MorgTzu
03-03-2005, 19:39
:bow:
SRATEGIC IMPROVEMENTS FOR TOTAL WAR
Even before RTW hit the shelves, I had been thinking a lot about ways that the Total War series could be made better. Not in a limited way, like I want xyz in expansion (those posts are useful too), but in the concepts it includes in the game engine.
After reading this great article that discussed ways to improve the strategic model of RTW http://www.twcenter.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=23457&st=0 , it inspired me to post some of my thoughts.
THE PERSONAL ELEMENT
In history, it is a repeating event that cities and regions changed names not only as culture and times changed, but when areas were conquered or when the capitals of empires changed. Naming has always been important, but especially in the ancient world. The naming of military units for example, this was and still is a very important convention. Not only for the tie-in to the history of that unit, or for organizational purposes but to the most important element in warfare – moral.
When you start that new campaign that you have high hopes for, you have an emotional attachment to those two or three precious and expensive units of the line. How dear they become to you as you win that first battle, and plan your next, knowing that your campaign could well hang on whether those units rout at the crucial moment or turn the tide and drive the enemy before them. Or when you finally get that favorite unit, and the experience chevrons begin to pile up, the pride and confidence you feel as the enemy attacks you with unit after unit. The General, who despite having a few bad qualities, has won numerous battles and now goes by the name conqueror. You have a vested interest in him, both in time and emotion. For those who have played Civ III (and this is not a comparison between the two games), you know exactly what I am talking about, when that elite unit is victorious under certain conditions and now gets to be NAMED. I have had many 1st Tanks or Royal Guards, or whatever I liked in that game. They were special, they gave me memories. The same with cities I had taken.
To sum this up and use words that have been mentioned before, RTW has the potential but falls short of the Epic or the Dramatic. I was a little disappointed to say the least when I took Rome the first time. What…just another city? No cutscene? No music? No diplomatic messages or even a start turn message stating the great city had been taken, surely that is more important than ‘stoic philosophy’, at least to my game experience it is.
After that point, battles do become monotonous, cities taken begin to be a headache and it seems the only emotional point you are waiting for is the magic 15 or the magic 50. I believe many share this sentiment about the game.
On the constructive side, it would not be that hard to incorporate in-game UI’s that allow you to rename cities, regions, units, characters, or even factions. Too fantastical? Too difficult? NO. We will see new ideas and creative additions in not only the expansion but in the series and in strategy games of the future. The Creative Assembly is one of the most creative groups of designers in the industry and the proof is in the pudding. Despite shortcomings and the endless complaints, games are designed within the constraints of realities that many don’t understand or care about. Naming and adding more cut scenes/options/messages would greatly enhance the ‘gaming experience’ that we hear so many posts about and it would not be copying of ‘x’ game or’y’ game. If a previously released game has features that make it better or sell more, it will become part of future games. The civilization series and city building genre had a large (if not huge) impact on strategy games since.
There is an inevitability about the conclusion of the campaign once you reach a certain point. It was that way in STW, MTW, and its true in our RTW. But there are easy, cost-effective things that will make the game twice as enjoyable and personal and that will build the fan base into a mostly positive and creative forum (you can see this at forums such as NeverWinterNights where the topics are often: How do I…? or New mod out…New implementation of cool features…and the topics don’t begin with four letter words). I know many mature and experienced players who have quit even reading the forums because they see a decline of constructive suggestions being made and feel the creative and personal experience is being taken out of the total war series. It is good to point out the bugs, and CA and us need that if it is done in at least a semi-polite way.
But despite what some may think, most of the game designers do get feedback and input from the forums (I speak from experience and I don’t care if it says junior or plebe or senior forum guru under my name, I have watched and participated in these forums and forums for strategy games long before total war under many different names). My intent in posting was to encourage those who want to see a better game to start or continue to post their creative ideas (as many have)…some will make it into future renditions.
May you line be straight and your battles decisive.
