Battles size (diversity) important?

[boxleitnerb]

Let me explain what I mean by diversity:

We know that CA wants to focus more on legions. We don't know if single units will still be recruitable or only legions as a whole. In previous Total War titles you could have any manpower combination in a battle between you and an enemy:

- One puny unit of yours vs. four enemy full stacks
- One full stack of yours vs. an enemy full stack
- anything in between, any combination

Now to the question:
Will this be possible in Rome 2? Or will there be only (full) army vs. (full) army fights? CA stated they don't want to have the player move single units around on the campaign map but rather legions/armies. I wonder if that is optional or mandatory.

While I would like to retain the previous mechanic, I find it tedious and boring for example to have to mop up single remaining enemy units with my armies. 2000 men vs. an almost beaten unit isn't really fun and takes time - and not all people want to auto-resolve battles, even the small ones because the AI looses more men than you would if you did it manually. Maybe it wouldn't be the worst idea to somehow get rid of these superfluous engagements.

What is your take on this?

[akkakk]

i hope they don't stop you moving single units about.

it seems like they are taking away too much micromanagement. i like the micromanagement.

Total war is getting dumbed down

[The True Roman]

i hope they don't stop you moving single units about.

it seems like they are taking away too much micromanagement. i like the micromanagement.

Total war is getting dumbed down

how is less Micro Management dumbing down total war? The later part of the game gets pretty tedious if you don't auto build everything, I mean in Empire I had land all over the world and having to watch each one gets tiresome and a Emperor wouldn't have to have such things on his mind any way.

[stradar1]

how is less Micro Management dumbing down total war? The later part of the game gets pretty tedious if you don't auto build everything, I mean in Empire I had land all over the world and having to watch each one gets tiresome and a Emperor wouldn't have to have such things on his mind any way.

To be quite honest I prefer looking about takeing care of all of my lands its the whole part of Empire building and the whole general idea of The Grand Campaign I mean to be honest the less Micro dumbs down a game for those who cant grasp onto the idea it takes time to create an Empire........ I do understand haveing to do 20 things on one turn is annoying for some but it makes the game feel epic becuase ur not soaring through turns like a bat outta Hell..Who dosnt like saying to them selves I am Invincible!!!!! when you look over your 100 regions u have conquered!!

[Destraex]

It will certainly be an interesting system. I imagine it like this:

a) You choose the units to fit out a legion. These units have to be Roman units. Heavy Infantry or Light Cavalry.
In the republic era you will get the hastati, princepe and velites.. I think I missed one. In the imperial era it will just be legionary.
I think weapons like maille or plate may be choosable.
Each legion may get to upgrade formations it is capable of and have its colours chosen.
b) You can attach auxilliary units to your legion such as light infantry, slingers, archers, heavy cavalry etc. However these slots will be limited. About half of the army would be Roman Legionaries and half auxilliary light infantry... who wore light mail and had different shaped shields and weapons, A smaller portion 5 or so more slots for the archers and other specialist units.

If you are playing as Non-Roman your army will not be made up of legions but will be according to its own military system.
For instance a barbarian horde made of of village warrior levies may have to form together for an attack in a designated area from all the surrounding villages.

[boxleitnerb]

That would heavily limit your freedom in assembling the forces. I would definitely not like that.

Unless this is optional and you could still assemble "normal" armies that maybe aren't as effective as a legion (bonuses, experience). The upside may be that you can split a normal force, but you cannot do that with a legion.

[Rorarii]

The reality IS commanders couldn't make their own armies, like a supermarket meat display, you were given command of a .. legion, and you could probably add / subtract auxilaries only (whats available). Under the republic, you could call upon allies.

Not sure how you would deal with raiders though, small fast moving armies. probably just command auxilaries only ???

R

[boxleitnerb]

Yeah imagine having a legion and meeting three smaller forces. What do you do? If you cannot split the legion up, you're screwed - the smaller enemy forces will have time to pillage your land until you have tediously hunted them down and (too easily) destroyed them.

Given Jack Lusted's statement in the latest warcast that you could in theory have an army of pigs if you wanted to, leads me to the conclusion that in fact you can influence the composition of your forces.

[stradar1]

This does scare me a bit I feel we should still be able to tailor our armys if we want to......People say it wasnt accurate becuase of history or what not but this is a game where history is changed it dosnt have to be damn accurate!!!

[oppaiO_O]

i think i like the idea because, as you said this gets rid of the smaller forces and instead gives you large "legions" and as boxleitnerb said i think you could also be able to construct your own legions but you now can only move them as a giant force not a single unit.... and i also like what Rorarii said that would make my game more interesting having to fight with what is available not constructing my own armies since after a while in every total war game once i get my armies to be what i want the al doesn't stand much of chance so instead i am forced to fight with what i have it could make my game more challenging/interesting.

-oppai

[stradar1]

Id rather be able to make my army have the units I want not what the game thinks I should have...........Makes the game seem restricted. I understand the whole idea of moveing ur armys around as a whole but I still think ur armys should be ur own not generated random or forced!!

[Jester]

Yea, I still want to assemble my own army....

I hope the new system just helps to avoid all these little stupid battles because the AI would spread myriads of single unit armies all over the place.