Empire Total War -- Special Forces Edition

[Praxil]

I actually like Bad company a lot, it's a great game and they made most of the preorder etc weapons available for everybody now, just go to the official site where they have posted the unlock codes.

They did that, because some people opened their mouths. No comments on the game though, since I haven't even played it. Though, after the demo I didn't see any reasons to buy the thing.

Each elite unit brings with it the potential to open up dramatic new strategies and turn the tide of your campaign. A cornerstone of your Empire’s land or naval forces, each has the potential to be used to decisive and devastating effect.

Hmm... Interesting. How did they balanced this crap? What, does this strategy game have now scaled difficulty? Or are they just for role-playing? So basically by getting these wonder units, I'm making this game sort of a bit easier for me? Whoppee!!! Yeah, like it's going to be that hard. I'm confused here. Not only that, you must use Steam to unlock them? Looks like crap to me. I thought that this developer were pro. I mean, I understand when they are asking money for some new suit or something like that in Sims kind of games or whatever, but this is strategy game after all. I'm probably just overreacting... No I'm not.

I like the box art though...

[Sheogorath]

Incidentally, you can see a picture of the Special Forces box and its contents here.

Ugh...Microsoft slapped that horrible 'Games for Windows' logo on everything they could get their hands on, didn't they?

[pevergreen]

$20 bet that the units are given in the expansion pack regardless.

[hellenes]

I'm pretty sure that there will be someone who will quickly get these units out as an mod. And that probably doesn't take more than an hour to provide the link to download this mod.


Anyway, I find this way to make money highly questionable. This is a low blow in my opinion, and doesn't make any good for the reputation of the developer and the publisher.

I'm starting to think that maybe the game isn't that good after all. Exactly this kind of ways I can think of, if I'm not confident in my games ability to sell itself as an great game. I got great examples, Battlefield: Bad Company and upcoming Call of Duty: World at War.





I agree.

Then expect the IP protection Nazis coming this modders way...Oh and welcome to capitalism....where exploitation of the masses is on the daily agenda...

[Megas Methuselah]

You're scaring me, Prax.

Anyways, I'd buy the SF just for the map to hang on my bedroom wall. However, I hate the bonus units, though. In my opinion, it's almost like the old fantasy units(Roman Samurai, anyone?) from RTW.

*shudders*

Whatever, I still want the game. Nothing changing that so far.

[Martok]

In case some of you are wondering what happened to your posts, I split off the discussion about Steam and the most recent Gamespot article to a new thread. That way both topics can get their day in the sun.

[Fisherking]

The land units are all of historical interest to me and the two naval units mentioned online have value to me too.

I don’t know if there are unnamed units of these types in the game and these are just named elite units or if they are only available with the SF edition or other editions and if/when they will be included in the overall game.

So far as I have been able to find there is still nowhere you can preorder the SF edition or a price tag for it.
(I found it at play.com for 34.99 pounds and they say they are knocking off 10 pounds pluss the extra unit)

With some of these I just wonder if it means that other Irish and Scottish units will be included in the French Army and a whole lot more questions pop into my mind…

Does it mean that special land, sea, & artillery units are provided for each faction, or can be moded in, like say Ferguson’s Rifles or Marian’s Guerillas and so on…or that CA will add them as the game goes on???? Say like the Castle of the week for Stronghold…

Anyone else feel like speculating?

[rajpoot]

I believe in the editions they are included in, the units will just make a apperance like the famous people. Like at some point of time, or after some special research, you get an option to build the unit, or it just appears at one of your cities with an onscreen message....

[Polemists]

If I could buy it I would, I live overseas so the only way to get games is to ship them from amazon, and usually special edition games only ship to U.S. only and UK sites/Euro sites won't ship outside Europe, so yayness for living in one of the other continents :(

Mostly i'd buy it cause the box, and stuff looks nice. Though I am ASHAMED to see the game manual look that small once again. Is it to much to ask to beef up the game manual another 20 pages or so with some local historical time period data? I'm sure no one else cares.