-MorgTzu ~;) :bow:
SRATEGIC IMPROVEMENTS FOR TOTAL WAR
Even before RTW hit the shelves, I had been thinking a lot about ways that the Total War series could be made better. Not in a limited way, like I want xyz in expansion (those posts are useful too), but in the concepts it includes in the game engine.
After reading this great article that discussed ways to improve the strategic model of RTW http://www.twcenter.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=23457&st=0 , it inspired me to post some of my thoughts.
THE PERSONAL ELEMENT
In history, it is a repeating event that cities and regions changed names not only as culture and times changed, but when areas were conquered or when the capitals of empires changed. Naming has always been important, but especially in the ancient world. The naming of military units for example, this was and still is a very important convention. Not only for the tie-in to the history of that unit, or for organizational purposes but to the most important element in warfare – moral.
When you start that new campaign that you have high hopes for, you have an emotional attachment to those two or three precious and expensive units of the line. How dear they become to you as you win that first battle, and plan your next, knowing that your campaign could well hang on whether those units rout at the crucial moment or turn the tide and drive the enemy before them. Or when you finally get that favorite unit, and the experience chevrons begin to pile up, the pride and confidence you feel as the enemy attacks you with unit after unit. The General, who despite having a few bad qualities, has won numerous battles and now goes by the name conqueror. You have a vested interest in him, both in time and emotion. For those who have played Civ III (and this is not a comparison between the two games), you know exactly what I am talking about, when that elite unit is victorious under certain conditions and now gets to be NAMED. I have had many 1st Tanks or Royal Guards, or whatever I liked in that game. They were special, they gave me memories. The same with cities I had taken.
To sum this up and use words that have been mentioned before, RTW has the potential but falls short of the Epic or the Dramatic. I was a little disappointed to say the least when I took Rome the first time. What…just another city? No cutscene? No music? No diplomatic messages or even a start turn message stating the great city had been taken, surely that is more important than ‘stoic philosophy’, at least to my game experience it is.
After that point, battles do become monotonous, cities taken begin to be a headache and it seems the only emotional point you are waiting for is the magic 15 or the magic 50. I believe many share this sentiment about the game.
On the constructive side, it would not be that hard to incorporate in-game UI’s that allow you to rename cities, regions, units, characters, or even factions. Too fantastical? Too difficult? NO. We will see new ideas and creative additions in not only the expansion but in the series and in strategy games of the future. The Creative Assembly is one of the most creative groups of designers in the industry and the proof is in the pudding. Despite shortcomings and the endless complaints, games are designed within the constraints of realities that many don’t understand or care about. Naming and adding more cut scenes/options/messages would greatly enhance the ‘gaming experience’ that we hear so many posts about and it would not be copying of ‘x’ game or’y’ game. If a previously released game has features that make it better or sell more, it will become part of future games. The civilization series and city building genre had a large (if not huge) impact on strategy games since.
There is an inevitability about the conclusion of the campaign once you reach a certain point. It was that way in STW, MTW, and its true in our RTW. But there are easy, cost-effective things that will make the game twice as enjoyable and personal and that will build the fan base into a mostly positive and creative forum (you can see this at forums such as NeverWinterNights where the topics are often: How do I…? or New mod out…New implementation of cool features…and the topics don’t begin with four letter words). I know many mature and experienced players who have quit even reading the forums because they see a decline of constructive suggestions being made and feel the creative and personal experience is being taken out of the total war series. It is good to point out the bugs, and CA and us need that if it is done in at least a semi-polite way.
But despite what some may think, most of the game designers do get feedback and input from the forums (I speak from experience and I don’t care if it says junior or plebe or senior forum guru under my name, I have watched and participated in these forums and forums for strategy games long before total war under many different names). My intent in posting was to encourage those who want to see a better game to start or continue to post their creative ideas (as many have)…some will make it into future renditions.
May you line be straight and your battles decisive.
-MorgTzu ~;) :bow: