3D Units and Faction Info Over At the Official Empire Site

[GMaximus]

My thoughts, is however unhistoric you may get to play the 13 colonies as a faction but you will pay taxes to england, basically you'll be playing as protectorate. The more you build up a military, the more they tax, and eventually this leads to unhappiness, which leads to a revoultion.

Otherwise, players are going to only have 40 turns of gameplay after the RTI campaign, or maybe slightly more if they start as England and go that route.

Either way, in a 188 turn game, it seems kind of silly that your major advertisment faction would be unplayable except in scripted campaign.

You could be right though.

The best way to know of course

is with

a

DEMO

Wait, wasn't it supposed to be possible to keep on playing after 1799/1800, when the points are counted? I seem to recall something about years not advancing, but probably if I'm not wrong about this the rest of the gameplay is the same, and you've already won with the USA when you've gained independance.

[Fisherking]

Wait, wasn't it supposed to be possible to keep on playing after 1799/1800, when the points are counted? I seem to recall something about years not advancing, but probably if I'm not wrong about this the rest of the gameplay is the same, and you've already won with the USA when you've gained independance.


That may be true. But if technologies don’t advance either, which I seem to remember was at least implied, it may not make for that interesting an option.

I think most want the sea battles of the War of 1812...not remembering they most US ports were heavily blockaded and the British raids did some serious and embarrassing damage.

[Fisherking]

You know that more than a week ago it was stated that we would soon have another faction and a unit or something out.

The last time we had Official News was the 3rd of February. It is now nearer release date than to that date.:embarassed:

No units, no techs, no factions…no demo…if this is soon, or very soon, when the heck are we going to see SOMETHING!

I understand they are busy, but if they have the front office PR staff in back writing code, that is panic and not very promising…:sweatdrop:




Is anyone home?


:laugh4:



.

[Monk]

You know that more than a week ago it was stated that we would soon have another faction and a unit or something out.

The last time we had Official News was the 3rd of February. It is now nearer release date than to that date.:embarassed:

No units, no techs, no factions…no demo…if this is soon, or very soon, when the heck are we going to see SOMETHING!

I understand they are busy, but if they have the front office PR staff in back writing code, that is panic and not very promising…:sweatdrop:




Is anyone home?


:laugh4:



.

Maybe there is no news because they've got nothing to report, or PR is preoccupied with something else? It might be as simple as the hours got away from the PR-person who was intending to post the info, or it might be as drastic as they are diverting more man-power to iron out bugs before release.

Silence, unfortunately, breeds many questions.

[Polemists]

Yes they said we would get a unit and a faction yesterday, we didn't. I can only hope it do to fact they want to roll it all out with a demo and get a big release of info, demo and goodness.

We will find out around 6pm english time today I guess.

[Mailman653]

Well, with the Marathas in (see other thread), all that's left is to speculate on the last playable faction. Anyone have any guesses?

[Sir Beane]

Woo new faction! Finally the mystery of the Indian faction is solved. The butler did it. :tongue:


Marathas

The Maratha Empire or Confederacy was born in violence, as the result of the successful overthrow of Mughal rule less than a generation ago. Raja (king) Shivaji managed to gain control of the Pune region, and from then Mughal power was no longer invincible. As might be expected, the Mughals and the Marathas still nurse a dislike for each other.

Unlike the foreign (in origin) Mughals, the Maratha rulers are Indian princes and kings. They know the value of the Indian way of doing things, of the age-old strength of their lands. Their armies may look old fashioned, possibly quaint, to foreign eyes but that makes them no less effective. The empire exists solely because it has the military strength to withstand the Mughal threat.

Perhaps now, though, it is time to think of expansion. It may no longer be enough to hold off the Mughals; perhaps they should be driven from India altogether, and a new empire with Indian rulers established. Perhaps only Indians truly have the ability to withstand the Europeans who are starting to demand much of India. For now, the Europeans want only money and trade, but soon they will be after concessions, a little piece of land here, another piece there, until all is ruled by foreigners from across the sea. Unless a strong hand guides India, it is possible that the rule of Mughal outsiders will be replaced by the lordship of European outsiders.

And perhaps, one day, a Maratha could demand concessions from a European, in his lands…

[Fisherking]

Gosh! I guess I posted this in the other thread…but what the heck, it fits here too…

I hope the US doesn’t take up the slot. Portugal with unassailable overseas possessions in Brazil, and Africa along with Goa seems good. Also Denmark with three provinces, Venice may have the same, and the Iroquois.

I have doubts about the Iroquois and Venice was very weak at the time. Of the two remaining Portugal would be my favorite but I don’t think Denmark can be ruled out.

