BIG CHANGES COMING To Total War: Pharaoh's Battles

[@kostastatalias1155]

Remove health and return the hit point thing from Mediaeval total war if you want the lethality thing. So it can work

[@notani3533]

The Lethality mechanic sounds like rock, paper, scirssor on steroids, we could ended up having a fast paced battle depending on the unit compositions.

[@happycompy]

Yeah it sounds interesting on paper but it's all going to come down to balancing.

[@trevor8726]

reminds me of the fast battle mods in rome 2 where 2 peasants can kill a praetorian guard unit

[@badfoody]

True Makes sense for the Bronze Age but it is problematic when considering balance

[@viamdolor9226]

They also need to double down on whole light/medium/heavy infantry dynamic. That + lethality might be interesting depending on implementation. While Troy featured the light/medium/heavy dynamic, heavy units still ended up being the best in general, which homogenized lategame armies too much.

[@happycompy]

Yeah. Light units having better vision could be one way to keep them at least somewhat relevant late in the game.

[@NaCk210]

The 1HP per model system actually allowed for less lethality (which, as far as I can tell, seems to be more accurate for a historical title). In general I hope they allow us to have a more morale centric system instead of a killcount system.

[@MichaelThomas-p6q]

it means the damage output of an unit will lower when shot with archers, because instead of unit health, entities are dropping and can’t fight anymore. otherwise missile doesn’t work like it should

[@happycompy]

Yup! Very good point.

[@selucusptolemy3149]

Im really excited for Pharaoh, im glad I purchased it before the update. This game gave me a new passion for the bronze age collapse, if Egypt would have lost the battle of the Delta humanity would have been centuries behind in development

[@happycompy]

Agreed, selucus. It's crazy that out of all the major players, only Egypt and Assyria really survived the collapse, and Egypt just barely.

[@otho69AD]

Always glad to see other Pharaoh enjoyers around in the community. There really aren't that many of us but I'd say us Bronze Age nuts are eating pretty good lol

[@noldorwarrior7791]

Yes. I bought Pharaoh when i learned the Aegean was going to be added. Troy (although heavily modded) was my guilty pleasure.

[@Robert399]

I don't see the gameplay benefit of lethality (and without rebalancing it could completely break combat) but it would be nice to see a move back towards Shogun 2/Rome 2 synced kills. Also, I can't see a reason to choose between direct and arced shots (unless the auto-select AI is terrible) because there's no reason NOT to choose direct when it's available.

[@irontuth]

Making more realistic like people want. I think that's a good thing more strategies get involved when units start dying

[@jinhunterslay1638]

“They’re introducing a mechanic called lethality” (Me, a Pyke main) - “eh!?”

[@happycompy]

Going under for breath, don't wait up.

[@happycompy]

What are your thoughts on these changes? Let's talk about them!

[@charlesmiv3842]

Imagine using the non 2D unit cards.

[@happycompy]

😂😂😂 HEAR ME OUT MAN. I agree that the chad option is the 2D unit cards but the 3D ones are easier to read, despite the 2D ones being more immersive.

[@0786RICARDO]

I do enjoy the simple battles but if they're made entertaining. I will definitely give this update a go

[@JB-hp5ii]

I imagine CA are using Pharoah as a petri dish for future titles. Commercially it's a dead end, but it serves as a space to test new mechanics within the current engine. Could help future historical titles, but nothing in the modern era. Testing ground for Med 3 more than WW1 or Empire 2, but if the rumours are true none of these are coming soon, so perhaps it's more a proof of concept thing. Might buy back some confidence from SEGA.

[@happycompy]

In another vid someone commented that they think Pharaoh is all we're getting for historical for a while because other historicals are in development hell (WW1, M3, Empire 2, etc), so CA is trying to make the game decent to throw a bone to us historical plebs in the meantime. I hope it's not true, but I could easily see it being true.

[@JB-hp5ii]

@@happycompy I'd agree. CA's historical series is pretty much in the toilet. Doesn't make a lot of sense then to try and please fans in such a commercially redundant way. Having said that, Total War's battles have been messy for a long time, so some attempt at innovation makes sense. But can anything learnt from Pharoah help Warhammer 40K - if that's their only legit title in development? 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@FLEMNMable]

Seems like they are at least trying to fix this game. Can't help but wonder if ToB might actually have been a really good game if it got this kind of post launch support. In any event I am cautiously optomistic. Would be so nice to have an actually good total war game to play that I dont already have hundreds of hours in.

[@happycompy]

Yeah, I'm cautiously optimistic too. I have this hope that Pharaoh might be able to come close to Rome 2 for me in terms of replayability when the big map launches. We'll see.

