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[Lukeinator]

Roving Clans, continents.

[IronyOwl]

IronyOwl, are you going to be using the expansion? Just to know whether to expect Guardians or not.

(Also a new expansion was announced, I wonder how that would affect existing games, if at all)

I didn't catch it on sale and am too much of a miser to grab it off sale without a good reason, so probably not unless there's a demand for it. From what I understand it's more a sprinkling of More Things than a gamechanging expansion.

[Hawk132]

Broken Lords!

[Harry Baldman]

Hey, I played this once when it was free for a little while. Was none too bad.

With that in mind, Cultists! Lovely Cultists! wait no! Broken Lords actually sound cooler.

And settings should be highly fractal and random in worldgen, use your own discretion for number of empires and difficulty.

[IronyOwl]

Turn 19: These Things Must Flow

Broken 6
Cult 3
Necro 2
Clans 1

One Continent 2
Two Continents 2
Low Land Percent 1
Random 1

7-8 Empires 1
Discretion 1

Max Difficulty 1
Discretion 1

Spoiler: In The Beginning... (click to show/hide)

Let's do this.



So it was written.


Alas, like most games Endless Legend interprets my attempts to screencap the intro sequence as proof of my boundless rage and so quits immediately on doing so.

Fortunately...

Spoiler: Settling In (click to show/hide)

Welcome to- oh look a dragon.

See, the Drakken start out knowing everybody on the map, which means we know them right back. Note that unlike us, they can see our starting location. They have nothing to say at the moment other than hello, and we have no real business with them.


Here it is: Our new home.


There's some local points of interest nearby, and this is the closest one: a field of rich minerals that will boost production significantly.


Further down we can see an oasis. The rich food production is completely wasted on us, but it's still a nice enough place that any settlement tapping it gets an approval boost.


And finally we have spices, a luxury that slightly boosts happiness and massively boosts food production. Which would be awesome if we still ate anything other than the souls of the damned.


The oasis is nice, but the production boost should be very helpful and more importantly our city is now centered on a shallow hill, which is really just pretty awesome.


Our first construction is a Founder's Memorial, which as it appears is mainly just there to give your capital an early game boost.

Spoiler: Lore (click to show/hide)

Meanwhile, our valiant hero is ready to lead our invincible armies across Auriga poking ancient ruins with a stick.


Now with tragic backstory!


First order of business: Search that glowy ruin next to our city!


Result: We gain some Dust!

Which is good, because recall that we have to purchase population with Dust. We also have to do that manually, which if past experience is any indication will result in it not happening for long stretches as I completely forget it's even a thing. This brings us to the point where we can afford it, so I remember and purchase our new citizen.


We also have to select some research. As the icons in the middle suggest, up tends to be military, right is research and industry, left is commerce and growth, and down is politics and empire business. I go with an industrial tech to help us get our other buildings up faster.

Spoiler: Hello Neighbor... (click to show/hide)

Uh oh. Looks like we've got to explore some ancient ruins with a heavily armed party to take our minds off the prospect of feasting upon the living to sustain our unholy shells.

This is the start of our faction quest, which has a few uses. As you can see, steps in faction quests tend to reveal an awful lot of lore. They also sometimes have unique rewards that can't be acquired anywhere else. And finally, if you follow them all the way, they unlock a specific path to victory.


Of course it couldn't be a close ruin...


Like this one! Delicious Dust...


Speaking of which, our monument is finished and we don't yet have the technology for foundries, so we get to work on a mint.


Aha! Our valiant hero who is likely also a worshiper of Galgaromal the Lord of the Liar's Feast stumbles upon our region's minor faction: Ogres. Well, Urces if you're trying to be polite and proper as opposed to feasting on their delicious souls.


As you can see, our region extends quite a ways south; if it were possible, we'd probably consider a city down there a good idea.


And our new neighbors from a distance.


I get us started trying to figure out how to deal with natives beyond stabbing them all and then reanimating their vengeful souls in sacrilegious husks.

Spoiler: The Ballad of... Uh... (click to show/hide)

Baron Joslyn Deyval the Third stares dramatically into the nearby sea.


This act offers sufficient roleplaying XP to level him up!


Now as mentioned, this gives me some options regarding skills. Against my better judgement I go for the ruin searching one, since he is likely to be our exploration hero for quite some time, and there's an awful lot of Auriga to be explored.


