Army movement

[Shamus]

There are a few things about the map-play for R:TW that I’m curious about. For instance, how do you move armies? I have read about the 10,000 or so battlefields that are all connected, but I’m uncertain as to how the armies will move over these, with regards to the amount of time taken to do so. While I realize that Europe is not a big square, 10,000 squares would make up a 100 by 100 size grid. Even if Europe was only 50 battlefield squares high, that would take an army 50 years if they only moved one square per year (which would be very unrealistic). I am assuming therefore, that they will move more than one square a year (maybe in a radius around their current location – affected by the surrounding terrain), or that the amount of time passed each turn will be less than a year.

Does anyone know anything about this?

[Sir Moody]

well apparently armies ca nmanauver around each other within game so im thinking the game isnt based around yearly turns or theyve sorted out Real time camp map (we can hope http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Spino]

The game is turn based with each turn lasting six months. I believe each army will have a maximum movement range based on the type of terrain that lies along the path to its destination (wilderness, desert, mountainous), whether there are any roads that can be taken which can cut down on travel time and possibly based on the type of troops in its ranks or even the Command rating and V&Vs of its general. I'll also wager that this maximum potential movement range affects an army's probability of intercepting or ambushing an enemy army that moves within its reach.

Also I believe that most of the 10,000 battlefields will be randomly generated by the game engine and stored when you save the game. The exception to this will be areas of geographical and/or historical significance (i.e. Mount Vesuvius, the passes at Thermopylae, etc.).

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] ]Also I believe that most of the 10,000 battlefields will be randomly generated by the game engine and stored when you save the game. The exception to this will be areas of geographical and/or historical significance (i.e. Mount Vesuvius, the passes at Thermopylae, etc.).
Won't that be impossible to implement?
The battlefields are all 3D models, aren't they? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[goscho]

I think also it's not so difficult to implement this.

You can take satelite data for the Europe, then generate a battlefield skeleton (with a program) and only at the end you will need designers to do a small corrections and improvements of the maps.

[Martok]

Quote[/b] (Sir Moody @ Dec. 11 2003,11:47)]well apparently armies ca nmanauver around each other within game so im thinking the game isnt based around yearly turns or theyve sorted out Real time camp map (we can hope http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif)
If anyone's played Lords of the Realm II, I believe Rome's army movement will be similar, although I'm sure it'll probably be a bit more complex than in Lords II.

[JeromeGrasdyke]

Quote[/b] (Spino @ Dec. 11 2003,18:48)]The game is turn based with each turn lasting six months. I believe each army will have a maximum movement range based on the type of terrain that lies along the path to its destination (wilderness, desert, mountainous), whether there are any roads that can be taken which can cut down on travel time and possibly based on the type of troops in its ranks or even the Command rating and V&Vs of its general. I'll also wager that this maximum potential movement range affects an army's probability of intercepting or ambushing an enemy army that moves within its reach.

Also I believe that most of the 10,000 battlefields will be randomly generated by the game engine and stored when you save the game. The exception to this will be areas of geographical and/or historical significance (i.e. Mount Vesuvius, the passes at Thermopylae, etc.).
Very good - you have been paying attention... ;-) But we have a few suprises still in store.

[The_Emperor]

I thought the Main Campaign map of Europe would be made up of set smaller battlefields to reflect the terrain of Europe... Rather than randomly generated maps.

Or did I misunderstand the FAQs I have been reading? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[chilling]

I would have thought the map will be randomly generated but within specific criteria.

If it's a desert area it's not going include temperate grassland as part of the randomisation.

If you're in the mountains it won't include flat plains in the criteria.

etc etc.

[Intrepid Sidekick]

Quote[/b] ]I thought the Main Campaign map of Europe would be made up of set smaller battlefields to reflect the terrain of Europe... Rather than randomly generated maps.

The terrain will be randomly generated using parameters based on the terrain found in the battle square in question. As chilling has said:


Quote[/b] ]
If it's a desert area it's not going include temperate grassland as part of the randomisation.

If you're in the mountains it won't include flat plains in the criteria.


http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/snowman.gif Happy hols folks

Intrepid Sidekick
~ C.A. Staff ~

[Leet Eriksson]

I suppose randomly generating terrain is part of balance?

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/snowman.gif Happy holydays to you too, Intrepid Sidekick http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/snowman.gif


And thanks for the answers... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

[Spino]

Quote[/b] ]Very good - you have been paying attention... ;-) But we have a few suprises still in store.

Ah hah And since I've been such a good boy this year can I expect a special something in my stocking this Christmas? A playable beta of RTW perhaps? Pretty please?