[@AnimeNoel]

I wish they had simultaneous turns like in warhammer 3.

[@happycompy]

Same

[@Tonygamer13]

i want to have it now i cant wait

[@DrakenhofTemplars]

As a modder/tester for Warhammer etc I wouldn't see much of a problem with these additions all depends on how they implement it

[@kostastatalias1155]

Can someone please tell me where i can submit a feedback for the game at CA?

[@happycompy]

On the TW discord they have a channel where you can submit questions for their upcoming q&a

[@ReptilicusTV]

It'll be funny ( and sad af) if the exact same problematic units right now end up being the ones with the highest % of lethality...going full circle without moving.

[@happycompy]

MARAUDING AXE CHARGERS GO BRRRRR

[@evalationx2649]

They have thrown everything up to and including the kitchen sink at the warscape engine and it's still a pile of trash. This is literal insanity. Just make a new engine ffs.

[@happycompy]

Too busy wasting millions on Hyenas

[@mariusbehm9874]

Total War: PHARAOH - Dev Update - Campaign relased

[@Spiror]

Would be nice if supported also troy like that which i know is more like topical conflict area around aegean sea but would be nice anyway if they can do it in pharaoh is possible maybe in troy even if is not so good as a game overall…..

[@happycompy]

I want them to patch Troy at least one more time to fix the crashing issues it has for AMD GPU users.

[@Spiror]

@@happycompy every game deserve some love 💗 haha

[@ZubiForce]

If it causes battles to be too fast I don't think lethality will be good, a good historical has longer battles and not the "I look down to zip my coffee for a second and lose an entire front" of Warhammer. It's very cool they are trying to redeem the game but at the end of the day, it is still the SAGA game they had the cheek to pass as a full historical.

[@happycompy]

I like Pharaoh's battle pacing as-is and I, like you, hope this change doesn't speed them up too much. Which Total War battles would you say are "too fast" and which are "just right" for you?

[@ZubiForce]

​@@happycompy I think Rome II had it semi-right, you can play on legendary and still have time to react properly to developments in the battlefield. Warhammer II & III does not give you much time past half second knee jerk reactions. What is worse, you can't really zoom in and enjoy the battle. I felt like Troy's battles were a fun version of fast pace because there isn't much stuff in there that can wipe out a flank so fast, although while you have more breathing room it still didn't feel like you could zoom in and watch (not that it matters I guess... everything post WH1 has horrid battle animations kek!)

[@fufutul3258]

What is the background song? I have heard it so many times...

[@fufutul3258]

Great video btw

[@happycompy]

So the first one is "The Byzantine Empire" from EU4 and the second one is "The Siege" from Imperator Rome :)

[@fufutul3258]

@@happycompy thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[@happycompy]

@@fufutul3258 No problem!

[@yuntes2211]

It would be way better if units had no HP like in previous historical total war games. HP bar suits fantasy only total war games, imo. However, "Lethality" system is better than how it is right now.

[@radeedrad5458]

Can they allow us to fully control the hero to the point where we can play him like some the RPG characters hacking & slashing many Men & breaking through the ranks. Even a unit control like in blade storm or Kessen can make the players more occupied with battle. Order archers to shoot by making the captain shouting. Or even fight over the standard bearer or capturing the main camp. All these features should be available in any new generic that concern itself with cinematic scenes than tactical advantage. CA could make a new generic with these features or released it as a separate expansion for those players who love to live battles not as tacticians but pure warriors.

[@happycompy]

There was a game sort of like that called Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War. Also mount and blade is sort of like that too.

[@helena14]

I know it‘s heresy but I mostly play Total War for the campaign not the battles.

[@happycompy]

It's tough to quantify for me. Battles are definitely really important. Total War campaigns without Total War battles are pretty shallow experiences, that's why I argue often and loudly that they need to have deeper mechanics. What you said isn't heresy at all, we spend most of our time on the campaign map! In my ideal world, you should be able play a Total War campaign autoresolving all battles and have it still feel like a complete, deep, grand strategy experience. Maybe someday.

[@b_rob3318]

Shame! Shame! Shame!

[@otho69AD]

Glad to see someone else that feels the same way. Obviously the battles are still important but like I just wanna focus on building a proper empire and maintaining diplomatic relations with other factions. I will always have a soft spot for Shogun 2 but my god the diplomacy system in that game is beyond worthless lmao

[@Feardengaming]

I really hope the changes make a positive impact on the game and bring more people to play it. I am having a lot of fun with the game and don't understand all the hate and negative outlook on the game.

