Some Good News, It Seems.

**NimitsTexan** · 03-14-2009, 03:14

Originally Posted by Vlad Tzepes

Regarding invasions and fixing them - I dunno, I'm kinda cautious. There are so many factions in this game, major and minor, and so many ships everywhere, and so many war theatres, that if not balanced right it might get completely chaotic very fast.

Of course it's not right for France to walk around Paris 3 full stacks a whole campaign while London stays completely undefended, but I won't be happy to have Morocco, Savoy and Mathras invade US, for instance, while US is en route for Istanbul, Venice and the barbary states.

CA, thank you for listening to us, but please be careful.

Well, obviously, its a balancing act . . . but, I'd rather have too many than too few. As it is now, the Navy's are somewhat irrelevent, and the sea-based power, Great Britain especially, of course, but also France, Spain, Portugal, and United Provinces are handicapped (as AI) or too easy (as human) because of the lack of AI amphibious activity.

**Fisherking** · 03-14-2009, 11:30

Originally Posted by NimitsTexan

Well, obviously, its a balancing act . . . but, I'd rather have too many than too few. As it is now, the Navy's are somewhat irrelevent, and the sea-based power, Great Britain especially, of course, but also France, Spain, Portugal, and United Provinces are handicapped (as AI) or too easy (as human) because of the lack of AI amphibious activity.

Obviously this is a game breaker for many many people. Too many spam invasions is just a distraction and everyone should not be loading on boats heading off to India or the Caribbean.

A few islands changing hands is one thing but everyone with a port putting to sea to attack everything they can find is just silly and it would ruin the game.

The game needs to strike a balance. This is not Civ on a make believe world. A little restraint in allowing them would be wonderful.

Two games spoiled with them is enough already.

**NimitsTexan** · 03-14-2009, 19:52

Originally Posted by Fisherking

Obviously this is a game breaker for many many people. Too many spam invasions is just a distraction and everyone should not be loading on boats heading off to India or the Caribbean.

A few islands changing hands is one thing but everyone with a port putting to sea to attack everything they can find is just silly and it would ruin the game.

The game needs to strike a balance. This is not Civ on a make believe world. A little restraint in allowing them would be wonderful.

Two games spoiled with them is enough already.

Well, obviously we all would like it implemented in a realistic and balanced fashion, but for many, the complete lack of Amphibious Activity is a game breaker as well.

And, personally, I always though the M2TW campaign AI was decent . . . it certainly seemed more challenging than this one.

**IsItStillThere** · 03-14-2009, 20:13

Regarding invasions and fixing them - I dunno, I'm kinda cautious.

It wasn't just invasions, but people were saying the AI doesn't use ships to transport troops at all...so it can't even reinforce its own territories overseas (not verified if this is true or not). So the three whole stacks around Paris can't be used by the AI to beef up Quebec, or wherever else they may be needed unless they can walk there. Certainly we don't need to fear this particular aspect being fixed.

To me, it would be great to see a quick fix for the fact that in land battles, enemy reinforcements come in to the battle behind you, instead of relative to where they are on the campaign map. That would be top on my list.

**Ardri** · 03-14-2009, 20:16

It wasn't just invasions, but people were saying the AI doesn't use ships to transport troops at all...so it can't even reinforce its own territories overseas (not verified if this is true or not).

Based on my personal experience I'd have to say that this is in fact true. I've never seen an AI fleet with troops on it.

**Sir Beane** · 03-14-2009, 20:24

The AI not being able to transport units is more or less a confirmed bug.

**Monk** · 03-14-2009, 20:53

I'm filled with quiet optimism, can't wait for next week.

**Fisherking** · 03-14-2009, 21:05

Originally Posted by IsItStillThere

To me, it would be great to see a quick fix for the fact that in land battles, enemy reinforcements come in to the battle behind you, instead of relative to where they are on the campaign map. That would be top on my list.

Yes I agree that the reinforcements need top priority.

I also know that the British and French in particular need to transport troops and attempt invasions. I just don’t think the AI should waist troops on hopeless causes if it lacks the power to make it work.

Invasion fleets should seek to avoid battle and escape interception.

I think that would be the mark of a smarter AI and a good leader would seek to do the same unless he had overwhelming force to back him up.

As to the game and how it is going;

What some of you guys remember and what I remember about the release of RTW & M2TW must be a lot different.

I was there at both and they got the same sorts of gripes this one is. I am not saying the problems where the same, but the gripes and endless bug this and bug that were just the same.

M2 in particular took for ever to get anything done. Actually they never really fixed the 2 Hand bug or the pikes, did they…

Many of the fixes started with the Mod community and our members right here. That is how Jack Lusted was noticed by CA and hired.

This game has much more depth and a much wider scope than any of the previous titles. It may have a few more teething problems than the others but they seem to be on top of most of them, and when they are done, I think this team will give us a flawless game.

**Ardri** · 03-14-2009, 21:42

when they are done, I think this team will give us a flawless game.

Call me an idealist, but it is my opinion that a game should be done prior to being released. Obviously there will be some minor issues that pop up, but the degree of bugs in ETW (and many other games for that matter) just shouldn't ever make it to release. Seems like these companies should have more pride in their products they are producing. And now I'll step off my soapbox.

**Fisherking** · 03-14-2009, 22:18

Originally Posted by Ardri

Call me an idealist, but it is my opinion that a game should be done prior to being released. Obviously there will be some minor issues that pop up, but the degree of bugs in ETW (and many other games for that matter) just shouldn't ever make it to release. Seems like these companies should have more pride in their products they are producing. And now I'll step off my soapbox.

Who would want to disagree with that!?

But I am afraid that we are stuck with what we are seeing industry wide.

I think the days of the 3 month beta test are long gone and in a security conscious world, the games industry is not exception.

In house testing only gets you so far, and when it is your baby you are looking at, it is tough to be completely objective not to mention the lack of broad platform trials.

You can’t blame them if they fear pirates or theft of code. We saw what happened just with the demo trials.

It is a shame that it isn’t perfect, but you can’t find a lot to complain about the level of support and commitment they are showing.