Sovereignty: Crown of Kings enters Early Access

[panzerde]

The developers are saying they are looking into adding some 4X elements like buildings.  I hope they don't, as it will divert resources from where they are most needed (AI) and turn this from a good war game into a mediocre one that is neither fish nor fowl.

I agree completely. If they do that, I'll instantly lose interest in this game. I really like the mechanics of this and hope it stays a wargame, and doesn't turn into a 4X game. We have have plenty of 4x fantasy games already.

[-budd-]

i think i agree with the not making it a 4x. I'm trying not to buy it yet but it's getting tempting. I would like the diplomacy and the relationships with other kingdoms fleshed out and would like to be able to add somethings to provinces, but in a limited fashion. i 'd like to see more fog of war, maybe the ability to add watch towers to provinces. i think you see too much info about other provinces and their armies. the AI should be their first consideration though.

[panzerde]

I'd like to see more done with leaders, a la Endless Space/Endless Legend, and more lore for provinces and kingdoms. I'm not entirely happy with how the "tactical" (which seem more like operational) battles work - the charge mechanic, for example, seems a bit odd given the distance a hex must actually represent.

I agree that there could be some improvements to FOW, too. It'd be great to see some scouting value assigned to light cavalry, for example.

There's something pretty compelling about this one, though. I find I'm thinking about it when not playing it, which is always a good sign to me.

[PanzersEast]

I'm digging the game, great lore and map etc... however, still a ways to go before jumping completely in.  So far, I think with community feedback and more implementation of features, this maybe the fantasy go-to game.


PE

[MetalDog]

I'm liking the mostly war game aspect of it.  As well as the culture specific victory conditions.  The other vc are good, too.  I especially like, 'Don't let your rival beat you,' as a vc.  Gives you something to stay focused on.  And for some reason, I find that I am more willing to play the tactical battles in this than I was for Age of Wonders 3.

[tgb]

There is FOW of a sort - most factions can only see the makeup of armies in the provinces adjacent to them. Some units have the "scout" ability that allows you to see further.  There is also a landmark that does that (watchtower, iirc) and a spell ("scry") that lets you look at all the armies of any faction for a limited amount of time.

As to the most interesting victory conditions - the realm-specific one and rivalry - the AI isn't playing the same game.  It might be too much to expect 31 AI factions to each be trying for a different victory condition, but in both of those the AI is more of a speed bump on the way to player victory.  You can still lose by having your capitol conquered, but that's about it.  You have to be pretty careless to lose either of those.

It's my biggest complaint about the AI right now.

[-budd-]

There is FOW of a sort - most factions can only see the makeup of armies in the provinces adjacent to them. Some units have the "scout" ability that allows you to see further.  There is also a landmark that does that (watchtower, iirc) and a spell ("scry") that lets you look at all the armies of any faction for a limited amount of time.

As to the most interesting victory conditions - the realm-specific one and rivalry - the AI isn't playing the same game.  It might be too much to expect 31 AI factions to each be trying for a different victory condition, but in both of those the AI is more of a speed bump on the way to player victory.  You can still lose by having your capitol conquered, but that's about it.  You have to be pretty careless to lose either of those.

It's my biggest complaint about the AI right now.

Sounds like you've played deep into the game, how does the mid and late game hold up.

[amandachen]

You can still lose by having your capitol conquered, but that's about it. 

That capital/capitol thing is a really annoying typo in the game.

[mikeck]

I'm digging the game, great lore and map etc... however, still a ways to go before jumping completely in.  So far, I think with community feedback and more implementation of features, this maybe the fantasy go-to game.


PE

I agree 100%. There isn't enough there for me Personally...BUT, what is there is is well done and polished. If there is not going to be province management, I'm still on bored but I would like them to add so tactical stuff like mutual support of units, facing, terrain modifiers and such. But the Devs seem to have made a great base game which will only get better. It is early release so it's not fair to compare it to other complete games

[Grim.Reaper]

So far, I am really torn on this game...feedback is making it tough to resist, just not sure yet....

[MetalDog]

mikeck, from the two tac battles I have participated in, I have seen that infantry is mutually supporting and archers have opportunity fire.  I thought the terrain affected def/off, but I can't swear to it.  The one thing I am finding that isn't happening, as far as I can tell, is units healing in battle.  I was under the impression that no move=small amount of healing.  I haven't seen that.  I also have not seen magic.  Whether or not I have any or or how to get it if I don't have it.

[tgb]

There is FOW of a sort - most factions can only see the makeup of armies in the provinces adjacent to them. Some units have the "scout" ability that allows you to see further.  There is also a landmark that does that (watchtower, iirc) and a spell ("scry") that lets you look at all the armies of any faction for a limited amount of time.

As to the most interesting victory conditions - the realm-specific one and rivalry - the AI isn't playing the same game.  It might be too much to expect 31 AI factions to each be trying for a different victory condition, but in both of those the AI is more of a speed bump on the way to player victory.  You can still lose by having your capitol conquered, but that's about it.  You have to be pretty careless to lose either of those.

It's my biggest complaint about the AI right now.

Sounds like you've played deep into the game, how does the mid and late game hold up.

Actually, no.  I'd restart every time a new build came out, which was pretty frequently.  I found out what the AI was doing by asking one of the developers.

The one thing I am finding that isn't happening, as far as I can tell, is units healing in battle.  I was under the impression that no move=small amount of healing.  I haven't seen that.  I also have not seen magic.  Whether or not I have any or or how to get it if I don't have it.

Units heal between battles as a general rule of thumb, so when they talk about not moving they mean on the strategic map.  Some units and heroes do have the power to heal mid-battle, but it's a special ability.

Here's how magic works: Every turn your faction generates x  magic points (the game calls them xp, which is a little confusing). Once you've generated y magic points you gain 1 spell level point.  That point can be used to either learn a new spell of the level you are currently on, or you can advance a level.  How many points you get each turn and how many you need to advance differs by faction, based on the game's lore.  Some factions are more attuned to magic than others. You can allocate a percentage of your budget to purchase additional xp each turn if you like.  You also get more xp each turn you are at peace, which seems odd for a game focused on warfare, but think of it as a guns or butter decision.  You can only have 6 spells in your arsenal, and there is a cool-down period after casting.

Spells can only be cast on the strategic map, sort of like the Disciples series.  Your heroes are essentially one-time fire-and-forget spells that can be cast on the battlefield.

[Nefaro]

I'm digging the game, great lore and map etc... however, still a ways to go before jumping completely in.  So far, I think with community feedback and more implementation of features, this maybe the fantasy go-to game.


PE

I agree 100%. There isn't enough there for me Personally...BUT, what is there is is well done and polished. If there is not going to be province management, I'm still on bored but I would like them to add so tactical stuff like mutual support of units, facing, terrain modifiers and such. But the Devs seem to have made a great base game which will only get better. It is early release so it's not fair to compare it to other complete games

Agreed.  Could use a bit more depth in some areas.  Since it leans more toward a grand strategy wargame, I'd like to see more tactical details implemented on the warfare side (as mentioned).

[-budd-]

Well, i caved ::)

[mikeck]

Metal dog you could be right. When you say mutual support do you mean that for example the infantry games and attack bonus if they are supported by nearby archers? Something like that?