Ah but you don't need German to comprehend the gloriousness of the interface.

"Das Interface"

What does it mean?!

The compass looks exciting

Ah but you don't need German to comprehend the gloriousness of the interface.

No but the german ruins it somewhat

Just looked up some translations:

_{(starting at the left and descending)}
-Wenn die Schlacht zu langsam vorangeht, dürfen Sie hier die Zeit beschleunigen
If the battle leads the way too slowly, here you may accelerate the time.

-Am Kräfteverhältnis lesen Sie ab, welche Flotte die Oberhand gewinnt.
In the Relative Strength you read which fleet gets the upper hand.

-Die übersichtskarte zeigt Freund und Feind.
übersichtskarte_{(probably a proper noun for something similar to "carte," or map)} points friend and enemy.

_{(Now at the lower center)}
-Diese übersicht zeight den Zustand lhrer bis zu 20 Schiffe aufgeteilt auf Segel und Rumpf. Zedem sehen Sie, ob das Schiff gerade segelt(), angreift(), feuert(), sich in Enterkampf befindet () oder brennt().
This übersicht zeight the state lhrer up to 20 ships split on sail and trunk. You see Zedem whether the ship just sails (), attacks (), fires (), is in Enterkampf ()_{(Enterkampf possibly means boarding, notice crossed swords icon)} or burns ().

_{(top right)}
-Hier legen Sie den Kurs lhrer Kähne fest, raffen oder setzen die Segel und sehen, aus welcher Richtung der Wind bläst (ganz unten).
Here you fix the course of lhrer small boats, heap or place the sails and see from which direction the wind blows (completely below).

-Die feuerbefehle von links nach rechts: linke Breitseite, normale Kanonenkugeln, Kettenkugeln Schrot, rechte Breitseite.
Feuerbefehle from the left to the right: left broadside, normal cannon balls, chain balls groats, right broadside.

-Mit diesen Schaltflächen lassen Sie das Schiff ankern, fassen mehrere Pötte zu Gruppen zusammen, ordnen ein Entermanover an, brechen dieses ab oder lassen den Kahn flüchten (von links nach rechts).
With these buttons you let the ship anchor, summarize several pots to groups, arrange an Entermanover _{(boarding maneuver?)}, break off this or let the small boat flee (from the left to the right).

_{at the top}
-Noch in Arbeit
Still in Work.

[This message has been edited by General_II (edited 08-26-2007 @ 03:16 PM).]

At a guess, übersichtskarte would be minimap.

Double post, but this little titbit deserves a post of its own. A nice German fellow at TWC translated a post at the Gamestar forums about points mentioned in the Gamestar article. His English translation is slightly eccentric but definitely worth a read and very interesting.

Here it is (bold emphasis mine).

The post by "Donnie Darko" found on GameStar's forum seems to contain info from the article.
I'm going to list those entries that have not alreay been mentioned in the available previews on the Net as far as I know:

- You'll have the option of choosing the form of government between absolute or constitutional monarchy or republic. That we do already know, but what's new as far as I can see: You'll only have that choice during a civil revolt.

- It might be possible to coordinate attacks with an ai-controlled faction, but that is still to be decided upon, thus it's not definitely in the game, yet!

- Special units like Assassins and diplomats are not going to be sent across the map like the agents known from this game's predecessors. Assumption by the writer of the article: A menu-based system might be introduced.

- Historical persons like Napoleon will be in the game - they won't be "super heroes", however, they'll be realistic commanders.

- Reworked mercenary system. Mercenaries won't be an integrated part of your armies; how the new system will definitely look like is not decided upon, yet.

- To the buildings which you can send your troops into on the battle map, will belong such ones like farm buildings, small wooden bastions and massive artillery forts.

The rest of "Donnie Darko's" posting consists of stuff already mentioned several times in this forum section.
Some of the stuff I've listed here might also be part of some other posts around here, but I just want to be sure that nothing is missed.

It sounds like ships can catch fire... I want to see what it looks like with the sailors trying to put it out, or abandoning ship.

If noone has found this...
http://shoguntotalwar.yuku.com/topic/21848?page=1

Much of what it says I haven't heard about. i.e.:

_{- Realistic sailing model. (Different wind conditions, different light conditions, different weather conditions).
Example: A gust of wind is caused by a whirlpool of wind moving vertically; they actually move quite slowly and cover quite large areas - you see it because it makes the surface of the water rough, and the rest shiny. It means you can build gameplay into entering and chasing gusts of wind, and using them to overtake an enemy fleet."}

A few things were in the initial PR, but there's quite a bit that isn't.

edit: sorry, doublepost

[This message has been edited by General_II (edited 08-26-2007 @ 06:52 PM).]

The stuff about the various Government types and about the wind seemingly affecting naval battles sounds great. I don't want to get too excited too soon, but this is getting better by the minute.

