"Human face" this "Human drama" that...

[katsusand]

It seems the most talked about feature/gimmick in ROME 2 is the "Human Drama" or whatnot, according to all the interviews.

Basically this means soldiers show human emotions on the battlefield in their expressions or behaviors, like reacting to a fallen comrade.

As well as political intrigue and drama on the campaign map.

To me, this is fine and all, but I don't like how its touted as the main feature of the game, IMO its such a cosmetic feature that its effect wears down after spending some time with the game... other than combined Land/Sea battles, it doesn't seem that CA is bringing a "Major Feature' for the gameplay Rome 2, I hope CA won't just concentrate on such cosmetic features and eye candy and forget to improve the gameplay.


What are your thoughts on how CA is concentrating on the Human Face of Total War?

[BlackDragon1]

I actually really like the idea as you said i hope they up that AI gameplay but i would really like to see some emotion and visual facial expressions in all situations of war i think it sounds amazing personally

[torongill]

First of all, it's not that big of a deal, because it's just evolution of the trends set in the total war series. Second, it will be great. Third, while a minor thing, it is a very good market tool. What's going to attract the average gamer more
1. a description of having so much attention to detail, it goes down to facial expressions! You can see the human face of the brutal slaughter of the ancient times! Plus moar shiny!
2. Combat is more realistic, we have improved mechanics of the missiles, terrain is more diversified, bla-bla-bla technical-nerdcrap bla-bla who-gives-a--I-want-to-see-blood! bla-bla.

[Lockcaps]

I guess you can say it's (one of) the big features that's going to be new in Rome2 and that's why they are pushing it - like they did with Empire's naval battles(albeit naval battles are more revolutionary than evolutionary). I think it's a good thing because of they do it right, Rome2 become a more "emotional" game which has been missing from the series, or from games in general.

That said i have no doubts it's still going to be the same old concept, but much more refined.

[Augustus Scipius]

To be honest, there is not that much left for them to improve other than AI and graphics. I really wait for that feature, as it will no doubt bring the game alive.

[Sun Jetzu]

Honestly combat has always been the main part of a total war game. So that extra humanizing of the men you lead to slaughter is just a long overdue feature. fall of samurai they tried to do it by giving the men specific voices and things they say in certain events, but they all sounded similiar. "they fight like demons!!!" is probably the one i heard the most. But it will def add that long awaited extra that "ive" been waiting for. As far as anything extra in the game, honestly if they just vastly improved the AI, i would be a happy camper. They are redoing rome, so their really isnt anything extra they can add, or their are limited things they can add. Its not like they are making a game that completly changes the forumla...like say world war total war...

[SturmChurro]

Honestly combat has always been the main part of a total war game. So that extra humanizing of the men you lead to slaughter is just a long overdue feature. fall of samurai they tried to do it by giving the men specific voices and things they say in certain events, but they all sounded similiar. "they fight like demons!!!" is probably the one i heard the most. But it will def add that long awaited extra that "ive" been waiting for. As far as anything extra in the game, honestly if they just vastly improved the AI, i would be a happy camper. They are redoing rome, so their really isnt anything extra they can add, or their are limited things they can add. Its not like they are making a game that completly changes the forumla...like say world war total war...

They have done this for awhile. Just listen to the melee or routing units. Not exactly a new thing. The facial expressions are, however.

Yes, I do like what CA is doing. Giving the soldiers more chatter among the ranks and actual facial expressions depending on the situation is a great idea. I gladly await everything being improved and implemented for Rome II. Especially this. This is something that just effects the feel for me. I do enjoy zooming into battles and watching my soldiers march, fight, or just looking at my lines.

[The Juggernaut]

Truth be told, I like where they are going. Adding a more human element, especially to the campaign map, means no more random diplomacy, boring advisors, and a government who's only function is to collect taxes, and then decrease tax income by being corrupt. Let us interact with our generals, manipulate leaders of the Senate, woo or terrify barbarian chieftans. This is where I hope they are taking this "human drama" aspect, and not just, "Oh look, Maximus made an angry face before he got stabbed!"

[saxdude]

Truth be told, I like where they are going. Adding a more human element, especially to the campaign map, means no more random diplomacy, boring advisors, and a government who's only function is to collect taxes, and then decrease tax income by being corrupt. Let us interact with our generals, manipulate leaders of the Senate, woo or terrify barbarian chieftans. This is where I hope they are taking this "human drama" aspect, and not just, "Oh look, Maximus made an angry face before he got stabbed!"

Agreed.

[Anna_Gein]

My exact opinion.

Truth be told, I like where they are going. Adding a more human element, especially to the campaign map, means no more random diplomacy, boring advisors, and a government who's only function is to collect taxes, and then decrease tax income by being corrupt. Let us interact with our generals, manipulate leaders of the Senate, woo or terrify barbarian chieftans. This is where I hope they are taking this "human drama" aspect, and not just, "Oh look, Maximus made an angry face before he got stabbed!"

The game could be grand strategy with strong RPG part but it need to be the real two things to be successful in mixing the elements.
Not a simplified strategy game with some attribute point for your general and two new facial animation for your soldiers.

