Information from German PC Gamer - March

Topic Subject: Information from German PC Gamer - March

Aftermath
HG Alumnus

posted 27 February 2013 05:26 EDT (US)

The March edition of the German PC Gamer is out, complete with yet more insight of Rome II. This has been translated with some assistance from Google:

According to Dominique Starr the campaign will end during the early empire. As the first emperor Augustus reigned from 27 BC to 14AD, we can guess that the game will span until approximately 10 to 30 AD. At this time christianity was still embrionic.
The game starts during the punic era, at the time of the Roman wars against Carthage, which started in 264 BC. So, all in all we can expect a campaign that lasts about 300 years, similar to RTW, where the campaign lasted from 270 BC to 14 AD. Back then there were two rounds per year, partitioned in summer and winter. This should also stay true for R2TW. However, as far as the goals of the campaign are concerned CA wants to introduce more variety. "We would like to move away from 'conquer X provinces' towards faction specific goals, promises Starr. "For instance one faction might have the task to conquer a specific city." There will also be short and long campaigns, which, according to Starr, also influences the overall goals.

Most interesting piece of information relates to the campaign goals, I like the idea in practice. It allows for more dynamic campaigns and different feels to each faction I guess.

Google translate really butchered this segment so I edited it;
Champions (here a Germanic man and Britannic lady) are mighty warriors that work according to Creative Assembly similar to the foreign veterans in Shogun 2 Fall of the Samurai expansion. Meaning they're allowed to accompany and strengthen armies, alternatively, they remained in cities in to ensure stronger recruits. The Rome - Masters of war are likely to serve similar tasks on the campaign map. Furthermore, they can rival Champions; challenge to duels in order to remove them from the campaign map.
Dignitaries arrive in Rome 2 (?) other duties as the diplomats in the predecessor, who traveled for negotiations with other nations. Now one may speak over the menu with any faction that you have discovered. Also religious characters (here a Gallic Druid and a Germanic witch) they may increase the satisfaction of the population. Perhaps can be instigate riots with them also. People believe in the benefits of their own culture.
Sounds like each faction gets a unique set of agents, or more likely each culture group. Rather than the generic Spies/Assassins of the previous Rome. Diplomats are out too, the game is adopting the Empire-onwards style of diplomacy in that you can conduct it with any faction you have discovered on the campaign map in a seperate window. So I'm at a loss as to what the Dignitaries function will be.

Word is there are some pictures of the Witch Agent and Druid Agent.

Also from the article:
On the campaign map: "Next to it you can see how the same area looked in the first Rome. What we can see clearly: Provinces are partitioned into smaller regions, adding complexity to the map. And that is never a bad thing."
The article says that the game is 70% finished.
A f t y

A A R S
:: The Sun always rises in the East :: Flawless Crowns :: Dancing Days ::

"We kissed the Sun, and it smiled down upon us."

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Legion Of Hell
Centurion

posted 27 February 2013 07:25 EDT (US) 1 / 16

70% finished? That is interesting to hear.

The foriegn champions did happen during the time period RTW is set in. I remember during the First Punic War the Carthaginians had a unit of Greeks led by the Spartan Xanthippus. He actually trained the Carthaginian army that in turn were able to roundly defeat the Romans at Tunis and captured the Roman consul Marcus Regulus. So kudos to CA for including that option.

The Battle of Tunis could easily be one of the historical battles if CA decide to include battles that weren't in RTW.

But thanks for the great info, Afty!

General Rawlinson- This is most unsatisfactory. Where are the Sherwood Foresters? Where are the East Lancashires on the right?

Brigadier-General Oxley- They are lying out in No Man's Land, sir. And most of them will never stand again.

Two high ranking British generals discussing the fortunes of two regiments after the disastrous attack at Aubers Ridge on the 9th May 1915.

[This message has been edited by Legion Of Hell (edited 02-27-2013 @ 07:33 AM).]

Aftermath
HG Alumnus

posted 27 February 2013 07:30 EDT (US) 2 / 16

I don't think the Champions will be foreign, more likely specific for each faction; in this example the Suebi and Iceni (Germans and Britons) respectively.

70% done is interesting indeed, means they have plenty of time to test. I don't want to see it before it's absolutely ready.

A f t y

A A R S
:: The Sun always rises in the East :: Flawless Crowns :: Dancing Days ::

"We kissed the Sun, and it smiled down upon us."

Legion Of Hell
Centurion

posted 27 February 2013 09:02 EDT (US) 3 / 16

I am thinking it'll be released in the 4th quarter of 2013 - so the last three months of this year If so then that gives ample time to test it out and hopefully we get a sneak peek or a demo of RTW at E3.