It's a nice box and I think the units look good. Some people will get around steam, some will use it, etc etc.

I'm glad we are getting more info, though Feb still seems pretty far away.....

[Martok]

Mostly i'd buy it cause the box, and stuff looks nice. Though I am ASHAMED to see the game manual look that small once again. Is it to much to ask to beef up the game manual another 20 pages or so with some local historical time period data? I'm sure no one else cares.

Yeah, I too wish the manual was going to be more substantial. That's one drawback the Total War series has consistently suffered from -- a lack of adequate documentation. MTW's manual wasn't too bad, but I still wish it would've gone a little more in-depth than it did. The other games' manuals were even less comprehensive (don't even ask me about Shogun's! ).

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not asking for a 200-page tome that I can use as bathroom reading (although a guy can dream). It would be nice, however, to actually have a somewhat substantial manual for a change, and that covered the game with a certain degree of thoroughness.

[Fisherking]

Yeah, I too wish the manual was going to be more substantial. That's one drawback the Total War series has consistently suffered from -- a lack of adequate documentation. MTW's manual wasn't too bad, but I still wish it would've gone a little more in-depth than it did. The other games' manuals were even less comprehensive (don't even ask me about Shogun's! ).

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not asking for a 200-page tome that I can use as bathroom reading (although a guy can dream). It would be nice, however, to actually have a somewhat substantial manual for a change, and that covered the game with a certain degree of thoroughness.

I agree! Most of the time it takes weeks or even months to figure out what is a feature of the game vs. what is a bug.

I know in M2TW there were provinces where you could not build forts or watchtowers but at some point it may or may not become possible to build them….what the heck was that?

If something is conditional then it should be documented and a bit of background is always nice to have. And strategy guides are not the answer. Most of the time they are of little or no use and you just want to kick yourself for spending the money on them.

[Polemists]

Yea, I mean i'm not asking for end of the world book though I agree i'd be nice.

I just want to see a little more detail, a little more game knowledge.

I mean this game has so many features, and if they really want new players, they should lay it out decently. Like 30-50 pages, read this if you just want to leap in, then another bunch to cover all the various aspects.

What I normally get is, 1 page stating what has changed from last game to current in bullet points (no actual mention of how it affects game play i just get stuff like this)

-Now forts have a impact and can be built in the Brittish Campaign.

Um...what is that impact? where can I build them?

Plus no one wants a strategy guide for game knowledge. All strategy guides do is give you best advice for winnning/victory. Which is fine, but actual game features they don't usually mention, what is what we should be told in the game.

I mean do I really have to listen to some random annoying lady and random general heads that pop up on right side of my screen for all my game knowledge?

[pevergreen]

No you dont, you can either learn by playing, or wait a while until my guide comes out

[Pantsalot]

Where does it say you can get the Consitution? The ship saw service long after the end of the Revolution so kind of doesn't fit into the timeline the game is set in, although I suppose the same could be said about steamships.

All those units in the SE aren't even US related, at least two of those are English.

The entire game doesn't fit the time-line!
Or else you couldn't choose the US as a starting faction, be able to get troops that only existed
in the Napoleonic period, get Ironclads & I heard they were even allowing the chance for an American
civil war.

I agree on the complete guide idea, though they should make it free this time.. I believe
they made a Rome total war guide but you had to purchase it, the thing is I'm not even sure
if I'd need it as I know how to play the game but I only want to know a bit more details like how
to improve trade but that may not be included in the guide..

Can one pre-order the Special Forces Edition? I only see a pre-order for the regular edition.

Yes, that is what I'm going to be doing.

[Megas Methuselah]

Or else you couldn't choose the US as a starting faction

Uh... I heard several times over that the US isn't a starting faction.

[Mailman653]

Uh... I heard several times over that the US isn't a starting faction.