[Sir Beane]

Gosh! I guess I posted this in the other thread…but what the heck, it fits here too…

I hope the US doesn’t take up the slot. Portugal with unassailable overseas possessions in Brazil, and Africa along with Goa seems good. Also Denmark with three provinces, Venice may have the same, and the Iroquois.

I have doubts about the Iroquois and Venice was very weak at the time. Of the two remaining Portugal would be my favorite but I don’t think Denmark can be ruled out.

And I answered in the other thread to, but I really have nothing better to do than post. :tongue:

In short, Portgual is the only contender if CA care about representing actual Imperial colonial factions rather than pandering to the American market. I know you yanks love your country (and who can blame you?) but at the time it really wasn't up to global scale warfare. Especially given that it doesn't exist at the start of the game.

Please CA, give Portugal a chance.

[Incitatus]

More news from the Official site: star forts and Elite Light infantry!
http://www.totalwar.com/empire/units/?id=1

Certainly not as good as the demo, but hey, now we have that too! :2thumbsup:

[Sir Beane]

I was so close to posting this first! So close!

Star Fort

The basic concept of a star fort is that at least one, and preferably many, field of fire should cover every part of the defence and the approaches to the fort. These killing zones can be extended and made even more deadly by, at the very least, a long sloping glacis around the fort for the attackers to scale. The glacis need not be very steep at all, but the attackers face an uphill struggle with no cover at all, under murderous fire ever step of the way. The glacis also acts as a passive defence, a sloping armoured earthwork for the fort proper. Beyond the glacis a hidden counterscarp awaits: a retaining wall (sometimes with firing positions for the defenders) that drops down deep ditch that must be crossed before the actual approaches to the fort are even reached!

All of these defences are before the military architects add additional ravelins (detached triangular bastions or gun positions) in front of the fort’s own walls and hornworks and crownworks (both elaborations on the basic bastion design). The whole effect, when viewed in plan form, is baroque in its complexity, each projection of the central star giving the defence another firing position towards any attacking force. Wall length is limited to that which can be covered by flanking musket fire, as experience showed that a fort with only cannons in its defence could be taken when the cannons were knocked out.

Elite Light Infantry

Light infantry forces form a skirmish line to slow the enemy advance and keep their own line unmolested by enemy skirmishers.

Whether they are called light infantry, jaegers, tirailleurs or chasseurs à pied, it is the job of these men to screen the main battle line, harass the enemy and, if possible, pick off important men in the enemy’s ranks. Unlike their fellows in the line infantry, light infantrymen are trained to think for themselves, use the ground and cover intelligently, and not fight in rigid lines. Instead, they form a loose skirmish line and fire independently at their own designated targets. The effect is a constant, low-level barrage rather than the crashing thunder of a volley but the effect is quite deadly as officers and sergeants are picked off and removed from the fight. Against cavalry, however, their best defence is to withdraw to their own battle line.

Historically, the Austrians were widely regarded as producing the finest light infantry forces in Europe. Other nations did catch up, but in the case of Britain and France it was their experiences in fighting in North America that persuaded them of the wisdom of light troops. Battle lines were simply impossible to manage in the dense woodlands, and largely pointless against the native tribes!

[Fisherking]

Everyone must be expecting the demo and the second coming from there any moment now.

It took 7 min. to load…and that was just the infantry!

I am still waiting for the Star Fort to pop up!

[Sir Beane]

Everyone must be expecting the demo and the second coming from there any moment now.

It took 7 min. to load…and that was just the infantry!

I am still waiting for the Star Fort to pop up!

I can't get the infantry to load, which is why I can't post it yet. :no::laugh4:

[Fisherking]

This is getting slow too.

The tag a moment ago said 49 viewing Parliament.

That is in the middle of the day!

I am sure traffic will drop off in about half an hour though!

:laugh4:

[Sir Beane]

This is getting slow too.

The tag a moment ago said 49 viewing Parliament.

That is in the middle of the day!

I am sure traffic will drop off in about half an hour though!

:laugh4:

The highest I ever saw was 65 viewing, at about 7pm (GMT) a couple of days ago.

Traffic will plummet in a few hours. :laugh4:

[Polemists]

Yes the only ones of us left on these forums are those who either A. Have cool demo things to post B. have slow net and therefore don't have demo yet or C. Have a job and must be at it when they'd rather be playing demo (i'm a mixture of B & C)

Starforts sound interesting, I personally want to see if they operate like the old forts or if they are more of a circle of attack like the other units.

Plus as I've heard nothing on seige weapons and obviously you won't build rams or ladders I'm curious what kind of Seige weapons you can build before assault this time.

[A Very Super Market]

As far as I know, 18th century sieges mainly involved bombardment by both sides. The attacker would try and get their mortars (High-angle) into range, and if they did, the defenders more or less had lost the battle.

