View Full Version : Creative Assembly Good news on the patch!
Expect news of when the patch will be released and possibly what will be patched any day now.
http://p223.ezboard.com/fshoguntotalwarfrm7.showMessageRange?topicID=15997.topic&start=1&stop=20
The patch looks to be fairly extensive. One area that I was pleasantly surprised to see being addressed was the Triari.
http://p223.ezboard.com/fshoguntotalwarfrm7.showMessageRange?topicID=16330.topic&start=1&stop=20
Anyone else that has any info on what else is going to be patched -- please post here.
Colovion
12-02-2004, 22:38
please show me the fairly extensive (not doubting, I just don't want to wade through 5 pages)
Orvis Tertia
12-02-2004, 22:59
I waded through those threads and I will sum up for you:
The only actual posts from CA reps stated that the patch is being worked on and news of it would be posted in about a week (this was on 24 Nov., or 27 Nov.--I forgot the exact date), and that the issue with Triarii is being addressed. The "issue" appears to be Triarii not being available after the Marian reforms, but I might be misinterpreting this.
There is no concrete information other than that on the threads linked above.
I expect the upcoming patch will be rather substantial but I think it would be extremely unrealistic (and downright foolish) to believe that is will cover all of the bugs and issues discovered and raised by the TW community since the last patch. I think it's safe to say that CA will giving bugs and critical tweaks and balance issues top priority with a few AI improvements and additional features thrown in for good measure. I think that we're in store for at least one or two patches after the upcoming one.
Colovion
12-02-2004, 23:52
At least we can be pretty certain that they've fixed the grouping bugs... man it'll feel good to press "Run" and actually have all 8 units run.
I think it's safe to say that CA will giving bugs and critical tweaks and balance issues top priority with a few AI improvements and additional features thrown in for good measure. I think that we're in store for at least one or two patches after the upcoming one.
I think that is one of the most intelligent/accurate posts i've seen about the forthcoming patch. It take time to get things completely right, so it's no use to speculate on how great the game will be after the changes.
*Ringo*
DisruptorX
12-03-2004, 04:28
Hmm, will this make the game worth reinstalling? I felt like exorcising my PC after uninstalling it about a week after purchase.
What is the problem with the moderators over at the official Roman total war board?
If anybody even mentions the word patch in a thread, they lock the thread down. Even the official patch thread has been locked.
They are like little librarians shooshing anyone that dares to open their mouth. I wonder if they realize how much resentment that breeds.
Oh well, live and learn.
It is because the influx of new people. If those threads are not kept down the entire first page would be filled with "When it patch out" "Patch PLZ!" "What is patch going to include" ect ect... Since CA hasn't said anything on the subject yet those threads are just earthfill...
What is the problem with the moderators over at the official Roman total war board?
If anybody even mentions the word patch in a thread, they lock the thread down. Even the official patch thread has been locked.
They are like little librarians shooshing anyone that dares to open their mouth. I wonder if they realize how much resentment that breeds.
Oh well, live and learn.
There is much more of a negative -- flaming attitude over at the COM with the users. Probably one reason why CA comes over to the ORG to get feedback.
I expect the upcoming patch will be rather substantial but I think it would be extremely unrealistic (and downright foolish) to believe that is will cover all of the bugs and issues discovered and raised by the TW community since the last patch. I think it's safe to say that CA will giving bugs and critical tweaks and balance issues top priority with a few AI improvements and additional features thrown in for good measure. I think that we're in store for at least one or two patches after the upcoming one.
You think CA will do additional patches? Past practice would indicate that they did one major patch. Right now though, I will be happy with any improvement in the game.
Well, based on STW and MTW, I would expect one major patch and then a second patch when an expansion pack comes out. The coming major patch will probably just deal mainly with bugs. The expansion pack patch may bring some new features. Both will involved some minor unit balancing, AI tweaks etc. but I don't think anything will fundamentally change the nature and quality of the game. Hence, I expect that those folk who say they have stopped playing the game to wait for the patch are going to be disappointed.
Past performance may not be guide in this case, as RTW is a rather bigger budget and higher profile affair than the earlier games, but it would still be my best guess. Unfortunately, CA are not like a few other companies such as Bioware or the now defunct Talonsoft who would continually tweak their games with patch V3.18 etc.
The game has dropped from $50 usd to $30 usd regular price in 2 months. The next stop is the bargain bin. Pretty amazing for a game that got an average of 92% ratings. I would say there is a lot riding on this patch.
