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'''''Empire: Total War''''' is a [[turn-based strategy]] and [[real-time tactics]] [[personal computer game|computer game]] developed by [[the Creative Assembly]] and published by [[Sega]]. The fifth instalment in the [[Total War (series)|''Total War'' series]], the game was released in North America on 3 March 2009, and in the rest of world the following day. The game, which focuses on the [[early modern period]] of the 18th century, was announced at the [[Leipzig Games Convention]] in August 2007.  
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<big><big><big>Welcome to Empire: Total War on the TWC Wiki</big></big></big>
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<center>[[File:Empire_wiki_banner2.png]]
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<big>'''[[Empire: Total War]] is the 5th major game in the [[Total War Series]] developed by the [[Creative Assembly]].'''
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<br>The game was released in March 2009 and published by Sega. It is set in the 18th century and includes features such as the Industrial Revolution, America's struggle for independence and the colonization of India. For the first time in a Total War game, players had the ability to play real-time 3D naval battles.  
  
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Following a similar style of play as earlier ''Total War'' titles, players choose a contemporary 18th century faction and set out to ensure that faction's domination over the known world through military force, politics, diplomacy, espionage and economics. Although the campaign element of the game is turn-based, players can direct battles in real-time. ''Empire: Total War'' is the first game in the series to allow naval battles to be conducted in real-time. In addition to the standard campaign mode, the game includes a special campaign that follows the development of the [[United States]] from the [[Jamestown Settlement|settlement of Jamestown]] to the [[American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence]]. Players may also engage in recreations of several historical battles from the early modern era.
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Empire was the first game in the series to use Valve Corporation's Steamworks DRM and achievements system, thereby requiring Steam to be played. It was also the first to use Total War Engine 3 which included the Warscape Engine. </big></center>
  
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''Empire: Total War'' received acclaim from reviewers upon release, and is commended as one the foremost strategy titles of recent times. Praise was bestowed upon the extensive strategy breadth, accurate historical challenges and visual effects. The real-time land battles, with a far greater focus on gunpowder weaponry than earlier ''Total War'' titles, were thought to be successfully implemented. Criticisms focused on shortcomings with the game's artificial intelligence and on the real-time naval battles, the latter of which were perceived to be difficult to control and co-ordinate. The game was a commercial success, topping sales charts within the week of release.
 
  
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==Gameplay==
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== Overview ==
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Empire: Total War is a game based on the musketry warfare that revolutionized how the battles were fought. The insertion of gun powder and the changes that it brought is one of the hallmarks of this game. The changes in social structures, a period of revolutions, of turmoil. The span of the campaign is the turbulent 18th century, a period that shaped great empires with the colonization of new continents and the stabilization and growth of a global economy.
  
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''Empire: Total War'' is focused on exploration, economics, politics, religion, the founding of [[colonies]] and, ultimately, conquest. The game is set in the [[early modern period]], spanning from 1700 to 1799,<ref name="Gspot GC 07"/> allowing players to lead a variety of contemporary factions to dominate [[Europe]], [[North Africa]], the [[Americas]] and the [[Indies]].<ref name="ign">{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/815/815233p1.html |title=GC 2007: Empire: Total War |author=Butts, Steve |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=2007-08-23 |accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> The player will use both complex strategies on the campaign map as well as command military forces in battles on both land and sea. As with previous ''Total War'' games, ''Empire: Total War'' consists of two broad areas of gameplay: a [[turn-based strategy|turn-based]] campaign map that allows the user to move armies across the globe, conduct diplomacy, trade and other tasks needed to run their faction, and a [[real-time tactics|real-time]] battle mode that enables players to direct the course of any battles that take place.  
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Empire: Total War introduces many changes, the most valuable being; the addition of a new type of battlefield, water; a new diplomacy system; a complete new technology system; and a great review of the economic system. Those changes compliment the grand scope of the game; major naval battles, the hardships of battle using line infantry, the age of enlightenment, colonies and empires that the sun never goes down on. All those changes only add to the immersion of the game, seeing as how you can go to battle with a aristocratic empire and suddenly fight a renewed republic with troops ready to defend their acquired freedom.
  
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''Empire: Total War'' features approximately fifty 18th century factions; however, only twelve of the most powerful and influential factions of the era are playable at the beginning. In western Europe, the main factions are [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]], [[Early Modern France|France]], the [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]], [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]] and [[Spanish Empire|Spain]], while eastern Europe is represented by [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]], [[Austrian Empire|Austria]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]] and [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland–Lithuania]]. In the Middle-East, the [[Ottoman Empire]] is depicted as a major dominating faction for Islam, while the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha Confederacy]] and [[Mughal Empire]] are the major powers on the Indian subcontinent but only the Maratha is playable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sega.co.uk/empire/gameinfo/factions.php|title=Factions|work=Empire: Total War|publisher=[[Sega]]|accessdate=2008-11-15}}</ref> The [[New World]] colonies of the major powers are represented as [[protectorate]]s of their respective home nations. The establishment of key nations during the era, such as [[French First Republic|Revolutionary France]] and the [[History of the United States (1776–1789)|United States]], and the fall of native states to the larger empires is reflected in the game.<ref name="Empire:Total War FAQ 2">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.sega.com/totalwar/2007/11/27/empiretotal-war-faq-2/ |title=Empire:Total War FAQ 2 |author=O’Connell, Mark |date=2007-11-27 |accessdate=2008-08-21}}</ref><ref name="IGN interview"/> Smaller factions, including the less powerful German and Italian states, [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes and North African countries are also represented. Each faction varies in territory, strengths and specialities.<ref name="Empire:Total War FAQ 2"/>  
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Another feature that had been developed for Empire: Total War was the decentralisation of provinces, adding greater realism in that many features, from production to technological advancement, would now occur outside of the capital of the province for the first time in a Total War game.
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A story-driven campaign mode entitled "Road to Independence" is also included in ''Empire: Total War'', where the player guides the [[British colonization of the Americas|British colonisation of America]] in three structured missions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1044|title=''Empire: Total War'' Interview: Creative Assembly on the Road to Independence and Not Selling Out|first=Nick|last=Breckon|publisher=[[Shacknews]]|date=2008-11-13|accessdate-2008-11-16}}</ref> The first sees the player establish and develop the English colony of [[Jamestown Settlement|Jamestown]], the second focuses on the British fighting both the French and their allied Native American nations in the [[French and Indian War]], whilst the final portion has the player directing the American [[Continental Army]] against the British in the [[American Revolutionary War|War of Independence]].<ref>{{cite journal |year=2009 |month=January |title=''Empire: Total War'' |journal=[[PC Gamer|PC Gamer UK]] |issue=196 |page=p. 41}}</ref>
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==General Information==
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There were several innovative changes in this title compared to earlier games in the Total War series.  
  
