No no, I'm not asking why you WOULD be pissed, I'm asking why you ARE pissed.


I get why you would be pissed IF you were M4D. They got owned. I understand why anyone there would be upset.


I'm asking why YOU, specifically YOU, right now, care? You have nothing to do with M4D. So why do you care about their failed FS, or the fact that their bad politics ended up with them being in a war as the smaller side, despite the fact that they were the biggest alliance to start the server.


Why do you care, at all, about that? Your concern for another alliances politics is confusing to me, given that you are completely neutral to both sides.

Who are you talking to?

Am I intelligent cat?

I do have the worst scores here... :(

Cat, why do you think intelligence correlates with web browser game score?

" Unlike you guys I have zero Issue recognizing those 26 men as my intellectual superiors, credit where credit is due. Tmac and Gerdler are a genius. No doubt about it."



I don't think those two things are necessarily correlated.

I mean... I kinda feel like this is evidence of my 'drow/pdm isn't actually neutral' comment.

Why do they care about a war with a clan that isn't theirs? Unless they aren't actually as neutral as they say.

Look, I think we all know there are some in PDM who want war next set. Plenty of info gets leaked. I just don't know if those people have enough pull within the clan to bring PDM into war.

I guess we will find out.

OK I guess? lol

I didn't know that, Xyle.


In this thread: https://www.earthempires.com/...intent-52609?t=1716241388

SJ announced that PDM, Mercs, EVO were pacted. No one else. He then threatened that all non-pacted countries would be subject to land grabs by M4D.


It's interesting to know there were other pacts that were not announced. I'm wondering if SoF was the only alliance not pacted now, and if that was by design?

Drow - I don't think that's accurate. I could be wrong though.


I'd love to hear from someone in leadership at M4D -

Did you all send pact requests to Stones, Rage, SoL, etc? In other words, did you try to pact all alliances. Or did you purposefully not send pact requests at the beginning of the set to some alliances, so that you'd have war opportunities or land grab targets?

Drow - do you think maybe it was bad faith pacting by M4D to attempt to get a pact with Mercs, but not aggressively pursue a pact with SoL, a close ally?




As an outsider looking in, and based on the initial declarations of M4D at the beginning of this set, it seems as if their goal this set was to divide and conquer. As if having 30+ members wasn't enough, they also wanted to split up alliances and coalitions, by only pacting some of them.




I said it at the beginning of the set, and I don't see any evidence to the contrary. M4D was intending on warring smaller tags that they thought they could easily handle. I predicted Stone and Rage, but SoL was definitely an option too.

If they didn't want to war Stones/Rage/SoL, why didn't they also pact those alliances?


In other words, I think the blame has to be placed on the alliance who didn't pact all the other alliances, if they didn't want to fight.

If you think me labeling your action is whining, then I suppose I can't argue with you.

Others may have different opinions though.


I appreciate the apology, have a great day.

Ohhh... I see. You're one of those that hides in clans the preach being nice and kind to others in this community, then you call me a Butthole. Well done, sir.



The whining is the post you made, silly. Did you not see the image you linked whining about people joining SoL?

You're not. Tan is. For some weird reason, considering M4D and PDM are different clans. It's really odd behavior, honestly.

You know... Sui made that thread about M4D having street cred and not being a bunch of whiney baby's.


Hmmm...

Yea... Coalie's been in SoL this whole set.

I'm pretty sure you guys were planning to war us anyway. Don't act like this isn't a mutual thing, lol

If M4D needs a warchat leader, I can hop on and lead next set.

Well my restart came out of protection and within 3 minutes I had a higher NW then when I died, LOL. I dunno if that was actually a good use of turns, or just a grudge kill. Either way, I enjoy racking up the defenses!

Aren't most of M4D long time vets?


To my knowledge I'm the newest player in this game.

Dude. You don't have to be here. If you don't like seeing me make TC or Leto back up their claims, don't click on the thread. It's not THAT hard.


Every single one of you can play this game without the forums.


What you can't do is express opinions publicly, and be absolved from others expressing their opinions back to you, publicly. That is exactly how public discourse works. If you don't want to partake in the public discourse process, run and hide like TC typically does when I start to make him look stupid. It's also very easy to do.

But if you want to express your opinions publicly, you're going to have to deal with other people also being able to express theirs.

Do... you think I care? I'm here to create grudges and pick fights.


SP - I appreciate it, but I'm not going to let claims go unchallenged.


