RPS interview with CA's James Russell

[Martok]

Link




A few things that stuck out for me:

RPS: What kind of changes have you made to the campaign map when compared to the previous games?

Russell: The most obvious difference is the sheer scale of the game world. This was the time when Europe was extending its power across the world, and when the first truly global wars were fought. As well as the European theatre, the campaign map stretches west to include the Caribbean and much of North America and east to include the whole of India, as well as special trade areas such as the East Indies and the Ivory Coast.

I note the omission of any mention of South America. Admittedly somewhat disappointing, but not surprising.

Russell: Of course, you can still do things manually as well. You can also choose to promote a new general from the ranks.

While I figured/hoped this was in, it's still good to hear it confirmed.

RPS: What aspect of Empire: Total War do you think mainstream coverage will miss out on or ignore?

Russell: A lot of coverage is inevitably focused on the graphical advances made by the new engine, and how beautiful the game looks - especially the spectacular naval battles. But in many ways, it’s the multitude of small details that make the game more immersive. Generals developing certain traits as a result of the way you use them. Flag bearers and officers shouting orders on the battlefield. The way your population gets unhappy if you attack a friendly nation but patriotic if you attack a hostile nation. The way a country can become hostile if you’re caught spying, or if you go to war with someone they like; or the way their hostility might soften if you go to war with a country they dislike.

Outstanding! So our people can be pushed towards revolt if we attack a nation we've had good relations with -- this pleases me greatly.

[Sheogorath]

Wow...a system that doesn't automatically penalize the player for going to war?
Considering the usual strategy game deal is to slap the player with 'war weariness' penalties for that kind of thing, I can only hope that this might be a sign of changing times :P

[sassbarman]

The more i hear about this game the more giddy I get. I've got a sneeking suspicion that CA just
might hit a home run with this one.

[pdoyle007]

Promote your own generals?

Will they still be elite units? If so I am guessing there must be a maximum? What unit would they be as heavy cavalry might not be the wrecking ball it has been. If you promote an artilleryman will it be a 'Generals Artillery Unit' - Napoleon?

Either way every 'Sharpe' fans dream of promoting from the ranks has just come true

[Polemists]

You had me at

but patriotic if you attack a hostile nation.

Wootness, time to launch some serious invasions of old foes and kick up the old wars again. 30 years war here I come.

[rajpoot]

?Promoting from the ranks was something that could be done in the previous games too.........when you did not have proper general in the army, and you won the battle heroically (or something) you had the option to make the leader of the army a family member.
How's it going to be different this time?

[Megas Methuselah]

@India

I believe it can be done manually now, so you don't need a heroic victory with a captain anymore(which, in fact, couldn't be done if your family was too large). You can just promote him to general status. Good for rp.

[Polemists]

Agree that seems to be trend. i assume it will work in a simliar manner to you handing out titles and choosing your cabinet members. In MTW this was done with a little document holder, and you'd just use it on whoever you wanted to get whatever.

I would still like to see the option though of Hero of Hour or whatever it was called. I mean if a captain does do very heroically I'd still like to get a little message saying, "Hey you should pick this guy, he just beat a army single handledly"

[pdoyle007]

yes, would be good to promote a certain number, say you have an army size/general ratio and as your army grows or a general dies you are given a list of candidates, most from the nobility but occasionally a deserving ranker.

Could have bonuses or penalties depending on who you pick, e.g. 'not noble born' for a ranker, or 'undeserving leader' if you select a noble with no experience.

[Martok]

Could have bonuses or penalties depending on who you pick, e.g. 'not noble born' for a ranker, or 'undeserving leader' if you select a noble with no experience.

A marvelous idea, pdoyle007! Would love to see something like this.

[Wandarah]

Still drastically short of details re: Boobs.

I do ever so hope that CA comes up with the goods shortly.