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===Campaign===
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===Campaign Map===
  
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The main campaign of ''Empire: Total War'' involves a player choosing a faction and moving to forge an empire across the 18th century world. Each faction controls various historical provinces, each with a central town and a port if they are coastal settlements. The player can produce armies and navies to take and defend provinces by military means, or adopt [[diplomacy]] and [[politics]] to make advances in the game. In addition, players can use [[economics]] and [[religion]] to their advantage, as well as clandestine means such as [[espionage]] and [[assassination]].<ref name="IGN interview"/> The campaign mode is turn-based, allowing the player to attend to all needs of their faction before ending their turn and allowing the [[game artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence]] to make all other factions' moves.<ref name="PCGpreview"/> Each turn represents six months.
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The campaign map is one of the first noted changes in this game. It expands the European centric focus of the first Total War series (the exception is the Shogun: Total War and the Americas Campaign in Medieval 2: Total War Kingdoms Expansion), and this expansion covers simultaneously, the European theatre (which also includes the North African coast and parts of the Middle East), the Indian subcontinent, and the Eastern half of North America, Central America, Northern South America and the Caribbean islands, with trading theatres on the Eastern South American coast, West African Coast, Ivory Coast, and Pacific Islands. This expansion is one of the most uncontroversial ones within this game.
  
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[[Image:Campaign map in Empire Total War.jpg|thumb|left|The campaign mode has been redesigned from earlier games to reflect early modern politics and economics]]
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The new campaign map offers new possible strategies to the player, being it with local expansion or the foundation of colonies in diverse theatres of action. Aside from that, the economic complexity is also affected by this major change, with the addition of a new feature called Trade nodes.
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The campaign mode features a similar approach to those in ''[[Rome: Total War]]'' and ''[[Medieval II: Total War]]'', but includes several enhancements. The game features three main theatres of play: [[Europe]], the [[Americas]] and [[India]], and four minor [[trade]] theatres. The way provinces work has been decentralised; although a central settlement is still used, other locations within a province can deal with trade and military recruitment, allowing factions to disrupt a province's productivity without assaulting the main settlement.<ref name="PCGpreview"/> Diplomacy, taxation, and trade have been streamlined with the aim of making [[Micromanagement (gameplay)|micromanagement]] simpler. Part of this streamlining will allow players to appoint [[Government minister|ministers]] to allow them to better govern aspects of their kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/video/6199980/empire-total-war-official-trailer-3|title=''Empire: Total War'' Official Trailer 3|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|accessdate=2008-11-01|date=2008-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/news.html?sid=6198656&mode=previews&om_act=convert&om_clk=previews&tag=previews%3Btitle%3B4&page=2|title=''Empire: Total War'' Interview: Streamlined Interface, New Prestige System, and World Domination|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|date=2008-10-07|accessdate=2008-11-01}}</ref> The wandering scholars, emissaries and assassins used in previous titles to deal with the diplomatic, trade and espionage aspects of the game have been replaced with just two units: [[gentleman|gentlemen]] and [[Rake (character)|rakes]]. The former handles diplomatic pursuits and can challenge other characters to a [[duel]] to dispose of them honourably, while the latter performs clandestine tasks such as spying, assassination and burglary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/empiretotalwar/interview.html|title=''Empire: Total War'' Interview|publisher=Strategy Informer|accessdate=2008-11-01|archiveurl=http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:EaHlyiIAWLUJ:www.strategyinformer.com/pc/empiretotalwar/interview.html|archivedate=2008-11-06}}</ref> The way armies are produced also differs: rather than being produced by settlements and then moved to generals by the player, generals build their armies directly by recruiting from nearby settlements.<ref name="PCGpreview"/> Players can now research technologies along a [[technology tree]] leading to advances and new discoveries in areas such as infrastructure, politics, agriculture or the military.<ref name="Empire:Total War FAQ 2"/>
 
  
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Changes in government may occur during the campaign as the rise of [[republicanism]] over the traditional rule by [[monarchy]] becomes an issue in the early modern time period.<ref name="IGN interview"/> For instance, the United States may only come into existence if the ruling [[British Empire]] is unable to maintain social order. Another example is that the [[French Revolution]] may occur if the people of France are no longer satisfied with their sovereign.<ref name="Empire:Total War FAQ 2"/> Factions will also have a varying number of objectives such as establishing successful colonies, trade routes and dominance in certain regions as victory conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/news.html?sid=6200119&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;1|title=''Empire: Total War'' Updated Impressions - Diplomacy, Strategy, and Massive Land Battles|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|first=Jon|last=Miller|date=2008-10-08|accessdate=2008-11-01}}</ref> Rebellions and revolutions will occur, and are influenced by the form of government in place. When a revolution occurs, the player can opt to side with the rebellious forces or the loyalist troops. The type of government installed by the player in their faction will determine how other factions view the player and will influence their diplomatic relations. While religion no longer plays a central role as in ''Medieval II: Total War'', it is still important in helping bring under control newly captured regions and in defining to some degree diplomatic relations between nations.<ref name="Empire:Total War FAQ 2"/>
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The trade nodes add immersion to the game, by allowing the player to acquire and trade resources via merchant ships at specific theatres in the map, those are: South America, West Africa, East Africa and Indonesia. This simulates the enormous growth in trade that is a hallmark of the scope of this period, with bustling sails reaching far corners of the world with the purpose of trading/colonizing. These theatres offer a great economic boost to whoever controls them, with rich resources like ivory, spice and sugar.
  