While waiting for RTW i got into EU2. It is amazing how their patching policy (actually one dedicated developer) and grown up attitude to core fans has helped keep the game moving forward. The RTW official site is awful. No way could you feel like a valued customer there.
The org is the only place to discuss the TW series.
You think CA will do additional patches? Past practice would indicate that they did one major patch. Right now though, I will be happy with any improvement in the game.
I based my prediction on two things:
1) The Size, scope and cost of RTW - Rome is a really big game that took a long time to make and cost princely sum to produce and promote. I think it's safe to say that given Rome's size and complexity it will take more patches to 'get things right' than it did with previous TW games. Furthermore in the months preceding RTW's release developers told us how Activision, based on the success of Medieval, has made the Total War series their flagship strategy property. It's obvious that Activision likes having a property which sells over one million copies with each release. Alienating a large TW fan base and the general strategy gaming community by inadequately patching such a costly venture is not good for business and could seriously harm sales of future TW titles.
2) Developer Posts - There have been numerous posts from developers (especially JeromeGrasdyke) intimating that CA has 'future plans' for RTW in the shape of additional features and modding tools being released via patches or official downloads. We've seen a glimpse of this with their new policy to release new units over at the Com. None of this is really official but the fact that CA has considered adopting such an approach tells me that the act of closely supporting the TW community has been given the green light by Activision.
Captain Fishpants
12-03-2004, 17:32
I waded through those threads and I will sum up for you:
The only actual posts from CA reps stated that the patch is being worked on and news of it would be posted in about a week (this was on 24 Nov., or 27 Nov.--I forgot the exact date), and that the issue with Triarii is being addressed. The "issue" appears to be Triarii not being available after the Marian reforms, but I might be misinterpreting this.
There is no concrete information other than that on the threads linked above.
Actually, the issue that I meant in my patch over at the .com forum was that of the Marian reform coming too quickly and removing the chance of building Triarii just as you'd put all that effort in getting the training buildings organised... That problem. ~:)
Hi everyone ~:wave:
This is the lastest news at the com:
http://p223.ezboard.com/fshoguntotalwarfrm7.showMessage?topicID=16410.topic
I don't think we will be getting any more information today.
Good, thanks Captain Fishpants and Yakobu - "we've addressed as many issues as we could" does sound encouraging. ~:cheers:
It is because the influx of new people. If those threads are not kept down the entire first page would be filled with "When it patch out" "Patch PLZ!" "What is patch going to include" ect ect... Since CA hasn't said anything on the subject yet those threads are just earthfill...
Case in point,
PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH PATCH
That is his whole post, but someone called him childish 2 posts later. But consideriing that he was at most 15 he is a child
Lonewarrior
12-03-2004, 20:58
Excellent news :thumbsup:
Tell me about it. I hardly go to the .com forums anymore. Partially it's because with only one forum, I can't really keep up with anything since all the threads get bumped down onto the later pages so quickly, but mostly it's because of the attitude over there. There are some people who are intelligent and mature about it, but what certainly seems like the vast majority are whiny kids.
Colovion
12-03-2004, 23:17
well that was unfortunately vague. I already knew they were working on a patch. The only good thing was the nice blanket statement:
"We've addressed as many of the issues raised as we possibly could and are confident that you'll be pleased with the results."
lars, he could have said anything in that post, from "OH OH OH" to "INEEDALOBOTOMY INEEDALOBOTOMY INEEDALOBOTOMY" and you can be sure it would be locked.
I answered because someone was angered that threads asking about he patch were locked, and I can't possibly believe he would be angered that that thread was locked.
Uesugi Kenshin
12-04-2004, 04:36
OI! I am 15 and I do not act that way! Call him/her immature do not generalise that all young people have no patience or self restraint!
By the way a case in point of the expansion patch is all the new units to MTW non viking invasion campaigns in the VI expansion. I enjoyed that patch except it made it impossible to make an Irish army by selecting England in custom battle and buying Gallowglasses and Kerns, that was my only dissapointment that I can remember, Long live the Emerald Isle!
Red Harvest
12-04-2004, 09:34
I'm looking forward to seeing what has been accomplished with the patch. ~:cheers: I expect that the game is going to have a much different feel on the strategic map. I also expect the unit balance and unit availability, cost, stats will be altered enough that the battlefield play will be better. I have no idea about the battlefield AI though. There are some difficult to program changes needed (appears that way at any rate), but hopefully enough will be completed to pull the AI out of its coma.
I wonder a lot about game speed and kill rates...
