Is there any major gameplay changes in NTW?

From what I can understand, there seems to be little to no gameplay change that distinguish NTW from ETW.

Sure there is graphical improvement as well as new multiplayer game modes, but it seems like there's no other changes to the game engine at all.

There is no articles talking about how a new diplomantic system will work, nothing that talks about how the morale system will work, nor is there any talk about the way in which you orgainse your army. On one hand, CA is saying that they want to improve the game, on the other hand, there's no talk in regards to how CA will carry this task.

Even if they are doing so, there no way a fan could tell if their ideas are even feasible! I mean look at half of ETW's game design, where it doesn't make sense at all.

If the overall game experience is still the same, what's the point of buying NTW? It's feels like I'm just buying a mod.

@ray,

Hey man, you gotta wait and see what Sega/CA says about it.

Sorry.

hellas1

I think supply will be included, which is a pretty big change from ETW. The new, more detailed maps should make movement more interesting too.
I'm looking forward to seeing how well it all comes together and how much will be retrofitted into ETW.

Originally Posted by ray243

There is no articles talking about how a new diplomantic system will work, nothing that talks about how the morale system will work, nor is there any talk about the way in which you orgainse your army. On one hand, CA is saying that they want to improve the game, on the other hand, there's no talk in regards to how CA will carry this task.

Even if they are doing so, there no way a fan could tell if their ideas are even feasible! I mean look at half of ETW's game design, where it doesn't make sense at all.

If the overall game experience is still the same, what's the point of buying NTW? It's feels like I'm just buying a mod.

These are the kinds of questions EVERYONE should be asking.

Just wait until after the release and check these forums.

That's what i'm gonna do. What does it matter if they tell us that they fixed the BAI, diplomatic system etc., i wouldn't believe it until i see it myself anyway.

It's also still 3 months away, that's IF they don't delay it. No need to get anxious already.

Originally Posted by crazypeon

It's also still 3 months away, that's IF they don't delay it. No need to get anxious already.

If N:TW is delayed some three to six months, I'll even consider buying it on release, because that means they had to delay it in order to make something worth selling (and buying!). Almost every good game is delayed...

If it's not delayed, it's probably filled with quick solutions, the same old AI and plenty of bugs.

Yeah just look at Starcraft 2 for example. They are working on it since 2003 (with some pauses later), announced it in 2007 and are still working on it to release it MAYBE next year.

NTW: Working on? 2008 would be the earliest, i wouldn't be surprised if they actually started after the release of ETW this year. Announced 2009 (half a year after the release of a buggy game), release early 2010. How is that supposed to work.

And now i read that they lost their only (B)AI programmer and still haven't found a replacement (if that's correct). How could we expect a fixed AI in NTW? I almost pulled the trigger to prebuy it yesterday for the 18 pounds, but i'm glad i didn't. I wouldn't be surprised if we would get the exact same BUGGED AI we have in ETW right now. In that case, the game is worthless for me. Well, like i said before, let's wait until the release.

Also does anyone know if NTW will support multi-core CPUs? Or still just one core only? That's state-of-the-art. Awesome.

Interesting question, by right a change from a 6 month turn to a 2 week turn should cause a fundamental change in the game play.

Lets try and imagine what this could mean for game play.

1\ Your standing army would be an extremely valuable resource , any losses should take time to replace.

2\ After some time they should become a veteran force certainly compared to any new recruits.

3\ Supply and attrition? If a lack of supply has a strong impact on the morale of your army you will need to secure those supplies.

Possible problems?

The AI spams armies and you end up chasing crap forces around the bloody map, the AI starts constantly raiding supplies with small forces and again you end up chasing crap forces around the bloody map.

More importantly a decisive defeat of the main enemy force should nearly end the war for that faction because it should not be able to replace those units and if it does they should be raw recruits compared to your veterans.