We finally get started on a mill foundry, which strictly speaking I probably should have interrupted the mint for.


Continuing south, we discover some... things...


And some Dust! Again! I swear these ruins sometimes produce other things!


Speaking of which, this region doesn't look bad. It might fulfill the needs of some noble or another that's been demanding a coastal research city.


Also our armies are apparently as effective at acquiring Dust as a crack addict is at acquiring crack.

This is not reassuring.

Spoiler: Reaching Out (click to show/hide)

Our noble Dust fiends return to the Urces village and consider feasting on the souls of every last being within. Literally, because we don't quite have diplomacy yet. They opt to wait a turn.


See, that wasn't so bad, right? Let's get some science going, and...


Talk to the natives with our words!


Oh. Of course. Naturally. Of course we'd actually need spices for something now.


Change of plans. Disregard science, acquire luxuries.


Meanwhile, with little else to build, I get us started on that third infantry we need to explore the northern ruins.


However, that doesn't take long, so boroughs it is. Boroughs expand your city, giving it more resources.

However, it also increases unhappiness, so we need to watch out. The loophole here is that if a district is surrounded by four other districts, it levels up and begins producing 5 approval rather than negating 10, so if you build smart it can become self-sustaining after a while.


Under construction.

Spoiler: Destiny (click to show/hide)

Our heroic army makes the loooooong trek north back to our city, having to cross through irritating forests to do so. As is frequently the case, forests cost double movement to get through.

They meet up with our new infantry while there, giving us all the might we need to explore those ruins.


The trip there is pretty nice. Whether through dumb luck or intelligent positioning, we are in either a conveniently dessicated world or conveniently dessicated area of the world. Should probably build a settler at some point, like when there's nothing else to build but happiness-destroying resource producers, for instance. Just as an example.


However, at the exact moment I want those ogres. I opt to build another borough directly on our nearest spice deposit, which is a smart and dumb move at the same time. It's a smart move because by the time it's finished, we'll have spice extraction techniques down, letting it harvest spice without the need for a separate structure.

It's dumb because it's not necessarily the most convenient shape for making sure everyplace is surrounded by four other places so they produce happiness instead of destroying it.


Of course. Let's pacify the Dorgeshi to further boost our spice output, because Auriga hates us.


Outside view of their hovels.


Also a neat feature next to them.


Oh yeah, weren't we here to explore ruins?



Of course. Of course! The first time we get anything but Dust from a ruin, and it's our glorious future as spice masters. With two deposits in our home region and Dorgeshi operating our augmented extractors, we'll be drowning in useless powder in no time!


On the bright side, this other region has titanium in it. Titanium is the basic "heavy" strategic resource. It's used in a few advanced science buildings, but it's normally the slower, stronger equipment option.


Damn! If only we had Dust lying around for some reason!

It's probably a good thing I've been forgetting to buy citizens.


Joslyn levels up from angsting on the difference between himself and this door.


I pick up another rank of ruin scrounging because I'm bad at this.


We're in! Something's pissed!


Wow. Uh, tough fight guys. Dunno if we've got this.


I auto it. We either take 0 damage or heal it all back from feasting upon the guardian's soul.


Interesting...


Neat, but a little late. I think we're like two techs away from hitting Era II.



Oh, and the nobles are demanding we feast upon the world. I've never heard of a story involving that phrase ending poorly.

Spoiler: Nature (click to show/hide)

You can actually search quest ruins a second time, as shown here. Along with how much value we're getting out of that exploration skill.


The Drakken want to thank us for only feasting on isolated travelers and political prisoners.


Come on, man, you know I'm good for it.


Uh oh, we've got ogres.

As mentioned, villages produce wandering assholes to assault our armies and cities. Here we see a gaggle of assholes right at our gates; as evidenced by the number above their heads, this army has two units in it.

Our city also has two units in it; the number on its bar next to the helmet. It also has 150 fortification points, the little castle icon.


Militia come free with a city, and you can research and build things to give you a few more. They're alright, but the fortification is what really holds this place together. When battle starts, each unit gets a HP shield equal to the city's fortification bonus, meaning these guys effectively have 150 more HP than listed.

However, you can also siege a city to reduce this bonus, and once that's worn out actually begin damaging units instead. Sieges take a while, and wandering armies tend to be a little shy about it at first. So we're not exactly in panic mode, but it might be wise to head back there.


