Eagle Standard Presents Rome II Opinions and Information - Read and Comment!

[The Dutch Devil]

Total War: Rome II

Preview: Total War: Rome II

Total War : Rome II - First Impressions

2008. I sat there with the chunky monstrosity on my lap. It was a Dell. An Inspiron 1100 laptop. It was blue. Twenty units of Spartan hoplites advanced menacingly with their spears held proudly erect. Not that I could see them, of course. I had no mouse and could not find a way to zoom in on the battlefield - I was playing with a touchpad. I knew their spears were erect, though, as the little red boxes on the screen were boxes and not little red hedgehogs. Brave little hedgehogs to be sure, for against them stood three armies of Parthian peasants clad in fluorescent pink (it added much to the intimidation factor) and a half stack of Gallic spear warbands. I could only dream of getting this close to the field. Yes. I was doing one of those 'twenty fully upgraded elite units against hordes of light cavalry and peasant units' experiments that most, if not all, RTW players have been guilty of trying at some point. I regret nothing. I still do it on occasion and I've even tried it in Napoleon: Total War. I'm sure all of us have stories like this; Rome: Total War is one of those timeless games that both the average and the hardcore (and perhaps even the somewhat inexperienced) gamer can return to time and time again. Let's not forget that I first got the game when it was already four years old and that some will have been playing for eight years at the writing of this article. Creative Assembly announced a sequel on July 2nd amidst the jubilation of the masses. I was , of course, one of them, and SonOfOdin, my fellow writer is another. Without further ado I'll stop reminiscing and allow him to tell you guys about the great new game! Ave, General! Remember the sleepless nights you spent, massing up armies on your borders to defend your homeland from Barbarian attacks? Remember contemplating suicide when your best and most beloved General was killed in battle? Remember the three Roman families staging coup d'etas in Rome to galvanise all Romans to join their cause? That my friends, was the magical game that was - Rome Total War. No mum, one more hour! Please, I swear, just one hour... 8 years have passed, and the Creative Assembly have announced Total War : Rome II! CA are looking to revisit the Ancient World of Rome Total War, bringing us war on an epic scale with today's graphics and as promised - a certain level of historical accuracy(so hopefully, no German screeching women or head hurlers, eh?) From what little has been released to public, the game holds A LOT of promise. A couple of new features will have fanboys biting their nails until a demo is released : A whole new battle engine. Battles take place on HUGE maps, which will also see the introduction of a new top-down "Tactical Map". The way I'm picturing it is a World in Conflict or a R.U.S.E style map. In-game cinematics. Solders having individual attributes, clones have been totally removed. That way, you actually feel as if you're sending an individual to glory...or to his death. They also have a lot of different facial animations, reacting differently to situations that develop in-battle. Improved diplomacy, with a lot of betrayals going on. Players will also be able to hold talks with the enemy before a battle. Many, many new campaign-altering events. Regions have been split, with provinces introduced to make management easier. Control of historical generals, with RPG-attributes a'la Shogun II. Naval and Land combat may be merged in some situations. Instead of a single point to capture in a settlement, now there will be multiple control areas to be captured. Huge variety of units. A LOT of factions. Much of the details we know, specifically battle details, were revealed in a 15-minute demo set in the Siege of Carthage, which has not been released to the public. (for more info : http://www.pcgamer.com/previews/tota...ayer-and-mods/) Here are two screenshots of the battle though. In-game screenshots From the little we have seen, and the little we know, we can all anticipate a huge game. Wives will be ignored, jobs will be abandoned, exams will be forgotten, and a new legacy will be created. As we have come to expect from all Total War games - we can be sure it will be epic. Total War : Rome II is set to be released in 2013, though no specific date has been announced yet. Aaaand if you haven't seen the trailer yet... (which is unlikely) Written by: SonOfOdin and Legio.

Read the full Eagle Standard, with many more articles on Total War modding, here!

[SuperTechmarine]

On the second pic there are dudes on the tower (garrisoning buildings maybe?)

[zg0301zg]

excellent article, +rep

[katsusand]

Control of historical generals, with RPG-attributes a'la Shogun II.

Aw hell no

I want my general to develop based on the situations he goes through... Not by assigning his skills myself.

[Tongera]

Aw hell no

I want my general to develop based on the situations he goes through... Not by assigning his skills myself.

Personally, a bit of mixing would be excellent.

[AgentGB]

"Improved diplomacy, with a lot of betrayals going on. Players will also be able to hold talks with the enemy before a battle."

That sounds interesting!

"Control of historical generals, with RPG-attributes a'la Shogun II."

Yeah i agree with Katsusand, i would still like control on assigning skills, just for multiplayer campaign reasons, but some things should develop also depending on his situation.

[zg0301zg]

"Improved diplomacy, with a lot of betrayals going on. Players will also be able to hold talks with the enemy before a battle."

That sounds interesting!

"Control of historical generals, with RPG-attributes a'la Shogun II."

Yeah i agree with Katsusand, i would still like control on assigning skills, just for multiplayer campaign reasons, but some things should develop also depending on his situation.

I like the part especially for the pre battle talk / diplomacy

[Petroniu]

"Players will also be able to hold talks with the enemy before a battle"
I didn't knew that, but it's amazing!