How CA overcome what I think will be a major game play issue will be interesting, at this point I see a greater focus on how you will need to handle your army rather then your country. What is essentially a large tactical map (campaign map) becomes even more of a tactical map and will cause even more problems for the AI.

Since CA cannot make the AI more intelligent the only solution I can see is a more controlled story driven campaign rather then a truly open sandbox, CA claim that the third campaign will be more open but under the conditions I described above unless the AI spams armies it will be annihilated with ease.

If the past is any indication of the future, almost everything published regarding game play and features will not be what you see in the final version. Patience will be the biggest virtue when it comes to buying this if you are hesitant. I personally will be watching and waiting to see what the community says about this game, not the "professional " reviewers receiving payola in one form or another from SEGA. If CA somehow gets this right and it turns out to be the best thing since sliced bread, then i'll gladly eat a piece of humble pie.

Remember NTW is likely what ETW was supposed to be, so when you purchase the game, you'll feel in very familiar ground with a few smoke and mirrors added to justify a separate package.

Since the turns are only a couple of weeks, the training of infantry will be different. This means that more battles will be important, and a lost army will surely put a dent in the players ability to wage war. In ETW, one can just replenish the whole stack easily and continue with the war. Hopefully, NTW will have a different approach, forcing people to "think, rather than rush". Hopefully. That's a word I will have to eat up in february!

Just because the turns are now weeks instead of years, that doesn't mean that training units will actually take more turns. I would be very surprised if we needed like 4 turns or so to recruit a normal line infantry unit.

I would think that two turns(month) would be enough time to train a green recruit to a minimum level.

Originally Posted by crazypeon

Just because the turns are now weeks instead of years, that doesn't mean that training units will actually take more turns. I would be very surprised if we needed like 4 turns or so to recruit a normal line infantry unit.

True. I wonder how will this affect the gameplay. I mean, if the unit's marching distance is inaccurate, then the game will be messed up.

Imagine troops marching to moscow in less than 3 turns! Especially when one turn equates to one week!

Originally Posted by ray243

True. I wonder how will this affect the gameplay. I mean, if the unit's marching distance is inaccurate, then the game will be messed up.

Imagine troops marching to moscow in less than 3 turns! Especially when one turn equates to one week!

I'd think that would defeat the purpose of the supply and attrition mechanics. They put it in simply because of the Russian campaign.

Maybe we should just wait until it is released

Originally Posted by Marshal Beale

Maybe we should just wait until it is released

Perhaps we should but its fun to speculate and I was right about the ownership of cities and the ridiculous situation that this gave you ownership of the resources months before ETW was released.

I am a prophet of doom! The end is nigh I say.

Originally Posted by ray243

There is no articles talking about how a new diplomantic system will work.

lol CA have said they would revolultionize the diplo system in every release since Rome. Dont hold ur breath on much change being seen here.

Yeah, too bad they didn't explain how are they going to achieve it. Diplomacy in the minds of CA = do every possible action to piss off the player until he wants to give up, and disregard the fact that you don't have the military might to defeat the player.

Seriously, CA is obsessed with the fact that the player must face as much diffculty as possible in regards to the diplomantic aspect of the game. None of their games really reward the for being smart in diplomacy. It's like they want to force players into waging a war against all nations.

i really dont know why they dont look at EU3's (and a few other games similar) diplomacy. It is easy and pretty effective. Actually feels a lot more realistic (its not perfect sure, but its leagues above CA's diplomacy - which has forever been one of my biggest problems with the TW series)

ETW did do a bit to make it better but it certainly wasnt anything major and still had the irritating random war declarations and so forth. And the options in diplomacy are still very limited and largely unhelpful

Yes, but given that CA is still saying that they are designing the AI to be an annoying pain in the ass essentially means the AI won't even be logical. Sure, the AI might have a greater amount of self-preservation, but I doubt that the diplomacy aspect of the game will improve.

Perhaps if CA decides to create an AI system that won't be obsessed with the players, we could actually enjoy our gameplay experience in future total war games.