* The Next Official Total War Game *

[The_Doctor]

Lemmings:Total War

Liverpool:Total War

[Shadow]

I vote for China: Total War

We can have china, korea, mongolia,India,Manchus,maybe some south-east asia countries like Burma, Vietnam, Laos & Thailand.

[avatar]

China: Total War. After a Hun expansion for RTW.

[Pericles]

I think it would be kind of interesting to see a map of Asia and Pacific.

The player could play as any Asian power.

I also wonder if one day we will see a world map for Total War?

[the tokai]

They should do fantasy: total war, but completely made up and not tolkien based so that no one will be able to whine about "historical" accuracy.

But seriously something based on China and India would be nice, especially since there aren't too many (good) games focussing on that part of the world.

[Theodoret]

im rather suprised that no one has said that the Renaissance would make an excellent choice for a total war game, with a timespan of lets say 1500 too 1789 when the french storms the bastilje and begins the revolution.you could play spain with you're tetrcios and try too kick the swedish back into the baltic, or as poland try too fight back the ottomans at the seige of vienna, or as king Carl try too bring tzar peters empire too its knees. wouldn't that just be splendid?

You are only saying that because you want to play a time period where Sweden is a major player

Seriously though, I think 1453 to 1789 would be pretty interesting. There are two problems with it. If you focus on Europe and the Middle East, you miss out on all the colonial activity. If you include the rest of the world, you'll probably make the game too big and it will end up like Europa Universalis. The other problem is that this time period doesn't have the same instant popular appeal as Rome, the Middle Ages or 16th century Japan.

I think that China would suffer from the same problem as far as popular appeal goes. Does anyone know how well Impression Game's China city builder sold compared to Caesar and Pharoah?

I think that a New World: Total War or a Napoleon: Total War would be the most likely. Either could be pretty fun, although I wouldn't fancy trying to beat the Spanish as the Incas.

[Crazed Rabbit]

I'd like an "Asia : Total War" spanning from Japan to Europein the early middle ages. The unit variety would be endless...which would probably mean that CA would give similar units to a whole bunch of nations, like spears for barbs and eastern spears for eastern folk in RTW.

Any way, I hope they have REAL diplomacy and supply lines.

@Theodoret
Actually, the Incans castly outnumbered the invaders (Spainards, seeing the immense Incan armies, were said to have soiled themselves.) The Spanish won because they came in the middle of a civil war and managed to capture the Emperor and avoid open battle.

Crazed Rabbit

[Pericles]

I think that China would suffer from the same problem as far as popular appeal goes. Does anyone know how well Impression Game's China city builder sold compared to Caesar and Pharoah?

I have the whole city building series - great games btw.

And I didn't even know they had made a China city building game

I guess that tells you something

[JR-]

eurasia total war - 900 - 1500

[Byzantine Prince]

Meso-America Total War.
Africa Total War.
Hellenistic Total War.
Islam Total War.
Cortez Total War.

That's all I got for now.

[patish]

How about native american tribes ?

[*Ringo*]

The loose ends in the naval code would suggest a time period including rendered naval battles!

...just speculation but i'd go with the Napoleonic era.

*Ringo*

[Pericles]

The loose ends in the naval code would suggest a time period including rendered naval battles!

...just speculation but i'd go with the Napoleonic era.

*Ringo*

I would be happy even if they enhanced the naval battle segment by including strategy cards you could play that would use various naval maneuvers.

And of course, the level of commander and his skill would also play a part.

[Dominic]

How about Myths: Total War? Gods and deities duke it out in the time before human civilizations (borrowing a concept from M$). This might be a better alternative than the suggested Fantasy: Total War, since history, real or imagined, forms the background of Total War games.

Comedy Options:
Fallout: Total War - All-out nuclear war has reduced all of humanity to barbarism and savagery! It's up to you to rediscover lost technologies and warfare tactics on irradiated wastelands full of mutated creatures! I bet those giant scorpions will make soldiers in phalanxes work properly!

Internet: Total War - Wage war on the Information Super Highway! Take down rival servers with DDoS's! Build firewalls! Deploy spywares! Create Internet catchphrases and memes that will stand the test of time!

Sports: Total War 200X - Create armies of sports fans! Build elite Fan Groups such as the Manchester United Soccer Hooligans, or the Angry NHL Ninjas of 2005! Watch them clash on stadium grounds in real-time battles involving thousands of participants! Almost 100,000 spoken lines of wry commentary included!

