Alexander "Hand On" Preview

[Lorenzo_H]

Ahhh well, thats just stupid. Maybe they will be unlackable? Mayeb we could edit the files?

[Barbarossa82]

I think I'm starting to see that they've conceived the Alexander expansion differently to the way I'd hoped. I had hoped they would basically set out the world as it was at the beginning of Alexander's reign, then give you the opportunity to put into practice what you would do if you were Alexander or Darius. Now it's looking like the aim of the game is to simply replicate Alexander's career as a computer simulation. You must go where he went, when he went there, with what he took there, and end it by the time he died. So basically it's a heavily scripted role-playing game rather than the more conventional Total War recipe of an accurate (for the most part) starting position, followed by a free rein.

I'm not bashing CA, for the record. (a) because the game isn't out yet so this could be a false impression, and (b) because they have a right to design it however they want. I'll just be disappointed if it turns out to be what I think it's going to be.

[econ21]

Well, we'll soon see. I am not sure the core campaign will be heavily scripted - it would certainly be an innovation if it were. (It should not be confused with the linked battles that Brian Blessed has done the voice work for.)

But I think the map and victory conditions will dictate that the only way for Alexander to go is east. Rather like how the Vikings in Viking Invasion could only go to the UK. Beyond that, I expect the Macedonian player will have all the freedom you normally enjoy in a TW campaign. As I say, I normally dislike blitz games - I'm a turtle - but this is one where doing a blitz is entirely historical and doing as well as the historical outcome could be a good challenge in a game. Rather like replicating the fall of France in 1940 in a wargame.

Not sure about other factions not being playable. If true, it would be disappointing although I suspect they - at least the Persians - might play out rather like the Japanese in Mongol Invasion. Some horrendous battles to begin with and then, if you are successful, it's game over in a few turns. Not a very interesting strategic situation.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Hmm, very good point Econ21. I suppose that would be too short of campaign. And last time I checked, Greek/Indian units didn't horde, like in BI. Oh well...