Rome:Total War

[Procrustes]

I haven't played any of the mods yet, but Hellenic TW and the MedMod sound like two of the best. I've only had the game a a few months - I've been working my way through games with the different catholic factions. It's worth it to buy the Viking Invasion add-on - several good game tweeks, some new units, and the viking era is fun to play (very agressive and smaller - confined to the British Isles.)

I've started all my medieval games in early - the inquisitors don't take too long before they start coming around. You need to build a monastary to get plain inquisitors, so you need to get to castle level first.

Good luck against the Italians - they've given me a run for my money a couple of times now. I had an Italian uber-inquisitor that burned his way through my Danish generals a while back - took me forever to get him. Here is what I learned:

* They only bother catholic factions - if you are orthodox or muslim no problem.
* Ports are magnets for the guys - be ready for them before you build one.
* Pious generals won't burn, and generals get a lot of piety from their king, so do things like build churches, go on crusades, be nice to the pope, etc.
* Keep a lot of bishops or cardinals around - they lower the chance that a heresy trial will succeeed and they generally act like inquisitor repellant. Keep three or more in the provinces where inquisitors are likely to visit - like ports, border provinces, and near your king.
* Train a lot of good assassins, and swarm the inquisitor when he shows. They are tough to kill. You will loose a lot of assassins if you try to follow them into foreign provinces, so spam some emmisaries along your borders and watch the inquisitors - target them when they are about to move into your lands, but if they are burning one of your neighbors let them be.

HTH. Sign up for the org forums if you have the time - they are quite useful and friendly. Two things you may really want to look at are the "Beginner's Guide" and "Complete Unit Guide" by frogbeastegg - web copies are here: http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=47
and there are pdf and word document versions available for download elsewhere. Very handy.

Best,

[Von Rom]

ORIGINAL: Procrustes

I haven't played any of the mods yet, but Hellenic TW and the MedMod sound like two of the best. I've only had the game a a few months - I've been working my way through games with the different catholic factions. It's worth it to buy the Viking Invasion add-on - several good game tweeks, some new units, and the viking era is fun to play (very agressive and smaller - confined to the British Isles.)

I've started all my medieval games in early - the inquisitors don't take too long before they start coming around. You need to build a monastary to get plain inquisitors, so you need to get to castle level first.

Good luck against the Italians - they've given me a run for my money a couple of times now. I had an Italian uber-inquisitor that burned his way through my Danish generals a while back - took me forever to get him. Here is what I learned:

* They only bother catholic factions - if you are orthodox or muslim no problem.
* Ports are magnets for the guys - be ready for them before you build one.
* Pious generals won't burn, and generals get a lot of piety from their king, so do things like build churches, go on crusades, be nice to the pope, etc.
* Keep a lot of bishops or cardinals around - they lower the chance that a heresy trial will succeeed and they generally act like inquisitor repellant. Keep three or more in the provinces where inquisitors are likely to visit - like ports, border provinces, and near your king.
* Train a lot of good assassins, and swarm the inquisitor when he shows. They are tough to kill. You will loose a lot of assassins if you try to follow them into foreign provinces, so spam some emmisaries along your borders and watch the inquisitors - target them when they are about to move into your lands, but if they are burning one of your neighbors let them be.

HTH. Sign up for the org forums if you have the time - they are quite useful and friendly. Two things you may really want to look at are the "Beginner's Guide" and "Complete Unit Guide" by frogbeastegg - web copies are here: http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=47
and there are pdf and word document versions available for download elsewhere. Very handy.

Best,

Sounds like inquistors are true terrors.

So assassins are the only way to get them?

Do a lot of inquisitors show up?

Sounds like they should be more expensive and harder to build.

They also sound like a good way to ruin a game, if they are burning all the best generals.

This sounds like an imbalance issue.

I also have the VI expansion, Great fun playing as the Scots, although they suffer from poor morale. I never thought the Highland Clans were so weak-kneed [;)]

Thanks for all the great advice [:)]

[Procrustes]

I'm probably griping about inquisitors more than I should - they don't ruin the game. Yeah, assassins are the only way to get rid of them for good. One or two roaming around can be exciting - they add a bit of challenge and add to the role playing. The AI is pretty good about not getting carried away with them, but if you want to beat up on the AI start building swarms of them. Kinda ruins the fun in my book, one of those little rules you have to make for yourself to keep it from getting too gamey. I think that the problem with modding the game to make them more expensive has been that they also became more expensive for the AI, so it stopped building them. Best just to restrain yourself if you can.

Glad you are enjoying the game! I play it whenever I can grab a free hour. Been playing as the Irish lately - fierce w/ some fun units. (Gallowglasses, dart throwers and a couple different javelin units, but no archers.) Also got a big game going as France - overexpanded into the holylands for GA points and now I'm trying to hold on against the Egyptians and probably the Byzantines and whomever else smells blood.

[Von Rom]

MTW has to be the best real time tactical game I have played.

I don't like RTS games much. However, I have no problem handling units in the battles. Quite fun to position troops to the best advantage. It's quite enjoyable to be able to beat a larger opposing army [:)]

It's quite a treat to watch hundreds of camel warriors charging across the desert, while the wind whips light sand into the air. . .

You can almost hear the war cries ala "Lawrence of Arabia". . .

"I do not come to Aquaba because of the gold; I come to Aquaba because it is my pleasure. . ." [:D]

Too bad the inquisitors can't be tweaked just for the player.

Even so, it does seem odd to have an inquisitor step up to your general, who is surrounded by his army, and have him go up in flames.

I wonder if it would be worthwhile just to eliminate that unit from the game? Sounds like the AI might have better chances in battling other AI nations.

Cheers!

[Procrustes]

I'm addicted to it. Big change from the hex-based wargames I've been playing in recent years. I'm finally getting to the point where I can handle myself well in the battlefield - for a while I had to autocalc all the big battles. All in all, I think that I like the inquisitors - they help add a different flavor and challenge when playing the Catholic factions. I think any game has those little nuances that can be taken advantage of by a human player, but as long as you resist they don't harm playability. I don't think it would be hard to mod them out all together if you wanted, though. (Playing the Catholics is really different in a lot of ways - trying to keep on the Pope's good side, keeping an eye on piety and zeal, avoiding excommunications and crusades against you, lauching a few yourself - lots of different possiblities.)

I haven't played a Muslim faction yet - have you tried a jihad? Or been on the recieving end of a crusade? The camels look cool.

[Von Rom]

ORIGINAL: Procrustes

I'm addicted to it. Big change from the hex-based wargames I've been playing in recent years. I'm finally getting to the point where I can handle myself well in the battlefield - for a while I had to autocalc all the big battles. All in all, I think that I like the inquisitors - they help add a different flavor and challenge when playing the Catholic factions. I think any game has those little nuances that can be taken advantage of by a human player, but as long as you resist they don't harm playability. I don't think it would be hard to mod them out all together if you wanted, though. (Playing the Catholics is really different in a lot of ways - trying to keep on the Pope's good side, keeping an eye on piety and zeal, avoiding excommunications and crusades against you, lauching a few yourself - lots of different possiblities.)

I haven't played a Muslim faction yet - have you tried a jihad? Or been on the recieving end of a crusade? The camels look cool.

Yes, it is addicting.

It takes some getting used to the units; when to use certain units in certain situations, etc. . .

I'll have to try a Catholic faction next time.

Every game seems to be different.

I agree about the Pope. He keeps sending Bishops to Morocco, who tippy-toe in, thinking I don't see them slink past my watchful eyes.

I haven't tried a Jihad yet. Since I conquered all the Muslim nations, I would stripping my own provinces of troops for an endeavour that would be kinda shaky in the results department. . . [8|]

When Germany sent a Crusade against me I watched as it wandered from Catholic province to province collecting troops. Those things really have a mind of their own. I checked some of the troops it was carrying; quite the motley crew. . .