That's what I'd do if I was part of the marketing and promotions team at CA.

[This message has been edited by Legion Of Hell (edited 02-27-2013 @ 09:03 AM).]

Punic Hebil
Centurion
(id: Punic Hoplite)

posted 27 February 2013 11:46 EDT (US) 4 / 16

I've heard from a number of different places that Rome 2 will be out in October.

On the Champions, I'm glad they're continuing this. It actually made a difference in FotS, especially when it came to getting more ammunition for my artillery (which literally won battles by themselves). I wonder what kind of bonuses we'll get from these agents. No doubt morale, endurance and possibly more missiles for missile units. Anything else you can think of?

Also, do we know yet if the siege equipment (onagers, ballistae, ect) will have a finite amount of ammo like Shogun 2? Or unlimited like Napoleon/Empire?

I am the Carthaginian who became an angel, and surrendered his wings for a life on the sea of battle.

My magic screen is constantly bombarded with nubile young things eager to please these old eyes. This truly is a wonderful period in which to exist! - Terikel the Deflowerer

Aftermath
HG Alumnus

posted 27 February 2013 16:43 EDT (US) 5 / 16

I agree, the foreign veterans were great in Fall of the Samurai. As a matter of fact, since Shogun 2 agents have been essential, before I used to ignore them frequently. No word on artillery, although it's been mentioned it's buildable on the campaign map rather than in a town or city.

Info dump post;

From a Spanish magazine; though it mostly seems to be the same information I posted above so we'll keep it in this thread.

Barbarian Agents:

Character classes will depend on each faction's final form. Each faction's agents will have specific skills; for example, a Greek priest will be different to a Roman priest.

I don't really know what 'final form' means, but interesting to note a Greek priest will function differently to a Roman priest. More agent variation between factions is always a bonus though.

Tactical Map of the battle at Teutoburg: It's noted that enemy units don't actually appear on this until they're within the Line of Sight of your actual men.

Screenshot of some wardogs tearing up the Romans:

And last but not least;

Quoted from CA Twitter:
"Shiny new Twitter skin. Wonder what it could be in aid of? Maybe we have something new coming tomorrow."

A f t y

A A R S
:: The Sun always rises in the East :: Flawless Crowns :: Dancing Days ::

"We kissed the Sun, and it smiled down upon us."

DominicusUltimus
Legate

posted 27 February 2013 17:06 EDT (US) 6 / 16

Excellent news Afty and well done once again. As for whatever CA has in store for us tomorrow, I'm hoping it will either be a video of the Battle of Teutoburg Forest or a reveal of the actual campaign map (unlikely I know but a man can dream). Great to hear that CA seems to be mixing a lot of the features from past Total War games as well, especially with religion and an Hellenistic Era equivalent of the foreign veterans from Fall of the Samurai.

"Life is more fun when you are insane. Just let go occasionally".- yakcamkir 12:14
"It is not numbers, but vision that wins wars." - Antiochus VII Sidetes
"My magic screen is constantly bombarded with nubile young things eager to please these old eyes. This truly is a wonderful period in which to exist! - Terikel Grayhair
Angel of Total War: Rome II Heaven and the Total War: Attila Forums

SwampRat
M2TW Ladder Leader

posted 28 February 2013 01:32 EDT (US) 7 / 16

Not wishing to sound unappreciative of CA, but aren't they doing the traditional 'keep the same agent roles from the previous game, change the name and graphic and call them new'? That said, differences between factions would be good (and new).

Virescit vulnere virtus
Sicily HotseatA campaign (finished)
AI compilation mod

Legion Of Hell
Centurion

posted 28 February 2013 04:59 EDT (US) 8 / 16

Felt sorry for the Roman soldier getting his arm bit by a dog. But great pics, Afty!

But I do look forward to what news CA have. With each day I get more excited.

Aftermath
HG Alumnus

posted 28 February 2013 05:04 EDT (US) 9 / 16

Might be a video of the Teutoburg battle, after it has been talked about so much recently.

A f t y

A A R S
:: The Sun always rises in the East :: Flawless Crowns :: Dancing Days ::

"We kissed the Sun, and it smiled down upon us."

