Rome II - How psyched are you?

[Spectrum_Prez]

I might get this if it gets good reviews. Hope the overworld gameplay is improved. I liked both Rome, Medieval II, and Empire, but I found I was just auto-calc'ing all the battles.

If you find you're really playing the game for the 4x component, just move to Europa Universalis IV, which is starting to shape up quite nicely.

 

[Jedi-Hunter4]

Damnit, it's the only game I genuinely care about in the foreseeable year (exception maybe given to Wasteland II and Shadowrun, but I don't hold as high hopes about those).
So, how psyched are you?
What are you expecting out of it?
Which factions will be added/removed from the last game?
Do you think they will keep as many different units as last time, or go more Shogun 2 about it?
Tech-tree and Exp for Generals?
Will it be better than the predecessor?

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, have literally just screamed and woke the whole flat up. I gave shogun a miss but I have played the other game's since Rome came out an there have been so many many improvements they can add.

I hope units are still as varied as rome was. I'd like to see a game where you can play from the unification of the Italian states, the inception of the empire from a republic all the way through to the possible splitting of the empire all in one game, I know that is like a 800-1000 year period depending where you want to call it but that would just be crazy. Truely sculpt your rome.

I know that Kind of robs them of expansions though lol. One thing I'm interested to see is what they do with sea battle's of the time as for the most part they kind of fought them like they did on land joined up an had a pitched battle, that could be pretty kl if sea battles are still in.

Tech-tree an exp for generals not so sure, I kind of like how you never know who's going to have that stand out battle and come out as the general of the ages. Some sort of incorporation of the roman family politics could be cool though. Like forcing you to appoint a new general from a particular family, being careful not to leave generals within a powerhouse region or army for too long encase the army becomes too loyal etc etc, could see it becoming annoying as hell but could be really good if done well, as in there could be advantages to instigating it or something. More control in the senate or something.

I'd love to see some-form of loyalty system through the auxillarys etc like the Romans used to raise units in say France and post them in Greece miles away, an vice versa so they would not have thought's about rebelling with their countrymen an the people back home would not want to rebel for fear of their safe return. Consequences for loosing large amount of legionaries would be cool as well as there were in real life as they were citizens, just more authentic representation of the mental amount of politics that went on would be cool, have to think about your moves, supply lines for army's would be cool as well, not sure if it would be getting too in depth for the broader range of players, but would be cool for me.

 

[Kaymish]

I'm like super mega amped every time i see something about Rome II i get so excited i just about piss myself i loved Rome and empire was a little disappointed with shogun and i didnt like how it was sorta 1v1 combat if i have 240 troops surrounding 1 armed citizen i expect them to dog pile on the guy or stab him while hes distracted by the other guy
anyway im still suped excited about Rome II especially the announced upgrades to the campaign AI that really weirds me out how they lose half their territory to me and there armies have been decimated they still demand half of my empire for a peace treaty even if i can no longer afford to keep steam rolling them i can keep the war going

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

I'm uncommitted at the moment.

The setting isn't one of my favourite historical eras, Shogun 2 pissed me off with it's pulling massed stacks out of the FOW to the point where it killed the fun for me AND the strategic level stuff needs a lot of work because it's falling further and further behind the shit Paradox does (yeah yeah, I know Paradox has the advantage of the EU engine games only being strategic level). Also the diplomacy model still sucks donkey balls.


Also, that wiki linked in before? Their map on the Iceni page is wrong... it has Ireland labeled as Caledonia and Scotland labeled as Hibernia, which is arse backward.

 

[TheBelgianGuy]

Also, that wiki linked in before? Their map on the Iceni page is wrong... it has Ireland labeled as Caledonia and Scotland labeled as Hibernia, which is arse backward.

Plus it has their territory extended too far south... and Camulodunum as their capitol? Isn't that Colchester, which was the home of the Trinovantes, allies of Rome? The only link between the Iceni and Camulodunum I know off is that they burned it down during the Boudica revolt.