If TC really believes his bullsh1t, let him come on here and ACTUALLY defend his points. Saying stuff like 'if you disagree, you're just factually wrong'. Let the smart boy prove how smart he is. Back up his claims. Show us some sources of a well accepted game design norm, and how it relates to the game design choices that are being made here. If he can't do that, if he can't back up his claims, him and Leto can STFU.

Herb, don't like reading a lot? No problem, GTFO. Nobody is making you read. Go pick up a pop-up picture book if words are that aversive.


Anyone else want to white knight for the genius cheater turtle crawler? Come on in. I live for this fluff.



If you can't backup what you're saying, STOP SAYING IT. Because I WILL call you out.

Leto - I didn't realize you had such a shallow attention span. I'll make it easier for your less than capable brain.



Your cheating teammate, Turtle Crawler, claims that slagpit is making game design decisions that interfere with known principles of good game design.


I am asserting that what is a 'known principle of good game design' is an opinion, despite Turtle Crawler claiming those principles to be well known and factual.


I provided a list of conflicting 'good game design' principles from a dozen different sources to prove my point.





That short enough for you Leto?




One last piece of advice. Insulting me for being an idiot is lazy and uninspired. Do what I do. Tell the person they are stupid, to their face, and then prove to them why.


All you've done is the same as you're idiot teammate. You've ASSERTED something, but you fail to back it up. Is that like... a thing over at M4D or something? Ya'll just say fluff, acting like it's a fact? Hoping everyone will believe you?



Maybe that's why we don't get along. I do the legwork. I prove my case. I cite my sources. I bring the receipts.



TLDR for you: You and TC are fvcking stupid, and I prove it.

Actually, TC. I'm going to do your job for you... to demonstrate how absolutely fvcking stupid you are.


Let's look at the 'known game design principles'

Principle #1: Design Your Game Around a Core Mechanic
Principle #2: Make Your Game Easy to Learn, but Challenging to Master
Principle #3: Make Sure You Have Balanced Gameplay Options
Principle #4: Provide Regular Feedback and Rewards
Principle #5: Give the Player a Meaningful Core Mission

https://www.evercast.us/blog/game-design-principles


1. Set clear goals and objectives
2. Engaging core mechanics
3. Maintain gameflow and experience
4. Balancing the game
5. Offer feedback and rewards.
6. Playtesting
7. Sound Design

https://www.juegostudio.com/...game-designer-should-know

1. Focal Point
2. Anticipation
3. Announce Change
4. Believable Events and Behavior
5. Overlapping Events and Behavior
6. Physics
7. Sound
8. Pacing
9. Spacing
10. Linear Design versus Component Breakdown
11. Player
12. Communication
13. Appeal

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/...ciples-of-gameplay-design

1. Keep it Simple
2. Balance
3. Accessibility
4. Feedback
5. Reward System
6. Narrative
7. User Interface
8. Immersion
9. Replayability
10. Testing and Iteration

https://medium.com/@niitwork0921/the-top-10-game-design-principles-every-developer-should-know-27ffdf1b0fb4



1. Gameplay loops
2. Adding juice to gameplay
3. Psychological principles, like peak-end rule
4. designing around choice
5. player taxonomy
6. Start with minimal scope
7. Agency
8. Get the gameplay loop right
9. Stay true to the intended experience

https://www.reddit.com/...of_games_design_that_you/



1. I'd only ever consider selling a game if it runs at a smooth framerate of at least 40 FPS on medium range hardware, has at least 3 hours of gameplay and runs stable on 90% of the test hardware. If it does not hold up to that, it will be free regardless of effort put into it.

2. Every level is first and foremost a place that should have some internal logic and feel real and lived in.

3. Visual quality should be consistent with what I can do throughout the game. I rather have it look like its from the mid 2000s than sacrifice my own models and visual diversity with static environments that are built using megascans or third party asset packs.

4. Combat does not involve violence against women, children or civilians. The latter is because I can not pull of proper consequences to that.

5. There is an in-lore reason for most mechanics. If the player can take 10 hits before he goes down, there is a reason for that, however flimsy it might be.

6. Atmosphere and pacing is king. Gameplay is queen.

7. I always design the mid part of the game first, as you always learn by doing and this way I can avoid remaking the beginning and end of the game which have to shine and be polished to either draw the player in or give a somewhat statisfying conclusion.

8. Nothing is ever inspired by latest releases or contemporary standards.

9. Its okay to ask for help! Especially (for me) on the coding end of things. Being stubborn about this can hurt the game.