Indeed, I was under the impression it would be an emerging faction and the game would give you an option to switch over or not.

[edyzmedieval]

I seriously hope the ETW manual is substantial - the STW manual was good, MTW manual was VERY good, M2TW was good to very good. RTW manual was very dissapointing.

[Fisherking]

The USS Constitution is an add-on you get if you buy the game at play.com

The tutorial campaign is one where you play as the 13 Colonies and other than that I have no idea how it may come into play.

I have seen no reference to Ironclads, only a tech up for steam ships, which were offered to Napoleon but he turned them down as ridiculous.

Originally the game was supposed to go until 1820 but all the reviewers are saying 1800 now and no one from CA has contradicted them.

Also the last I heard it was one turn per year. I don’t know about you but it seems rather short for a game of such grand scale. After all in M2TW it takes 8 to 10 years just to cross the Atlantic.

[Sir Beane]

The USS Constitution is an add-on you get if you buy the game at play.com

The tutorial campaign is one where you play as the 13 Colonies and other than that I have no idea how it may come into play.

I have seen no reference to Ironclads, only a tech up for steam ships, which were offered to Napoleon but he turned them down as ridiculous.

Originally the game was supposed to go until 1820 but all the reviewers are saying 1800 now and no one from CA has contradicted them.

Also the last I heard it was one turn per year. I don’t know about you but it seems rather short for a game of such grand scale. After all in M2TW it takes 8 to 10 years just to cross the Atlantic.

One turn per year would be rediculous, and if that is the case then I hope modders can change that soon after the game is released.

Two turns per year would mean 200 turns, which is similar to Medieval 2 and Rome and seems much more likely.

As for ironclads and steam ships being available, CA have stated that you can get technologies before they were historically discovered if you invest enough time and money. I just see it as them allowing you the option to change history. After the starting date Total War games tend to get less and less accurate to history anyway so I don't have a problem with it.

[Sheogorath]

One turn per year would be rediculous, and if that is the case then I hope modders can change that soon after the game is released.

Two turns per year would mean 200 turns, which is similar to Medieval 2 and Rome and seems much more likely.

As for ironclads and steam ships being available, CA have stated that you can get technologies before they were historically discovered if you invest enough time and money. I just see it as them allowing you the option to change history. After the starting date Total War games tend to get less and less accurate to history anyway so I don't have a problem with it.

They tend to start out pretty historically inaccurate anyway :P

[Martok]

The entire game doesn't fit the time-line!
Or else you couldn't choose the US as a starting faction, be able to get troops that only existed
in the Napoleonic period, get Ironclads & I heard they were even allowing the chance for an American
civil war.

Where did you read that the game was going to include ironclads? This is the first I've heard it. Same thing for a possible American Civil War (unless they were simply referring to the Revolution).

Indeed, I was under the impression it would be an emerging faction and the game would give you an option to switch over or not.

I believe that's correct, yes. Although CA has yet to officially confirm it, it does sound like you'll have the choice to either play as the Americans (should they emerge, which isn't guaranteed) or continue playing as Britiain.

Also the last I heard it was one turn per year. I don’t know about you but it seems rather short for a game of such grand scale. After all in M2TW it takes 8 to 10 years just to cross the Atlantic.

CA has stated (on several occasions) that 1 turn = 6 months.

[Fisherking]

CA has stated (on several occasions) that 1 turn = 6 months.

I must have misread the articles then. Duh!!!

It is just with weather being so important to sail and the speeding up of the industrial revelation I had been hoping for quarterly or even monthly turns….

So hay, 1200 turns…does that seem right for most of us TW nut cases?

200 is much better than I thought but still a bit shy.

[Martok]

Yeah, I would prefer 4 turns a year myself, all things being equal. So long as the game is paced well, however (e.g., no one's rushing around always warring and/or colonizing), I won't complain too much.