And about that map: I think you are misreading it, mate It doesn't label Ireland as Caledonia and Scotland as Hibernia, though it might look like it.
If you look closely, it actually says "Caledonia et Hibernia", ie. "Scotland and Ireland", meaning they're one and the same region in the game (and while indeed it would be better if they had said "Hibernia et Caledonia" instead, that's much less of a brainfart than calling scotland ireland).

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

And about that map: I think you are misreading it, mate It doesn't label Ireland as Caledonia and Scotland as Hibernia, though it might look like it.
If you look closely, it actually says "Caledonia et Hibernia", ie. "Scotland and Ireland", meaning they're one and the same region in the game (and while indeed it would be better if they had said "Hibernia et Caledonia" instead, that's much less of a brainfart than calling scotland ireland).

Oh, right... Fairy nuff, then. That does make more sense.

I might eventually get Rome II when it's going cheap but I'm not sure... I mean the amphibious invasions sound cool and all but that won't make up for things if Creative Assembly haven't lifted their game in Battle AI, strategic level complexity and stupid arse diplomacy. Oh yeah, and fucktard DLC CRAZY they go as well.

 

[Realitycrash]

Seems I am one of the few that really enjoyed Shogun 2 and Empire.

I really did love Shogun 2, and I still play it (because of the diplomatic improvements done and the fact that Very Hard is a joke in any previous game), but the one thing we all seem to miss is the fact that there are so few unique units.

OT: Just rewatched that Carthage siege demo, and it seems to have about the same mechanics in terms of combat as Shogun 2 had. One unit picks another, they lock in and everybody else who's near and could attack either of the two units just stands around doing nothing. I know this is pre-alpha footage, but somehow I doubt that's going to go away in the full release.

They don't need to fix it completely, just make it a whole less obvious and make it open to chance.

 

[Realitycrash]

On a related note, just like they spoke Japanese in Shogun 2, I wouldn't mind the romans speak Latin in Rome 2.

 

[Ironside]

Can we please have the Picts as a playable faction? Please CA?

We already have one insignificant tribe - the iceni - taking up one of only 8 playable faction slots at game start, so i would hope that CA wont add another one to the list. I Imagine they would have a greater chance of being playable in Barbarian Invasion 2 or whatever they will call it.

Thanks for the link, i was looking for something like that to bookmark


Edit - Parthia will sweep west, unless they are not playable where Carthage will conquer?

You should subscribe to their Youtube channel as well if you haven't already - their rally point videos are pretty good (the last one had battle of teutoberg forest screenshots and a sample of some of the new music for the game).

At best they're going to be a minor faction (like rebels) for the Iceni to fight.
Never fear though, mods will sort that out.

Mods will only sort it out if CA has no dlc plans for factions like the Picts. The modders were stopped from doing certain things in Shogun 2 to stop them from doing the same thing as dlc plans.

Damnit, it's the only game I genuinely care about in the foreseeable year (exception maybe given to Wasteland II and Shadowrun, but I don't hold as high hopes about those).
So, how psyched are you?
What are you expecting out of it?
Which factions will be added/removed from the last game?
Do you think they will keep as many different units as last time, or go more Shogun 2 about it?
Tech-tree and Exp for Generals?
Will it be better than the predecessor?

I think the changes to sieges alone will make it better than its predecessor although i am annoyed that some of the major empires will only be released as dlc. Hopefully they wont have bonus factions depending on where you order it from as well - the retailers will probably be fighting over who gets to have Sparta as their bonus. Hopefully there wont be any stupid units like pink pyjama people of the east or flaming pigs or beserkers that can kill everything on the battlefield or super Spartans this time as well.

I'm excited like hell. I can't wait to spend another 200 hours on an another Total War game.

And for anyone interested:
http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Factions

All the factions in the game. They're being released every now and then.

That will only be the playable factions at the start. There will 50+ altogether - i believe they are sticking with the "no more rebel" faction thing they've been going for in recent games, so i imagine most regions will have a faction associated with them.

 

[Realitycrash]

I'm excited like hell. I can't wait to spend another 200 hours on an another Total War game.

And for anyone interested:
http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Factions

All the factions in the game. They're being released every now and then.

