Rome 2 Interface is uninformative and a downgrade on the near perfection of Shogun 2.
[Edit] changed the diplomacy section to show its not as bad as it first appeared.
I posted this on the official TW forums the other day(http://forums.totalwar.com/showthrea...on-of-Shogun-2. ) I hope no one mind me posting it here too.
I admit the screenshots and writing could be better, but i wanted to get my thoughts down.
In my opinion the Shogun 2 interface, menus and display of information is far superior to Rome 2's, that i have to wonder why CA decided to change it so much.
I'm sure i've missed a lot, and its hard to describe without good screenshots, so if someone wants to make a better post or thead, then go for it.
Also LETS KEEP THIS FLAME FREE please. I have tried to be constructive in my criticism and so should you.
First lets talk about the City management.
I actually don't mind this change, especially as it needed to change due to the province system. I can see what buildings are in each settlement and i can see the culture, income, effects and public order easily too (though more detailed when moused over).
For a more detailed look of the province though i do need to click another button.
The building card art style i have actually gotten used to and kinda like.
Though there was nothing wrong with Shoguns style either.
First major problem, characters :Generals, Spies, Champions and Dignitaries.
In Shogun 2 i could right-click any character and it would open up a nice sized detail screen with my characters XP, traits, skills, and skill tree so i could plan out my characters progression. It also had all the characters effects in a easy read column.
In Rome 2 i have to select the character then i have to click the details button to open up a small box with the characters XP, traits and skills.
To find the skill tree you have to right-click the characters portrait (unless its a general) or click the ? button to be taken to the encyclopedia where the skill trees are hidden away, making planning out your character a pain compared to Shogun 2.
The characters effects are then also only shown if you mouse over the effects part of their portrait in the bottom right of the screen.
Why they decided that this little box and harder to get to skill tree was a good idea I dont know.
Technology Tree.
While it isn't that bad, it is still crammed into that little box at the bottom of the screen. Its also not that easy to see what you have actually selected.
Compare that to Shoguns tech tree which was almost full screen and you could easily see and plan out what you wanted.
Finance and Trade screen.
Again the put all the info you want into the tiny little box at the bottom middle of the screen. You can barely see the grey trade icons on the grey background also.
Again Shogun 2's Finance and Trade screen was far superior. Not only was it larger which meant less scrolling, it was easier to read.
Diplomacy screen:
You have a massive map area then again that little box appears where you have only 4 factions appear and you have to scroll like a madman through the rest of them.
Once you decide to ignore the small area at the bottom and start clicking the faction icons on the map instead to select faction while hovering the mouse over them for diplomacy info, the whole diplomacy screen seems to work a whole lot better.
Though an easier way to see who is trading with who on this diplomacy map (like Shogun had) would be a big plus too.
Also of the scrolling area showed the factions religion like shoguns did would be an improvement too.
I do think the visual style of Shoguns diplomacy screen was better though.
Unit recruitment i have no problem with other than the unit cards are too large and i miss the actual unit numbers (90/120) rather than the green health bar.
Battle Screen:
Oh boy.
First already mentioned Unit card are too big. Especially when you have a large army and the cards are stacked on top of each other.
The unit cards are too "busy". In the middle of the unit card you have the firing, being fired on, walking, running, melee indicators. Thing is the are too large and get in the way of actually distinguishing what the unit card represents.
Shogun 2 imo had this spot on where the indicators where at the top just above the unit card and colour coded (red arrows for being fired upon etc).
CA This is just horrid, who thought it was a good idea to have large unit cards and its background take up this huge area of space:
Also missing is the actual unit size numbers over the green health bar. I find it more informative to know the actual size of a unit left (90/120) instead of the vagueness of a half filled green bar.
Bottom left of the battle screen it shows either a portrait of the unit captain (why?) or the unit card stats and info. At first this seems fine until you compare it to Shogun 2.
In Shogun when you moused over a unit card, its details popped up and then nicely disappeared when you moved you mouse off the unit card. In Rome 2 it just stays there taking valuable room. It would have been better to keep the Shogun style and move it above the minimap imo.
The units and generals activated abilities are then on the bottom of the screen blending in with the formation/move buttons where in Shogun they appeared above the unit cards on the left in a far more easily viewed area.
The lack of a move forward, back and rotate button was at first annoying, but i have gotten used to using control and the new drag-drop method.
I dont know if the UI team changed from Shogun 2 or what, but something drastic happened and it wasnt good.
End of battle report screen.
Now you have to mouse over the unit cards after the battle to see how many they killed etc. And i dont think you can see if they gained XP ?
Whereas in Shogun 2 you had the lovely full screen report with columns showing the units kills, losses, XP etc.
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