Any players use general cam?

[Mulattothrasher]

Its a great way to play if you want to put yourself literally "in the saddle." You feel like the general more than in the other camera modes (at least to me) and its wonderful sending the general and his cavalry to trouble spots in the battle line, or seeing him raise his arm when your general issues an order.

I've fought my most exciting battles by far in this mode. The battles feel more dangerous, exciting, and tense. Makes for a great experience IMHO. It takes a while to get use to but I think its quite rewarding in the end.

Combined with the house rules for the game, its a great way to role play your empire at a tactical/battlefield level. Its weird to go back to the RTS or Total War camera now. Its just not the same excitement level or experience in a battle without general cam.

So am I the only one that uses general cam while playing?:hmmm:

[Nellup]

I don't use it, just because it is easier not to

In all seriousness, I've never tried it, perhaps I shall now.

[Lucius Tiberius Vorenus]

I've used it on occasion, you definitely realize the usefulness of having your general mounted.

Since you don't have actual battlefield "runners" per say, delivering messages, requesting reinforcements, ect.. you must use your general to move along the line and truly command in an almost first person mode. The immersion you get from using General Cam definitely can't be matched using the wide/normal view.

It's only drawbacks are in epic large scale battles, due to the limitations of the game(again, lack of command and control, sub-generals, captains, drums/horns for signaling, friendly AI limitations) you can't really control friendly forces that well.

For instance in a real Roman Era battle you'd have other generals and captains with you, , sending them off to control your flanks, or just telling your cavalry captain to swing wide left and attack their archers. You would also have various generals and captains stationed along the line, with specific orders for dealing with different situations, according to your battle plan.

If there's a ever "next generation" RTW, General Cam would definitely reign supreme. If you could command your AI cavalry to "avoid all enemy contact/attack enemy unit XX archers from left flank" send your cavalry off with an AI captain and know they wont do something idiotic and they will attack those archers ... the ability receive messages via runner from your captains: "right flank under heavy attack requesting reinforcements" as well as implementing pre-battle rally points with contingencies(Calvary unit Z move to Hill Y, if enemy type X is encountered then attack/withdraw/hold), being able to implement a true battle plan, something along those lines...

I think it would be really sweet if during the battle, you had different trumpet/drum sounds signaling different battle events. Right flank under attack, or requesting reinforcements, you hear a certain trumpet sound from the right flank, same with left, rear, ect.

With the current state of the game engine, ie lack of friendly AI interaction, General Cam severely limits your situational awareness. It definitely ups the realism factor though, and makes battles more challanging ten fold.

[Taelok]

Curious. What happens when your general dies?

[Lucius Tiberius Vorenus]

Hell it's been a long time.. If your general dies I think it stays with his bodyguard unit, if they're wiped... well hell, I cant remember... lol

[Coldcall]

I've not tried the General cam yet because i knew it would be some getting use to after having played with RTW cam. But having read this thread i may give it a shot.

[pseudocaesar]

What does it look like? Care to show some pics?

[Brusilov]

What does it look like? Care to show some pics?

I think the camera is restricted to the point of view of the general. I've played some MP games using the 'restrict camera' settings.

[Juvenal]

If you use General Cam, then you should give most of your army over to A.I. control so that your general can command your "force of decision" directly.

This means no more Heroic victories (unless you are some kind of RTW God), and forest battles are very very scary indeed (I still get nightmares... stay out of the woods!).

You will suddenly find that the mini-map has become very important, I zoom it in a bit to get some idea of whether the enemy has gone somewhere dangerous (like amongst my archers).

[The God of War]

You will suddenly find that the mini-map has become very important, I zoom it in a bit to get some idea of whether the enemy has gone somewhere dangerous (like amongst my archers).

U r talkin bout using general cam for realism ..... is the mini map realistic (no hard feelings I do not know how to phrase that in a better way)??? no offense pal but i don't think generals of those days had a mini cam that gave an overview of the battle ..... they would have had an eagle for scouting but, how reliable and accurate could and eagle be ???

A game is a game no matter what ??? It can never be completely realistic and that bit of fiction is what makes the game fun !!! Another instance, is that your family members and generals die. But how is it that you army unit remains immortal for centuries (i.e. it doesn't not loose any soldier except when there is a plague)!!!

I mean I have played a campaign game where I still have legions of a past century garrisoned although it is far beyond their expiry date !!!

Also have you noticed that when your general is in a plagued city he remains infected but never, never dies !!!:hmmm:

[Juvenal]

U r talkin bout using general cam for realism ..... is the mini map realistic (no hard feelings I do not know how to phrase that in a better way)??? no offense pal but i don't think generals of those days had a mini cam that gave an overview of the battle .....

I wasn't talking about realism, just challenge. Anyway,the mini-map is a substitute for the reports a real general would get from other parts of the army. It is good enough to let you know things are going pear-shaped somewhere out of your sight, but you can't actually fight with it.

...Another instance, is that your family members and generals die. But how is it that you army unit remains immortal for centuries...
...Also have you noticed that when your general is in a plagued city he remains infected but never, never dies !!!:hmmm:

Immortal soldiers is certainly an unrealistic aspect of normal units (there should be constant attrition), however with bodyguards we must assume that new members are constantly joining from elsewhere in the army to explain why bodyguards automatically replace lost members.

Characters do die of plague, this applies to spies, assassins and diplomats as well. Don't forget that even in a really bad plague you lose no more than a quarter of your population, so that would be a 1 in 4 chance for a character.

[HMonk]

Never took the time to try it.

[Mulattothrasher]

You know, I have never really used my general in combat so I do not know what happens if he dies or his entire unit gets wiped out. Good question thought.

In general cam mode screen scroll is restricted maybe 50 feet or so from the general's unit. You can scroll up/down/left/right but only in that small radius.

[bohema]

ive tried this a few times and failed horribly

[Mulattothrasher]

Don't feel too bad, it does take time to get use to. But I was hooked once I "mastered" the art of the general cam.

[Jingles]

Isn't it EB that has foot mounted greek generals? Now that would be a pain if you used General cam alot... Its quite fun though, when my army is marching, I sometimes go into general cam focusing on one of my centurions by selecting the unit and hitting 'Delete' (don't worry it dosen't kill the entire unit )Its fun to watch the army marching from the soldier's point of view, or near enough.

[The God of War]

real tough to see if your general is a governor cause then he is on foot !!!

[naeblis]

ive had a few generals die of plague, rarely ever happens but it has.