Oriental Empires News

Hi everyone,

This update’s main feature is the scenario editor. This lets you create scenarios similar to the Warring States scenario, which is already in the game, and share them using Steam Workshop. With the scenario editor, you can define your own factions, easily place cities, buildings and armies, and even include your own faction symbols. We’re really looking forward to seeing what the community can create using this tool.

This update also includes a number of bug fixes and improvements.

Read the full changelog below, and enjoy!

Cheers,
KevWatch

Battles:

• Fixed battles sometimes not resolving properly in single player when the player doesn't view them.
  
• Improved siege initiation. Stack can begin attack if any stacks around the settlement can breach the walls.
  
• Units dismount and artillery stay unpacked if two hexes away from the city wall.
  
• Artillery oriented towards settlement at the start of the battle phase.
  
• Large trebuchets don't stop firing when first rope puller killed.
  
• Spare artillery crew re-assigned duties between turns, so the engine can continue to work even with some crew losses.
  
• Fixed crash when land units without flaming ammo fire at ships.
  
• Fixed some stats for faction specific units.

Settlements:

• Can now delete roads. Use the delete key to remove the roads in the hex under the cursor when in road building mode in the settlement view.
  
• Fixed bug when irrigated farms leave farms behind when their city is destroyed.
  Settlements can take over resources when previously owning settlement is destroyed.
  
• AI won't auto build farms on potential mine sites.

Multiplayer:

• Fixed being assigned an eliminated player when joining a hidden humans game.
  Changed save game name of hidden humans game to not include faction name.
  
• Fixed battle indicators showing for human players in MP hidden humans mode.

Other:

• Changed font for the Chinese version
  
• Added ability to import a map from png file into the map editor. Mainly intended to work with files from the Demis Map Server.

We are happy to share with you another major patch for Oriental Empires. This latest version brings new starting options for custom games, allowing players to select the preferred starting age. It also allows for more options in multiplayer and on top of that, the AI received a nice little boost, making it better at conducting diplomacy and using a navy.

The full changelog can be found below and as always, feedback is greatly appreciated.

- Surtur



Changelog:

AI
Improved AI's economic balance between buildings and army
AI will keep a minimum army size
Improved unit diversity in AI recruitment
Improved AI movement of armies
AI can build naval units

Custom Games
Added ability to set starting era in custom games. All the tech from previous era's is available, and some edicts are already issued.
Ability to have random AI controlled factions. The player still controls whichever faction he selects.
Multiplayer
Added ability to assign factions randomly in MP. All players, including the host, are assigned a faction at random.
Added hidden humans ability in MP. If this is selected, then the UI is adjusted so that no indication is given of which factions are human and which AI controlled. Diplomacy with AI factions has a delay, and functions the same as with human players. Random factions must be selected by the host in the initial faction selection screen for the hidden humans option to be available.
Diplomacy
Reduced offensive alliance diplomatic spam. AI won't ask for alliances against those enemies it can't reach
Can't declare war on vassals if you have a peace accord or fraternal harmony pact with their overlord
Less 1 coin diplomacy
Fixed a serious bug that was stopping inter AI diplomacy working correctly.

Misc
Reduced effectiveness of land troops against naval. Previous fix accidentally doubled it :(.
Fixed a bug that stopped naval units moving adjacent to large land stacks
Buildings can't be deleted if existing or queued building depends on them
Fixed issue with city list not being scrolled correctly in city list view

Following the launch of the first iteration of the map editor, we are pleased to announce that we are ready to further roll out the support for community content by launching Steam Workshop Support. With Steam Workshop support, players are now able to upload and share their own maps and scenarios with the community. It is our aim to keep expanding on support for community content and workshop integration.

Downloading new maps and scenarios could not be easier. Simply head over to the Workshop Section in the Community Hub, find an item you find interesting and hit the subscribe button. The file should be downloaded automatically the next time you start the game.



In order to upload you map, head over to the map editor, load your map in the ingame map editor and click the new "Upload to Workshop" button. Next, just enter a fitting name and description and you should be good to go. As there is no full scenario editor ingame, putting those up requires the console command:

UploadScenario *ScenarioName*

Be sure to check the Scenarios and Modding forum for more information on how to make your own scenarios.

The full changelog can be found below. We are looking forward to see what you all come up with.

- Surtur

Changelog

• Added ability to use scenarios and maps from Steam Workshop
  
• Added ability to share maps and scenarios from Steam Workshop
  
• User created and workshop maps can be used in multiplayer
  
• Localized map editor
  
• Fixed bug that allowed more factions than was reasonable on user generated maps. This fixes areas of unusable farmland.
  

Following the launch of the first iteration of the map editor, we are pleased to announce that we are ready to further roll out the support for community content by launching Steam Workshop Support. With Steam Workshop support, players are now able to upload and share their own maps and scenarios with the community. It is our aim to keep expanding on support for community content and workshop integration.

Downloading new maps and scenarios could not be easier. Simply head over to the Workshop Section in the Community Hub, find an item you find interesting and hit the subscribe button. The file should be downloaded automatically the next time you start the game.



In order to upload you map, head over to the map editor, load your map in the ingame map editor and click the new "Upload to Workshop" button. Next, just enter a fitting name and description and you should be good to go. As there is no full scenario editor ingame, putting those up requires the console command:

UploadScenario *ScenarioName*

Be sure to check the Scenarios and Modding forum for more information on how to make your own scenarios.

The full changelog can be found below. We are looking forward to see what you all come up with.

- Surtur

Changelog

• Added ability to use scenarios and maps from Steam Workshop
  
• Added ability to share maps and scenarios from Steam Workshop
  
• User created and workshop maps can be used in multiplayer
  
• Localized map editor
  
• Fixed bug that allowed more factions than was reasonable on user generated maps. This fixes areas of unusable farmland.
  

Hi everyone, this update begins the roll out of support for user generated content, by adding a map editor tool built into the game. You can use the maps you create instead of randomly generated ones in custom games, and they can also be used in scenarios you create yourself. Please see the new Modding and Scenarios forum board for more details.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDuYbsY8hk&feature=youtu.be

• Added a map editor. Available from Options Menu
  
• Added ability to load a particular map in a custom game. Can be one of the built in maps, or one created by the player.
  
• Added ability to load a user created scenario
  

• Fixed bug where stacks can incorrectly merge if both were ordered to a hex containing another stack
  
• Fixed game settings tab not being available on systems with non supported system language
  
• Added back button to game type selection screen
  
• Fixed bug with caravansaries not exporting to settlements created before them
  
• Stop re-exported goods being exported to their source
  
• Improved algorithm for distributing starting positions in custom game
  

Important:
This is the first release of the map editor, so there are a couple of issues remaining. The editor is currently only in English, and custom maps aren't yet supported for multiplayer. Further updates will follow next year.

Happy Holidays!

- Surtur