labors of herculaneum

[grotewittebeer]

Grotewittebeer recommands all CaesarIV-players who are eagerly waiting to be connected to the server again the splendid competition, created by Aramann and Hieronymus, Labors of Herculaneum, on www.citybuildingcontests.net. We can download a scenario on our own level and then play offline. It is quite different from what we're used to on the Caesaronline challenges, but it's great fun!

[aramann]

Thanks for the plug grotewittebeer! :D
It IS an amazing scenario. Definitely more hieronymus than me this time though! (probably why it's so darn good!)

[Hieronymus]

Thanks grottewittebeer! :D Don't listen to aramann though - she's too darned modest sometimes! :p:D Without her this scenario would not even exist... ;)

[aramann]

:o :o :o You are SO baaaad H.
It's only true if one knows the whole inner story.
Although MOST scenarios with the Hieronymus/aramann stamp on them have one heck of a back story! ;)

[Hieronymus]

:o :o :o You are SO baaaad H.
It's only true if one knows the whole inner story.
Although MOST scenarios with the Hieronymus/aramann stamp on them have one heck of a back story! ;)
Oh I've NO idea what you mean A <innocent look> :p

I was just referring to the contest page which gives a fair description of the genesis of this thing:

Labors of Herculaneum is based on an original concept and storyline co-written by Aramann and Hieronymus, with most of the design "work" being done by Hieronymus, and most of the testing "fun" by Cathy and Aramann.

[aramann]

<ogh>
Innocence my patootie. :p

[ampora]

I have downloaded the map and given it a go, but have found that I cannot trade with anyone, as the open trade buttons are faded out, as are lots of other build buttons. I know you can´t build warehouses in the scenario but it didn´t say anything about anything else as far as I can remember. I thought everything might come on the further I progressed but that didn´t happen, any idea what might be causing this.

[aramann]

That's exactly how it's meant to be played. Things open up as the game progresses. Trade is the second labor. :D

[Jimaaten]

ampora, concentrate on the labors and everything else will fall into place. ;)

[Hieronymus]

ampora, concentrate on the labors and everything else will fall into place. ;)
...especially on the second labor... if you're not careful, that is ;)

[Jimaaten]

...especially on the second labor... if you're not careful, that is ;)Have I told you how evil you are lately? :p

[Hieronymus]

Have I told you how evil you are lately? :p
Not in the last few days Jimaaten! :p (What was your comment after your last submission? Ah, yes... "Damn you, Hiero" ;))

You want evil? Try the Insane version! :rolleyes:

I used to be such a nice designer too, until one day just over a year ago, I encountered aramann and the Axis of Daggy Evil was formed.... :D

Remember Seutonius Paulinus Grinch? Want to find out about the final one in that line - Seutonius Paulinus Grinch XIII? Find out in two month's time :eek:

[aramann]

I used to be such a nice designer too, until one day just over a year ago, I encountered aramann and the Axis of Daggy Evil was formed.... :D


Yeah yeah yeah, blame it all on me... :rolleyes: S'OK, I'm used to it!

[ampora]

I tried to complete this game as advised from my previous post, and although the trade ports all opened up nothing else did. I managed to get to labour 5 but was being asked for marble, grapes, iron, and a cavalry fort, all of which I couldn´t supply because the buttons necessary remained faded out throughout until the end. I did manage to import the weapons and armour and had the quantity of wood stored, but I still couldn´t open up a recruitment post never mind a fort. Surely this is not how the game is meant to be played as it doesn´t make sense to me.

[Hieronymus]

Ignore the requests / demands for marble, iron and grapes. Marble unlocks for the 6th labor, grapes for the 11th and iron for the 12th. Once you have 20 weapons and armor (or more) in storage at a port, the recruitment post should unlock. When you have an active recruitment post the cavalry fort will unlock.

[ampora]

After many attempts at this I have to give up as I am now convinced the map is flawed, the reason for saying that is because when I get up to the ninth level, the game never recognises that I have achieved the labour.
I have moved up to the tenth labour only twice and each time after four or five game months have gone by, even though I have had what was needed for all that time, 3 forts, 24 weapons, and small/med. villa, my last game I had more than what was asked for. I had more than a year to finish.
When I did jump to the 10 level the same again, I had more than was needed but it still wouldn´t move on. So what´s the point!
The fans keep rioting and burning down the arena even when I have 100% entertainment coverage and higher wages than needed, what more can you do
(I have attached my last map, to see if anyone can help me with the problem.)The game is a great concept but if you cannot progress to win there is no point in it, if there is something you have to do other than what is stated I would love to know:mad:

[goonsquad]

I'd imagine the designers would have replied to this last post by PM, but for the record I have found the 9th one to be a bit dodgy too, also in the hard difficulty. The tutorial instructions and the repeating messages seem to be ambiguous. I'll work out the way through, I'm sure.

Ampora it does sound like your Arena is losing its gladiator access from time to time.

[Hieronymus]

I'd imagine the designers would have replied to this last post by PM
Actually I've only just seen this (RL and all that).

