Religion

[Daveybaby]

I think that TC was talking historically, Rtw covered almost 300 years, M2tw more than 400 and ETW will cover just 120....

It all a matter of how much happens during that period. Its a pretty well known fact that as time goes on progress becomes more rapid - which is why the civ series, for example, actually changes the number of years that each turn takes. In the stone age it can be hundreds of years per turn, and by the modern age its only 1 year per turn, yet the rate at which interesting stuff happens (both in terms of technology and change of control across the map) remains roughly constant.

The number of years is irrelevant, its how much stuff you pack in there each turn that matters. You need time to use each technological innovation for a bit before the next one comes along. You need a balance between getting around the map quickly enough to keep you from getting bored, yet still have time to see the enemy coming and react accordingly.

If there was a total war style game covering the period of world wars I and II, it would only need 40 years from start to finish. You'd probably have 1 or 2 months per turn in that situation, but you'd still have plenty to keep you busy, because things moved so much faster during these periods than in roman, medival, or even napoleonic times.

I hope they get rid of religion, the crusade mechanic is fun, but makes it really hard/scary/unappealing to be a non catholic faction. and it royally screws the orthodox factions.

Agreed. Any crusade type gameplay is just going to seem totally out of place in napoleonic times. But, as the article linked to in one of the other threads states, its a completely new game engine, from the ground up.