Caravan escort mission is problematic

[pinetemplar]

Playing on 1.5.4.

So i took my second caravan escort mission and interesting string of event happened.

First caravan decided to run across the whole map ignoring at least 3 cities that it ran by. So it costed me 5k in wages in early game to follow it.

It runs faster then me and this idiots don't wait for me so considering the distance they almost suicided TWICE in the fog of war just being to far ahead.

And then they were attacked by some minor faction that was at war with their faction and i cant intervene because i am not at war with them. So my quest failed in the end.

I have one question to developers: did you even tried to test it? Or just through some hot pile of garbage at us just because you can?

 

[Wulfsdottir]

Well, there are many things broken with the game, but I haven't had any issues with Escort missions. First of all, caravans travel really, really slowly. You must have been overburdened or something. Make sure you dump all the excessive cargo when doing this mission. Also, buy some mules, but just as much as to balance your party number, because if you have more than that, then it goes up into the "herd" category, which further slows you down. You need to have as many mules as needed but not more.

Also, buy some cheap horses for your foot soldiers. They won't fight on horses on the battle map but if you have as many horses as you have a footman in the party it gives you a very good bonus too.

And at last, do have a decent scout in the party (or appoint yourself as a scout). If you do all these Escort The Caravan missions are one of the best in the game. I usually make good money by trading together with my caravan, buying and selling in towns we visit and attackers drop decent loot as well (well, in comparison to usual looters anyway). And the salary isn't bad usually... merchants pay good money per day of travel.

 

[pinetemplar]

Well, there are many things broken with the game, but I haven't had any issues with Escort missions. First of all, caravans travel really, really slowly. You must have been overburdened or something. Make sure you dump all the excessive cargo when doing this mission. Also, buy some mules, but just as much as to balance your party number, because if you have more than that, then it goes up into the "herd" category, which further slows you down. You need to have as many mules as needed but not more.

Also, buy some cheap horses for your foot soldiers. They won't fight on horses on the battle map but if you have as many horses as you have a footman in the party it gives you a very good bonus too.

And at last, do have a decent scout in the party (or appoint yourself as a scout). If you do all these Escort The Caravan missions are one of the best in the game. I usually make good money by trading together with my caravan, buying and selling in towns we visit and attackers drop decent loot as well (well, in comparison to usual looters anyway). And the salary isn't bad usually... merchants pay good money per day of travel.

Do you think i am playing this game for the first 5 minutes? i know all the stuff you mentioned and implement it if possible but nothing from what you sad addresses even one of my points. So just stop it.

 

[Wulfsdottir]

Do you think i am playing this game for the first 5 minutes? i know all the stuff you mentioned and implement it if possible but nothing from what you sad addresses even one of my points. So just stop it.

I don't know you and have no idea if you play this game for the first 5 minutes or for the last 5 months. Just wanted to be helpful, no need to get pissed over it.
And if the merchant caravans outrun your party, it's obvious you're going slower than the player party should.
But sure, whatever...

Good luck withthe thread...

 

[Because]

Good luck withthe thread...

Well put. There was zero excuse for that rudeness and you did address ways of fixing the caravan getting away from them.
Unpleasantness aside pinetemplar is right the quest can be a real pain and the not being able to join a battle between sides you aren't currently at war with is rubbish.

I think the player should be given the option of joining any active battle, but it would count as a declaration of war on the party you attack. This means you'd have the option to honour your contract with the caravan at the expense of making new enemies, could also make for a great bit of game if war broke out when the caravan was in enemy territory and it was up to you to get it out. It would also be nice to be able to join a pivotal battle to help out a friendly lord/clan in trouble without having to track down another party of the rival faction to attack.