You think India will be involved with the English occupation? It seems like this game would be very much involved in colonialism. Seems it should be called Colonialism: Total War :P

In which case we should have had the British Colonialism

Here we go with some more juicy Empire: Total War titbits, thanks to another forum, where the Gamestar preview was translated more fully.

- The campaign map will be larger. It includes Europe, North and South America, North Africa, Central Asia, India, and Indonesia.

- You will be able to build colonies. It will make a difference, whether you settle in the wilderness of the Americas, or whether you can use preexisting infrastructure in India.

- All infrastructure built within a province, will be represented on the Strategic Map. You can upgrade buildings, by clicking on them on the Strageic Map. There will still be a capital though.

- Enemy armies can plunder or conquer buildings within provinces.

- Revolutions can happen, leading to the separation of countries.

- You can change the form of government between: absolute monarchy, constituional monarchy, and Republic. This will directly influence how you can deal with revolts and how fast you develop new technologies. Other factions will treat you according to your form of government.

- Taxes can be set seperately for Nobles, Burghers, and Peasants.

- Generals can now directly recruit units. They will join them after a few turns, instead of being recruited in settlements.

- Historical generals can appear.

- Infantry can occupy buldings. They will automatically take up defensive positions and fire out of windows/doors.

- Wind will play an important role in the battles. You can set the sails of your ship according to your desired speed. You can choose between three types of ammunition, geared towards damaging hull, sails, or crew respectively (probably round shot, chain shot, and canister shot).

Some additions to the translation:

-Die übersichtskarte zeigt Freund und Feind.
übersichtskarte(probably a proper noun for something similar to "carte," or map) points friend and enemy.

übersightskarte = overview chart, or minimap.


Diese übersicht zeight den Zustand lhrer bis zu 20 Schiffe aufgeteilt auf Segel und Rumpf. Zedem sehen Sie, ob das Schiff gerade segelt(), angreift(), feuert(), sich in Enterkampf befindet () oder brennt().
This übersicht zeight the state lhrer up to 20 ships split on sail and trunk. You see Zedem whether the ship just sails (), attacks (), fires (), is in Enterkampf () or burns ().

Ihrer = your. Enterkampf = boarding.

-Die feuerbefehle von links nach rechts: linke Breitseite, normale Kanonenkugeln, Kettenkugeln Schrot, rechte Breitseite.
Feuerbefehle from the left to the right: left broadside, normal cannon balls, chain balls groats, right broadside.

Feuerbefehle = firing orders

-Mit diesen Schaltflächen lassen Sie das Schiff ankern, fassen mehrere Pötte zu Gruppen zusammen, ordnen ein Entermanover an, brechen dieses ab oder lassen den Kahn flüchten (von links nach rechts).
With these buttons you let the ship anchor, summarize several pots to groups, arrange an Entermanover, break off this or let the small boat flee (from the left to the right).

Entermanover = Boarding manuever

German looks very much like Dutch, so although I have never been teached German, I can understand quite some parts of all that.

Clearly, you've never been "taught" English either.

I'm sorry, man. It was just to good.

On a more serious note: I guess the map is set and confirmed then? Is that all of South America?

The map is far from confirmed - the information here is just the latest, most reliable rumour. Well. 'Rumour' isn't right. The latest info that games magazines and CA representatives have given us.

Has there been speculation to a "World: Total War" or it sounds like this is basically it since all continents are apart of the game?

Statements by CA have made it pretty definite that the entire world map will not be included.

Just seen this; looks very nice! Another game to wait for!

If they do include the whole world, large portions of it will be unpassable. Maybe inner South AMerica, Africa, Austrailia, Asia, etc. The Jungles, and desert. Just a thought.

It may be likely. Or large, edge-of-RTW-map-style provinces.

Clearly, you've never been "taught" English either
I'm sorry, man. It was just to good.

Too- if you're going to try and make fun of a non-native english speaker, a) don't fall flat on your face afterwards, b) don't.

Getting pwned by EoJ for spelling and grammar is the most shameful thing that can happen to you.

EoJ are you going to take that lying down? My solution, if I had your wise authority, and means of powers you know what I would do? Ban Him. Do it. You know you want to. Come on... your not abusing your powers... he's being abused by them.

Anyway, on topic. I love how you can determine whether this certain province is a colony or not. I would conquer a settlement, give it colony for awhile. After awhile, It would gain prestige, and be awarded with the title of ummmm.... non-colony! Mwahahahahaha!

I'm sure the difference between the too will be substantial. Much like the Castle/Town ration in Medieval 2. I guarantee that colonies will only be able to recruit militia units.

[This message has been edited by blaster fodder (edited 09-01-2007 @ 11:18 PM).]

I see, so the "Colony of London" or maybe "Colony of Paris." Meh... Don't really see that happening...