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===Warfare===
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This adds to a much-neglected part of the Total War series, the need to maintain the dominion of the seas. The pirates now pose a great threat, leading to what was a bustling economy to a ruined empire in a few turns. Another major component to the now need for a great armada is that the trade routes which appeared in previous games are interactive, leading to options of not only blockading the ports put to hinder the enemy economy through state piracy giving you the goods that were flowing through that route.
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The second major area of gameplay is the battle system. Unlike the campaign part of the game, players control battles in real-time. As with all previous titles in the series—excluding ''[[Shogun: Total War]]''—battles in ''Empire: Total War'' can take place on both land and water. However, ''Empire: Total War'' differs from preceding titles by allowing naval battles to be fought in real-time as well as the land-based engagements; previously, when a naval battle was fought it would be automatically resolved by the game's artificial intelligence, taking into account factors such as number of ships and crew, and armament types to decide the victor. Automatic resolution of battles during a campaign is still an option for both land and sea battles. Outside of the main campaign mode, players can participate in recreations of historical battles in the 18th century and early 19th century.
 
  
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[[Image:Land warfare in Empire Total War.jpg|thumb|right|Land based combat features a greater focus on gunpowder weaponry than in previous games]]
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The resources inside the provinces have now a closer resemblance to Rome: Total War than it had to Medieval 2: Total War, since the latter needs a merchant for the exploitation of the resources, similarities aside this is an expansion on the concept of the province system for that the building who is responsible for the harvesting is not centralized in a capital, but it is spread in the territory itself. This change is more visible in the new town system.
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In land engagements, players are given access to an 18th century army consisting of a variety of units, such as [[cavalry]], [[musketeer]]s, [[rifleman|riflemen]] and [[artillery]]. Each unit has its own intrinsic advantages, disadvantages, cost and overall level of effectiveness. Players must use 18th century tactics and formations with the units they have available to defeat their enemies. The terrain of the battlefield and the weather also impact on how a battle is fought.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=197284|title=Set sail on a voyage of discovery and carnage|first=Martin|last=Korda|work=[[PC Zone]]|publisher=''[[Computer and Video Games]]''|date=2008-09-16|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> Factions can lay [[siege]] to settlements, replacing open land battles with street fighting and close-quarters combat. Each unit has [[morale]], which can increase if the battle goes well for their faction, or decrease in cases such as heavy casualties, loss of [[regimental colours]] or the death of the general. When a unit's morale is sufficiently depleted, they will [[rout]] and attempt to flee the battlefield. Depending on whether the unit's morale is merely broken or entirely shattered, the player may be able to rally the men in the unit and regroup. <ref name="PCGpreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=170570|title=It's time to master and command the world|work=[[PC Gamer UK]]|publisher=''[[Computer and Video Games]]''|first=Tim|last=Edwards|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> Victory in battle is achieved by causing every enemy unit to rout, or by killing or capturing the opposing army. In addition, siege battles can be won if the attacker manages to take control of the settlement's central square for a set amount of time. ''Empire: Total War'' also introduces several new battlefield elements to the ''Total War'' series. Units can take [[Cover (military)|cover]] behind walls or in buildings, allowing increased interactivity with the terrain and making some buildings points of strategic interest.<ref name="PCGpreview"/> Field defences may be set up in real-time on the battlefield, to adjust for given situations. Infantry units can also scale small obstacles in the field, such as walls and fences. Weapons based on [[gunpowder]] are prone to accidents, and can even malfunction and kill their users.
 
  
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In naval battles, players can control a fleet of up to twenty ships, varying in class, size, armament and crew. As in land-based conflicts, players must make use of 18th century tactics to overcome enemy fleets. As with army units, each ship's crew has a set amount of morale that changes as a battle progresses; a crew may attempt to withdraw their vessel from the battle if their morale is broken, or in extreme cases may surrender without further enemy action. A battle is won when all of the hostile ships have been sunk or captured, or have left the map.<ref name="GSpot naval"/> Individual ships can be adjusted to allow for a maximum field of fire while attempting to maintain a minimalised target, all whilst remaining within an overall formation with the rest of the fleet. Players can designate which parts of a hostile ship they want a crew to target, making ships prone to sustaining authentic damage during a battle: masts can be toppled, sails and gun ports can be destroyed and various other damage can entirely disable a ship's ability to maneuver or eventually sink it.<ref name="PCGpreview"/> Various types of ammunition can be used during a battle, such as [[grapeshot]], [[chain-shot]] and [[round shot]]. As battles progress, crews can attempt to board enemy vessels and fight hand-to-hand in an attempt to capture the ship.<ref name="GSpot naval"/> Lastly, the weather in a naval battle can impact how it is fought; bad weather can result in effects from poor visibility to endangering a ship's safety.<ref name="GSpot naval"/>
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This new town system involves a capital and several subsidiary towns, thus removing some of the importance of the capital and spreading along the whole province. The new slave towns are born from the growth of the population in several villages that are already defined in number different to which territory. Those towns can be configured in four basic towns: schools (used for research of new technologies), manufacturing plants (factories that have several types: textile, smelters and pottery the choice is not up to the player, churches and entertainment buildings.
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This adds to military strategy as well since the control of those towns is responsible not only for the income, but for the general happiness of the province, thus raiding towns is a useful tactic and preferred by the AI.
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===Naval Battles===
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::''-See main article: [[Naval Battles (ETW)]]''
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Empire: Total War was the first Total War game to have fully 3D real-time naval battles. In the previous games they were just automatically resolved on the campaign map. This feature was a major focus of ETW's marketing campaign, as naval battles are the symbol of 18th century warfare.  
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===Technology===
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A game based in the century of lights can't cast aside the revolution that happened in several fields of human knowledge and perception. Empire: Total War brings to the table a new form of supremacy; technology. The 18th century was marked by several changes to humanity as a whole, bringing to light several concepts that marked and constructed the postmodern world. The tech tree is divided into three major branches, being those: Military, Economics, Governance.
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This is one of the most relevant aspects of the game, leading to one empire being considerably weaker than another just because one has the technological edge over the other. Research also leads to changes in the way the population behaves and perceives the government, an absolute monarchy is going to have much trouble sustaining itself in the late stages of the campaign, due to the public unrest several technologies generate.
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===Factions===
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::''-See main article: [[Factions (ETW)|Empire: Total War Factions]]''
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More than fifty factions are included in the game, 36 of which are playable. The other factions cannot be unlocked and have to be modded into the game. The eleven playable factions from the beginning are:
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====Playable Factions====
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*[[Austria (ETW Faction)|Austria]]- Catholic Absolute Monarchy
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*[[France (ETW Faction)|France]]- Catholic Absolute Monarchy
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*[[Great Britain (ETW Faction)|Great Britain]]- Protestant Constitutional Monarchy
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*[[Maratha Confederacy (ETW Faction)|Marathas]]- Hindu Absolute Monarchy
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*[[Ottoman Empire (ETW Faction)|Ottoman Empire]]- Islamic Absolute Monarchy
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*[[Poland-Lithuania (ETW Faction)|Poland-Lithuania]]- Catholic Constitutional Monarchy
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*[[Prussia (ETW Faction)|Prussia]]- Protestant Absolute Monarchy
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*[[Russia (ETW Faction)|Russia]]- Orthodox Absolute Monarchy
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*[[Spain (ETW Faction)|Spain]]- Catholic Absolute Monarchy
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*[[Sweden (ETW Faction)|Sweden]]- Protestant Absolute Monarchy
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*[[United Provinces (ETW Faction)|United Provinces (The Netherlands)]]- Protestant Republic
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*[[United States (ETW faction)|United States of America]]- Protestant Republic (Road to Independence)
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=== Units ===
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There are hundreds of unique units in ETW including Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery and Ships.  For wiki pages about each unit see the [[:Category:ETW Units|Empire: Total War Units Category]]
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=== Battlefield Gameplay ===
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The introduction of the [[Naval Battles in ETW|naval warfare]] was a major addition to the series. This new and unexplored battlefield was plagued with problems at the game launch. Pathfinding errors made navigation difficult and real-world strategies used by admirals from the past didn't work correctly. Land battles suffered from AI problems as well, which resulted in a commander to inevitably win a battle unless faced with overwhelming opposition. Patch 1.6 has helped to alleviate these launch issues.
  