[Polemists]

Yes I recall seeing this in Last of the Mohcans(sp) which I saw last night.

I wouldn't mind that, if they could hold out based on how long it took your men to trench up to get your mortars in range.

[A Very Super Market]

Hmm... overzealous preparation I see?

Anyways, I was horribly wrong. The attackers still needed to get through the breach in the wall, and the defenders were perfectly capable of holding it off. So, I think the "Turns until surrender" thing will still be related to food.

[Polemists]

Yes but what will you build when you seige?

I mean the battering ram, ladders, and seige towers are all out,

so unless you are building mortars or special artillery...not sure what would be in....

[Sir Beane]

Yes but what will you build when you seige?

I mean the battering ram, ladders, and seige towers are all out,

so unless you are building mortars or special artillery...not sure what would be in....

You might build sapping tunnels and try to blow up the walls that way. Other than that I think it is just expected that you brought arty with you. Because almost ever army had some during the time period.

[Khaled]

I will have unlocked Saxony and all their pink factioned glory and force you silly Russians to wear the uniform you deserve while being my cannon

[scipiosgoblin]

Yes but what will you build when you seige?

I mean the battering ram, ladders, and seige towers are all out,

so unless you are building mortars or special artillery...not sure what would be in....

They did use ladders during the breach assault. Also, if you have no respect for the defenders, you might try an escalade (ladders only assault). Sir Arthur Wellesley had his men escalade the walled city of Ahmednuggur. It demoralized the enemy to see the redcoats fly over the wall and brush all resistance aside.

[Polemists]

Well with all factions revealed and demo info out I'm not sure we are going to get much more updates on this thread.

The game day is of course coming on Wed which will probably mean we get a ton of blogs for the next week till release.

All that said tho think the factions and unit updates will be done for now.

[Sir Beane]

Last and definitely least here is the US. Portugal shall have it's revenge, oh yes, and it will be brutal.

United States of America

The United States of America is a nation forged in the fires of revolution and rebellion against a British monarch seen as distant, foreign and tyrannical.

After the French and Indian Wars, the British government took an entirely unreasonable line: the American colonists should pay taxes to contribute to the navy and army that helped defend them. After all, those colonial fellows enjoyed the benefits of peace, protected by Britain’s expensive soldiers and sailors. The colonists had other views. The British responded with political stupidity and military ineptitude.

Aided, once they had rebelled, by the French Bourbons (who, for reasons of their own, had every wish to see Britain pre-occupied with war and then humiliated by seditious rebels), the Americans faced down Britain. The struggle split counties, cities, towns, even families, but it united the nation.

In its wake, the revolution left a new kind of nation, a republic where men choose their own destinies, and are not subject to the whims of kings. This spirit of independence is a source of strength: it is an idea worth defending! It is also a source of weakness, for Americans cherish the right to do as they think best. This is not necessarily a good thing in an army.

America now has a future of boundless possibilities. A continent stretches away to the West, and no one is entirely sure what is to be found there. The Atlantic swell washes against the eastern seaboard, and beckons American seamen onwards: trade and adventure lie that way too. There may still be scores to settle with the British in Canada, or ambitious nations from Europe to discourage. There is much to do, if this newest and boldest of nations is to survive and prosper!

[Monk]

Last and definitely least here is the US. Portugal shall have it's revenge, oh yes, and it will be brutal.



Just for that, Lisbon is getting sacked. :skull:








:clown:

[ljperreira]

Even though I was hoping, I knew all along Portugal would be skipped. We are a forgotten people :tumbleweed:. CA has once again foresaken England's oldest ally (dramatic enough for you:beam:)

[Sir Beane]

Just for that, Lisbon is getting sacked. :skull:

We'll see who sacks who's capital first :tongue:.

:clown:


Even though I was hoping, I knew all along Portugal would be skipped. We are a forgotten people :tumbleweed:. CA has once again foresaken England's oldest ally (dramatic enough for you:beam:)

Excellent level of dram, good show :2thumbsup:.

[ljperreira]

Thanks, I'll be here all week :tomato2:

[Fisherking]

I think to a certain extent some of the nations listed as minor powers are there more because they were not fleshed out in the game more than being of little consequence.

[ljperreira]

True, but the fact that they are not "fleshed out" makes it seem like CA believes they weren’t important. If you look at a map of the British Empire at the beginning of the 19th century, and compare it to the campaign map of ETW, its pretty obvious (to me, anyways) why certain parts of the map were included, and others left out. With the exception of Africa and Australia, the map pretty much represents areas eventually influenced (controlled) by Britain by the 19th century, and the countries that were "fleshed out" were nations that directly affected the growth of the British Empire.....thats my theory anyways. But I dont blame them, since CA is a British video game developer its only natural for them to think this way.
Compare the campaign maps here (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=113288&page=2) to the attached pics. The black and white map I got from this site (http://www.bartleby.com/86/6202.html) and the color one from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_empire), and a comparison to the Portuguese empire at the beginning of the 19th century, also from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_empire)

[Zoring]

Well the fact is that the British are also the founders of the biggest empire the world has seen right. Also America, Canada, Britain, Australia & NZ are all fairly major western nations founded by England who are all taught a fairly anglo-centric history of this time in history and whose education systems are fairly similar so educated people from all those nations would probaby have a similar understanding of this period.

