Shadow Empire | Minos Tribe | Ep. 002 - Expanding East, Meeting the Neighbours

[@cthan1174]

I think it's great that you're recording a Shadow Empire let's play again.

[@battlemode]

Thanks! Glad to have you on board!

[@Trifler500]

+1 :)

[@lethrington]

The turn times being edited out is just so great. Its such a big difference and makes the episodes feel a lot snappier, while not cutting out anything important.

[@battlemode]

Yeah Shadow Empire plays really smoothly compared to other big complex games. Unlike Dominions there's rarely anything I feel the need to skip to keep the pacing going but the turn processing is one thing thag can be cut

[@RisingDivinity]

I really like this resource scarcity you've got in this game. I think you're right in what you said: This game tends to start really hard and get progressively easier as turns add up. Having low resources adds an element of difficulty to turns later on. Very interested to see how this series progresses.

[@battlemode]

I think making the early game harder was a genius stroke in stopping the snowballing problem. I'm curious to see what else Vic comes up with there. I don't think there's any danger of me ROFL-stomping this game now, it's gonna be a fight till the very end, unless I'm much mistaken.

[@Trifler500]

11:00 - I've mentioned this before. I agree you don't need to micromanage it, but I find it extremely useful to set it to 1% discovery. Then they'll whip out a design when you want one, and they'll put their points into discovery when you don't want to work on a new model. If you leave it on 50%, then because of how the system works, they'll design new models slower without any benefit. This also allows you to relax and not feel like you need to be designing new models you don't really need all the time. Then when you do need them, they'll have the higher tech you have then, rather than being some design you created some time ago.

[@battlemode]

Good point! Thanks Trifler I'll remember to do that next time. How are you btw? I was thinking about you the other day, not seen you around for a few months. You'll like this series I think, definitely the best series I've recorded for Shadow Empire yet, in terms of exciting gameplay.

[@Trifler500]

@@battlemodeHi! Yeah, for the past month and a half my internet and phone have been down. I finally found out it was from copper thieves literally pulling the lines down from the utility poles. We don't have buried cables around here. I finally decided to subscribe to another ISP, at least for now. Other than that, I've been driving my Mom to the hospital for appointments a lot. She's been slowly regaining the ability to go to appointments on her own, which has been very helpful. I mean, for a long time we were going to an appointment five days a week. I also don't get to catch up with you while sending you an e-mail about eXplorminate business since you're not there anymore. :)

[@battlemode]

Nobody's there at eXplorminate now, dunno if you knew but Rob's left with some personal stuff to deal with. I'm too busy to take it on and Nate isn't interested so we're letting it go fallow till Rob gets back, if that happens. Glad to hear you're ok anyway man, and your Mom too.

[@wrathful_grayp1810]

this has helped me instrumentally in actually LEARNING how to play the game, how the leaders work, how stats work- it's been bloody brilliant

[@battlemode]

Ah that's great to hear! I'd be really grateful if you'd let me know when you stop watching the series, is that ok? If so, just drop a comment and say you've seen enough and are stopping watching. No pressure or obligation of course! I'm aware that most people who watch to learn don't want to watch a 100 episode series and I'm really interested in knowing exactly when people stop watching so I know how to better pace these series. Thanks!

[@wrathful_grayp1810]

@battlemode I'm one of those die hard watchers When I pick something up, I don't stop til it's over or I'm dead. It's a blessing and a curse

[@eddieballgame]

Absolutely love how this, great, game keeps improving per the need to pay attention to every facet of what each unique planet's challenges offers. As much as I have played this game (many hours in multiplayer), always something to learn...courtesy of the expert KZbinrs.

[@battlemode]

I'm no expert, you'll see me run into trouble quite early on with this series as I fall afoul of a lack of knowledge of the gameplay changes.

[@eddieballgame]

@@battlemode Anytime I can learn something from someone, that makes them expert enough for me. :)

[@Chris-yw5wu]

Appreciate the let's play - I picked up Oceania after being away from the game quite a while, and this has been helpful!

[@battlemode]

Oceania is a big step up in complexity to the base-game, I really love it but it does require you to be thinking on a different level at all times, and so I'm probably only gonna play it from time to time.

[@rogue7744]

Awesome content as usual, ty very much for the playthrough and your time!

[@battlemode]

You're most welcome

[@edwardlewsey3954]

Great series, I've got this game but haven't had the chance to get stuck in properly yet as it's so deep! Keep explaining what you're doing as you go it's really helpful!

[@battlemode]

Thanks! Ah you should definitely just try playing it. It's designed so that new players can mostly ignore the most complex systems on the easiest settings and you can gradually introduce those into the game as you feel like learning them

[@CAnDA7D2]

I love to see that you are still uploading this playthrough! I have a lot of very pleasant watching ahead!!!

[@battlemode]

It's my best Shadow Empire series by a long way. Thanks for watching!

[@droog8400]

Thanks mate I am enjoying the series, I got this game a couple of weeks ago and I'm still learning a lot, especially from this kind of toxic start

[@battlemode]

I like to play these tough starts, it teaches you a lot

[@maiabravo5978]

Love this series so far!

[@battlemode]

Thanks!

[@Trifler500]

9:29 - Note the MGs only get better with use, so using fewer will only increase your existing gap between the rifle infantry and the MGs. I realize you've released dozens of videos past this point already. :)

[@battlemode]

I actually start using MGs much more aggressively in this game than I usually do. Later you'll see me using Motorised MG battalions to directly attack weaker infantry, to great effect too.

[@Trifler500]

@@battlemodeNice!

[@LeoPanther]

Looking forward to how the new balance changes will affect things. Specifically the ammo consumption rebalance. As I understand it even regular weapons chew through ammo now and the no-brainer light tank strat seems like it should be a lot harder to pull off if you don't have the ammo to back it up.

