What Factions would you like to see in Empire Total War

[Caius]

Argentina.

[Zenicetus]

i didnt really read through this thread, but i think there should be an arab faction, if not a confederation....

The Ottoman Empire is in, as one of the main player factions I think. It will be interesting to see what their ships look like at the end of the tech tree, although (IIRC) their navy was similar to European naval tech and didn't look much different, at least for the late ships of the line. I think at one point they had the largest ship in the world, or maybe it had the most cannon, I can't remember.

(searching)... oh, here it is, the "Mahmudiye", 128 cannons. That's gotta hurt in a broadside:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:M...%281829%29.jpg

[Incongruous]

Bavaria, Saxony, Austria. Perhaps also a mechanic whereby the minor German states (most notably, Hesse, Brunswick and Saxe-Gotha), could still play a role in diplomacy, i.e providing much needed troops. If this was used, then invading and knocking them out of the war would be decisive for a nation such as Prussia.

Oh this will be such fun.

[zerathule]

1) France
2) UK
3) Spain
4) Portugal
5) United Provinces
6) Switzerland
7) Savoie
8) Lombardy
9) Venice
10) Papal States
11) Sicily - Napoli
12) Bavaria
13) Austria
14) Saxony
15) Prussia
16) Lituania/Poland
17) Sweden
18) Denmark
19) Russia
20) Ottoman Empire
21) Mameluke Egypt(Vassal State at start)
22) Maroco
23) Mali (Bambara kingdom of Ségou)
24) Siam
25) Mataran Kingdom (Indonesia)
26) Sultanate of Brunei
27) Sultanate of Sulu
28) Mughal Empire
29) Kingdom of Vijayanâgara
30) USA (Vassal State at start)
31) Iroquois Confederation
32) Cherokee
33) New Spain (Mexico, Vassal State)
34) Persan Empire (Afsharid)
35) Kingdom of Mysore

These of course are just speculation.
This would be quite an extensive list, and you could add 15 factions to the list.
The thing is, maybe revolutionary factions are counted as different factions (like kingdom of france and republic of France would be different factions ?)

[Geoffrey S]

Tellos Athenaios, no, the Dutch didn't regain their full power of their Golden Age. But that's not to say they were completely out for the count by the start of ETW. They'd be a challenging faction to play, certainly, but isn't part of the point of the TW series to be given a chance for what-if situations? By your logic, RTW should have excluded Carthage, the Successor States, the Iberians, because they all lost to the Romans anyway.

Besides the fact that the Dutch would be a great what-if faction, I think you're being overly harsh on their situation in the eighteenth century. They were going through significant civil strife, but in general the states weren't significantly less well-off than in the Golden Age; in fact, the population was still better off than most elsewhere. Even their later 'decline' was only such relative to industrialising nations, and even then the standard of life was generally higher in the Netherlands (have a look for the article Achterlijk, achter of anders? by Griffiths). No, realistically they couldn't and didn't regain their full power, but that's exactly what the TW games are for. Nothing stops CA from labeling them as a 'Very Hard' faction.

I'm interested in how CA represents their form of state, but there are the three types of policies they've mentioned; perhaps they'd have a more in-depth effect on the game. The same problems would apply for the fledling US, and I'm sure they won't be left underdeveloped.

hooahguy14, Arabia (and Egypt) of this time was under Ottoman control. However, there's a chance of another Muslim faction in the form of the Safavids, although they didn't last long into the eighteenth century.

[CaesarAugustus]

I hope at least the major asian and african factions are playable, and not too much focus is on the europeans.....

[snorky]

Even after the glory days of the dutch they stille played an importent role, they even fought at Waterloo, and they were given control over Belgiem to be able to stop france from becoming powerfull again.

And yes i am dutch myself, does it show?

[Akeichi Mitsuhide]

A campaign-playable Japan. One of the big powers at that time(even though they only had the main island and that southern one.

[Geoffrey S]

Even after the glory days of the dutch they stille played an importent role, they even fought at Waterloo, and they were given control over Belgiem to be able to stop france from becoming powerfull again.

And yes i am dutch myself, does it show?

Meh, at Waterloo they were little more than a vassal state of England, with the King utterly reliant on British support.

[andrewt]

A campaign-playable Japan. One of the big powers at that time(even though they only had the main island and that southern one.

They weren't a power at all. The game is from 1700-1850. Meiji became emperor in 1868.

