Do you use CBM?

Gandalf Parker · #1 September 18th, 2011, 04:56 PM

I know thats the pitch. But I personally do not agree that its the result. I dont feel that it opens up tactics. But it does close some.

For MP play, of certain groups on certain map sizes and certain game settings then it does seem to open some things up. It doesnt make them possible, it just seems to make them more spreadsheet balanced in order to make them a viable strategy for winning. I also have never been thrilled with the "thematic" changes to some of my favorite races such as Pangaea and Caelum. Making them "balanced" for small tight maps and king-of-the-hill games doesnt really work for me. Just IMHO

kianduatha · #2 September 18th, 2011, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gandalf Parker

I also have never been thrilled with the "thematic" changes to some of my favorite races such as Pangaea and Caelum. Making them "balanced" for small tight maps and king-of-the-hill games doesnt really work for me. Just IMHO

Care to explain a bit? What changes to them don't you like?

Bullock · #3 September 18th, 2011, 10:44 PM

As a newcomer who was playing only vanilla few months ago, i have to say that i ve been fully converted to CBM.

The main reason of my choice is the removal of gems gen and to expect something else than tartarian rush in end game.

The other thing i like, which doesn't seem to be the case for everybody (and i m quite surprise about that), is the constant adding of stuff in it. Before i came here (and discovered CBM) i was already constantly discovering new stuff/spells in the vanilla version, but with CBM i have almost the feeling to play a new game with all this added stuff to be discovered.

I also like the big effort done about balancing weakest things like some nations, pretenders and crafts... Why should this game stay unbalanced like i read few posts above ? Maybe it's fun to know that some nations are weaker for thematic reason, but what is the interest if they are not played? or by people who last 10 turns in the game ?

Ofc there is still some balancing to do and with so many stuff, balancing will be a constant preoccupation.

Now it s a noobie observation, focusing MP, so maybe it's not fully relevant. But the main purpose of this post, beside giving my point, is to encourage the Llama and all people working on it to continue this great job !

WraithLord · #4 September 19th, 2011, 03:03 AM

It took a long time for me to come to accept CBM. I didn't try all the older versions, preferring to watch it evolve from afar.

1.6 (gem gens) convinced me since I hate MM and not a fan of high hidden tanking economies inflated by wishing.

I think QM and llama are doing a good job of directing CBM to make the game more interesting and more balanced in the sense that more options are valid.
Vanilla dom has nations, items, spells and pretender that are either weak, useless, eclipsed by some better version or a combination of. CBM does quite a good job of addressing that.

It ain't perfect. nothing is. However I think the approach is good and the modders are capable and have a clear vision so that not every random whim would make it, far from it.

1.9 looks up to be a good version. I'm looking forward to the pretenders work and I think by then CBM would be mostly done.

IMHO it polishes the dominions gem to shine even brighter.