factions?special units? Strategies?

[NagatsukaShumi]

As we know, unlocking factions to play with is relatively simple on TW games and even though CA didn't intend you to play with them, they mostly work fine when you do unlock them, with only a few requiring a tweaking.

I would entirely expect an Indian faction of some kind to certainly be involved, likely the Mughals. Dependant on just how this map works, there may well be a African continent too so I would expect some African tribes to appear should that be the case. Indians may well make an appearance to cause a nuisance in America, after all the War of Independence doesn't happen until late on into the game.

There is a big choice of people to include, who will find their way into the game is another matter and really we can't speculate entirely until we see a map of the area actually involved, as I'm not really sure on that one yet.

Besides, the modding community will probably already be setting the wheels turning in their heads (or is that just me?) for what to do, not in any depth of course but I am sure it will continue to thrive.

[BoyarPunk]

Better have Russians or I'll be boiling mad

[Praxil]

Yeah, it was kind of strange not to mention that the Russia is playable faction, when at that same time Peter the Great is one of the heroes in the game. I hope for the sake of gameplay and sense that these heroes will be only passive characters to add persona to factions. Bring different passive elements like better training for troops or better trade etc.

[Zenicetus]

As we know, unlocking factions to play with is relatively simple on TW games and even though CA didn't intend you to play with them, they mostly work fine when you do unlock them, with only a few requiring a tweaking.

I'm wondering if that will be true with this one though, unless you just ignore sea power and the western side of the map. The choice of playable factions seems to be based on who had major force projection with navies during the period (with the curious omission of the Dutch??). That makes sense, as a showcase for the new naval combat engine, and it's probably why Russia didn't make the list.

It will be interesting to see if those other unlockable factions can actually get access to the shipyards, navigation tech, and ship types that the playable factions have, or if they're blocked out of advancement due to the tech tree... something like the situation with M2TW with the Byzantines or Scotland in the late game, with respect to gunpowder.

If they are blocked from major sea power, then maybe the modders can try their hand at an alternate history mod, where these other factions can get their ships. Or maybe the game is winnable as, say, Russia if you just ignore sea power.

[DisruptorX]

Ugh, I would have thought that CA realised that no one likes having unplayable factions. Everyone is playable in MTW 2. The worst thing about Rome was having to mod it to use like have the factions.

[Lord Winter]

The Dutch should defently be in if their starting at the War of the Spanish Succesion. Leaving out the dutch would be akin to leaving out the U.S. in WWII.

I don't know if they need a pourtagal faction, much of thier power was gone by this time, as they merly played a secondary role.

[Matt_Lane]

The Dutch should defently be in if their starting at the War of the Spanish Succesion. Leaving out the dutch would be akin to leaving out the U.S. in WWII.

I don't know if they need a pourtagal faction, much of thier power was gone by this time, as they merly played a secondary role.

Could you have a Peninsular War with out Portugal?

[Rhyfelwyr]

Were the Dutch not in a union with Britain in 1700?

[Matt_Lane]

Were the Dutch not in a union with Britain in 1700?

I think there where various alliances around this this time (Grand Alliance and Triple Alliance) which the Dutch and British were both part of but Britain and the Netherlands where not in union like Scotland, Wales and England are.

[Matt_Lane]

I'm interested in how the America's will start out. Will it be Spain, Britain and France slugging it out against each other and the indigenous population or would New Spain, New France and America be a separate entities?

Also the CA site particularly mentioned the revolutions in France and North America. Would these be represented by new emergent forces or would there be a mass rebellion within the French and British ranks?

Lastly how much will the logistics of supply come into play? Feeding and equipping far flung armies in distant lands could make or break a campaign. Foraging can alienate the local population and can be vulnerable to a scorched earth policy whilst resupply from a home base can leave dangerously extended supply lines.

[NagatsukaShumi]

I'm wondering if that will be true with this one though, unless you just ignore sea power and the western side of the map. The choice of playable factions seems to be based on who had major force projection with navies during the period (with the curious omission of the Dutch??). That makes sense, as a showcase for the new naval combat engine, and it's probably why Russia didn't make the list.

It will be interesting to see if those other unlockable factions can actually get access to the shipyards, navigation tech, and ship types that the playable factions have, or if they're blocked out of advancement due to the tech tree... something like the situation with M2TW with the Byzantines or Scotland in the late game, with respect to gunpowder.

If they are blocked from major sea power, then maybe the modders can try their hand at an alternate history mod, where these other factions can get their ships. Or maybe the game is winnable as, say, Russia if you just ignore sea power.

Depends if theres anything like Glorious Achievements mode, in which case playing a small nation with no real navy power would still be winnable on land.

Either way, I can't see CA not giving them ships because even if your not them, you'll need to fight them for it to be anywhere enar sensible imo, even if they are weak ships in comparison, they should be able to defend themselves someway or another.

If not, the modders will undoubtedly help out.

[Polemists]

I just hope I don't have to do the win as one of the five factions to unlock other factions thing again.

I am more curious about the Factions that can occur during the game. I mean obviously American and India are british colonies but what if one of the other colonies beats back it's Colonial Overlord.

Personally I look forward to the major euro powers and Russia, still I wonder how they plan to make Napolean as powerful as he was in real life. I mean I can't see the AI being that tactical. Maybe it will be like Mongols, huge stacks of musketmen just keep popping up in france haha.

[Zenicetus]

Personally I look forward to the major euro powers and Russia, still I wonder how they plan to make Napolean as powerful as he was in real life. I mean I can't see the AI being that tactical. Maybe it will be like Mongols, huge stacks of musketmen just keep popping up in france haha.

Well, none of the TW games have been historical re-enactment games. There are some scripted events like the Mongols, and the discovery of gunpowder. But the design has always been something of a sandbox, where anything can happen depending on interaction between the AI factions and the player. It begins as a "snapshot" that's more or less accurate for the starting point, and then it evolves from there in unexpected directions.... like the Pope going on a rampage sometimes in M2TW, conquering vast territory.

So I don't think we need to see Napoleon pop up in every Empire campaign game. That would be boring.

[Lord Winter]

Were the Dutch not in a union with Britain in 1700?

Yes, but William of Orange dies in a year so it's preaty useless. From their they each go their seperate ways although they are still allied.

[IsItStillThere]

I'm surprised america would be in. the time period is supposed to be early 1700's to 1800's, so the game starts well before there was a USA.

A lot of the early game would be colonizing the americas. What if France got the vast majority of what is now the eastern US rather than England? Would there have been an American Revolution?

This would all have to be handled very carefully and circumspectly to avoid laughably unhistorical situations.

Now, I'm happy they choose this era, it has great possibilities both on land AND at sea. I just hope CA gives this title some serious thought.