PC Manor Lords - Early Access

[dwwaino]

Who else has been giving this a go? It's on Game Pass if you were unsure. After spending way longer than I probably should have designing my first emblem I had a few starts to get a feel for the early game. Despite a lot of bugs due to the nature of an early access indie game this complex I really like it. Every time I start I do something I wish I did differently and do that the next time.

Given the German theme of the game, once I saw this portrait I thought the name just wrote itself (coat of arms self explanatory for role play).

 

[dwwaino]

Some cool tips from my favourite Cities Skylines creator. There are some I really didn't know and haven't made it as far into the game for some of the others.

 

[Mitho]

I sunk about 10 hours in over the weekend. Two separate settlements after my first one winded up being razed to the ground by raiders.

The level of detail is phenomenal. Mouse wheeling all the way into town and each blade of grass moving differently and every burgage plot and house look different.

Absolutely loving it. I will say i wish multiplayer was on the roadmap. But I don't believe it is.

Edit to add: I also spent way too long on my coat of arms. I reckon my first one I re did 4 times and took 20-30mins haha

 

[my name was taken]

awesome, didnt realise it was on game pass, saw it on Steam for $45 and couldn't justify it. Will download this week.

 

[dwwaino]

IMO the bandit and opponent AI needs heaps of work still so I turned them off and have just been playing it as a super chill city builder. With how much he is set to make from this launch I wonder if he'll employ some more help to fast track the development.

Given you create your own avatar and emblem I also wonder how far he plans of taking the simulation, if there are some lite Crusader Kings features planned?

 

[dav3]

I've been slowly trying to work out this damn game but it's taking a while, I think I'm getting there now but still just mucking around in the first mode without AI players.

 

[dwwaino]

I've been slowly trying to work out this damn game but it's taking a while, I think I'm getting there now but still just mucking around in the first mode without AI players.

That's sort of where it is at the moment I think. At the end of the day it's still early access so some features aren't that well fleshed out yet. I don't see the point of bandits or opposing AI at the moment. The off screen AI is way too OP unless you progress in a particular way, and the bandits can steal your resources from anywhere on the map without setting foot in your town. Not to mention the combat is still a bit simplistic. All of these things will be developed further but the actual city building simulation is brilliant so I've just been playing it chill that way and I guess it will help me later one when I turn the AI back on.

 

[Mitho]

That's sort of where it is at the moment I think. At the end of the day it's still early access so some features aren't that well fleshed out yet. I don't see the point of bandits or opposing AI at the moment. The off screen AI is way too OP unless you progress in a particular way, and the bandits can steal your resources from anywhere on the map without setting foot in your town. Not to mention the combat is still a bit simplistic. All of these things will be developed further but the actual city building simulation is brilliant so I've just been playing it chill that way and I guess it will help me later one when I turn the AI back on.

I like the bandits for some easy regional wealth to kick start some burgage add ons. What I can't deal with is the ****ing second year raiders. I've been murdered by them 3 play throughs now, even though my last one I specifically got early iron so I could make sure I was equipped.

Definitely some balancing issues but damn it make up for with beauty.

 

[jabba5114]

Looks really good. I'm jelly I can't play it though

Sent from my motorola edge 30 pro using Tapatalk

 

[drd23]

Signed back up to Gamepass PC to play this and I can see what you mean about the AI opponent being pretty OP dwwaino

Have played one game so far - got to the point of the first main bandit attack which I probably could have beaten if it weren't for the opponent spawning basically on top of them, but then when I tried to challenge Hildebrand (or wtf his name is) on his next claim, he shows up with 5 full brigades of fighters and I don't even have two...

I think next time I'm going to need to pay more attention to the 'world map' and try to snipe bandit camps that the opponent is fighting. Sure it's cheesy, but that seems like the most viable way of being able to afford mercs to fill out your army

 

[cats2rise]

Have played about 8 hours over the last half a week (although about two hours of that is on the coat of arms). Really enjoying it - it has the capacity to be a favourite game of mine. Age of Empires x Pharoah x Sim City

I'm just playing the "passive" version or whatever its called where you just city build. Started over about 5 times as I started to understand the basic mechanics and the size / area needed for a town. Finally happy with one that i'll continue with until I hit a wall. Great learning experience as well without having to deal with AI opponents.

 

[cats2rise]

Oh FFS. Been playing super slowly up to year 5 and only just realised you can have chickens / orchards on the burgage plots. I didn't factor that in and now want change the layout of the village to create a better visual (and have passive food production).

I'll adjoin some of these long, skinny burgage plots with chickens adjacent to the actual farms before transitioning into the core village.

So guess who gets to start again and enjoyably waste another 45 minutes designing a new coat of arms tonight? Me!

 

[dwwaino]

Eggs are super OP and they'll take their surplus to the markets. I do try to mix up what they produce in the home plots though just for aesthetic and so it doesn't look like rows of chicken coops.

 

[drd23]

Two tips re: burgage plots I've picked up from some YT videos

• The size of the addition doesn't make a difference for chickens or goats (it does for vegetables and orchards)
• for vegetables/orchards, plots that are more square (rather than long and skinny) is more efficient as it cuts down walking time between the plants and the house where they store the food (before the granary workers come to pick it up)

 

[cats2rise]

I feel like I really need to watch some YT videos for this game. I haven't yet but no doubt some killer info to learn.

 

[Mitho]

Definitely lots to learn. The game doesn't really hold your hand. It took me ages to work out how to make weapons to build a bigger volunteer army. Just trial and error.

 

[cats2rise]

Definitely lots to learn. The game doesn't really hold your hand. It took me ages to work out how to make weapons to build a bigger volunteer army. Just trial and error.

Funny you say that. Two of my mates are playing the game.

Mate 1: "Gee they dont tell you much - a bit too much trial and error for me. They could make it easier"
Mate 2: "Gee they dont tell you much - I love they dont tell you how to play"

 

[Mitho]

Funny you say that. Two of my mates are playing the game.

Mate 1: "Gee they dont tell you much - a bit too much trial and error for me. They could make it easier"
Mate 2: "Gee they dont tell you much - I love they dont tell you how to play"

There are gamers who are happy to look up walkthroughs. And gamers that will happily sit on the same puzzle for an hour till they work it out.

I sit somewhere in the middle of that. It really depends on my mood and how much time I have to play at the time.

 

[dirty2]

Played a bit of it... Haven't for a little while now.. will get back to it at some stage because I was enjoying it.

 

[dwwaino]

Development will be a slow burn I think. Mostly solo developer who went and holidays to take a well deserved break after launching into early access and now from the articles since I get the impression they're a bit overwhelmed with the response and the ability to keep up with the demands.

 

[dirty2]

Development will be a slow burn I think. Mostly solo developer who went and holidays to take a well deserved break after launching into early access and now from the articles since I get the impression they're a bit overwhelmed with the response and the ability to keep up with the demands.

I'm quite happy to be patient. Think he is doing a great job so far.