12th playable faction

**Don Esteban** · 02-06-2009, 11:53

Mughals for me as well.

Portugal was in decline by then - if the game began 200years earlier they'd have to be in but from 1700 on not so much.

Persia would also be intersting although I have no idea what they were up to during this period.

**Sir Beane** · 02-06-2009, 18:32

Originally Posted by Don Esteban

Mughals for me as well.

Portugal was in decline by then - if the game began 200years earlier they'd have to be in but from 1700 on not so much.

Persia would also be intersting although I have no idea what they were up to during this period.

I'm pretty certain we can have both the Mughals and Portugal. Since I think they are the 11th and 12th faction respectively.

Portugal may have been in decline but they still had a large over seas Empire that would be fun to expand. It's always nice to turn a failing country around and make something of it.

The Mughals also went into rapid decline during ETW's time period, which is why we may end up playing as the Maratha.

**ConnMon** · 02-06-2009, 23:38

I voted Portugal, mostly because they warrant a spot in the top 12 for so many reasons. They introduced a lot of new tech (mostly seafaring). Didn't Portugal have some colonies in the game's space of the world? If not, I suppose that they'll be modded in. Yay for modding!

**Sir Beane** · 02-06-2009, 23:47

Originally Posted by ConnMon

I voted Portugal, mostly because they warrant a spot in the top 12 for so many reasons. They introduced a lot of new tech (mostly seafaring). Didn't Portugal have some colonies in the game's space of the world? If not, I suppose that they'll be modded in. Yay for modding!

If I recall correctly they should own colonies in the Caribbean, in South America and in India at the start of the game.

Yay for modding indeed!

I can't wait to play mods for Empire (almost as muvh as the game itself).

**Aemilius Paulus** · 02-07-2009, 01:27

So, are there any other Native American tribes in ETW? I hope so. I really do hope they get in and not the Portugals, if it comes between choosing one of the two. Anyway, why are there only 12 factions? That is so little. The lest in any TW, although I am not sure about Shogun, since I have never played it. I do not think it had a lot of factions, did it?

I voted for the Mughals. Yes, they were in decline, but they were still a great empire, and TW is all about alternative history. Portugal, Portugal, on the other hand, has by this time totally lost its power. It had some colonies left, but it was never a large military power, even in its height. Plus, the Mughals are highly unique, a welcome break from playing Europeans, whereas Portugal is another one of the numerous European powers that are going to be in ETW.

**Zoring** · 02-07-2009, 03:35

Forgive my ignorance, but how is Portugal interesting important and unique compared to Spain right next door?

**ljperreira** · 02-11-2009, 05:33

Originally Posted by Zoring

Forgive my ignorance, but how is Portugal interesting important and unique compared to Spain right next door?

Scotland is right next door to England, are the Scottish not unique? Being of Portuguese decent, I can tell you that our culture, language, history, etc. are all our own. To quote Osprey Publishing's "The Portuguese Army of the Napoleonic Wars": "The English - like everyone else since - found that although they shared the same peninsula with the Spaniards the Portuguese were very different...French wit and author Michel Deon would observe that the Portuguese stood not so much face to face as back to back with their Spanish neighbour".

**Sir Beane** · 02-07-2009, 13:11

Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus

So, are there any other Native American tribes in ETW? I hope so. I really do hope they get in and not the Portugals, if it comes between choosing one of the two. Anyway, why are there only 12 factions? That is so little. The lest in any TW, although I am not sure about Shogun, since I have never played it. I do not think it had a lot of factions, did it?

I voted for the Mughals. Yes, they were in decline, but they were still a great empire, and TW is all about alternative history. Portugal, Portugal, on the other hand, has by this time totally lost its power. It had some colonies left, but it was never a large military power, even in its height. Plus, the Mughals are highly unique, a welcome break from playing Europeans, whereas Portugal is another one of the numerous European powers that are going to be in ETW.

There are several Native American tribes, but it's highly doubtful any will be playable right off the bat. They will be unlocked by modders however.

Shogun had fewer playable factions than Empire. Rome had about the same as Empire (except three of those were recoloured Romans.) Medieval and Medieval 2 were the only games to have more. Empire makes up for this however by having a total of 50 factions over all, which is twice as many as any previous TW game.

CA are unlikely to make the Native Americans playable for balance reasons. They simply would not be able to make them as powerful as the European factions without making them extremely historically innacurate. And if they did do that they would probably get more complaints than if they were unplayable.

Portugal was the first ever colonial power, was still a colonial power in the time period, and I think it deserves a spot because of that. The Native American tribes were not Empires, or even countries, in most cases they only fought to protect what was their land anyway. I think it just wouldn't look right to have them sailing across the pond and invading Europe and India.

