[Interface] Difficulty levels
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[Interface] Difficulty levels
Hi guys, I have some questions and suggestions about the names of the difficulty levels because I find them confusing.
Firstly, I wanted to know why the difficulty names are different between two campaigns of the same level. For example, let's take Liberty, Legend of Wesmere, Eastern Invasion and Descent into Darkness, all intermediate level campaigns:
Li: easy, normal, difficult
LoW: easy, normal, hard
EI: easy, normal, challenging
DiD: normal, challenging, difficult
The first 3 suggest that difficult, hard and challenging are the same which is odd, and DiD suggests that there is a gap between challenging and difficult and that the campaign will be harder than the others. But in that case, why is it listed as intermediate too? Now if you take a look at the Sceptre of Fire and the Rise of Wesnoth, both expert campaigns, you'll see:
tSoF: normal, challenging, difficult
tRoW: easy, normal, challenging
So, this suggests that they don't offer the same challenge even if there are both considered expert campaigns. Besides, difficulty levels of tSoF and DiD are the same, but the first one is an expert campaign whereas the second one is an intermediate campaign... You can now see why I think this is confusing.
Here is what I recommend. Remove the novice, intermediate and expert distinctions between campaigns because I'm sure that a lot of first time players don't find Heir to the Throne to be a novice campaign (if you compare it with TSG or AOI). And I, as an experienced Wesnoth player, don't see LoW as an intermediate campaign. Just try Human Alliance and Costly Revenge on hard without save loading...
IMO, there should be 5 difficulty levels:
1- Beginner: for first time players. Only Two Brothers, An Orcish Incursion and The South Guard will have this difficulty level.
2- Easy: for players who know the basis of Wesnoth but it won't be hard even if they make some mistakes.
3- Normal: for players who know the rules and have completed a few campaigns. Some scenarios can be challenging.
4- Hard/Challenging/Difficult: for experienced players. You need to plan your moves carefully and have a very good knowledge of the game mechanics.
5- Nightmare/Heroic/Champion: unforgiving difficulty for hardcore players. Even with the best strategy, you'll need a bit of luck to complete some scenarios.
Now, considering the new difficulty levels, here is an example of what you could see in game:
Heir to the Throne: easy, normal, challenging
An Orcish Incursion: beginner, easy, normal
The South Guard: beginner, easy, normal
Liberty: easy, normal, challenging
Legend of Wesmere: normal, challenging, nightmare
etc.
I think it would be easier this way especially for first time players who play HttT on normal first and rage quit after the Siege of Elensefar
Now they would see that normal difficulty is for players who already know the game. Besides, it would also be easier for translation. So, what do you think?
Firstly, I wanted to know why the difficulty names are different between two campaigns of the same level. For example, let's take Liberty, Legend of Wesmere, Eastern Invasion and Descent into Darkness, all intermediate level campaigns:
Li: easy, normal, difficult
LoW: easy, normal, hard
EI: easy, normal, challenging
DiD: normal, challenging, difficult
The first 3 suggest that difficult, hard and challenging are the same which is odd, and DiD suggests that there is a gap between challenging and difficult and that the campaign will be harder than the others. But in that case, why is it listed as intermediate too? Now if you take a look at the Sceptre of Fire and the Rise of Wesnoth, both expert campaigns, you'll see:
tSoF: normal, challenging, difficult
tRoW: easy, normal, challenging
So, this suggests that they don't offer the same challenge even if there are both considered expert campaigns. Besides, difficulty levels of tSoF and DiD are the same, but the first one is an expert campaign whereas the second one is an intermediate campaign... You can now see why I think this is confusing.
Here is what I recommend. Remove the novice, intermediate and expert distinctions between campaigns because I'm sure that a lot of first time players don't find Heir to the Throne to be a novice campaign (if you compare it with TSG or AOI). And I, as an experienced Wesnoth player, don't see LoW as an intermediate campaign. Just try Human Alliance and Costly Revenge on hard without save loading...
IMO, there should be 5 difficulty levels:
1- Beginner: for first time players. Only Two Brothers, An Orcish Incursion and The South Guard will have this difficulty level.
2- Easy: for players who know the basis of Wesnoth but it won't be hard even if they make some mistakes.
3- Normal: for players who know the rules and have completed a few campaigns. Some scenarios can be challenging.
4- Hard/Challenging/Difficult: for experienced players. You need to plan your moves carefully and have a very good knowledge of the game mechanics.
5- Nightmare/Heroic/Champion: unforgiving difficulty for hardcore players. Even with the best strategy, you'll need a bit of luck to complete some scenarios.
Now, considering the new difficulty levels, here is an example of what you could see in game:
Heir to the Throne: easy, normal, challenging
An Orcish Incursion: beginner, easy, normal
The South Guard: beginner, easy, normal
Liberty: easy, normal, challenging
Legend of Wesmere: normal, challenging, nightmare
etc.
I think it would be easier this way especially for first time players who play HttT on normal first and rage quit after the Siege of Elensefar
Now they would see that normal difficulty is for players who already know the game. Besides, it would also be easier for translation. So, what do you think?
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alexanderthegre
- Posts: 193
- Joined: December 8th, 2011, 3:23 am
- Location: nowhere
Re: [Interface] Difficulty levels
IMO, it really doesn't matter.
The difficulty levels are set arbritrarily, and are quite relative, as normal is often easier than easy, because there are more units to kill.
Standardising difficulty level names will not effect anything; if you want it in your game, I recomment putting it in there yourself.
The difficulty levels are set arbritrarily, and are quite relative, as normal is often easier than easy, because there are more units to kill.
Standardising difficulty level names will not effect anything; if you want it in your game, I recomment putting it in there yourself.
Re: [Interface] Difficulty levels
In a way, I agree with you. When you have the choice between 3 difficulty levels (or more), you can expect the first one to be the easiest, and the last one to be the hardest, whatever the name.
But almost all new players will see this : Heir to the Throne, first campaign in the list, novice level, ok let's go! And then they got frustrated and leave saying on some forums that this game "sucks"! And I think it just because they got confused by the names.
But almost all new players will see this : Heir to the Throne, first campaign in the list, novice level, ok let's go! And then they got frustrated and leave saying on some forums that this game "sucks"! And I think it just because they got confused by the names.
Re: [Interface] Difficulty levels
I think "hard" was supposed to be changed (I don't know why it's still thereCeltiK wrote:Firstly, I wanted to know why the difficulty names are different between two campaigns of the same level. For example, let's take Liberty, Legend of Wesmere, Eastern Invasion and Descent into Darkness, all intermediate level campaigns:
Li: easy, normal, difficult
LoW: easy, normal, hard
EI: easy, normal, challenging
DiD: normal, challenging, difficult
):http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php ... 98#p483151
Re: [Interface] Difficulty levels
Because the campaigns were developed independently.CeltiK wrote: Firstly, I wanted to know why the difficulty names are different between two campaigns of the same level.
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Marcgal
Re: [Interface] Difficulty levels
And I (as a beginner) think that such standarisation is a good idea for mainline campaigns. I think that it would be helpful to know how difficult a certain campaign on a certain level difficult is, for example to be able to choose which campaigns should I play first for some training 
Of course this should apply only to mainline campaigns - add-ons creators shlould be allowed to name difficulty levels in their campaigns as they want to.
Of course this should apply only to mainline campaigns - add-ons creators shlould be allowed to name difficulty levels in their campaigns as they want to.