Total War Overhaul What Players Want To See In The Game

The Total War series, known for its grand strategy gameplay that blends turn-based empire management with real-time tactical battles, has captivated gamers for over two decades. With each new installment, fans eagerly anticipate enhancements and changes that will further immerse them in historical or fantastical conflicts. As the series evolves, the community has voiced various desires for a comprehensive overhaul to address long-standing issues and introduce fresh, engaging mechanics. This article delves into the key areas where players are hoping to see significant improvements, examining the specific features and changes that could elevate the Total War experience to new heights.

Diplomacy Enhancements: Forging Alliances and Navigating Treachery

Diplomacy, a cornerstone of any grand strategy game, often feels underdeveloped in the Total War series. Players frequently express frustration with the limitations and inconsistencies of the diplomatic system, particularly the AI's seemingly irrational behavior. To truly overhaul diplomacy, Creative Assembly needs to implement a more nuanced and realistic system that allows for meaningful interactions and strategic decision-making.

One crucial aspect of diplomatic enhancement is improving AI behavior. AI factions should be more strategic in their alliances, considering factors such as geographical proximity, military strength, and shared enemies. The current system often sees AI factions forming illogical alliances or breaking treaties for seemingly arbitrary reasons, undermining the player's efforts to build stable relationships. A smarter AI would lead to more dynamic and challenging campaigns, forcing players to carefully weigh the consequences of their diplomatic actions.

Another critical area for improvement is the range of diplomatic options available to players. Beyond simple alliances and trade agreements, players should be able to negotiate more complex arrangements, such as military access treaties, defensive pacts, and even royal marriages. These options would provide greater flexibility in managing international relations and allow for more intricate political maneuvering. Imagine forging a defensive alliance with a weaker faction to deter aggression from a powerful neighbor, or arranging a royal marriage to cement a long-term alliance and secure future stability.

Furthermore, the reliability of AI factions should play a more significant role in diplomatic interactions. Factions with a history of treachery and broken promises should be viewed with suspicion, making it harder for them to form alliances and gain trust. Conversely, factions known for their loyalty and honor should be more desirable allies. This system would add a layer of realism to diplomacy, encouraging players to carefully assess the trustworthiness of potential partners.

Finally, the user interface for diplomacy needs a significant overhaul. The current interface can be clunky and confusing, making it difficult to track relationships, understand diplomatic stances, and negotiate effectively. A more intuitive and user-friendly interface would streamline the diplomatic process, allowing players to focus on the strategic implications of their decisions rather than wrestling with the game's mechanics. Imagine a clear, visually appealing interface that presents key information about each faction, such as their military strength, economic status, and diplomatic relationships, at a glance. This would empower players to make informed decisions and engage in more meaningful diplomatic interactions.

Revamping Sieges: From Attrition Warfare to Epic Battles

Siege battles, a staple of the Total War series, often fall short of their potential. The current siege mechanics can feel repetitive and predictable, with AI factions frequently resorting to attrition warfare rather than launching daring assaults. Players crave a more dynamic and engaging siege experience that captures the drama and intensity of historical sieges.

One major issue with the current system is the lack of strategic options for both attackers and defenders. Attackers often find themselves funneled into narrow breach points, making it difficult to utilize flanking maneuvers or exploit weaknesses in the city's defenses. Defenders, on the other hand, tend to rely on static defenses and missile units, leading to slow, grinding battles of attrition. To revitalize sieges, Creative Assembly needs to introduce more varied and dynamic siege mechanics.

For attackers, this could include options such as constructing siege towers, battering rams, and tunnels, allowing for multiple points of attack and creating opportunities for surprise assaults. Imagine the thrill of breaching the walls with a battering ram while simultaneously launching a diversionary attack with siege towers, forcing the defenders to divide their forces and creating openings for your troops. Furthermore, the terrain around the city should play a more significant role in siege battles. Attackers should be able to utilize natural cover, such as forests and hills, to approach the city undetected and set up ambushes. Defenders, in turn, should be able to fortify key positions and create defensive chokepoints to slow down the enemy's advance.

