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[gameplay] some animal improvements
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Authored by Nescio on Jan 17 2021, 3:13 PM.

Details

Summary

As @Palaxin pointed out on trac some years ago (#3779), “currently animal stats are quite counter-intuitive” and need to be rebalanced (or overhauled).
As @ValihrAnt pointed out in a private message, animals are very hard to kill when using macemen.
As @DanW58 pointed out on the forums, some animals are simply too strong, especially lions, tigers, and wolves are frustrating for new players. Moreover, it's quite challenging to kill deer.
As @borg- pointed out here, spearmen are very poor at killing wild animals.

This patch does not attempt a proper rebalance of all animals, but addresses the most glaring problems by making the following changes:

  • Animals inherit their resistance from template_unit.xml, which has a crush resistance of 15. This is changed to 1. Other units are unaffected by this, because the other template_unit_* templates already set different resistance values.
    • The dog, elephants, hippopotamus, and walrus had different resistance values; those are purged, to make comparing them by health easier.
  • The tiger has its hack damage removed, keeping it more dangerous than the lion, but not as excessively as it used to be.
  • The wolf has its attack time doubled. The template_unit_fauna_wild_aggressive_wolf.xml file is deleted and its attack lines are simply inserted into fauna_wolf.xml, because that was its only child, so maintaining two files is unnecessary.
  • The walrus has its attack time doubled.
  • The Health node is moved out of template_unit_fauna_hunt.xml etc. for clarity and consistency, making it easier to compare and tweak individual animals.
    • foxes have their health reduced to 20, dogs and wolves to 40, lions and tigers to 50;
    • bull has its health raised to 150 (same as cattle), rhinoceros to 160, walrus to 120;
    • giraffe health was lowered to 80 (from 150), deer and gazelle to 25, piglet to 15, rabbit to 5.

Furthermore, D3301/rP24527 differentiated domestic animals, giving all of them different values, but with the same food cost to food supply ratio, though with bigger animals having better food to time ratios. However, the goat's values were rounded up from 75 to 80, which resulted in it being slightly more time efficient than the (larger) sheep, contrary to what was intended. This patch lowers it to 70, making the goat cheaper but slightly less time efficient than sheep.

Test Plan

Check for typos, agree with the proposed values.

Event Timeline

Nescio created this revision.Jan 17 2021, 3:13 PM
Owners added a subscriber: Restricted Owners Package.Jan 17 2021, 3:14 PM
Nescio added inline comments.Jan 17 2021, 3:15 PM
binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/templates/template_unit_hero.xml
40–48

Purged because all four its children define resistances.

Build is green

builderr-debug-macos.txt
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreVideo.framework/CoreVideo.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreVideo.framework/CoreVideo are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stu

See https://jenkins.wildfiregames.com/job/macos-differential/2918/display/redirect for more details.

Nescio requested review of this revision.Jan 17 2021, 3:49 PM
Stan added inline comments.Jan 17 2021, 4:17 PM
binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/templates/template_unit.xml
82

I suppose it cannot be 0 for everything? What does it have to do with an animal fix?

binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/templates/template_unit_fauna_wild_aggressive_dog.xml
2

You said in the summary template_unit_fauna_wild_aggressive_wolf had only one child. Don't you need to adjust those too? Else you change the template silently.

Nescio added inline comments.Jan 17 2021, 4:27 PM
binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/templates/template_unit.xml
82

Because animals are the only ones that inherit this line.
Other children of template_unit.xml set different values.

binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/templates/template_unit_fauna_wild_aggressive_dog.xml
2

It makes no difference for this file, the _wolf in the parent is confusing, since it doesn't match the file name, and unnecessary, just view the contents of the deleted _wolf template, below.
And the one child is fauna_wolf.xml, which is adjusted, see above.

These attack values remain really high, but I suppose that's still intended?

binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/templates/template_unit.xml
82

It seems kind of odd to have a base resistance of 1, to be honest.

These attack values remain really high, but I suppose that's still intended?

