Rome:Total War

[MoonlessNight]

Elephants plowing through infantry is the coolest thing I have ever seen.

 

[Kokopelli]

Elephants plowing through infantry is the coolest thing I have ever seen.

Not when it is your cataphracts that are cut down by a wave of angry elephants as you are attempting to flank his infantry and cav archers.

 

[OhhJim]

That is odd. I had it the perspective folder when I tried it out. Perhaps it is created when you start playing a campaign.

I might have looked in the wrong spot, but I thought I did a universal search. I haven't tried that mod. Too busy fighting the Egyptians.

 

[Paladin Dave]

Hey, I really like RTS games, but I haven't checked this one out yet. I'm curious, what sets it apart from games like Command and Conquer or Empire Earth? I haven't seen any demos, but I did see a program on History Channel called Decisive Battles, and all of the battle sequences are done using Rome Total War, and man does it look awesome.

 

[Rechtgläubig]

Hey, I really like RTS games, but I haven't checked this one out yet. I'm curious, what sets it apart from games like Command and Conquer or Empire Earth? I haven't seen any demos, but I did see a program on History Channel called Decisive Battles, and all of the battle sequences are done using Rome Total War, and man does it look awesome.

I haven't played Empire Earth, and have only played one C&C game, but I'll try...

The game plays a little like Civilization 2. You have a build phase which lets you look at all of your cities, build units, build buildings, move armies... This phase is not timed, when you are finished with your turn, you click "end turn" and it goes on to the next civilization. Combat it a LOT more involded. There is a set up phase, where you can deploy your army however you wish. After you are done you click to start the battle and it begins the real time phase of the game, however, you can still pause and plot out any movements.

The camera view can zoom all over the battlerfield and you can look from almost any angle. The coolest function, is the ability to zoom in and watch individual groups of troops fight. You can go here to see clips and stuff... http://www.totalwar.com/game/

Oh yeah, plus the elephants rock!

 

[OhhJim]

There is just so much to this game. It isn't your standard RTS, like Starcraft or AoE (and I love Starcraft). You have to worry about troop morale, formations, skills of veterans vs. rookies, and terrain. You have to keep your people happy. You have to know who is allied with who, and if you attack Numidia, will you upset Numidia's allies. You have generals with different personality traits: Do you want this guy governing your biggest city, or out in the field fighting the enemy? Joe Schmoe wants to marry your daughter, do you accept him into the family, or do you hold out for a better, younger soldier? So many decisions.

 

[Kokopelli]

The game uses actual tactics for ancient armies, opposed to build mass quantities of "X" to attack mass quantities of "Y." Sure, you can do a rush with heavy cavalry against some one and they in turn flank you decimate your cavalry. Not to mention the game the has a wonderful soundtrack.

 

[OhhJim]

And, of course, if you conquer Jerusalem, do you build a temple to Jupiter?

Seriously, as a Christian, I'm a bit conflicted about this type of thing. I'm destroying all the shrines and temples to Baal that Carthage has, but is a temple to Saturn any better? Yes, I know it's only a game, but one measure of a game is how immersed you get in the experience. I'm not saying it's a sin, of course, just that I wish there were other options. Oh, well, a conqueror's life is never easy.

 

[ForeRunner]

Keep in mind that the game predates Christianity (300bce ish)

 

[Paladin Dave]

Cool, I might look into it, but I'm gonna get Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth first. War of the ring was ok, but it really was a poorly done rts, and I am hoping that Battle for Middle Earth will be better, because it uses the C&C Generals engine instead of WC 3.

 

[Rechtgläubig]

And, of course, if you conquer Jerusalem, do you build a temple to Jupiter?

Seriously, as a Christian, I'm a bit conflicted about this type of thing. I'm destroying all the shrines and temples to Baal that Carthage has, but is a temple to Saturn any better? Yes, I know it's only a game, but one measure of a game is how immersed you get in the experience. I'm not saying it's a sin, of course, just that I wish there were other options. Oh, well, a conqueror's life is never easy.