 
===Multiplayer===
 
===Multiplayer===
  
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Multiplayer comes in two forms in ''Empire: Total War''. As with previous ''Total War'' titles, players can engage in real-time battles against each other either by creating the composition of their armies themselves, or reenacting historical battles. However, following a one-month delay of ''Empire: Total War'' in January 2009, the addition of a full campaign multiplayer mode was unveiled. The technology to create a multiplayer campaign game was not available in previous ''Total War'' games, and the extended development time allowed the Creative Assembly to implement the underlying technology for such a mode in ''Empire: Total War''. The campaign multiplayer mode will first be tested in a two-player [[beta software|beta build]], before eventually being made available in a post-release [[Patch (computing)|patch]].<ref name="campaignmultiplayer">{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/56352|title=Total War Delay brings Multiplayer Campaign Mode|last=Breckon|first=Nick |date=December 12, 2008|publisher=Shacknews|accessdate=2009-16-01}}</ref>
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ETW multiplayer was supposed to be revolutionary with the addition of a brand new feature, the multiplayer online campaign. Aside that we can also highlight that with the integration with steam the game could get a ladder system, giving players the motivation to pursue constant online battles.
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The Multiplayer online campaign only reached beta phase, and thus is not integrated into the game. Although it was fully implemented in the later Napoleon: Total War with the Hot Seat feature being discarded in this title.
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===Downloadable Content===
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The [http://store.steampowered.com/app/10606/?snr=1_5_9__405 Warpath Campaign] was released as downloadable content in October 2009. The campaign focuses on the battles of the Europeans and Native Americans throughout most of North and Central America. It expanded the North American territories and featured 5 new playable factions: Iroquois, Cherokee, Huron, Pueblo and Plains Nations. New researchable technologies were also added, along with the new scout and shaman agents and new faction-specific objectives.  Other DLC's were;  [http://store.steampowered.com/app/10608/?snr=1_5_9__405 Elite Units of the East] |  [http://store.steampowered.com/app/10607/?snr=1_5_9__405 Elite Units of America] | [http://store.steampowered.com/app/10604/?snr=1_5_9__405 Elite Units of the West]| [http://store.steampowered.com/app/10600/?snr=1_5_9__405 Special Units & Bonus Content]
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In November 2018 Empire: Total War was upgraded to the Definitive Edition meaning that all existing and new purchasers can access all of the DLC free of charge.
  
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==Development==
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[[Image:Naval warfare in Empire Total War.jpg|thumb|right|Real-time naval battles are a major new addition to the ''Total War'' series. One designer spent a year working on the water's physics system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamecyte.com/empire-total-war-preview-and-naval-combat|title=Gamecyte ''Empire: Total War'' preview|publisher=GameCyte|date-2007-08-27|accessdate=2009-03-03}}</ref>]]
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==Empire Community on TWC==
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'''Content Publications:'''
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*'''[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/content.php?431-Empire-Total-War-a-retrospective-on-ten-years-of-potential Empire Total War: a retrospective on ten years of potential] by Alwyn'''
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*'''[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/content.php?433-Modding-ten-years-after-Empire-Total-War Modding ten years after - Empire: Total War] by Quintus Hortensius Hortalus'''
  
