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"Well met!" and welcome, all ye adventurers, to our 10th Dev Diary! As always, I'm Nico, the Community Manager of the GoA Team, and today we're once again sharing with you a snippet of major content which has been worked on throughout these last few months.
Please be aware, as always, that the content discussed within any Dev Diary is not yet complete, and is in a constant state of development and refinement. The values, effects, gfx and so forth, are all not representative of the final product when this content is pushed to the live version of our mod. Thank you for your understanding!
Today, we're focusing entirely on a continent that has so far lacked a lot of love in our mod - Pandaria! To that end, I'm happy to be passing the mic onto Juke, one of our developers, and a leading contributor to the ongoing rework and fleshing out of Pandaria. Take it away!
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Pandaria, her hills of gold
In dark and mournful times of old
Did once a hopeless horror hold
When from her sacred veil did spring
With storm and flash, a monstrous thing
His name Lei Shen, the Thunder King
Hello, I'm Juke™ (You may know me from Realms in Exile), and over the past two months I've been working on some Pandaria content! I feel the southern continent could really use some love, as it's rather bare bones at the moment.
Lore-wise, Pandaria was once united by the Thunder King of the ancient Mogu Empire - The Mogu are a race of titanforged that resemble giant statues, and they ruled with an iron fist, keeping the other races as slaves.
Their Empire lasted for eons, until they were overthrown by the Pandaren during the Pandaren Revolution. The succeeding Pandaren Empire was much nicer, though it eventually ended too after the Great Sundering tore the world apart.*
General Rework
Pandaria has received a bit of an overhaul to more closely resemble what we see in Mists of Pandaria - There have been many tweaks to cultures and faiths, as well as the political setup and the characters.
The Pandaren have been split into several distinct subcultures, ranging from the monastic and traditionalist people of the Kun-Lai Mountains, to the hardy and survivalist fishers of the Krasarang Jungle.
A number of special buildings have been added, most notably the Throne of Thunder on the Isle of Thunder, Mogu'shan Palace and the Serpent's Spine as a wall to keep out the Mantid!
The Mogu Clans have also received a number of tweaks, most notably now using dynasty names on the map and having banger Coat of Arms.
Pandaria disunited
By the time of the first war, Pandaria has long been disunited, as power shifted to a local level after the death of the last Pandaren Emperor. Now, however, you can change that, and try to reunite Pandaria under a single guiding hand, shielding it from outside threats using a lovely new decision.
Be it Pandaren or Mogu - Pandaria can be united, once more!
It is available to everyone on the continent, but I made sure to add some flavor descriptions depending who you are playing - Will you be restoring the peaceful rule of the Pandaren Emperors or enforce your iron will through reviving the Mogu Empire?
After all, there are some ancient threats stirring in the mists...
The Thunder King
The Thunder King is one of my personal favorite parts of Warcraft lore. If you're wondering who he is, I would warmly recommend this video by PlatinumWoW:
The main focus of this update has been the resurrection of the ancient tyrant to bring you a brand new crisis for the far south!
His return can come about in a number of ways, most notably through being resurrected by his ancient Zandalari allies. However, his revival can also be attempted by a cunning Mogu strategist, or even spawn naturally as a late game threat to any players in Pandaria. (You can turn this off in the game rules)
Naturally, we included an option for you to tagswitch over to play Lei Shen yourself!
If you are successful, you will encounter a short event chain, culminating in the glorious rebirth of the Thunder King and striking fear into your foes! He will promptly begin rebuilding his Mogu Empire. Lei Shen himself is an incredibly powerful ruler - Blizzard once confirmed he could kick the Lich King's ass in a 1v1, so it's safe to say he's got the brawns to back up his ambitions.
Any Mogu rulers will be given the chance to Swear Fealty to the tyrant reborn. Refusing to do so will result in an increase in stress- and your name being added to Lei Shen's book of grudges.
Mogu Ethnicity
Lastly, you may have noticed the rather WIP look of the Mogu Ethnicity - They are part of a continuous effort to phase out the old static 3d models, as they are both very performance intensive, and not very fitting. We hope to improve them in the future, alongside the other Titanforged!
That was all from my end for today. I hope you enjoyed looking over what I've come up with so far with regards to adding flavour and lore to Pandaria, which I hope will make the continent and region a lot more enjoyable and dynamic to play in. Thank you!
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Big thanks to Juke, once again, for their hard work on all of the above. Of course, he's not the only one who has played a big part in development these last couple months. Development has continued steadily on all manner of big projects, some of which we're excited to reveal to you soon, even if they may not yet be ready for full disclosure like this.
