Attila: Total War - Charlemagne DLC?

[Gusington]

An era I don't know much about but am very willing to learn  :D

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?700199-Charlemagne-DLC-Incoming

[Nefaro]

Hrmmm...

That could possibly push me to installing Attila again, despite my severe dislike of how they intentionally screwed up Diplomacy by giving penalties for researching stuff.

[Sir Slash]

Sounds Loin-Moistening enough to me.

[MengJiao]

An era I don't know much about but am very willing to learn  :D

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?700199-Charlemagne-DLC-Incoming

It's nice that they are expanding the game without necessarily including large fantasy items.  The bit about leaping from one "big name" historical personage to
another makes some sense.  There was mention of Heraclitus (the emperor from 610-641 IIRC)...perhaps not as big a name as Charlemagne, but relatively large
on a time line from 451 to Christmas Day 800.

Though this is all a bit skewed since if you mention anything related to Mohammed and company somebody might come and shoot up your office.

So, if you stick to Western Europe (and drop Heraclitus), who is there between Attila and Charlemagne?  Arthur?  Pope Gregory the Great?  We're talking serious Dark Ages here.

So Jump to the Carolingian Renaissance!  sounds fun!

[besilarius]

Gus, if you want a quick intro to Charlemagne's military, see if you can find a Strategy & Tactics from about three years ago. 
Most historical works gloss over his military accomplishments and why he was so successful.  The article is nicely focused.

[Gusington]

^Thanks Bes. Looking for some texts on Charlemagne too...there are a lot to choose from on Amazon but it's hard to tell how good any of them are.

BTW my apologies to any who stumble upon that link only to bear witness to the endless sniping and whining that is TWC.

Meng I saw some mention of Charles Martel and the Battle of Tours (earlier 8th century IIRC). That may be another possibility.

Not sure how legit this is as TWC is the only place I have seen it discussed/whined about.

[MengJiao]

^Thanks Bes. Looking for some texts on Charlemagne too...there are a lot to choose from on Amazon but it's hard to tell how good any of them are.

BTW my apologies to any who stumble upon that link only to bear witness to the endless sniping and whining that is TWC.

Meng I saw some mention of Charles Martel and the Battle of Tours (earlier 8th century IIRC). That may be another possibility.

Not sure how legit this is as TWC is the only place I have seen it discussed/whined about.

  Getting the Carolingians out of the Merovingian sacred kingship thing (as Mayors of the Palace -- Charles Martel being one of those) and then back into the sacred kingship thing (Christmas Day 800 AD) could be interesting.  At least there is some potential for an interesting internal Frankish dynamic there.

[Sir Slash]

Now wait. Are you guys wanting to learn about Charlemagne or play a Total War game? Because in the game when he gets the option to marry El Cid, I think it's called, Artistic License.

[MengJiao]

Now wait. Are you guys wanting to learn about Charlemagne or play a Total War game? Because in the game when he gets the option to marry El Cid, I think it's called, Artistic License.

  Or time travel or advanced necrophilia?  Maybe you mean Roland?

  As suggested by the Charles Martel stuff, by the time you get to Charlemagne, the Franks and their allies are extremely powerful.  Running the game from say 680 (starting with late and degenerate Merovingians) and pushing the good climate changes around 700 as driving some massive changes might be fun.

[Sir Slash]

Degenerates always make for good gameplay.

[Gusington]

^Totally.

[Grim.Reaper]

Haven't played Attila in a long while, but with the latest DLC campaign dropping today, going to try again....really interested in how this campaign appears to promote doing other things besides just going to war.....like the sounds of the new War Weariness feature.....

Age Of Charlemagne - What is it?

The world lays in tatters, exhausted, bleeding, scarred and burnt, the people desperate. But even after the apocalypse there are men willing to give everything to return to light, to knowledge, to civilisation. Whatever the cost, and whatever the means... It is the age of a chosen few, an age of greatness, when the first true kings built vast kingdoms from the ashes of past empires... it is the Age of Charlemagne.

The year is 768AD and, after the death of his father, Charlemagne is to share the Frankish throne alongside his brother. A situation that ill-befits a man of his vision, and their relationship clouds as he feels the fiery blood of his grandfather, Charles Martel, stir in his veins. Friends, enemies and opportunity populate a continent tired of conflict, the people eager for peace. Charlemagne finds himself at the head of a new age of education, religion and warfare, and sees all as tools to unite, stabilise... and expand.

The Saxons, the Saracens and the Vikings will all have something to say to a man of such ambition.

It will take guile, charm, intelligence and ruthlessness to succeed above all others.