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''Empire: Total War'' was announced by [[the Creative Assembly]] and publisher [[Sega]] at the [[Games Convention|Leipzig Games Convention]] on 22 August 2007.<ref name="announced">{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/news.html?sid=6177171&mode=all|title=''Total War'' Sets Sail|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|author=[[Sega]]|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> In their press release, the Creative Assembly outlined various features in the game, such as the new [[game engine]] and the addition of real-time naval combat. However, as the game was still in early development, no gameplay footage was demonstrated at the convention.<ref name="Gspot GC 07">{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/news.html?sid=6177177&mode=all|title=GC '07: ''Empire: Total War'' First Look|first=Jason|last=Ocampo|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> The game was announced alongside the Creative Assembly's console title ''[[Viking: Battle for Asgard]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/news.html?sid=6177198&mode=all|title=Sega waging new ''Total War''|first=Tom|last=Magrino|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|date-2007-08-22|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> Media releases over the subsequent months showed [[screenshot]]s of the game and elaborated more on ''Empire: Total War''{{'}}s game mechanics. The game's [[trailer]], consisting of computer-generated [[cut scene]] footage, was released 10 July 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/video.html?sid=6193642|title=Empire: Total War Official Trailer 1|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|date=2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> A playable demonstration of the game's naval combat was showcased at the [[E3]] convention later in July 2008, where it was estimated that the game would ship in 2009.<ref name="GSpot naval">{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/news.html?sid=6194257&mode=all|title=E3 2008: ''Empire: Total War'' Impressions|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|first=Dan|last=Chiappini|date=2008-07-16|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> The land combat was showcased at the later 2008 Leipzig Game Convention in August 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/news.html?sid=6196668&mode=all|title=GC 2008: ''Empire: Total War'' Impressions - Land Combat|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|first=Justin|last=Calvert|date=2008-08-22}}</ref> At the convention, the Creative Assembly announced that the game was out of the [[Software release life cycle#Alpha: internal test|alpha development phase]], and that they were aiming for a release date of 6 February 2009.<ref name="IGNGC2008release">{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/901/901519p1.html|title=GC 2008: ''Empire: Total War'' Progress Report|first=Charles|last=Onyett|date=2008-08-21|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> On 28 October 2008, it was announced that the game would be released on [[Valve Corporation|Valve Corporation's]] content delivery system [[Steam (content delivery)|Steam]] on the official release date of 6 February.  The game will fully incorporate Valve's [[Steamworks]] programme for both retail and electronic versions, allowing for updates and multiplayer to function more efficiently.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sega.co.uk/empire/gameinfo/news.php?n=2427|title=Full Steam Ahead for ''Empire: Total War''|publisher=[[Sega]]|date=2008-10-28|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> The game's release was delayed in December 2008 to allow for the development of extended multiplayer features,<ref name="campaignmultiplayer"/> with a new release date for March 2009.<ref name="delay">{{cite web|url=http://www.sega.co.uk/empire/gameinfo/news.php?n=2936|title=Empire: Get ready for Total War from March 3rd 2009|date=2009-01-27|accessdate=2009-01-27|author=[[The Creative Assembly]]|publisher=[[Sega]]}}</ref><ref name="delay-SNews">{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/56333|title=Empire: Total War Delayed to March|last=Breckon|first=Nick |date=December 11, 2008|publisher=Shacknews|accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref> A [[Game demo|demonstration]] of the game, featuring the [[Battle of Brandywine]] and the [[Battle of Lagos]], was released over Steam on 20 February 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/955/955721p1.html|title=''Empire: Total War'' Demo Out on Steam|first=Charles|last=Onyett|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=2009-02-20|accessdate=2009-02-23}}</ref> The game was released on 3 March 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.totalwar.com/empire/gameinfo/news.php?n=3063|title=''Empire: Total War'' Sets Sail For Stores Now|publisher=[[The Creative Assembly]]|date=2009-03-03|accessdate=2009-03-03}}</ref>
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'''Discussion:'''
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*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?469-Empire-Total-War-General-Discussion General Discussion]
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*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?500-Historical-Research-Center Historical Research Center]
  
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James Russell, the lead designer on the project, stated in an interview that the 18th century was chosen as the setting as "it's a fabulously colourful period... the 18th century is the great age of fighting sail, and it's the obvious arena in which to set our spectacular new sea battles." Russell also stated that the dynamic and far-reaching changes of the era, from political revolutions such as the [[French Revolution]], economic revolutions such as the [[Industrial Revolution]] to military revolutions such as the widespread use of [[gunpowder]], gave the "opportunity to develop some really interesting new features and gameplay dynamics that make for a lot of variation".<ref name="IGN interview">{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/866/866990p1.html|title=''Empire: Total War'' Interview|publisher=[[IGN]]|first=Steve|last=Butts|date=2008-03-18|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> The game is notable for incorporating [[motion capture]] animation for the first time in the series to make characters seem more lifelike. The Creative Assembly researched how events such as [[duel]]s were conducted in the 18th century for authenticity, and also observed the [[choreography]] of actors in related films and TV series, such as ''[[Sharpe (TV series)|Sharpe]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/video.html?sid=6191477|title=''Empire: Total War'' Official Movie 1|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|author=[[The Creative Assembly]]|date=2008-05-22|accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> ''Empire: Total War'' ships with nine different versions of box art, eight of which represent the major faction for the market the game is sold in, and one general international version. For instance, German customers are presented artwork displaying colours with the [[Flag of Prussia|Prussian eagle]] and Prussian army uniforms, whilst the American artwork shows the American revolutionaries and the [[Betsy Ross flag]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shoguntotalwar.yuku.com/topic/36021|title=''Empire: Total War'' box art variations...|first=Mark|last=O'Connell|publisher=[[The Creative Assembly]]|date=2008-07-14|accessdate=2008-11-02}}</ref> A [[special edition]] version of ''Empire: Total War'' entitled ''Special Forces'' incorporates six elite faction-specific units: [[HMS Victory|HMS ''Victory'']], the [[Irish Brigade (French)|French Irish Brigade]], [[Guerrilla warfare#Napoleonic Wars|Spanish guerillas]], [[Gurkha|Gurkha infantry]], [[Rogers' Rangers]] and the Ottoman [[Ribauldequin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sega.com/empire/gameinfo/news.php?n=2440|title=''Empire: Total War'' - Special Forces Edition!|date=2008-10-29|author=[[The Creative Assembly]]|publisher=[[Sega]]|accessdate=2008-11-02}}</ref>
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'''Gameplay and Strategy:'''
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*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?241293-Le-FUSIL-Unit-Guide-for-Empire-v1-6 Unit Guide]
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*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?234127-Index-of-Gameplay-amp-Strategy-Guides-(VIEW-THIS-BEFORE-STARTING-A-NEW-THREAD) Index of Gameplay and Strategy Guides]
  
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==Reception==
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'''After Action Reports:'''
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{{VG Reviews
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*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?1052-Empire-Total-War-AARs AARs and Let's Plays]
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|title=
 
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|state=plain
 
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|1UP = A-<ref name="1UP">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3173120|title=''Empire: Total War'' Review for the PC|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|last=Goodfellow|first=Troy|date=2009-03-05|accessdate=2009-03-05}}</ref>
 
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|EuroG = 9/10<ref name="EuroG">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/empire-total-war-review|title=''Empire: Total War'' Review|publisher=[[Eurogamer]]|last=Gillen|first=Kieron |date=2009-02-27|language=English|accessdate=2009-02-28}}</ref>
 
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|GSpot = 8.5/10<ref name="GSpot">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/review.html|title=''Empire: Total War'' for PC Review|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|last=VanOrd|first=Kevin|date=2009-03-09|accessdate=2009-03-09}}</ref>
 
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|GSpy = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="GSpy">{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/empire-total-war/959077p1.html |title=GameSpy: Empire: Total War Review |author=Allen Rausch |publisher=[[GameSpy]]|date=March 3, 2009 |accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref>
 