It then ran slam into a large rebel army which forced it to retreat.

When it finally attacked one of my provinces, I obliterated it. . .

Talk about camel riders delivering whup-a$$. . .

Cheers!

[Mr.Frag]

Demo is cute but it would seem to prevent my work software from running once installed ... talk about a bizzare one. *Never* run into that before. I wonder what strange things they are doing with my network. [:-]

[Von Rom]

ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag

Demo is cute but it would seem to prevent my work software from running once installed ... talk about a bizzare one. *Never* run into that before. I wonder what strange things they are doing with my network. [:-]

Wierd.

Usually, MP and any demo extras may screw things up.


As to my current game:

Yikes, both the Spanish and English have launched Crusades against me. I checked the English units - those guys have been through some upgrades. I'd better get ready for them.

I am now hemmed in by the Spanish, Italians and English.

The Italians claim to be my allies, yet that tell-tale whipping sound indicates that their assassins are being caught on a regular basis in my provinces. [:D]

The Italians also have naval dominance in the Med. If they ever go to war with me it won't be pretty

[Erik Rutins]

"Real" Ancients Wargamers will want to check out our upcoming Tin Soldiers: Alexander the Great. See the forum and check out the non-interactive preview at www.koiosworks.com. [;)]

Seriously, I'm also really looking forward to R:TW, but I'm pretty addicted to Alexander the Great and it does also include internet/LAN multiplayer. [8D]

Regards,

- Erik

[Von Rom]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

"Real" Ancients Wargamers will want to check out our upcoming Tin Soldiers: Alexander the Great. See the forum and check out the non-interactive preview at www.koiosworks.com. [;)]

Seriously, I'm also really looking forward to R:TW, but I'm pretty addicted to Alexander the Great and it does also include internet/LAN multiplayer. [8D]

Regards,

- Erik

Thanks for the update Erik.

This game should be a nice tie-in with the Alexander movie coming out in November.

So much gaming goodness. . .

[Popoi]

when/if someone mods RTW into Napoleonic Total War, i will dig a pit in the woods and hide there with my computer for a year. soooo sweet.

IMO Nap. TW was pretty buggy for MTW though, and grossly imbalanced.

[Von Rom]

ORIGINAL: Popoi

when/if someone mods RTW into Napoleonic Total War, i will dig a pit in the woods and hide there with my computer for a year. soooo sweet.

IMO Nap. TW was pretty buggy for MTW though, and grossly imbalanced.

Have you tried NTW v5.0 yet?

Is it any better balanced?

[Lucifuge]

when/if someone mods RTW into Napoleonic Total War, i will dig a pit in the woods and hide there with my computer for a year. soooo sweet.

FYI there is a Napoleon era game coming out that is in Rome/Medieval Total War style called Imperial Glory http://www.eidosinteractive.com/gss/leg ... opsis.html looks interesting if only because it will have naval battles too. Graphic wise it looks REAL impressive but hey Im dying for Rome TW, this and Empire in Arms so

[Zakhal]

Played 8 hours medieval tw sicilans/expert, conqured all of russian only to loose because my rulers had become homosexuals so they didnt make any offspring/have any heirs. I tried to get som princesses but not one nation accepted even though i had played mostly nice guy in the game. Never attacked anyone etc.

[IronDuke_slith]

ORIGINAL: Lucifuge

when/if someone mods RTW into Napoleonic Total War, i will dig a pit in the woods and hide there with my computer for a year. soooo sweet.

FYI there is a Napoleon era game coming out that is in Rome/Medieval Total War style called Imperial Glory http://www.eidosinteractive.com/gss/leg ... opsis.html looks interesting if only because it will have naval battles too. Graphic wise it looks REAL impressive but hey Im dying for Rome TW, this and Empire in Arms so

This game looks really good. I haven't seen it before. I didn't see a release date, do we know when it is due?