Defenders also need more options to actively defend their cities. This could include features such as boiling oil, barricades, and defensive traps, allowing them to inflict heavy casualties on the attackers. The city's layout should also be a crucial factor in the defense. Narrow streets, fortified squares, and hidden passages could provide defenders with tactical advantages, allowing them to ambush the enemy and delay their progress. A well-defended city should feel like a formidable obstacle, requiring attackers to carefully plan their assault and commit significant resources to the siege.

In addition to tactical improvements, the AI's siege behavior needs a major overhaul. The AI should be more proactive in launching assaults, rather than simply waiting for the attacker to breach the walls. They should also be more strategic in their deployment of troops, utilizing flanking maneuvers and exploiting weaknesses in the attacker's lines. A more aggressive and intelligent AI would make siege battles more challenging and rewarding for players.

Finally, the visual presentation of sieges could be significantly improved. Cities should feel like living, breathing entities, with civilians fleeing from the fighting and buildings collapsing under the weight of the siege. The sounds of battle, such as the roar of siege engines and the clash of steel, should be more immersive and impactful. A visually stunning and immersive siege experience would truly capture the drama and intensity of these pivotal battles.

Deeper Character Development: Shaping Leaders and Fostering Legacies

The character system in Total War, while functional, often lacks depth and impact. Players desire a more robust character development system that allows them to shape the personalities, skills, and legacies of their leaders and generals. A deeper character system would add a personal touch to the grand strategy gameplay, making the fate of individual characters feel more significant and their stories more engaging.

One key area for improvement is the skill tree system. Currently, character skills often feel generic and uninspired, providing small stat bonuses rather than significantly altering a character's abilities or playstyle. A revamped skill tree system should offer more meaningful choices, allowing players to specialize their characters in specific roles and create unique builds. For example, a general could be trained as a skilled tactician, a charismatic leader, or a master of logistics, each with their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. The ability to customize characters in this way would add a layer of strategic depth to the campaign, as players would need to carefully consider the skills and abilities of their leaders when planning their military campaigns.

Beyond skills, characters should also have personalities and traits that influence their behavior and interactions with other characters. These traits could be shaped by events in the game, such as battles won, alliances forged, or betrayals suffered. A general who has suffered a crushing defeat might become cautious and defensive, while a leader who has achieved great victories might become arrogant and ambitious. These personality traits would add a layer of unpredictability to the game, as characters would react to situations in different ways based on their individual personalities.

Furthermore, the relationships between characters should play a more significant role in the game. Family members, rivals, and allies should have their own agendas and motivations, and their interactions should influence the course of the campaign. A loyal general might be willing to risk his life for his leader, while a disgruntled rival might plot to overthrow him. These complex relationships would add a layer of political intrigue to the game, forcing players to carefully manage their court and keep their rivals in check.

The legacy of characters should also be a factor in the game. The deeds of past leaders and generals should be remembered and celebrated, shaping the culture and identity of their faction. Statues could be erected in their honor, poems could be written about their exploits, and their names could be invoked to inspire future generations. This would add a sense of history and continuity to the game, making the player's actions feel more meaningful and lasting.

Finally, the visual representation of characters could be improved. Characters should have unique portraits and models that reflect their personalities and achievements. A grizzled veteran should look different from a young recruit, and a wise statesman should have a different demeanor than a ruthless warlord. These visual cues would help players to connect with their characters and make them feel like more than just numbers on a screen.

Streamlining Campaign Mechanics: Reducing Micromanagement and Enhancing Flow

The Total War series, while known for its grand scale, can sometimes suffer from excessive micromanagement. Players often find themselves bogged down in tedious tasks, such as managing individual settlements or moving armies across vast distances, rather than focusing on strategic decision-making. To streamline campaign mechanics, Creative Assembly needs to reduce micromanagement and enhance the overall flow of the game.

One key area for improvement is settlement management. Currently, players are required to manage every aspect of their settlements, from building construction to tax rates. This can be overwhelming, especially in large empires, and can distract players from more important strategic goals. To address this, Creative Assembly could introduce systems that automate some aspects of settlement management, such as automatic building construction or AI governors that manage local affairs. This would allow players to focus on strategic planning and decision-making, rather than getting bogged down in the minutiae of empire management.