[Pantsalot]

@ Methuselah: They have said that US will be a faction you can start as, but if you be
any other country then you have to get it to revolt in a specific way to make the US.
There is also a rumour that you can only go & be America on a separate campaign from
the main, but fisherking has made a good conclusion with that in the tutorial.

1.The USS Constitution is an add-on you get if you buy the game at play.com

2.The tutorial campaign is one where you play as the 13 Colonies and other than that I have no idea how it may come into play.

3.I have seen no reference to Ironclads, only a tech up for steam ships, which were offered to Napoleon but he turned them down as ridiculous.

4.Originally the game was supposed to go until 1820 but all the reviewers are saying 1800 now and no one from CA has contradicted them.

5.Also the last I heard it was one turn per year. I don’t know about you but it seems rather short for a game of such grand scale. After all in M2TW it takes 8 to 10 years just to cross the Atlantic.

1. Haven't we already mentioned that?
3. I believe I heard it mentioned b4, don't exactly know how due to my usual memory blanks.
4+5. Well that is 200 turns, the most it's taken some1 in my family to complete a long campaign
from RTW-MIITW would be about 150 turns, so I think it's rather an average of turns to complete
the campaign they have taken into account. & since this game has better ships than medieval ones
then it should be a lot shorter for a crossing of the Atlantic, & btw I recently crossed the Atlantic
on my MIITW with my Sicily campaign & it took me just 8 turns. & they're making it that the more
you strengthen your research (building schools & universities then research from the tech tree) the
faster you advance & you could end up with l8 l8er units that don't fit into the time-line at near the
end of the campaign, etc.

[The Outsider]

ok now i have done some research on this obviously in addition to 6 exclusive units u also get one additional unit depending on where u order from, in case of amazon.co.uk, u get amazon fighters which r female musket and saber wielding warriors from western africa, if u order from Game u get a special cavalary for french, and also theres the ship as mentioned before.

[Fisherking]

ok now i have done some research on this obviously in addition to 6 exclusive units u also get one additional unit depending on where u order from, in case of amazon.co.uk, u get amazon fighters which r female musket and saber wielding warriors from western africa, if u order from Game u get a special cavalary for french, and also theres the ship as mentioned before.

Great! You get amazons from amazon! The cool part about that is that I didn‘t think that that part of Africia was going to be playable.

Were there more detaled descriptions of those units that someone could post here?

Does anyone think that these codes can be shared or will they be just a one to a coustimer thing?

[Belgolas]

It has been stated several times at totalwar.com's forum that there will be 2 campaings. One just on the americans and another for the rest of the game. And as far as I know for EVERY single faction you can basically get 2 different factions. If you get a revolt playing as lets say spain then you could choose between either side. So USA is not the only emergent faction if the grand campaign. You can not start off as the united colonies at the beginning of the game because they don't exist. You have to have certain requirements/events to happen first.

Anyways maybe I could have a Canadian emergant faction :p.

[Polemists]

It has been stated several times at totalwar.com's forum that there will be 2 campaings. One just on the americans and another for the rest of the game. And as far as I know for EVERY single faction you can basically get 2 different factions. If you get a revolt playing as lets say spain then you could choose between either side. So USA is not the only emergent faction if the grand campaign. You can not start off as the united colonies at the beginning of the game because they don't exist. You have to have certain requirements/events to happen first.

Anyways maybe I could have a Canadian emergant faction :p.

I believe your right but this raises a question, what to call the other factions. I mean sure when 13 colonies revolt they get the 13 Colonies label. What happened Austria rebels, are we just going to see a faction called Austrian Revoultionists? I mean we are entering some unchartered historic water here.

[LadyAnn]

Like the kensai in S:TW/MI, the whole army in MP will be composed of special force units...

Annie

[Sir Beane]

Like the kensai in S:TW/MI, the whole army in MP will be composed of special force units...

Annie

Actually I think the info so far indicates that these units will not be available for multiplayer. They will only be present in the single player campaign.