An other "Next TotalWar Game" thread

[sapi]

I wouldn't be surprised if a bigger redo of shogun or medieval cropped up...

Don't do fantasy though - i like having an idea of what does what; sword beats archer; archer beats light infantry, not Silver bullet legion beats vampire thing; dragon=elephant=owns

[bodidley]

A game based around the Warring States in China would be cool,

Yes, that would be badass . Spring and Autumn period, Warring States period, or Three Kingdoms period would be cool. The strategic divisions of the country can actually get quite redundant but besides Koei games, gamers in most markets don't get much China strategy action.

[Samurai Waki]

as long as it isn't Fantasy or WW2 I'll probably buy it.....*sigh*

[Daveybaby]

I would really like to see a fantasy total war. Something like Master of Magic using the total war engine would be great. Okay, so its not historical - but we're already getting pretty much every conceivable historical era via mods. What's left that isnt already being covered by someone? Napoleonic era would be nice, but whats the point in CA producing that when the Lordz are already doing such a good job?

As for WWI / WWII - you would have to make it 'Modern total war' and probably have to take it from victorian times up to present day in order to get a long enough game. The trouble with modern warfare is that its on a completely different scale (both spatially and temporally) to the sort of stuff thats been covered up to now. IMO it would have to be a completely different style of game altogether for it to work.

Fantasy really fits the bill IMO. As long as the game has good strategic and tactical play then i'm happy.

[Ianofsmeg16]

Did anybody see my earlier post?

A Knights of honour-style camp map, with different levels
Level 1: Overview of the World: Huge map but only has province details and cities on it
Level 2: Continent Map: RTW Map at the moment, more detailed than lvl 1 with armies, spies and diplomats etc.
Level 3 : Country Map: Extremely detailed map with villages, towns and cities that all play a different role in running your country, also add Churches, farmhouses and Manor houses (another thing from KOH) onto this level
Battle map: Battle maps should be un-restricted or at least huge, ecompassing everything you see on level 3 into the battle map e.g. If you Can see Plymouth, Dartmoor and the severn estuary on Level 3 then all of that should be incorperated

see? then they could include the whole world

[Divinus Arma]

I think it should be Fantasy!
I think it should be no-franchise fantasy!

Then all CA must focus on is game play.
And all players must focus on is game play.
And all modders must focus on is game play.

It is hard enough (down!) to get a game history-correct or fun to play.

Those mods who focus on game play only, getting to abstracted from realism in RTW setting. Those who focus on realism only get little fun.

BI demo may be hint that they are thinking away from realism more, because units light up "level up" style when gain experience.

So this it what I think. all stats, weapon, region, faction, culture, mount, everything just designed for best possible game, not for correctness to be dissected.

I like history and learning and that as much as next man, but I like most a fun game!
And Total War Type Game is great!! potentially!!

Here's a puppet member if I ever saw one.

Abokasee, is that you?

[Ianofsmeg16]

Here's a puppet member if I ever saw one.

Abokasee, is that you?

[Gustav II Adolf]

I would love to see a game starting after where medieval ended. The years of early gunpowder and forward gives allot of variety in units and melee combat. Sadly it´s not an obvious era. My guess is Napoleon TW for the masses. Well, maybe american conquest or a world war TW could do it.

[yesdachi]

There is probably an entire untapped fan base/market out there for a fantasy total war and as the actual historical opportunities are becoming less (with new mods being made all the time) I think a fantasy game would be a natural progression and if done right it could be loads of fun.

[Elmar Bijlsma]

My €0.02 worth:

Franco-Prussian war and beyond is just a BAD idea, TW is about massed combat, the wars from then on aren't. Besides, if you want to play WW2 so bad, buy Combat Mission, it seriously rocks and still has the WW2 combat market cornered, just a shame there is no operational or strategic layer. Anyone thinking WW2 combat is 'easy' will soon be cured of that notion.

Napoleonics sure seems the likely contender though with Histwar: Grognards (again published by Battlefront, I love those guys!) coming up end of the year my Grognard wishes would be already fulfilled.

Fantasy could be cool, though it shouldn't be some randomly made up stuff. Ideally Tolkien but I think Activision holds the full rights now so chances of that would be slim to none. But Robert Jordan could be good. Heck, if done well I'd buy Discworld Total War.

But my strong preference by far goes to the many, many wars between Catholics v Protestants. Thrirty Years war and the many wars it spawned for example. That truly is an era of total war with oodles of factions, a good Catholics v Protestand backdrop and you'd get a good variety of units with swords and armour etc clinging on despite the rise of the firearm and pikes making their big comeback. Hmmm, pikes, maybe a bad idea unless CA fixed that particular mess. And relgious strife makes for good political backdrop. It could include the Inquisition. No one expects the Inquistion.
Big problem is that despite the good backdrop mass market appeal isn't that good. There's been a few recent games roughly in this era but the average gamer is still largely oblivious to this fascinating age. But apart from that, it would have anything. And hey, STW did the Japanese civil wars, hardly a known conflict, though then again that had Samourai, who are hot stuff in the mass market appeal factor. Them and Ninjas.