That will only be the playable factions at the start. There will 50+ altogether - i believe they are sticking with the "no more rebel" faction thing they've been going for in recent games, so i imagine most regions will have a faction associated with them.

If you could source that it would make me very happy. 50 factions, all with unique units? Yes please.

 

[SckizoBoy]

How dare you insult the Albina family we where priests of Jupiter at the sanctuary in the Alban hill why you poxy Cornelians were being told which end of pig was which by Etruscan kings. Look at my snazzy red boots. My tribunes will veto any land settlements for your drunken rabble of an army.

Now, look here...(!) Back in those days, a pig was a pig and we ate the whole damned thing! You kids these days don't know how lucky you have it with your full cuisine from Syria, amongst other places. Besides, I don't need an army, can't leave Rome! =P

It could be interesting if they had a proper simulation of republican politics. You would have to balance military and political skills. It could make a very different multi player experience.

Yeah, that's true... but it's a very complex system (mid-Republic, that is) that would not translate very fluidly to the game. Sure, they could probably cut down the number of magistrates, but it'd be very difficult to balance in general, which is a pity.

Fighting is for peasants, I'll just pay the unwashed masses to fight for me

Hmmm... seems like it's time for me to put my demagogue suit on! =P Soon you will have no army, oligarch!

In the second Punic war that is exactly what Rome did, largely because Hannibal had killed everyone else. After Cannae, Rome dropped the property qualification to join the army, due to the lack of qualified manpower.

Yeah, they broke so many traditions... Gracchus & his slave legions, both of Africanus' (original) armies were primarily composed of volunteers and I think they'd reduced the property requirement to something poxy like a thousand asses.

On a related note, just like they spoke Japanese in Shogun 2, I wouldn't mind the romans speak Latin in Rome 2.

Think everyone will just point at Europa Barbarorum and go 'like that, please... like that!'

 

[Stu35]

As usual, I didnt even heard about it.


Thats my care level. LOL.

EDIT: Oh its a game from the Total Shit... I mean Total War series... ya... I tried that game once. Didnt exactly liked it. Moving on...

*didn't

*hear

*That's

*like


... Moving on:




Not played one since Medieval 2, predominantly because I've not actually got a computer or laptop capable of playing any since Medieval 2, however seeing as my current laptop is dying and due for an upgrade, I may splurge and get a new PC as well for the house.

Also, I recently bought a house, which needs a PC, left mine at my mothers because she uses it for work, and minesweeper.

So, yeah, looking forward to getting back into the series - I think in terms of battlefield gameplay the original Rome was my favourite, Medieval 2 got better with patches and a bit of modding, but stuff like getting the Cavalry to charge properly should have been included in the first release in my opinion.

Looking forward to taking my Iceni to the gates of Rome itself (of course, Brigantes would be better, but they're unlikely to be a playable faction, so the Iceni will do).

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

*snip*

I never saw it as an argument against me. What you said about owning the game has absolutely nothing to do with the validity of criticisms about scale, in much the same way just because someone's finished film school doesn't make their opinion of film all that valuable as a default. What matters is the argument, and you seem to have next to nothing to say as a rebuttal to the idea that Shogun 2 features a relatively small scale, instead resorting to non-sequitur statements about who owns what game.

Now, again, you may not see it as an issue, maybe indeed prefer it, and I have zero problems with that, what I do have problems with, though, is you pretending like the actual, tangible scale of the game is far bigger in something like Rome or Medieval. We are talking about a pretty objective property of the game, and one that doesn't go away simply because you own it. If somebody doesn't appreciate the game taking place in one country with 6 near-identical factions, it's seriously presumptuous and annoying to try to portray that opinion illegitimate simply because the person may - may - not have bought the game, even when again, buying it does nothing to alleviate the objective truth that is the relatively small scale.

