Some good things . . .

[stockwellpete]

1) The multi-player challenge option has a "random" setting for first turn in scenario battles.

2) The multiplayer challenge option allows a setting of unlimited turns so that games are even more likely to be played to a finish.

3) When mounted units "break off" the unit actually turns round, gallops back, and then turns round again.

What else?

[Blathergut]

The game installs, loads, and plays very, very smoothly. PBEM connects me so easily to souls around the world.

[Geordietaf]

Agree, even though I have just been royally stuffed in my first PBEM Unity game by Mr Blathergut

One thing I really miss with the new system is the ability to message your opponent. I think it adds a lot to PBEM as it reinforces the fact that there is a real human on the other side and not just a superior (in Mr B's case very superior) AI.

[stockwellpete]

Agree, even though I have just been royally stuffed in my first PBEM Unity game by Mr Blathergut

One thing I really miss with the new system is the ability to message your opponent. I think it adds a lot to PBEM as it reinforces the fact that there is a real human on the other side and not just a superior (in Mr B's case very superior) AI.

You can message - I have just sent you one. It says, "Get off the bloody forum and make your next move!" There is a chat manager icon on the right hand side of the screen. Where the arrow is and a menu pops out across the screen. It is one of those icons.

[Geordietaf]

Lol. Thanks for the info. See you soon. Neville's Cross is not far from where I live, so my knowledge of the A167 and Duke of Wellington Pub at the battle site should see me through.

Just tried to log on. The game appeared twice in my current game list and I get an error message on both

[Blathergut]

Mhwhwhwaahahaahaaha! The Ptolemaic Army reigns supreme again! Perhaps it is time to dust off the palace, the bubble bath, and the bubblettes!!!

[rbodleyscott]

Mhwhwhwaahahaahaaha! The Ptolemaic Army reigns supreme again! Perhaps it is time to dust off the palace, the bubble bath, and the bubblettes!!!

Lol, not again.

[Geordietaf]

Sounds quite exotic. I thought Canadians were sober souls....

[stockwellpete]

When you see lots of enemy units with "FD" on them - and you know they truly are!

[Blathergut]

That was a good time. I enjoyed the battles and the goofing in the forum. I even enjoyed trying to survive R'Fred'B'AstairS's dancing!!!!

[bloodphoenix]

I appreciate that Stockwellpete has taken the step of posting a positive thread!

I also want to express my appreciation to Ian and company at Slitherine for not being defensive or dismissive of the fan reaction, and offering reassurances that the original FOG servers will be maintained, and for such gracious steps as issuing discount coupons to those who bought the expansions.

Last but not least, I want to reach out to Dan Antonescu. I'm sure the reaction must be very demoralizing for him. As I understand it, the creation of the new version of FOG represents his solitary labor. When people criticize the work of the "development team" they need to realize Dan was that "team"...or do I misunderstand the situation? While clearly UNITY is going to have to be tweaked and patched, the fact that there is a living, breathing, growing FOG game in existence has definitely earned my sense of gratitude!

I thought of an odd analogy, but bear with me: we all had a beloved friend (FOG) who went into a coma. The original team of Doctors left town, and the consensus was that the patient was not going to improve, and ultimately, would be taken off life-support. A new Doctor arrived, and presented an unorthodox plan: he couldn't save the patient, but he could CLONE him. That clone would eventually develop into a reasonable facsimile of the original, and could be taught some of the knowledge the original had. Far from ideal, but it was the only way. People are now saying "This is not really my old friend! He doesn't remember that camping trip we went on five years ago!" and of course, that's true. Its not the original patient, or even a perfect duplicate. But it was the only way.