During this time period, there weren't really any major powers that were non-Western. The US is western and didn't "officially" become a superpower until years after the time period of the game ends. Russia is western. The Ottoman empire was declining, and even they are heavily influenced by the western world. China was in one of its weaker periods. India wasn't that strong either during this time.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Confirmed factions so far in Empire:

Britain
America
Sweden
United Provinces(Netherlands)
Poland-Lithuania
Russia
Prussia
Venice
Spain
France
Ottoman Empire

And there will be around 50 factions in Empire.

Question to CA:

Is there any chance to see the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy in the game?

I don't know if you know much history, but I tell you that they were very important in this era. They were THE major opposing power to France, THE major central european power, THE major opponent of the Turks, THE major opponent of Brandenburg-Prussia. They fought three big wars against Prussia for Silesia. They fought the war for the Spanish succession. They fought against Napoleon. The list goes on and on and on. They were NOT an operetta state as you propably know them from the Sissi-Movies - Sissi is from the late 19th century. Hell they even had a navy!

Including of Poland I thoroughly consider as a joke of CA. What happened? Did the Kazcinski (honestly sp) brothers intervene? But that's more or less irrelevant to me as long as you please be not so foolish to exclude Austria. Really, I'd like to kiss your feet for making an 18th century:TW (Imperial Glory was a giant disappointment), but if you exclude the major continental player for obvious reasons like marketing and perhaps the feeling of "one german power is enough", than I will surely NOT buy your game.

[shlin28]

They weren't a power at all. The game is from 1700-1850. Meiji became emperor in 1868.

During this time period, there weren't really any major powers that were non-Western. The US is western and didn't "officially" become a superpower until years after the time period of the game ends. Russia is western. The Ottoman empire was declining, and even they are heavily influenced by the western world. China was in one of its weaker periods. India wasn't that strong either during this time.

During the 18th Century China was at the height of its power, even managing to defeat Russia in some border raids, I think...

[SaFe]

Question to CA:

Is there any chance to see the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy in the game?

I don't know if you know much history, but I tell you that they were very important in this era. They were THE major opposing power to France, THE major central european power, THE major opponent of the Turks, THE major opponent of Brandenburg-Prussia. They fought three big wars against Prussia for Silesia. They fought the war for the Spanish succession. They fought against Napoleon. The list goes on and on and on. They were NOT an operetta state as you propably know them from the Sissi-Movies - Sissi is from the late 19th century. Hell they even had a navy!

Including of Poland I thoroughly consider as a joke of CA. What happened? Did the Kazcinski (honestly sp) brothers intervene? But that's more or less irrelevant to me as long as you please be not so foolish to exclude Austria. Really, I'd like to kiss your feet for making an 18th century:TW (Imperial Glory was a giant disappointment), but if you exclude the major continental player for obvious reasons like marketing and perhaps the feeling of "one german power is enough", than I will surely NOT buy your game.

Well, naturally the Austrian Empire should be included as playable faction, but i think for marketing reasons the U.S. and Poland will get their position as one of the mysterious 10.
You know US is important as we have many potential american buyers and the polish members will start a crusade again, if their country is not included.
Perhaps a petition again?

As this seems to be working i want to include the absolute unimportant princedom of Baden, because this is my home. (sarcasm)

To be honest TotalWar should have nothing to do with nationalism or patriotism, because it is a game with the premise to be a historical one.
So, no U.S. at the start of the game and definately no Poland as playable faction.

[zerathule]

I hope the Polish Inquisition (No one ever expects it) wont kick Austria out of the 10 playable factions.
While i could disagree on Austria being the first european continental power (i'd put france at that place), definately they where a key player of that time.
Who'll fight the Ottomans ?
Who'll keep Prussia at bay ?
Who'll be between France and Russia ?

Besides, even if i hate Talleyrand for his treason, i'd love to make a what if senario : instead of France waring on Austria, i'd like to have France allied to austria during the napoleonic wars.

[Jack Lusted]

The full faction list has not been revealed yet, there will be more than the factions i mentioned earlier ingame.

[pevergreen]

An estimate on number of playable factions?

or

Will there be more than 10 playable factions at the start?

