There is a beta going on already so Im assuming they have a tech tree set already.Best thing to do is wait and build up on what they give.
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Finally got around to voting. I went with âMost AoE2 Features.â Mainly because, in my view, their incorporation of AoE1 as an âAoE2 DLCâ is already a major stretch, so they might as well go all out on adding as many AoE2 features as possible (without crossplay, and with minimal changes to the original identity of civs). TBF Iâm surprised how many people are bothered by features like garrisoning (or really that anyone voted for âAs close to AoE1 as possibleâ - just play AoE: DE). If the game doesnât play out differently than AoE:DE, whatâs the point of getting it? People who want only minor changes would be better served sticking with DE, or modding it to add the features they want. NGL while I think the concept of this is fine, Iâm less than thrilled that this is substituting for a more traditional AoE2 DLC that many of us expected early next year. If it turns out just to be a glorified AoE:DE ported over to AoE2, thatâs even less reason to get excited about it.
I think itâs more about the appeal of the ancient timeframe with the capabilities and familiar gameplay of AoE2. As far as Iâm concerned, a âDLCâ that doesnât incorporate garrisoning, gates, reseed farms, triggers, maybe even UTs and UUs is very questionable as to whether itâs worthwhile.
(I agree that this shouldnât include stat rebalances or unit equivalence.) I for one used to love AoE1 when I was a wee lad, so much that I actually hesitated to play AoE2 for a while when it came out since I thought there was no way it could be as good as 1 
. Looking back, thereâs nothing about AoE1 gameplay that I think is better (and wouldnât benefit from becoming more like 2), but I find the timeframe and aesthetics very cool.
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I donât think itâs really moddable, and even if it was, fixing the pathing and adding formations donât really seem like realistic goals for a mod.
Fair enough. I guess there are some people who are put off AoE2 by its medieval time period in the same way that Iâm put off AoE3 by its colonial time period.
Reseeding farms is already in AoE1DE, in fact I think it was in AoE1 before AoE2. Also, maybe Iâve misinterpreted the poll, but apart from unique units and unique techs, I think all of that falls under âonly some AoE2 featuresâ, judging from the description in the first post.
Iâm not actually opposed to unique units or techs. In fact, if unique units are trained from the Academy, theyâd work much better than AoE2âs Castle unique units â which were great when I was 14, but now that I have some idea how to play the game properly, I realise that theyâre mostly disappointingly niche.
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Reasonable.
But if thatâs the extent of the changes they make (i.e. AoE:DE - Again! But This Time, For Real!⢠), thatâs not nearly enough to get me excited about AoE1 again (or âAoE2: Return of Romeâ). My opinion remains that if theyâre going to sell it as an AoE2 DLC, it needs enough new content and capabilities to justify that, otherwise it just looks like a skeezy marketing trick. They erred too conservatively with AoE:DE, and it bombed, so IMO they should be open to a more expansive design for RoR (while remaining faithful to the feel of the OG civs). Although I donât think this puts UUs/UTs out of the question.
Yes, I think thereâs even room for some unique or regional buildings (which is one of the features of AoE2 that Iâd want to be considered). Compared to AoE2 civs, AoE1 civs just feel so bland lacking UTs, UUs, Unique Buildings (including Wonders), Unique Languages, and without the expansive trigger system of AoE2.
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Regardless of the direction they take it I really REALLY hope that custom games are allowed (but not required) to have AOE1 civs fight AOE2 civs.
I made a detailed survey for AOE1 fans in the AOE1 forum asking which features people want and which they donât.
[poll] What AoE2DE features would you like to see in Return of Rome?
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I went with âMost AoE2 featuresâ, because I donât want crossplay, but I would actually like much more than that.
Taking inspiration from the military tech trees of games like âRome: Total Warâ and âTroy: A Total War Sagaâ, there could be sturdy front line and agile flank dedicated troops, also different attack/defence types and stats for the spear, sword, axe and club infantry lines. Skirmishing could be something many troops can do (for example with alt attacks) but also having troops specialised in it, archers and slingers are something every civ can have. Finally there could be melee and ranged, but also light and heavy varieties for cavalry (and camels), charriots and elephants!
I posted something similar in SOTLâs video.
And of course, remaking of the campaigns with voice and more interesting objectives.
They really wrote themselves into a corner with the name âDefinitive Editionâ. I guess they finally realised that, and thatâs why the AoM rerelease is called âRetoldâ.
My preferred solution would be that they just fix AoEDE, but apparently thatâs not on the cards.
I think this is probably true for it to be a commercial success, but I hope that doesnât mean itâs essentially a reskinned AoE2.
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