What is the future of Divide Et Impera? How will Attila affect DEI?

[Tiny_Tim]

I pose these two questions with the not-so-distant Attila release date coming into view.

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1.) What will DEI be after the full release? I assume that the team will work to fix bugs and perhaps make small changes should more content be produced by Creative Assembly (or if they release modding tools for combat AI, start pos, etc., will we be seeing more work from you guys in that respect?), but will there be any major goals after this big release? Now, I'm not demanding more from you guys. If I were as devout as the late emperor Constantine of the Western Roman Empire (topical late antiquity humor, huehue), I would stake the claim that you lot are doing God's work, but I can't perceive anything beyond stagnation for the project goals in terms of DEI for Rome II...which brings me to my next question.

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2.) How will the release of Attila affect DEI? Will you attempt to apply the mod to the new release, transposing much of the work you've done into it while fleshing out the new aspects of the game? Surely, it'd mean a whole lot more time and effort from you guys considering the already massive scale of DEI, and how you'd have to meet that scale with a game that introduces plenty of new things to it. Would I absolutely LOVE seeing Attila in a historically accurate, realistic, overhauled light that would make me ejaculate whilst wearing trousers? I think you know my answer, but you should also know that I'm not one to make unreasonable demands, and I know modders, as dedicated as you are, have real lives to get to, and cannot just work endlessly from one massive project to the next (at least, without a ton of donations (and good luck getting those, since we're all broke anyhow)).

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3.) Ha! Yes, I had THREE questions, actually! MUHAHAHA! They're more-so directed at the DEI player base, though anyhow from the team can pitch in if they have ideas. What would you, the player, want from DEI for Attila? Me, personally, would like to see a mechanic that introduces the Lorica Segmentata and larged Scutum used at the height of the Roman Empire's strength could be reintroduced to the Western Roman Empire's units should they hit the highest imperium level and survive the Huns' onslaught. I WILL NOT HAVE MY LEGIONS LOOK LIKE BARBARIAN RABBLE WITH THEIR INFERIOR OVAL SHIELDS AND WEAK CHAINMAIL! REJOICE IN THE GLORY THAT IS THE IMPERIAL REFORMS!!!!

...but seriously, I love the look of the Lorica Segmentata, and would enjoy having it again. It seems plausible, as the main reason for ditching it back then was financial reasons. Rome's biggest strength is the definitive very heavy infantry they fielded. I would hate to have it squandered by the late empire's reforms.

[Tiny_Tim]

"...though anyhow from the team can pitch in if they have ideas. What would you, the player, want from DEI for Attila? Me, personally, would like to see a mechanic that introduces the Lorica Segmentata and larged Scutum used at the height of the Roman Empire's strength could be reintroduced to the Western Roman Empire's units should they hit the highest imperium level and survive the Huns' onslaught.

It's not letting me edit the damned thread, but I made a big ol' grammatically retarded sentence there. It should read as...

"....though anyone..." and "...at the height of the Roman Empire's strength back into the unit roster of the Western Roman Empire should they hit..."

Sorry 'bout the double posting.

[Mithridates_Eupator]

It's not letting me edit the damned thread, but I made a big ol' grammatically retarded sentence there. It should read as...

"....though anyone..." and "...at the height of the Roman Empire's strength back into the unit roster of the Western Roman Empire should they hit..."

Sorry 'bout the double posting.

You'd have to convince your soldiers first, and that late in the game they'd just overthrow you and put another emperor on the throne. They preferred to dress like barbarians at that point because 1) it made them more maneuverable 2) the elite units were barbarians 3) they were barbarians themselves! If you really wanted to go that way, you should have to choose between a high armor/normal morale unit or a low armor/high morale unit.

[Tiny_Tim]

You'd have to convince your soldiers first, and that late in the game they'd just overthrow you and put another emperor on the throne. They preferred to dress like barbarians at that point because 1) it made them more maneuverable 2) the elite units were barbarians 3) they were barbarians themselves! If you really wanted to go that way, you should have to choose between a high armor/normal morale unit or a low armor/high morale unit.

The soldiers who volunteered were supplied by the government. I think it's safe to say they'll wear whatever they're given, and follow whatever orders they must. Lord knows Marines don't try to frag their CO because their guns aren't what they want, and while it's two different cultures from two different eras, I think that would hold try. To say they'd despot a ruler over how they're drilled to fight would effectively be saying that the empire had no control over its own soldiers, and I don't think that was the case until the very sharp decline of the west. Still, I can see some displeasure among the ranks, yes, you'd just have to have zero respect from your soldiers to have them throw you out over it.

Thank you for the quick replies Dresden and Rafkos! Perhaps I too heavily suggested that the would be "done" by the last release. What I meant was that we wouldn't be seeing heaps of new content, and that it'd basically be smooth sailing with minor changes. Stagnation was too strong a word in hindsight.

I wasn't suggesting that DEI's setting be transposed onto Attila, but that the concepts (Historical Accuracy, Campaign and Battle rebalancing, the reforms and auxiliaries systems, etc.) would be applied to it, but yes, I would not demand from the team that level of work. Still, I'm sure another modding team will take up the torch for Attila. Whatever the future may hold, I certainly hope to see you guys again in future Total War games!

[Dresden]

1.) What will DEI be after the full release? I assume that the team will work to fix bugs and perhaps make small changes should more content be produced by Creative Assembly (or if they release modding tools for combat AI, start pos, etc., will we be seeing more work from you guys in that respect?), but will there be any major goals after this big release? Now, I'm not demanding more from you guys. If I were as devout as the late emperor Constantine of the Western Roman Empire (topical late antiquity humor, huehue), I would stake the claim that you lot are doing God's work, but I can't perceive anything beyond stagnation for the project goals in terms of DEI for Rome II...which brings me to my next question.

