Expansion...

**Equilibrium** · 08-15-2009, 08:37

So...

14th August:

Hi guys,

Please excuse our radio silence for the past couple of weeks. Things have been incredibly busy in The Creative Assembly offices. While I cannot elaborate too much at the moment, I can confirm that CA will be in attendance at the Games Convention in Cologne, Germany next week and we have an announcement to make. All will be revealed soon so stay tuned....

Have a fantastic weekend,

Mark O'Connell
(aka SenseiTW)

**Servius** · 08-15-2009, 18:13

I too would like to see an expansion to the original game. In particular, I'd like to see Africa and Southeast Asia added.

I'd also like to see the time period expand to encompass the Napoleonic Era.

**Zenicetus** · 08-16-2009, 20:31

My $.02 on an expansion... Ca would be crazy to do anything other than Napoleon as the expansion. It's the only big name-recognition title that can be linked to the game engine without major changes, for example the rifles and longer engagement ranges that would be needed for an American Civil War expansion. The naval battles will still be relevant for a Napoleonic campaign, which they wouldn't be for the Civil War (the South basically had no navy).

An expansion of the current map into Africa or Asia for the sandbox campaign wouldn't be as interesting for most people. It would have no new major power opponents, it's politically touchy (Europeans dominating Africa), and it also gets into that rifled weapons problem. Napoleon will sell better. It could also be more heavily scripted as a canned campaign, which can bypass all the broken strategic/diplomatic AI issues.

I won't buy an expansion unless they fix the strategic/diplomatic AI in the main campaign, but I might consider it if they do.

**antisocialmunky** · 08-16-2009, 20:35

The campaign should add new theatres which would be added to the grand campaign.

**Discoman** · 08-18-2009, 06:54

I really hope we aren't forced to only play as Napoleon, cause I'd like to explore the different nations of the period, and actually play as America in a balanced campaign game (In ETW everyone starts off with full tech but you) . I recall Alexander getting lukewarm reception because they did that, so I think they'll avoid it.

I would like new theaters, it'd certainly be better than just re-skinned units. I wonder what new features they'll add in the game anyway. Any new guns, or strategies come out in this period? Maybe they'll revamp artillery, and make cannons more effective.

**Martok** · 08-18-2009, 07:22

Further pre-confirmation that Napoleon is going to be the expansion.

No surprise, of course. Indeed, I've been shocked if he *hadn't* been the focus of Empire's x-pack.