Imperator: Rome

[Tragic]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/859580/Imperator_Rome/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=AGTifuEu6hw
https://www.paradoxplaza.com/imperator-rome/IMIM01GSK0000001-MASTER.html

Character Management: A living world of characters with varying skills and traits that will change over time. They will lead your nation, govern your provinces and command your armies and fleets. We also introduce our new, more human-like character art.

Diverse Populations: Citizens, freemen, tribesmen and slaves - each population with its own culture and religion. Whether they fill your armies, fill your coffers or fill your colonies, keep an eye on their happiness - your success depends on their satisfaction.

Battle Tactics: Choose your approach before battle to counter the stratagems of your foes.

Military Traditions: Each culture has a unique way of waging war. Romans and Celts have different options available to them. Unlock unique bonuses, abilities and units.

Different Government Types: Manage the senate in a Republic, hold your court together in a monarchy, answer to the clans in a tribal system.

Barbarians and Rebellions: Migrating barbarians may sack or settle your best land, while disloyal governors or generals can turn against you - taking their armies with them!

Trade: Goods provide bonuses to their home province. Will you take advantage of stockpiles for local strength or trade excess goods to spread the wealth around?

Provincial Improvement: Invest in buildings, roads and defences to make your kingdom stronger and richer.

[Troughty Pursuits]

Paradox Development Studio next IP

It sure seems to me that Crusader Kings 2 is nearing the end of its development cycle. (Or if it's not, it should be.) I suspect a new grand strategy IP is in the works and may be announced at Paradox Con this May. Even if that doesn't happen, something new is going to be coming down the pipe sometime, but what?

A few folks around here, including Nate, seem to think CK3, possibly with a fantasy edge to it. I'm leaning towards a new ancient era IP, focusing on Greece and Rome to start with. In my loveliest fantasy world, it's Vicky 3, but we all know that's not happening.

Another option that people sometimes forget about is a smaller title like Sengoku and March of the Eagles, each of which acted as a test-bed for a bigger title to come (CK2 and EU4, respectively).

So what do you all think? What do you think it will be, and what do you think it should be?

[Bou]

A game analogous to this: http://store.steampowered.com/app/282400/SuperPower_2_Steam_Edition/

[Troughty Pursuits]

Originally posted by Bou:

A game analogous to this: http://store.steampowered.com/app/282400/SuperPower_2_Steam_Edition/

Oooh, a modern simulator. I could see that.

[PengoPaddy]

I'm going to guess wrongly and say a Fantasy based IP that blends CK2 and EU4.

They did Stellaris afterall...

[Gregorovitch]

I think it maybe Vikki 3. Reason is Vikki is simply too hard to ifigure for the hordes of the great unwashed (including myself) who did manage to get into CK & EU. It's never attracted the same attention as the other two. I think it's going to get a significant redisign, especially the pop management side of it, in order to give them a third popular historical GS title to make dozens of DLC for (well four if you include HoI I suppose) and sell by the truck load. CK3 after that.

[cadfan17]

Crusader Kings: Battletech

[AK_icebear]

I also suspect it is in fact Vicky 3, but extremely streamlined.

[Mr.Kill]

Originally posted by cadfan17:

Crusader Kings: Battletech

Spoilers the game always ends with nuclear war when word of blake shows up. XD

[aReclusiveMind]

They specifically said it wouldn't be Victoria 3 in the Paradox Con promo video. It could be a trick of some sort, but I find that unlikely.

My money is on a game set in Roman times. I suspect it won't be a direct sequel to EU: Rome, but something closer to CK. I would expect to see Rome of course, but also all of the prominent cultures at that time as playable.

There is a lot of potential for family and senate political intrigue. There is also a chance to play around with tribal dynamics. It has been a long time since EU: Rome and they have learned a lot since then. I also believe it has a wider appeal than Vicky 3 would have and Paradox knows a Rome setting would be more profitable.

Other anecdotal evidence supports the Rome theme. Johan Andersson has already stated he is involved in programming and designing the upcoming title. He has made several subtle references to Rome in recent years in his social media posts as well. He certainly would have been planning and designing at that point.

Here he is last summer tweeting a photo of himself in a Rome II shirt.
https://twitter.com/producerjohan/status/873097188850638848

He also retweeted this Hearts of Iron image which may have just been a joke but which could also hint at Rome being the subject of the next game.
https://twitter.com/producerjohan/status/963389030405730304

Perhaps I am reading into things too much and have my tinfoil hat on, but I certainly wouldn't say no to a return to Rome.

[Troughty Pursuits]

Originally posted by AK_Icebear:

I also suspect it is in fact Vicky 3, but extremely streamlined.

So, only twice as difficult to parse as EU4? Got it. 😉

[Troughty Pursuits]

aReclusiveMind, I suspect you're right, though I have to admit those two tweets don't necessarily support the case. The Rome II shirt is there in the context of fantasy - though, as always, that could be a ruse. And the Roman Empire response around HOI4 could mean anything - though you did acknowledge that.

Wait. Am I Zapruder-Filming Johan Andersson's Twitter feed? I guess it could be worse. 😝

I would love to see an ancient era game focused on Rome, but I would sacrifice two randomly-chosen teeth for a Greek city-state-based game that includes federations, defensive coalitions, hegemony and civil stasis mechanics.

[aReclusiveMind]

Of course you are right, the tweets could mean anything (or nothing). I'd like to think he has been using them as a little insider *wink* as to what he is working on, but that's potentially wishful thinking on my part.

I certainly wouldn't say no to a Greek city-state game either. It's been a long while since I've played a good one. Slitherine's Spartan was one I quite enjoyed back when it came out about 12 years ago, although it was more war-focused than I prefer. I also tried the Hegemony series from Longbow Games, but ultimately determined they aren't for me.

[Icemania]

I hear they are going to release a new space game. They realised some folks don't like hyperlanes, some folks don't like warp, and some folks don't like hypergates. The idea is to allow all 3 FTL travel methods as a way to encourage almost every fan of space 4X games to play and enjoy the game.

Oh, wait, apparently that was a stupid idea.

[athelasloraiel]

Fantasy grand startegy coming. Confirmed. Im also drunk on cocktails in Kenyan south coast

[Gregorovitch]

Originally posted by aReclusiveMind:

They specifically said it wouldn't be Victoria 3 in the Paradox Con promo video. It could be a trick of some sort, but I find that unlikely.

I missed that so I stand corrected and shamed of face. Next year perhaps, Johan did say "this is not the year", so.....

Originally posted by aReclusiveMind:

My money is on a game set in Roman times.

Not a bad wager. Legions are never a bad bet. Anything giving you the excuse to use the words "Praetorian" or "Cohort" always hits the spot and doing so in accurate historical context doubly so. And Roman politics too, jeez. Makes CK era teddy bear's picnic.