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/santa.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[The_Emperor]

Ok I think that clears my questions up about the Campaign map for now...

Many thnks CA guys http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/santa.gif Happy Hols to ya http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/snowman.gif

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

[The Wizard]

Wasn't it that the map is made with help of satellite pictures, and that it's just cut into 10,000 squares? So that each square you can fight on is the real square, and not randomly generated?

[Shamus]

I think I just got a rough idea of how the map is going to work, based on an in-game video posted in the TWC. It was a bit blurry, but you can still make out how things move.

[Kraxis]

Quote[/b] (Intrepid Sidekick @ Dec. 16 2003,09:03)]The terrain will be randomly generated using parameters based on the terrain found in the battle square in question. As chilling has said:

Intrepid Sidekick
~ C.A. Staff ~
I certainly don't hope that my fortress protecting that vital pass up there in the Alps will look different every time the Gauls try to invade my domains.

Basically, the randomizer has to take into account my constructions, like roads, forts ect ect... And If I built a fort at the one and only pass then it would certainly look strange if in one battle I fought in a deep ravine, while the next I was positioned at the foothills.

[Oaty]

Good news KRAXIS I read quite a few months ago that once a battlefield map is geneerated it will always be the same once it is generated throughout the campaign and the maps are newly generated once a new campaign starts

[Shamus]

Quote[/b] (oaty @ Dec. 18 2003,20:32)]Good news KRAXIS I read quite a few months ago that once a battlefield map is geneerated it will always be the same once it is generated throughout the campaign and the maps are newly generated once a new campaign starts
That certainly is good to hear. Though I’m curious, how many squares apart does each city/fort/etc. have to be? Do you get to choose which square you build a fort in? For instance, if there is a really important river crossing, can I choose to build a fort beside it to protect it? Or are building sights pre-determined?

[Kraxis]

Quote[/b] (oaty @ Dec. 18 2003,20:32)]Good news KRAXIS I read quite a few months ago that once a battlefield map is geneerated it will always be the same once it is generated throughout the campaign and the maps are newly generated once a new campaign starts
That put my fears to rest... That would be damn lovely A new map each time I start a new campaign, well that is just too good to be true. The same specific fighting like in STW and the unpredictability of MTW. Perfect

[bighairyman]

Quote[/b] (Kraxis @ Dec. 19 2003,20:54)]
Quote[/b] (oaty @ Dec. 18 2003,20:32)]Good news KRAXIS I read quite a few months ago that once a battlefield map is geneerated it will always be the same once it is generated throughout the campaign and the maps are newly generated once a new campaign starts
how about the idea of keeping dead bodies on battlefields when it's same everytime. i think the dead bodies shoudl start to dispear after a couple years. but broken weapons and skeletons shoudl still be there until like a hundred years later. what do u guys think http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] ]Good news KRAXIS I read quite a few months ago that once a battlefield map is geneerated it will always be the same once it is generated throughout the campaign and the maps are newly generated once a new campaign starts
Awesome, really awesome http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif




Quote[/b] ]how about the idea of keeping dead bodies on battlefields when it's same everytime. i think the dead bodies shoudl start to dispear after a couple years. but broken weapons and skeletons shoudl still be there until like a hundred years later. what do u guys think
That is one SICK idea http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Cobra]

Quote[/b] ]The battlefields are all 3D models, aren't they?
Yes, but the campaign map will be so as well in this go around.

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] ]Yes, but the campaign map will be so as well in this go around.
I'm sorry, but I didn't understood http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
Could you explain?

[Math Mathonwy]

Quote[/b] ]how about the idea of keeping dead bodies on battlefields when it's same everytime. i think the dead bodies shoudl start to dispear after a couple years. but broken weapons and skeletons shoudl still be there until like a hundred years later. what do u guys think

maybe the losers bodies, but i think if you win you would give your own dead a honorable grave. if its the Scythians maybe a big Pyre would be built r something, im not sure wut all the civs did with their dead.

[Voigtkampf]

Quote[/b] (Intrepid Sidekick @ Dec. 16 2003,09:03)]
Quote[/b] ]I thought the Main Campaign map of Europe would be made up of set smaller battlefields to reflect the terrain of Europe... Rather than randomly generated maps.

The terrain will be randomly generated using parameters based on the terrain found in the battle square in question. As chilling has said:


Quote[/b] ]
If it's a desert area it's not going include temperate grassland as part of the randomisation.

If you're in the mountains it won't include flat plains in the criteria.


http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/snowman.gif Happy hols folks

Intrepid Sidekick
~ C.A. Staff ~
IMHO, a very wise decision; it will certainly add more variety to the game.

Keep up the good work, respected ones

And happy holidays