After Age of Sorcery, I would like to see an Age of Civilisation. Similar to how Age of Sorcery released previously planned and cancelled features, I would like Age of Civilisation to introduce features from their planned “Settlement system” (A look at things to come - Conan Exiles, Conan Exiles – Launch and Beyond - Conan Exiles). From the initial blog post: “Thralls will see an expansion through the settlement system that adds city life, thrall schedules, barracks, farming and trading.”
This Age would focus on improving the AI, UI and general experience of thralls and human NPCs in the game.
Features:
- Improved UI for changing thrall behaviour.
- Instead of a radial menu: we should see all settings at once in a simple menu with toggles and/or dropdowns and better explanation of what each behaviour does. There’s currently no way to tell what settings your thrall currently has.
- Assignable tasks for thralls:
- Patrols: set point A to B for thralls to patrol back and forth. Possibly with more steps.
- Repair base: repair all broken structures using a new shared inventory function between nearby containers and/or a new type of thrall station with its own inventory.
- Hunting and gathering: create a gathering post and assign existing thralls (perhaps just Bearers) or a new, specific type of thrall to gather resources. Similar to Fallout 4’s scavenging station.
- Would be nice to see thralls actually go out and cut down trees, harvest resources, hunt, farm, etc. within a certain radius. If this is too complicated could just have a looping animation at the post (like existing stations) with automatic accumulation. This could have customisation like restricting which resources to gather.
- Improved dialogue UI and trader NPCs.
- If “Talk” is the only dialogue prompt. Should at least be able to skip dialogue so you don’t have to stand there and listen to each part (can read the subtitles quicker than listening). This is pretty standard in other games.
- UI should be improved to allow traders to buy & sell multiple items.
- Trader thralls and player shops. Allow players to setup a shop to sell their items for gold and silver. Could have pre-defined or custom prices.
- This will improve relations and general experience on all types of servers.
- Include a marker on the map for all players to see.
- Thrall customisation:
- Orb of Nergal should work on thralls.
- Change outfits for worker thralls.
- Match thrall classes with skills or allow us to change class, as it seems to just be a label for a setting we can already change (Prioritize Melee/Ranged).
- I.e. Archer thralls should be Agility-focused, Fighters should be Strength-focused, etc.
- More animations and behaviours for thralls to make bases feel more alive.
- I.e. thralls could be assigned to decorative items like musical instruments to play, sculptures to sculpt, paintings to paint, bar stools to sit on, etc.
- Player clan relationship status. Set a mutual status between player clans so that your thralls won’t attack each other (except in self-defence). This will allow players to have better relationships, esp. on PVP servers, to allow base tours and co-op missions.
- NPC tribe relationship status. Primarily for The Exiled Lands, should be able to ally with different tribes, perform quests, get assistance in Purge, etc. I can see this being especially useful for solo players or small clans.
Story (Events/Encounters):
There should be a story that spans the 3 chapters and demonstrates the improved UI for dialogue and thrall AI. Example:
- Chapter 1: New group of exiles arrives and needs escort missions for explorers, an area and/or new dungeon cleared (i.e. kill 10 spiders) for exploration, research and an outpost, resource gathering for outpost (i.e. donate 1000 stone), etc. The Battle Pass Challenges could be more diegetic and linked to these NPC quests.
- Chapter 2: New outpost constructed but getting invaded by enemies from newly excavated part of dungeon. Defend waves of enemies with other players, explore newly excavated part of dungeon, gather resources for outpost expansion, etc.
- Chapter 3: New outpost is improved and working on more luxurious improvements, help with more artistic and “civilised” quests (artisans like sculptors and painters need resources). Final part of dungeon excavated with new final boss.
- Epilogue: after the age is complete, the outpost, dungeon and boss should remain fully accessible. Even some of the recurring NPC quests could remain, but not linked to Battle Pass Challenges, and instead reward other things, like gold/silver to spend in improved shops or Crom coins.
Bug/smaller fixes:
- Fix the AI and collision to make it harder to get stuck in narrow corridors with thralls/pets.
- Remove random NPC aggression in neutral cities and other places. This currently breaks immersion, is confusing and can lead to followers unexpectedly dying.
- Fix Purges so they don’t spawn on top of your bases.
- Option to fix follower health bars to the top-left corner under your own or at least minimise the thrall name and class overlay. There is way too much UI clutter, esp. in combat.
Battle Pass and Bazaar items:
- Trader, artisan and explorer themed items.
- More sculptures, w/ thrall interactivity.
- Painting easels, w/ thrall interactivity.
- More and different sizes of chimneys.
- More bathroom sets.