[ULC]

And? That's not really justification to create a slanted game, at all. CA has a responsibility IMO to not be so biased in representing history, and simply stating that the populaces ignorance is the justification for creating a Anglo-centric game is pathetic, again IMO. It makes me wonder how all the other nations will be represented if that's the way it is, and makes me hope for a Historical mod to come out for the game, where I can play as any faction and not worry about slanted history.

[A Very Super Market]

Slanted history. Are you serious? If CA made a slanted game, they would have made the British invulnerable. We know how TW games go, sometimes Greece will defeat Rome, and sometimes Milan will counquer France. I don't find the three theatres to be slanted at all. North America has the French, Spanish, English, and numerous Native tribes. South America has two European factions that have taken over the entire landmass, covered in jungle that no one could fight battles in, and have no native tribes whatsoever. Plus a few tiny German, Dutch, French and English lands concentrated on the North coast.

[ljperreira]

Well the fact is that the British are also the founders of the biggest empire the world has seen right.

Yes, but only after the time period represented by ETW (1700-1800(?)). The vast majority of the British Empire is aquired after the Napoleonic wars (1815).


Also America, Canada, Britain, Australia & NZ are all fairly major western nations founded by England who are all taught a fairly anglo-centric history of this time in history and whose education systems are fairly similar so educated people from all those nations would probaby have a similar understanding of this period

Yep, which is why I said I understand where theyre coming from. Portugal's empire is primarily in South America, Africa, and Asia. Since these areas are not included on the campaign map (due to CA's "anglo-centric" view, as you call it) it doesnt make sense to add them as a "featured" Faction. I only mentioned this because I was (am) pretty well pushed out of shape when I found out Portugal wasnt on the list. When questioned, the CA representative(s) would only respond that they "had their reasons".....I think they should just come out and say "look, were British, our game is centered around Britain, deal with it". Thats a pill a little easier swallowed than "we have our reasons". Honestly, I wish they had just spent a little more time and added Africa and South America to the campaign map......

Oh, and I was born and raised in California, so Im well aware of the "Anglo-centricity" of our education system :study:

[crazyviking03]

This is one of those things that will happen no matter what. In the end, there is always going to be someone or some nation left out of the mix. whether it is a mixture of marketing needs,"anglo-centricity", CA's "other reasons" or what not. I always sit back and enjoy the show everytime a TW game nears release, because this always happens. I have always been baffled by the offense and anger people put forth because the national pride of this nation or that kingdom wasnt properly vindicated in A COMPUTER GAME.

Same thing happend with M2TW, when the Bulgarians were left out, and in the end they have been expertly modded into the game. The same thing happend in Rome when Egypt wasnt portrayed as greek. Once again, the situation was eventually expertly corrected, many times over, and we all survived.

My honest opinion? Yes, i think it is very strange that Portugal is not one of the 12 main factions. Yes, i think it is odd that MY country made the cut instead. But 6 months from now, it will all be ok.

***this isnt really directed at any one person, just kind of spilled out onto my keyboard**

[PanzerJaeger]

And? That's not really justification to create a slanted game, at all. CA has a responsibility IMO to not be so biased in representing history, and simply stating that the populaces ignorance is the justification for creating a Anglo-centric game is pathetic, again IMO.

Umm, CA's only responsibility is to make a computer game that sells well. We should all just be happy they haven't succumb to the legions Dungeons and Dragons types out there who won't touch a game without magic, trolls, and fairies in it.

Go to your local game shop and look at the top shelf releases... the games 50$ and more... how many are even remotely as close to history as any of the TW games have been?

[quadalpha]

One of the beauties of the free market is that CA don't need to justify anything to anybody. On the other hand, I'm not sure if we're supposed to believe in the market anymore ~:).

[ULC]

I'm sorry if my statement offended anybody, but I just dislike the way Portugal has been shoved to the side and isn't a real competitor in the Colonization arena for the Vanilla game. I'm not saying CA should have/shouldn't have, but I will be most pleased when a mod comes out that portrays history from a more neutral point of view with everyone at the true advantage/disadvantage they were at in the beginning of 1700.

And sorry if I am still not clear - filling out a bunch of applications and am very tired :shame: