Going Official

[Elvenwolf2k]

Hey, first I would just like to say I love this mod. The Total War series are the greatest games I have ever played and this mod just makes it greater by making up for all it downfalls, especially the roleplaying/historical. Now the only thing left, though I don't think its in you power, is to fix the AI, but i digress.

I believe EB has turned into the major modification of Total War, there are no others that put as much work into it, or, as far as I know, have so much of a following. Therefore I was wondering why you guys try to work how something the Creative Assembly. Maybe get some official help so more of the dreams you guys have for the game can come about. Also, the mods might be able to be developed quicker. Maybe even total support where they help make the game and you guys merge or something. Whatever it is, but I just think that CA might just doing something for you guys since your mod has become such an integral part of the game.

PS. I hope this came out the right way.

[Bootsiuv]

Hey, first I would just like to say I love this mod. The Total War series are the greatest games I have ever played and this mod just makes it greater by making up for all it downfalls, especially the roleplaying/historical. Now the only thing left, though I don't think its in you power, is to fix the AI, but i digress.

I believe EB has turned into the major modification of Total War, there are no others that put as much work into it, or, as far as I know, have so much of a following. Therefore I was wondering why you guys try to work how something the Creative Assembly. Maybe get some official help so more of the dreams you guys have for the game can come about. Also, the mods might be able to be developed quicker. Maybe even total support where they help make the game and you guys merge or something. Whatever it is, but I just think that CA might just doing something for you guys since your mod has become such an integral part of the game.

PS. I hope this came out the right way.

I don't even think CA supports Rome anymore. It might be a possibility with EB2, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I'm fairly certain Foot will be around soon to tell you this won't happen. He doesn't know me, but I've lurked around these boards long enough to know him. He won't go for it.

[Elvenwolf2k]

I don't even think CA supports Rome anymore. It might be a possibility with EB2, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I'm fairly certain Foot will be around soon to tell you this won't happen. He doesn't know me, but I've lurked around these boards long enough to know him. He won't go for it.

I dont mean for EB for Rome, I mean for EB in the future like EB 2 and so on. Like I said, kind of make EB an "official" mod or something for the Total Wars

[Bootsiuv]

I dont mean for EB for Rome, I mean for EB in the future like EB 2 and so on. Like I said, kind of make EB an "official" mod or something for the Total Wars

So would the EB team get paid? Or would CA make a ton of money on work they didn't do? It's a slippery slope, my friend. But, I'm no member, so maybe.

[Bootsiuv]

After thinking about it further, this really isn't a good idea for CA. They should have came out with EB a few years ago, and it should have been called Rome: Total War. But the game they came out with was no EB.

Therefore, if they endorsed EB, they would basically be saying "Hey, the original game we made sucks so bad that we have to recommend a community made mod. Afterall, we get our paychecks for doing this, but it's nothing compared to the volunteer work of the community."

Most would wonder why a company endorsed a community made mod. That would basically be saying change the game you just payed for, because it isn't good enough.

EB will likely get recognized. I know PCGamer does a section on community based mods sometimes. Has EB ever been featured in that? I would be real surprised if they hadn't.

[Starforge]

After thinking about it further, this really isn't a good idea for CA. They should have came out with EB a few years ago, and it should have been called Rome: Total War. But the game they came out with was no EB.

Therefore, if they endorsed EB, they would basically be saying "Hey, the original game we made sucks so bad that we have to recommend a community made mod. Afterall, we get our paychecks for doing this, but it's nothing compared to the volunteer work of the community."

Most would wonder why a company endorsed a community made mod. That would basically be saying change the game you just payed for, because it isn't good enough.

EB will likely get recognized. I know PCGamer does a section on community based mods sometimes. Has EB ever been featured in that? I would be real surprised if they hadn't.

In the old BI announcement (which I can't now relocate on the new forum) CA had made it clear that their games were about the combats and any fun to be had from the campaign map was an afterthought. After reading that - and seeing how they were approaching BI in reducing the number of cities to "speed up" the game, M2TW was no real suprise. It's unfortunate that they have no real desire to work on the campaign but here's hoping that they'll program some hooks for the modders to allow more manipulation of diplomacy, trade, and other non-combat options.

Frankly, while the vanilla RTW was fun for it's time - without EB and other mods I doubt I'd still be playing it (like I don't play M2TW - waiting for EB2.)

To Keravnos: I'm sorry if that seems like a dis of CA. They gave us the engine that made these games possible, however I find that generating combats while ignoring the underlying basics of the campaign map (which they definately use to at least sell the game) is like building a house without adequate building materials. Yes - you get lots of combats but much of the time they are of poor quality. Kudos to them for developing / generating the game as it is and making it moddable but I'm sorry if I'm less than enthusiastic by the lackluster attention to an (IMO) integral part of their product. Here's hoping that someday that will be addressed or they'll make it possible for modders to address it.

[Sassem]

If CA is interested they can offer the modders a job they just to PM them right, but the difference here is this mod is born out of inspiration (love) RTW is made for the money so they have deadlines EB doesn't that's why this mod is so complete


That's the whole thing IYAM

[Bootsiuv]

If CA is interested they can offer the modders a job they just to PM them right, but the difference here is this mod is born out of inspiration (love) RTW is made for the money so they have deadlines EB doesn't that's why this mod is so complete


That's the whole thing IYAM

True, True. Isn't that how Ludens got a job with them? I mean through one of these sites.

[keravnos]

Thanks for all the kind words.

I think we are fine as we are.

CA makes TW games. We mod them.
They make money, we get to play a game suit to our vision, that CA just can't make due to time constraints. It is a very delicate balance that exists, I don't think anyone wants to tip it. If CA thinks we 're in it for the money, they will make TW games unmoddable. Then we all lose.

So far as they are concerned, I don't think any EB member would have a problem with their using any/all part of EB in any EB era game they might make.

In fact this is why EB was formed anyway. To assist CA in its depiction of historical warfare, that a game company which has targets to meet and shareholders to appease just does not have the luxury to dwell on.

To any/all who would diss CA... Don't. TW games have been an evolving goodness, each one better than the one before by leaps and bounds. It takes a good long while to make any part of it. Then mods like this here little one, try to make it better. But that wouldn't work if the game itself wasn't good enough for people to buy, or mod-dable enough for us to improve them.

Nothing was made out of zero. It took EB nearly 3 years to reach the status it has today- and consider that we use RTW vanilla cities, and the RTW engine. If CA was to wait that long between each game, SEGA wouldn't oblige, I think.

However, it may work another way around I think. It may be that once CA sees some good idea/concept/unit, next time they pick up the RTW era (or EB era), some of the work we have done will filter in.

[Kull]

The EB team strives for professionalism in every aspect of the mod, but we have the luxury of time and the absence of deadlines and the ability to utterly ignore the desires of the mass market. All of those are critical concerns for CA, and thus the twain shall ne'er meet.

[Geoffrey S]

Can't remember where, but there is a topic around where EB team members state explicitely that they would never do this and did not want this kind of line of enquiries pursued any further. Can't remember the exact reasons, but they were convincing.