Interview in PC PowerPlay (aus)

[Alrowan]

well for the 2nd month running PCpowerplay has more on rome total war... this time and interview with one of the developers. What i can read from this is that the game sounds like its comeing along nicely, and whats more there is chariots

some other features listed:

-Drafting of local populations into armies.
-Building roman roads to give your army more flexability.
-Resources are located in regions on the map.. you have to fight to control them.
-Not only do armies come frop the populace, but you can retun trained soldiers back to cities to help with production, but food is needed
-generals look different from thier unit
-standar bearers and musicians are now included
-barbarian units that look disorganised and contantly seething

now one other point i gather from reading the article.. it sounds as if the map will be in a grid type thing... perhaps each grid an individual battlefield. Im still not sure of that though, but its what i have pieced together.


if i can find the article on the net ill be sure to post it here

[Basileus]

Well those features sounds intressting, if you find the article pls post http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Alrowan]

ive got the article in print... but not in electronic... and im not going to sit and copy the whole thing either http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Sjakihata]

ahh, come on you can do that.... for mee http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

[Galestrum]

scanner http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Alrowan]

hehe.. ill consider the scanner... while im at it i may even scan the other article

[ShadesWolf]

From what I understand from the PREVIEWS I have read the grid is a Hex and each hex is a battlefield that can be voomed into.

These battles will also include items that you have built, it will be interesting to see how this is achieved.

ie so if you have built a road in a province, if a battle occurs in that province it will include a road. This will be a nice touch, especially in city battles.

[muffinman14]

I just cant wait till I can ambush supply lines from the woods with my barbarions OOOOO SWEET JESUS

[JANOSIK007]

I can't wait to dive my gladius into a barbarian commander and than twist it.

[Kraxis]

Quote[/b] (Alrowan @ Feb. 20 2003,00:46)]-Drafting of local populations into armies.
-Not only do armies come frop the populace, but you can retun trained soldiers back to cities to help with production, but food is needed
-generals look different from thier unit
-standar bearers and musicians are now included
YEY http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

That is great

Ahhh... it takes too long to build my palace... Hey you Yes you, the 10th Legion, get over here and help

Looking forward to the musicians and generals... so will every unit have a commander or is it only the generals that will look different? And the musicians are they just generic in large armies or are they some type of unit you have to train (that will grant Morale and Discipline perhaps?)

[Spino]

Quote[/b] ]-Drafting of local populations into armies.
-Building roman roads to give your army more flexability.
-Resources are located in regions on the map.. you have to fight to control them.
-Not only do armies come frop the populace, but you can retun trained soldiers back to cities to help with production, but food is needed
-generals look different from thier unit
-standar bearers and musicians are now included
-barbarian units that look disorganised and contantly seething

now one other point i gather from reading the article.. it sounds as if the map will be in a grid type thing... perhaps each grid an individual battlefield. Im still not sure of that though, but its what i have pieced together.

I'm in a particularly pissy mood so beware of the following comments

-Drafting of local populations into armies. - I suppose this is necessary given that the previous TW system of one city per region is being discarded. With numerous towns and cities at your disposal it is natural to include the concepts of population and taxes. Is CA introducing a Civilization-like city based system to the TW series? Sire The citizens of Rome are unhappy The city needs more Entertainers http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

-Building roman roads to give your army more flexability. - Excellent. I hope the AI doesn't screw this up like it did its trade routes in MTW.

-Resources are located in regions on the map.. you have to fight to control them. - Excellent. However, I would much prefer to see RTW model zones of control or regions that are based around actual villages, towns and cities. Control the population center near the resources and you control the resources.

-Not only do armies come frop the populace, but you can retun trained soldiers back to cities to help with production, but food is needed - Uh, why? RTW does sound like it's borrowing heavily from Civilization. I suppose it's a fine idea... if it works. Not to sound like a naysayer but speaking with respect to the AI I'll believe it when I see it. I have yet to see the AI in MTW properly rebuild its provinces after having buildings destroyed by invaders, retrain valuable, depleted units or as I've mentioned earlier, establish sensible trade routes.