Charles the Great, King of the Franks, the Father of Europe. Will you make your mark in his image, or will you become your own king?

Age Of Charlemagne is out on December 10th 2015

New Campaign Map

The brand new Age of Charlemagne Campaign map is focussed in on Europe from the year 768AD. With 52 conquerable provinces, it provides a detailed and vibrant geopolitical starting position, offering hundreds of hours of potential gameplay.

The User Interface is now resplendent in a style inspired by the art of the Middle Ages. Influences ranging from illuminated manuscripts and early stained glass work will lend colour and atmosphere to your campaign.

A Unique Campaign with New Gameplay Mechanics

Age of Charlemagne is an epic expansion for Total War: ATTILA, set in the Middle Ages on an sprawling new campaign map of Europe.

There have been kings and kingdoms before, but this is a time where truly great men united entire nations, built lasting legacies and defined what it meant to be a king. Can you be counted amongst them?

You'll face a new age, but an exhausted world, weary of conflict and battle. New technologies and new ways of waging war will only get you so far. A good king is a shrewd man, who knows precisely how far his people can be pushed. Do not mistake a reluctance to go to war as a sign that a nation is unprepared for it. Europe remains a melting pot of conflicting ideologies and long held distrust. While the old Empire is now a fading memory, the threats and consequences of its passing echo, resonating in new dangers and pressures for fledgling nations.

Opportunity presents itself in tying together vast new kingdoms, powerful new states that can be marshalled under a banner of civilisation drawn from ashes. Greatness awaits you, if you have the steel and vision of Charlemagne.

Playable factions

Age of Charlemagne includes a diverse selection of playable factions, each one featuring its own faction traits, unit roster and unique and challenging conditions under which they can be named a 'kingdom' in their own right.

Each will be exclusively revealed in the weeks up to release day on www.twitch.tv/totalwarofficial, stay tuned for details or check back here just before release.

The Kingdom Of Charlemagne
The Kingdom of the Danes
The Kingdom of the Lombards
The Emirate Of Cordoba
The Kingdom Of Mercia
The Kingdom Of Asturias
The Avars
Westphalia

New Units

Age of Charlemagne includes all new units to better reflect the advancing warfare of the period, characterised by more heavily armed and armoured infantry and an increasing prevalence of cavalry of all categories, especially the emergence of knights in the Norman style for the first time. With over 300 new units, you will have the opportunity to recruit iconic military forces of the period, such as Thegns, Fyrd Axemen, Scola Knights, Berber Jinetes, Gazehounds and the feared Seax-armed Saxon warriors.

War Weariness

The sign of a great true king is in knowing how far your people can be pushed. Wars are significant and dramatic events between kingdoms, and should not be undertaken lightly. The fewer wars you wage the better your people will respond, as frequent and drawn out conflict will rapidly damage morale and your armies' integrity. A shrewd ruler will seek to bring peace quickly and decisively.

Unique Kingdom and Story Events

Each playable faction has a unique set of challenging 'Kingdom' requirements to meet for the dedicated and shrewd player. Once achieved, you will be able to declare a new Kingdom name for your faction, reflecting or altering history in your wake. In addition, each faction will receive tailored narrative Story Events, offering you distinct challenges and dilemmas as your Campaign unfolds. Historically-inspired, some choices will lead you further to that faction's original destiny, or you may choose to carve a new path of your own.

New Technologies and Buildings

Age of Charlemagne features many technologies and buildings that reflect the new period; significantly, you'll encounter and leverage those that inspire the emerging ideas of Feudalism and Chivalry as your campaign progresses. Many buildings also now give bonuses to adjacent provinces as well as their own, allowing for more specialisation within the different geographic areas of your kingdom and chaining combinations of benefits across your lands. In addition, while conflict will always dog you, victory conditions that reward a less military-focussed approach are achievable; testing your mettle as both a compassionate and cunning ruler.

Agents and Skills

You will find Agents more specialised than before, with Assassins, Spies and Priests (or Imams) focused on a more powerful but specific ability set rather than being more useful in all situations. Alongside your Generals, Agents also receive all new skill trees with more variation in the branches available to them. This provides greater choices in how you develop and specialise them over time. Finally, the new Army and Navy Legacies will focus on bonuses that reward distinct playstyles.

[Gusington]

A little odd to introduce a war weariness feature in a TW game, but I dig it anyway. GIGGITY

[Grim.Reaper]

A little odd to introduce a war weariness feature in a TW game, but I dig it anyway. GIGGITY

That's the new feature that got me to purchase it:)  I am guessing it won't be any great thing and still a lot of war to go around....but we'll see.

[Gusington]

The inclusion of Westphalia as a faction moistens my loins.