Dev Journal #21: Of AI and Balance

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3796960/view/519737148347253505
from Elemental Forums

As we start to near the finish line, our focus has moved to bug fixing, AI updates and balance. This is a delicate thing to get right. It isn’t as exciting or flashy as the graphics update but it is what will matter in the long run.

Though, mark my words, there will still be “that guy” who will say the remaster didn’t update the graphics. Below is Janisk (before and after).

image-20260127-184825.png

Campaign before and after:

image-20260127-184956.pngimage-20260127-184948.png

And of course the new portraits:

image-20260127-184716.png

But gameplay is what matters and that’s where we’ve done the most work on this game. Ranged weapons affected by distance, AI plays to win, crafting, dynasties, etc. But all of this has to be balanced. Having monster lairs upgrade over the course of the game is all well and good until you find yourself having a Balrog as a neighbor.

So that’s where we’re at. Balancing, bug fixing and AI!

elemental dev journals
11,008 views 1 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Awesome, totally agree. 

Two requests:

1) Hoping you'll consider nerfing monster and non armored archers/mages when defending against melee attacks (they take SO long to kill) - it seems ridiculous that they defend as well as non archers (if not better sometimes). Maybe a defense penalty when attacked by melee and double when attacked by mounted units, etc.

2) And of course I'd love to see terrain bonuses (or penalties like attacking across a river) so mods could make special units that are better in hills or forests, etc.  -  and we could use terrain as a defensive strategy.