I apologize for the messy approach I have been taking, what I mean to say is, that although the number of distinct factions, the technicalities of it only being one nation, are smaller in scale, I found that although the overall unit variety may be smaller there are many many differences between clans in shogun 2 that make up for the lacking in unit variety, take for instance the Ikko Ikki they "could" use just the same tactics as everyone else, but due to their religious differences, and the rather violent affect it tends to have on other clans, and due to their basic peasant units being greater in number per squad by 30 men, and due to unlike other clans, which when they use a monk to incite unrest and start revolutions in enemy towns, rather than ending up with a neutral rebel army spawning attacking and turning the province into a neutral rebel province, they spawn a group of rebels under the flag of the Ikko Ikki, when they take(if they manage to) the town in that province it is owned by your clan, along with all of the units in the army spawned, meaning that if you want to play effectively as that clan you end up using peasants and warrior monks almost exclusively, and almost no samurai, due to your clan essentially being an aggressive peasantry focused religious order, and that's just one of the clans with interesting mechanics, not to mention the differences in the dlc, which change the fundamental structure of the campaign, including in the last dlc the ability to directly control certain units(gattling guns), giving it a variety one wouldn't expect from just being Japan, not to mention the inclusion of religious reform to Christianity, and the advantages and disadvantages that can bring to your clan depending on the overall dynamic of the other clans and their relationships with you, so even though it is only japan, with the available number of options, the naval combat which is changed greatly by the final dlc as well, and the way the units interact, allowing for a different flavour of strategy than other total war games, the relatively small scope of it, as expanded as it is to allow for the landscape to have all of the detail that they can have in it(allowing for different uses of terrain for advantages in your campaign), feels a lot larger than one might expect it to, I would say that unless your ONLY draw to a total war title is to have as many different unique units in it as you can, it's definitely worth a try, and doesn't deserve to be overlooked entirely.

*snip*

Slow down there. Nobody said anything even remotely to the extent of the possibility of 10 guys beating hundreds. Underneath the visuals there is still the number based part of the game, with all the rolls and damage, armor and morale stats that go with it, and nobody ever said otherwise.

how the battles look (and possibly how long they take) with a mo-cap approach to the animation as opposed to having simpler attack/defend/death animations. The reality is that most, if not all, combat animations in Shogun 2 (also seems to be the case in Rome 2) are done with two characters acting and reacting 1v1. What your backstab scenario is is basically the ability of units to occasionally switch targets. That's it.

The simple fact of the matter is that because of this system, 60-70% of the individual soldiers who could be visibly fighting are going to be standing around doing nothing because they have no target. Unless you start attempting to animate 1v2/3/4 fights, which is unfeasible to the highest degree.

I can see your point there now, I misunderstood you apparently, no real argument there, it all depends on a preference for visuals I guess.

I do however think that a lot of people give shogun 2 a pass just thinking that it's "a bunch of the same units, and thus all the clans play the same, with no real unit variety, on a tiny map." when really, it has a lot of underlying complexity, and japan is really not that tiny when you look at how it's scaled in shogun 2, also unlike how in empires, or medievil total war where you NEED to have a ton of different nations to have the kind of diplomacy/warfare/crazy shit happening with all different cultures clashing dynamic, shogun 2 does the same sort of thing by using feudal japan's clan dynamic quite well, I would suggest that those who pass it by should give it a shot sometime, they may like it more than they think they will.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

Wow, it seems like I'm in the majority when I say I liked Empire and Napoleon over the entire rest of the Total War series. I mean, yeah siege towers, but on the other hand there's line battles and artillery! I'm sort of looking forward to Rome 2 just so I can give that time period another chance.

 

[Coffeejack]

I think I may have some sort of Caesar complex, because although I am undeniably shit at games like this, I find myself drawn to and fascinated by them. Maybe it's time to learn?

That, and I love the Romans. Hard bastards.

 

[Pink Gregory]

It's far off in the future for me; I've hardly touched Empire and Napoleon yet, despite owning them...don't think I've ever finished a campaign on Rome, to be honest. I think the first time my save got corrupted as I was sweeping across Egypt as the Brutii, and the second time I became annoyed with sieging cities with about 1-4 units inside, because the AI spread itself too thin.

Then again, Rome could seriously do with an upgrade, playing Medieval 2 and then Rome again made me long for some of the nuances on the strategic layer.