[Zalmoxis]

LOL Dominic.
Now then, as for the future games. I personally believe having mass gunpowder battles would crush the Total War series, and if any of you did not know, there already is a Napoleonic war game similar to this series, though I forgot its name. My top picks for the next total war are:
China: Total War (With Asia Factions included)
Meso-America: Total War (Llama's are great instead of horses.)
Africa: Total War (Though I don't think you have much unit choice here)

[Nikodemus]

who need instant popular appel when you can beat the russian bear too vladivodstok and back? since a time period where sweden dominates in any way is very very far between, why not just use the time period of say Europa Universalis 2? the end of the knights and the start of gun warfare and ending in the napoleonic era? i personally would laugh if it would be that time period since CA cant give english voices too the swedes . and maybe they could release the american indipindence war as a expension pack too get some sales there, we all know that evryone over the pond wants too replicate The Patriot with Mel gibson...right ?

[Sir William Wallace]

After this RTW debacle, they shouldnt make anymore games

[RollingWave]

I'm pretty good with Chinese history (being chinese XD )

Anyway.. the best time line scheme for a China: total war would probably be the Spring and autumn period all the way up to Qin's unification of China.

Reasoning...
1. enough factions: there were several hundred small kingdoms... and even counting major kingdoms there were still more than a dozen.

2. enough variety: the different kingdoms had a good variety of warfare.

3. it was of all other chinese periods, the greatest period of change and development and invention and creativity.

4. the different thoughts fighting for influence : the various schools had many different influence, no other chinese age really saw this, this could work like religions in MTW/RTW for the various bonuses.

etc.. this would work better than the 3 kingdoms era imho.. which is far more individual focused and didn't last that long either

Another possible era would be the era of the Mongol invasion where u had 4 factions involved (and u can throw in other central asian faction i guess)

Of course redoing STW MTW on the now better engine is pretty cool too.

[jerby]

is it me or are the only ones that want american: total war. the americans? chauvanistic?

[Pericles]

is it me or are the only ones that want american: total war. the americans? chauvanistic?

Come, come...

Let's steer clear of this type of thing, shall we?

I think we are all interested in seeing a variety of settings for the TW game...

Whether the game is set in Asia or Europe or America...

After all - the game's the thing...

Cheers!

[L`zard]

After all - the game's the thing...

To recap the thread~

"The Next...." total war= ?????????????

I'm very interested in how CA will do an expansion for R:TW much less, the next version.

Willing to wait for the rev.2.1 that will come out w/ the expansion pack, but there WILL be a limit, eh?

(sorry Mods, just can't keep my mouth shut, sigh.........)


L`zard

[Cheetah]

Based on the previous releases I think that there is a variety of criteria that the given time period has to fit, some has to do with marketing, some has to do with gameplay:

1, at least one famous general
2, a famous warrior cast
3, eight or more potential factions
4, interesting and balanced gameplay both on tactical and on the strategic level.

Obviously STW, MTW and RTW all fit these criteria. Now, lets see the proposals:

Conquest of the new world:
1, Cortez, Pizzaro, so far so good
2, ?? unless you take the conquistadors as a warrior cast
3, again we might have a problem here, unless one includes the Maya (city states), Aztec, Inka empire it would be difficult to come up with 8 factions. Moreover, these empires historically has little or nothing to do with each other (Aztecs with Inka etc).
4, IMHO this is the greatest problem. If you consider only the native technology you end up fighting with obsidian (sp?) axes. On the other hand, if you include the conquistadors that might seriously unbalance the game both on tactical and on strategic level.

American Civil war:
1, Lee, Grant
2, ???
3, only 2 factions
4, tactical gameplay might be ok, but the strategic picture is not favourable because of the lack of factions.

Chinese TW
1, I am afraid that most of the Chinese generals are unknown to the potential Europian or US costumers.
2, ??? might be, just I am unaware of it.
3, Well, the period of 3 kingdoms obvioulsy had 3 major factions, but I am sure that by going back a little bit in time one can set up more factions.
4, as the previous posts indicates gameplay would be fine

Renaissance
1, ? Of course I am not saying that there were no great commanders just that they are nowhere near as famous as Ceasar, Alexander or Napoleon. Lets face it the most famous person from that period is Machiavelli, he was more of a politician than a commander thus he might not be the best choice for the TW series.
2, ?? Again I am not saying that there were no elite troops and such, just I am afraid that most of these troops/formations/tactics are more or less unknown to the potential target group.
3, It would be easy to come with 8 or even more factions.
4, Gamebalance would be fine, the period would fit very well the TW series.

Napoleonic TW
1, Napoleon, Wellington
2, the old guard, french revolutionary armies in general
3, there might be a problem with factions. Although it is possible to come up with 8 different faction but they are not balanced at all. France, England, Russia, Hapsburgs, Prussia, Portugal, Kingdom of Naples, Poland (?), Spain (?). Out of the abouve 9 only 3 of them were major continental powers (France, Russia, Hapssburgs), sticking to the historical facts (which is not the strentgh of CA though) would result a very unbalanced game on the strategic level.
4, See above, imho tactical gameplay would be fine (there is Lordz Napoleonic mod for MTW/VI) however the strategic balance would be a problematic issue.

