Sovereignty: Crown of Kings enters Early Access

[panzerde]

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?

Yes. Infantry gains a defense bonus for being placed next to other infantry, and if archers are in range, archers can be used to fire defensively against an attacker.

There are also terrain modifiers at play, as well as modifiers due to unit type. Pikes, for example quite logically negate cavalry charge bonuses. Certain unit types are particularly vulnerable to certain types of magic.

Magic is a strategic resource and there's a mechanism for investing in it every turn to generate Magic Points. These points can be turned into spells or saved to be redeemed for higher level spells. Some of the high-level spells look to be game-changers, though I've yet to try any of them out.

The manual is worth a skim, at least. There's more depth to the tactical combat than is obvious from the tutorial.

[-budd-]

is there anyway or screen to show what your upkeep cost is?  expense screen or something. must consult the manual. I'm enjoying it so far, still finding my way around.

[Nefaro]

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?

IIRC, archers can add some return fire damage to adjacent units (infantry?) being fired upon by enemy ranged units right now.  Infantry can also get a supporting defensive bonus when they're in a line of adjacent infantry (not sure of the requisite conditions here). 

I think it could probably use some more filling out with this type of stuff.  I'm not going to complain about some extra building options, either.  More options = better gaming, if the AI can utilize them to some degree.

[tgb]

is there anyway or screen to show what your upkeep cost is?  expense screen or something. must consult the manual. I'm enjoying it so far, still finding my way around.

Hover the cursor on your bank balance at the top of the screen.  It's still a little finicky, so it may take 2 or 3 tries to get it to open.

[Ian C]

I'm screwed now until they fix the naval battles, crashing on auto and tactical.

[mikeck]

Played a bit more. I like it a lot and found that I was wrong inasmuch as there ARE tactical bonuses for terrain (thanks Panzerde!) I dig it

[panzerde]

I'm screwed now until they fix the naval battles, crashing on auto and tactical.

Are you running the beta? I can't really remember, but I thought I saw something in the notes about that being one of the things they fixed. You can sign up for it through the game properties on Steam.

I may also be completely wrong about them fixing that in the beta, but hey, it'll probably show up there first if it isn't fixed now!

[Ian C]

Are you running the beta?

Yep. There was another patch today, but the auto report tool is really a great idea as the reports go straight through to the devs.

[Kushan]

Is anyone else noticing the AI not attacking if your units are in a shield wall? I find it easy to abuse without trying.

Not sure if they added things to the tactical combat or not, but I did notice things like supporting fire for nearby units from archers and terrain bonuses when I was playing this weekend. It did take me awhile to figure out that successive attacks by your units would have have better success. Until I noticed that I wouldn't attack a unit unless my siege unit broke it first.

At first glanced I wasn't too excited about a limited number of turns in tactical combat but after playing for a few hours it seems balanced.

Not sure what else I'd like to see on the strategy layer.

[panzerde]

I just fought a war against Kazoth and the Orcs definitely went after my pikes even when in shieldwall with archer support. Those damn Battle Orcs did some damage, too!

There definitely does seem to be something wrong on the naval front. I have a fleet in port and can't get it to leave. I'm also have a province I annexed, which has a full stack army of mine in it, that seems to have also attracted a smaller army from one of my allies. At first I thought that this meant that as allies we could move through each other's provinces, but when I try and move through his, I get the red "attack" arrow. So, not sure what's up with that.

Still, very engaging. The game I'm playing is supposed to be a Rivalry game, but I'm about two years in and have yet to attack my rival. I decided I'd use diplomacy first to surround him with allies. While working on that I've been pulled into several wars, however, and ended up annexing provinces that I definitely hadn't planned on. Of course, that means I need troops to defend them and I obviously had to attack them with my main armies in the first place. Now I find myself with a basketful of allies, strong armies that are out of position, new provinces I need to defend, and a rival that's had time to build his forces. And it's winter.

I can only hope that my allies that surround him at least distract him enough that he can't concentrate his troops to counterattack me, or this could be a long war...

[MetalDog]

Excellent!  Sounds like a good time :)

[FarAway Sooner]

I just fought a war against Kazoth and the Orcs definitely went after my pikes even when in shieldwall with archer support. Those damn Battle Orcs did some damage, too!

There definitely does seem to be something wrong on the naval front. I have a fleet in port and can't get it to leave. I'm also have a province I annexed, which has a full stack army of mine in it, that seems to have also attracted a smaller army from one of my allies. At first I thought that this meant that as allies we could move through each other's provinces, but when I try and move through his, I get the red "attack" arrow. So, not sure what's up with that.

Still, very engaging. The game I'm playing is supposed to be a Rivalry game, but I'm about two years in and have yet to attack my rival. I decided I'd use diplomacy first to surround him with allies. While working on that I've been pulled into several wars, however, and ended up annexing provinces that I definitely hadn't planned on. Of course, that means I need troops to defend them and I obviously had to attack them with my main armies in the first place. Now I find myself with a basketful of allies, strong armies that are out of position, new provinces I need to defend, and a rival that's had time to build his forces. And it's winter.

I can only hope that my allies that surround him at least distract him enough that he can't concentrate his troops to counterattack me, or this could be a long war...

Winter is coming.

[Martok]

Apropos of nothing, I have to say I really like the auto-battle system in Sovereignty.  That it occurs in three phases, that you can "observe" these phases, and that you have the option (at least as the attacker) to retreat before the beginning of each phase is definitely appreciated.  I feel that it does a good job of allowing player input, whilst also allowing the player to understand why the battle's results are what they are (you're not left wondering in the dark going "How/why the F did that happen??"). 

[Martok]

An overview of some of the game's playable nations: 

[Ian C]

Another beta patch! Fixed the crashes!