Sure you replace them! It brings the culture penalty down.


But seriously, if you have issues with it, I am sure you can just rename the temples in the .txt files.

 

[OhhJim]

No, I don't have issues with it, it's just kinda...slightly weird, is all. Like the first time I realized I needed to exterminate the populace, it was a little hard to do, but it's easier, now.

Ironic that building a temple to Jupiter would soothe the Jews, when in real life, it majorly ****ed them off!

Seriously, again, it's a benefit to knock down all the shrines and temples when you conquer a city. You can't upgrade temples to foreign gods like you can to Roman ones.

 

[Kokopelli]

No, I don't have issues with it, it's just kinda...slightly weird, is all. Like the first time I realized I needed to exterminate the populace, it was a little hard to do, but it's easier, now.

Ironic that building a temple to Jupiter would soothe the Jews, when in real life, it majorly ****ed them off!

Seriously, again, it's a benefit to knock down all the shrines and temples when you conquer a city. You can't upgrade temples to foreign gods like you can to Roman ones.

That is why if they start acting out, you pull your forces out of the city and let them revolt. Then simply move your forces back in for some "reeducation of the Roman cause" and enslave or exterminate the population.

 

[Niz]

fear the elephants!!! when you go againist any army with them. JUST RUN!! lol

 

[Paladin Dave]

That is why if they start acting out, you pull your forces out of the city and let them revolt. Then simply move your forces back in for some "reeducation of the Roman cause" and enslave or exterminate the population.

You sound like my kinda guy . Lets go conquer something guys!!!

 

[Kokopelli]

You sound like my kinda guy . Lets go conquer something guys!!!

One of the main downfalls with that, is it is difficult to build your city up. I have a recently acquired Gaulish city on the edge of my empire that I exterminated the populace after I lost my general. Now the gauls keep sieging it (and losing) and are slowly dwindling my forces down. Unfortunately, I cannot send reinforcements as I am bit strapped for cash from trying to upgrade my other cities and an attempt to siege a northern gaul city.

 

[Paladin Dave]

I got five bucks. We shoudl be able to buy, like, part of a sword or something, right? Lunch for one of your soldiers?

 

[OhhJim]

That is why if they start acting out, you pull your forces out of the city and let them revolt. Then simply move your forces back in for some "reeducation of the Roman cause" and enslave or exterminate the population.

I've read this elsewhere. It sounds like an exploit. Bribery isn't working right, either. Egypt can't take Cyrene because I bribe every army that comes close. It's too easy. They need to just fix the squalor part.

I think my favorite part is the Lesbian Rebels. Since I live near Berkeley, I felt right at home.

 

[Kokopelli]

I've read this elsewhere. It sounds like an exploit. Bribery isn't working right, either. Egypt can't take Cyrene because I bribe every army that comes close. It's too easy. They need to just fix the squalor part.

I think my favorite part is the Lesbian Rebels. Since I live near Berkeley, I felt right at home.

I have read the bribery is too easy within the game. Though when attempting to bribe some of the gallic armies, they pretty much told me to take a hike. Nonetheless, they listened to the bribery of my sword.

I have heard mixed reports of the squalor within the cities. But to be honest, I have spent the majority of the time playing on-line. Think lastnight was the first time actually sitting down to enjoy the campaign aspect of the game.

Lesbian rebels... interesting.

 

[OhhJim]

Yeah, the Lesbian Rebels are in Pergamum. They had infiltrated the public school system with their agenda, they tore down all the copies of the 10 Commandments, and wouldn't let the little kiddies say "under God" in the Roman, uh, Asia Minor Pledge of Allegiance. Plus, they organized softball tournaments. So I conquered their settlement and exterminated them, like any good Christian would!

I finally got to play as Carthage (and Greek Cities). That accent in the Carthage voices is going to drive me crazy. Crazier.