 

[AndrewArt]

Do you think i am playing this game for the first 5 minutes? i know all the stuff you mentioned and implement it if possible but nothing from what you sad addresses even one of my points. So just stop it.

show video proof or give more info. 5K in wages spent early game by following a caravan is already weird enough. Do you even have workshops/caravans at all for some income? Also what clan tier do you have/how big of an army are you leading? More info is needed. Are you using the "follow" option, as in press "alt button" and follow the caravan? Because to me, when I used this function before, it felt like my party can really lag behind/walk slower than it could, don't know if bug or anything else. So might be that. Also I'd stick to doing quests with smaller parties (20-30 is enough), don't see a reason to build a big party early game in the first place.

Well put. There was zero excuse for that rudeness and you did address ways of fixing the caravan getting away from them.
Unpleasantness aside pinetemplar is right the quest can be a real pain and the not being able to join a battle between sides you aren't currently at war with is rubbish.

I think the player should be given the option of joining any active battle, but it would count as a declaration of war on the party you attack. This means you'd have the option to honour your contract with the caravan at the expense of making new enemies, could also make for a great bit of game if war broke out when the caravan was in enemy territory and it was up to you to get it out. It would also be nice to be able to join a pivotal battle to help out a friendly lord/clan in trouble without having to track down another party of the rival faction to attack.

agreed with the "attack any party". It could be a little cheesy though, as if you see a big (1000+) army fighting another, and you just join for the loot etc... but I think it makes sense to be able to do it...

 

[Theofilos]

There are such problems with quests,like the deliver the herd quest where you find the town besieged and quest failed or other quests that you need to talk npc but he is dead lol Regardless no need to get angry report them if you think something is bugged and get 1-2 years worth of sunflowers while you wait to get fixed as the rest of the game.

 

[Because]

agreed with the "attack any party". It could be a little cheesy though, as if you see a big (1000+) army fighting another, and you just join for the loot etc... but I think it makes sense to be able to do it...

I think the fact that it is an act of war would mean that you wouldn't use it to gain loot for one battle as the cost of buying peace would out weight the benefits at lower levels. At the point you already have a strong position to not worry about declaring war the loot from the battle is insignificant and it seems like a canny strategy to attack an enemy in an advantageous way.

 

[m4rc0_]

Right after I trade with a caravan I'm escorting, the mission fails.

 

[Khan Aran]

They could solve this by allowing you to actually escort the caravan instead of follow, like when you join a army(they could even add party speed restrictions if they like, "you need a speed of at least 5"). This could also prevent the issue of parties that attacking that you aren't at war at, by having you temporarily flagged under the caravans nationality(which you would be as a mercenary in real life). They should also tell you where they are planning on going, because, once again, if this was real life I'm not escorting a caravan to an undisclosed location, unless they disclose they are paying me a bloody fortune.

 

[Piconi]

@pinetemplar
No need for rudeness, not towards the devs, and especially not towards Wulfsdottir, or anyone else trying to help you.
If you are going to act this way while someone is trying to get to the bottom of your problem and help you, i suggest you seriously reconsider your communication strategy.

 

[Wulfsdottir]

I think the player should be given the option of joining any active battle, but it would count as a declaration of war on the party you attack. This means you'd have the option to honour your contract with the caravan at the expense of making new enemies, could also make for a great bit of game if war broke out when the caravan was in enemy territory and it was up to you to get it out. It would also be nice to be able to join a pivotal battle to help out a friendly lord/clan in trouble without having to track down another party of the rival faction to attack.

Thanks, and I think you're right in that you SHOULD be able to join any fight, even when you are neutral. It could seem strange to declare war on a faction just to honor some merchant contract, but who knows, maybe you roleplay such an honorable person, why not.

Another way that might save you from declaring the war or joining the battle (though the option still must be there) can be the chat with the besieging army's leader. Maybe if you're neutral you could persuade him to let you in to fulfil your duty and honor your contract, while taking your word that you won't stay in the town to help the defenders. He could also want to check your trade items and see it's not weaponry. It can be attached to your charisma and persuasion skill, so one more option to roleplay...