Total War: Pharaoh's Authentic Approach to Dynamic Weather
Total War: Pharaoh's lead battle designer Milcho Vasilev discusses the realism of the game's dynamic weather, providing an insightful look into how storms are authentically portrayed
Article Key Points
Total War: Pharaoh introduces dynamic weather, adding a new level of strategy to battles as players must navigate rainstorms, heat, and sandstorms.
Creative Assembly, the studio, strived for authenticity in their approach by thoroughly investigating the historical weather patterns of the region as well as the theories revolving around the Bronze-Age Collapse.
Although the storms may not be precisely replicated, the significant amount of research dedicated to their creation amplifies the game's realism and captivates players by immersing them in this historical era.
Total War: Pharaoh marks the return of the Total War franchise to history after a brief venture into the world of Warhammer. This game introduces players to a fresh historical period and incorporates new mechanics to enhance the beloved RTS gameplay. Among these new features is Total War: Pharaoh's dynamic weather, which adds an exciting twist to battles. Unlike before, fans now witness weather effects like never before.
Total War: Pharaoh's dynamic weather can completely alter the battlefield in an instant, resulting in thrilling gameplay. Players are now challenged to overcome rainstorms, scorching heat, and powerful sandstorms as they navigate the Bronze-Age Collapse. This addition introduces a new strategic element to familiar battles, and it appears that Creative Assembly has diligently ensured the authenticity of these storms to the period.
In a recent interview with Our website, Total War: Pharaoh's lead battle designer Milcho Vasilev discussed the studio's process of creating storms for the game. While the conversation mainly focused on the gameplay aspects and their decision to include storms, Vasilev also addressed the authenticity of these weather events. When asked about the accuracy of the storms, Vasilev stated that it is difficult to determine the exact weather conditions during the Bronze-Age Collapse. However, the studio has made efforts to depict the weather as authentically as possible. One theory surrounding the collapse suggests that severe droughts led to a lack of food, resulting in the Sea Peoples becoming a nomadic tribe and conflicting with other forces in search of more fertile grounds. To create their interpretation of battle weather, the team draws inspiration from the sweltering heat and sandstorms of the Saharan Desert, as well as the thunderstorms that occur in the wider Mediterranean region.
As Creative Assembly could not physically travel through time, the studio made a concerted effort to authentically depict the storms using alternative methods. Extensive research was conducted into various theories explaining why specific groups operated in certain ways. It is well established that individuals' behaviors are influenced by their living conditions, therefore it is logical to assume that storms would also have influenced their actions. Vasilev further stated,
We put great effort into representing the world authentically in our games, and extensive research is conducted to achieve this. Our climate research encompasses various elements such as weather, battle maps, topography, flora, and fauna. It is important for us to ensure that specific weather conditions are realistically associated with their geographical regions. For example, players will not encounter a sandstorm in the mountains of Anatolia, but they are more likely to experience intense heat while in the desert.
At Creative Assembly, we dedicate a significant amount of time to researching the time periods we explore in our games. Dynamic weather has become an integral part of this research. Since our game is based in Egypt, it was relatively straightforward to determine the storms that would have occurred there. Furthermore, as storms have remained relatively consistent over the years, we were able to incorporate real-life daily observations into our concept.
Total War: Pharaoh's storms required extensive effort to create, resulting in an enjoyable addition to the game. The inclusion of weather has added a fresh dynamic that we hope to continue expanding on in the coming years. While our studio may never completely reproduce the storms as they existed centuries ago, our thorough research ensures that Total War will come close to capturing their essence.
Total War: Pharaoh is the latest addition to Creative Assembly's acclaimed grand strategy series, offering players the opportunity to fully engage in the vibrant world of Ancient Egypt during its pinnacle of strength. Dive into the gripping narrative and witness the perilous challenges that put the ancient civilization on the brink of collapse. The game is available on PC and was released on October 11, 2023, developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. With a Metascore of 76, it's a must-play for fans of turn-based strategy, tactical gameplay, and grand strategy. Find it on Steam.
Editor's P/S
Total War: Pharaoh's dedication to historical authenticity is truly commendable. The game's dynamic weather system, which includes rainstorms, heat, and sandstorms, adds an exciting new layer of strategy to battles. Creative Assembly's commitment to accuracy is evident in their extensive research into the historical weather patterns of the region and the theories surrounding the Bronze-Age Collapse. While the storms may not be exact replicas of those that occurred thousands of years ago, the amount of effort put into their creation enhances the game's realism and immerses players in the historical era.
The dynamic weather in Total War: Pharaoh completely changes the battlefield in an instant, resulting in thrilling and challenging gameplay. Players must now overcome not only their enemies but also the forces of nature. This adds a new level of strategy to the game, as players must adapt their tactics to the current weather conditions. For example, a rainstorm can make it difficult to see and move troops, while a sandstorm can reduce visibility and cause units to take damage. The addition of dynamic weather makes Total War: Pharaoh a more immersive and realistic experience, and it is a welcome addition to the series.