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|IGN = 9.5/10<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/957/957883p1.html|title=''Empire: Total War'' Review|last=Butts|first=Steve |date=2009-02-27|publisher=[[IGN]]|accessdate=2009-02-28}}</ref>
 
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|PCF = 92%<ref name="PCF">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcformat.co.uk/blog-entry/review-empire-total-war-02-03-09|title=''Empire: Total War''|work=[[PC Format]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=2009-03-02|first=Dave|last=James|accessdate=2009-03-03}}</ref>
 
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|PCGUK = 94%<ref name="PCGUK">{{cite journal|title=''Empire: Total War''|journal=[[PC Gamer]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|location=Bath, United Kingdom|month=March|year=2009|first=Jim|last=Rossignol|issue=198|pages=pp. 54–59|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=209544|accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref>
 
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|GR = 91%<ref name="GR">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/942966-empire-total-war/index.html|title=''Empire: Total War'' for PC|publisher=[[GameRankings]]|accessdate=2009-03-12}}</ref> <small>(based on 15 reviews)</small>
 
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|MC = 91%<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/empiretotalwar|title=''Empire: Total War'' (PC: 2009) Reviews|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=2009-03-12}}</ref> <small>(based on 32 reviews)</small>
 
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}}
 
  
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''Empire: Total War'' was received well by critics within the video game industry, holding an aggregate review score of 91% on both [[GameRankings]] and [[Metacritic]].<ref name="GR"/><ref name="MC"/> The game has become the fastest selling ''Total War'' title to date; ''Empire'' topped British video game sales charts for all platforms in the week of release, the first PC exclusive title to do so since in a year and a half.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=210189|title=''Empire: Total War'' topples ''Killzone''|first=Tom|last=Ivan|date=2009-03-10|work=[[Computer and Video Games]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2009/mar/10/pc-games|title=Empire Total War Invades UK Charts|work=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|first=Rob|last=Crossley|date=2009-03-10|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2009/mar/10/pc-games|title=''Empire: Total War'' conquers charts|first=Greg|last=Howson|work=[[The Guardian]]|publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]]|date=2009-03-10|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref> However, consumer response was hampered by technical problems arising from incompatibility with certain [[Nvidia]] [[Device driver|drivers]] released after the game's development was completed and reports of installation problems with the Steam content delivery system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/latest-total-war-game-hampered-by-steam-nvidia-issues|title=Latest ''Total War'' game hampered by Steam, Nvidia issues|publisher=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]|first=Matt|last=Martin|date=2009-09-03|accessdate=2009-03-10}}</ref>
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'''Technical Help:'''
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*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?1074-ETW-Technical-Help Tech support forum on TWC]
  
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Reviewers praised the large scope of the game's strategy map. ''[[PC Gamer UK]]'' noted that the game "takes a great deal of its design philosophy from the events and trends of its era", which enabled the game to reasonably reflect the challenges faced by the factions' historical counterparts.<ref name="PCGUK"/> Praise was also given to the extensive amount of factions, down to very small factions such as the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of Malta]] and a renegade [[Golden Age of Piracy|pirate]] settlement.<ref name="PCGUK"/> [[Kieron Gillen]], reviewing for [[Eurogamer]], described the campaign map as "endless" and due to the large amount of content, observed that he had managed to complete the game without entering the Indian theatre of play; a factor that enhanced the game's replayability.<ref name="EuroG"/> Other reviews echoed this sentiment; [[GameSpot]] stated that "even a short, 50-year campaign can take a good amount of time to complete, given that each turn requires strategic thinking on multiple fronts".<ref name="GSpot"/> Praise was further bestowed on the refined interface, introduction of a technology tree and level of strategic thinking required for the campaign map.<ref name="1UP"/><ref name="GSpy"/><ref name="PCGUK"/> While the game's artificial intelligence was praised by several reviewers, [[1UP.com]] noted that it could perform illogical choices, such as "the occasional suicidal war between [[Dagestan]] and [[Russian Empire|Russia]]".<ref name="1UP"/>
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==Empire Information on the Wiki==
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*[[Factions (ETW)|Factions]]
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*[[Infantry Tactics in Empire: Total War]]
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*[[:Category:ETW Units]]
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*[[:Category:ETW Gameplay and Features]]
  
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The real-time land battles in ''Empire'' were thought of to be well constructed. Expressing that the Creative Assembly had effectively implemented what it had learned since ''Shogun: Total War'', [[GameSpy]] described the addition of personal firearms and friendly fire as something that "changes the tactical nature of the game much as it did in real life", and noting that the player controls and enemy AI were "competent".<ref name="GSpy"/> [[IGN]] felt that the real-time aspects captured "the cinematic brilliance of it all without ever falling back on obvious exaggerations or pretenses" and that the controls, specificially in relation to unit formation, were much improved.<ref name="IGN"/> GameSpot put the real-time land battles as "enjoyable to command and enjoyable to watch", particularly commending the amount of detail in each model and animation for every soldier, points carried in several other reviews.<ref name="PCF"/><ref name="PCGUK"/><ref name="IGN"/> However, GameSpot thought that the artificial intelligence could appear "confused" in some circumstances.<ref name="GSpot"/> In addition, Eurogamer felt that units' pathfinding abilities in fort sieges were insufficient.<ref name="EuroG"/>
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==Mods for Empire: Total War==
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'''Find ETW Mods on TWC:'''
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*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?1071-Empire-Total-War-Hosted-Modifications ETW Hosted Modifications on TWC]
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*[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?1073-Empire-Total-War-Modifications ETW Mod Threads on TWC]
  
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Naval combat was subject to more criticism than land battles. ''[[PC Format]]'' described the visuals in a naval battle as "incredible", but stated that the controls were "frustrating; genuine naval tactics fast disappear out of the window as [the player] struggles to bring [their] navy’s cannons to bear on the enemy".<ref name="PCF"/> ''PC Gamer UK'' reciprocated this view, but noted that naval strategy was a "deeply difficult task" for a developer, and that "the Creative Assembly have done the best that their game template would allow".<ref name="PCGUK"/> IGN praised the graphical quality of the naval battles and stated that "trying to line ships up correctly, making the most of the wind and choosing targets appropriately is very rewarding", but that "the formations and pathfinding leave a lot be desired".<ref name="IGN"/> GameSpot commented that "the AI seems incapable of managing [a naval battle] with much success".<ref name="GSpot"/>
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'''On the Wiki:'''
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*[[Empire: Total War Mods|Empire: Total War Mods listing with sortable table]]
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*[[:Category:ETW Mods (Released)| Empire: Total War released mods' pages]]
  