[@battlemode]

Oh me and the new ammo mechanics have had a dramatic introduction, I assure you... :D

[@adrianthompson5250]

Just so you know, the new rules are pretty brutal on ammo. Once you advance past the basic rifle and carbine tech, you really need to be careful. Get an ammo factory (new economic tech) as soon as possible. Your idea of an armoured buggy is good. This early in the game, there won't be much that can touch 50mm of steel plate!

[@battlemode]

Thanks! You'll see that this ammo thing is the defining concept of the series lol

[@Blxz]

I've been getting crippled at hard in the latest patch. The early start militia only is brutal. It definitely feels like every difficulty oevel has been shofted one step up. I love it.

[@battlemode]

Completely agree. This game was tough, as you'll see

[@tictacterminator]

commenting talking hello Hahah just being weird because it got to the point in your video where you had mentioned engaggement was helping

[@battlemode]

I also love delicious gyoza, great name!

[@mellowInventor]

Really enjoyed the episode. Also, I almost gasped when you sold your people into slavery. Does economic council offer pathways into more energy as well?

[@battlemode]

Yes, Economic Council Tier 1 has a couple of Power generating assets available to research

[@tanukinerd1993]

God do I wish this was playable/supported on the steamdeck!!! Being a dad and unable to sit at a PC for long really makes it difficult to get into it.

[@battlemode]

People are playing on Steamdeck just fine, what's the issue you're having? Jump onto the eXplorminate discord channel if you like, people there been talking about how to get it working nicely. discord.gg/65QVvqwr

[@tanukinerd1993]

@battlemode I wish someone would do a KZbin tutorial on how to get it working. Trying to follow instructions online without a video tutorial is rough. I've tried several methods and haven't had much luck. It's a shame; it's an amazing game!

[@kalinmir]

Should have been called Minoan soviet republic for all the councils

[@felix34ever1]

This let's play made me try the game properly so here i am at almost 3am having won my first invasion of a minor nation, however the foundations of democracy in my society suffered and gave way to authoritarianism

[@battlemode]

Ahh, yes that can happen! Democracy can be a powerful way to go but it has some serious downsides. Vic's planning on making it even more ... democratic, shall we say, so look forwards to the next big updates coming with the Republica update (I think it's that one).

[@QwazzleWazzle]

Video title seems incorrect? Says this is episode 1

[@battlemode]

Thanks for the heads up, did this late last night and was really tired. Good catch! I've fixed it

[@0MVR_0]

Ah Ha! so you were the reason for the delayed upload!

[@alexandregoudreau7070]

I believe its pronounced Biff'Umanlight like a Ferengi.

[@battlemode]

Lol cheers!

[@Gregorovitch144]

That change so you can't immediately reassign the advisor is a big mistake in my view. IMO anything that requires you to remember to do something in two or more steps over multiple turns to execute a decision is bad news for a complex strategy game unless the game tracks it for you and infallibly prompts you for the next step. It's just too easy to forget and too annoying to remember. I can see that the idea is to stop players being able to switch the adviser to get an immediate buff on a compulsory roll. Now you will have to remember to unassign the adviser to make sure they are always free for critical rolls which of course you will always forget to do ☹ TBH if Vic wants to stop using the advisor to buff critical rolls then it would be best just to delete the advisor role altogether.

[@battlemode]

Excellent point, and I agree to some extent. However, I think the removal of the Adviser cheese was necessary. Shadow Empire really does require the player to keep notes anyway, so if you're playing like that, it shouldn't be a big problem. But that is an excellent point regarding managing multi-turn decision making in complex games, I'd not considered that before.

[@Gregorovitch144]

@@battlemode I tend to the view that making a game that requires manual note taking is suicidal in terms of sales today. Another game that falls foul of multi-turn decision making is Old World, mostly because of many actions requiring preconditions that often have to be waited for crashing against the unique orders system. It's got a kind of rudimentary note taker with a turn trigger but it's pretty crap, it's a sticking plaster. I've watched some elite players in MP games making very extensive use of it. To me this is not the answer. Either you should be able to do something immediately or you should be able to queue the whole process as one action. But Old World can't do this because of the limited orders system (you can't prejudge what you want to spend limited orders on ahead of time) so although this order system has many merits this is one very large downside to it IMHO. The "science" behind this issue is that humans can only hold 5-9 mental balls in the air at any one time, average 7. Once you go beyond that random balls fall into the void to get back down to the 5-9 range. I.e. you automatically forget them.

[@Akranejames]

@@Gregorovitch144 To me it sounds like many games could make the "note-taking" aspect feel significantly better by offering good in-game options to do so. A sort of personnal agenda, where you can set some alarms to help with deadlines, and keep notes on your "to-do" list.

[@Brason22]

Mercanteers is tough. Cant deal with. I tried in my last game. 999 diff lvl. Just bash them.

[@battlemode]

I deal with these guys by encircling them as usual. I tend to be my own worst enemy in this game though, as you'll see later...

[@Brason22]

Aha. Well its good you lets play it again. Played some 30 times now and learn a little bit new every time. Good you skip the tutorial part and go deeper in the knitty and fritty of this pearl of a game. Thanx. @@battlemode

[@Brason22]

:D nitty gritty. Thank you google translate.

[@misanthropicattackhelicopt4148]

The problem with this game is there no tutorial to ease you into the game.

[@battlemode]

There are some tutorial elements that come up when you first start playing, that are intended to be used with the manual. I think the game is pretty complex but might be some good feedback for Vic to say maybe a more dedicated tutorial might help new players.

[@krisswald]

Instead of the tutorial it would be enough to improve the hints system to cover more elements and improve the descriptions.