Why do people call RTW & M2TW (MTW for that matter as well) RTS?

[nutranurse]

When people do it I just makes me angry (well not angry, but something damned close to it). I mean I tend to define RTS as one of those inane "RUSH TO THE RESORESEZ AND SPAM UNITS!!!!!!!1" kind of game... and I have not played a Total War game that fits this criteria (thankfully, although the whole iron thing in MTW was the closest I recall to this). So one again, WHY?

I am not aiming to rant here but I just want some clarification.

[The Walrus]

Because the battles themselves are real time strategy. You command your troops while simultaneously the AI commands theirs. Think about combat in an RTS, a total war game has the same combat(albeit more advanced then others) but its economic/campaign part is turnbased. Hence the hybrid of turn based strategy/rts game

[Gabriel A]

It is a misnomer.

The RTS Genre is a pretty defined and set type of game - as you know. C&C, AoE, Starcraft, etc ad naseum.

I have no idea why they call it an RTS , maybe those game reviewing sites and magazines just have to fit every game into their little preset sections and categories and have nothing else to call it. The battles themselves I wouldn't even consider 'RTS', it's a tactical battle, no unit construction or building involed.

[Breakerchase]

Well, actually, the battle map battles in the Total War games are real-time tactics. You don't produce units on the field. Line of sight, formation, morale, fatigue and other factors play in the game. There's no reason not to call TW games RTT.

[Erwin Rommel]

you use STRATEGY!!!!!!!!!!!! IN TOTAL WAR!!!!!

[micromegas]

RTS is a broad category that includes military strategy games played in real-time vs turn based games like panzer general. It does not necessarily mean starcraft, warcraft, C&C etc.

So the battle part of this game is technically RTS and thus the name. There are a lot games out there that are RTS but no your typical RUSH game.

[Primvs Sextvs Loverlord]

Strategy? What is this "strategy"? TW games are RPGs!

[LeonidasOfSparta]

lol Real Time Strategy

as said before you use strategy in rtw or m2tw

Leonidas

[Commander_Vimes]

It does make more sense to call it Rome Total Strategy(RTS)

[T-wester]

i agree the TW series are RTT games rater than RTS not that it matter

[Garnier]

TBS/RTT: Turn based strategy, real time tactics.

Thats what total war is.

[Hellenes]

TBS/RTT: Turn based strategy, real time tactics.

Thats what total war is.

exaclty there is no strategy in tw battles just tactics...

[Happykiller]

I don't see how RTS requires resource collecting, there are plenty of RTS games without resource collecting.
Although there are some disputes on how to classify RTS and RTT.

[NobleNick]

TBS/RTT: Turn based strategy, real time tactics.

Thats what total war is.

Exactly, There *IS* strategy in M2TW (and RTW) but it is turn based. Even the pre-battle set-up, which is arguably strategy, is turn based.

Also, agreed with the post that Warcraft, Starcraft, HW, HW2, etc. are merely a subset of RTS. They do not define RTS.

So why call TW an RTS? Well, the battles do somewhat resemble the "feel" of RTS (without the resource collecting). M2TW is a strategy game, and pieces of the game (battles which support the strategy) are played out in real time. So how do you capture all that in a very compact way; which will capture the imagination of a potential customer who has the attention span of an 8-year old who just washed down 3 bowls of Fruit Loops with a 6-pack of Jolt cola? Call it RTS.

[delra]

Total War games are just too unique to be put into existing categories... Is there any other game like TW out there? I can't remember any.

[daffyff]

The thing about genres is that categorizing a bunch of unique objects doesn't always work. Same thing happens with music. Introducing another genre only complicates things. A long time ago, someone decided that controlling a force of computer men against an opposing force of computer men was a real-time strategy game. That is what the total war series is about.

Total War games are just too unique to be put into existing categories... Is there any other game like TW out there? I can't remember any.

Lords of the Realm II, my very first computer game, was also turnbased strategy with real-time battles. It was labeled as "Strategy/Action".

X-COM: UFO defense also, except the strategy element was real time and the battles were turnbased.

[Funnage]

I mean I tend to define RTS as one of those inane "RUSH TO THE RESORESEZ AND SPAM UNITS!!!!!!!1" kind of game... and I have not played a Total War game that fits this criteria (thankfully, although the whole iron thing in MTW was the closest I recall to this).

Are we playing the same game? Because that's how Milan plays. Rush to the resource, (Venice, Bologne, Dijon), and spam units (Crossbowman).

[The Walrus]

Are we playing the same game? Because that's how Milan plays. Rush to the resource, (Venice, Bologne, Dijon), and spam units (Crossbowman).

Another comes to mind. Egypt in RTW and M2TW

SPAM ARMIES
No tactics, we have infinite mens!

[eventhorizen]

The reason the Total War series is called an RTS is for ease of communication rather than confusing pedantry.

[Lupu]

Are we playing the same game? Because that's how Milan plays. Rush to the resource, (Venice, Bologne, Dijon), and spam units (Crossbowman).

LOL!!! that was a genius post!

Spam factions in game:

England: only meelee inf exept GB
Milan: Crossbow spam
Mongols: HA spam
Turks: levy spam(sadly because I would see them as a good enemy)