[Zenicetus]

I Agree with Sapi's point about fantasy themes.

You basically start from scratch with any fantasy title, unless it's one of the licensed franchises like D&D where you may already be familiar with the rule set. I had a pretty good feel for Neverwinter Nights because I had played the Baldur's Gate series, and it used similar D&D rules for unit matchups. When I got the Kohan fantasy RTS game (and later the Kohan II sequel), I had to learn a brand new rock/paper/scissors scheme from scratch.

I didn't have to do that when I bought RTW. I could jump right into it, because I already had a pretty good feel for how the units worked, based on my overall knowledge of history and real-life combat. I didn't have to spend weeks or months to learn an arbitrary combat system. Aside from the big licenses like D&D or LOTR, all fantasy-based strategy games are basically arbitrary and unpredictable from one game to the next.

I don't think CA will go in that direction anyway, because there is still some juice in the historical area. They could do ancient China (my personal guess at the next TW title), or Meso-American conquest/colonization, or re-visit either of the prior games with better graphics. I just hope they stay away from gunpowder combat, like the Napoleonic era. I don't think it's the best match for the current 3D game engine. A terrific screenshot of guys hacking at each other up-close and personal, will sell a lot more games than a camera view of a line of soldiers slowly toppling from long-range gunfire.

[Sol Invictus]

If not Napoleon then it has to be China. Either one could be very interesting. Napoleon would demand much improved diplomacy and a lessening of the slash and burn total conquest that has been at the core of previous TW games. That settles it, go EAST CA.

[Geoffrey S]

China: Total War would be ace, or else a more widely focused Asia: Total War would also be good. One thing I'd still love to see are smaller, more tightly focused campaigns, such as a Caeser in Gaul or Greek Cities campaign. I'm quite surprised not many people have actually made more focused campaigns like the Sicily map.

[Divinus Arma]

This was posted like two weeks ago:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=51652

and this was a while back:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=44540


But whatever. My vote is obviously for 1600-1890 with a full world map and emphasis on colonies and trade and diplomacy in addition to our beloved tactical battles.

[Marquis of Roland]

I want to see a Three Kingdoms Total War. Anyone that played the KOEI games gotta agree, TW engine is perfect for it.

Too bad CA won't make it. Probably won't relate to as many people (who own computers) as the previous two. No market, no money. Boo.

[Bartix]

Here's a puppet member if I ever saw one.

Abokasee, is that you?

Of course not at all!
I saw Abokasee Bartix thread before joining, and thought Bartix name cool.
(Sorry if I cause him trouble)

I get poo-poo here, yes. :embarrassed:

I think suggesting WW something is worthy of poo-poo. Not suiting concept.
Must have mix of range and hand to hand combat, formations, mounts, variation of armor and equipment, development of provinces+++

A Medieval remake OK, but I think Ca prove not capable or willing to make effort for history correctness. Obvious in game, and in comments of FAQ and org. Also total history correctness can make very un balanced or boring game play.
So I stay with my own proposition.
No need to have many magic or dragon or things, that is not meaning.
I just think freedom to make great game will be maximum this way.

[Leet Eriksson]

since the game ends 100 years behind the arab conquests, it would naturally be the next step CA takes the Total War series... The Islamic Conquests from 632 AD to the Norman conquests of britain in 1066 AD. or even start with a scenario prior to the islamic conquests, like the war between the Himyar (a yemeni kingdom that converted to judaism headed by Yusuf dhul Nawas) and Axum(christian ethopians headed by Kaleb) in 523 AD.

[Mahrabals apprentice]

I have a great idea

I live with 3 women, and we have 1 bathroom

Bathroom Total War (just like i experience every dam morning)

Who can get in first, who can used the mirror before it gets steamed up, who can leave the most towels on the floor, (and just for me, how badly can i miss the toilet when i pee)?

If u want violence and carnage and all out war this is the idea u will like

[sunsmountain]

Re-doing Shogun: Total War or Medieval: Total War has the unwanted side effect of sales in those games stopping. People will buy the better looking game if it's the same game otherwise.

It also wouldn't be very creative, with them being the Creative Assembly and all that. So my money is on fantasy, but I would buy a remake of Shogun and Medieval (both in 1 package). They already have all the artwork.

I hope CA don't move into fantasy, because - despite the complaints - I think they make the most fun historical wargames around.

I agree but historical is unnecessary in that equation.

(They aim at mass market strategy games, but IMO are historical wargamers at heart and leave enough of the hardcore stuff in their games to satisfy that niche, at least after modding).

That niche is about as big as the other. Ie, Historical Wargamers and Fantasy Wargamers are about the same size. Perhaps Fantasy Wargamers are even bigger due to World of Warcraft etc. because Blizzard paved the way there. It also means increased competition. Making an orc or an elf in the RomeTW may look nice to us, but crappy to any Warcraft III player (not as detailed or immersing).

