Descriptions of Cities in LordsAWar!
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Copyright (C) 2014 Ben Asselstine

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. How city descriptions relate to changes in the LordsAWar! codebase
3. Sentence Structure of City Descriptions in Warlords 2
4. Sample of Existing Random City Descriptions in Warlords 2

1. Introduction
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Warlords 2 has a description of each city.

In the default scenario the descriptions seem to be hand-written.

These descriptions can be seen in your own cities, and in enemy cities too, (if we can view enemy production or not).

They add to the charm of the game, and elements of history, and of a story can be added to the scenario using these hand-written descriptions.

In the randomly generated maps, the city descriptions are assembled programmatically.  Partly randomly, and partly due to the characteristics of the city or nearby terrain features.

This approach of assembling sentences works okay for english, but not so much for other languages.

2. How city descriptions relate to changes in the LordsAWar! codebase
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Currently in LordsAWar! cities do not have descriptions, because of the way it lowers the quality of non-english translations of the game.   If the descriptions were to be added in a way that doesn't ghettoize non-english languages, the following steps would have to be taken:
1. The city window needs to be modified so that there's a place for the description.  
2. We need to be able to click on an enemy city even when the view enemy production option is turned off.  
3. The City editor dialog in the scenario editor needs to be modified to show and allow the editing of this description.
4. The scenario editor also needs the ability to randomize the city description.
5. CreateScenario needs to be modified to randomize the city descriptions too.
6. Need to add a backwards compatibility path for scenarios without city descriptions.
7. Modify 2ndpunic and dol scenarios.
8. Change the City object from a Location to a NamedLocation.


3. Sentence Structure of City Descriptions in Warlords 2
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The description has three basic forms:

1. 
<name> is a <cityadj> <citynoun>, <near> <nearadj> <nearnoun>
2.
<name> is a <cityadj> <citynoun>, <made> <madeadj> <madenoun>
3.
<name> is a <cityadj> <citynoun>, <known> <knownadj> <knownnoun>


cityadj: [city income affects the selection of this word]
rich
friendly
ramshackle
well-built
hostile
tiny
rough
little
dangerous
tough
wealthy
well defeneded
good sized
magnificent
dark
lively

citynoun: [the city defence affects the selection of this word]
estate
encampment
village
fortress
metropolis
town
citadel

near:
built near
right beside
located near
too close to
within sight of
on the edge of
next to
near
overshadowed by

made:
built with
made from
built upon
made of

known:
rumoured to have
known for
well-known for
famous for
renowned for

madeadj:
smooth
golden
silver
jade
ice blue
obsidian
white
carved
quartz
polished

madenoun:
gems
pillars
trees
stones
marble
rocks
parapets
slate

knownadj:
strong
ancient
dragon
green
white
black
demon
mighty
purple

knownnoun:
whiskey
horses
stones
gems
trees
rings
bows
scrolls
frogs

nearadj:
an old
a bright
an evil
a haunted
an ancient
a mysterious
a strange
an unexplored

nearnoun: [depends on presence of nearby terrain]
forest
hill
valley (hills on both sides, or up and down)
wood (same as forest)
mountain
glade (same as forest)
peak (same has mountain)
marsh
swamp (same as marsh)


4. Sample of Existing Random City Descriptions in Warlords 2
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Here are the descriptions from one randomly generated Warlords 2 map:

Masway is a rich metropolis, built with smooth gems.

defence 1, income 19
Milkgreen is a tiny estate, rumoured to have its strong whiskey.

defence 1, income 19
Thrikorleak is a hostil encampment, built near an old forest.

defence 2, income 23
Imhite is a well-built village, right beside an old forest.

defence 1, income 18
Xyanmidge is a ramshackle encampment, made from golden pillars

defence 2, income 24
Xyanutel is a friendly village, made from silver trees

defence 2, income 22
Thyresnon is a well-built fortress, known for its ancient horses

defence 2, income 23
Selaxcrag is a dark village, located near a bright hill

defence 1, income 20
Synrind is a ramshackle encampment, too close to a haunted wood
(not near a forest)

defence 2, income 21
Chelirkon is a tiny village, built upon smooth stones

defence 2, income 21
Limrelin is a well-built town, right beside an evil valley
(is actually in a valley)

defence 2, income 22
Korwood is a tiny encampment, well-known for its white stones

defence 1, income 21
Selville is a rough encampment, made from silver marble

defence 1, income 16
Thriktiia is a dangerous encampment, built upon smooth rocks

defence 1, income 19
Lynyon is a tough encampment, famous for its ancient trees

defence 2, income 33
Zarextin is a wealthy metropolis, built upon jade trees

defence 2, income 18
Thrikexvar is a rough estate, renowned for its green gems

defence 1, income 23
Thyrilit is a dark village, well-known for its dragon trees

defence 1, income 19
Pasatel is a hostile village, known for its ancient gems

defence 2, income 18
Pasrelom is a friendly estate, known for its black rings

defence 2, income 23
Xyannon is a dark village, renowned for its strong rings

defence 2, income 22
Zartel is a lively town, made of ice blue stones

defence 1, income 17
Zarhome is a ramshackle encampment, made from jade trees

defence 2, income 22
Thriklin is a small encampment, within sight of an unexplored mountain

defence 2, income 21
Tarretop is a well-built fortress, on the edge of a haunted hill

defence 2, income 20
Ultimarsh is a ramshackle estate, right beside an ancient marsh.