Is the game made in mind that you can modify all the factions to make them playable easily? (Akin to RTW)

[FrauGloer]

Apart from the obvious factions (UK, France, Russia, etc.), I'd like to see:
Italian States (Venice, Genoa)
Duchy/Kingdom of Wuerttemberg
Grand Duchy of Baden
Kingdom of Saxony
Kingdom of Bavaria
Swiss Confederation
Kingdom of Denmark/Norway
Barbary Pirates (possibly as emerging faction?)
several Native American tribes (Iroquois, Hurons, Shawnee)

[andrewt]

During the 18th Century China was at the height of its power, even managing to defeat Russia in some border raids, I think...

If I remember my Chinese history from college right, the golden age of China was around the 11th century during the Song dynasty. They were arguably the strongest nation in the world during this time. They were the first to use gunpowder and paper currency.

During the early 18th century, the Qing dynasty was at its height. It's a foreign dynasty, however, and by this time, China was lagging in technology already. Its economic and political systems were antiquated. Also, since the Qing is a foreign dynasty, they had to deal with quite a few revolts from native Han Chinese.

[russia almighty]

The U.S as an emergent faction would be cool . Your playing the Brits then 1775 hits and BAM huge ass rebellion in the 13 colonies .

[Rodion Romanovich]

My guess and hope for minimum playable factions list is:

Confirmed ones (rearranged alphabetically):
* America
* Britain
* France
* Ottoman Empire
* Poland-Lithuania
* Prussia
* Russia
* Spain
* Sweden
* United Provinces(Netherlands)
* Venice

Not yet confirmed ones (most important ones in bold):
* Austrian Habsburg monarchy (obvious choice, since Austria was one of the absolute major continental powers of the era - it's as given as France or GB)
* China (only way it could be not included would be if the map doesn't cover this area...)
* Denmark-Norway (had one of the largest fleets of European countries at the time, and was actually a more dangerous opponent to Sweden in the Great Northern war than it might seem. Especially their fleet made the Great Northern war a lot more difficult for Sweden. They were a major power until the Napoleonic wars, when they suffered a mix of bad luck and bad diplomacy)
* Durrani Empire/The Pashtuns (the Durrani empire was a large but short-lived empire that took chunks off the mughal lands when they declined in power, while the British advanced from the other direction. Alternatively the faction could be called The Pashtuns. The Durrani empire spanned Afghanistan, Pakistan and Khorasan at the time of this game. They were almost impossible for Ottomans, Safavid persians, Mughals and British to conquer due to their remote heartlands located far up in the mountains, and with being near impossible to completely subjugate and keep control over, they would be an important gameplay aspect for making India difficult to conquer and hold: making it near impossible to clear your back unless you really put in a tremendous effort and substantial forces to be able to reach their heartlands and maintain permanent, strong garrisoned there)
* Mughals (they were at the peak of territorial expansion around year 1700. At the beginning of this period they could be well represented with low public order, a few rebel armies inside their lands, old-fashioned troops and low troop building upgrades in all their cities, so it would be a challenge to prevent their decline. It would be a very challenging and interesting faction for the player - trying to root our corruption - at the risk of civil wars, improve the technology and quality of the armies, and simultaneously fight European colonists and the Pashtuns!)
* Portugal (absolutely necessary: peninsular war, one of Europe's largest fleets, major colonial power etc etc. Like Austria, it would be pretty much impossible to exclude them...)
* Safavid Persia (would, just like Durrani empire and Mughals, be necessary to accurately represent the political-military situation of India and the Eastern Middle East)
* some African factions, the largest one could be playable
* some more Italian faction(s)

Edit: I forgot Morocco! Crimean Tatar Khanate might be interesting as well, even though they were of declining importance at this time.

[Rodion Romanovich]

The U.S as an emergent faction would be cool . Your playing the Brits then 1775 hits and BAM huge ass rebellion in the 13 colonies .

I agree, they shouldn't be playable from 1700. If there are eras, 1775 could be a good starting date, and they could be playable in the 1775 and 1789 scenarios!

[pevergreen]

The Mughals are in, whether or not they are a playable faction...

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

* China (only way it could be not included would be if the map doesn't cover this area...)

The map doesn't cover this area...

[Furious Mental]

Oh jesus people have started whining because their country might not be in the game. Happens every time.

[Sarmatian]

Oh jesus people have started whining because their country might not be in the game. Happens every time.

Think of it this way - judging by the increase in faction slots with each TW game, we should hit the number of existing countries in the world in about ten years. So you'll only have to put up with it for a decade...

[Durallan]

I want a pirate king faction! must have a pirate faction.....