Don't do fantasy though - i like having an idea of what does what; sword beats archer; archer beats light infantry, not Silver bullet legion beats vampire thing; dragon=elephant=owns

Well, i don't really like bullets, but silver swords would be nice if Vampires use claws, and they're both high level units. Obviously, in TW, you can't have immune to damage units. They would both need a rounded army roster and some cool background, but hell no it doesn't need to be historical.
You can still see the weapons they're carrying, can't you?

Biggest problem fantasy faces is how to incorporate Magic users? Maybe wizards like in Warhammer Fantasy Battle but there are always people who complain about them.
Tough choice for CA. They'll probably just make a mod like Macedon: Total War and essentially keep working on Rome: Total War because it's not finished! (AI, path-finding, etc.)

[Decebal]

i have just an idee ! they can make a next TW with the cruciades in all islamic regions This is history not fiction! i have not seen anyone say this!
Cruciade Total War or another name?




Sorry for my english

[Viking]

since the game ends 100 years behind the arab conquests, it would naturally be the next step CA takes the Total War series... The Islamic Conquests from 632 AD to the Norman conquests of britain in 1066 AD. or even start with a scenario prior to the islamic conquests, like the war between the Himyar (a yemeni kingdom that converted to judaism headed by Yusuf dhul Nawas) and Axum(christian ethopians headed by Kaleb) in 523 AD.

That`s a scary good idea. Either that, or time around Alexander the Great`s conquests would be just perfect for the next TW game.

[Galaahd]

What about a Total War from 30 Years War to Napoleonic Wars, or Crimean War?

The campaign map should be Europe, North-Africa and a little bit of East (Ottoman Empire...) but North America also (7 years war and Indipendence War...). With naval battles, of course

[King Henry V]

What about a Colonialization: Total from 1492 to the Indian Mutiny or the Crimea. A whole new feature to make a world game mor managble would be to split the world up into Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. The player could choose to focus his personal attention on any continent they wish, whislt the others would be managed by the coumputer. The player would give the orders of course.This would make it also more realistic as rulers could only be in one place at the same time. You could choose to switch locations anytime you wished as events unfolded.

[caesar44]

1492 to 1815 , Europe , North Africa and the Middle East , all factions and a much better diplomacy system with maximum possibilities

[Taurus]

I think that making a WW1 or WW2 TW game etc. will take out the fun and atmosphere out of the total war series and it would no longer feel like a total war game, imo.

Good old ancient melee and missile. Not Lancaster bombers and submarine spitfires etc. *begs CA not to make a WW1 or WW2 or even WW3 for that matter tw game*

[bodidley]

A bronze age or fertile crescent game would be great. The only recent game I can think of covering that setting or even time frame is Chariots of War. Heck, they could even re-use the Egyptian units from R:TW!

[AntiochusIII]

Gee. I'm getting tired of Europe. I want them to go East, be it Far East or Middle East. :)

If there is a fantasy TW then I won't be the one to buy it. Unless, of course, it's based on Tolkien's Middle Earth.

Building some fantasy fictional land out of nowhere isn't very fun to play, you know. The key to TW has always been the fact that players can now recreate the ancient empires of their choices, which is why there are so many historical nerds in the TW fanbase.

[Enjoi_BlackHawk]

What about a Colonialization: Total from 1492 to the Indian Mutiny or the Crimea. A whole new feature to make a world game mor managble would be to split the world up into Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. The player could choose to focus his personal attention on any continent they wish, whislt the others would be managed by the coumputer. The player would give the orders of course.This would make it also more realistic as rulers could only be in one place at the same time. You could choose to switch locations anytime you wished as events unfolded.

i was thinking the same thing, guns are important but bayonettes where way more effective, easily contained within the Rome engine, i was even thinking of CA working on supply lines, but it might just become tedious....hm....it would be intresting if they had certain "value" of the land, like you would want the east indies because of the spices etc, africa for slaves (hm could they implimate slave trading w/o a law suite? It plays a big part during this time...

But no AI control, i personally dont think AI is even close to do it 2 ur liking, i would prefer just more generic handiling of cities than have AI micromanage everything for me. That way you can focus on combat more

[bodidley]

hm could they implimate slave trading w/o a law suite? It plays a big part during this time...

Could you deny the existance of slavery without a lawsuit? I think you'd have to follow the grim realties of history and choose the depth to which you want to explore them. Ever notice that the "slave market" in so many totalwar.com previews never made it to the final product? Or no enslaving captured enemy soldiers? I suppose when you're trying to cater to 12 year olds the whole slavery thing isn't exactly pc but you can't make a creative product while fearing lawsuit every step of the way, especially if it isn't designed to offend.

I think a bit pre-bayonet would be better for the Total War engine, getting a good mix of pole-arms, firearms, cavalry, and artillery.

[King Henry V]

Of course killing enemy prisoners is far more merciful than enslaving.........