IGN Multiplayer Q&A

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

The "continuing development" actually makes me more hopeful than I might want to be.

[pevergreen]

In addition, players will get the option to fight as the opposing AI army in any battle encountered by their opponent. So basically, the player can replace the AI in battle, meaning that players can be constantly fighting multiplayer battles that have an impact on the overall campaign. Want to buckle your opponent before they even reach your borders? This might just be the way to do it.

And suddenly taking over lightly defended cities became much, much harder.

Rebellions in some regions can result in the emergence of nations -- for example, Scotland or Greece.

Best. Game. Ever.

[Monk]

And suddenly taking over lightly defended cities became much, much harder.



Best. Game. Ever.

My thoughts exactly!

The "continuing development" actually makes me more hopeful than I might want to be.

Heh, I know what you mean. But at this phase i'm afraid it's hard not to be hopeful. Multiplayer campaign is something we've been hounding CA for years about but we were always told "It's too complicated" And it was.

I suspect that the move to Steam had a huge part to play in the MP campaign finally getting picked up. They mention Steam a number of times when talking about it, saying how easy it will be to find buddies and track games with people through the friends tabs, ect.

[Fisherking]

The things I saw worth bringing up:

Empire: Total War is scheduled to ship on March 3, 2009.

No one noticed this?

It is new and different…maybe even true…

On multiplayer:
Kieran Brigden: We're not setting a target date at this point. Right now our focus is on getting Empire Total War complete and then we'll be looking at full support for the game outside of this Beta. We'll be releasing details of our post-release plans very soon, including for the multiplayer Beta.

Let’s hope so!

Kieran Brigden: Our minimum specification right now is a 2.6Ghz processor backed with 1gb of memory and a graphics card with 256mb RAM. Of course, there are a lot of scalable options for those players with lower and higher spec machines. However, as with all PC games the better your hardware the better your performance

Is this a slight change or a simple error on her part?

[Sir Beane]

The player's first objective in this episode is to claim the Ohio Valley. The French have a stranglehold on this territory, with a series of forts presenting a major obstacle for the player's armies. These fort battles will challenge even the most experienced Total War players, as all routes will be guarded by ambushing units, cannon redoubts and buildings garrisoned by enemy troops.

This sounds like tremendous fun!

Towns can be developed as centres of entertainment by building bawdy houses or opera houses.

Excellent! We can turn our towns into centres of music and dance. Which will make it all the more satisfying to and blow up the your enemies competing opera house. Take that cultured arts!

And how come no on has mentiond this yet?

That said, I should clarify that battles for cities take place in the outskirts rather than in the centre of cities. Siege battles are really about capturing the forts guarding the approaches to the city. The biggest forts in the game are so massive they contain quite a few buildings and are a real challenge to capture, even with the mightiest army.

To reiterate, city battles are no longer fought in the centre of the city itself. Thats a huge change.

[pevergreen]

It is, it will make the siege AI much better. No more waiting for them to batter down walls. 3 tiers of walls even!

Huzzah!

[Fisherking]

It is, it will make the siege AI much better. No more waiting for them to batter down walls. 3 tiers of walls even!

Huzzah!

This is true of the outlying towns, but as I read it not the Capital City.

There is the part about taking refuge in a building on the town square…many building inside forts etc.

And while we are at it…let us hope that since they were tinkering with the engine they may have gotten it so ships can go at forts…and landing parties!!!

That part on continuing development got me thinking…