10. There is always at least one sewer level (its a running gag at this point and I'm one of the few that like playing and designing them :P )


https://www.reddit.com/...of_games_design_that_you/


Or how about all of these different answers:

https://www.reddit.com/..._technique_or_theory_you/

Or these

https://www.reddit.com/...s_do_you_live_and_die_by/

Or these

https://www.reddit.com/...5/game_design_principles/


Or these

https://www.intel.com/...-principles-in-games.html

Or these

https://dulst.com/...ki/Game-Design-Principles





OK, I'll stop now. I think I've gotten my point across. Point is... And I'm going to scream it so you can get the fvcking point, TC.



THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE AUTHORITY ON ONE MAKES A GAME DESIGN DECISION GOOD OR NOT. THESE ARE OPINIONS.


You can argue your opinion, but to state that Slagpit is 'factually incorrect' for making this decision or that is to engage in an intellectually dishonest way, because you are ignoring the reality that you are spewing OPINIONS. These are you fvcking opinions. Let me say it one more time. IT'S YOUR OPINION, NOT A FACT.




Holy fvcking fluff. I cannot believe I have to even type all of this.

Let's do this - Turtle Crawler.


Demonstrate how smart you are and how stupid I am.


You said 'Regardless, to have a good game you need to make decisions according to game design principles. This is a known topic you can lookup and learn.'


Please teach me. Cite your source, and provide me with the details of good game design principles that all games must follow if they want to be good games.

Who gets to decide what 'good game design' is? You, TC? Is there a handbook somewhere? Or are you, like usual, just spouting bullfluff and hoping people will accept it as 'simply, facts'.


The reality is that there are game design trends. There are copy cat games that utilize similar features over and over. But there isn't one single way that a game can be designed. History is LITTERED with games that broke the mould, did something new, and ended up being excellent. If they listened to your stupid ass they would have simply followed 'good game design principles' and we'd never have any innovation.


If you disagree you are simply, factually incorrect. (what a stupid fvcking phrase, wow).



Leto - why don't you actually try to contribute something useful to this conversation? You are the epitome of wasted text. I have never, in my entire life, met someone who says so little with every word they utter. The ramblings of a parrot are more substantial than yours.

Serious question, is M4D activity really that low?

At the start of the war M4D outnumbered Sol. With Stones joining the war, it's pretty close to even. I think the coalition for good has a few more members. But not double more.

Even disregarding the fact that M4D is failing to finish the job on some kill rurns, their raw hit totals are 50% of their enemy.

Why is that happening?

It's not really time consuming at all. I've got a baller gwam.


Why do I have to find chill? I see no reason why I need to do that at all. I'm quite enjoying myself.

Ahhh, I see what's happening.


Ok, I'll respond in good faith to this post.


If you want understand my mindset, I'll explain further. I think I've been pretty clear in the past though. Seek and destroy. I know what I bring to the table, and it's a relentless assault that is unwavering in the face of resistance. I have been killed more times than anyone else in this game on a per game basis. I have fought with, quite literally, everyone in this community at one time or another. My closest allies have become my most bitter enemies. And I have done this for long periods of time.


With all of this, I think by now, I've demonstrated that I will not, and cannot, be stopped. I am the waves in the ocean that, no matter how bad you get pummeled, will keep coming over and over and over, until you get out of the ocean. You don't want to fvck with this force, stay out of the water.



As for the purpose behind what I'm doing. That's easy. I do this because it's what I do. Plain and simple. If you're looking for a deeper meaning, you're going to be disappointed. This is just what I do.


As for the rest of your comment about it being time consuming, or mentally unhealthy. Look vet, I appreciate the concern. But I promise you, I'm good bro. You don't have to believe me. I could attempt to prove it to you by telling you about my personal life. Hell, you probably know about it anyway. I think you're in M4D, right? So you've probably had my doxxed info shared with you. If you've got my name you can google me and see that, at least from a public image perspective, I'm a pretty well-adjusted, valuable member of my community.


But honestly, what's the point? I have nothing to prove to you. Your concerns for my mental health are at best silly, at worst meant as a passive aggressive comment. I'm not on here talking about how I drove people to suicide, attacking people's personal lives, threatening people's cats, talking fluff about people's wives, or any of the other absolutely unhinged fluff that others have done on these forums.

All I'm doing is burying people underneath their words and game-related actions. I get that it SEEMS I'm on the level of the actual lunatics in this community. That's just because I'm extremely effective at what I do. But I think if you carefully vet (hah, get it!) my actions, you'll see that your concerns about my mental health are likely unwarranted.




Appreciate the talk though, hopefully that brings some clarity to the situation for you.