[@happycompy]

I hope so too man, I'm high on hopium for it. unfortunately, it had a bad launch, and it has a setting that most people aren't interested in, so it was set up to fail. The update would have to be REALLY GOOD to give this game the revival it needs in terms of player interest, because it's got an uphill battle to win over skeptics. I myself dumpstered the game on launch lol. Couldn't even finish my review for it, it was so disappointing.

[@CavacavatheGreat]

Dismembert effect i saw Someone Decapitated the other one

[@prestonlambert9992]

I’ve always been confused on why people like faster paced battles? It feels incredibly unrealistic and doesn’t allow enough time for tactical movement around the battle map. It feel wayy too arcade-like watching men dropping like flies as if they haven’t been defending themselves and then a massive battle is over in 5 minutes.

[@happycompy]

I think vanilla Total War battles are generally well-paced and I enjoy the pacing in Pharaoh currently. What I don't like are Europa Barbarorum or DEI-style slugfests. Battles that slow make for some EPIC set-piece battles, for sure, but the logistics of playing an actual campaign with battles that slow mean that all those "throwaway" or minor battles that you have to fight over the course of a campaign take way longer for no increase in fun imo. It's most noticeable in sieges.

[@Daiciyomon_4594]

Still say "No" to Pharoah after how CA did to 3K

[@happycompy]

Valid af. Never forget "The Future of Three Kingdoms."

[@jinhunterslay1638]

No, because the studio behind Pharaoh isn’t the same as the main CA. Don’t punish someone over someone else’s mistake

[@Daiciyomon_4594]

@@jinhunterslay1638 Well it's still CA fault and make a big fat mistake to cancel 3K

[@jinhunterslay1638]

@@Daiciyomon_4594 what even is 3K ? And what did CA Sophia have to do with it?

[@Daiciyomon_4594]

@@jinhunterslay1638 What even is 3K? Wow... I mean wow You sure you play every total war or you just play Pharoah

[@p_r_o_x_y_]

Lethality - battle mechanic from Thrones of Britannia))

[@happycompy]

It was for ranged units only right? I refunded Thrones so I don't remember too much about it.

[@p_r_o_x_y_]

@@happycompy yeap, for ranged units only

[@phalanx1284]

I miss the AI-Control for Reinforcements…

[@happycompy]

Same here. Not sure why they got rid of that.

[@ikran4207]

Rule number 1 ... buy games 1 or 2 years after release and u will get full game for funny price insted of expensive and unfinished .

[@happycompy]

What was it TotalBiscuit said? If you buy on release you're paying the most money for the worst version of the product? So true.

[@ImaginaShip]

@@happycompyno lies detected. I just bought Pharaoh recently and am really enjoying it. It’s made me also give Troy another chance except I’m playing the historical campaign and am finding it way more fun than Mythos.

[@happycompy]

@@ImaginaShip Hell yeah. Glad you're enjoying the games.

[@huantruonginh2946]

All of these are superficial tools for the players to toy with, without the AI knowing how to use.

[@kirilld6206]

AI uses formations. I even saw it when my chariots were moving to attack them and they used spearwall. It is not worse than in wh3.

[@happycompy]

Interesting. Have you seen them use them against infantry?

[@kirilld6206]

@@happycompy didnt pay much attention to that, also I played mostly in early stage so didn't see a lot advanced units. What I can tell for sure AI all the time uses canaan skirmishers against chariots to slow them down also all melee units with same skill are used this way immediately. If they have many such units they can harm chariots from afar.

[@davidquezada50]

i played the game 4 times. and they used formations in my games :) maybe you have bad RNG :P

[@happycompy]

I finally saw them use a formation the other day!

[@joaomaciel1234]

Just add cavalry bro and stronger chariots....

[@happycompy]

We're getting cavalry for Assyria and Cimmeria as well as Camels for the Sutu. Imo it's only Archer chariots that feel bad to use.

[@thejesterofwoe7778]

Really...RNG?....I hate the direction this is going. Edit: I'm half tempted to say just bash armies together now since skill is no longer required.

[@happycompy]

Luckily the lethality mechanic is an optional feature.

[@thejesterofwoe7778]

@@happycompy oh thank God lol, that does make it better I suppose.

[@bobbyjones8312]

69th like🎉

[@happycompy]

😎 ayyeee

[@Blooticus]

People are still making videos about pharaoh? Who cares? Where Med II content

[@lorgarapologist6122]

So they added back hit points. Without hitpoints. Or anything that actually makes this series more than an arcade game about playing around dog vomit AI.

[@happycompy]

More like they're adding in a system that partially negates the hp system introduced with Rome 2. So it's like a partial revert back to the 1hp idea. Why they moved away from 1hp in the first place with Rome 2 is something I still don't really understand. Probably just another symptom of Rome 2's disastrous development.

[@trololololol1111]

Shit with gold on top is still shite.