One thing that seems to be overlooked is that both HT and Pyro have not only designed, but played these games for longer than 99 percent of the people here. I have played these since at least 1994, and I can tell you that the environment found in the recent previous MA is not the one they cut their teeth on by any means (at least it wasn't when I started). That changed in the AW gamestorm era in the late 1990s and recently here in AH, for much the same infrastructure, human nature, and numbers of new players influence. Huge maps, win the war, little structure to centralize the fight, path of least resistance gameplay, etc.
Oddly, the model they are putting in place here works to create that earlier environment -- where you could take bases and win the war, but where you have to fight your way in -- by and large. Now perhaps, just perhaps, this is no accident, or no pandering to "furballers" but a knowledge of how much fun the "fight" can be if it is encouraged. Where a "furballer" will actually support a "toolshedder" if there's action to be found.
The upside, is that it the old way, the fighting way, was a total blast. I may even start playing some notable hours again if it pans out, instead of waiting for the CT and grinding though Rome Total War. Have to see this weekend how the changes work out in play.
Charon
