Campaign Timescale

[Wishazu]

I have been away from totalwar pretty much since M2TW came out. Only in the last couple of weeks has Empire managed to gain my interest. I was just wondering to myself if anyone here knew any details as to how fast or slow the campaign will go. Basically I hated the fact in M2TW that you were constantly under pressure to expand and conquer etc. before the time limit ran out. I like to build my empire up slowly.

[Sol Invictus]

The campaign lasts from 1700-1799 with two turns per year. It doesn't sound like we will be rushed, though I do intend to change turns to four per year.

[Wishazu]

198 turns doesnt seem anywhere near enough, especially when the first 10 or 20 you`ll most likely be clicking end turn etc. untill you have armies where you want and basic infrastructure set up.

I`m not going to pre judge the game though, perhaps there will be alot more to do as each turn goes by...

[Polemists]

There are a few benefits that should help the time rush of 198 turns.

First of all this time around your generals can build armies in the field. Which is supposed to elimnate the long wait times while you wait 3 years for army A, B, and C to meet up so you can attack Fort A.

Secondly, this time movement should be quicker, so getting across map won't take as long.


Third, the achievements this time around are more related to the Glorious Achievments of MTW 1 then MTW2 conquer all. So this time your goal may be to form a trade empire, or protect your country's homeland, or conquer france, etc, etc. So while you can conquer everything it is not *THE* goal this time around.

So, the game should allow us more to do, and make things easier

[Megas Methuselah]

I don't care, I want more turns.

...though I do intend to change turns to four per year.

[Fisherking]

It has been easily moded in the past, but that isn’t the point.
I had hoped for seasonal turns simply because of the Naval War aspects.
The wind speed and prevailing directions are seasonal to a strong degree, as is the sea surface.
More turns would just have been a bonus. But they may have some demographic research that leads them to wanting shorter games.

The grognards among us are going to make it 3000 turns long anyway.

[Martok]

198 turns doesnt seem anywhere near enough, especially when the first 10 or 20 you`ll most likely be clicking end turn etc. untill you have armies where you want and basic infrastructure set up.

I`m not going to pre judge the game though, perhaps there will be alot more to do as each turn goes by...

Well as Polemists pointed out, the victory conditions in Empire are going to be different this time around, as whether or not you "win" is determined by how much Prestige your nation has. Since prestige can be gained a number of ways (amount of money, number of battles won, level of technological advancement, etc.), it apparently will be possible to win the game without having to conquer half the map. So at this point, it's really hard to say whether ~200 turns will be sufficient or not.

Personally, I do feel like it won't be enough (and will likely play the first mod that gives us four turns per year), but I could very well be wrong.

[Wishazu]

Well as Polemists it apparently will be possible to win the game without having to conquer half the map.

That is very good news for me. One of the main reasons I stopped playing M2TW was that I hated feeling rushed the whole time.

[Fisherking]

But even at that 198 is not so many turns when you take the scope of this game into mind.

Will you be able to raise Regulars in North America or India? That didn’t really happen now did it?

Some units I am sure, will take multiple turns to build. Even if units can travel on trade fleets and not on transports it will be slow to get them to other theaters of war. But I do think I remember something about protecting transport fleets in an early article. And money is always an issue!

We have not seen the game yet, but it already seems like you won’t have any time to spare.