Napoleon Total War Demo Available

Fight the Battle of Ligny in the Napoleon Total War Demo

This demo features:

• The playable historical scenario of the Battle of Ligny.
• Play with either the French or the Prussian factions in this epic battle!
• The playable War on Land tutorial.
• Two in-game videos detailing the Multiplayer and the Campaign modes.

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106 Gun Ship of the Line - New Sea Unit for Napoleon Total War

New Sea Unit at Napoleon Total War Microsite

106 Gun Ship of the Line

While these warships are among the most powerful vessels afloat, they are lubberly sailors, being both slow and unresponsive. This is not a serious shortcoming because, armed with 106 cannons firing 32-, 24-, and 18-pounder balls on their three decks, they deliver a terrible and destructive broadside. They actually have more artillery than most land armies! Their cost, however, is a drawback and few navies can afford to build or maintain more than a handful of them. Historically, 106-gun ships-of-the-line were never common, and hardly ever sent to overseas stations. They were pure battleships, existing only to fight in set-piece actions, and not for mundane duties such as protecting merchantmen, policing the seas and hunting down privateers. They were commissioned and richly decorated as a physical representation of the glory of the state, but this practice went into decline as warfare became more intense, forcing ships to become more functional.

Artillerie à Pied - New Napoleon Total War Unit

New Unit details at Napoleon Total War Microsite

Artillerie à Pied

This elite unit is precise and deadly, but it does have the disadvantage of being vulnerable to fast moving cavalry and melee attacks. The soldiers who man these guns, although armed with swords, are not trained to defend themselves effectively. The power here lies in the cannons, and placing them at a discreet distance from the fray is always advisable. Formed in 1808, the Artillerie à Pied consisted of six companies of gunners and a company of ouvriers-pontonniers. These ouvriers-pontonniers were responsible for building bridges, allowing the artillery to pass swiftly and safely to their positions. There was some argument amongst the engineers and the artillery over who had command of these men but it was eventually decided that they should be assigned to the artillery. Ouvriers-pontonniers could construct a bridge of sixty to eighty pontoons, some 500 feet or 150 metres long, in just seven hours. They were also known to improvise if supplies were short, creating bridges from any materials that were to hand.

Napoleon Total War Combat Tactics Video

I assume this is an official video - looks really interesting, but I am wondering if this is a Mod rather than the new game?


Napoleonic total war ----> Video II: Combat formation
Uploaded by articho_boulet. - Watch game reviews, trailers, and walkthrough videos.

France Faction in Napoleon Total War

New information released on the official website about the France faction (who they!) in Napoleon Total War. Shame there's no piccies of troops though!

 The Emperor’s efforts have given France an impressive empire and domination over many neighbours; he is a source of strength. Napoleon has redrawn the map of Europe to suit his own ends. He is also a great weakness, as his treatment of enemies and rivals has not been entirely politic or polite. He has caused offence to nearly everyone, taking not giving, even when he should have been conciliatory. He has managed, through poor diplomacy, to make the British look like attractive allies to many. As a result, the Austrians are waiting for an opportunity to strike back at France for their recent humiliations and losses. The Russians, too, will strike down this new upstart emperor if given a chance, and will they ignore Napoleon’s instructions to ban trade with England? The Prussians, apparently, are content to sit and wait, but for how long? Will they idly sit by if it becomes necessary to extend French power in northern Germany? And then there are the British: always there are the British. That vindictive little island will have to be dealt with at some time.

via www.totalwar.com

Wishful Thinking List for Napoleon Total War

This is what I am personally hoping for from Napoleon Total War (but know won't happen!)

1. Access to all these special offer units to be available for all!
2. Some sort of command control simulation - i.e. separate corps-level command
3. Ability to customize individual units more - uniform colours and standards
4. More smoke on the battlefield so that action is more obscured in a realistic manner
5. More than 20 units available at a time!

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New Napoleon Total War Video Released

Visit http://www.totalwar.com/napoleon/gallery/videos.php to see the video. It includes some in game footage. Good to see that it has a wide spread of campaigns and battles, Austerlitz, Waterloo and I would assume Borodino as the invasion of Russia is mentioned.

Mass artillery is mentioned as a specific Napoleonic tactic, so maybe this will feature in the new game?