Sure those new animation would be welcome but that shouldn't be the main change.

[Titus Livius Patavinus]

I very much like this idea of the Human face or whatever they termed it. If you read into the statement about the soldiers reacting to stuff on the battlefield, it means they are throwing a lot of time and energy into the AI on the battlefield. Hopefully this also means the AI of the Campaign map is getting the same treatment.

[MonkeyD]

Sadly I'm not sure my PC would be powerful enough to show that human drama on soldiers faces. It sounds like a cool idea, but I won't be totally sure until I see a gameplay video that shows it off.

[oppaiO_O]

i've seen youtube videos of shogun 2 and they are awesome... i could see really detailed faces and stuff but then i compare it to my game it looks like im leading a bunch of slender-men dressed in samurai cosplay into death since i cant really see their faces nor their outfits... having a pc that can only play the game on low sucks plus if i dont upgrade i wouldnt be able to see this "human" side of things but all in all i think its awesome and they should do it.....

[Rex Germanius]

My fear is that the focus on important individuals downplays the influence of the masses on history. For the most part, great men and women were symptoms of the times rather than independently forging the zeitgeist. History is dominated by general trends and movements; people who bucked the wave usually ended up dead or retired very early. They guided the flow of societal and cultural development but did not make it all themselves.

[Sakanade]

I honestly think it'll be a welcome addition, I mean it's not like they are going to take anything OUT of the FotS formula, right?

Every game they make, certain important and very good pieces always get taken over to the next installment, so this might be even more icing on the cake.

[brapollo]

It seems the most talked about feature/gimmick in ROME 2 is the "Human Drama" or whatnot, according to all the interviews.

Basically this means soldiers show human emotions on the battlefield in their expressions or behaviors, like reacting to a fallen comrade.

As well as political intrigue and drama on the campaign map.

To me, this is fine and all, but I don't like how its touted as the main feature of the game, IMO its such a cosmetic feature that its effect wears down after spending some time with the game... other than combined Land/Sea battles, it doesn't seem that CA is bringing a "Major Feature' for the gameplay Rome 2, I hope CA won't just concentrate on such cosmetic features and eye candy and forget to improve the gameplay.


What are your thoughts on how CA is concentrating on the Human Face of Total War?

Well after finally watching that live action trailer, I was laughing. All kinds of human drama, zero "total war."

A game can't be two conflicting things. Either you mainly are a grand strategy game, or you are mainly sort of role playing game. You can't be both or you have a muddled game that is neither. If I wanted the feel of "Saving Private Ryan," I'd go play Call of Duty.

The Total War games have developed all kinds of issues regarding ai and gameplay that only get magnified by adding more and more new features instead of fixing old problems. I have little doubt the games will continue down this same path. I am getting the distinct feeling that the Total War series is about to have its "Masters of Orion 3" moment sooner rather than later.

[hospitaller13]

Well after finally watching that live action trailer, I was laughing. All kinds of human drama, zero "total war."

A game can't be two conflicting things. Either you mainly are a grand strategy game, or you are mainly sort of role playing game. You can't be both or you have a muddled game that is neither. If I wanted the feel of "Saving Private Ryan," I'd go play Call of Duty.

The Total War games have developed all kinds of issues regarding ai and gameplay that only get magnified by adding more and more new features instead of fixing old problems. I have little doubt the games will continue down this same path. I am getting the distinct feeling that the Total War series is about to have its "Masters of Orion 3" moment sooner rather than later.

Yer because call of duty is really realistic. Im sorry but you would have to be retarded to compare that realistic battle scene to the mess that is COD. A game full of quickscoping fag got 9 year olds.

[Lockcaps]

Well after finally watching that live action trailer, I was laughing. All kinds of human drama, zero "total war."

A game can't be two conflicting things. Either you mainly are a grand strategy game, or you are mainly sort of role playing game. You can't be both or you have a muddled game that is neither. If I wanted the feel of "Saving Private Ryan," I'd go play Call of Duty.

The Total War games have developed all kinds of issues regarding ai and gameplay that only get magnified by adding more and more new features instead of fixing old problems. I have little doubt the games will continue down this same path. I am getting the distinct feeling that the Total War series is about to have its "Masters of Orion 3" moment sooner rather than later.

Well it's the live-action trailer, usually live-action or cinematic trailers don't even focus on the games concept and how it plays, but more on the overall setting. See all Blizzard trailers for example - they're all really good but are they representative of the final product? Hell no.

Now one might argue that they could have had atleast ONE battlescene in there..maybe they didn't have the budget/time. Or they've just chosen to save the actual battles for the ingame trailer.

[He111]

The Total War games have developed all kinds of issues regarding ai and gameplay that only get magnified by adding more and more new features instead of fixing old problems. I have little doubt the games will continue down this same path.

I fear the same for Rome2, i bet there will be lots of Day1 Mods regarding Battle and Campaign AI.

[Medina]

95% of the time Im such high in the air with my camera that I dont see any faces at all. I really dont care about this cosmetic feature that is funny and cool for 10 minutes and gets repetative after that anyway.

Please do something about AI, Gameplay and Soundtrack and **** this ****!