Even though I know nothing of AOK and such community wise, (I didn't own a pc then - a console dude, I'm afraid)I can't really compare. However, BLUE MIST, I too, realise the lack of community, evidence of this being the frequency of questions. There has been times when days have gone by and no new threads have been created(I refer to the design section only, as you have asked here and also because I don't play the game just design, so I don't visited other sections as much as this one!)But, maybe the lack of threads can be attributed to the editor and its relative ease of use(I await the torent of abuse for this last statement) But, I believe its because most people are waiting for the TITAN expansion, hoping the said triggers and such they are requesting in the thread, are to be implemented. This troubles me somewhat, in the sense that will people bother playing scenarios made before the expansion or favour the titan scenarios only (especially if some of the mods created for the first AOM will conflicted with the titan exp unless re-installed). Though, there is no evidence of this in the threads I have read, like you, the lack of questions or communication on designing can or may lead you to think this way. Selfishly, I only hope this isn't the case; i have been working on a scenario a couple of months after the game came out. This may be a poor and off my head idea and I don't really know how the sites is run persa, but, how about picking a best argument; most helpful answer; best question; best shared tip etc, of the week or month, whatever!. I know this will be time consuming,and maybe this is not the best solution, but, something like this may encourage people to create and answer threads. Share more knowledge.
Finally, however, in the communities defence, in game terms AOM is still in its infancy compared with the formentioned AOK and its like, so as the saying goes 'time will tell'.

[This message has been edited by mitch1971 (edited 05-27-2003 @ 03:29 PM).]

Interesting and Well said.

I rather prefer this community over the old AoK one ( I was part of it, and I guess you could consider me well-known, more of an opinion). I like to have the amount of topics in here than the 100's posted over at AoKH in a day.

[This message has been edited by Byzantine_Warrior (edited 05-27-2003 @ 03:40 PM).]

Byzantine_Warrior, aye, I remember your work.

Nevertheless, I would not mind designing for the community if i did not feel that the community might crumble any day. That is what I fear the most.

I would agree, it would'nt be nice for the community to crumble, considering the history you two have, and the hours put in, I know I'm experiencing it. However, I at least get a smile from a friend who playtests it. Besides,if all else fails, if your grandsons searching your virtual bedroom and comes across this strange and very large retro compact disc in your bedside cabinet, convert it to their thumbnail LCD and have a go, will it not put a smile on your synthetic gums.
Warrior did you design for AOK, if so, what scenarios did you make, I have a bud who loves it. lets us know if they are available and I'll give him a nudge in the direction.

[This message has been edited by mitch1971 (edited 05-27-2003 @ 04:05 PM).]

That'll probably sound harsh and rude...

Community, what community ?

Ahh E.O.

You designing for any particular games recently?

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I doubt this community will crummble anytime soon. Like mitch mentioned, this place will be refueled by the X-pack (hopefully). My recommendation is to go ahead and design.

Mitch, I'll e-mail you.

Theres alot of factors to be considered in the lagging community here, ultimatly it has to do with the game. Alot of people tried AOM but didn't like it, so half of the people who've played it just went back to AOK or tried another game. The editor isn't of the same quality as AOK's, sure it has some more powerful features in certain ways, but ultimatly it still remains a tool that ES used to make their campaign, and hasn't been polished off much to be seriously used as something else.

AOM however is very easy to script for and mod. The modding communtiy is milestones ahead of AOK's at this time of AOK's release. I think ultimatly if the editor was more attractive and more people designed, the communtiy would do better. Right now though people need some serious inspiration. A very good solid scenario would do alot to inspire people to make their own very good solid scenario. Thats sorta how it worked in AOK

Lets hope The Titans brings some changes around, though the community still would lack in population from AOK's. I think scenario design for RTS games in general is lagging back. There aren't very scenario editors for games now. I think Rise of Nation's scenario design community is going to fail miserably, Warcraft 3 had a mildly nice scenario editor, but Blizzard games are so so different from Ensemble Games and their community is different. Empire Earth had the best editor so far, but the gameplay and the game itself was horrible. SSSI is making Empires right now, (which is basicly Empire Earth 2) which looks very increadible, and they're saying their editor is going to be just as cool + with many new features. If Empires has promising gameplay as well, it might be another Age of Empires 2 for the scenario design community.

Besides that, the older classic designers from AOE/AOK have grown up now and have a job or have a life now so there isn't any major talent floating around.

I made this post a while ago, I think it has some ground in this discussion.

Has Age of Mythology Destroyed Scenario Designing

this forum does feel kinda quiet, but otherwise, i feel at home.. its cool here..

[This message has been edited by Toe of Doom (edited 05-28-2003 @ 12:13 PM).]

AoK's scenario design bloomed during the x-pack, some of my work was greatly influenced by AoC:TC's editor additions (mainly the Unit Editing)

Of course, it's pretty obvious that this is exactly what ES plans to do with AoM, by sending the majority of the editor in with the game, then adding a few, well-chosen new triggers that'll help the community a lot more.

What the community is lacking is Deathmatch players.

The scenario designing community isn't as big as AoK's because the are little DM players. Duh! Why didn't we think of that before!

I'm an old campaigner myself, and I've got some... thoughts on the subject.

Back in the days of AOK, any shmuck off the street could get that grasp of the game and design a scenario in a manner of hours. That's common knowledge.

But now with the complexity of the AOM editor and the possibilities and responsibilities opened up with the 3D world, scenario design has become, quite simply put, hard. People don't seem to want to do it!

What we mostly have in this community is confused people asking questions. There are several that know what they're doing completely, to be sure, but their number is few.

But who knows what's happening here? Perhaps people are simply getting a better grasp of the workings of the editor so they can design a project and then come back to the forums to share. Perhaps we'll soon see an influx in community livelihood around here in the weeks and months to come, especially in the summer season. Or after the expansion.

On the other hand, what in fact might be happening is an increasing number of people may be getting frustrated with the editor and simply giving up. They might go design for another game with an easier editor, like SW:GB, or just find something else to do. Because working with the editor is frustrating, and time consuming.

All I can offer is give it time. Maybe the community will be enlivened by the summer months. Or, failing that, with the arrival of the expansion.

TBM, nah...not really...mostly RL and I play NwN(kinda design for it...).

Still messing with files though...and NwN is nice for that...Bio are releasing file format specs