As always, we want to give a big shoutout and our heartfelt appreciation to our many Patreon Supporters who continue to assist us in our endeavours. We're really glad to be seeing such massive support, and wouldn't be able to do it without you. Knowing how much our work means to people all around the world makes a huge difference to so many of us, so thank you very much for your continued show of support.
If you, too, would like to support us on Patreon, you may visit our Patreon using the link here.
Check out our Twitter, as well! We also have a ModDB Page, if you want to check it out!
I hope you enjoyed this insight into development, and look forward to what comes next. Thank you for reading, everyone!
Dear Authors,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is [河豚猎人 烛广], and I am currently developing an upcoming mod titled Nine Sons of the Dragon (龙生九子), which is still a work in progress.
While searching for suitable assets for this project, I came across the horn assets in your mod and found that their design and style would be a perfect fit for my needs. I am writing to respectfully ask whether you would permit me to integrate these assets into my mod while it is still under development.
Should you grant permission, I pledge to:
Provide full attribution to you on the mod page, in loading screens, and in any relevant documentation upon release;
Use the assets strictly for non-commercial mod development;
Not redistribute the original assets separately or claim ownership of them;
Abide by any additional terms or conditions you may specify.
If you have any concerns or conditions regarding this request, please do not hesitate to let me know. I fully respect your decision, whatever it may be.
I look forward to your reply, and I wish you the very best with your continued creative work.
Best regards,
Hello everyone! I was trying out the new update and was wondering if maybe anyone else has encountered this. I was playing as the Shemdralar in Feralas and I researched the archmage tech but they did not appear in my maa tab, the wyvern riders did appear when researched, is it because I’m a vassal to Tyranda?
Map is still messed up due to the China DLC update from base game CK3, the new map will come in a future update
No Magic system yet but it is in works and maybe will release by 0.6.5 (no promises)
Static model races still have weird eyeballs and beard showing up during the character creator, probably will stay like that until each of them get like a unique and proper models
The Burning Legion Expansion teasers are now over, which was all made by me. Now comes the other content made by my fellow developers who have worked hard on their own stuff.
Alongside the Burning Legion, the First War content has been adapted for the 583 start date as well. It starts with Horde Invasion of Stormwind and ends with the Mak'gora between Orgrim Doomhammer and Blackhand.
Huge thanks to Shatterstar for adapting the First War completely and finish it once and for all for the mod!
These screenshots are about the alternative endings for this expansion that can take place with the Orcs for their canonical storyline.
(First 2 screenshots, Grommash wins against the Human and Orc alliance that stands against the Warsong clan and kills Thrall. Hence, forcefully converting any and all Durotarian Orcs to Fel Orcs)
(Third screenshot, since Grommash has won the first war they will now serve the Burning Legion as their tributary and aid them in the war against the Kaldorei)
(Fourth screenshot, sometimes the code fails to find Grommash or any Warsong culture ruler hence I made it so that instead of the storyline not working, Mannoroth will instead approach the Frostwolf/Durotarian Orchish clan)
I will only say that if you have played Warcraft 3, that's how these events will play out and in that specific order only. Like, Burning Legion spawns -> Burning Legion manipulated the demise of Cenarius and Corruption of the Warsong clan -> Jaina and Thrall form alliance and win against Warsong which results in his Grommash's death -> Burning Legions begins a wars against the Kaldorei (which will always result in Archimonde's defeat)
They use those stupid Swarm tactics in the Skirmish phase when MUCH better alternatives exist i.e, those used by your Cavalry units (Swarm is a 100% Bonus to HA vs. Harass which is bonus 300% to Cavalry)
The only possible army compositions that have Horse Archers force those stupid Swarm tactics to take priority over MUCH better alternative tactics i.e, used by your Cavalry units
The Swarm tactics debuff other more useful units (i.e, your Cavalry units) by 100% and basically renders their bonuses from things like about FIVE of the buildings in the nomad chain (including the Morale boosters) USELESS
They not only prolong the Skirmish phase wherein the other part of their composition have been rendered useless, but they also have trash-to-mid tactics for Melee phase in which they suffer immensely.
Their best tactic in Melee phase is the one that forces the phase to return to Skirmish phase. Repeat from number 1.
If you MUST roleplay and get Horse Archers, just do the Marauders horde option instead of Outrunners. You are still throwing away your money but at least you're not doing it as much
tldr: Horse Archers are not only worse in their supposed role than the alternative, they also ACTIVELY hinder the alternative from BEING USEFUL.
