Q&A

[AlexanderCazier]

Hey,

I have a fairly simple (I think) request. Can you make it so in HvH we can choose which houses are in the match? I know each House is placed in their canonical feudal home, but I'd like to set up battles myself with Houses of my choice, so I can refight historical battles (eg. Targaryen vs Baratheon at the Trident, rather the Targaryen vs Tully which it is right now). Also, maybe just the addition of a couple new maps; I'd like to see a Riverlands map, with Tully, Stark and Lannister (seeing as much of the books is concentrated on the conflicts between those houses in this region, and at present the only maps where Stark and Lannister fight is Westeros (8p) and The Ruin(6p)).

Thanks,

Cazier

[ezeqiel]

Appreciate you putting up the Q&A Thoram...

Following on from both Skjuludde & Telenil about the naming of towns & castles:

Leave the campaign as it is, its in HvH and multiplayer that we want the names of places - so that leaves 2 options on how to fix it for us:

1. Pick a set date for all Hvh and Multi games, as Skjuludde has suggested the time just prior to the War of the Usurper/Roberts Rebellion is perfect as all Houses will be positioned in the same locations as you currently have them.
With the date set, give each of the Feudal Homes their correct names at that date. This does not affect the lore or storyline of the books, so there is no license being impinged upon.
For each of the castles & towns, give them a name of the closest approximate town or castle to their on map location. This keeps the map balanced as you intended but provides some immersion for us players. Hell, you could even ask the forum what name should be given to each location so the decision making is taken out of your hands

2. Provide an editable label for each structure in the game that can show the generic structure name (Town 1, Town 2, Eastern Castle, Ruin A, etc). This will allow players to put the names of towns etc in themselves and will not affect the AGOT/GRRM licence.

In terms of giving our units & characters names, the House you select already has the main family surname, so all that is needed is some randomly generated first names to go with the family name of the House and that would fix the issue.

In terms of showing other reknowned castles & structures such as Harrenhal, the Twins, Dragonstone, the Hightower @ Oldtown, including these would actually make it easier to read the map as you'd have easily identifiable landmarks that would tell you exactly where you are.
A simple gameplay mechanic to add to these types of structure could be something as easy as extra prestige for taking control of them, say 10pts for each structure. There inclusion would be similar to the current struggles that go on for ruins & septs in the game currently.
You could also easily add benefits such as decreased cost of some units, increased unit abilities etc that would tie in with the theme of AGOT, for example:

Control Harrenhal - decreased cost of Mercenaries (tie in with the lore: has a history of switching hands & being controlled by mercenaries & turncoats)
Control The Twins - increased envoy ability (tie in with the lore: controlling the crossing gives you stronger negotiating power)
Control Dragonstone - increased guardsmen ability (tie in with the lore: as the seat of the Heir's apparent of Westeros, Dragonstone is well used to providing the best guardsmen in the land)
Control the Hightower @ Oldtown - increased Merchants yields (tie in with the lore: as one of the greatest ports in Westeros, Oldtown is a centre of trade & home to the most experienced merchants)

These could be further added to with unique structures for other examples such as Moat Cailin, White Harbour etc.

Another idea would be if the prestige titles in HvH and multi be renamed to give more of a theme aswell? The factors to gain them would remain the same but could be changed better to fit with the lore, to something like the names of the small council members perhaps?

1st Title - Form Most Alliances ...becomes: Master of Laws
2nd Title - Create Most Victims ...becomes: Master of Whispers
3rd Title - Earn Most Income ...becomes: Master of Coin
4th Title - Control a Sept ...becomes: Grand Maester (best fit???)

And instead of offering 3 titles for 3 houses each controlling a Sept, could it be changed to the house that controls Most Septs and then create a further 2 new titles available?
Example:
4th Title (revised) - Control Most Septs ...becomes: Grand Maester
5th Title (new) - Assemble Largest Army ...becomes: Lord Commander of the Kingsguard
6th Title (new) - Control Most Regions (towns, castles, farms) ...becomes: Hand of the King

And my last point/question - what chance of including House Greyjoy in the game?
I know sea-faring is not possible in the game (currently or ever?) but they could be included with the Iron Islands set as their Feudal Home (ofcourse) and have a simple simulated sea-crossing (that anyone can access) to lands at The Neck that would put them in direct competition with House Stark for resources in the north.
On the Westeros map House Stark are currently isolated in the north and can get a head start quite easily in HvH games as they and their towns/farms/castles are that bit more removed from the other House's.

Anyways, thats my lot for now atleast.

EDIT: Or if none of the above is possible, could you open up the game to modding or release some sort of toolset that allows us to make changes & additions ourselves?
It would lengthen the lifespan of the game (see what it has done for Medieval Total War II, which still makes sales) and tie the community closer to you for interest & opinion on potential future releases. A happy community = positive opinion & good word of mouth = more sales over greater period = happier Cyanide

[Wolfman]

Since most of the issues won't be fixed, any chance of a construction set editor so we can mod it?

[Blackfish Tully]

I agree with most, the naming of towns and castles is a must add

[masterdinadan]

Top priority should be allowing us to choose any House

[Skjuludde]

All of these ideas are interesting, but the implementation would require around 18 months. This would fit better in a possible sequel of the game.

