I've been working on this game concept for about a week now, and it's already further than anything I've worked on (one other project now being 4 years). Well, one problem is I guess not being able to work on production at all, so I'm still in concept phases now. :P Anyway, so far I've typed out some about gameplay and units in the game. Not much is there on heroes, I guess 'cause I don't have them as detailed, and they are something for later refinement anyhow. So I have this typed out so far, next section I'm going to type out will be describing the worldmap, which'll probably be a few days. So lemme know how this is. :)


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The main point of the game is going to be warfare strategy, with some roleplaying mixed in. Along the lines of rts (real time strategy), there will be a few different changes to gameplay different from other rts games. First of all, in this 'vision', there will be almost no Training of units, which I think can take a big step in focusing the gameplay on other elements, some of which may be new. Second, instead of units, players will move around Groups instead - like what you see in medieval war documentaries - who will resemble shaped groups of smaller units, generally defined by their leading number of unit type. For the rpg (roleplaying game) elements, heroes will be replacing single units, in that they are going to be alone, who can gain levels and grow stronger through the game.


Groups:

Groups, though seeming like a boring name, are going to bring great diversity and strategy to the game. Groups will be made up of sub-unit types, for instance a footsoldier or a bowman. Sub-units are what make the groups unique, by making a group full of footsoldiers, you get a complete melee group, or if you mix in bowmen, the enemy might get a suprise when he thinks he's charging a defenceless target. There will be many different types of sub-units, partly depending on what area you are playing in, or what you choose to hire.

Location depends on what sub-units you have because, what-say you on a Map in the mountains, you would have Groups made up of barbarians, or possibly dwarves. There are also upgraded types of sub-units, a bowman could either turn into an archer, to shoot long-ranged, or a sniper who could shoot at close targets. Though ranged units are almost always used in battles, they will almost never be un-allowed on a certain Map, and will probably come out of just about every Town you come across.

When you play, Towns will be spread across the map providing different uses for your troops. Generally, when you first enter a given town, a Group will automatically apear, acting as your recruits. After that, draftees will periodically apear in addition to your usual ammount of reinforcments during play. Sometimes towns might provide information, access to an aditional hero, or new or specialised types of sub-units, and maybe even units.

Units will be specialized sub-units, which can be put into a Group to bolster their usefulness. For instance, if you put a healer or a cleric into a group, sub-units within it will have a better chance of survival. Or if you put an ogre into a group, their offence would be stronger, or into a catapult group, they would load stronger shot, etc. Types of Units won't neceserally be determined by what area you are in, but by which country you are in, and will probably be able to join your army in a multitude of ways.


Heroes:

Heroes will probably be you, and other important people within your army, who also might be able to change the storyline in different directions. Not much can be said about heroes at this point, as I don't know much. Generally they're going to be far different than groups, having thier own abilities, and be able to stand on their own in a battle without having tons of other units around them.