! This is the nearest equivalent for my rubbish phone.
I think the beauty with Star Traders is the sheer variety of ships so you can never be overconfident. I was on a challenging difficulty build doing very well for myself. Even had the Cadar flagship which was way above any faction ship i've come across. Then I came across an alien ship for the first time and died miserably!
Perhaps making the Kracken & Ice Demons stronger to keep you on edge and make them worthy foe's? I know it would be a struggle to come up with the same variety of ships like ST. I think the only way round it is to make some enemy ships to be at a higher level than you are. I am around level 35 currently and can't recall another ship in level 20's. Perhaps the more a faction hates you the higher the level of ship?
Really fun games though. I play them every day. Just downloaded CK again as i didn't like it that much. Think it was a lack of patience on my part wanting a team quick rather than keep delivering messages all the time!
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Post by Cory Trese on Feb 15, 2014 14:10:55 GMT -5
1) I do not understand what the fast travel system would represent? A bigger ship that ships your ship? The entire point of Age of Pirates is sailing around the ocean, and adding a shortcut that lets you skip sailing around the ocean doesn't fit with my vision for the game.
2) Ships do stalk you in AoP, especially the ID and KR. However, if you play CK and go through a few complex branching encounters you'll start to see how that will fit into AoP morale, ship sightings, paranormal effects and on-board politics.
3) I still am not sure what difficulty you were on previously. If it is Normal or something, then all bets are off -- that is supposed to be a cake walk.
4) When you are trading a resource, tap the resource icon for a list off all prices in nearby markets for that Resources, sorted by price. Use that list. In ST the ship calculates and displays the average trade resource price.
5) Six as of last release. I will work on improving the officer documentation.
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Post by grävling on Feb 16, 2014 1:54:05 GMT -5
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Post by Officer Genious on Feb 16, 2014 9:12:05 GMT -5
1) I do not understand what the fast travel system would represent? A bigger ship that ships your ship? The entire point of Age of Pirates is sailing around the ocean, and adding a shortcut that lets you skip sailing around the ocean doesn't fit with my vision for the game. 2) Ships do stalk you in AoP, especially the ID and KR. However, if you play CK and go through a few complex branching encounters you'll start to see how that will fit into AoP morale, ship sightings, paranormal effects and on-board politics. 3) I still am not sure what difficulty you were on previously. If it is Normal or something, then all bets are off -- that is supposed to be a cake walk. 4) When you are trading a resource, tap the resource icon for a list off all prices in nearby markets for that Resources, sorted by price. Use that list. In ST the ship calculates and displays the average trade resource price. 5) Six as of last release. I will work on improving the officer documentation. Philr1 was on Challenging difficulty, and Normal to you Cory is more like medium-hard in today's gaming standards. I do agree that the ability to start in the territories of other factions would be awesome (and awesome in ck if we get to choose to start in say Fennian territory instead).
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Post by philr1 on Feb 16, 2014 9:46:55 GMT -5
1) I do not understand what the fast travel system would represent? A bigger ship that ships your ship? The entire point of Age of Pirates is sailing around the ocean, and adding a shortcut that lets you skip sailing around the ocean doesn't fit with my vision for the game. 2) Ships do stalk you in AoP, especially the ID and KR. However, if you play CK and go through a few complex branching encounters you'll start to see how that will fit into AoP morale, ship sightings, paranormal effects and on-board politics. 3) I still am not sure what difficulty you were on previously. If it is Normal or something, then all bets are off -- that is supposed to be a cake walk. 4) When you are trading a resource, tap the resource icon for a list off all prices in nearby markets for that Resources, sorted by price. Use that list. In ST the ship calculates and displays the average trade resource price. 5) Six as of last release. I will work on improving the officerdocumentation. Hi Cory, 1) No, I just meant a fast travel option would be just simulating the journey to a port rather than keep stopping and starting all the time. That was the main reason for wanting a fast travel option in the first place. Example -you've just got the large amount of silver required for one of the story missions but you're in World Harbour. Chances are you want to get Nathaniel back home ASAP. An option for fast travel would be ideal then. 2) You'll be pleased to know I have been playing CK a lot the past day or so and just finished story in free edition. You'll be even more pleased to know I am going to download Elite version once I finish writing this message I had really upset the gang Los Vas is it and enemy encounters were at a minimum. Game just made more gang members appear in battle rather than 3-4 encounters with just 1 or 2 gang members at a time. Eager to learn more about how AofP will change when you incorporate the changes. 3) I have been playing on challenging difficulty not normal difficulty! I was playing normal on ST until I realised I would never unlock any of the upgrades, ships etc. 4) That is useful to know, thanks for letting me know! I should really pay more attention to all the icons. 5) I downloaded the new update for AofP. Noticed there are another two officers available, great! What I find really useful with ST is that the officers interact with you a lot which makes it easy to see the benefits of having them on the ship. AofP unfortunately does not appear to be like that. Example - one of the two officers I recruited is supposed to be a combat officer. Does having that officer on-board just add +5 to your strength and/or intimidate skills or is there another equation? 6) You never did tell what the luxury cabin actually does when installed And I don't mean the in-game description either!