[xsintergalactic]

Question to CA:

Is there any chance to see the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy in the game?

I don't know if you know much history, but I tell you that they were very important in this era. They were THE major opposing power to France, THE major central european power, THE major opponent of the Turks, THE major opponent of Brandenburg-Prussia. They fought three big wars against Prussia for Silesia. They fought the war for the Spanish succession. They fought against Napoleon. The list goes on and on and on. They were NOT an operetta state as you propably know them from the Sissi-Movies - Sissi is from the late 19th century. Hell they even had a navy!

Including of Poland I thoroughly consider as a joke of CA. What happened? Did the Kazcinski (honestly sp) brothers intervene? But that's more or less irrelevant to me as long as you please be not so foolish to exclude Austria. Really, I'd like to kiss your feet for making an 18th century:TW (Imperial Glory was a giant disappointment), but if you exclude the major continental player for obvious reasons like marketing and perhaps the feeling of "one german power is enough", than I will surely NOT buy your game.

Message for SaFe

http://www.euratlas.com/big/big1700.htm



Well, since you think putting Poland-Lithuania in the game is a joke, I suggest that you go and study some history... click on the link, Poland is this tiny light blue country that was the biggest European country at that time (excluding Ottoman Empire, and Tsardom of Muscovy - today's Russia).

History is not marketing my friend. If you think Poland-Lithuania was a minor player in European history, check out the Battle of Vienna of 1683 when Jan III Sobieski saved the Austrian from Ottoman Empire invasion. I must agree with you that Austria-Hungary should be in the game, as it was a major player at that time, Poland is not a substitution. For future please educate yourself before posting, I assure you there is no involvement from the Kaczynski brothers.

I couldn't stand that Sid Meier forgot about Poland in his newest expansion, I did respect him a lot before. I like that Creative Assembly's team really do their homework on history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vienna

Thanks,

[Vlad The Impaler]

I don't agree with the fact that Poland (Rzeczpospolita to be more specific) should be a major faction in the timespawn of this game . see maps from the left :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish-...n_Commonwealth

By the 18th century, the Commonwealth was facing many internal problems and was vulnerable to foreign influences. The destabilization of the political system brought it to the brink of anarchy. Attempts at reform, such as those made by the Four-Year Sejm of 1788–92, which culminated in the May 3rd Constitution of 1791, came too late, and the country was partitioned in three stages by the neighboring Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Monarchy. By 1795 the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth had been completely erased from the map of Europe. Poland and Lithuania re-established their independence, as separate countries, only in 1918.

[SaFe]

Message for SaFe

http://www.euratlas.com/big/big1700.htm



Well, since you think putting Poland-Lithuania in the game is a joke, I suggest that you go and study some history... click on the link, Poland is this tiny light blue country that was the biggest European country at that time (excluding Ottoman Empire, and Tsardom of Muscovy - today's Russia).

History is not marketing my friend. If you think Poland-Lithuania was a minor player in European history, check out the Battle of Vienna of 1683 when Jan III Sobieski saved the Austrian from Ottoman Empire invasion. I must agree with you that Austria-Hungary should be in the game, as it was a major player at that time, Poland is not a substitution. For future please educate yourself before posting, I assure you there is no involvement from the Kaczynski brothers.

I couldn't stand that Sid Meier forgot about Poland in his newest expansion, I did respect him a lot before. I like that Creative Assembly's team really do their homework on history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vienna

Thanks,

The siege of vienna is out of time-frame - simple as that and Sobieski is probably dead by the start of the game.
I never said Poland should not be in the 50 faction slot, but it was a minor player in the 1700 - 1800.
The importance of a nation is not the land mass it posesses.
In the furture please do not imply others should educate themselves - this is a discussion and should not be on a personal level.
Also if you quote Centurio Nixalsverdrus you should adress him directly.
Thank you.

[Rodion Romanovich]

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth would at least look odd as rebels, seeing as the entire large landmass - despite its smaller influence at this time - was formally controlled by a single leader. Whether to make it a playable faction or not it's another thing. IMO it would be a nice strategical challenge to try and fight the decline and somehow reestablish a strong Poland - I always enjoyed the difficult factions in previous TW games, West Rome in BI being one of the nicest examples. Difficult of course, considering the often destructive influence the nobility held, and considering the diplomatic problems caused by both previous wars, and being challenged by new, ambitious enemies, such as Prussia.