G4L.EU

LAST MONTHS

28

TOTAL

PBEM balance mod v1.1 released! (Community)

Zaskow and cbower collaborated to deliver v1.1 of the community mod fixing Necro, conversion and XP farming issues

An Article by Hiliadan

After several months of works and many debates on the best changes to ensure a better balance for the game, v1.1 of the PBEM balance mod has been released on 31 May (and then subsequently updated on 1 June and 3 June to correct minor bugs)!

Thanks to Zaskow and cbower for their hard work to code this mod. cbower made the strength changes to mind-control abilities while Zaskow did all the other work.
Thanks too to the many people who contributed to the balance discussion: Zaskow, cbower, Lightform, marcuspers, Fistandantilus, AlXStormrage, Evgendil, Dementrophobic, BBB, Jolly Joker, ifoso, Starfleck, mauvebutterfly, Domino25, Lykus, DreadReapR, myself and more!

This mod aims to balancing the game to remove exploit mechanisms such as XP farming or Necro's crazy power surge through Greater Reanimate Undead and Inflict Ghoul Curse. It also aims at making all class, race, specialisation, etc. viable at a competitive level to increase diversity and make many strategies playable.
All players of AoW3 are encouraged to use it and PBEM tournaments organized in the Battlefield website will use it.


Example of changes brought by v1.1: Convert is now strength 7 as long as Produce Evangelist is not researched

v1.1 will be polished to integrate bug fixes, full description of the abilities in the Tome of Wonder and in unit panels and additional changes for the main issues it seeks to fix: Necro's exploits, XP farming and mind-control. This will lead to a v1.15 which will be used in the 2 vs 2 PBEM tournament which will be organized on the Battlefield (registrations open on 15 June and tournament should start on 15 July).

Meanwhile, the effort to balance the game continues and a v1.2 is in preparation to further balance specialisations, heroes and evolving units. Further work could include balancing strategic spells. Your feedback is always welcome and required on all the changes proposed! You can find a list of updated proposed changes here: https://docs.google.com/docum... />

Example of changes brought by v1.1: Halflings now have 15% Physical Weakness. The Halfling Brew Brother has Inflict Cripling Wounds, and its Nourishing Meal has been changed, as well as his Throw Cleavers ability.

Full list of changes of v1.1 compared to the official version (can also be found at the bottom of the summary table of the balance work):