No additional content was going to be added to the original game, ever. Some of us were content with that, and can continue playing the original. But for others in the fan community, the idea of having the missing expansions from the Table-Top wargame available in the digital version was very appealing. I have almost a complete set of the books on the shelf behind me, and I want to see some of those armies available on my computer. For me, the single biggest item I can add to a "Some good things..." thread, is the fact that when I first opened the DAG, I saw not only Wolves from the Sea and Oath of Fealty, but a panel suggesting that "Lost Scrolls" is planned for some future point. I had never heard even a rumor to that effect, and considering that I had long since concluded that Hell would freeze over before Wolves from the Sea ever saw release, I was THRILLED. If Lost Scrolls is happening someday, then I have reason to cling to hope for an eventual release of "Swifter than Eagles" (the Biblical-era chariot armies).

Now, all of that is contingent on UNITY being hammered into a bug-free and user-friendly product. But...this is key...I BELIEVE in the people doing the work. I choose to have faith in them and in the idea that the game will keep getting better and better. We can make that happen.

For those who don't know, "Lost Scrolls" was the last Companion army-list book put out for the Ancient and Medieval miniatures game, and contained a number of armies omitted from the earlier books, and often requested by fans. You could think of it as a "patch" that spanned all the eras of the game. Here's some info I copied from another site:

"Lost Scrolls, the 13th and final Field of Glory Companion presents some of the armies most often requested by members of the Field of Glory community. From Beja and Tuareg hordes to Vietnamese and German City League armies, there is something for everyone to be found in Lost Scrolls. This volume also includes Seven Hills, a mini-theme for Field of Glory campaigns, covering Etruscans, Samnites, Horatius at the bridge and all the armies and enemies of the early Roman Republic."

Lost Scrolls: The Ancient and Medieval World at War ARMY LISTS

Early Republican Roman
Early Republican Roman Allies
Etruscan League
Etruscan Allies
Umbrian Allies
Italian Hill Tribes
Italian Hill Tribe Allies
Latin
Latin Allies
Samnite
Samnite Allies
Campanian
Campanian Allies
Apulian, Lucanian or Bruttian
Apulian, Lucanian or Bruttian Allies
Early Nomad
Early Nomad Allies
Early Highland Raiders
Early Highland Raider Allies
Early Elamite
Early Elamite Allies
Amorite Kingdoms
Amorite Kingdoms Allies
Vietnamese
Vietnamese Allies
Pre-Islamic Arabian
Pre-Islamic Arabian Allies
Later Pre-Islamic Bedouin
Later Pre-Islamic Bedouin Allies
Axumite
Meroitic Allies
Beja, Nile Valley Blemmye or Early Nobatae
Beja Allies
Tuareg
Tuareg Allies
Medieval German City Leagues
Medieval German City League Allies
Later Medieval Feudal German
Later Medieval Feudal German Allies
Later Medieval Danish Allies
Later Medieval Frisian or Dithmarschen
Later Medieval Frisian or Dithmarschen allies

[MikeMarchant]

A very well written and post, Bloodphoenix, and I heartily agree with all you've said.

Well done!


Best Wishes

Mike

[stockwellpete]

Noticed by Lysimachos . . .

"Has anyone noted that with FoG(U) we have the chance of launching predetermined matchups? In fact, if you choose also the army of your opponent and he accepts the challenge he will fight with that specific army."

[MikeMarchant]

I hadn't noticed, no.

Brilliant!


Best Wishes

Mike

[Lysimachos]

I hadn't noticed, no.

Brilliant!

That's strange Mike, because you're just playing with me the prearranged match between Byzantine and Sassanids!

[MikeMarchant]

Well there goes my gold star for observation skills.

I wondered why my Gepids had failed to turn up for the fight.

And, come to think of it, it isn't the first time this has happened to me, either. I'd just assumed it was a problem with Unity, when in fact it was a problem with me. I should have been better beta tested - I'll blame my parents.


Best Wishes

Mike

[Shapeshifter878]

4) 2 info area for units, Moused Over unit and Selected unit.

5) Automatic resolve for outstanding melees so you don't have to manually click on each one before you can end turn.

6) The Quick Bar.

7) Gameplay have a more modern, fluid feel to it and I kind of like the (few)sounds too.