defence 2, income 26
Syllilight is a little estate, renowned for its green gems

defence 2, income 26
Synalspire is a well-defended town, near a mysterious mountain
(4 production types)

defence 2, income 25
Thrikismus is a good-sized fortress, built with silver gems

defence 1, income 19
Narland is a little encampment, built upon smooth stones

defence 2, income 37
Xyanlit is a wealthy metropolis, built upon silver parapets

defence 2, income 38
Imrahome is a magnificent metropolis, famous for its demon scrolls

defence 1, income 21
Masedra is a friendly encampment, famous for its strong bows

defence 1, income 25
Sylirmus is a hostile village, built with obsidian stones

defence 1, income 21
Xyanspire is a ramshackle encampment, too close to a haunted mountain

defence 2, income 21
Masaltel is a little village, well-known for its mighty horses
(has horses)

defence 1, income 20
Synrind is a ramshackle encampment, too close a haunted wood

defence 2, income 24
Faraltree is a dark encampment, located near a haunted valley
(and it is)

defence 1, income 23
Pasorat is a rough village, known for its mighty swords

defence 1, income 21
Ulirwood is a rough encampment, too close to an ancient glade

defence 2, income 18
Pasirlimb is a hostile estate, next to an ancient wood

defence 1, income 24
Imleaf is a small encampment, on the edge of an evil glade

defence 1, income 18
Sylroad is a rough encampment, which produces its old scrolls

defence 1, income 25
Farepel is a dark town, famous for its white whiskey

defence 2, income 21
Korirdra is a hostile town, well-known for its white stones

defence 1, income 17
Arkullimb is a hostile estate, too close an ancient wood

defence 1, income 19
Miktidra is a tiny encampment, renowned for its dragon gems

defence 1, income 21
Korithrind is a friendly town, well-known for its old frogs

defence 2, income 34
Thyruvar is a wealthy metropolis, built with silver towers

defence 2, income 23
Lynreville is a rough estate, made from golden trees

defence 1, income 19
Limtifen is a ramshackle encampment, overshadowed by a haunted marsh

defence 2, income 33
Mikulel is a wealthy citadel, well-known for its dragon frogs.

defence 1, income 20
Mikodra is a rough estate, near a strange swamp

defence 2, income 20
Xyanremoss is a tiny estate, made of smooth pillars

defence 1, income 23
Thyrkon is a dangerous estate, well-known for its black whiskey

defence 2, income 23
Thyrexpel is a well-built town, built with white pillars

defence 1, income 18
Jadrow is a dangerous encampement, beside a bright tree

defence 2, income 20
Mikesbole is a dangerous encampment, on the edge of an evil tree

defence 2, income 19
Jadithhite is a ramshackle estate, next to an evil forest

defence 1, income 26
Pasirel is a tiny town, renowned for its strong whiskey

defence 1, income 20
Syntol is a tiny encampment, built upon obsidian stones

defence 1, income 24
Lynlitol is a little town, made from polished stones

defence 1, income 21
Selstone is a dangerous encampment, located near a bright valley

defence 1, income 18
Jadrind is a friendly estate, built with quartz gems

defence 2, income 28
Jadalom is a dark town, near a bright peak

defence 2, income 33
Synnon is a rich citadel, made from smooth pillars

defence 2, income 26
Limlin is a well-built town, known for its demon whiskey

defence 1, income 17
Limer is a ramshackle village made from quartz slate

defence 1, income 21
Selpa is a rough encampment, well-known from its strong rings

defence 2, income 24
Masaspire is a small village, well-known for its ancient horses

defence 1, income 22
Slithhome is a dark estate, known for its green stones

defence 1, income 17
Xyanhome is a dangerous encampement, known for its black scrolls

defence 1, income 23
Pasuyon is a dark village, built with smooth gems

defence 2, income 20
Milkthorn is a small village, too close to a bright forest

defence 2, income 19
Thyryon is a ramshackle encampement, on the edge of a mysterious glade

defence 1, income 24
Selretown is a lively fortress, rumored to have its purple whiskey

defence 2, income 23
Selilom is a lively village, rumoured to have its mighty scrolls

defence 2, income 15
Chelonon is a friendly encampement, made of carved rocks