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Despite criticisms, most reviews were ultimately favourable to ''Empire: Total War''. While IGN felt that the game "drags a bit and there are some small, rough edges in the tactical battles", the game still "deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the greatest names in gaming history".<ref name="IGN"/> 1UP.com finished by saying "For all its problems, it's undoubtedly progress",<ref name="1UP"/> while Eurogamer felt that issues "limit [the game] to being merely one of the games of the year," but implied that a post-release patch could deal with these flaws.<ref name="EuroG"/> GameSpot summarised that the game was "complex and rewarding" and GameSpy praised the game for "the simplified interface elements, great campaign, and much-improved map and information screens [that] make this the most accessible ''Total War'' yet, and a great place for those unfamiliar with the series to get started".<ref name="GSpy"/> For their part, ''PC Gamer UK'' enthusiastically proclaimed the game as "one of the most playable, important and accomplished games ever created".<ref name="PCGUK"/>
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==Modding Information==
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'''Modding Information on TWC:'''
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* [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?1108-Tools-Tutorials-and-Resources Empire: Total War Tools, Tutorials and Resources section]
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* [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?651-Empire-Total-War-Mod-Workshop Empire: Total War Mod Workshop]
  
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==References==
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'''On the Wiki:'''
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{{reflist|2}}
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* [[Modding Portal#Empire:_Total_War| Modding Portal]]
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* [[Empire: Total War - Modding Index]]
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* [[:Category:ETW Modding]]
  
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==External links==
 
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* [http://www.sega.com/empire/ ''Empire: Total War'' official website]
 
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* [http://www.sega.co.uk/games/?t=EnglishUK&g=563 ''Empire: Total War'' Special Forces Edition official webpage]
 
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* [http://www.totalwarblog.com/ The ''Total War'' Blog official website]
 
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* [http://www.creative-assembly.co.uk/ The Creative Assembly official website]
 
  
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{{Creative Assembly}}
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</div>
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<div class="TWCportal_3">
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==System Requirements==
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'''Minimum System Requirements:'''
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:Supported OS: Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista™ or Windows 7™
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:Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel® Pentium® or greater or AMD® Athlon® equivalent CPU, with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSE2 SSE2 instruction]
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:Memory: 1 GB RAM (XP,) 2 GB RAM (Vista™)
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:Graphics: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible hardware accelerated video card with shader version 2.0 support, 256 MB video memory
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:Display: Minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels
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:Sound: Directx9.0c compatible sound card
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:Hard Drive: 15 GB free hard disk space formatted as NTFS
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:Peripherals: Windows compatible mouse and keyboard
  
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[[Category:2009 video games]]
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'''Recommended Requirements:'''
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[[Category:American Revolution media]]
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:Supported OS: Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista™ or Windows 7™
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[[Category:Creative Assembly games]]
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:Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel® Core 2 Duo® or greater or AMD® Athlon64® equivalent CPU, with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSE2 SSE2 instruction]
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[[Category:French Revolution in fiction]]
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:Memory: 3 GB RAM (XP,) 4 GB RAM (Vista™)
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[[Category:Games for Windows certified games]]
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:Graphics: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible hardware accelerated video card with shader version 3.0 support, 512 MB video memory
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[[Category:Lua-scripted games]]
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:Display: Minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels
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[[Category:Napoleonic Wars fiction]]
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:Sound: Directx9.0c compatible sound card
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[[Category:Real-time tactics video games]]
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:Hard Drive: 15 GB free hard disk space formatted as NTFS
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[[Category:Sega games]]
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:Peripherals: Windows compatible mouse and keyboard
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[[Category:Total War series]]
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</div></div></div>
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[[Category:Turn-based strategy video games]]
 
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[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
 
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[[Category:Windows games]]
 
  
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[[ar:الإمبراطورية: الحرب الشاملة]]
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<div style="text-align: center;"><h2 style="border-bottom:none;"><small>Other Sources for Empire: Total War</small></h2>
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[[el:Empire: Total War]]
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<big>'''[http://www.creative-assembly.com/game/empire Official Creative Assembly Website] ~ [http://www.totalwar.com/ Official Total War Website] ~ [http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Empire_Total_War Total War Wiki] ~ [http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?242-Empire-Total-War The Org] ~ [http://www.reddit.com/r/totalwar/ Reddit] ~ [http://store.steampowered.com/app/10500/ Steam] ~ [http://totalwar.wikia.com/wiki/Empire:_Total_War totalwar.wikia] ~ [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire:_Total_War Wikpedia]
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[[es:Empire: Total War]]
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'''</big>
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[[fr:Empire: Total War]]
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<h2 style="border-bottom:none;"><small>[[Total War Series|Other Total War Series Games]]</small></h2>
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Latest revision as of 01:52, 23 August 2020

Welcome to Empire: Total War on the TWC Wiki


Empire wiki banner2.png


Empire: Total War is the 5th major game in the Total War Series developed by the Creative Assembly.
The game was released in March 2009 and published by Sega. It is set in the 18th century and includes features such as the Industrial Revolution, America's struggle for independence and the colonization of India. For the first time in a Total War game, players had the ability to play real-time 3D naval battles.

Empire was the first game in the series to use Valve Corporation's Steamworks DRM and achievements system, thereby requiring Steam to be played. It was also the first to use Total War Engine 3 which included the Warscape Engine.


Overview

Empire: Total War is a game based on the musketry warfare that revolutionized how the battles were fought. The insertion of gun powder and the changes that it brought is one of the hallmarks of this game. The changes in social structures, a period of revolutions, of turmoil. The span of the campaign is the turbulent 18th century, a period that shaped great empires with the colonization of new continents and the stabilization and growth of a global economy.

Empire: Total War introduces many changes, the most valuable being; the addition of a new type of battlefield, water; a new diplomacy system; a complete new technology system; and a great review of the economic system. Those changes compliment the grand scope of the game; major naval battles, the hardships of battle using line infantry, the age of enlightenment, colonies and empires that the sun never goes down on. All those changes only add to the immersion of the game, seeing as how you can go to battle with a aristocratic empire and suddenly fight a renewed republic with troops ready to defend their acquired freedom.

Another feature that had been developed for Empire: Total War was the decentralisation of provinces, adding greater realism in that many features, from production to technological advancement, would now occur outside of the capital of the province for the first time in a Total War game.