Regards,
Ironduke

[ravinhood]

In the Clear and Kind words of CA (the developers) "When It's Done"!

Heh, although speculation is running rampant that it's going to be around the 22nd of Sept. We'll see.

[freeboy]

Played 8 hours medieval tw sicilans/expert, conqured all of russian only to loose because my rulers had become homosexuals so they didnt make any offspring/have any heirs. I tried to get som princesses but not one nation accepted even though i had played mostly nice guy in the game. Never attacked anyone etc.

I think there is a patch that gaurentees an heir after a certain amount of time, and the key to winning against the ia on the hardest level is trade, have ships in all oceans and maximize front forces while keeping smaller garrisons in rear areas all set to maximum taxes... I never get rebellions and often have so much money by mid game that I can by mercs pretty easily, granted against a human I cannot advise, but wouldn't mind a game sometime after BIN.. maybe Jan 05[:D]

[Lucifuge]

This game looks really good. I haven't seen it before. I didn't see a release date, do we know when it is due?

FAQ says Q1 or Q2 2005 so still a bit away. Their FAQ is interestin since it seems a bit defensive on attempts to compare it to Rome/Medieval TW since they claim they were originally going to do a game based on Praetorians but guess decided a bit in that Napoleon era would be a better choice. They also claim their game will be deeper management wise then Rome's stated features...we'll see I guess Just found it odd a game's offical FAQ openly questioned/answered "hey this looks like a RTW rip off!" since never seen a company do that before.

[nico71]

Check this out!

http://www.totalwarcenter.com/forums/in ... topic=7829

A cool idea to turn RTW into a hardcore multiplayer wargame! I hope that some talented people are willing to make this idea reality one day!

I think that it's about time to be a little bit more specific. What I have in mind is a full map campaign with MANY players. How can this be done? There are certainly many ways to do it. I have an idea of one way to do it. This idea is certainly interesting for seasoned wargamers, but might not be suited for RTS-players. It would require some things that would have to be done first!

1. a new map! The game style that I have in mind requires a hex-map for turn-based PBEM. The map should cover all of Europe, Middle East and North Africa. This has been done before already in Century of Warfare with some 300x300 hexes, for example. I don't want to go too much into detail about hex size, turn length, etc.

2. a code that controls the main aspects of the game. The code should provide the save files for each player, sent out by the host of the game to the other players. Furthermore the code should do the necessary math that goes on in the background, so the players can concentrate on more interesting things.

3. a website along with a forum.

The game:

Regarding the game itself, it will be a classic wargame. The players have to manage their factions, trade, move their armies, supply them, do all that diplomacy stuff, etc.

I want the game to be independant from players. A long-time match would only last until the first player leaves. So it's important that new players can take over the faction when this happens. To make things more interesting, I would like to have two or more players within a faction (optional)! There's one faction leader, and there are his generals or whatever he want to use the other players for. Let's say, someone is good in managing his country, but is not that good on the battlefield, he can assign another player to fight the battles for him! In this way the faction leader doesn't even have to own RTW!

All players of a faction get the same savegame, but with their individual passwords they can only access the parts that they have been assigned to by the faction leader, i.e. only moving and managing the armies (or one of them), or an individual province of a faction along with its armies (tribes). The faction leader, OTOH, has no control over the parts he has delegated to other subordinate players. Those players can only report to the faction leader and the faction leader can only give orders to them. This makes civil wars possible if the faction leader loses control over his armies. Changing leaders would also mean a change of playing stlye and politics! This will keep things more interesting!

Furthermore if a faction leader dies in the game, one of his generals can take over. In this way generals can accelerate their own career if they manage to get the faction leader out of the way. However, to make it more difficult and to prevent total chaos, there should be a serious penalty for that (i.e. uprisings and/or a entry into the public player file).

