What do you think about graphical (unit) diversity?

[alQamar]

Hello lads,

we already thoroughly discussed the issue CA modified their Level of Detail in the game. I got some information that they also changed the graphical unit diversity. The people claim the diversity is simplified compared to release.

As an example I made 2 screenshots. The first one is made with patch 11.1 the second one is from release state. Edit: I've downloaded the release state of the game including several patches so I can do better comparisons.

I was suprised to see how much the units changed if we look into details. But for me it is hard to estaminate if the changes now head into direction they are more similar and repetitive, so the claim above of streamlining textures really applies.

What is your own idea about this when you compare both screenshots in detail. Perhaps anyone of you can provide more comparative screenshots from release and from the state we have today, we can discuss about.

I am looking forward to a constructive discussion. No offtopic praise and rants, please.

Spoiler for Varus' speech: 

Patch 11.1 3rd April 2014



Release state 3rd September 2013

Spoiler for Forest Scene: 

Release state 3rd September 2013



Patch 11.1 3rd April 2014

Spoiler for Pila attack, please have a special look onto left cohort throwing their pila: 

Release state 3rd September 2013


Patch 11.1 3rd April 2014

Spoiler for VIA: 

Release state 3rd September 2013


Patch 11.1 3rd April 2014

[johan_d]

In the first picture I see already that they invented Gillette, beards are missing.. strange.. give them beards back!

[alQamar]

mm yes that's a legit point for german warmen.

[The Roman Republic]

I would say the top image being the latest patch is alot more "finer" in the sense of better vegetation, more infrequent shield designs and overall the units just look better as well. Also if you look carefully you can still see the same guy in both images high up from the ground. (look at the boar standard in the top image, and then look at the guy on the right)

[alQamar]

Well spotted In case of the vegetation it looks finer but somehow it seems they removed this long grass (or whatever it is) texture from the ground. The body textures to have more quality, but I cannot say if this is due to fact patch 4 is a encoded video, so some quality details may be decreased as said.

[Darios]

I believe that CA has downgraded the quality of graphics and unit diversity in order to help improve performance. It's a tough pill to swallow, but my game runs quite well now and it has allowed for CA to implement seasons into the main campaign. Early on, I honestly believed that the game was way too graphics heavy at the expense of more interesting/immersive features such as the said seasons.

[Barritus]

I believe that CA has downgraded the quality of graphics and unit diversity in order to help improve performance. It's a tough pill to swallow, but my game runs quite well now and it has allowed for CA to implement seasons into the main campaign. Early on, I honestly believed that the game was way too graphics heavy at the expense of more interesting/immersive features such as the said seasons.

It is a tough pill to swallow.

What I noticed when I started playing again after taking a few month break was the level of detail of the units when zoomed out and I guess this bothers me the most for some reason. I know it might be silly since I'm zoomed out and you might think detail up close is more important. Either way I still cry a little. At release the zoomed out detail was better IMO and now it looks more pixelated. I don't know if anyone else can account for this? You can see it when you watch older youtube gameplay videos. Unfortunately it's not like once they iron out the optimization issues with the game they'll increase the graphics back to how they were at release.

[Rasic]

I didn't really notice any major difference, and I haven't noticed a difference in the game really either.

[Dago Red]

The second image, though of inferior image quality, clearly has better units. There is more realism and diversity, its simple observation.

The first image looks like a bunch of Ronald McDonald's standing there. There are fewer variations resulting in many more (in fact a majority of the individuals) wearing a more one dimensional skin -- usually a bright yellow tunic.

[alQamar]

The second image, though of inferior image quality, clearly has better units. There is more realism and diversity, its simple observation.

The first image looks like a bunch of Ronald McDonald's standing there. There are fewer variations resulting in many more (in fact a majority of the individuals) wearing a more one dimensional skin -- usually a bright yellow tunic.

