Kingdoms and Castles News

Hi Everyone,

We are still hard at work on the AI Kingdoms update. We are getting closer and closer to our public beta phase. Huge thanks to everyone playing the alpha and providing feedback and bug reports - it's been very helpful! We wanted to show some of the latest progress.

[h3]City Building AI[/h3]
The city building AI has undergone more improvements and now can build large, sensible cities with better organization and an inner and outer wall. It also can make composed city blocks: you'll notice the well surrounded by parks in the screenshot below. Of course, still lots of issue to work out but it has come a long way. We wanted also to take this opportunity to introduce Sam Cook who joined the team and has been working hard on these improvements.




[h3]AI Personalities[/h3]
We've been fleshing out the AI personalities and adding more 3D portraits for the AIs. In the latest alpha build if an AI has an aggressive personality it's more likely to get angry with you and also periodically demands gold as tribute. We'll be adding more diplomatic interactions in the future. Here's the next couple of AIs you'll meet:



On the path toward beta for this update we'll be focusing next on improving the AI's ability to mount invasions and defend against you. We still don't have an exact date for the final release of this update but we're working as hard as we can. If you'd like to try the current alpha version, here's how:

• Right click on the game in the steam library
  
• Click properties, then choose betas
  
• Enter 'alphatester123' without quotes into the box, press enter
  
• Choose the newly available alpha-unstable branch

Until next time,
-Pete, Michael, and Sam

Hi Everyone,

Before we get into the latest news I wanted to mention that we're far enough along that we have opened a public alpha branch. What does this mean?

[h3]Alpha Access[/h3]
The update is in 'alpha' and you can play it now (if you dare) and see everything we've been showing in these development update posts, but it'll be rough, a bit buggy, and unfinished. If you want a smoother and more stable experience, you'll want wait for beta or for the update's final release.

Here's how to access the latest alpha version:

• Right click on the game in the steam library
  
• Click properties, then choose betas
  
• Enter 'alphatester123' without quotes into the box, press enter
  
• Choose the newly available alpha-unstable branch
  

Please send all your bug reports to our email [email protected] or post them on our discord. We'll get them addressed as fast as we can. We'll be uploading new alpha builds as we fix and add things.

Now, on to more stuff we'll be still adding!

[h3]Color Selection[/h3]
Since now you'll have the option of playing with other AI kingdoms, we've implemented a system to select a color for your kingdom. This can be changed at any time from your keep (even on old saves) and the original color palette is still available.


[h3]Minimap[/h3]
We're adding a minimap! It's a nice way to keep track of military units and ships, dragons, envoys, and more. The minimap you'll see in the alpha is a little different from this one but we'll be adding this newer rotating version soon as it helps with navigation.



Until next time,
-Pete & Michael

Hi Everyone,

Got some more news on the AI Kingdoms progress! Again huge thanks for your patience as we work on this big update. We know it's super hard to wait and we are also anxious to get it out there as fast as we can!

[h3]Diplomacy[/h3]
You'll be able to talk to the rulers of the AI Kingdoms, having conversations, making requests, forging alliances, and establishing trade relations. Here's a little preview of meeting an AI ruler for the first time and making them grumpy.


[h3]Transport Carts[/h3]
We'll also be adding a much requested feature: transport carts! They can transport resources over land from stockpiles, granaries, produce storages, butchers, and more. This should give you a way to make more types of city layouts viable. For example, cities with huge farming areas far from housing can now get the food into the housing districts much faster with transport carts.


You can set up their routes using draggable waypoints. As you add and drag them onto a storage building they will auto populate an entry in the cart UI where you can set desired resource amounts to pick up and drop off. It should be pretty quick and intuitive - it will use the same new system we've been implementing for the cargo ships.


Until next time,
-Pete & Michael

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to update you all on how the AI Kingdoms work is progressing. We really appreciate everyone's patience while waiting for this update. We're quite a small team and this is the biggest update we have ever released - it's turning into a bit of an expansion pack at this point!

Here's another look at some of what will be coming:

[h3]Siege Workshop + Catapults[/h3]
If you choose the path of war with the other kingdoms on your map you'll need some way to get through their walls. We'll be adding a siege workshop which can build catapults.



Catapults can be ordered around and loaded on to ships like any other military unit. They are very effective at attacking walls and buildings. The AI kingdom I'm invading here perhaps should have upgraded their walls to stone...



[h3]Theater[/h3]
There's also a new happiness building on the way, the theater! Let your peasants enjoy a fine show, and if you are able to provide the theater with food they'll be extra delighted. The seats are populated with idle peasants.



More to come in the future!

Until next time,
- Pete & Michael