War

This thread is the result of a conversation in Goonies, which I was a part of, and I shall add my contribution to this. I will split the subject into pieces to be able to discuss them more deeply and I most likely will repeat some that brids already wrote.

--Overview--

Through the years I have been playing all type of browser games, where some idea has been successful and others haven't. One of my first game, Utopia, is still living and breathing, even after 12 years. But others is long gone, or just goes on automatic with no one taking care of them. This is nothing unusual, everything has it cycle and some longer then others. But it shall eventually end. Illyriad isn't an exception to this rule, but its cycle may end sooner then intended and this is what this thread is about: avoiding that.

----- Table of content -----

1. Economy, the real one

2. War

2.1. Losing everything

2.2 Siege, lose even more

3. Alliances

3.1

3.2

4

4.1

1. Economy, the real one

The developers of Illyriad do, like almost all other people in this world, have an interest in getting something in return for thier work. This is nothing strange and I assume most people are all right with that (there are some people who critizise the possibility to spend cash to become better, but that is the socialist jealous attitude). So our developers of this game has an interest in making cash and therefore they added a currency in-game that is tied to hard currency. Prestige they call it.

Now they need to create an incentive for the players to actually spend thier cash to buy prestige. First is to create a darn good game so the people gladly just buy prestige to support the developers of the game, in order to be able to continue enjoy this game. Second, one may create a situation in the game that might be something the player rather avoid, that can be skipped if one spend prestige (most people will think of speed (movement and building). I will return to this later, but keep in mind that the developers wants revenue.

2. War

Consider all games out there, every single one of them, and then try to name how many of these has no conflict within them. I can assure you, all games, in some senses, involve conflict. Conflict doesn’t always means violence and a like, but two or more parties that wants a resource with limited supply and it is an extremely important element of games. No conflict, no game, since you have nothing to solve or work with. Illyriad is no exception, it NEEDS conflict or it will die. And I will argue that it might already be dying.

There is of course conflict in Illyriad and sometimes plenty of it. But the current game mechanics makes most of the conflict just a destructive force with no return to status quo. Conflict, in a game like this, must have ending when the loosing side has a good chance of recovery.

2.1 Losing everything

Brids took up the example of the war between H? and White. This war was nothing but completely and utterly destructive, as nothing good has yet come out of it. H? may see themselves as a winner, but in reality, they where also on the losing side, as was White of course, but also the game developers and all other players. The result of this war is basically that White got destroyed, as it today is a shattered alliance of inactive accounts.

H? won the conflict but lost the game. They are completely uncontested as rank 1 and all conflict they are going to have is someone bored with the game and want to suicide. This is even a joke between some of the goonies players. “Just attack H? and be done with the game”. Is this the mentality we really want to have in Illyriad? Goonies, as rank 3, should be plotting and making strategically plans on how to overcome H? and take the position as rank 1. And I assume that H? is just trying to maximize their production and just fooling around, not making defensive plans versus the closest ranking alliances.

The reason for why this situation is several but the primary reason is: it is all or nothing. Win everything or loose everything. A failed or successful attack results in that the losing army loses EVERYTHING. There is no between. No attacks that result in retreats. Your attack will either destroy the enemy or be destroyed by the enemy. And then, the question is, what is the price if one win? The price is that you are going to spend less time rebuilding then the attacker, some experience for your commander/commanders and some resources perhaps. That’s it and it isn’t an incentive at all for fighting.

2.2 Siege, losing even more

This is probably the most idiotic thing ever implemented in Illyriad (and many other games). I cannot, in any perspective, understand why this ‘feature’ is implemented. In its current form, it is nothing but destructive to the game. The ability to siege someone and completely destroy a city only creates a mentality of extreme caution and conservative gameplay. Alliances and players goes to great length to avoid conflict, creates confederations and naps with everything.

Illyriad is a game that is centred on conflict, yet it punish the loser(and sometimes the winner) to such a degree that few people dares to do it. The risk isn’t even close to the gains and this must be fixed if you, the developers, want to create a game which people actually plays.

2.3 Conclusion and suggestions

There must always be a risk and a cost for losing a conflict, but the price cannot be annihilation. Also, there must also be an incentive for having a conflict and winning it. Experience for your commander and resources are not enough. Going to post some suggestions on how to deal with it:

Attacker:

When attacking, an option of retreat should be made possible ( 0 – 60% ). When fighting and your numbers reach the % given, they retreat. A few more % should be added as the forces are trying to retreat, but this gives the possibility to fight another day. And if the battle didn’t go as expected, one doesn’t have to loose everything. One should never, even if one wishes, loose more then 60% of its units.

Defender:

Defender should never lose 100% of its army and it should always have advantage on the attacker. They know the area and they may have the fortifications. Even if the attacker wins, the defender should never lose more then 50% or so of its army.

Siege:

I do not possess particular much knowledge of how the siege works. But I would suggest that a player who has been sieged and lost, should be able to have his city fully operational in approximately two weeks. Say that buildings gets repaired and it will take X amount of time per each building, depending on its type and level. A low level player might be back on his feets within a few days, but a high level player might need two weeks to recuperate. Two weeks might sound little, but consider that most of his troops is gone and that is two weeks without development. So it may still take up to a month before completely recovered.

General:

Honor, glory and fame! Being a country that puts high value on the great man and woman should also be awarded as such. While opposite should be paying for their bad manners! Meaning, there should be a honor variable, that gives advantages or disadvantages, depending on ones playstyle. A player who constantly attacks same player, which is nothing but a small, peaceful and quite town should be awarded as the coward he is. Low reputation with the council of Illyriad for its foul acts and for desecrating this beautiful world, however, the dark lord of naughtiness who feeds on the suffering on innocents rewards his servants with wicked power of the darkness.

Meaning: There must be more incentive for the players to interact in conflict with each others! Glory and fame, in different way, is usually a great way of accomplishing this. This is also for conflict between players, not between players and NPCs, but the NPC’s should react to players actions.  And this will benefit the developers of Illyriad, as it will keep players in the game, even when suffered a defeat in war. Not as it is now, where the loser has to restart completely (which is going to make them leave). It will also be more attractive to new players.

But the extreme risk of conflict MUST go, or Illyriad will.

I shall continue with next part when I have time.