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Post by philr1 on Feb 16, 2014 9:50:14 GMT -5
Hey thanks for that gravling! That is EXACTLY what i was hoping for but in-game. There's an app on google play store called Pirates & Traders which has this feature in.
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Post by Officer Genious on Feb 16, 2014 9:53:33 GMT -5
Hey thanks for that gravling! That is EXACTLY what i was hoping for but in-game. There's an app on google play store called Pirates & Traders which has this feature in. I played Pirates and Traders. I liked it but was saddened by the lack of updates.
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Post by philr1 on Feb 16, 2014 11:05:21 GMT -5
Hey thanks for that gravling! That is EXACTLY what i was hoping for but in-game. There's an app on google play store called Pirates & Traders which has this feature in. I played Pirates and Traders. I liked it but was saddened by th.e lack of updates. I last played Pirates & Traders about 2 weeks ago. The newer version (not the one called Retro), had 3 new story missions. Each have their own quest chain which takes ages to complete. One of the missions was finding a Treasure Galleon fleet. Once you eventually find it, you can end up fighting up to FIVE treasure galleons, one of which is a special version. Extremely difficult to complete as a couple of the galleons have a tendency to get away before you have even had a chance to advance! I only found one other story mission as apparently if you're not in the right place at the right time, you miss the rumours in the taverns. Highly recommended if you haven't done these story missions. They will take practically all your pirate career to complete.
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Post by Cory Trese on Feb 16, 2014 13:58:15 GMT -5
I played Pirates and Traders. I liked it but was saddened by th.e lack of updates. I last played Pirates & Traders about 2 weeks ago. The newer version (not the one called Retro), had 3 new story missions. Each have their own quest chain which takes ages to complete. One of the missions was finding a Treasure Galleon fleet. Once you eventually find it, you can end up fighting up to FIVE treasure galleons, one of which is a special version. Extremely difficult to complete as a couple of the galleons have a tendency to get away before you have even had a chance to advance! I only found one other story mission as apparently if you're not in the right place at the right time, you miss the rumours in the taverns. Highly recommended if you haven't done these story missions. They will take practically all your pirate career to complete. Here is the link to the P&T forum, a much better place to post this stuff: www.micabyte.com/forums/index.php?board=12.0Thanks!
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Post by fallen on Feb 16, 2014 17:01:24 GMT -5
Glad you're all having fun with pirate games! It's a great genre, and we're happy to have a growing one in the mix. Would anyone be interested in distilling their strategy tips for Age of Pirates or for Pirates & Traders into a guide for IndieGameGuides.com? If so, hit me up at atrese@gmail.com, or visit this page for guidelines: www.indiegameguides.com/submit-a-guide/
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Post by Cory Trese on Feb 16, 2014 17:32:30 GMT -5
Glad you're all having fun with pirate games! It's a great genre, and we're happy to have a growing one in the mix. Would anyone be interested in distilling their strategy tips for Age of Pirates or for Pirates & Traders into a guide for IndieGameGuides.com? If so, hit me up at atrese@gmail.com, or visit this page for guidelines: www.indiegameguides.com/submit-a-guide/Great idea. I wonder if we'd eventually host a forum about the guides?
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