However, the faction leader has the final say who becomes a general. He can refuse to accept other players in his game that he doesn't like for whatever reasons. He can play completely on his own if he wishes to do so. The purpose of the subordinate players is to make things more interesting for clans.

The turns:

As stated above, one host generates a savegames that goes to all faction leaders. Those can forward it to subordinate players that might play the same faction. All players can make their adjustments to their turn within the allowed limits set by the faction leader. This hierachy prevents problem of too many cooks, and the possibility that two players might try to change the same parameters within the game. When the subordinate players return the turn to the faction leader (after all real time battles have been fought), he sends the whole thing back to the host.

The host creates a combat replay and sends it back along with the new turn. All turns have to be sent back within a given time frame. If a subordinate player doesn't send his turn back in time, the faction leader can access his part and finish the turn with a master PW. If a faction leader doesn't send his turn back, the host might give a subordinate player (if available) or a new player total access to the faction in question and make him the new faction leader, again with a master PW. If everything else fails he might take control of that faction himself.

The armies:

I think it should be possible to build many more units than in RTW. Everything that is possible within the limits of the budget, manpower, etc. This makes huge wars possible. In one hex, however, there can only be as many units as RTW allows. Huge wars might require several battles within the same turn, all of them part of a much larger battle. This in return requires some operational movements of the armies into individual hexes in order to surround enemy armies, retreat or whatever!

The battlefields:

Each hex has an individual battlefield number of the TW game assigned to it that resembles the terrain on the 2D map. New maps can be created manually if needed with the editor.

The battles:

The battles are fought within RTW, according to the data that RTW receives by the 2D game. Unit types, strength, etc, buildings, and so on. So there's continuity between the 2D and 3D part of the game, just like the single player campaign. A turn can only be closed and sent back to the host when all battles have been fought.




To make all of this happen, it would need some talented people that can set up the code, etc. Such things have been done in other games already, so i think that it's doable. And RTW is not really a niche game.

Nevertheless I would like to hear others ideas as well. The more ideas, the more potential coders might be interested! And it doesn't matter if the final thing doesn't look even remotely close to what I have described above! The main purpose was to show that a mp campaign can be done without the help of CA. At least a turn based one. I think real time campaigns are more difficult to do.

[ravinhood]

That type of multiplayer system would only be popular to a handful of dedicated (no life) players. The structure of all the TW's are setup where it just takes to long to play out a campaign, even a mini campaign like Vikings would take way to long multiplayer. It's been stated, it's not that CA can't do it, it's that it's not feasable to include such a multiplayer system in the Total War games because any system would just take to long for the "majority" of multiplayer types. No reason to make a multiplayer feature for a handful of individuals when they can put those "resources/dollars" into another game.

Spartan has the system in a 400+ turn game and only a handful of people play it multiplayer. Turn based strategy games that have 100's of turns just don't make it in online play. PBEM maybe, but, still very limited there. The average game time for an online game that would yield lots of online multiplayers would be 4 hours or less, something that could be done and finished on a Saturday afternoon.

I watched Civilization multiplayer die and Heroes of Might & Magic die, even Warlords III die, every turn based multiplayer game online I have seen disappear or have about 10 players or less, there's just not a major demand for turn based strategy multiplayer online or offline. Local Hotseat would be more popular than anything, possibly LAN coming in 2nd.

If any multiplayer system I would cast my vote for it would be PBEM, it's the one multiplayer feature that doesn't "require" any given time frame or limits. Perfect solution for turn based multiplayer gaming, just not games like the Total War series, either both concede to allow the AI to play their units or use quick calc and that pretty much defeats the Total War engine right there since the real time battles is the most important part of winning or losing. As a pure strategy quick calc game the Total War series would suck, it's not that great of a strategic game system to me.

Goto wargamer.com and look at the turn based multiplayer PBEM games people are interested in. Lot more than playing online ones. Plus one can have several PBEM games going at once of different types of games. PBEM rules.