Looking into my crystal ball (actually it is a bowling ball, oh well--this is purely speculation) I'm going to predict the following as highly likely:
1. Friendly fire will work more like MTW, and archers will stop shooting when ordered to stop...
2. Admirals will get stars--and the non-stackable aspect will be fixed.
3. Fewer boats will be constructed by the AI, (especially in captive sea zones.)
4. Naval rules will be tightened, perhaps with more active AI naval blockades, more ships needed to transport armies, blockade, etc.
5. Decisive naval battles with ships being sunk.
6. Strategic map storms and disasters will work properly and become more common.
7. The AI will start grouping armies and attaching faction members so that it fights as combined forces rather than scattered elements.
8. The player will be able to choose which general to be when he has multiple stacks in the battle, or will at least default to the highest ranking one.
9. Anti-cav spear bonuses will be improved.
10. Cav will be toned down--or at least cost more to maintain so that cav heavy armies are discouraged.
11. Egyptian stats will be reworked to match the graphics...and some of the more odd aspects of their balance will be fixed.
12. Protectorate bug fixed.
13. Stamina and heat effects will be fixed. :sunny:
14. Suicide Daimyo bug fixed. :charge:
15. Naval auto resolve decoupled from other difficulty settings.
16. Grouping problems fixed.
17. Speed toggles buttons will work better and have larger "targets."
I'm less certain about the following (but keeping my fingers crossed.)
1. Timer toggle, or more reasonable timer.
2. Elephants made a bit less formidable.
3. Archery and esp. elite archers toned down.
4. Faction maps added plus descriptions and other faction specific info added.
5. More factions unlockable.
6. Flaming arrows fixed as well as the memory leak.
7. Melee/charge kill rates reduced (would work nicely if combined with archery effectiveness reduction, and would also have an impact on cav.)
8. "Pila pause" removed when missile units are ordered to melee charge with alt-attack.
9. Carthage will be made more formidable/aggressive at least in re-acquiring lost territory.
10. Terrain effects will start to mean something (other than elevation.)
11. Unit depth effects will matter.
Unexpected goodies that I would not be surprised by:
1. Updated textures/models for many units that currently "share" among many mercs and cultures--at least updated to make sense with description and stats.
2. A few new units for factions that have not yet been "fleshed out."
3. A new campaign.
This is just speculation. I have no "sources." ~:handball:
ShellShock
12-04-2004, 12:13
Is there any chance that the patch will be compatible with existing save games?
I'm nearly at the point in my campaign of attacking the senate. I would hate to have to start again from scratch.
I seem to recall that the MTW patches didn't work with existing saves, and I I suspect the same will true this time. :no: As a programmer I know it is always possible to convert files produced by previous versions of an application on the fly, as they are loaded. I just hope CA have taken the extra trouble to do this.
If not, I'll have the difficult choice of installing the patch and getting all the bug fixes etc but have to play from the beginning, or of carrying on and finish my existing campaign first.
Colovion
12-04-2004, 21:13
Is there any chance that the patch will be compatible with existing save games?
I'm nearly at the point in my campaign of attacking the senate. I would hate to have to start again from scratch.
I seem to recall that the MTW patches didn't work with existing saves, and I I suspect the same will true this time. :no: As a programmer I know it is always possible to convert files produced by previous versions of an application on the fly, as they are loaded. I just hope CA have taken the extra trouble to do this.
If not, I'll have the difficult choice of installing the patch and getting all the bug fixes etc but have to play from the beginning, or of carrying on and finish my existing campaign first.
You'll be fine. I recall a CA member saying that for RTW patches will not require you to restart campaigns like previous TW releases.
The game has dropped from $50 usd to $30 usd regular price in 2 months. The next stop is the bargain bin. Pretty amazing for a game that got an average of 92% ratings. I would say there is a lot riding on this patch.
I'm not sure about your analysis there. First, I haven't seen the game at $30 anywhere, and the people I know who have seen it have said that it was at a post Thanksgiving Day sale. Secondly, the game has been in the top ten PC games sold since it came out - that is over 2 months in the top ten. That is excellent and very unusual for a strategy game. As far as I can tell, the game is doing very, very well.
Grifman
Uesugi Kenshin
12-05-2004, 00:25
I bet this has already been answered many times, but here goes; How many factions are unlockable? I have so fare 11 factions meaning I have unlocked 7, are there more?
My two-bobs worth...
I hope to see the vanishing armies and tactical withdrawals fixed or refined.