I think either Chinese or Renaissance would be perfect choice as far as gameplay concerned, however both period is weak when it comes to marketing. On the other hand, Napoleonic TW wins hands down the marketing race but it might have balance issues on the strategic level. Taken all together I would go for Renaissance but if marketing weights more (as I suspect) then expect a Napoleonic TW.

[Iguanus Commodus]

I hope they redo Shogun. Add the Korean campaign to it and China as well. And those funny mongols can come as well again.

[L`zard]

CHEETAH;

Far as I can see, not much maket for 'china campaigns', which is a pity as there's so much room for gaming in 'early period' china..........

It's got my vote, by danm!

'Early period' china has WAY more than three opponents, and would be major fun.

Unfortunately, as you say, no-one in the US knows dick about this history.

Way pity!

SIGH~~~~~~

[Graphic]

Total War: China posibility interests me the most.

[RollingWave]

I would hardly think most US/Euro teens/youths would knew more about Japanese history than Chinese history pass the Samurias and Ninjas.

A few simple example on the period I was talking about on Cheetah's reasoning.

1.There were many many famous generals in this time, i'm sure everyone and their mom heard of Sun Tzu at least.... he lived during this period.

2.There was a warrior class during this time (The Shi)though it kinda faded as time went on, but also replaced by others (for example, the Qin kingdom was a rather Spartan like society.)

3.As already said, when the Zhou dynsty accended it created no less than several hundred feudual kingdoms, during this period at least 2 dozen was still quiet prominent.

4.There was the Zhou King which would kind of work like the Senate or the Pope, he didn't have a ton of real power but would still effect many things, attacking him usually draws criticism while helping him earned praise (though this effect declined steadily over time), there were many schools of thoughts developing during this time which could work out like religion except maybe even more interesting as some of them contradict each other while some didn't, and leaders were free to accept and change different schools .

By the later period of this time there was 7 major kingdoms fighting for power with about 4-5 minor factions. they could split this into different start like like MTW as it was much like that as some kingdoms got split up.

Stratigic wise this era was also interesting as many changes happened, at the start it was mostly chariot warfare in a sort of greek fashion as battles often seemed more like a competition than a war, but as time dragged on no one was dumb enough to stick to the rules. cavalry developed, crossbows were invented, warfare changed massively. as time goes on. and so did technology as iron started to replace bronze and seige tactics and weapons were invented and countered.

[Bjorn Bjornson]

It's funny how people argue against an American Civil War version because of "only two factions." England, France, Canada, Mexico, among others could be players as well... especially considering the Total War series has been more about "What Ifs" then actual historical recreations.

I'm more inclined for one set in China though. I have played the Romance of Three Kingdoms series and those are neat, and the region is large and diverse enough for some interesting strategy.

Although probably more of the market would be for the western world geography, frankly I'd like to see a Total War not set in Europe.

Hmm.... maybe Total War: Islam?
Factions can include the eastern Roman Empire, the kingdoms/empires of the Persian region, India, Siam, Malaysia... Catholic crusaders, Castile/Aragon, whatever African nations there were, etc. etc. Of course that idea probably wouldn't fly, I think it would be neat.

But I'd probably bank (and hope) for either something in China, or maybe, like some people have mentioned, an enhanced remake of Shogun would be neat too.

[Martok]

My choices would be the following:


1) Fantasy TW
2) Hellenic TW
3) China TW


Of course, I would really like to see Medieval remade on Rome's engine, but that's neither here nor there.....

[sunsmountain]

As a historic battle engine, Total War has been exhausted and there are no more historic timeframes that can be exploited.

- Anything with muskets/guns tends to be static and boring.
- All the rest is still spears, horses, swords and archers. That is Total War, that stays total war (because of the game rules).

To expand on the history would mean to make guns dynamic, very difficult to do.
To expand on the game rules would mean to change the time & culture frame entirely, and go for something like Fantasy, or Ancient: Total War.

The game itself limits the kind of battles that can be played using it. We've had Japan, Europe and Europe again. 3 different time periods. The rest (in between) can be modded (or expansion pack).

[caspian]

For an Expansion Pack:
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:
Total War
(long title!)

When most of the known world was civilized (somewhat), so most factions are balanced.
When there would be a Roman general in revolt every decade to become proclaimed as the emperor. There once were four Emperors ruling jointly.
When Rome left the British Isles and the advent of King Arthur.
When the Roman legionary was no longer as invincible as they were in the days of Gaius Marius. A consular army of 40,000 men was wiped out by the Goths and their horse in the Battle of Adrianople.
When the decline of the old order of infantry was apparent and the advent of the heavy cavalry and the Middle Ages has come.

Still if CA went farther back in time like they did in STW and MTW. I would suggest
The Iliad: Total War. With a dash of Greek mythology to spice things up.
Still Alexander: Total War is tempting, buy it would also mean an inordinate number of Phalanx units again.