It's per 2 s, whereas most soldiers have an attack time around 1 s. Besides, animals have a vision range of either 10 or 0, so they'll only start attacking when melee units are really close (and melee troops have a lot more health and resistance).
Anyway, values could be adjust further later, but for now let's not make animals meaninglessly weak.

binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/templates/template_unit.xml
82

It is, I'd prefer 0, but that's something for a future patch. Everywhere else 1 is used as well.

borg- added a subscriber: borg-.Jan 18 2021, 3:05 AM

Problem with hunted animals like giraffes, gazelles, etc. Spearmen cavalry need many hits to slaughter, very unreal.

Nescio updated this revision to Diff 15466.Jan 18 2021, 1:34 PM
Nescio retitled this revision from [gameplay] some animal fixes to [gameplay] some animal improvements.
Nescio edited the summary of this revision. (Show Details)
  • moved out <Health> out of template_unit_fauna_hunt.xml etc. for clarity and consistency, making it easier to compare and tweak individual animals.

... and:

  • lowered health of some huntable animals
  • doubled walrus attack time

Build is green

builderr-debug-macos.txt
/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin/ranlib: file: ../../../binaries/system/libgui_dbg.a(precompiled.o) has no symbols
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreVideo.framework/CoreVi

See https://jenkins.wildfiregames.com/job/macos-differential/2941/display/redirect for more details.

Nescio updated this revision to Diff 15468.Jan 18 2021, 2:23 PM
Nescio edited the summary of this revision. (Show Details)
  • giraffe health lowered to 80, deer and gazelle to 25, rabbit to 5.
  • spearmen (but not pikemen) 3× vs animals
Nescio edited the summary of this revision. (Show Details)Jan 18 2021, 2:26 PM

Build is green

builderr-debug-macos.txt
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreVideo.framework/CoreVideo.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreVideo.framework/CoreVideo are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stu

See https://jenkins.wildfiregames.com/job/macos-differential/2943/display/redirect for more details.

Looks good except the Rhino IMO.

binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/templates/gaia/fauna_rhinoceros_white.xml
20

I think the rhino should have at least 100 HP, based on the Hippo having 200 & Elephants 200-300

borg- added a comment.Jan 18 2021, 5:46 PM

I'm not sure about the animal bonus, just a reduction in health should be enough.

borg- added a comment.EditedJan 18 2021, 5:48 PM

Edit.

Nescio updated this revision to Diff 15478.Jan 18 2021, 6:17 PM
Nescio edited the summary of this revision. (Show Details)
  • revert spearman bonus attack, per @borg-
  • rhinoceros to 160 health, per @wraitii
  • walrus to 120 health

Build is green

builderr-debug-macos.txt
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreVideo.framework/CoreVideo.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreVideo.framework/CoreVideo are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stu

See https://jenkins.wildfiregames.com/job/macos-differential/2948/display/redirect for more details.

borg- accepted this revision.Jan 18 2021, 6:44 PM
This revision is now accepted and ready to land.Jan 18 2021, 6:44 PM
wraitii requested changes to this revision.Jan 18 2021, 7:10 PM

I missed that the Rhino has no resistance, whereas Elephant/Walrus/Hippo have some. I think maybe it makes most sense to remove it on those?

This revision now requires changes to proceed.Jan 18 2021, 7:10 PM
Nescio updated this revision to Diff 15483.Jan 18 2021, 8:21 PM
Nescio edited the summary of this revision. (Show Details)
  • purged animal resistances, per @wraitii

Build is green

builderr-debug-macos.txt
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreAudio.framework/CoreAudio are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//AudioToolbox.framework/AudioToolbox are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//ForceFeedback.framework/ForceFeedback are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stub file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreVideo.framework/CoreVideo.tbd and library file /System/Library/Frameworks//CoreVideo.framework/CoreVideo are out of sync. Falling back to library file for linking.
ld: warning: text-based stu

See https://jenkins.wildfiregames.com/job/macos-differential/2949/display/redirect for more details.

wraitii accepted this revision.Jan 18 2021, 9:16 PM

Looks good now, good cleanup, thanks.

This revision is now accepted and ready to land.Jan 18 2021, 9:16 PM
This revision was automatically updated to reflect the committed changes.