what difficulty level do you play at?

[Teutonic Knight]

Maybe I'm just a whimp but I only really play on normal difficulty, easy's too easy, hard's too hard....
just wanted to see what the consensus of players play on.... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/flirt.gif

heh, the mod took out the word of displeasure i chose in the last choice

[Naagi]

Voted normal, since thats what I mostly play games at. Will try a hard next more than likely, since I try and work up to it. First campaign easy to learn the basics, then a normal one to learn more skill, then a hard one to see how bad I really suck. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

Naagi http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Brother Derfel]

I play Hard with GA activated. This offers me a real challenge, because I do hind it hard and this is exactly how i want it. I dont wanbt to be conquering the entire map as i don't see that as very realistic, even though it can be done if I am lucky. I feel more at home with a medium sized empire that is achieving all it's GA's/

[Leet Eriksson]

i played expert,hard,normal and easy but mostly normal,the only campaign i finished in expert was the polish(feels great)and it was a conquest not GA http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif.

[Foreign Devil]

My first few campaigns I played easay, now I play on normal. I'm thinking of starting one on hard, though. What exactly is the difference, besides amlut of startg florins? Smarter AI?

[Vlad The Impaler]

just expert in MP

[Vlad The Impaler]

SP i mean ..sorry ..just a hard day at work and some beers http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Musashi]

I play normal. I've played them all, but I prefer a game where the dice aren't weighted towards either party. If it's going to be hard it should be hard because the AI is smart, not because it has silly advantages.

-Musashi

[MacGregor]

I'm a wuss I go for normal, but I'm working my way up slowly. Once I finish a normal campaign I'll graduate to hard.

Finishing a campaign is the hardest thing for me I get bored after 200 years or so unless I'm working towards a GA goal or in a war.

[FesterShinetop]

Just started my first campaign (GA) on hard setting as the Polish. And it's going pretty good so far... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[HopAlongBunny]

Normal for most part.

The game already seems to have outrageous production advantages...why give them more? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I can still lose quite handily on Normal either getting overwhelmed or going bankrupt; I save Hard for when I really want to get humble.

[fenir]

Expert, is there other settings?


fenir http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[Katasaki Hirojima]

Normal is farrr to easy, so I play on Hard. Expert is to unrealistic for me..

[Xiahou]

I always play on Expert- My first campaign was on normal, but that was it. Anything less than expert feels too easy. I like having the feeling that there's a chance you might be destroyed(albiet a small chance).

Currently playing a late period GA game as the Byzantines. Im locked in a massive war with the Egyptians, which I will win with some luck, but in the meantime Im hoping the Horde, which shares 2 borders with me, doesnt get involved. If they do- I'll be in some real trouble.

[Swoosh So]

Normal http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif its the highest 1 without giving the ai combat bonuses, and as i want to learn the unit strengths properly before i come into mp again i use it, They should however have an expert ai without the combat bonuses

[TenkiSoratoti]

Well i went straight on the expert with the Polish took over europe with ease but then the real hard bits came in and my faction was demolished.

Too hard for me at the moment i havnt quite got to grips with trade yet.

[Postino]

Quote[/b] (fenir @ Dec. 13 2002,16:21)]Expert, is there other settings?


fenir http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif
yep, thats about right. gotta love that opponent +2 moral bonus

[CeltiberoMordred]

Which are the effects of increase the difficulty level? the AI becomes smarter?enemy troops raise their stats?both?the difference between normal and expert is only stats advantages for the AI?

[HopAlongBunny]

Quote[/b] (Celtibero Mordred @ Dec. 14 2002,22:18)]Which are the effects of increase the difficulty level?
No idea. The only thing I am sure of is the morale bonus on higher settings.

I am trying to play through a complete campaign with each faction in the game before going higher than "normal"; still a ways to go http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

If you want to see the effects on tactical AI try a few custom battles at higher settings

[Musashi]

AI units have an attack, defense, and morale bonus on expert mode. That's really the only difference. If it was a matter of the AI being smarter that'd be one thing, but I don't like it when the AI has an artificial combat advantage. It's just not realistic.

-Musashi

[[RDH] Spetz Natz]

Voted "normal" - not quite like me http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[SmokWawelski]

Reading about those artificial bonuses, I do not want to try to play anything more than hard any more. That is silly that computer has to cheat in that way.