We have plans for the mod after 1.0. 1.1 already has planned development ideas to be implemented that include new playable factions among other things. 1.0 will most certainly not be the "end" of the mod. However, since it will be our actual release version, the updates following that will be a slower schedule from our updates earlier this year.

2.) How will the release of Attila affect DEI? Will you attempt to apply the mod to the new release, transposing much of the work you've done into it while fleshing out the new aspects of the game? Surely, it'd mean a whole lot more time and effort from you guys considering the already massive scale of DEI, and how you'd have to meet that scale with a game that introduces plenty of new things to it. Would I absolutely LOVE seeing Attila in a historically accurate, realistic, overhauled light that would make me ejaculate whilst wearing trousers? I think you know my answer, but you should also know that I'm not one to make unreasonable demands, and I know modders, as dedicated as you are, have real lives to get to, and cannot just work endlessly from one massive project to the next (at least, without a ton of donations (and good luck getting those, since we're all broke anyhow)).

DeI will remain a Rome 2 mod. Moving it to Attila would basically mean starting over in many respects. Many of the current DeI modders have plans/ideas for mods to do in Attila, though. Mods that fit that timeframe or after.

[spartanbits]

We have plans for the mod after 1.0. 1.1 already has planned development ideas to be implemented that include new playable factions among other things. 1.0 will most certainly not be the "end" of the mod. However, since it will be our actual release version, the updates following that will be a slower schedule from our updates earlier this year.



DeI will remain a Rome 2 mod. Moving it to Attila would basically mean starting over in many respects. Many of the current DeI modders have plans/ideas for mods to do in Attila, though. Mods that fit that timeframe or after.

Do you plan on working on the dlc campaigns after 1.0?

[Rafkos]

I think Attila is not that good for a mod about ancient times, not only because it would mean importing a lot of models from Rome 2 but also because of the campaign map, for example you don't have Athens and other major ancient cities.

[suras333]

I will continue to play DEI! The time frame in Atilla is not so interesting..

What it will be awesome, being the same engine, to import some things from Atilla in DEI - for ex family tree.

[Dresden]

I may be one of the few who thinks this, but I think Rome 2 will still have a place after Attila. For those who want to play the ancient timeframe, Rome 2 really fits that area. Similar to how Empire is still played despite Napoleon being released.

[Ritterlichvon86]

I may be one of the few who thinks this, but I think Rome 2 will still have a place after Attila. For those who want to play the ancient timeframe, Rome 2 really fits that area. Similar to how Empire is still played despite Napoleon being released.

Me and friends were playing Europa Barbarorum even in 2009/2010.

Aside from me, among my contacts too, many started playing "Rome 2 - DeI" again in anticipation of the DeI 1.0 release, we have multiplayercampaigns running (which is my primary mode of playing this). I have around 20 DeI players in my list, mostly European, which means there are probably a lot more around who also showed increased activity.

[Alu10]

i dont give a **** for attila, i play r2, they can exist seperately, its not like attila is rome 3.

[Aethyr]

I'll check out Attila some time after it releases and some competent modders get to it, doesn't matter, Rome II(DEI) is releasing soon, after all this time in Alpha.

[Tiny_Tim]

I'm excited for Attila. The concept of a desperate war for survival is quite appealing to me, but Rome II has been one of those titles I've put countless hours into. No doubt that, thanks to DEI, I will constantly revisit Rome II.

Thanks for all the amazing content, by the way. This was exactly what I wanted.

[suras333]

If you think right, Rome 2 with DEI is just starting to show his potential

And as the time pass, it will get better and better (like a wine).

PS: Seriously, who prefers the Alans over Sparta or the Vandals over Parthia...?

[Dynamo11]

I'd forget Attila, I can't imagine any combination of that game being better than Rome 2 and DeI 1.0. The only reason I'd buy Attila was if someone released an absolutely amazing Dark Ages mod for it (I just want to conquer Europe as the Lombards dammit)

[Dresden]

I'd forget Attila, I can't imagine any combination of that game being better than Rome 2 and DeI 1.0. The only reason I'd buy Attila was if someone released an absolutely amazing Dark Ages mod for it (I just want to conquer Europe as the Lombards dammit)

Funny you mention that. Ahiga, 'Gunny and I (among others) have talked about doing a mod set after the fall of the WRE for Attila sometime down the road.

Do you plan on working on the dlc campaigns after 1.0?

Yes, we want to optimize the DLC campaigns. They are close to well done right now other than a few issues. Not every player owns each mini-campaign, so it hasn't been the top priority like the grand campaign.

[Slaxx Hatmen]

Funny you mention that. Ahiga, 'Gunny and I (among others) have talked about doing a mod set after the fall of the WRE for Attila sometime down the road.

So like, around the Justinian-Heraclius time frame or later?(Charlemagne?)

[Dresden]

So like, around the Justinian-Heraclius time frame or later?(Charlemagne?)

We haven't really decided yet. Just general plans/discussions about possiblities. There are so many interesting time frames after the fall of the WRE.

[Dynamo11]

Funny you mention that. Ahiga, 'Gunny and I (among others) have talked about doing a mod set after the fall of the WRE for Attila sometime down the road.

Well I am assured of the quality already, if CA want evidence of how modding can influence a sale then this is a great example.

[Cope]

I can't say for sure, but it doesn't look like Attila is going to significantly add to the franchise. Someone else has probably already pointed to the fact that there are no immediate plans to move DeI over to Attila because no one knows how transferable stuff will be or how good the game actually is. In the very unlikely event that Attila turns out to be the best thing after sliced bread, maybe D e I might have a future on Attila.