Your idea of situating all the battles right before Roberts Rebellion is interesting, but there is nothing we can do about using the names of characters as the heads of the House.

Then you better get to work

Hmm fair enough. If Martin has forbidden that, then feel free, at least as far as I'm concerned, to just check through the general lineage of each house and find the main names used by each. For example Brandon is used often by the Stark's so a Brandon Stark as the leader of House Stark at the start of HvH would be anonymous, not anchored in any specific timeline and you then wouldn't kill off an important character in the books. Then again use a list of other possible names for heirs. Same for the rest of the houses. Each seems to have a few specific names they are especially fond of.
I'm sure that Martin should accept that, for I see no reason why it wouldn't.
And the HvH could technically or so by all means be set before or during Robert's Rebellion but it doesn't mean the events or characters from Robert's Rebellion actually have to appear. People'll be content either way. It's the game of thrones they want to play, not specifically the game of thrones as it happens in the books

Another idea would I suppose be, if it has to be semi-anchored in the history to set the war earlier with the predecessors of whomever ruled at Robert's Rebellion. Some wouldn't strictly follow the timeline but who really cares. Anything really that gives the game the atmosphere and immersion it sorely lacks right now. A past war or an made up war, either works

[Skjuludde]

*Danger of repetition, you have been warned. Read at your own risk*

Another thing I have issues with is also the concept of prestige points. Personally it doesn't make sense. At the least I'd like an option, whenever the combat structure and dynamics gets a major overhaul, to turn off prestige points. Surely you can defeat an enemy entirely through underhand means or diplomatic means still or almost thereof. Example.
You corrupt the enemies agents to halt their own expansion and put their economy in a stranglehold. You have a few small bands of mercenary horsemen running around raiding their fields and merchants, quickly running at the sight of guards or a garrison of some form. Would also be cool if mercenaries and such could be anonymous. Meanwhile you ally another House or player that holds enmity against the one you're messing with. You use that player as your shield and sword as he advances through your common enemy's land. Before your enemy collapses and your ally gains too much from it, you offer aid to your enemy and have already begun to disrupt his economy through your own agents as well as raised your own army. You act quickly while your allies army is in enemy territory and surrounds it, subsequently smashes it and continue on conquering your ally. As thanks you requests a few holdings from your former enemy, who now regards you as an ally, savior and friend (Oh that fool), as well as removed your former ally who possibly was a much bigger threat.

Now make that possible! More dynamic in combat and inter-house diplomatics.

While I do agree to an extent of what you proposed there are a few things I had issues about.
Interesting thing with titles. But controlling most septs why would that make you Grand Maester? Wouldn't it more make you High Septon or something a long those lines.

[ezeqiel]

While I do agree to an extent of what you proposed there are a few things I had issues about.
Interesting thing with titles. But controlling most septs why would that make you Grand Maester? Wouldn't it more make you High Septon or something a long those lines.

Yeah, its not a great fit I know, but I was trying to keep it tied in with the Small Council offices of which there is none in the lore for a religious figure such as the High Septon.
My thoughts on using the Small Council theme was that, as the titles grant you prestige points that moves you closer to winning 100pts or the "Iron Throne", this can be themed as a Lord being granted a place on the Small Council which is a position closer to the King/Throne from which to covet or attempt to take power.
If the license allows a made-up title to be created then I don't see why High Septon or something similar couldn't be created... Master of Faiths perhaps?

[Wolfie2449]

All right people of Westeros!
The idea behind the game was to be able to play these matches quickly. But, we understand some of you want to play longer. This feature is underway and should be available soon.

Hmm i understand that the games shouldnt take years to finish but i just think, although its too early to say 100%, that prestige must be slowed down a little, i ve won games by prestige by not even focusing on it, i mean what will happen if people actually focus on prestige wins only and

Although that could be due to the lack of competitive games were things arent one sided and people have understood that "OMFG HE HAZ MOST VICTiMS, LETS ALL GO AGAINST HIM, 3V1 FTW".

Prestige is a serious bussiness xD

[Skjuludde]

While I do agree to an extent of what you proposed there are a few things I had issues about.
Interesting thing with titles. But controlling most septs why would that make you Grand Maester? Wouldn't it more make you High Septon or something a long those lines.

Yeah, its not a great fit I know, but I was trying to keep it tied in with the Small Council offices of which there is none in the lore for a religious figure such as the High Septon.
My thoughts on using the Small Council theme was that, as the titles grant you prestige points that moves you closer to winning 100pts or the "Iron Throne", this can be themed as a Lord being granted a place on the Small Council which is a position closer to the King/Throne from which to covet or attempt to take power.
If the license allows a made-up title to be created then I don't see why High Septon or something similar couldn't be created... Master of Faiths perhaps?

True enough.
But if there is a small council sort of thing going on, who would be the king of that council or choose them?
For that matter would it be cool with some sort of extended mode where one might become king, but then has to keep that throne and can lose it if picking the wrong council members and such. Reference to Cersei's struggle in the fourth book.