Hello everyone,
I obtained an installation of Rome 2 so I can provide you all a better screenshots from the release state. I will update the pictures in the OP then.

[TheCenturion24]

There are some major differences in the top image, as you guys have pointed out. They're not so much worse... but definitely different. I think I prefer the original grass, though.

[KLAssurbanipal]

Hello lads,

we already thoroughly discussed the issue CA modified their Level of Detail in the game. I got some information that they also changed the graphical unit diversity. The people claim the diversity is simplified compared to release.

As an example I made 2 screenshots. The first one is made with patch 11.1 the second one is from my pre-encoded video footage based on patch 4, before I uploaded it to Youtube, so please take into account the visuals in the patch 4 screenshots are more blurry. I compared the scene of patch 4 with the vanilla release video of Rome 2 I made in Sept. shortly after release.

I was suprised to see how much the units changed if we look into details. But for me it is hard to estaminate if the changes now head into direction they are more similar and repetitive, so the claim above of streamlining textures really applies.

What is your own idea about this when you compare both screenshots in detail. Perhaps anyone of you can provide more comparative screenshots from release and from the state we have today, we can discuss about.

I am looking forward to a constructive discussion. No offtopic praise and rants, please.



Patch 11.1




Patch 4 / also same with release state

I see only 3 differents:

1. In patch 4 more soldiers have beards than patch 11.

2. There are more differences in colors of clothes in patch 4, than patch 11.

3. Patch 11 pic is a little more shiny than patch 4.

[Harnis]

this doesn't make a difference if you use mods

[Archesel]

About these orange shirts (more soldiers wear them in patch 11 picture)... Thanks there is "ancient colors mod"!

[Demokritos]

Ever since patch 7, the variety in colours on the uniforms has been reduced for a diminished interest and visual appeal of a very central part of the game. Patch 9 restored most of this variety temporarily, but the Epirus update made the game visually poorer again, although with less severity than patch 7: if the latter generally took away two out of three possible colours on the tunics, for example, the former removed one (which means that we can still find some units with all three colours or just one colour, instead of the original three-colour variety across the board). Lately, the visual appeal of the game has been further reduced with the level of detail on many screen objects deteriorating rapidly with distance. All in the name of "performance improvements" or " game optimization", apparently.

As a modder specialized in uniform colours, this issue has almost completely killed my modding spirit, and finally prompted me to file a proper complaint in the official TW forums here.

[alQamar]

I've edited my OP as promised and now can deliver you a same high quality screenshot. I will do some more and add them in a single posting here.

[Katsumoto]

I like it.

[alQamar]

What do you like exactly Katsumoto, can you please precise your post?


As promised I've uploaded some pictures from my Rome 2 release state copy! I tried not only to focus on units diversity. Well normally I tried to stay neutral in this thread but after your feedback and well spotted differences it encouraged me to find more examples.


Now I am able to run Rome 2 with the release state and the patch 11.1 quite right after each other the differences are indeed uncanny. For example I noticed they did not only remove some dust textures but also the rain does not longer hit your view in patch 11.1, dust and fog are less dense, ironically with very less any positive affection (+2-3 fps towards patch 11.1) on the frame speed. This is really shocking me. Also the ground textures not only the one in the picture I've first submitted but also in other scenes are radically cleaned and streamlined, yet a blurry mess. I did not know I would disappoint myself another time when I started this thread.

Have a look on the OP, I've added some more examples there. None of them are edited, altered or any mods are used. Just plain the same scenes on Rome 2 version 1.0 and Rome 2 version 1.11.

[Lanciarius_90]

I dont like, that so many cavalry unit use infantry helmet and some elite units use cheap helmets (example: triarii use montefortino helmets).

[Holger Danske]

I really don't care that much for visuals in this type of game. They're nice to have, but I'd much rather have true scale battles (Rome II can in theory support up to 75,000 men on screen) and a remotely competent A.I. would be nice as well. Neither of which is something CA has the skill to deliver.