General changes
– Nymphs and Nightshade Fairies deleted from reward set on Spring of Life. Blight Tusk Boar and Bleak Warg added to reward set instead.
– Max XP interactions for each tier were changed to 6/8/10/12 for tier 1, tier 2, tier 3, tier 4 accordingly (was 10/10/12/14).
– Heroes and leaders do not get XP any more for touch abilities (Healing, Touch of Faith, Awaken, etc.)
– Base XP gain when you kill a hero is now 7 (was 25) and the XP bonus based on the hero’s level are now: 2 points for each level (was 5 points for each additional interval of 5 levels)
– A new map size is available: “Duel” 65 x 73
– Unity Beacon Tower costs 700 gold (was 1200)
– Unity Beacon Fire costs 700 mana (was 1000)
Archdruid
– Call Beast Horde – minimum and maximum amount of beasts was changed to 4-5 (was 2-3), time to life – to 4 rounds (was 7), new animals added to the animal set. Chances to summon unit of certain tier are: T1 – 43%, T2 – 30%, T3 – 20%, T4 – 7%.
– Poison Domain is Tier 3 now and costs 300 research. Maintain cost – 15 mana, Mana cost – 80. Poison damage – 10.
– Befriend Animal is available at level 5 for Archdruid heroes and leaders (was 3) and costs 4 (was 3)
– Leaders and heroes’ Befriend Animal has strength 10 (was 12). When Summon Eldritch Animal is researched by the player, its strength is improved to 12 for its leader (not heroes).
Dreadnought
– Flash bang – Launches a mana-infused flash bang that bursts apart into a mixture of light, scraps, and flames. Deals 4 fire and 4 physical damage to target enemy unit and attempt to Blind (with strength 7) all units in 1 hex radius (was Single target) for 2 turns. If Blind was unsuccessful, affected units lose 25% of their movement points. Blinded units have a maximum attack range of 1 hex.
– Engineers gain +8 HP.
– Engineers can build Roads.
– Maintenance ability heals 5 HP per Machine unit in stack now (was 3).
– Ram of Flame/Frost Tank inflicts 20 dmg now (was 16).
– Reload of Cannon now needs 3 action pts.
– Structural Insight now moved to Rogue Class.
– Hero’s ability Tree Crusher costs 4 pts now (was 10).
– Musketeers’ Fire Musket does 28 ranged physical damage (was 25)
Necromancer
– Stiffen Limbs now works only 3 turns (was To End of Combat) and costs 50 RP (was 60).
– Dead cities give more RG XP pts (40% now, was 35%).
– Dead cities now gain +5% to all types of income for every level of Necromancy skill.
– Inflict Despair – lowering strength to 9, Spirit Weakness inflicted by this ability will be lowered from 20% to 10%.
– Greater Reanimate Undead – works only on YOUR undeads, restores 75% HP (was 100%). Needs Lesser Reanimate Undead as prerequisite.
– Necromancer heroes and leaders (at level 9 for 7 points) have the ability Ghouling Strike: once per battle, can inflict Ghoul Curse (strength 9) and is a melee attack with +5 Physical +5 Blight bonus (was Inflict Ghoul Curse)
– Necromancer heroes and leaders can choose Convert Undead at level 5 for 5 points (was level 5 for 4 points)
– Leaders and heroes’ Control Undead has strength 6 (was 8). When Summon Banshee is researched by the player, its strength is improved to 8 for its leader (not heroes).
Rogue
– Panic Attack and Mass Battlefield Panic – increased strength to 10 (was 9).
– Urban Cover now works on Infantry and Support too (except Succubus).
– Frostling Scoundrels now have Arctic concealment and Projectile Resistance on Bronze (as other scoundrels have).
– Structural Insight now moved to Rogue Class.
– Rogue heroes and leaders can choose Charm at level 7 (was 5) for 5 points
– Leaders and heroes’ Charm has strength 7 (was 9). When Produce Bard is researched by the player, its strength is improved to 9 for its leader (not heroes).
Sorcerer
– School of Enchantment cannot appear in skill book before turn 10.
– Mass Stasis – spell strength changed from 13 to 11. On failure affected units lose 25% of move pts, not 50%.
– Mend Magical Being now has cooldown 2 turns and lost trait ‘Once per battle’ for Apprentice
– Fix for hidden +5 research bonus from laboratories and observatories if you learn Magical Structures before Arcane Study.
– Summon Fantastic Creature costs 100 CP (was 110).
Theocrat
– Denounce City skill becomes cheaper – tier 3 spell (was tier 4), research cost 300 (was 400), mana cost 40 (was 60) and maintenance 15 mana/turn (was 20).
– Leaders and heroes’ Convert has strength 9 (was 11). When Produce Evangelist is researched by the player, its strength is improved to 11 for its leader (not heroes).
– Theocrat leaders and heroes can choose Convert at level 9 (was 7) for 7 points (was 5)
Warlord
– Training Regiment discount works on Warbreeds now
– Pounce ability (Tigran Manticore exclusively) – starts with 1 turn cooldown, targets can retaliate.
– Draconian Monster Hunters now has 14 fire range damage (was 11). Price increased +5 gold.
Orcs
– Orc Archer cost is 60 gold (was 70).
Draconians
– Draconian Raptor now has melee attack 10 physical + 3 fire (was 6 physical + 6 fire).
Frostlings
– Last Rite Of Winter doesn’t sacrifice Ice Queen now and cost 50 gold to cast.
Halflings
– Halfling Nightwatch costs 45 gold now (was 50).
– Halflings have 15% physical weakness (was 20%).
– Jesters cost 70 gold (was 75).
– Jesters get High Morale on Veteran, Solace on Elite (was Scorching projectile and Explosive Death on Elite)
– Brew Brothers’ Nourishing Meal resets the counter on Farmers’ Throw Chicken.
Brew Brothers have Inflict Crippling Wounds
– Brew Brothers ignore ranged penalty
– Brew Brothers’s Nourishing Meal has an effect similar to Bolster on its target
– Halfling economic RG3: Lucky Cloverfields in the domain of Halfling cities generate +10 gold, +10 mana and +100 Happines. Haste Berries in the domain of Halfling cities generate +10 production. Sunflowers in the domain of Halfling cities generate +5 mana, +5 gold, +5 production and +5 research. Pumpkins in the domain of Halfling cities generate +10 gold and +10 mana (was only the Lucky Cloverfields bonus)
High Elves
– Class supports have only racial 20% blight weakness (was 40%).
Humans
– RG 1 Economic – settlers gain 15% discount (was 25%).
Tigrans
– RG 1 Economic – settlers gain 15% discount (was 25%).
Other Changes
– Fix for wrong description of Polearm bonus damage (IRL it’s +4, on display was +5).






Created on: 04.06.2016 at 06:09:43

Related Links

» Discussion on the PBEM balance mod on Triumph official forum
» The mod's file for non-Steam users (will get updated whenever the Steam version is updated)
» Link to the theme

Imprint | © 2019 MaJo Webdesign / Material Pro Admin by wrappixel.com