New Disciples III Preview-now with HEX BASED COMBAT

[Fragamemnon]

http://www.gameshark.com/previews/3350/E3-2008-Disciples-III-Renaissance-Preview.htm

The most dramatic change is in the battle screen itself. Disciples has traditionally used grids that separated front and rear ranks, but little else to make a battle look like a battle. Akella is now moving to a hex grid system, so the battles unfold like mini-war games with units running around to flank weak characters or isolate the vulnerable from attack. In a nod to the fantasy setting, some battle maps will have power nodes that can be used to increase the abilities of any character standing on them. Magic nodes, for example, will give a wizard greater destructive power.

I'm stoked to see that the battle mechanics are getting a revamp in D3. Though I sort of liked the simplicity of the older system, it did get a bit repetitive and boring, and I never felt that I could really pull of big victories (and thus get big XP) since stack versus stack combat almost always had a set, predictable amount of losses. Now it looks like I can use some manuever tactics instead of simple attrition in combat, which almost always results in a more satisfying system. Yay!

[Draft]

I was wondering just the other day, what the hell happened to Disciples 3.

[Fragamemnon]

Slated for 1Q 2009 now.

There is actually a pretty solid stable of fantasty-based strategy games in the pipe now. This fall has the new King's Bounty game and Tilted Mill's city-builder/roguelike hybrid, next spring will probably bring on Disicples III and Majesty 2, and the new Stardock fant game is slated for next year as well.

[Van Cruncheon]

goty

[Draft]

I do like how the developers are aware of and preparing for the inevitable onslaught of Slavic toasters that will be running this game.

The hex thing. I'll have to see. I kind of like D2's simple you hit me I hit you style of fighting.

Also how about some screens in a damn preview? They're all very small and I am very interested in how the look of the game transitioned from 2D to 3D.

[Fragamemnon]

Hexes are what happens when you have developers who care as much about playability and forcing critical thinking on the player as they do accessbility.  Hex maps are infinitely more tactically interesting and is going to result in a wider array of specialized unit compositions.

It's interesting to see how the Russian and Eastern European developers often are the ones to consciously make these choices in their games. I think it's a cultural thing for them, to challenge their playerbase, and I'm really glad they are around making games for the PC.

BTW, some more recent screens here:

http://elveone.gametrailers.com/gamepad/index.php?action=viewblog&id=311787

[Draft]

 

Sentry: Are there gonna be in-game cut-scenes like in Warcraft 3, Soul Reaver, most of the games nowadays
Zerit: Yes, most likely.

Are there going to be cutscenes, you know, like the ones in Soul Reaver?

God bless the Russians.