Elephants in game [Archive]

crazyviking03

08-10-2004, 16:03

I was wondering to my self, since the last major use of elephants in Roman warfare was in the war between Ceaser and Pompey (during the fighting in Africa), this means that elephants will be involved in the entire (most) span of this game. How does everyone feel this will affect gameplay? Multiplayer? All I am saying is that no matter what period or time slot you start you campaign at (if this is even an option) and no matter what in multiplayer, elephants will always be available. I just dont want to be constantly fighting a peasant uprising that looks like it brought the whole circus with it, and I dont want to have to deal with elephant whores in multi, like the catapult whores in mtw. Your thoughts and opinions?

P.S. dont get me wrong, I cant wait to use elephants, I just hope they are not over powered or over used to the point where I no longer enjoy them.

CBR

08-10-2004, 16:26

I dont mind elephants but it does depend on cost and stats.

If there are no restrictions for a specific unittype you will always see some who tries to buy 20 of them. I dont think that can avoided but it would be newbies/noobs who does that. As long as its proper balanced regular players wouldnt use it.

When people use loads of artillery in MTW it doesnt cause that big problems IMO, but some people panic and lose because they charge straight away

CBR

jimmyM

08-10-2004, 16:28

I think there'll be sufficient counter units - light infantry were historically effective against them, so ... elephants seem to be mostly anti-heavy infantry and cavalry troops. If CA want a "balanced" "historical" game they wont be practical to use as a standalone unit (i think special troops were designated as "elephant escorts"..stopped them losing their heads - as they were wont to do.)
Then of course there is the special historical unit used by every ancient faction worth their salts ... THE PINK SUGAR MOUSE SWARM ~:eek: one glimpse of these little beggars and the ol' 'nellyphants are running shrieking to their mothers.. ~:p

Orda Khan

08-10-2004, 19:51

I can understand your concerns...they mirror mine. CA has introduced some very 'iffy' units that could lead to some very frustrating MP games.
Pigs, heads, elephants..... ~:rolleyes:

.....Orda

CBR

08-10-2004, 19:57

You forgot the dogs.. :jumping:

CBR

Steppe Merc

08-10-2004, 20:20

LeeJackson

08-10-2004, 21:49

Just have the flaming pigs. I remember a while back that the RTW people said you would be able to unleash flaming pigs at the elephants to scare them. Flaming pigs... I can't wait.

Leet Eriksson

08-11-2004, 01:34

artillery can kill elephants too...

Oaty

08-11-2004, 01:48

Just for ships and giggles my first multiplayer game is going to be a head on flaming pig war

crazyviking03

08-11-2004, 01:56

Well, I know I will atleast one time try a full pacaderm army rush in multi... its just so... tempting... I was really tired and cracked out when I made this thread, just got off work.

~:shock:

Marshal Murat

08-11-2004, 02:09

I'm just going to have a HUGE Elephant army, and a unit of javelin cavalry. Then fight against a mixed Selucid/Ptolmey army of elephants (egyptians are smaller) and fight to the last.

Inuyasha12

08-11-2004, 04:35

I doubt it's going to be a serius problem. Besides the game is very moddable.

Or so they say.

Orda Khan

08-11-2004, 16:25

I have no problem with elephants, and can't wait to play with and against them. It's the other animals I don't like. But I think that horse javileeners would be good against them. Pepper with javilens, run away and repeat.

I have no problem with elephants either........but when we see them in every army in every game, I will then.

Yes CBR...the dogs ~:rolleyes:
Ok I've been holding off with this for fear of being called sad but what the hell, here goes.
Black and tan Rottweillers ???????!!!!!!!!!!!! The Alaunt found in Britain and the Mollossus, more familiar to the Romans were fawn or brindle animals. Looks like CA got their ideas from watching Conan the barbarian

.....Orda

Steppe Merc

08-11-2004, 16:53

Looks like CA got their ideas from watching Conan the barbarian
I think we've figured that out a long time ago. ~:joker:

crazyviking03

08-11-2004, 17:38

And he would become king, by his own hand. But that is another story.

Barkhorn1x

08-11-2004, 18:58

Marshal Murat

08-11-2004, 19:53

Man you guys hate this new stuff.
Anyway, I can't wait to use the armored elephants, and I hope we can train them in demos.