Ampora - I will look at your save when I can today, but as goonsquad is well aware, this is a CBC contest that still has a week to run and as such I have to be fair to the 21 contestants (so far) who have completed and submitted valid entries.

But there does appear to be a clue in your statement that citizens keep burning down your arena. This only happens if your arena has not had any gladiators for several weeks. You first get a message that Jasonus will not perform (hence whatever labor you are on will not complete), followed by a message that his fans are unhappy. It is only after these two warnings that you get the riot. Check your gladiator guild(s) - either they have run out of weapons or they are too far away from your arena.

[Kiya]

The tutorial instructions and the repeating messages seem to be ambiguous.

:cool:

Guess what people not having English as their first language might be thinking. :D

[Hieronymus]

...although only 6 out of the 21 entrants so far speak English as their first language :)

[Kiya]

...although only 6 out of the 21 entrants so far speak English as their first language :)
I guess you are still providing French and German translations so players of those languages can use their native language. So where does this leave others, non English, French, German speakers?

My point is if a non-English speaking person is playing your scenarios they will miss a lot because of the language barrier, both in fun aspect and in understanding what is needed/required to be done. Sorry I have to pass yours because of this, since they are in a way too much based on language things compared to many other designs on CBC.

(Remember what goonsquad who is a native speaker of English just said: The tutorial instructions and the repeating messages seem to be ambiguous. I hope you take this in the sense I'm trying to say it, not as a criticism but an opinion why I am not playing your games any more.)

[Hieronymus]

Yes it is true that we have French and German translations, but they only exist because players have kindly volunteered to produce them for us. Ideally I would like translations to be available to all players but sadly that is not possible.

As you say, our style of scenario (which seeks to take full advantage of the scripting possibilities C4 offers, and tell a "story" through the messaging system) does not suit everyone. I do not have a problem with that. But I do this on a voluntary basis and invest a lot of my personal time into designing these scenarios; I would not at all be interested in creating the more "traditional" style of C4 scenario, and would quit as a designer if I had to "stick to tradition".

That said, we DID put in a HUGE amount of effort to make the scenario instructions as clear as possible - which is why I find goonsquad's comments here particularly disappointing. At the end of the day we are only human :o

Hiero :)

[aramann]

I can almost guarantee that something is up with either the gladiator guild(s?) and/or perhaps a rating level? Culture coverage is also important in this. Not just entertainment coverage. Could be a shrine, a barber, something. Have you checked all this Ampora? Please don't give up - it's very do-able, just sometimes it can be difficult to keep an eye on six gazzillion things at once. I've run the same problem myself quite a few times on this map. Persistence always pays though! Good luck! :)

Language barriers are always difficult and it's always hard to find more people to translate. We're very lucky to have the volunteers that we do have who spend a decent amount of their time in painstakingly going through the game files and translating all the messages, especially if and when exact translations do not work. We're very grateful to these people who do this and are always ecstatic when someone volunteers to translate any scenario into any language. As this is quite the international community it's difficult to know that by only having these three languages available we are really shutting out a lot of players but we can only do so much.

And on another note. Back to the scenario itself...
Please always post or PM Hieronymus (as lead designer) and then/or myself (as inspirational motivator) with any questions. We're always happy to try and help a player through a troublesome spot.

[goonsquad]

As always it's a great scenario and I'll certainly make it through. I will explain what I mean when it's over. I can personally attest to the amount of time and effort is required to create a scenario like this in C4.

[grotewittebeer]

Grotewittebeer is desperately struggling to complete the Labors of Herculaneum on the insane level, but hope that he will succeed is fading. There is not much time left, so it will be possible that Aramann and Hieronymus won't see an entry from Grotewittebeer. They should know that this doesn't mean Grotewittebeer didn't enjoy it! On the contrary, Labors of Herculaneum provided him with many hours game-playing pleasure! Thank you!

Grotewittebeer has almost no problems with the english language in Labors of Herculaneum. Dutch is his native tongue. The story in Labors of Herculaneum is great. The instructions and messages are clear. Grotewittebeer hopes Aramann and Hieronymus won't bother too much about language-barriers, because he is convinced that in the house of every non-English-, non-German- and non-French- native speaking CaesarIV-fan the dictionary is not far away from the computer.

[goonsquad]

I moved down to Hard from Insane, Grotewittebeer, because I found the latter too difficult. This is no disgrace.

[aramann]

grotewittebeer, we would be pleased to see ANY entry from you. I hope you succeed!
Thanks for your kind words.
And dearest Sir Frog... I am literally jumping in my seat waiting for your Revenge Of the Market Ladies (on CBC in C4 AND C3!!!!) in which I will conquer and smash down the question of those idiot savants once and for all...
:p

[goonsquad]

Ally, you won't be troubled by the C4 version, but I suspect the C3 will have you tearing those lovely golden locks clean out by the roots.

[Hieronymus]

Thanks for your generous words grotewittebeer - they are very much appreciated! :)