Now back to our regularly scheduled program.


Turtle Crawler, stop acting like a prick to Slag. Why the F does M4D even put up with you?

Well vettiv, I thought it was very unlikely that I was actually showing a detachment from reality. I don't think you have to be all that educated on the topic to know that TC is speaking non-sense, but luckily I am, so I had quite a bit of confidence on my assessment of the situation.

That said - I always like to give someone to chance to back up their claims. And when they can't, I bury them for it.


What is the point of this line of inquisition, though? You seem fairly intelligent, and I think you already understand what's happening here. Turtle Crawler said stupid things, and I made him look like a fool.


If your point is that I should show TC mercy for some reason, feel free to make your case. But this beating around the bush stuff is a little tiring.

I didn't look up anything, I opened it and was waiting for TC to reference a page for me. I was hoping to learn something new. All I learned was that TC was full of crap.

Two things:

1. I'm going to need you to cite your source for the claim 'he's done great things for the game...'

2. TC said to me a few weeks back " You should watch how people act and imitate them, preferably someone who never causes issues and doesn't post. The results will astound you."

This was unprovoked, and I hadn't even said two things to him my entire time here prior to that statement.


He drew first blood. He just didn't realize I was going to destroy him for that statement. His mistake, I'm not the type that shows mercy.



He then followed that statement up with a

" It's the detachment from reality to protect your ego that really exposes you. "




I asked TC how posting a gif indicates a detachment from reality. I asked this because he appeared to be acting like a clinical psychologist and was commenting on my mental state. As someone who knows a little bit about that stuff, I pulled out a copy of my DSM-V and asked TC if he could clarify his statement and back it up.


Turns out he was talking out of his @$$ like he always does (surprirse, surprise). Instead of apologizing for the above two comments, admitting he was wrong, or taking responsibility for his actions in any way whatsoever, he turn and hid like the coward he is (wonder where he learned that from).


Now he's resurfaced. And what is he doing? He's acting like a giant know it all prick to slagpit who is trying to improve the game.



But no worries, his white knight TAN is here to defend him!




TAN - let me explain something to you about me. I may be mean, but I'm also fair. I'm mean to people who deserve it, and who don't take responsibility for their actions. I've had public spats with a LOT of people here. There is a list of people who I am still publicly spatting with though. You know what all those people on the list have in common? They've never apologized or taken responsibility for their nefarious actions.

I'm really sorry that holding people accountable to their words and actions seems like someone who is being being a douchebag. I guess I'm a douchebag. Deal with it.

Oof, it sounds even dumber in all caps. Didn't think that was possible.

YES, BUT WHAT IS OR IS NOT RIDICULOUS IS NOT THE SAME THING AS GOOD GAME DESIGN. IN FACT IT'S COMPLETELY IMMATERIAL WITH RESPECT TO GOOD GAME DESIGN.

TC, you need to learn how to communicate without coming off like a prick if you want to influence people with your ideas.

There's that ego of yours again. "Listen to only me and no one else!"


I think slag has been doing a great job the last few months of soliciting feedback from as many people as possible. Why don't you worry about yourself and let him do his job.

SJ you're a very good player. I just want you to know that.

En4cer, let's put LaF back together.

Why not, you gonna first strike SoL again... against your will?

I... don't know how to feel about this comment...

Oh, Leto has snapped at me. Many times. That's how I got the material for 'you insulted my wife'. He snapped that day in EE discord and provided me with some amazing material to use against him.

Tan - I do take a little offense to equating me with Cat or Josey. Nothing against either of them (not trying to pick fights right now), but my 'unhinged toxicity' is actually quite different then what they do. It may not be clear to outside observers (nor is it intended to be clear), but there is purpose and intention behind what I do. If you look closer, you might be able to see it!



This has been a fun war though. It's great to see activity in this server again. If we aren't warring, what are we all doing here?

Thank you Drow.

Uh... yes please. Tan, I know you're newly returned. But I'm basically a big giant loser. So me walling like the rest of you superstars is a big deal.


Oreo or chocolate chip, please.

k

Empy - Had their chance?


That reads like a threat....



I'm asking, why didn't M4D pursue, actively, trying to pact out with SoL?

Or did you?

It's related to friends.

Drow - do you have any insight as to why M4D didn't pact SoL at the beginning of the round like they did with Mercs?

lol sui :)

deleted per sui's request

That's kind of what I figured. Had I done nothing, I would have died. But because of the actions I took during the attack, I'm still alive. I think that's the definition of walling, no?