Sjakihata

08-11-2004, 20:09

I can't wait for my first MP game it will be:

Animals: Total War

or

Fried Pork: Total War

Leet Eriksson

08-11-2004, 20:19

I want a Pak.E Derm Total War!!I'll probably rent a server just to host a game that consists of one unit, yep thats right pachyderms.

http://www.planetnintendo.com/nindb/dol/gal/trophy/pakederm.jpg

Orda Khan

08-12-2004, 16:38

Better look out - here come the Camel troops.! :tomato:

One postive thing I can say is - I guess that this will just about wrap-up the A-hole units given that the game is to be released shortly.

So...to sum up - here is my list of units that must me modded/eliminated right off the bat;
a. War-dogs
b. Flaming Pigs
c. Screaming Women
d. Numidian Camel Wariors

On the "possible list"
a. Gladiators
b. Druids

I sure can. ~:rolleyes:

Barkhorn.

Most definitely! I would add your possibles to the first list along with head hurlers. When we consider that the Romans attacked Ynys Mon ( Anglesey ) and whiped out the Druids, having a unit of them is just a joke.
My biggest concern is that people will carry on as they did in MTW and VI, with very few actually downloading Mods and maps. If we see the same take up RTW could prove to be a ( pardon the pun ) white elephant

You can say what you want about Time Commanders, at least we saw decent battles with sensible units. It left me with the impression that I would finally be able to play the game I've been waiting for...somehow I don't think it will be the case

.....Orda

Barkhorn1x

08-12-2004, 17:41

OMG - I forgot to include the HEAD HURLERS ~:eek:

OK - they are now on my list. :jumping:

Barkhorn.

The_Emperor

08-13-2004, 08:51

Remember to remove the Egyptian Chariots... Oh and the MC Hammer Nubians could do with a haircut!

GeWee

08-13-2004, 12:23

There sure are some weird units thrown into the game...
Is there any mod makers that have stated they'll make a 'realism mod' when the game comes out?

Steppe Merc

08-13-2004, 15:13

Yup GeeWee, check out the Europa Barborum thread. It's job: make RTW more realistic, thus better.

GeWee

08-13-2004, 17:23

Sounds great ~:)

Louis VI the Fat

08-14-2004, 03:00

I cant wait to use elephants, I just hope they are not over powered.

Well spoken and 'nuff said.

Skomatth

08-14-2004, 04:21

If elephants were kept historical it would be no problem. I was under the impression that it was very hard to procure elephants and armies would only have around 8. ONe unit in RTW looks like it has 20.

Marshal Murat

08-14-2004, 12:54

Actually they probably trained 5, and then made a large group of them.
And the elephant arm of some armies was pretty large.

CrackedAxe

08-14-2004, 13:09

I am sooo gonna perfect my 20 elephant 'stomp and swipe' MP rush.

crazyviking03

08-14-2004, 21:26

Aymar de Bois Mauri

08-15-2004, 00:56

Most definitely! I would add your possibles to the first list along with head hurlers. When we consider that the Romans attacked Ynys Mon ( Anglesey ) and whiped out the Druids, having a unit of them is just a joke.
My biggest concern is that people will carry on as they did in MTW and VI, with very few actually downloading Mods and maps. If we see the same take up RTW could prove to be a ( pardon the pun ) white elephant

You can say what you want about Time Commanders, at least we saw decent battles with sensible units. It left me with the impression that I would finally be able to play the game I've been waiting for...somehow I don't think it will be the case

.....Orda
I am in total agreement with you.

The game should be the best it could be from the start. It shouldn't relly on the fan's MODs to correct it.

As for TC, I had the exact same impression you did. After seeing the Egyptians, I don't have it anymore.

Oaty

08-15-2004, 03:22

I wonder, the war elephants have an archer or two on top of them. But since elephant units only have like 8 elephants, is there even a point to use them as missile unit? I'd rather just charge madly into the fray.

:jumping:

To me theres a whole lot more to that than just 20 archers in the group of elephants.

For 1 thing they are firing those bows point blank range and should have a high lethality at that range. # 2 they should have some kind of morale factor, as a guy firing into your comrades chest right next to you while you or your buddy ca'nt do a thing about it except to try to disable the elephant. Also wich is actually doing more of the killing the elephant or the archer as you can at least have a good chance to move out of the elphants way but you ca'nt dodge the arrow(unlees your a samarai) As said plenty of times before the main purpose of the elphant was to break formations of enemy units. Well the archers enhance this effect.

Oleander Ardens

08-16-2004, 13:28

The archers in the howhda will make them far more versatile...

a) Increases the moral malus as said above

b) makes them less vulnerable to light inf.

c) can keep the enemy under pressure while running away - somewhat similar to an ultraheavy HA

I'm really keen on the Elephants, less on wardogs ( had their uses) and not at all on... well you know :bow:

Cheers

OA