Which we will *SNORT* do any day now just gimme a minute.


We found puppies!

Yes, this game has two-headed crossbow wolves in it.


I'm curious how they feel living in this godforsaken desert. Maybe they're coyotefolk?

And we have our first update! Still trying to figure out the best way to handle all this, so speak up if you've got something you like or don't.

[Darkening Kaos]

     For the sake of preventing insanity, include in the image tag {img width=800}, using square braces of course, clicking on an image resized this way will expand it so all details can be seen, if required.

     Otherwise, I'm liking the progress of our most...powder focussed explorer/tomb raider.  I didn't notice that burroughs could substitute for an extractor, is it as efficient as an extractor?

Edit: fixed the TAG.

[Digital Hellhound]

The crack addict odyssey rolls ever forward. I'm really digging the art style of the map.

[Iituem]

The crack addict odyssey rolls ever forward. I'm really digging the art style of the map.

Everything that Godus wanted and failed to be?

[IronyOwl]

This should have been an update, but imgur is being useless.

[IronyOwl]

Update 2: Unbridled Terror

Spoiler: How Things Work (click to show/hide)

A ruin near the puppies.


I'll bet you can't guess what's in it!


Oh yes, our Empire Plan comes up.

The Empire Plan is basically a list of limited time empire-wide bonuses you can purchase in tiers for Influence. Being the First Era, we only have the first tiers available. You might notice our immediate interests to the left and right- more Dust per citizen producing Dust, and more research.

I reluctantly go with Research, since we're not yet set up for having citizens producing Dust to purchase more citizens with.


Nearby are some... things. My advisors assure me they're known as "plants."


We're being attacked?!


Right, wolf-things from the wolf-thing village. Normally I'd auto it but this is a good opportunity to display how combat works.


First is deployment, where you can slightly shuffle around where your guys stand when battle starts.


Next is targeting, where you tell your goons where to go or what to kill. Note that by default settings, you tend to get things like archers rushing into melee to get into range to target the enemy archers.


Then your goons and the other goons punch each other.


Unfortunately, neither side is particularly good at damaging the other.


Mmmmm, tasty souls...


Even without any real equipment, our hero proves the exception, able to deliver punishing blows from time to time.


This is actually slightly worse than it looks, since our forces can't heal naturally. We'll have to spend Dust for that.

Spoiler: Utterly Pointless (click to show/hide)

Diplomacy with the Wussy Coyote Tribe reveals that they'd like actual metals so they don't suck as much. Shame we don't have access to Titanium yet, and it's weeks before I remember that we do, in fact, have some in stock.


At long last, our third district is complete, doubling as a spice extractor! Soon we'll have ample reminders that the loss of our humanity can be felt in more ways than one!


I finally, FINALLY get to work on a settler. As you can see, settlers are basically worthless in combat, and will need to be escorted or wished really good luck before being sent on The Jackal Run.


What. WHAT. WHY IS THERE TITANIUM FOUR FEET FROM OUR DOORSTEP?


LOOK AT THIS. LOOK AT HOW FAR SOUTH WE EXPLORED FOR NO REASON WHILE A STRATEGIC RESOURCE WAS HIDING IN THE FOUR TILES WE DIDN'T EXPLORE NORTH.

THIS IS SOME ODYSSEUS LEVEL BULLSHIT.


We also discover some ruins, adorned with images of embarrassed catgirls trying to bathe whilst blank male figures accidentally stumble into them.

My historians assure me it was the site of a fertility cult that worshiped the sun.


Inside, we find something intriguing...


Wait, is getting all the way over there in 5 turns even possible?


...it's not. What the hell, catgirls! It's like you didn't even think this through!


Inspired by catgirl artifacts, we begin research on things involving water, happiness, and/or sewage.

Spoiler: Can't Take The Heat (click to show/hide)

It so happens there's a GIANT tree in the forested part of the nearby desert.


Some of our units level up. Units gain experience naturally over time, and of course get bonus exp from combat. Leveling up does more or less what you'd expect- it increases their stats some.


Our settlers have a lot of desert to choose from, but unfortunately most of the central regions are riven with these "plant" things.


Of course, these particular "plants" are basically green gemstone mounts, so they're normal and beneficial.


The Baron levels up!


And pick another questionable, questionable talent.

There are two reasons for this one. First, it helps units under his command level faster. While not essential, that can add up.