General Information

There were several innovative changes in this title compared to earlier games in the Total War series.

Campaign Map

The campaign map is one of the first noted changes in this game. It expands the European centric focus of the first Total War series (the exception is the Shogun: Total War and the Americas Campaign in Medieval 2: Total War Kingdoms Expansion), and this expansion covers simultaneously, the European theatre (which also includes the North African coast and parts of the Middle East), the Indian subcontinent, and the Eastern half of North America, Central America, Northern South America and the Caribbean islands, with trading theatres on the Eastern South American coast, West African Coast, Ivory Coast, and Pacific Islands. This expansion is one of the most uncontroversial ones within this game.

The new campaign map offers new possible strategies to the player, being it with local expansion or the foundation of colonies in diverse theatres of action. Aside from that, the economic complexity is also affected by this major change, with the addition of a new feature called Trade nodes.

The trade nodes add immersion to the game, by allowing the player to acquire and trade resources via merchant ships at specific theatres in the map, those are: South America, West Africa, East Africa and Indonesia. This simulates the enormous growth in trade that is a hallmark of the scope of this period, with bustling sails reaching far corners of the world with the purpose of trading/colonizing. These theatres offer a great economic boost to whoever controls them, with rich resources like ivory, spice and sugar.

This adds to a much-neglected part of the Total War series, the need to maintain the dominion of the seas. The pirates now pose a great threat, leading to what was a bustling economy to a ruined empire in a few turns. Another major component to the now need for a great armada is that the trade routes which appeared in previous games are interactive, leading to options of not only blockading the ports put to hinder the enemy economy through state piracy giving you the goods that were flowing through that route.

The resources inside the provinces have now a closer resemblance to Rome: Total War than it had to Medieval 2: Total War, since the latter needs a merchant for the exploitation of the resources, similarities aside this is an expansion on the concept of the province system for that the building who is responsible for the harvesting is not centralized in a capital, but it is spread in the territory itself. This change is more visible in the new town system.

This new town system involves a capital and several subsidiary towns, thus removing some of the importance of the capital and spreading along the whole province. The new slave towns are born from the growth of the population in several villages that are already defined in number different to which territory. Those towns can be configured in four basic towns: schools (used for research of new technologies), manufacturing plants (factories that have several types: textile, smelters and pottery the choice is not up to the player, churches and entertainment buildings.

This adds to military strategy as well since the control of those towns is responsible not only for the income, but for the general happiness of the province, thus raiding towns is a useful tactic and preferred by the AI.

Naval Battles

-See main article: Naval Battles (ETW)

Empire: Total War was the first Total War game to have fully 3D real-time naval battles. In the previous games they were just automatically resolved on the campaign map. This feature was a major focus of ETW's marketing campaign, as naval battles are the symbol of 18th century warfare.

Technology

A game based in the century of lights can't cast aside the revolution that happened in several fields of human knowledge and perception. Empire: Total War brings to the table a new form of supremacy; technology. The 18th century was marked by several changes to humanity as a whole, bringing to light several concepts that marked and constructed the postmodern world. The tech tree is divided into three major branches, being those: Military, Economics, Governance.

This is one of the most relevant aspects of the game, leading to one empire being considerably weaker than another just because one has the technological edge over the other. Research also leads to changes in the way the population behaves and perceives the government, an absolute monarchy is going to have much trouble sustaining itself in the late stages of the campaign, due to the public unrest several technologies generate.

Factions

-See main article: Empire: Total War Factions

More than fifty factions are included in the game, 36 of which are playable. The other factions cannot be unlocked and have to be modded into the game. The eleven playable factions from the beginning are:

Playable Factions

Units

There are hundreds of unique units in ETW including Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery and Ships. For wiki pages about each unit see the Empire: Total War Units Category

Battlefield Gameplay

The introduction of the naval warfare was a major addition to the series. This new and unexplored battlefield was plagued with problems at the game launch. Pathfinding errors made navigation difficult and real-world strategies used by admirals from the past didn't work correctly. Land battles suffered from AI problems as well, which resulted in a commander to inevitably win a battle unless faced with overwhelming opposition. Patch 1.6 has helped to alleviate these launch issues.

Multiplayer

ETW multiplayer was supposed to be revolutionary with the addition of a brand new feature, the multiplayer online campaign. Aside that we can also highlight that with the integration with steam the game could get a ladder system, giving players the motivation to pursue constant online battles.

The Multiplayer online campaign only reached beta phase, and thus is not integrated into the game. Although it was fully implemented in the later Napoleon: Total War with the Hot Seat feature being discarded in this title.

Downloadable Content

The Warpath Campaign was released as downloadable content in October 2009. The campaign focuses on the battles of the Europeans and Native Americans throughout most of North and Central America. It expanded the North American territories and featured 5 new playable factions: Iroquois, Cherokee, Huron, Pueblo and Plains Nations. New researchable technologies were also added, along with the new scout and shaman agents and new faction-specific objectives. Other DLC's were; Elite Units of the East | Elite Units of America | Elite Units of the West| Special Units & Bonus Content

In November 2018 Empire: Total War was upgraded to the Definitive Edition meaning that all existing and new purchasers can access all of the DLC free of charge.

Empire Community on TWC

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Empire Information on the Wiki

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System Requirements

Minimum System Requirements:

Supported OS: Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista™ or Windows 7™
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel® Pentium® or greater or AMD® Athlon® equivalent CPU, with SSE2 instruction
Memory: 1 GB RAM (XP,) 2 GB RAM (Vista™)
Graphics: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible hardware accelerated video card with shader version 2.0 support, 256 MB video memory
Display: Minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels
Sound: Directx9.0c compatible sound card
Hard Drive: 15 GB free hard disk space formatted as NTFS
Peripherals: Windows compatible mouse and keyboard

Recommended Requirements:

Supported OS: Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista™ or Windows 7™
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel® Core 2 Duo® or greater or AMD® Athlon64® equivalent CPU, with SSE2 instruction
Memory: 3 GB RAM (XP,) 4 GB RAM (Vista™)
Graphics: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible hardware accelerated video card with shader version 3.0 support, 512 MB video memory
Display: Minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels
Sound: Directx9.0c compatible sound card
Hard Drive: 15 GB free hard disk space formatted as NTFS
Peripherals: Windows compatible mouse and keyboard
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