DominicusUltimus
Legate

posted 28 February 2013 15:26 EDT (US) 10 / 16

Here's some extra info on Rome 2 just posted today at PC Gamer's website. The most interesting part for me is the quote below:

Quoted from PC Gamer:
Sudden but inevitable betrayal

Creative Assembly are experimenting with ways to keep the game interesting when your power as a faction has reached critical mass. The clean-up phase has always been a weakness of the series, the point in the game where you can�t be stopped, and the road to victory looks a lot like clicking �auto resolve� over and over again. Part of this will be an expanded reputation system where your deeds throughout the entire campaign are remembered: brutality towards one enemy will be factored in by the others you might face, meaning that you�ll face increasingly violent opposition even from enemies who you otherwise outnumber, or alliances of necessity formed in the face of your rolling war machine. Likewise, internal politics can lead to your faction facing outright civil war when power vacuums form. It all sounds very appropriate to the period. The Romans had a bit of a problem with uppity generals crossing important rivers, don�t you know.

The ability of having to deal with a reputation that lasts throughout the entire campaign, as well as having to deal with power vacuums and civil wars within your own empire after what I assume would be an especially costly defeat or the death of an influential family member is very exciting to say the least

Awesome Eagle
Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)

posted 28 February 2013 16:10 EDT (US) 11 / 16

Wow, looks good! I like the reputation system, means i might have to keep changing generals, cycling them so the ones with more reputation are in the back and the newer, less experienced ones are leading the assault. Rinse and repeat. Would it be possible i wonder, to just suicide a reputable General, to prevent a rebellion? As in charge him into a mass of enemy infantry?

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana
History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough
Wars not make one great- Yoda

Aftermath
HG Alumnus

posted 28 February 2013 16:14 EDT (US) 12 / 16

Great find DU, lots of information in there. It seems they're doing a preview of the game next week too.

One of my favourite bits;

Men coming under fire from a unit of archers raise their shields dynamically as individuals.

I'm glad they're expanding on the loyalties and increasing the faction complexities too. I did have a tendency in Shogun 2 to sit my Daimyo somewhere safe-ish and use the other Generals more for battles, there were several occasions particularly in FoTS where my Generals were down to 1 loyalty thanks to the 'Delusions of Grandeur' trait.

A f t y

A A R S
:: The Sun always rises in the East :: Flawless Crowns :: Dancing Days ::

"We kissed the Sun, and it smiled down upon us."

DominicusUltimus
Legate

posted 28 February 2013 16:28 EDT (US) 13 / 16

Quoted from Afty:
I'm glad they're expanding on the loyalties and increasing the faction complexities too. I did have a tendency in Shogun 2 to sit my Daimyo somewhere safe-ish and use the other Generals more for battles, there were several occasions particularly in FoTS where my Generals were down to 1 loyalty thanks to the 'Delusions of Grandeur' trait.

That's very interesting to know. In my Shogun 2 and FoTS campaigns my daimyo is almost always the most skilled and experienced general since I usually keep him on the front lines, that way all his sons and subordinates have 'steadfast' or 'incorruptible' loyalty status.

As for AE's idea of suiciding a reputable general, I think whatever noble family he belonged to would throw a hissy fit under the belief that you intentionally failed to protect their patriarch or rather their meal ticket haha.

Legion Of Hell
Centurion

posted 28 February 2013 20:05 EDT (US) 14 / 16

Some excellent info, DU!

I really do like the reputation part DU highlighted. It actually makes the decisions you make all the more important and will make the player think twice before breaking an alliance or trade deal so to seize their strategic land.

Moreover, this also intrigued me in the PC Gamer link.

Once a terrain map is generated for the campaign it�ll be persistent for any subsequent battles that take place in the same area � in previous Total War games, a series of variously hilly, flat and coastal maps were rotated in and out for each new battle. What this means is that players will become familiar with the best places to attack, defend, and ambush enemy armies, turning the home-field advantage from a rule-based mechanic to a dynamic one based on your tactical understanding of your territory.

In my view this could help those playing smaller factions as the battle map will be the same with features they can use time and again. Though I wonder if the AI can do the same thing as well..........

EnemyofJupitor
HG Alumnus Superbus

posted 01 March 2013 17:15 EDT (US) 15 / 16

For that to have a more significant impact than when they had that for Rome and Medievel 2 the battle map should be bigger, and instead of representing a 3x3 square around the defending army have it be something like 5x5...

And I shall go Softly into the Night Taking my Dreams As will You

Aftermath
HG Alumnus

posted 02 March 2013 12:43 EDT (US) 16 / 16

I think they've already confirmed somewhere that the battlemaps will be bigger.

In any case they were mostly really good in Shogun 2 and it's expansions in terms of replicating the campaign map. I had a few notable exceptions where the ambush battle map was an open field, and when defending a river crossing the river could be seen but actually wasn't present on the map itself.

A f t y

A A R S
:: The Sun always rises in the East :: Flawless Crowns :: Dancing Days ::

"We kissed the Sun, and it smiled down upon us."

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