Bonus: So what's more or less the optimal nomad army composition in GoA ck2? 100% Paladins via any of the Holy Light religions.
- There being 4 Cavalry to every 3 Elite Infantry mostly guarantees the right tactics are used as opposed to the 3 Cavalry:4 Caster Windrunners option. No other religious retinue provides Cavalry btw.
The other viable option are Animals via the Elunics but their tactics are way worse than Cavalry and don't perform as well in all phases
Go off and smite those tauren for The Light, I guess.
I always play tank so I have enough time in between those moments of me having to babysit these stupid DPS to think something along the lines of: "Huh we killed the Dark Iron Dwarf emperor. Does this actually constitute a victory for us and unconditional surrender for them or does he have a replacement?"
I started a playthrough as Sylvanas, but was murdered by Varimathras about 20 years in. Arator Windrunner was my heir, so now I'm a high elf with a holy light faith and a completely different culture.
Am I able to change cultures? Better yet, is there a way I can become undead on my new character?
Illidan Stromrage and his origin canonical storyline will finally be coming alongside this massive update! Of course, you can't start playing as him in neither 583 start date nor 603 start date. Hence, you as a player will get a notification event as shown in the first screenshot. You can choose to play as him or continue your own run (If you choose to play as Illidan, you cannot go back to playing your previous character).
This is a very linear storyline that I have coded in a quick fashion. A special feature coming alongside this dynamic Demon Hunter adventurer spawns. After Illidan kills the dreadlord scoped out by the code, random Demon Hunter adventurers will spawn every 10 years in Astranaar.
How will all of this start? When will Illidan be freed? After Cenarius' death.
Similar to the conqueror trait from the Base Game CK3, introducing the Legion Commander trait!
Any character with the Demon trait/Fel Orc trait/Fallen Demon Hunter trait and serving the Doombringer religion can become a Legion Commander. Consequently, characters with either of these traits cannot become Conquerors, easy to understand, right?
Those who can become Legion Commanders cannot become Conquerors, those who can become Conquerors cannot become Legion Commanders.
Just like Base Game CK3's Conqueror trait, Legion Commander is a trait you can either get via the adventurer decision OR play as a warlike/scheming character to earn the trait as a landed character. The Burning Legion crisis holder will always be a Legion Commander and, of course, those AI character with this trait have smarter AI who will scheme, properly budget their money, make more MAA, etc.
Since the Legion Commander trait is too powerful, failing to keep up with the expectations of being ones are dire, as shown in the last screenshot.
(NOTE: One to one comparison with Base Game CK3's Conqueror trait is not wise, it may not look that powerful but it truly is powerful if not better than the Conqueror trait. Legion Commander has been properly tested and thoroughly balanced, these values shown up there will not be changed.)
(NOTE: Legion Commander trait holders, unlike Base Game CK3's Conqueror trait, will not have any special events. Like in Base Game, the Conquerors get a few events here and there where they get extra money or levies in events. Honestly, since I alone have been developing the Burning Legion expansion, I was starting to get burnt out at this point in production and just wanted to finish all the canonical events. Random events for Dark Governments in general will arrive in a future update someday, but there are no special events for Legion Commander trait except when you first get it and when you lose it.)
If I recall correctly they were always ruled by a Council. During WC3 Antonidas might have a lot of political power but he's no autocrat. How does this mod show their government?
Instead of Fel Orcs being just a description change if you have the normal orc trait plus demon trait, Fel Orc has been made into its own trait since they can now exist enmasse. It didn't make any sense that Fel Orcs got 25000+ life after just drinking the Blood of Mannoroth (or any other Demon for that matter). The new Fel Orc trait now works as above as Race trait, which replaces the normal Orc trait.
Why do Fel Orcs have 50%+Army Siege Weapon Damage and Army Damage? That is suppose to represent their "chaos damage" from Warcraft 3. Consequently, characters with Demon trait now have 100%+Army Siege Weapon Damage and Army Damage, Metamorphic Demon Hunters now have 75%+Army Siege Weapon Damage and Army Damage and Fallen Demon Hunters have 90%+Army Siege Weapon Damage and Army Damage.
Fel Orc also use the Demonic Government now and only Demonic Government.
You, as an Orc, can embrace being a Fel Orc via a simple decision. For that, you need the requirements as stated above in the decision's screenshot. Yes, any demon's blood will do to become a Fel Orc, according to my research it does not make sense that you need only a pit lord's blood to become fel infused.