No more 3000 mile routs by the enemy after a good whuppin'!!
Diplomacy...no more 'We'd rather put a genitals in a blender than sell you our map' for no apparent reason.
Assassins that have the capability to...erm...actually KILL something from time to time...
BTW...how cool are those new Spartans? Can't wait to see what's next.
For the new Campaign or expansion
The Peloponnesian war....(Thermopylae as an historic battle)
The Punic wars...
Vercingetorix/Caesar in Gaul...
Marius/Sulla... :duel:
(Oooh...I'm a member now!! I won't let you down!!)
-Attalus-
Fool me once...shame on you
Fool me twice...prepare to die
ghostcamel
12-05-2004, 08:41
I hope to see the vanishing armies and tactical withdrawals fixed or refined.
No more 3000 mile routs by the enemy after a good whuppin'!!
I agree to some extent, but i think it could be unfair to the AI. The AI never seems to chase my troops if i decide to withdraw. But i can chase down and kill them with ease.
Maybe just for boats then?
Diplomacy...no more 'We'd rather put a genitals in a blender than sell you our map' for no apparent reason.
Assassins that have the capability to...erm...actually KILL something from time to time...
BTW...how cool are those new Spartans? Can't wait to see what's next.
Great suggestions. ~:cheers: I like the new spartans alot myself also.
For the new Campaign or expansion
The Peloponnesian war....(Thermopylae as an historic battle)
The Punic wars...
Vercingetorix/Caesar in Gaul...
Marius/Sulla... :duel:
Sounds good.
But lets be 'realistic'. The expansion needs to deliver one thing above all, 3d naval battles. I dont think theres any possible new feature that has the broad appeal of 3d navies.
Heh i wouldnt want to see the emails if they cant get that into the expansion ~;)
Voigtkampf
12-05-2004, 18:24
Take time with multiplayer issues, respected gentlemen of CA. Please. I have played Shogun an entire summer long, up to 4-5 hours a day. To be frankly, even longer than that. I played it again and again in the next years until Medieval showed up. I played Medieval twice as often as I did play Shogun. I played it all the way until few months before the release of the Rome. I always played SP, never MP. Bad connections issue, I had only a modem back then.
I stopped playing Rome SP for more then a month now. It is not as nearly seductive to me as both previous games are. I wrote a review for the pc gaming magazine I work with and rated the game dazzling 95%. It beats all opposition easily, but it can’t match up its predecessors by far.
I played several MP games, but the lag/failed to connect issue is devastating, not to mention the cheating issue. If the next patch doesn’t considerably fix MP, I’m off to play Medieval and chess online. Not that anyone would care, of course, since MP is only 1% of sales. But I personally would find this most unfortunate.
Uesugi Kenshin
12-06-2004, 04:17
I think the expansion should also add a whole ton of units, because otherwise there would not be as much of a difference, just a different map.
Just my 2 cents!
But lets be 'realistic'. The expansion needs to deliver one thing above all, 3d naval battles. I dont think theres any possible new feature that has the broad appeal of 3d navies.
Agreed. Shiver me timbers. Buckle me swash. Fetch me another cabin boy, this one be split.....(it's a comma thing, trust me) ~D
Could it be that hard? (For an expansion I mean)
Still...I do kinda miss those little FMV's from Shogun. :bow:
Maybe something like that for sea warfare? Better than...CLICK...you lost...CLICK...you lost again...CLICK...erm...lost...CLICK CLICK CLICK.. :dizzy2:
-Attalus-
Fool me once...shame on you
Fool me twice...prepare to die
Duke John
12-06-2004, 07:54
Lets be even more realistic. This thread is not about an expansion, it's about the patch.
:square:
Yep, getting back on topic.
I do hope that most of the MP issues have been fixed.
I know this is the SP forum here, but if we talk about the patch, the MP side was really most in need of it. Among other things my main issue is that you cannot have two players of the same faction (other than Romans) in the game. Make battle re-enactments nearly impossible
I’ll be putting hard cash down to wager that the AI, campaign and battles are going to be quite different after the patch. There are many things I’d like to see fixed, most already mentioned but the campaign map AI is foremost. In many ways it directly relates to the problems in some battles, so fixing it will help the battles in itself even if they didn’t look into the tactical side. It has already been stated that both are getting worked on.
Just a wild guess here, but I think the hourglass on the RTW project dropped it’s last grain a wee bit sooner than they had expected. The result of which lead to the development of some “quickie” scripts. Making it function is not necessarily the same as making it work as intended. These scripts are time buyers and would explain some of the totally challenged things I’ve seen in the game.