[Nearby]

"Improved diplomacy, with a lot of betrayals going on. Players will also be able to hold talks with the enemy before a battle."

Sounds interesting, but I am a bit afraid, that a lot of betrayals simply means, that instead of making it harder to create alliances, its going to be quite similar to rome total war diplomacy ( even when they say that it wont) when you ally atacks you randomly.. I think ,a better idea is to make it harder to get alliance, rather than get betrayed all the time , which sounds silly.. and the alliance should mean much more, than in previous total war games .. I mean the alliance members could negotiate and could launch something like a mini crusade on one enemy ... we could have a chance to attack together , fight together , help each other ecomocally etc .. My problem is that alliance should mean more than ''ally'' on other faction city's or stacks ..

[AgentGB]

double post

[AgentGB]

Sounds interesting, but I am a bit afraid, that a lot of betrayals simply means, that instead of making it harder to create alliances, its going to be quite similar to rome total war diplomacy ( even when they say that it wont) when you ally atacks you randomly.. I think ,a better idea is to make it harder to get alliance, rather than get betrayed all the time , which sounds silly.. and the alliance should mean much more, than in previous total war games .. I mean the alliance members could negotiate and could launch something like a mini crusade on one enemy ... we could have a chance to attack together , fight together , help each other ecomocally etc .. My problem is that alliance should mean more than ''ally'' on other faction city's or stacks ..

yep i totally agree with you! i Hope they do go more in depth with the diplomacy system, and hopefully there will be more options then just striking up an alliance, hopefully options to vassal/protectorate, so if your weak, you can seek protection, and a strong alliances, by making strong commitments to be apart and fight for there empire, until you can become of strength, and go independant. Or has a bigger nation hopefully being able to make allied states & client kingdoms, or offer protection to smaller factions for a percentage of income, or promise of military asistance, also hopefully with a a "general alliance", were two nations are on equal standing or choose to deal has so, but a more likelyhood that betrayal, or breaking over an alliance due to the "friend of a friend is my enemy" factor or somthing may cause it. But obviously hopefully, if you vassal a nation, they are merely seeking protection or unity in force, and provide income/manpower to the lead faction or somthing, and would only betray if not monitered, such has there growing in numbers, and naturally seek expansion, due to shortage of food in the region, so you can either provide aid at a cost, or let them rebel and wipe erm out, or maybe your requring to much from them to often that can cause them to break there former agreement, since it no longer benefits them to be a part of your empire.

So im pretty much thinking along the same lines has you there, in that fact, if a nation allies its self, it has a neutral agreement, if it vassals itself, its giving up maybe some of there income & manpower for ensure there protection, still adding to the strength of a faction while still claiming some form of individuality, also maybe allowing factions to use combined arms from there vassals, has mercs, or a general requirement for protection.

The last bit of the quote, "talks before battles" i obviously like the sound of it, giving the enemy one last chance to surrender, and gettting spat in face by a barbarian warlord, or sending there messager back galloping on a horse decapitated, yep, sounds good to me

[AlexCouceiro]

Sounds interesting, but I am a bit afraid, that a lot of betrayals simply means, that instead of making it harder to create alliances, its going to be quite similar to rome total war diplomacy ( even when they say that it wont) when you ally atacks you randomly.. I think ,a better idea is to make it harder to get alliance, rather than get betrayed all the time , which sounds silly.. and the alliance should mean much more, than in previous total war games .. I mean the alliance members could negotiate and could launch something like a mini crusade on one enemy ... we could have a chance to attack together , fight together , help each other ecomocally etc .. My problem is that alliance should mean more than ''ally'' on other faction city's or stacks ..

I truly hope they will not make diplomacy once again silly. That´s all I desperately ask of them. Please, CA, make diplomacy something meaningful and real this time. I have faith in you, guys.

[Durendalv2]

Solders having individual attributes, clones have been totally removed. That way, you actually feel as if you're sending an individual to glory...or to his death. They also have a lot of different facial animations, reacting differently to situations that develop in-battle.

Titus Pullo!

I wonder how many factions there are; generalities keep getting reported, but nothing tangible yet. They've got to have an idea by now.

[Armatus]

Battles take place on HUGE maps, which will also see the introduction of a new top-down "Tactical Map". The way I'm picturing it is a World in Conflict or a R.U.S.E style map.

I'm dying to see this.

[The dead one]

The more RPG elements the better. Customisations are fun and makes you care more for the characters

The tactical map I don't care so much of. The radar map worked just fine for me.

[Armatus]

While the screens definitely show quality, my beef is the same as when I originally saw M2 screenshots of the cities.

They look too modular.

[Diglytron]

Nice article Janko and Legio

[Ichon]

I did not like Shogun 2 system for general skills but if traits from situation has too much randomness maybe level up system similar to HoM&M where after a situation get a choice of 2 traits... And sometimes the traits are negative but there could later be a chance to correct the negative traits.

[Ballacraine]

I did not like Shogun 2 system for general skills but if traits from situation has too much randomness maybe level up system similar to HoM&M where after a situation get a choice of 2 traits... And sometimes the traits are negative but there could later be a chance to correct the negative traits.

I like that idea.

I hope they go with that.

+rep

Balla.

[Armatus]

I prefer traits based on how you play with a little bit of randomness. They shouldn't be purely random nor an option.