What of line of sight?

[SamueleD]

It was previously stated by CA that Rome II would have a line of sight mechanic, by which you could only see the units that your men could see, so if a unit is behind a hill it is considered hidden. The battle of Teutoburg showd ambushes and hidden units, but those were hidden behind trees, in the same way as in previous TW games. Has the mechanic been ditched or will it end up in the game release? We have not had any new information or demonstartion regarding it...

[Argon Viper]

I imagine it's in the game, they were pretty proud of that point in repeated interviews, so I can't imagine it's been ditched. That said, the battlefields they've chosen haven't been very good for demonstrating that particular feature outside the realm of the traditional vegetation.

That said, if it's as true as they say it is, I look forward to abusing it thoroughly.

[torongill]

I don't think they've ditched it - as a matter of fact on hardest difficulty the enemy units will not be visible on the tactical map or the minimap at all.

[zala]

I don't think they've ditched it - as a matter of fact on hardest difficulty the enemy units will not be visible on the tactical map or the minimap at all.

Never knew this, got a source? If true, my campaigns just got far more interesting

[torongill]

It was in a Spanish magazine back in march after the Munchen event in which Teutoburg was shown to journalists for the first time. I also think I saw a screen of a minimap in which just the Romans could be seen, despite them being in hand-to-hand combat.

[Petroniu]

Yeah, there has been nothing regarding that mechanic. I hope it will not be a feature like in S2 where they announced combined land+sea battles and we only got them now.

[osros]

It's one of the features but don't know if it will be any better than Shogun2. I seen it in the Nile videos where camel troops and elephants suddenly came into view at the edge of trees. Does not seem like a new feature to me but maybe done better this time. Also in these demos they are showing off the combat so may have it reduced or turned off for the demo.just don't think the feature has been demonstrated well just like a lot of things..

[SamueleD]

I don't think they've ditched it - as a matter of fact on hardest difficulty the enemy units will not be visible on the tactical map or the minimap at all.

Oh, I didn't know that, but after all is pretty much the same in Shogun 2 Legendary difficulty or with realism mode enabled, there you just don't have the mini map. I seriously hope they don't ditch this mechanic, it would make sieges much more interesting, and it would make scouting a lot more important.

[TotalWarker]

Oh, I didn't know that, but after all is pretty much the same in Shogun 2 Legendary difficulty or with realism mode enabled, there you just don't have the mini map. I seriously hope they don't ditch this mechanic, it would make sieges much more interesting, and it would make scouting a lot more important.

Yup sieges will be awesome if you have to clear street by street, scouting with cav etc, not knowing whats round the corner rather than being able to see everything from the off

[SamueleD]

Yup sieges will be awesome if you have to clear street by street, scouting with cav etc, not knowing whats round the corner rather than being able to see everything from the off

Yeah, you look around the corner and there's an unexpected phalanx blocking the street, those are the things that make battles exciting! Discovering a whole army hidden behind the crest of a hill would also be awesome (or maybe not if they are your enemy ).

[alQamar]

Samuele, Phalaxes may be a bad figure either their spears tops may be visible around the corner or above the roofs, lol

[SamueleD]

Samuele, Phalaxes may be a bad figure either their spears tops may be visible around the corner or above the roofs, lol

Damn, you are right, oh well, we shall make those berserker then, berserker around every corner!

[simonsimons]

In the battle of the Nile you couldn't see the reinforcing army until you were on the hill.

[SamueleD]

In the battle of the Nile you couldn't see the reinforcing army until you were on the hill.

Oh, that is good news! But was it only because they entered the battlefield only once you got on top of the hill, or really because they were behind the hill?

[simonsimons]

Oh, that is good news! But was it only because they entered the battlefield only once you got on top of the hill, or really because they were behind the hill?

Hmm, you may be right actually.

[SamueleD]

Hmm, you may be right actually.

I'd hate to be right

[Sun Jetzu]

that would suck if you could hide units behind hills, whats next? hide them behind houses?

[SamueleD]

that would suck if you could hide units behind hills, whats next? hide them behind houses?

Yep, and walls too. Mini ambushes everywhere.

[Dan113112]

that would suck if you could hide units behind hills, whats next? hide them behind houses?

That would be awesome.

[kerrfox]

True LOS is a wonderful addition to the series. With the Assembly Kit for S2 I limited the battle camera to "just a bit" above my units, and also greatly reduced how far away the battle camera could be from any one unit. This took a bit of getting used to, but when playing with "Battle Realism" (no mini-map") selected, then you could no longer "look over" hills and such. Battles were so much more interesting .. and unpredictable. One really learns to value one's light cavalry when the only way to see the enemy is by having a unit .. well .. where they can actually see the enemy. There's nothing like missing a flanking movement (or perhaps the AI's reinforcing army?) and being taken by surprise on one's flanks. Who would have thought having one's butt getting kicked would be so much fun? I for one look forward to this feature - especially as we can use the mini-map but it no longer represents a ancient times satellite view of the battlefield.