Guess I'm not getting this game...

**Dutch_guy** · 02-19-2006, 17:28

I understand perfectly well why Gtafanboy would want to have a risk style map, I myself fell in love with it the moment I played it - and I played Rome before I played Medieval.
It was easier for the AI to make choices, therefor it was able to produce a challenge, which is what makes Medieval, especially on the harder settings, a challenging game to play.
Yes, there is much room for improvement and a step to improve the map has been made with Rome.

Rome's map was 3D and was a ''living'' map, whereas Medieval had a static world map. Rome's map is prettier but harder for the AI, Medieval's map is not so pretty compared to Rome's but it is way easier for the AI to use.

I for one do not think we should go back to the Medieval /Shogun type of map, I deem it best that CA should perfect this type of world map... and yes there is a lot to be done in that area and I hope they start doing this right now, with M2TW.

So what can we hope for... In my opinion what we need is a 3D living map ( Rome) divided in to invisible for - lack of a better word - barriers which gives the AI limited choices as in Medieval. So as to not render it useless on the Campaign map.

**Servius** · 02-19-2006, 18:25

Personally, I liked the MTW map more than the RTW map because in STW and MTW, you either owned/controlled a province or you didn't. In RTW, you only control the city tile and the tiles where you have an army in them. The whole province idea is basically non-existent because bad guys can come in and out of your province as much as they like, block your roads, etc. and you have to waste time chasing these stupid puny little stacks all over the place.

I also agree that, since the map was easier, the AI was better. But I also would prefer an RTW may IF CA could actually make an AI that knew how to use it properly.

One last thing, trying to take a pot-shot at MTW's map by saying that you could move from Egypt to Norway in one turn doesn't work. Why? Because MTW turns were 1 year long. So it's not silly to be able to sail from Egypt to Norway in a year.

What to know what is silly? An RTW turn is 6 months long, but RTW units can only move like 100 miles per 6-month turn. That's not even 2 miles a day. The average backpacker can walk at least 2-3 miles an hour. If you march for 8 hours a day (and ancient armies would have marched more than that), you'd average 24 miles a day, which is 4,380 miles in 6 months. The entire nation of Italy isn't even 600 miles long.

**screwtype** · 02-19-2006, 19:02

Yes Servius you're quite correct, the movement speed in RTW is ridiculously slow. One thing I REALLY want in the new game is a strategic movement option, where you can move a unit say 6 provinces in a single turn provided they are all empty of enemy troops. An option like that really shouldn't unbalance the game unduly, and it ought to help the AI concentrate its forces against threats.

Unfortunately we've heard very little from CA so far about improved movement, which suggests they haven't done much to change the stodgy system we got in RTW.

BTW I agree the old STW/MTW style campaign maps worked better, but realistically we won't be seeing them again. The new 3D map has a lot more potential anyhow, they really just need to iron out the bugs and add more interest to it, which could be done in any number of ways.

**A.Saturnus** · 02-19-2006, 19:23

Yes, the movement speed in Rome was very slow, but at least it was equally slow everywhere. In Medieval, moving through the Sahara was quicker than through France!

It's out of the question that M2TW will have a campaign map like in Rome. Going back would be like making units 2D again (which some people even seem to prefer). But it would be wise of CA to look at the merits of the old system and try to implement them into the new system.

**cannon_fodder** · 02-19-2006, 20:07

I prefer a grid-based campaign map to a risk-style one. I'll quote PC Gamer UK:
"Your territory is thus harder to defend, mitigating against the Medieval tactic of amassing huge armies in a few vulnerable provinces, sitting back and lighting your pipe."

**Big King Sanctaphrax** · 02-19-2006, 22:45

I assume CA are sticking with the Rome system. However, I hope they could make it look more map like-a similar style to the MTW map-while retaining the Rome functionality.

The RTW map, while technologically a great leap, looked like a cartoon and was not atmospheric in the slightest.