Another area for improvement is army movement. Moving armies across the map can be a time-consuming and tedious task, especially in large empires. To streamline army movement, Creative Assembly could introduce features such as army stances that affect movement speed and visibility, or the ability to set up supply lines that automatically replenish armies in the field. These features would make it easier for players to manage their armies and respond to threats quickly.

Furthermore, the user interface for the campaign map could be improved. The current interface can be cluttered and confusing, making it difficult to find information and make decisions. A more intuitive and user-friendly interface would streamline the campaign experience, allowing players to quickly assess the situation and make informed decisions. Imagine a campaign map that clearly displays key information, such as troop movements, diplomatic relationships, and economic activity, at a glance. This would empower players to make strategic decisions quickly and efficiently.

In addition to these specific improvements, Creative Assembly should also focus on reducing the overall number of clicks and menus required to perform common tasks. The game should be designed to minimize the amount of time players spend navigating menus and clicking buttons, allowing them to focus on the strategic aspects of the game. This could involve streamlining the user interface, introducing keyboard shortcuts, or automating repetitive tasks.

By streamlining campaign mechanics and reducing micromanagement, Creative Assembly can create a more fluid and engaging gameplay experience. Players would be able to focus on the grand strategic challenges of the game, rather than getting bogged down in the details of empire management.

Faction Diversity and Unique Mechanics: A Symphony of Cultures and Warfare

Faction diversity is a crucial element in the Total War series, providing players with a variety of gameplay experiences and strategic challenges. However, some factions in the series can feel generic or lack unique mechanics that set them apart. Players crave a greater level of faction diversity, with each faction possessing its own distinct strengths, weaknesses, and playstyle.

To enhance faction diversity, Creative Assembly needs to focus on creating unique unit rosters, technologies, and campaign mechanics for each faction. Each faction should have its own distinctive military units, reflecting their historical or fictional counterparts. For example, a faction known for its cavalry should have a strong roster of mounted units, while a faction known for its infantry should have a powerful core of foot soldiers. These units should not just be reskins of existing units, but should have their own unique stats, abilities, and roles on the battlefield.

In addition to unique units, factions should also have their own technologies and research trees. These technologies should reflect the faction's historical or fictional strengths and weaknesses, and should provide players with strategic options that are unique to that faction. For example, a faction known for its naval power might have technologies that improve its ships and naval tactics, while a faction known for its economic prowess might have technologies that boost its trade and economy.

Furthermore, factions should have unique campaign mechanics that reflect their historical or fictional circumstances. These mechanics could include unique diplomatic options, economic bonuses, or military advantages. For example, a faction that is surrounded by enemies might have unique diplomatic options that allow it to form alliances more easily, while a faction that is known for its raiding prowess might have economic bonuses that reward aggressive expansion. These unique campaign mechanics would add a layer of strategic depth to the game, forcing players to adapt their playstyle to the specific challenges and opportunities presented by each faction.

The cultural identity of each faction should also be reflected in its gameplay mechanics. Factions with different cultures should have different building styles, unit aesthetics, and even music. This would add a sense of immersion to the game, making each faction feel like a distinct and believable entity.

Finally, Creative Assembly should continue to add new factions to the game in future installments and expansions. These new factions should not just be reskins of existing factions, but should offer unique gameplay experiences and strategic challenges. The addition of new factions would keep the game fresh and exciting, providing players with new ways to explore the world and conquer their enemies.

By enhancing faction diversity and creating unique mechanics for each faction, Creative Assembly can create a more engaging and replayable game. Players would be able to explore a variety of different cultures and playstyles, each with its own distinct challenges and rewards. This would make the Total War series even more captivating and immersive.

Conclusion: A Call for Comprehensive Improvement

The Total War series stands as a pinnacle of the grand strategy genre, yet it possesses the potential to reach even greater heights. By addressing the key areas outlined above – diplomacy, sieges, character development, campaign mechanics, and faction diversity – Creative Assembly can deliver a truly comprehensive overhaul that revitalizes the series and satisfies the desires of its dedicated fanbase. The improvements discussed are not mere suggestions for minor tweaks; they represent a collective yearning for a more immersive, strategic, and engaging Total War experience. As the series moves forward, embracing these changes would undoubtedly solidify Total War's legacy as a leader in the strategy gaming world, ensuring its continued success and the unwavering enthusiasm of its players.