Time to consider strat XP?

[Tristan]

I think one of the important things to counter in a new version of strat is the zombie/drone/clone efficiency. We want a system where one very active player is better than one who has never played. At the same time we do not want "too_much_grind".

I propose that every time you play in a strategus match you get a specific strategus XP.
With each "level" your strategus char can spend points on things like: Crafting points, recruitment points, Leadership (army size), movement points etc.
Opposite leveling on regular servers the leveling strategus levels are less exponential.

You can also gain points through the cRPG server. Instead of gaining smithing points (3) you get one strat level point. (And obviously current such gains are converted)

What say you?

[Jarlek]

My guess is that this thread is gonna turn into a how easily abused/unfair/stooooopid these points are, even if everyone is gonna have their own view on how it will work.

That being said. I support this suggestion. Yeah, balancing these points and how they work will be a lot of work, but at least it's something and a good suggestion. Ofc, it could be horribly unbalanced/unfair/whatever, but if all goes to shait, we could just remove it, right?

PS: One mini-addition I've been thinking of myself was a once-a-day (or hour) a "look at the ground" feature. It basicly gives you a random chance to find:

• A mean looking wooden sticks!
• A bunch of rocks!
• A woodman's Axe!
• A cast away Pitch Fork!
• A shiny golden coin! (lucky are you!)

It wouldn't unbalance the game with it's free stuff, but would mean that the "naked" armies at least have something. Like the looters in single player. Not good stuff by a long shot, but never any fist-only groups.

[engurrand]

Just remember when you start adding extra constraints you effectively increase the likely hood of there being the "golden build" that everyone MUST have in order to do anything at all. And thus the whole idea becomes redundant, the grind becomes a means to an end that everyone will reach any ways. And thus, no "specialization" will really appear, just more time wasted.

[FRANK_THE_TANK]

No one need to be naked, thats a silly choice people make.

49 robes 49 cudgles 10 bamboo spears cost 964 gold, plus troops. Doesn't take long to get some gear together.

I think perhaps it would be good if taking part in strat battles gave you a crafting bonus of some kind. Maybe a 24hour base %increase in your chance of crafting. Would be handy when all the towns are a locked down.

[RibaldRon]

I think  it would be a really cool idea if you implemented the other skills from MB , Trading, Leadership, etc. into it.

Anything that provides a bonus to strategus is a good thing, but you've got to consider that some players will be all over the advantages, and will be able to successfully get in on about any fight they like.

Kind of unrelated:

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Also would it be at all possible to do any kind of troop structure so that you don't just have "tickets" but you get to play as something like a Rhodok Tribesman or Swadian Knight in battle with pre-set stats?  Or, perhaps have a different set of stats for your Strategus mercenary, so you're not awful after retiring on one of your first generations?

Seems some good players do poorly in some battles because they've got a very specific build which isn't supported by the gear loadout.  Maybe that's the point, I dunno.