A bit of info from Igromir

[ngr]

I found post in Russian blog about current Igromir exhibition in Moscow. There are some information there about R2TW.

- Rome is one faction, not three
- Game will focus on political intrigues
- Diplomacy will be improved
- Generals of different factions will have different skills
- Game is still in pre-alfa condition, CA shows only siege of Carthage

Full Russian text:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Потом у меня было интервью с Джеймсом Расселом, главдизайнером Total War: ROME II. Показывали раннюю альфу, битву при Карфагене. При том что альфа ООООЧЕНЬ сырая (игра подтормаживает, анимация ещё немножко топорная, интерфейса нет в принципе потому как он в разработке) мне ДИЧАЙШЕ доставило. Графика - потрясающая, анимация даже при подёргиваниях и глюках - загляденье, контактные бои человечков - эпично, сам Карфаген - гигантский разрушаемый город. Что касается игровых фич - Рим теперь одна фракция, а не три, как раньше, будет упор на политические интриги и козни внутри империи, допилят дипломатию, у разных наций будут очень разные генералы с разными типами умений - в целом вся ставка идёт на диверсификацию геймплея за разные фракции. Верю, что будет великий вин.

From here

[torongill]

He also talks about melee combat being epic, Carthage being "fully destructible", and "different factions will have very different generals with various types of skills - on the whole they are trying to create a diversification of the gameplay for different factions"

A long wait, but the priiize...

[Sol Invictus]

I have high hopes and expectations for the intrigue of the Roman faction as well as the others. There is such a blood-soaked history to work with it should be epic.

[Emperor Domitianus]

The game is clearly in pre-alpha but as the video was made sometime before the events, I think they have gone foward in developing. Nothing can't give us an idea that for the end of the year it will be in alpha/pre-beta status.

[♠ Thomas Cochrane ♠]

My translator says he is also excited about the wine. you hear that guys? Rome 2 is gonna have good wine!

[torongill]

My translator says he is also excited about the wine. you hear that guys? Rome 2 is gonna have good wine!

russian skang - вин = win, not wine