Just bought the game- couple of ?\'s

[saetrum]

I just got the game over the weekend, and I am a little confused over a couple of things...

1) I see the end of year tour, but I can't actually do anything to my provinces/states/countries when I get a message about them...so is there a way to bring this up again? I ask because I sometimes get 10 messages (early middle game) and I can't remember every province that needs something new to do, or do you guys go through every province every turn and change things?

2)Am I crazy or is it particularly difficult to manage emissaries/bishops/spies. Do I have to click on each one to figure out where they are? And why am I not shown where they are going? Did I miss a command to show me this? (I know I'm the one that sent them there, but sometimes their trip takes alot of turns).

3) I see the AI send emissaries all over the map to propose alliances, but how do they do that without seeing the other factions leader? How can I send an emissary to create an alliance w/ someone I haven't come in contact with? Just send him to one of their contries and hope to find the king?

4)Commands, please point me to all the hotkeys and commands? They are so spread out in the manual...I am having a hard time finding them.

5)I love the game, it's fun and I like the realistic feel to the battles. I'm just not sure I am up to all the micromangement that's going to be needed late game. So do you guys use the automation commands to combat this? I'm hesitant to do that, but if that is what is needed...maybe I will.

6)Shouldn't F1 do something on the strategic map, like give me an estimate of who's winning, or what % of countries I've conquered?

7) An finally, what is the official site? I've read the other posts about it being hacked. Any official word about the patch?

Thanks for the help.

[PanthaPower]

Quote Originally posted by saetrum:
[B]I just got the game over the weekend, and I am a little confused over a couple of things...

3) I see the AI send emissaries all over the map to propose alliances, but how do they do that without seeing the other factions leader? How can I send an emissary to create an alliance w/ someone I haven't come in contact with? Just send him to one of their contries and hope to find the king?

B][/QUOTE]

Well, the computer just knows where your heirs and King are. This is an advantage for the Computer player build in by CA

[Fearless]

Personally I would have bought and played Shogun Totalwar first. This would have given a feel for the game. Without a shadow of a doubt MTW is fairly involved. It's a lot better with all the micromanagement but you need alot of patience. I would just start on easy and not plan to conquer the world but just play around a bit. READ THE FORUM. everything you need to know is here.

[saetrum]

Fair enough...I can live with that. (I guess I need to get out a history book to figure which places to send my emissaries)

Any thoughts on the other ?'s.

[Fearless]

Here's a handy tip. press F1 at the start of a battle it will show your troops moral and valor rating. This gives me an idea on who will rout first if I push them too hard!

[Wart]

1) Yep, i'm afraid you just have to try and remember, then go through the provinces one by one.

2) No your not crazy! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif It is pretty much a case of going through each one. There strat agent menu (brought up by the 'dagger in a circle' at the top left of the control panel) will tell you what mission type they're on, but not their target, or where they are. However you can use it to find them quickly

3) Yep the AI knows, you don't! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/frown.gif seems a little unfair, but the poor thing needs all the help it can get. I *think* you can drop princesses, and maybe emissarys, on other nations emissarys and they will take a mission to wander off and find that nations king.

4) sorry can't help, not unless i were to look through the manual and compile a list myself...

5) i don't use the automanagement stuff, have you seen how the AI runs its factions! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/eek.gif I find that games just tend to get to a point where the micromanagement ceases to be fun, so i start another! *shrug*

6)dunno, never tried it! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

7) DON'T mention the P word, lest your thread turn into moan-athon! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif Suffice to say, if you keep an eye out here, you will know when IT is released! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

Incidently your first couple of points highlight one of the biggest SP complaints about the game. There have been a few threads on it, the general consensus being that the interface for the strat game is cumbersome, & that we hope some improvements occur at some point in the future! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Wart (edited 10-21-2002).]

[saetrum]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your help. I didn't mean for this to be a "I want the patch" thread. I am fine playing the game as it is now, I just wanted to see if I was missing something.

I'll sit back now and continue to search the forum...thanks for answering questions that have probably been asked a million times.

[Wart]

Quote Originally posted by saetrum:
Thanks everyone! I appreciate your help. I didn't mean for this to be a "I want the patch" thread.

[/QUOTE]

Arghh! You said it again! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

BTW No prob! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Wart (edited 10-21-2002).]