So I’ll make the appropriate sacrifices to the appropriate Gods and hope for the total best.
So after 2 weeks the patch thread is quietly deleted?
What happened at CA?
So after 2 weeks the patch thread is quietly deleted?
What happened at CA?
People began to behave badly.
Check the FAQ thread.
So after 2 weeks the patch thread is quietly deleted?
What happened at CA?
I believe it has been relocated to the Announcement section.
No they deleted it.
Its really shameful that they 1. Didn't provide more detailed information, when stating there was going to be news about the upcomming patch. And 2. they should have closed it. What they wantedwas to see peoples reactions, and to me honest they must have not like it.
Personally I feel CA acts a little bit like Atari. I'll never buy another ATARI game again after T3:WOTM. That game had major potential and a wonderful license.
Lt
No they deleted it.
Its really shameful that they 1. Didn't provide more detailed information, when stating there was going to be news about the upcomming patch. And 2. they should have closed it. What they wantedwas to see peoples reactions, and to me honest they must have not like it.
Personally I feel CA acts a little bit like Atari. I'll never buy another ATARI game again after T3:WOTM. That game had major potential and a wonderful license.
Lt
I'm a moderator over there, and I can promis you that it wasn't because they didn't like it. People began to flame each other every single time. So we (the moderators) partitioned for its removal, and The Shogun just included that in the general cleanup an update of the system for announcements. It was long overdue.
As I said, take a short look at the FAQ thread. The annoucement is still there.
Perhaps the lack of info/feedback the 'community' is getting about the patch is causing the frustration which leads to flaming.
Christ, my post count has nearly doubled while i've been waiting for the patch.
Actually, the issue that I meant in my patch over at the .com forum was that of the Marian reform coming too quickly and removing the chance of building Triarii just as you'd put all that effort in getting the training buildings organised... That problem. ~:)
So does that mean the Marian reforms will be delayed or that I'll be able to build Triarii earlier? I really hope it's the latter because it's kind of a drag to have to spend decades to wait for your cities to grow so you can build all the necessary buildings in order to train units that should have been available from the start.
This doesn't only apply to the Romans of course. Take Companion cavalry for example; Alexander used them 50 years before the timeframe in RTW starts and you'll have to wait until what? 190 BC before any of your cities are big enough to support the building that can train them...
ToranagaSama
12-10-2004, 14:54
Perhaps the lack of info/feedback the 'community' is getting about the patch is causing the frustration which leads to flaming.
Christ, my post count has nearly doubled while i've been waiting for the patch.
Nope its the patrons of the .com site acting as they have always done.
Not the first time, won't be the last time, and guess what? It can get MUCH worse over there, as it has done more than once in the past.
I think the CA forum has lost sight of the role of a forum in developing customer loyalty.
A lot of people are looking forward to the patch coming out. Simple, basic and steady information would keep people satisfied. Shutting down threads builds frustration, irritation and aggravation. It is simply pyschology. It is simple customer service.
Closing any thread with the word "patch" in it creates a backlash which harms customer loyalty and CA in the long run.
Is it that hard to provide a bit of information on the patch-say once a week? Or just let people talk about the patch?
I see the shogun has posted a locked update - Mid Jan is the word...
HopAlongBunny
12-11-2004, 14:37
Nice to hear an eta on the patch ~:)
Outside of tech fixes I really wonder what they will do. Toning down archery (which I agree with to some extent) will likely cause an uproar "But these guys had compound bows!!!...etc." Expensive horse will cripple economically weak horse dependent factions (Scythia, Armenia, Parthia)
Eager to see what they come up with. CA did a good job with the MTW patch so I look for good things from this one ~:cheers:
OI! I am 15 and I do not act that way! Call him/her immature do not generalise that all young people have no patience or self restraint!
By the way a case in point of the expansion patch is all the new units to MTW non viking invasion campaigns in the VI expansion. I enjoyed that patch except it made it impossible to make an Irish army by selecting England in custom battle and buying Gallowglasses and Kerns, that was my only dissapointment that I can remember, Long live the Emerald Isle!
Uesugi... No worries. If you are acting mature on these boards, I'm pretty sure that we will all act mature right back.
But do keep something in mind.. the majority of 15 year olds tend to be very immature. I don't think any adult on these boards means 'all' when they say 'typical' or 'generally'. I've also met my share of adults who are very immature. So it goes both ways.
Welcome to the ORG! ~:)
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