It is simply that when adding new contents, there's just so many factors that influence whether it's balanced or not, that it's impossible to determine it at first. Only after many people play the game, find the new thing, interact extensively with it, only then the problems will show themselves......

George -- now that's it out on steam, is it also time for reddit post(s) (on /r/Games and the like) -- the community could come up with some material together, so that it's not a "self-promotion post"?

The problem is: unbalanced contents actually reduces the sense of choice. If an item is much better than another but have the same cost, rarity, etc. it's gonna be stupid to choose anything but that item. What you have suggested (making it more available than other items, that is, making it less ra...

george moromisato wrote:I've always thought about using some kind of genetic algorithm for item design based...

There is also simulated annealing that we could look into.

Rather, if we are so inclined to make it a matter of continuous iteration, we should look into how we can put in code that allows NPCs to "engineer" either improvements to their items, or new items entirely. So, they'd need a way to figure out where shortcomings are (e.g. CW could check to see whic...

JohnBWatson wrote:That likely wouldn't work with the current system for creating weapons.

Why not?

I was recently playing Eternity Port and thinking about what kinds of changes would make the game more fun for me. I have a weakness for sandbox games, crafting, and player decisions that have complex or difficult-to-anticipate outcomes, which led me to the idea below. I suspect it's completely imp...

Of course, I agree with you that there is no known algorithmic method for balancing the game. I think it is still more art than science because of (a) the complexity of the game, and (b) the different skills (and desires) of different players. The only thing that I think really isn't "balanced" ing...

1. To compare two items (weapons, armor, etc.) against each other. For example, imagine two 3rd level weapons. If weapon A is completely superior to weapon B then the player has one fewer choice. Choosing between buying weapon A or weapon B ceases to be a choice because buying weapon A is always be...

Often times when a new idea is being discussed, things can get bogged down in considering whether a situation is balanced or not. I'd like to bring up the following questions for discussion: 1) What is balance? 2) Does it matter in Transcendence? Here's how I'd start off the discussion (please feel ...

Shrike wrote:

JohnBWatson wrote:

easily able to defeat a lone Chasm without taking any armor damage (this is very impressive: a vanilla britannia at close range will be wiped out by a chasm 100% of the time).

When I tested it, the opposite outcome occurred...

How do you guys run these tests?

This is really cool! I am looking forward to reading a "Chronicle of Engineering Developments" from Commonwealth Fleet Engineering! (I'm jingojingo from IRC).

By the way, I just wanted to mention that your particle/ion graphics are *very* beautiful. Absolutely love them.

...if you feel the community skewed to longer term members... Hmm. Sorry, I don't think that's what I was trying to say. I was sort of thinking about how "searching for an answer on forums might be easier for a veteran, than a new player", just like how "jumping on IRC for a chat" might not be a li...

So, while I think it could (not sure though) add something to the community (maybe mostly as a marketing tool) I'm pretty sure the community is not large enough to make it happen, because we lack the numbers required. That's a really good point. I am pretty sure that if we started a proposal on Are...

...my personal thoughts is that we should encourage use of the existing resources and then expand from there. That said - I encourage you to stop by IRC or update the wiki :) I think the discussion shouldn't be about whether we have the capability already, since having a StackExchange isn't meant t...