RTW: Horses, as seen in Time Commanders

[Salfin]

Well, this is the only place I can post, so I hope that in the light of this fact, this topic is acceptable.

Because of my location I've only seen a few Time Commander episodes, however, every single one I've seen is great, and it's pretty neat to see the game engine in such full detail long before the game itself hit shelves.

But has anyone thought that the movement of the calvery in groups is a bit odd? They move more like schools of fish, then bunches of horses.

When they move and change directions, they seem to do so erratically, and on a dime. Some horses in the group will change speeds drastically very quickly making the horses seem to move in strange spirts, that seem more natural a school of fis, rather then horses.

When they charge into a line of men, they stop dead, rather then having the momentem of their charge. In MTW I noticed that the momentem of the calvery is often carried through the impact of a good charge giving it an Oomph.

In the Time Commanders I've seen the horses stop dead, as do all the horses that are behind the front line.

All of their movements, charges, followthroughs, and impacts seem pretty awkard to me.

I haven't read any other posts about these kind of observations from the horses, only people talking about the strange tail movements. So my question is, am I seeing things, or do other people see these strange movements as well?

[Foreign Devil]

I've noticed this too, although I've had to watch the vids that are availible for download since as far as I'm aware we don't get TC here in the states.

Since RTW is still in development, and with very likely nearly a year left before it is due out, one would assume that there is enough time to work this out.

Fall 2004... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif At least I have Halo 2 to look forward to.

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

[chilling]

From what's said in this thread

Other thread. (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=19;t=13293)


I suspect what we are seeing on Time Commanders will be a pale immitation of the final release. They've still got a good 10 months to work on it. I do hope the BBC pick up Time Commanders for another season so we can get an update on what they've done with the war engine.

[Salfin]

Thanks for the responces, and the link. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


I know it's a rough build, I'm confidant it will all come together in the end. That's partially likely why they've asked to have the release date postponed, and I think we'll all be happier for it.

[Divine Wind]

Quote[/b] (Salfin @ Dec. 15 2003,06:46)]But has anyone thought that the movement of the calvery in groups is a bit odd? They move more like schools of fish, then bunches of horses.

When they move and change directions, they seem to do so erratically, and on a dime. Some horses in the group will change speeds drastically very quickly making the horses seem to move in strange spirts, that seem more natural a school of fis, rather then horses.

When they charge into a line of men, they stop dead, rather then having the momentem of their charge. In MTW I noticed that the momentem of the calvery is often carried through the impact of a good charge giving it an Oomph.

In the Time Commanders I've seen the horses stop dead, as do all the horses that are behind the front line.

All of their movements, charges, followthroughs, and impacts seem pretty awkard to me.

I haven't read any other posts about these kind of observations from the horses, only people talking about the strange tail movements. So my question is, am I seeing things, or do other people see these strange movements as well?
Hey there Salfin http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

I think you just nipped ahead of me on this post, as i was thinking exactly the same thing. Your definatly not seeing things mate http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

As you stated, the cavalry in the rome previews does seem to stop dead on the initial charge, no matter what type of unit it is. Heavy infantry, archers, light skirmishers, whenever any of these units come to impact with a charging unit of cavalry they stop dead.

This feature reminds me of the shogun cavalry, who also had the same running up into a brick wall feature. Obviously CA changed this into M:TW, and its a fantastic feature which IMO should not be left out of Rome.

Perhaps its being worked on as we speak, as the troop models are now 3D instead on the S:TW, M:TW 2D, so maybe some glitches are still being worked out.

[Michael the Great]

Quote[/b] (Divine Wind @ Dec. 15 2003,07:35)]This feature reminds me of the shogun cavalry, who also had the same running up into a brick wall feature. Obviously CA changed this into M:TW, and its a fantastic feature which IMO should not be left out of Rome.
It definatly shouldn't be left out,it also needs some upgrading,because in MTW,cavalry can charge through archers and break their formation,but they can't go all the way and split it(the archer formation) in 2,like it sais.In reality,a heavy knight formation would litteraly walk through any archer formation in it's path...
Also,Cavalry charges should be improved against other units like swordsmen.
Again,(in reality),if heavy cavalry charged a swordsmen formation,their long lances would kill many on the first impact,and also push aside the others making way for others to attack.
We can't use that tactic yet,where heavy cavalry would charge in,break the enemy line,and infantry would go through the opening and flank the enemy...but I hope we will have this in Rome.
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/santa.gif

[The_Emperor]

I don't know what to make of all of this.

Some of those Cavalry charges in tonight's episode seemed to have quite an impact (and they rolled on through units quite nicely without stopping a couple of times).

So if there is an issue with charges being Stopped dead it didn't show tonight.

Well ordered infantry can bog down Cavalry, but in this era cavalry are not like Knights we use in MTW... they are not built for the charge and with Stirrups yet to be introduced into Europe, Horsemen are a lot less effective at charging down enemies.

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] ]We can't use that tactic yet,where heavy cavalry would charge in,break the enemy line,and infantry would go through the opening and flank the enemy...but I hope we will have this in Rome.
You must take into consideration one MINOR detail.
In the era of RTW (264BC-14AD) the stirrup hadn't been invented. The invention of the stirrup by the steppe nomads, only reached the West in about 450AD-500AD.

Why am I indicating such an event?
Well, the stirrup was the main reason for the development of Heavy Cavalary. It allowed powerfull and capable charges, due to the much greater grip and balance that the horseman could achieve. This was an advantage when using the lance or any other weapon that used the speed of the horse.

So, don't expect the RTW Cav to be comparable to the MTW Cav... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Salfin]

I know that in the years that this game encompasses, horses were not quite used the same as they were in the midievel era. Obviously, the heavy armour, stirrups, and lances were that were used as the midievel era drew on were not in use, and the Roman army itself concentrated more on infantry.

At least this is my understanding.

Most of my the 'odd' movements occured not while charging, simply while moving about, in combat, or just over terrain.