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Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
Cultural Influence of nodes throughout their level progression
SkylarckTheBotanist
Member, Alpha Two
Hello all!
During the latest Dev Update there was a really good conversation on the difficult task of creating a seamless transition between the influence of the cultures and the biomes in which they exist. Because node architecture is influenced by the culture of a race, cultural influence existing across 18 biomes is difficult. This is exemplified by the Py’Rai, whose architecture is infused with the surrounding trees and vegetation, it is difficult to encapsulate that same feeling in nodes that are not forest oriented. Similarly, the biome that the Ren’Kai are most accustomed to are swamp or marsh oriented, leading to buildings on stilts to stay above the water table.
I wanted to get the communities opinions on a related topic.
If a node is level 5 (city) and the cultural influence is that of the Py’Rai. Would you like it to look the same in both scenarios?:
Scenario1.
The node was Py’Rai influenced from Level 0 (wilderness) to Level 5 (city)
vs
Scenario 2.
The node changed influenced as it levels.
Example: Ren’Kai Level 1 Empyrean Level 2 Py’Rai Level 3 Ren’Kai Level 4 Py’Rai Level 5
If we look at scenario 1 it would make sense that a giant “central tree” could grow in the middle of a desert because the Py’Rai have been tending to the land from Level 0 to Level 5.
Whereas scenario 2 would make it much more difficult to explain how cultural influence changes during a node level increase. But in option 2 the “central tree” of the Level 5 Py’Rai node could only have 2 node levels worth of growth and thus be much smaller and easier to explain as a smaller tree growing in a city (assuming it doesn’t get destroyed by the Level 4 Ren’Kai influence)
TLDR: Should the cultural influence of node level X be influenced by the cultural influence of the node level X-1.
During the latest Dev Update there was a really good conversation on the difficult task of creating a seamless transition between the influence of the cultures and the biomes in which they exist. Because node architecture is influenced by the culture of a race, cultural influence existing across 18 biomes is difficult. This is exemplified by the Py’Rai, whose architecture is infused with the surrounding trees and vegetation, it is difficult to encapsulate that same feeling in nodes that are not forest oriented. Similarly, the biome that the Ren’Kai are most accustomed to are swamp or marsh oriented, leading to buildings on stilts to stay above the water table.
I wanted to get the communities opinions on a related topic.
If a node is level 5 (city) and the cultural influence is that of the Py’Rai. Would you like it to look the same in both scenarios?:
Scenario1.
The node was Py’Rai influenced from Level 0 (wilderness) to Level 5 (city)
vs
Scenario 2.
The node changed influenced as it levels.
Example: Ren’Kai Level 1 Empyrean Level 2 Py’Rai Level 3 Ren’Kai Level 4 Py’Rai Level 5
If we look at scenario 1 it would make sense that a giant “central tree” could grow in the middle of a desert because the Py’Rai have been tending to the land from Level 0 to Level 5.
Whereas scenario 2 would make it much more difficult to explain how cultural influence changes during a node level increase. But in option 2 the “central tree” of the Level 5 Py’Rai node could only have 2 node levels worth of growth and thus be much smaller and easier to explain as a smaller tree growing in a city (assuming it doesn’t get destroyed by the Level 4 Ren’Kai influence)
TLDR: Should the cultural influence of node level X be influenced by the cultural influence of the node level X-1.
0
Comments
Intrepid have already discussed this.
Thanks @Noaani I couldn't find that on the wiki.
What druids?
Your like 5 years to late for that.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Node_stages
Race that contributed the highest percentage to the node's advancement will alter the racial appearance of its buildings and NPCs.[22][18][1][19][23][24]
Parent races do not combine their cultural influences. For example, Py'Rai and Empyrean count as different cultures. Their parent race, the Pyrian, no longer exists.[25]
This style and culture change happens at every stage.[1]
This applies to all nodes, including castle nodes.[26]
This is definitely a very interested idea, although I feel like that would be very complex from a Dev perspective its something that I would really enjoy.
So, we have announced that your option two is essentially going to be the one we do in Ashes of Creation. You can read more about it here! Check out the 'Cultural Experience' section
However, your idea that if a single race contributes the most throughout all levels, the node levels differently is very interesting! What other examples could you think of with different races dominating a single node throughout it's development?
I'm not sure the Cultural Experience section of Know Your Nodes corroborates the Scenario 2 of the OP?
I don't understand how the Central Tree of the Stage 5 Py'Rai Node could have two "levels" of growth:
The Central Tree begins growing at Stage 3, when the Py'Rai have control. They devote resources to its growth.
Scenario 2 implies that the Central Tree remains at Stage 4 when the Ren'Kai have control.
The Ren'Kai choose to discontinue maintaining the growth. Then at Stage 5, the Py'Rai choose to allocate resources for the Central Tree to grow again.
I don't think we have confirmation that the Central Tree will still be there at Stage 4, if the Ren'Kai are the dominant race. If it does remain, would the Ren'Kai be able to allocate resources to continue its growth?
What happens if the Ren'Kai choose to chop it down? Do they have the option to destroy the Central Tree?
If the Ren'Kai destroy the Central Tree, it seems like the Py'Rai would have to start growing the Central Tree again from scratch?
Would they be able to, at some point, allocate enough resources to have it grow to the cap of a Stage 5 Central Tree, as long as they allocate sufficient resources? Thereby, mitigating the destruction of the original Central Tree?
(Basically, the same question if the Ren'Kai discontinued maintenance of the Tree? Would the Stage 5 Py'Rai eventually be able to focus enough resources on its growth that it can reach the cap of Stage 5 Growth regardless of wat happened during the previous Stages?)
Besides if you open up google earth and have a stroll around Bulgaria's capital you can see how visually horrid it is to have buildings of different cultures and different architect styles. On paper it sounds great but visually its horrible.
OP's idea is great. It would add immersion but I don't think it's something to be worked on at this stage. Maybe somewhere down the line as part of a future expansion to the game for example.
Although I have concerns it might actually look visually unappealing which is why it's best left for work for a future expansion where the team has enough time to devote lots of effort into making it look interesting and or appealing.
@Vaknar
I assume you misread the OP.
The situation as explained in the article listed is in line with scenario 1.
This isn't your fault, as the way the post was structured made it hard to understand.
The question was posed as if from the perspective of a level 5 node, where that 5th level was gained mostly from Py'Rai characters, then asking if the node should appear as if it had always been Py'Rai (as in, the whole nodes architecturewas Py'Rai), or if it should show remains of other cultures from previous stages.
The article you linked says the node in question will show as if it had always been Py'Rai, or scenario 1.
Yeah that's my bad, I wasn't clear enough.