**Polemists** · 02-07-2009, 13:16

I agree with Beane, this is EMPIRE total war, Portugal was the first really get into the empire swing of things with spain.

I mean, not including protugal is alot like not including Greece and Seclusions in Empire total war. Yes they are both dwindling powers, yet they both will eventually fall, they still however were big power players of the day. Even if the units are identical.

This is one thing about the Mughals, while I think they present interesting units and a wide variety of ground infantry, they never had much of a navy. So I don't know how the Mughals or any indian or native american faction will suddenly be sailing galleons across the water.

We could always be suprised and someone could toss out a random german or italian state no one has thought of, but chances are Portugal will be playable.

**Lusitani** · 02-07-2009, 04:05

Originally Posted by Sir Beane

If I recall correctly they should own colonies in the Caribbean, in South America and in India at the start of the game.

Yay for modding indeed!

I can't wait to play mods for Empire (almost as muvh as the game itself).

Not in the Caribbean no. South America, Africa(although most of the portuguese possessions there arent covered in ETW's map), India, southeastern Asia (not present) and China...well one city basically(not present either).

**Polemists** · 02-07-2009, 06:33

Forgive my ignorance, but how is Portugal interesting important and unique compared to Spain right next door?

It's not ignorant infact your right, and uniquely enough this EXACT argument was brought up before MTW2 came out and lo and behold Portugal and Spain were pretty darn similiar.

It goes back to history vs unique factions.

Historically CA wants to include the major empires of the era, so while Prussia and Austria (they just seperated) and Spain and Portugal may not have that different units, voices, or geographic regions, the fact is they are rather potent players of the time frame.

Portugal plays a unique role in several wars through this time.

Unlike MTW2 though, I think if CA allows Portugal some of the more gurella warfare units they use later, towards Napolean era, they could be quite unique when compared to the line marching armies of spain.

Just my thoughts.

**ljperreira** · 02-11-2009, 04:13

I sure hope its Portugal. I was disappointed that Portugal was not a "Featured" kingdom in MTW or MTWII (I had to download a mod to play as Portugal in MTW).

**Polemists** · 02-11-2009, 05:26

was disappointed that Portugal was not a "Featured" kingdom in MTW or MTWII

Portugal was a unlockable faction in MTWII....

**ljperreira** · 02-11-2009, 05:36

Originally Posted by Polemists

Portugal was a unlockable faction in MTWII....

Yes, I know.....but I said "Featured". Their wasnt the same amount of thought or spit and polish applied to the Portuguese units and what not as there was to the main "Featured" kingdoms. I think there is a bit of difference between the main "playable" factions and the "unlockable" factions.

**USS Providence 1972** · 02-19-2009, 04:22

The gamestop review led me to believe America would be the 12th faction in the campaign.

**pyradyn** · 02-19-2009, 05:07

Well I do not really mind what it is. Even in the G4 interview he stated what has been true since the dawn. We will like always make every existing faction from game playable. It has always been 1 .pdf file and CA usually even wrote Faction Descriptions for them. Since CA commented on this I am sure they have not changed it. As for Emerging actions well leave that to modders and give them a little more time

**Polemists** · 02-19-2009, 06:17

Yes, I mean if anyone is in decline, it's Spain...that's what I find ironic. I mean spain is a major player of this era so you can't not include them but I think Portugal has a easier time coming out of the 18th century then Spain, who has debts, lands they can't keep, and no loans to buisness owners :P

**ArtillerySmoke** · 02-25-2009, 06:21

I voted for the Persian Empire and then got to thinking about conducting guerilla warfare with a native american faction and changed my mind.

That's just too cool to pass up.

I see some of the objections to this, but I think the solution would be giving that faction unique victory conditions. Yes Beane, I'm looking at you lol. You're right, it would be ridiculous to see SOL's full of Native Americans.

**Polemists** · 02-25-2009, 07:42

Well clearly there is no 12th faction, (Unless you consider the 13 colonies)

A native american faction would be interesting, but will have to be a mod it looks like.

**Sir Beane** · 02-25-2009, 12:08

Originally Posted by Polemists

Well clearly there is no 12th faction, (Unless you consider the 13 colonies)

A native american faction would be interesting, but will have to be a mod it looks like.

Check out the screenshots here http://uk.media.pc.ign.com/media/958/958390/imgs_1.html. Under the 'Major Nations' tab in the Diplomacy menu screenshot it lists the 11 factions we know so far plus the Mughal Empire. Which is interesting.