Rome II

[jomni]

Just fired this up for the first time.
Noob question:  How do you rotate troops.  They took out the arrow buttons on the screen.  I know the arrow buttons in the keyboard still work and you can now drag but how to rotate?
I still prefer the traditional UI used in Empire / Napolen / Shogun 2.  Rome II is just weird and needs getting used to.

[Gusington]

^Definitely. Even after playing for 125+ hours rotating troops still feels awkward to me. So much so that's it's hard to articulate exactly how to do it.

IIRC you have to have two armies selected, then select the troops you want to move from one army to the next, then hit the actual transfer button.

All instead of dragging and dropping in the older games.

[undercovergeek]

^Definitely. Even after playing for 125+ hours rotating troops still feels awkward to me. So much so that's it's hard to articulate exactly how to do it.

IIRC you have to have two armies selected, then select the troops you want to move from one army to the next, then hit the actual transfer button.

All instead of dragging and dropping in the older games.

i think jomni means on the battle map

click on the unit you want to rotate and right click and hold where you want them to go - then stretch out the silhouette of the new position and adjust its depth and facing

[jomni]

^Definitely. Even after playing for 125+ hours rotating troops still feels awkward to me. So much so that's it's hard to articulate exactly how to do it.

IIRC you have to have two armies selected, then select the troops you want to move from one army to the next, then hit the actual transfer button.

All instead of dragging and dropping in the older games.

i think jomni means on the battle map

click on the unit you want to rotate and right click and hold where you want them to go - then stretch out the silhouette of the new position and adjust its depth and facing

That is an imprecise method because it can actually alter the formation.  I miss the rotate buttons and the depth buttons taking them out brings you back to Shogun 1 era.

[Nefaro]

Just fired this up for the first time.
Noob question:  How do you rotate troops.  They took out the arrow buttons on the screen.  I know the arrow buttons in the keyboard still work and you can now drag but how to rotate?
I still prefer the traditional UI used in Empire / Napolen / Shogun 2.  Rome II is just weird and needs getting used to.

To rotate in place, the key commands are comma (,) and period (.) IIRC.  The ones with the < and > for the shift option.   Unless they changed it in Rome 2 (which isn't unheard of).

[jomni]

Just fired this up for the first time.
Noob question:  How do you rotate troops.  They took out the arrow buttons on the screen.  I know the arrow buttons in the keyboard still work and you can now drag but how to rotate?
I still prefer the traditional UI used in Empire / Napolen / Shogun 2.  Rome II is just weird and needs getting used to.

To rotate in place, the key commands are comma (,) and period (.) IIRC.  The ones with the < and > for the shift option.   Unless they changed it in Rome 2 (which isn't unheard of).

I was actually able to rotate but do not recall what I pressed.

[Martok]

The trailer over at TWC says the new campaign will be released on 9/16. That may throw my will completely f*** up our fall gaming schedule into a tizzy.

Fixed that for you.  ::) 

[Gusington]

I can't help but get excited, but I am also neck deep in WWI and steampunk gamery. My traditional wheelhouse. And Fallen Enchantress as well as Endless Legend are knocking at the door.

[Gusington]

The Imperator Augustus campaign map has been released:

[undercovergeek]

2 quickies -

if a city has a garrison but no general present in charge - does the city still muster the garrison if attacked or can the enemy just walk in and take it?

is it possible to bribe/manipulate a whole army to your faction or even its leader? and if so, which agent does that?

thanks for any help

[mikeck]

Any city will raise a garrison when attacked regardless of whether there is a general present. The amount and types of troops is determined by the types and numbers of buildings in the city. When you select a structure to build, the info box tells you what type of troops it provides

[Gusington]

^Right - the more advanced the city, the more advanced the garrison.

[jomni]

What's the advantage of having vassals compared to owning the territory yourself?

I see they still count in missions and goals. 

When will you occupy and when will you make a client state?

[Sir Slash]

I've never been able to bribe a whole army over to my side the way you could in Shogun 2. Almost any agent can "manipulate" another faction's agent into changing sides but it rarely succeeds for me, or they can assassinate another agent which also rarely succeeds. Agents are much better at targeting cities for negative effects. Or supporting one of your own armies directly. You get a percentage of a client state's or satrapy's income each turn and usually they'll trade with you and support your faction in war... but not always. I usually make a client state if I don't want to be tied down waiting for the public order level to come up after taking a city.

[jomni]

Yeah so far my agents are duds in performing actions.  Success rates are so low. Looks like you have to buff them a lot and concentrate on just one skill.

I have just made my first client state.  The guy is at war with one of my "friends" with a defensive pact and he asked me to join the war.  Why not? I covet that territory anyway. There's no diplomatic option to force a peace between these two kingdoms.

I appreciate the battle and formation mechanics now. It does feel like ancient warfare.  Units are very coherent (when ordered to keep formation). Soldiers in the rear flanks do not spill over and the melee is much organized.

My complaints about the lack of rotation button is addressed. Facing is irrelevant. Except for missile troops. Square formations during the era can change facing instantly. They will attack enemies on the flanks effectively as long as they're not fixed in combat in another direction.

I got used to naval battles as well.  At first  I thought of playing like empire or shogun... using fire to weaken them then board.  But the best way to defeat ships in rome is to ram them. Big ships die instantly when rammed (several times). I never cared for boarding or bring many missile troops. Definitely has that ancient warfare feel. But it always turns into a disorganized mess of micromanagement since they won't go ramming without specific orders unlike firing.