IGN article

[Martok]

Gah! Don't know how I missed this one.


While there's not much in the way of new info, there was one nugget about governmental systems that I found interesting:

When it comes to the type of governments players will be able to establish, Brigden pointed out there'll be no forced progression system. "It's entirely dependent on how you play the game and what kind of leadership style you want. If you want to be brutally repressive and have massive armies, we're not saying democracy is the only way to go. It has its advantages and it has its disadvantages. You don't research up to democracy, it doesn't work like that. You research different aspects like learning…and those things make your people want different things and the way you play makes your people want different things. It's an emergent experience rather than a linear one."

This is very much like what I've been hoping to see with governments -- a system where they may change naturally depending on various actions. Specifically "researching" government styles (such as democracy) has always felt unnatural to me, and I'm glad that CA appears to have avoided that.

[Megas Methuselah]

Hey, thx Grasshopper*. This is nice to know...

*I still don't understand what you meant when you called someone 'grasshopper'

[Andres]

*I still don't understand what you meant when you called someone 'grasshopper'

From Wikipedia:

"Grasshopper" is a term currently used in jest referencing an inexperienced person who has much to learn. Its use originating from the television show Kung Fu (1972-1975) in which the student, Young Caine, portrayed by Radames Pera is taking instruction from his Master Po portrayed by Keye Luke who nicknamed his student "Grasshopper" as a term of endearment.

[Martok]

Hey, thx Grasshopper*. This is nice to know...

Yeah, I'm very pleased with how governments can/will change. It makes a lot more sense that way.

*I still don't understand what you meant when you called someone 'grasshopper'

What Andres said. My calling someone "grasshopper" is also an affectionate shout-out to Mithrandir, who himself occasionally called me that when I was first promoted to being his assistant moderator.

[Megas Methuselah]

Kool. Thx for everything. I, also, am pleased to hear this juicy information on gov'ts. It could be very interesting, I think, attempting to forment a rebellion/change of gov't in your own nation.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Now.. I read the article.

This sounds.. eem... interesting:

With the proper tech upgrades, you'll also get the opportunity to pilot rocket ships that can launch fiery projectiles from long distances.

I want to see those ships!!
Although they seem like a fantasy unit!

I really hope that AI would be smart enough to know this:

"Melee combat is still very much a part of the game, but it's really kind of a last-ditch thing and a very crucial decision that you make. It's much more now about movement or positioning of forces and using your firepower effectively."

Don't want to see enemy just walking near your lines and then charge only to rout after the first man reaches my lines!

This I don't get it:

by the time the year 1800 hits and time stops advancing turn after turn.

Does that mean that when the game 'ends' then there will always be the same year, the end year?


This is how far I got with the article..

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Now.. the second page of that article..

The part about government types what Martok posted is interesting.

But to those who wanted to be the next 'Jack Sparrow' () then this should be interesting:

and in multiplayer you will be able to play as pirates as well."

So, this makes me want to try the new multiplayer!

There is however something that puzzles me.
Will there be Hotseat option as well like it was in M2TW?
I like Hotseats so this was one of the things I hoped to see in ETW.

[pevergreen]

IIRC CA said quite a while ago they have been aiming to make ETW even better in terms of Hotseat and Multiplayer Campaigns etc

As for the Rocket Ships, I've been told that somehow they actually got them functioning in that time frame, a rocket went up then arced down onto another ship.

[Sheogorath]

IIRC CA said quite a while ago they have been aiming to make ETW even better in terms of Hotseat and Multiplayer Campaigns etc

As for the Rocket Ships, I've been told that somehow they actually got them functioning in that time frame, a rocket went up then arced down onto another ship.

Quite true. It seems the British and Russians were both very fond of rockets, although the Russians didn't seem to use them much in Europe (except as signaling devices). This is probably because they both had far more interaction with Asian people than the other European states. The British, in particular, learned a few hard lessons about rockets in their wars with the Indian states (the first Anglo-Maratha War, I think it was, where a British army was routed by Indians using rocket launchers. That's really fun to say :P).
I understand the Brits rather got their kicked in that little conflict.

Anyway, back on topic, I believe both vertical 'ballistic' rockets and direct fire rockets were used in naval warfare. Obviously the problem with the ballistic style is that you need them to hit the enemy, and since rockets have roughly the accuracy of a minigun in the hands of a chimpanzee on meth that could be an issue.
The direct-fire sort, I gather, were more used to set rigging and such on fire, rather than blow things up. Exploding was simply a side-benefit, not the main event.

I cant recall anything about dedicated 'rocket ships', though. That part, I suspect, is fantasy.

[Nelson]

HMS Erebus was the one rocket ship I know of in the Royal Navy in 1814. She fired her Congreve rocket battery at Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland thus providing "the rocket's red glare" as immortalized in "The Star Spangled Banner". The Brits had about five bomb ketches too.

The British Army also used a rocket battery at Bladensburg during their approach to Washington.

[pevergreen]

HMS Erebus was the one rocket ship I know of in the Royal Navy in 1814. She fired her Congreve rocket battery at Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland thus providing "the rocket's red glare" as immortalized in "The Star Spangled Banner".

I was also told this. Didnt think he was right though

[Fisherking]

Well the Brits were rocket mad at about the end of the time frame of the game…too bad they lopped off those last 20 years don’t you think. Much of this makes more since if the time were still there and years with multiple turns, as I understand they are not. Of course what will the expansion be and how soon will it be out?

It is only guess work of course but it would seem that CA has done a lot to get their act together this time so who can say what is coming.

[Megas Methuselah]

You mean it actually ends in 1800? And about the rockets, CA has stated on many occasions that researching technology won't exactly be according to the timeline.

[gardibolt]

So the game starts in 1700 and ends in 1800? That seems awfully short...do we know what the time frame per turn is going to be?

[Martok]

1 turn = 6 months.


While it is a relatively short time frame, bear in mind that ETW is going to be different in that conquering the entire map -- assuming that's even possible -- probably isn't going to be the primary way to win. Victory will now depend on which nation has acquired the most "prestige" points, which (in addition to successful military battles/campaigns) can also be gained through economics, research, etc.

[Polemists]

Well I assume they chopped off those 20 years to give the Napoleanic Wars a very vaunted spot in the expansion. Though I personally would have preferred to see it in Empire Total War, similiar to the mongol invasion of MTW with cinematics and large armies appearing.

It is a fair amount of time. Many people thought the same thing when the dates of MTW2 were given, but realistically it's alot more then it seems. Plus this time around there's alot more you can do in a turn.

I mean the mere fact you can now train your armies out in the field, will save countless turns spent in MTW2 moving guys from city A in greece to reinforce army B over in russia or wherever.

Plus with a larger map and faster ships I am assuming it won't take as long to get across the map which was the major time delay of mtw2.

Oh and the expansion almost to a t ususally comes out a little under the year after the game. So last time the game came out in Decemeber and the expansion in August. So what's that, 8 months? So if it comes out in Feburary.........you can expect a expansion in October probably. Assuming they follow a similiar formula. Assuming they can do it quicker because it's same engine and they already did a expansion, August-September if your lucky.