Note on the nicknames: in red is the nickname of the attending member of the AP team: PeterAP(Programmer). In blue are the operators, who asked questions during moderation: MarkG(Markos Giannopoulos), DanQ(Daniel Quick), akula(Derek Lande) and jaspers(Jaspreet Shaheed)- Later on, when moderation is finished people asking questions are still highlighted in Red- and replaced by the general term 'Inquisitor' (yours 'is not to reason why')

Session Start: Sun Oct 18 19:53:41 1998

[MarkG]The topic tonight is Ancient Prophecy, a civ-like game.
[MarkG] If someone doesn't know what it is check the http://www.synesthetix.com
[MarkG] From the AP team we have Peter Hammer(PeterAP) and maybe more later
[MarkG] Peter first tells us what's your job on AP
[PeterAP] ok, I am a co-designer, the PR and one of the Founders of Synesthetix
[MarkG] btw the chat is moderated for now, any questions should be sent to Qserver
[MarkG] So, how did you end up making a game?
[PeterAP] When we graduated from University the idea we had 2 years ago seemed even more accurate, the civ like market was dying to have something new, and we were tired of waiting for it to come out!
[PeterAP] we simply felt that the fans needed something new, us included!
[MarkG] So, are you professional programmers or ...?
[PeterAP] I am not, the team thank gos has 3 prog, who are poffesional along with 3 graphists
[MarkG] Speaking of graphists....
[PeterAP] I am not a programmer but yes we have very good tech team
[MarkG] What was your thinking behind the true 3d world feature?
[MarkG] And how will it change the way the game will be played?
[PeterAP] we felt that just because it was a civ game it did not mean that the graphists needed to be so restrained plus as we added tactical combat the 3D world became very interesting as it was not simply esthetic but also played a large role in the game
[PeterAP] a simple example is an archer will see more and fire further when placed on a hill
[MarkG] So, will a unit on a hill act diffirently?
[MarkG] And the same goes for all attributes of the units?
[PeterAP] yes, as in battle a kind of fog of war will exist a unit, such as a scout will see better, an archer will shoot better, and generaly a unit will be slowed down...simple examples
[PeterAP] unless a unit is specially configured for climbing a hill, they will all be affected!
[MarkG] I hope that the player will be able to know what the unit can do according to it's position...
[PeterAP] absolutly, the game interface will be very clear, his domain of action clearly shown as well as his options
[MarkG] Good... I think the combat system is also different from civ2...
[PeterAP] this is a very important point so I am going to be as clear as possible :)
[PeterAP] When a player will choose to enter combat the units will freeze and become gray on the map
[PeterAP] does that sound like something you guys would enjoy?
[PeterAP] This is afterall very important
[jaspers] Hmmm, so if the game is turn based, but combat is in real time, do the players control combat, or does the computer tell them the results after?
[PeterAP] All options will be present, one will be able to do him/herself, let the computer do it and watch or simply have it calculate the results
[jaspers] from Coug: how many more combat "elements" do you have? i mean, in Civ2, you have Aegis (2x against air units) and such
[PeterAP] Could you make that a little clearer?
[jaspers] Will Archers work better against an air unit than say, phalanx!
[PeterAP] good question, the units will be fully customized for your taste, if you have lts say a tech which gives you a bow that fires better against air units, you will be able to create a unit!
[jaspers] Any more questions regarding combat?
[MarkG] You say that the units are customized....
[PeterAP] Unlike civ2, you will be able to really design your units making it even more tactical
[MarkG] So, you wont have a specific number of units?
[PeterAP] no, not really, what we have is around 4 major time changes with evolutions! the unit you design is only limited by his/her attrubutes
[MarkG] 4 Major time changes= time periods?
[PeterAP] Our goal is to have no limitations!
[MarkG] When does the game starts and when does it end?
[MarkG] Chronologically speaking...
[PeterAP] This is still under debate, not really chronological, just times which show you that you are advancing within time, they will not limit you.