I'M SO EXCITED AND GIDDY!

[quadalpha]

Well in their defense, what can they really do? There isnt that much left. Yeah you can argue you can go further back before Rome got powerful but then most units were roughly the same and it was for the most part fighting in between city states, if my memory serves. Rome seems the logical step forwards. Afterwards they can try something new and daring.

Hm, really? Come on, people. We have talked about this before in these very forums. There were various periods mentioned: several possibilities in China, the American Civil War, 17-18th century Europe ... Well, I guess this is a thread to be excited in, so you alls can all do that. Just don't forget the obscurity of the wars of the Shogunate and even the Middle Ages before the TW series came along.

[H.P. Lovesauce]

All I can think about is TRIREMES and what the guys from Europa Barbarorum are gonna do.

[Arjos]

All I can think about is TRIREMES and what the guys from Europa Barbarorum are gonna do.

lol epic, how much everyone thinks about CA's games: hope the community will mod it right :P

[Centurion1]

meh i always enjoy ca's vanilla games! barely even touched mods.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

All I can think about is TRIREMES and what the guys from Europa Barbarorum are gonna do.

I'm sure this one will be the most moddable total war game ever

[Hooahguy]

Hm, really? Come on, people. We have talked about this before in these very forums. There were various periods mentioned: several possibilities in China, the American Civil War, 17-18th century Europe ... Well, I guess this is a thread to be excited in, so you alls can all do that. Just don't forget the obscurity of the wars of the Shogunate and even the Middle Ages before the TW series came along.

China is a possibility but its so close to Shogun that it wont be that special. the American CW is too short for anything more than an expansion, and 17th-18th century Europe is pretty much covered by late M2TW (you have early muskets) and early ETW.

[Arjos]

China is a possibility but its so close to Shogun that it wont be that special.

Oh please, completely different culture and units, not to mention there would be Korea and tribes from Mongolia...

As for other periods: Charlemagne, Persian Wars, rise of the Neo-Assyrian empire, Warring States, Three Kingdoms, Renaissance, India in any time period, Chinggis Khaan...
There's lots of options, but as TinCow masterly put it, this won't affect the fun :)

[Hooahguy]

Oh please, completely different culture and units, not to mention there would be Korea and tribes from Mongolia...

You know of their different cultures, but what about the masses? Look at it from a marketing standpoint. I think that most would look at it and say "oh look, a Shogun 2 copy."

As for the others, yes, they are fantastic time periods, but how many people would buy a game based around the Persian wars? I doubt most even know what they were. The past TW games however, have been easily recognized by the average joe.

[quadalpha]

You know of their different cultures, but what about the masses? Look at it from a marketing standpoint. I think that most would look at it and say "oh look, a Shogun 2 copy."

As for the others, yes, they are fantastic time periods, but how many people would buy a game based around the Persian wars? I doubt most even know what they were. The past TW games however, have been easily recognized by the average joe.

Without going too far off-topic (what was the topic?), I should note that this point has been answered:

Just don't forget the obscurity of the wars of the Shogunate and even the Middle Ages before the TW series came along.

[Vuk]

I would love one based in Asia (all of Asia, rather than tiny Japan...and not even all of it). The variety of cultures and warriors would be absurd, and for many people in the West it would be educational, as they know very little about Asian history.

[Hooahguy]

Without going too far off-topic (what was the topic?), I should note that this point has been answered:

The wars themselves can be obscure. Its the men who fight them. Everyone knows what a samurai or a medieval knight is. Why do you think the game covers have a very large samurai and a very large knight (or king, whatever) on them? Everyone knows of the Romans, the American Revolution and muskets, and most know who Napoleon is.

But can you say that for very many of the options you put forward?

Look, Im not against having a TW for Asia or the Persian wars or whatever. Id love an Asia Total War. Im just thinking that from a commercial standpoint doing such a game is a major risk.

[Papewaio]

But can you say that for very many of the options you put forward?

Look, Im not against having a TW for Asia or the Persian wars or whatever. Id love an Asia Total War. Im just thinking that from a commercial standpoint doing such a game is a major risk.

I have to agree with you. After all who in the mainstream has any exposure to Asian martial culture other then Samurai.

It's not like there are any other country that has anything as iconic, martial or strategic when it comes to war.

Like China what do they have in mainstream entertainment apart from Jacky Chan comedies, or Hong Kong action cop flicks, or ghost stories, or HK martial art stories, or Bruce Lee, or ancient martial art stories, or Shao Lin monks.

Like seriously when was the last time you think China and massive warfare. Where in mainstream culture outside of a strategy site would have heard of the three kingdoms, autumn and spring, or the red cliffs or the terracotta soldiers.

Its not like Chinese martial arts is so main stream that kids movies would be based on them like some sort of Kung Fu Panda thing.

Or famous generals of like the red faced general or that other one that no one talks about outside of military geeks... like Son Chew or something or rather.