The difference should be in how the AI moves and thinks, not in changing the excel file for the units.

Shame on you CA

[LadyAnn]

Come on MP for some serious training. After that, you would come back and fight the AI at expert mode without a flinch. Or vice versa: play SP at expert mode before going on MP (without seeking to challenge the best players just because you played expert mode).

Annie

[Musashi]

I've played Expert mode. I'm not saying it's too hard for me, I still conquered the whole world in a matter of a couple hundred years, but it feels unrealistic for the AI to have artificial advantages in combat, and it wrecks the sense of immersion for me.

Honestly I'm more worried about the realism than some silly idea of 'challenge'. I've played far too many games to find an AI challenging anymore, and been far too high up far too many multiplayer rankings to care anymore. I grew out of being competitive ages ago http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

-Musashi

[SmokWawelski]

Quote[/b] ]Come on MP for some serious training. After that, you would come back and fight the AI at expert mode without a flinch.

Thank you for the invitation, but I shall stay at SP and play with my PC, just not to hurt my fallings of pride and superiority.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[LordKhaine]

Quote[/b] (SmokWawelski @ Dec. 16 2002,08:46)]Reading about those artificial bonuses, I do not want to try to play anything more than hard any more. That is silly that computer has to cheat in that way.
Yeah this is why I dont play expert anymore. Moral bonuses and suchlike... not exactly "fair" is it? SO I play hard all the time now. I should play MP sometime, but the three reasons to stop me...

a) I pause a lot to assign moves (I like my lines of troops to move as *one* http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif )

b) From what I hear MP usually gets badly "ruined" by "cheap" armys. I like my nice mixed forces in sp... with my knights and my archers.

c) I like to play with a force *I* made myself. I like to know I built up the buildings to make that nice fancy knight http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[TheViking]

i play on hard

[Pachinko]

Hmm..Well, it depends. For a "normal" game I use a HRE or Danish. Then I use a "expert" for Elmohead. So I guess it depends... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

P.

[HopAlongBunny]

When I first started to play this game, I always played battles w/o pausing. I figured if I wanted a sim of medieval war, that was the way to go. hehehe I have since become much more lazy. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I suspect there is no "pause" in MP :shudder:

[ShadeFlanders]

Since I play MP regularly I always play expert difficulty. The AI really needs those bonusses to mask its stupidity.

[[RDH] Spetz Natz]

Quote[/b] (Pachinko @ Dec. 17 2002,09:40)]Hmm..Well, it depends. For a "normal" game I use a HRE or Danish. Then I use a "expert" for Elmohead. So I guess it depends... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

P.
LMAO...."Elmohead" http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Ktonos]

I don't like the idea of having the AI units boosted as it would lead to unrealistic results, weaker unit wins stronger one, or the idea of frenzied AI factions whose dream is to eliminate mine. On the other hand I want to know if the harder levels make the strategic AI better. I mean do you encounter higher quality AI armies when playing in expert?Or is the AI still using armies of peasants?

[Lichgod]

First game normal, the many since on Expert. I dont mind the AI getting a combat edge. Remember, it is not as good as a human (although some humans make me wonder). It just makes you plan/fight/organize better.

I prefer to play early games. Only played one different, Expert, High, Byz. Tried one glorious achievements - ended up conquering the world anyways. I have played Danes(2x), English, Spain, Holy Roman Empire, Poland, Byz (3x), and currently about done winning as the Italians. The most money I have saved was 800K+. Usually trade fleets bring in lots of cash until the AI plays "pile on the Human" and general war breaks out. Also, my games usually end by 1250 when I get the 60% victory screen.

Speaking of trade, I find the ship battles totally unfair (hmmm, come to think about it, maybe the Expert AI bonus applies to ships as well.) Let me explain, in 1v1 ship battles, I lose about 90% of the time -- maybe more. I must pair up or use larger fleets if I wish to survive an attack by a single enemy ship. About 50% of 2 (of mine) vs 1 AI ship I win without loss, otherwise I lose a ship. I have had battles where I will lose 3-4 ships and the AI loses none -- he attacked with 2-3 ships. So, when I play, I prefer to have at least 3 provinces dedicated to just building ships from as early as possible. (...hops off soapbox)

[JoeBax]

I allways play games at the hardest realistic level of difficulty. It can be frustrating but makes it a real test of skill and also makes the game last longer. I can beat a game in one day on easy and some games arent fun to play after you beat them.

