Gamespy E3 coverage of Barbarian Invasion

[econ21]

Playing the Western Empire will be rather tricky as you will have to deal with barbarian hordes, a lot of disloyalty and corruption, as well as an empty coffer and some Christian unrest.

This is the most interesting thing I've heard about the expansion. I wonder if it will be viable to play the Empire defensively? Almost Total War games so far have been about expansion - to win, you have to occupy more provinces [1]. But I like the idea of just trying to hold on to your lands against the odds. Oda in STW and HRE in MTW were fun examples of large factions struggling to hold their frontiers; I am looking forward to the Western Empire being similar.

[1] The only real exception was the Japanese in MI

[player1]

This is the most interesting thing I've heard about the expansion. I wonder if it will be viable to play the Empire defensively? Almost Total War games so far have been about expansion - to win, you have to occupy more provinces [1]. But I like the idea of just trying to hold on to your lands against the odds. Oda in STW and HRE in MTW were fun examples of large factions struggling to hold their frontiers; I am looking forward to the Western Empire being similar.

[1] The only real exception was the Japanese in MI

Well, I guess that oversized army support (that is necesarry to keep borders not revolting), in combination with money deficit and several other factors would really make empire stagnant. Then add several good but old governors, which when die would add even more unrest (loss of influence and managment potential).

Basicly, you would need to reform your finances, and in same time watch from barbarian invasion (which could lead to even more deficit).

[Mongoose]

"Just to clear up some mis-information in the news releases about BI.

There are no Vikings - The reporter must have got mixed up with Saxons.
The Saxons do not have horns on their helmets

The Romans dont have a chariot, its a Carrobalista.

The Priests are about as effective in a fight as a peasant but they can bolster the morale of nearby troops.

The game starts in 363 AD and finishes in 476 AD. Each faction has its own victory conditions, unless you want to win by world domination in which case just keep playing.

Playing the Western Empire will be rather tricky as you will have to deal with barbarian hordes, a lot of disloyalty and corruption, as well as an empty coffer and some Christian unrest.

INTREPID SIDEKICK
#C.A. Staff#"


Thanks for clearing that up Just two questions:

1: are there any plans to add civil wars to the game?
2: how hard will playing the roman factions be compared to RTW?