Should Rome have the most attention?

[Steppe Merc]

Well, I wanted to make this a poll, but couldn't figure out how. Anyway, how many people think Rome should have the most attention? CBR is really the main one (no offense intended), and I wondered what other people thought. I personnaly think all factions should have been given equal attention (which they haven't), and all be playable from the start. Please, you're oponions are welcome.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I would like to see some more celtic and german units. I hope the modding for the game really gives us the chance of making unique unit types. As far as i'm concerned, i don't mind Rome having more unit types, i 'm just not going to give them the chance of making them! I'm going to burn and loot and generally annoy them and try to avoid massive pitched battles against them

[Sjakihata]

I think the most attention is a blurred term. They try to model the factions as realistic as possible. Let me explain. A lot of stuff happened in Rome, maybe not so much stuff in deep dark germanic forrests. Carthage we dont know much about, so more guessing is needed there.

But personally I think it's perfect as it is now. Further discussion is irrelevant untill we have seen the game really.

[Aelwyn]

Yes I think Rome should get the most attention by the developers. After all, they're basing the game on the Romans. Let the modders give greater attention to the other factions.

[hundurinn]

Yes Rome should have all the attention. The thing that bothers me is that it seems they've made Rome too important. Make it an option if players want factions to be unlcoked that way people could decide if they want them to be important or not.

[crazyviking03]

I see no problem with Rome getting more of the 'attention' in this game, as it is titled Rome: Total War. I just think everyone is overlooking the possible purpose that CA has made this game so moddable. They have made it so easily modded so that it can appeal to all groups, those who just want roman action will leave it as is, while those who want more for the other factions will easily be able to make this so.

[Spartiate]

I wonder if part of the reason that we have to play the Romans first is because of their superior units.That way when we move onto the other factions we have a broader understanding of the Roman units strenghts and weaknesses and are therefore able to exploit them.

[Stuie]

Rome should get the most attention. I've always wanted a decent ancient Rome game; I've never wanted an ancient Carthaginian game or an ancient Germanic tribes game.

But that's just me. :)

Honestly, I hope the inevitable expansion explores some of the civil wars that took place during the Empire, pitting Roman v. Roman.

[Barkhorn1x]

I wonder if part of the reason that we have to play the Romans first is because of their superior units.That way when we move onto the other factions we have a broader understanding of the Roman units strenghts and weaknesses and are therefore able to exploit them.

If that is so then - indeed - CA are a devious bunch.


I for one don't mind as I've always like the Romans - being an American in the early 21st Century - Imperialism, unilateralism, arrogance - all have a certain appeal!



Barkhorn. ~:p

[Steppe Merc]

Further discussion is irrelevant untill we have seen the game really.

I disagree. I think we've seen that the Romans have gotten way more attention than anyone else. And I guess I'm the minoritity, in that I want the rest of the factions (all of them) to be given equal detail as the Romans. Even though it's called Rome Total War, Shogun still had the Mongols in the Warlord addition, and were in my oponion more fun to play as as the Japanese. And while the so called average gamer thinks of knights etc in the Medivel era, the most fun factions for me to play were the non Catholic factions. I mean, the Romans get there own advisors, all the units have the real names, and you have to play as them. From what I understand the rest of the factions have no advisors, extremely incorrect sounding and looking units, and half you can't play as. And while yes, it is moddable and I fully plan on helping anyone and everyone in order to make my favorite factions the way they should be. But in my oponion, why tailor to the casual gamer and put the backburner on the core fan group?

[Blodrast]

Steppe Merc, a simple answer to your questions would be this: the Roman empire obviously had a tremendous influence on most peoples that were part of it throughout the years. That influence was manifested in all aspects of life: social, economical, cultural, and, not in the least, cultural. We have the largest heritage of documents and knowledge about the Romans, bar possibly the ancient Greeks.
Therefore it is a lot easier to create the Romans with all the detail you want, because a lot of things are known about them; it is not so with some "barbaric" tribe from Germania/Gaul/Thrace/Asia Minor/etc. I'm not trying to diminish the importance of the other factions or nations, I'm just trying to point out that a lot less is known about factions of that time than it is known about Romans.

Of course their units have real names: everybody heard of the 5th or 7th legion, there are detailed reports of how many men it had ay any time, where it fought, against whom, how many were killed, its centurions and consul and whatever else.

The "barbaric" factions for most of them were not even united; they were a bunch of tribes, mostly independent, and they didn't really leave any written historical legacy.
A lot of the stuff we know about them probably comes from the Romans as well...
But where would you find the equivalent of the so-well documented Roman legions ?
The British/Germanic/Gaul tribe between river X and forest Y ? Who were their leaders at any point ? Who did they fight ? When and where ? etc...

This can go on a long way, but I think I made my point: there simply is a lot more info about the Romans, and that's why it's easier to give them a lot more detail. That information is also easier to find and more available than that on some obscure tribes in some obscure territory, and there is only so much time that can be put into research.
So, while not necessarily pleasant for everybody, it seems a natural choice for me to have more detail put into Romans.

[Steppe Merc]

Hmm... I just realized I posted two of these threads. Since CBR just told me how to post a poll, I'll post a new poll tommorow.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I would've preferred a less Roman-centered game.

I like the M:TW approach better, a more open game where every faction has a good shot at domination.

In real life, by 270 BC Rome's eventual rise to dominance was by no means a necessary outcome. Carthage came very close, the more civilized nations of the eastern mediterranean could've turned their attention westward, even the Celts demise was not inevitable.

What's confusing though, is that by choosing 270 BC as a starting date, CA are clearly acknowledging this open outcome, while at the same time they seem to have devoted most attention to Rome...


Oh well, we'll have to wait and see...

[Lonewarrior]

Not really, there are more factions than just the romans.