Clive barkers undying I played on nightmare, the original DOOM seris I played on ultra-violence and only tried nightmare for fun. Aliens vs Predator 2 I played on the level right before the hardest because you couldnt save your game mid-board on the highest level. I played soldier of fortune on the highest difficulty but never finished it because they only allow 3 saves on that level and I used them too early on one board. Return to castle wolfenstien and medal of honor I played on the hardest level of difuculty.

So it depends on the game, but I never play normal or easy. I am on my first campaign in MTW on hard to test the waters and when I start my next one I will play on expert and see if I get wiped out.

[RectalDamage]

Always play GA on expert in the high period. I still find it too easy, so I create limitations on myself (i.e. britain retreats to the isles, egypt can not attack muslim countries, spain can only head south, danes can only invade from the sea, etc.)

I find the ease of this game unusual, considering I had difficulties with Shogun on Expert.

[Ironfist]

I only ever play the English. I have am just finishing the complete full length campaign on expert. I did it twice before on normal and this time I have noticed the following differences;

1. the morale of the troops is much more likely to give in. I have to keep the general close by and I try to keep as close to the reinforcement point as possible and make that as near to the edge of the map as possible whether attacking or defending.

2. sea battles are much more random and numerical superiority has to be at least 3 times higher to guarantee a win.

3. HOWEVER I found it easier to stop my empire from dividing thru civil war, this may be because this time around I kept taxes at normal and as soon as possible put a cardinal in EVERY territory. On top of that I married my daughters to "garrison generals" in border countries when ever possible.

4. the AI attacked me with assasins almost non stop. They became a complete pain in the backside. It only went down when I put assasins of my own in defence mode in the key border countries (Scotland seemed a favourite for them to focus on for some reason) I also added a spy in defence in most of the key countries too.

5. the AI married my princes more often too.

6. the enemy seem to have much stronger units in battles and LOTS more heavy cavalry.

Playing on expert is more challenging and much more fun.
Never the less I have got to 400,000 money and am the leading civ on points.

cheers
Ironfist

[Swoosh So]

Sigh why doesent the ai have expert ai with normal combat stats I play my custom games 12500 koku vs 2 ai players with 25000 between them and still i win on the attack because if i want to learn the " combat flow " i have to keep it on normal http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif Maybe i better speed up my online return http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif A game v kocmoc or magyar is very enticing http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Mr Frost]

I play on Normal setting : gamey solutions and mindless behaviour anoys me {and I don't play a game to be anoyed} so the idea of the ai soldiers having combat bonuses and factions sending assassins , spys and crusades non-stop like a mental patient would simply enrage me {there is enough insanity , cheapness and mindless behaviour in real life as it is , without letting it enter my lesure time} .
Besides , it's not like I have anything to prove ... it's single player ; they only one who really knows if I win or loose is me .

One day I'll get around to playing some multi-player games , that will be interesting . I'll simply have to learn any tatical subtlties the hard way when I get into M.P. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif .

I'll leave the hard and expert level to the various maschocists in the community http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Bob the Insane]

I play on Hard as I understood it was a level with minimum upgrades to the AI's stats but has fully unleashed the AI's skills..

[Pellinor]

I always play Expert. I find these references to hordes of enemy agents, and massive rebellions, baffling. I think I have had 2 rebellions in my provinces this game: one was bandits as I forgot to leave a spear unit behind when moving an army, so a province was empty; the other was the Golden Horde.

On the other hand, I never use spies or assassins, and barely bother with priests: I find it easier to take the province then let it convert naturally.

Perhaps those who do get hordes of agents are reaping as they sow?

I don't mind the enemy having bonus valour. It's the nature of the beast that some units are braver than others: it just happens that my chaps aren't quite so tough as the enemy's: one more factor to account for when planning.

[Teutonic Knight]

good thread so far, keep posting m8s cheers

Teutonic Knight

[Action]

I play on expert and the game is still incredibly easy.
As England I can conquer France in under 10 years from the start early start.

I'm not even very good at MP but the game is unplayably easy on expert mode. I just get disgusted and quit most of the time before I hit 60%

Oh and I almost never encounter rebellions or assassins. Maybe becuase I always build churches and spy towers.