"Reynolds on RoN" Feature: Part 3

[DanQ]

The third part of a detailed interview with Brian Reynolds, President of Big Huge Games, about his company`s upcoming debut title, Rise of Nations, is now online. Not only is this third installment of this preview a three-page write-up along with an exclusive screenshot from intermediate gameplay, but also available live on-demand is the complete, uncut audio from which the article itself is based in RealAudio format (to listen, you will need RealPlayer).

In early August, I had the opportunity and pleasure to sit down with [Reynolds]... in his summer home situated in the beautiful 1000 Islands region of southeastern Ontario, says Dan "DanQ" Quick, Apolyton CS Co-Owner/Administrator and author of the feature. You can hear the third 18 minutes of the 2 1/4 hour discussion we had, completely uncut, or choose one or more areas of concentration from the game to tune into [or] you can even listen to the complete conversation organized by topic from beginning to end. [..]

This portion focuses primarily on warfare, but includes tidbits of this and that such as city management, resources and science. You`ll hear all about RoN from the main man himself. Feel free to before, after or even during your listening of this extensive, one-on-one chat to read through the detailed preview based on this conversation.

After reviewing the preview, either the text and/or audio, feel free to post your comments in this thread.

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Dan; Apolyton CS

[One_Dead_Villy]

nice
one question though, does this 1st infantry, 2nd infantry grouping just using number keys to refer to groups like they had in other RTS's like AOK / EE where u can choose 0 to 9 to group them or is it more sophisticated? Cause I find I could use more groups if there was more.

[Rohag]

Outstanding series!

I would like to second Villy's question about unit groupings and add a question about Attrition. I was under the impression that there are three forms of Attrition:

1. Peacetime: you can't send troops into the territory of a nation with whom you are at peace (though you can if you're jointly at war with someone?) lest they evaporate quickly
2. Wartime: troops of any nation take some attrition while in any enemy's territory
3. Russian Winter: like #2 but more severe

Reading/listening to the interview it sounded as if troops in enemy territory - when war is declared - do not attrite unless they're in Russia.

Clarification please.

[DanQ]

Thank you for the kind words Rohag , One_Dead_Villy.

O_D_V:

Yes, infantry assignments refer to corresponding keyboard numbers, e.g. 1st Infantry once designated is accessible by hitting the "1" key.

Rohag:

In Rise of Nations, generally speaking your units take attrition damage only if you are at peace with a nation and enter their territory -- with one exeption. Here it is: if you are at war with the ~Russian~ civilization, you still take attrition damage while in their territory vis-a-vis the Russian winter. At the same time I was discussing this I referred to Part 2 of this series to further and reference this point.

That said, I apologize for any misleading -- they were certainly unintentional and, further, I hope that I have now clarified this. I will include this point in my next instalment to ensure that those who chose not to read this discussion thread on this edition of the series will be informed of this as well.

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Dan; Apolyton CS

[Rohag]

Thank-you for the clarification! I doubt you had anything to do with my misunderstanding; not only have I read too many previews, I am prone to "senior moments." Keep up the superb work!

[Timeline]

You are really really not kidding.....

[One_Dead_Villy]

what do u mean tassadar? like a surprise attack on an ally?

[One_Dead_Villy]

there maybe separate rules for allies vs just at peace ie. neutrals. maybe worth clarifying all the diplomatic stances and implications

i also wonder if its possible to create discontinuous nations or does it all have to connect in one continuous territory. discontnuous nations would allow better strategic flexibility, not to mention realistic as that sometimes happend in reality,