Automate vs. control everything

[Lare]

When I play MTW, I let the computer do everything else, except fight my battles and build units & buildings. I'm also not keen on using assassins, because they have such a low chanse of success, which is very understandable, so it seems to be just a waste of time and patience. When my empire has grown big enough (I control about 1/4th of the whole map), I even let the computer build the buildings.

I play the game in using expert difficulty level, and I'm able to win the game even from tough starting positions. Am I, however, losing some advantage when I let the computer hadle the minor tweaks, or am I losing much of the game experience?

I don't like to hassle with the minor stuff too much and I hope Rome TW will do better in this aspect.

[Elwe]

Personally, I like the micromanagement. When I play, I want to be able to control as much as possible. I turn of all the AI control features I can. I did tend to win easily on expert, although VI has put a serious dent in my win:lose ratio

I've never had very much luck getting the agent pieces any valour, except for Inquisitors. I usually use spies and assassins in a purely defensive capacity. Emissaries, Princesses and Inquisitors are generally the only units I send outside my borders. I hate finally getting an assassing with two or three stars, only to have him commit suicide by following a bishop into a province with a Border Fort http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

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

[Bane]

I like to micromanage as well -- to me it really helps me understand what is going on and why. Granted I play a few turns then consult the manual [I know...I know...I broke the code -- almost as bad as asking for directions when lost http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif ].

My very first time and very first turn I sorta sat there and went 'What the hell am I suppose to do now' So micromaangment is a good way for me to get bloody and learn the game...at least those are my intentions, wether they turn out true will remain to be seen

[Doug-Thompson]

Short answer: Managing your own resources will improve your game, a lot. It's well worth the trade-off for the time it takes.

Long answer:

Tax collecting gives a good example of a benefit to be gained

The machine will raise taxes as much as it can without causing a province to go below 100 percent hapiness. That might sound reasonable, but it has the effect of tying down military units.

A player masses an army in a province to launch an attack. The high number of troops allow the computer to raise taxes to the highest level. The army finally moves -- and leaves a rebellious province behind.

[Mount Suribachi]

micro-management all the way. I see what a bad job the AI does of controlling its own empire....no way I want it running my empire as bad I just don't trust the AI.

[Lare]

Quote[/b] (Doug-Thompson @ May 15 2003,10:05)]

Quote[/b] ]The machine will raise taxes as much as it can without causing a province to go below 100 percent hapiness. That might sound reasonable, but it has the effect of tying down military units.

As I recall, when I move an army away from a province, the computer automatically lowers the taxes. If so, I don't see any benefit in configuring taxes manually.

[Sir Robin]

The AI in MTW does not do a very good job on managing your domain. I do not mind micromanaging but it can become tedious once half the map is your color.

Hopefully RTW will have a more capable AI.

Please don't go the Development Plan route that MOO3 tried. What a confusing mess that became.

[Doug-Thompson]

Quote[/b] (Lare @ May 15 2003,10:41)]As I recall, when I move an army away from a province, the computer automatically lowers the taxes. If so, I don't see any benefit in configuring taxes manually.
That's true, Lare, but the taxes are often drastically lowered, from very high to very low, and often those taxes cannot be lowered enough to prevent a revolt unless considerable garrison is left behind.

One of the advantages a human player has over the computer is that the computer's provinces are always simmering on the brink of revolt. A human player can invade a province and drop the taxes. It switches the population's allegiance in just a few turns.

[ToranagaSama]

Quote[/b] (Lare @ May 15 2003,01:53)]

Quote[/b] ]I play the game in using expert difficulty level, and I'm able to win the game even from tough starting positions. Am I, however, losing some advantage when I let the computer hadle the minor tweaks, or am I losing much of the game experience?

Well, you're playing on Expert, yet it takes an Expert to control everything--get it? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Sounds to me your more a RTS player, than a Strategy Gamer. As long as you're enjoying yourself--wtf

[Lare]

Quote[/b] (ToranagaSama @ May 15 2003,14:28)]

Quote[/b] ]Sounds to me your more a RTS player, than a Strategy Gamer. As long as you're enjoying yourself--wtf

Well I liked micromanaging in CIV I & II & III, Alpha Centauri and in similar games. I think it's just that I haevn't had the patience to learn all the minor tweaks in MTW. They don't just seen so significant, since I can do well when the not_always_so_bright AI handles them.

I think I'll continue playing MTW this way, but when I buy Rome: Total War, I'll probably read the whole manual through and try to do everything myself.

By the way, I've always thought the games in Civilization-series are clearly the best games there are, but MTW has challenged this thought. If the RTW meets its expectations, especially in improving diplomatics, I could be forced to adjust that ranking. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Dîn-Heru]

Early in the game i micromanage everything, but in late game when my empire is large I let the computer hand out the titles.

[Cazbol]

I've dropped the automatic tidying up of units after battle for the first time, and I'm glad I did. Doing it manually is a bit of work but it's great for boosting loyalty.

I had a major problem with my generals' loyalty at the beginning of my current campaign. Sending my least loyal troops to do most of the fighting and then merging two damaged units under the more loyal general quickly eliminates all the disloyal generals. Survival of the fittest (most loyal) in essence.

I'm sure it's common knowledge but it was a revelation to me.

[Sockeye]

Hi people,

perusing the Main Hall, there's a command-line switch for you to change the loyalty level at which the computer sets taxes - may be worth looking at if you're having problems with provinces loyalty?
-loyalty:200 will set your autotax to maintain a loyalty of 200.

I've done a quick search for the topic, I only found this one;
command line topic (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=6806;hl=loyalty%)

Hope this helps a little,

Cheers,
Sockeye

[Sleepy]

I micro manage to the extreme which is probably why I get bored with a big empire - too much tedium. However cant let myself delgate to the AI as its as good as me (or at least I like to think so http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[HindSight2020]

I've never tried to let the computer do anything except merge armies after a battle. I guess I always thought that the micromanaging involves skills I needed to develop in order to truly understand what the programmers created. For a long while, I enjoyed the early game more, because there aren't too many provinces to micromanage. But I've gotten used to micromanaging with a large empire. It allows me to slow down and think and analyze what the other factions are doing. I guess there is the other side where the micromanaging becomes a distraction. I figure that when I miss something, the game approaches true reality -- if you know what I mean. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

[Llywelyn ap Gruffydd]

Boy, HindSight2020, you nailed it. All I let the AI do is clean up my armies after battle. Everything else is done manually. This gives you a much better idea of what is going on. Granted, it takes much longer, especially in the late game when you have many provinces, but it is definitely worth it. I find my economy and military both prosper much better with attention to detail.

Llywelyn

[oblivious maximus]

Yes,i used to let the cpu consolidate my armies but now i do.The game is just more fun if you submerge yourself in it.Total control.