Secondly, this is one route to immunity from negative winter effects, and it hits reduced upkeep costs along the way. Given that we've been utterly unimpressed by military threats so far, and that we're probably not going to be stuffing him in a governorship any time soon, I figured with was an acceptable route to take with him.


Our settlers experience a minor complication to their attempts to live.


Fortunately, they have a workaround: DASHING IN TERROR to the nearby cliff face and hurling their material possessions to the ground in a desperate bid to count as a city rather than a gaggle of unarmed civilians.

At which point I purchase three additional points of population and get them started on a mill foundry. All is well!


OGRE ATTACK!

Normally I'd auto, but the little Circle of Odds says we're evenly matched, and I want no shenanigans with our only army.


The usual slapfight ensues.


With the usual regularly scheduled interruptions for heroic brutality.


The ogres try to show off their nifty ability, but attacking multiple targets really only works when your attacks deal damage.


I mean, if you'll look to the left you'll notice it is a nifty ability, if you can get the positioning down. It also requires you to attack rather than counterattack, however, something that low-initiative fatasses tend to have difficulty with.


One of our guys is a little injured and the relative newbie levels up.

Spoiler: Discovery (click to show/hide)

With a second settler ready, we finally get to work on some SCIENCE!


NO SHIT YOU UNREASONABLE FUCKS.

The only thing dumber than these stupid inscriptions is my decision to send them down there anyway. We could stand to finish scouting that southern area anyway, though.


Hello Dorgeshi. Please join our empire so we can make even more useless spice.


I start to examine the region down here in earnest. We've got a settler on the way, in an attempt to give whatshisface his coastal research place. It's looking nice for that, though a bit greener than we'd prefer.


In keeping with our inescapable fate, I finally build that second spice extractor to complete the Even More Stuff You Don't Need quest.


We meet some friendly, really fast marauders almost directly where we're about to have a pack of tender, fear-basted settlers shuffling through.


This is handled in the appropriate fashion.


We finally get to work on the thing we need to extract those strategic resources we've got sitting around.


Our second city gets to work on a sewer system.


Hurray!


No but really, if we ever discover anything at all other than spices, this will be awesome. Until then it will loom over us as a constant and irrevocable reminder that the universe hates us.

Spoiler: Not Again (click to show/hide)

Our capital begins work on attempting to placate its citizens.


Which is good, because if you'll look up top you'll see OH NOT THE FOOD!


However, in addition to industry being valuable, city morale contributes to empire morale. Empire morale works on the exact same thresholds and modifiers as the city stuff, only affected research and Dust.

And we really, really do not want to be producing less Dust.


We meet the more practical version of the Dorgeshi: Living rocks.


We also discover different rocks. The jury's still out on whether they're more or less friendly and useful.


Also glassteel, titanium's speedier cousin.


And... I don't even know. Let's just send in the eggheads like they want and accept that we'll eventually have to deal with aliens from hell.


Speaking of which, RUN!


Totally unrelated to that, I get to work on some more military units. We should really upgrade our designs by this point, but we don't actually have a steady stream of strategics and we're close to being able to research more advanced equipment designs anyway.


The talking rocks want spices and titan bones.


Their scenic village is located here.


Our second city gets to work on the all-important Dust.


What the hell, guys?

Spoiler: Finality (click to show/hide)

We FINALLY get to work on some serious science terrain enhancers. Our egghead resort will love this.


We have a problem. Or opportunity! No really, it's a problem. Or thing we can ignore! No really, we can ignore it if we want to.

But the thing is, those damned lizards have settled right next to us. Which means we'll probably want to step up our game if we want to explore and colonize any more lands near them before they do.


Also ogres keep wandering near our capital, solidifying the need for some more muscle around here.


You'll never guess what our military's up to!


We meet the most merciful race in Auriga, by virtue of defining "mercy" as "whatever we happen to be doing at the time."

So, you know, like us with chivalry.


Unfortunately, these southern lands are proving unnaturally lush and fertile. I get the feeling we should get back north and claim what we can before the Drakken take it all to sun themselves on.


Before that, however, we finally get that one noble's egghead seaside resort thing up and running. Its research output is respectable as is, but once a few districts and science buildings go up it should get out of hand rather quickly.


Unfortunately we have to start them out with some industry, and lack the Dust to purchase more than one additional citizen.