Arrow Trails: Before and After

[Joey CA]

Hi Guys!

Thought I’d just illustrate how difficult it is to show off a game that’s as big as Total War when it’s not finished yet. One thing a lot of you noticed were how prominent arrow trails were in our Battle of the Nile video a good example of something that changes and evolves as the game goes through development.

Projectile trails are important because the player needs some visual indication that their troops are attacking with, or under attack from, ranged weaponry. But as you saw, they were rather prominent in the Battle of the Nile. This was actually caused by all troops firing at once and the trails overlapping each other.

This screen shows what they look like today – the effect of development progression on just that area of the game; one of hundreds of thousands of tweaks and spots of polish the team are applying on the run up to launch.

[Sowilo]

Thanks for doing such a good job. Ignore the fact that the community Is ignorant in how things get built step by step. Also The fact that most are kids and have completely unrealistic expectations of what can and cannot be done or how easy it is to do some things.

[InferiorBeing]

Thanks for doing such a good job. Ignore the fact that the community Is ignorant in how things get built step by step. Also The fact that most are kids and have completely unrealistic expectations of what can and cannot be done or how easy it is to do some things.

Oh, wow. Aren't we ing passive-aggressive.

This thread shows why we should wait until the game is released to make threads complaining about little details.

What?! Are you serious? Do you have any single idea how development works?

[Karnil Vark Khaitan]

a lot better

[SamueleD]

Oh, yes, thank you, now they look like in good old Shogun 2, not too big but still there wonderful.

[Mary The Quene]

nice!

[iWarsaw]

It's very beautiful, but the streams are a little long. It takes up a lot of the screen. That's my only problem. Otherwise it's awesome.

[Sowilo]

It's very beautiful, but the streams are a little long. It takes up a lot of the screen. That's my only problem. Otherwise it's awesome.

If the trails were shorter you might not see them when zoomed out. This is a example how you didnt think like a designer when posting this..... Just saying..

[iWarsaw]

If the trails were shorter you might not see them when zoomed out. This is a example how you didnt think like a designer when posting this..... Just saying..

Wow. That was... insulting and yet somehow just lame.

I believe I would be able to see them very clearly when I zoom out. I would also be smart enough to know I did set them on auto shoot. I always found the streams on arrows ruined the effect when you are zoomed into the enemy regiment getting hit. I would have to see it in game I guess to really say. The streams could be cut down a little without them loosing the effect, and still not take up as much screen space. When you have whole ranks of firing arrows, javelins, etc, it can take up a lot of the screen and just become really ugly.

[CheesyFreak]

oh boy, i think people are gona talk more about those units then the trails , anyhow i didnt have a big problem with the trails although i didnt like them too much, but these are damm near perfection in my opinion, great work CA.

[KR153]

Nice. I could totally live with that! Thanks for the update!
Another thing I noticed: There seem to be some kind of "dust cloud" ( right army under the arrows, left army under the banners) that look kinda odd. They are also gone in the second pic, but I don´t think they are related to arrow trails, right? Another tweak?

[SamueleD]

Awesome units, btw!

[torongill]

Thanks for the info, Joey

It looks much better now, I have to say. Still, it would be great if there were a simple button or a switch to turn them completely off

[Anna_Gein]

Still, it would be great if there were a simple button or a switch to turn them completely off

[DaVinci]

Thanks for the info, Joey

It looks much better now, I have to say. Still, it would be great if there were a simple button or a switch to turn them completely off

Seconded.

Would save the usually instant post-release necessary job for realism-tweak modders to create the no-trails mod.

As we are by that, same kind of button/switch would be nice for fire-arrows (soldiers and ballistas), ie. the choice to enabling them only for siege battles and for naval battles.

[-Concrete-]

Thanks for the update, it looks much better.

[zala]

Hi Guys!

Thought I’d just illustrate how difficult it is to show off a game that’s as big as Total War when it’s not finished yet. One thing a lot of you noticed were how prominent arrow trails were in our Battle of the Nile video a good example of something that changes and evolves as the game goes through development.

Projectile trails are important because the player needs some visual indication that their troops are attacking with, or under attack from, ranged weaponry. But as you saw, they were rather prominent in the Battle of the Nile. This was actually caused by all troops firing at once and the trails overlapping each other.

This screen shows what they look like today – the effect of development progression on just that area of the game; one of hundreds of thousands of tweaks and spots of polish the team are applying on the run up to launch.

Thank you for the reponse to the community, totally agree with LEGIO_XXX ULPIA & Sowilo on their points.

I do wish that there would be an option to toggle the trails on/off, however I unlike many others can understand why they are in the game and won't post numerous threads or posts regarding it. It's just a personal preference that I would like the option.

[Sowilo]

Thank you for the reponse to the community, totally agree with LEGIO_XXX ULPIA & Sowilo on their points.

I do wish that there would be an option to toggle the trails on/off, however I unlike many others can understand why they are in the game and won't post numerous threads or posts regarding it. It's just a personal preference that I would like the option.

yes I agree that Having a toggle for on and off and allowing banners to be toggled on and off is always nice to have.......

[Emperork]

Nice improvement

[Ahmad al-Fareed]

thx for the update

i like the banners too :p