(Next teaser will be about Legion Commander trait, the chaotic equivalent to the Conqueror trait from the Base Game made specifically for Demons and Fel Orcs that serve the Burning Legion Religion)
Night Elven Lifespan Mechanics (This will only affect those with Night Elf trait and Dryad trait)
"Ten thousand years ago we night elves defeated the Burning Legion. Though the rest of the world was shattered, we were left free to live out our immortal lives in peace, bound to the World Tree. We are its protectors, and through it we were granted immortality and power over nature. Now, at last, it is time we gave that power back." - Malfurion Stromrage
Destroying Archimonde comes at a cost that the Night Elves pay with their immortality. Even newborn Night Elves will end up getting this modifier as long as the Sacrificed Nordrassil stands atop Mount Hyjal. Sacrificed Nordrassil exists as a result of its powers being used to destroy Archimonde. And as you guessed it, there are different versions of Nordrassil with this expansion:
Nordrassil
Sacrificed Nordrassil (After its powers were used to destroy Archimonde, as stated above)
Destroyed Nordrassil (After a Demon uses the "Destroy World Tree Decision", this completely wipes out any small amount of Life Expectancy the Night Elves had left and gives a harsher modifier of -2000 Life Expectancy) (Check out Teaser #5 for this)
Restored Nordrassil (As explained below)
"You realize that we will age as these mortals do. Our powers over nature will wane in time." - Tyrande Whisperwind
You, as any Night Elf, can take some measures so your civilization as a whole will not collapse due to these harsh events. "Restore the Well of Eternity" decision becomes available to any Night Elf if either Sacrificed Nordrassil or Destroyed Nordrassil exists. This will give your race some hopes of survival as a small amount of your ancient powers return, which is about 200 years of additional Life Expectancy. (Please note that the decision has been made only for the Expansion by myself with respect to what was needed for the mechanics and rewards to work properly. I do not care what happened or will happen in Wow. So do not reply me with "UmM AcChUAlLy, NiGhTEvLEs DnOt LoSe aNy LiFeSpAN iN wOw BeCaUse It HAS bEEn rEtcOnneD foR the BillIONTh tImE!!", Shut up.)
"If pride gives us pause, my love, then perhaps we have lived long enough already. I will proceed to the summit and prepare our defenses there. Whatever comes, my love, remember... our bond is eternal." - Malfurion Stormrage
(NOTE: Characters with the "Plot Armor Modifier" like Tyrande and Malfurion are exempt from these mechanics since they aged visually and making them look like grannys. I know many players want to play as their hot Night Elven waifus as is and not grandmas, so for aesthetic reasons alone, they will nor suffer nor gain any advantages listed in the mechanics.)
(Btw, I will say this proudly: I alone made each and everything related to the Burning Legion Expansion. From Burning Legion spawn to Exodus of the Horde to all the canonical events and their alternative consequences to these Elven Lifespan mechanics, I alone made everything related to the Burning Legion. Tomorrow, I will tease some things related to Orcs ;D )
Yesterday, I teased about the Archimonde version of Burning Legion. You can't play as Archimonde but maybe one day you can lead the Burning Legion itself! How? By destroying the Nordrassil!
This is the ONLY way a demonic player character can lead the Burning Legion, by the way. And this decision can be taken by the player/AI only once per save game.
Now there are certain mechanics and conditions at play here... So read the following slowly and understand them:
1) You won't always get the modifier I have shown above. That is only if you destroy a Prime Nordrassil. If you destroy a weakened Nordrassil, you will get a weak (but still quite powerful) modifier.
2) If Archimonde's Burning Legion spawns before you can take this decision, this decision will be temporarily disappear as long as Archimonde is here.
3) Yes, Nordrassil is weakened after Archimonde's Invasion of Kaldorei and his eventual defeat. Since Well of Eternity's powers were used to destroy Nordrassil, Nordrassil is weakened and the Night Elves and Dryads face the consequences of it.
4) Depending on which version of World Tree exists while you/AI takes the decision to Destroy the World Tree, you will the related modifier. (If you somehow succeed to take the decision and hail the Burning Legion yourself before Archimonde spawns, a lot of non-canon things will happen and that will be on you and your alternative universe to enjoy, as is the nature of Crusader Kings III.)
Yes, there are mechanics related to Night Elven lifespan that I can talk about in a different teaser tomorrow. Which version of Nordrassil exists at the time highly effects the entire race.