-generals look different from thier unit - Excellent

-standar bearers and musicians are now included - Excellent

-barbarian units that look disorganised and contantly seething - Huh? OK, so the barbarians don't know any better with regards to well ordered formations but what about those barbarians that preferred a cool calm approach? Seething indeed Maybe they're agitated because of stress induced constipation? Those long campaigns can play havoc with one's nerves http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

As much as I welcome new features and gameplay to the TW series I am worried that the simple but elegant approach taken in the other TW games will be gone in RTW. I want Total War, not Europa Universalis with tactical battles.

Furthermore, as if you couldn't already tell, I am very, very concerned about the competency of the AI in light of all the new things it must keep track of. I would hate to be faced with all these new options and features only to once more confronted with an AI opponent that defies logic and pursues idiotic (and sometimes suicidal) strategies like refusing to deal with you in a peaceful manner if you're doing too well.

I suppose CA needs to dazzle me with a spectacularly competent AI opponent before I wholeheartedly embrace these new features.

[caesar]

Here's a couple crappy scans. Yeah 1st one gif is a little ugly. Dont have a flatbed so its a scan of a photocopy http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


http://members.iinet.net.au/~sdiciano/uploads/p1-671x899.gif

http://members.iinet.net.au/~sdiciano/uploads/page2-692x940.jpg

[Monk]

Quote[/b] (Alrowan @ Feb. 20 2003,00:46)]there is chariots

-Drafting of local populations into armies.
-Building roman roads to give your army more flexability.
-Resources are located in regions on the map.. you have to fight to control them.
-Not only do armies come frop the populace, but you can retun trained soldiers back to cities to help with production, but food is needed
-generals look different from thier unit
-standar bearers and musicians are now included
-barbarian units that look disorganised and contantly seething
YES

these features make the game even more incredible

[LordKhaine]

Cheers for the scans. This game is sounding better and better http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[USMCNJ]

did anyone else noticed this?
In the article Michael de Platter says:
"THe game is set in the Roman era and starts during the Punic wars and continues untill the fall of the Roman Emprire".
Yet the totalwar.com says the game will 14AD.
So what's the deal? Are they alread planing for an expension, or is this just a misunderstanding?

[Galestrum]

yeah i noticed this, he probably meant to say the end of the roman republic

[Nelson]

This would leave the empire for an expansion.

[Alrowan]

indeed it would

[Krasturak]

Quote[/b] (JANOSIK007 @ Feb. 23 2003,10:50)]I can't wait to dive my gladius into a barbarian commander and than twist it.
Gah

Krast also has expectations he cannot wait for ...

Gah

[ElmarkOFear]

Not sure, but doesn't it sound like the TotalWar series is slowly but inevitably heading towards a modified Real Time strategy game instead of TurnBased strategy, real-time battle type of game? I fear also that the game will be like the horrible Hearts Of Iron game. This game is real time and did not give you enough time to decide on strategic moves even on its slowest setting. Also the interface was sloppy and needlessly complex, which makes things worse. Even the AI was horrible once you actually knew what to do to play the game. This game was by the same developers that made Europa Universalis 1 and 2, but it isn't in the same class as those first 2.

[PSYCHO]

Jews
Gauls
Germans

[deejayvee]

Quote[/b] (USMCNJ @ Mar. 02 2003,22:31)]did anyone else noticed this?
In the article Michael de Platter says:
"THe game is set in the Roman era and starts during the Punic wars and continues untill the fall of the Roman Emprire".
Yet the totalwar.com says the game will 14AD.
So what's the deal? Are they alread planing for an expension, or is this just a misunderstanding?
No offense to Mr de Platter, but this is not the first time that he's given an interview and muddle up facts. Just remember that most of these interviews are marketing-speak.