Woo thanks so much for the update!

Hello guys, the crowning jewel of todays update is the battle prep overhaul, it's not the most major change but it marks the first significant changes to the battle preparation part of the game for a long time, answering some long time complaints about sending troops to battle and also adding lots of functionality to your generals and a new purpose to them being trained and higher skilled.

**BATTLE PREPARATION OVERHAUL**

Warsims battle preparation system has been untouched for a long long time, years and years with no further development, it was one of the earliest parts of the game and it hasn't aged well, we've had generals in the game for a fairly long time too and they don't seem to be good for all that much, this update makes a start on fixing both of those problems.

* Made general's pre battle graphics uniform in their layout
* Added general offers you choice pre battle of troop assignments
* Added generals with 100+ skill can offer 2 extra options
* Added generals with 150+ skill can offer 2 extra options
* Added if no general then default troop system
* Added ability to type again if you overtype the number of troops (credit u/yetiroadburger)

**NEW RACE MODIFIERS**

Although the effects of these races aren't new, they have been slightly modified offering some further variation of actually functional race modifiers.

* Added new race suffix 'Thoughtless' (stupid race)
* Added new race suffix 'Sightless' (eyeless race with lower stats than eyeless)
* Added new race suffix 'Baby' (young face and low stat race)

**NEW FACTION NAME PARTS**

Another batch of names for the faction name generation system, I attempted some additional reworking of the faction name system but it failed my tests and didn't do what was intended so I had to roll it back, will revisit it soon though.

* Added new faction name part 'Imbrued'
* Added new faction name part 'Maroon'
* Added new faction name part 'Rouge'
* Added new faction name part 'Rose'
* Added new faction name part 'Rose-Gold'
* Added new faction name part 'Silvery'
* Added new faction name part 'Reddish'
* Added new faction name part 'Fourth'
* Added new faction name part 'God-Fearing'

**EVERYTHING ELSE**

A few random things added here including the ability to now see the civilisation level of independent kingdoms when viewing their information, some names for the roughian leaders of the black market gangs, and a few new origin stories for your champions.

* Added 'musician troupe troll' origin story
* Added new child roughian name suffix 'the Youngling'
* Added new child roughian name suffix 'the One Tooth'
* Added new child roughian name suffix 'the Two Teeth'
* Added new child roughian name suffix 'the Cry Baby'
* Added new child roughian name suffix 'the Baby'
* Added new child roughian name suffix 'the Little One'
* Added civilisation level text to independent kingdom information screens
* Added 'Road traveller' hero origin story
* Added 'Eerie canyon door adventurer' hero origin story
* Added 'Disapearing ship' hero origin story
* Added 'Nomadic warriors of the south adventurer' hero origin story
* Added 'Wall of sand adventurer' hero origin story
* Added 'Strange shipwrecked folk adventurer' hero origin story

Ooh, that's a good point, I think Ruffian is the more common one, I'll note that down good call!

Hmm, yeah will have to think of ways to implement any further changes, but at least this new system makes it much easier to do battle without typing tons of numbers each time especially if you have a diverse empire with units from all five nations

A music overhaul would be awesome, I'd ideally love to have sound effects for all aspects of the game too, making it more diverse

just a light question, haven't played the latest version yet, but what do the new decisions that the general can offer you consist of. I don't know what kinds of new decisions I'm going to make.

Just a friendly reminder from a dedicated player Huw... :-) If females and support for more audio hasn't been added by this time next year, Then you should expect a sudden visit from yours truly. And not the, "oh it's so nice to finally meet you! may I come in from the cold for a spot of tea and biscuits or a nice pint and some fish and chips at the pub if your feeling up to it? I'll only be a moment... if it's not a bother of course... what a lovely home you have!" kind of visit, but the "old military grade cobalt plated slightly rusted atomic 12 gauge pump action shotgun" kind of visit.

I trust we have an understanding then MR. Millward?     Good! I'm glad we've gotten that out of the way...

I'm marking Nov 26 in my calendar right now! :-)
I'll have to buy my plane ticket to Cardiff a few months before though if I want it to be a sure thing though hmm...
"Ooooh" I can't wait! (pumps old military grade cobalt plated slightly rusted atomic 12 gauge pump action shotgun with one hand and flips through Ancient  irradiated somewhat moldy slightly torn first addition tea etiquette book with the other).

That's why the Sound stuff is and should be optional. For some People it won't be important and others including me, are waiting for it. So, I think both aspects stay at the same levels and importance for one or another.

yeah, that's what I mean as well. That are Little things wich make the world more alive. And for me, the live Performances of all Kind Count into that as well as throne room Encounters, quests and on the other Hand even the Audio stuff. Warsim cares even about the Little things wich make the game and it's world more alive as well as it cares about the bigger things and even game balancing. That makes it so unique. Even the growing flexibility in Terms of Options and styles how a Player wants to Play adds extra flavour into all this, so, everyone will be satisfied.

probably there could be a solution to confgure the volume as well. I like the Sound stuff and think a console game wich is text based and Sound stuff can fit well together, that worked in the wastes as well and there's room for improvements. Like I said, I think both aspects are at the same Level for me, especially if they can compliment each other, wich they can do. I think there will be a solution for everyone, so let's see what huw will do about it.

You should be able to lower the program volume via "sndvol" just type that into run or start menu.
Also, you can see the faces, roof tiles, and other Ascii. We can't, so this is what livens it up for us. Obviously it should be optional though.
And agreed, I think battling needs improvements and their needs to be more major events and inter kingdom politics, I've given ideas for those in the past but, I guess they aren't priority so I've kind of given up on asking. It's not my game after all...
I do like the area expansions though, and I appreciate pretty much everything that gets added anyway. But yeah the core of this game is still rather basic and gets boring easily, which is unfortunate.

that was in my mind as I messioned sounds a while ago because of the ascie grafics a seeing Person has. Even that don't stands in the way of being a textbased game and Audio can add exactly that part of a living world for blind People as well. Like I said, optional, so just if you want it, you can turn it on, wich I will do if it Comes.

in truth, another thing I like is in the songwood forest area where there is just a recording of bird songs in the trees if you sit around at one spot. It is pretty cool.