Nope I confuse all of that all the time with Samurai just like every other Gui Lao.

[SalmonSoil]

Just don't forget the obscurity of the wars of the Shogunate and even the Middle Ages before the TW series came along.

But everybody knows what knights and samurai are, even if they don't know the specifics of warfare in those time periods.

That said, there are probably still viable new settings. I would love to see Warring States China, they could really emphasise the whole art of war angle, but not right after Shogun.

But Rome is also an awesome setting and Rome 2 is looking so so good.

[quadalpha]

Alright, people. Your points are well taken. It all goes to show that the world needs more people interested in military history.

[Noncommunist]

But everybody knows what knights and samurai are, even if they don't know the specifics of warfare in those time periods.

That said, there are probably still viable new settings. I would love to see Warring States China, they could really emphasise the whole art of war angle, but not right after Shogun.

But Rome is also an awesome setting and Rome 2 is looking so so good.

What about a Biblical setting? There'd be a decent amount of familiarity with the time period despite the fact that it also hasn't been immensely explored.

Sorta related, do you think religion will have much of an appearance in RTW2? Obviously, it wouldn't have the same monolithic power as in other games, but could be a way of having cultural influence on other places.

[quadalpha]

What about a Biblical setting? There'd be a decent amount of familiarity with the time period despite the fact that it also hasn't been immensely explored.

Sorta related, do you think religion will have much of an appearance in RTW2? Obviously, it wouldn't have the same monolithic power as in other games, but could be a way of having cultural influence on other places.

I don't think religion has ever yet lived up to its potential in the TW series. It usually seems to end up either as an annoyance or ignored.

[Monk]

China is a possibility but its so close to Shogun that it wont be that special.

Wow. That's subjective.

You know of their different cultures, but what about the masses? Look at it from a marketing standpoint. I think that most would look at it and say "oh look, a Shogun 2 copy."

As for the others, yes, they are fantastic time periods, but how many people would buy a game based around the Persian wars? I doubt most even know what they were. The past TW games however, have been easily recognized by the average joe.

Look, Im not against having a TW for Asia or the Persian wars or whatever. Id love an Asia Total War. Im just thinking that from a commercial standpoint doing such a game is a major risk.

I'd like to think after over 12 years CA has cultivated an image for themselves in the gaming industry. They could make it work by brand recognition alone. I bought Empire solely because it was the next big thing from CA, despite having next to no interest in the time period. If they went full on market blitz you can bet people would take the chance due to the unique niche these games fill in the market. After a decade there's still very few games who try to do everything TW does all in one nice and neat package.

I'm sure this one will be the most moddable total war game ever

Oh you.

Rome was the best in the series!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[rickinator9]

What about a Biblical setting? There'd be a decent amount of familiarity with the time period despite the fact that it also hasn't been immensely explored.

I don't really think Atheists like me would be interested. I also think the campaign map area would be far too small.

[Noncommunist]

I don't really think Atheists like me would be interested. I also think the campaign map area would be far too small.

Really? Sure, it would be based around an area because some religious people are interested in it but it wouldn't necessarily support any particular religion of the area. Also, while smaller than a lot of maps, it could still cover a decent amount of ground, encompassing parts of Egypt and Assyria.

I don't think religion has ever yet lived up to its potential in the TW series. It usually seems to end up either as an annoyance or ignored.

What sort of things would you do to make religion live up to its potential?

[quadalpha]

Really? Sure, it would be based around an area because some religious people are interested in it but it wouldn't necessarily support any particular religion of the area. Also, while smaller than a lot of maps, it could still cover a decent amount of ground, encompassing parts of Egypt and Assyria.

What sort of things would you do to make religion live up to its potential?

- I imagine there would be a bit of a backlash if you market it as being set in 'biblical times'. The US seems to be polarised enough along those lines that CA would lose a non-negligible part of its target market. We also don't seem to know enough, historically, about warfare in the period to make it sufficiently interesting without resorting to fantasy or guesswork (I'm assuming you meant the Old Testament by 'biblical times', since the first century AD would be covered by Rome).

- About religion in R2: I don't think religion played as much of a role in the period by itself to warrant inclusion as a separate, significant system in the game. It can be profitably integrated with whatever political system they have in place, which would nicely mirror the way religion was largely integrated with politics in Greece and Rome. I don't know enough about religion in the 'barbarian' cultures to comment on that. Looking further afield, religion (in the faith-based, monotheistic sense we usually associate with it) seems to be difficult to incorporate as a game mechanic in the TW series in general. The x% happiness penalty is not really significant enough for the player. In something like Crusader Kings 2, religion can influence which territories you try to acquire, but in TW, where the focus is really on conquering whatever stands in your way, religion doesn't seem to be a significant on that kind of strategic level.

[Myth]

Rome 2? I go on vacation for 1 week and I get this? WOOOOOOT!