Are we Elite?

[scudknight]

I've been playing for a little while now - and the question has come to mind "Am I a part of an elite wargaming group?".

I mean I've played some sims in the past - stronghold, lords of the realm, warcraft, etc, but I feel that the tactics and what not don't even come close to what The Creative Assembly has created.

Has the genre been redefined? Is there anything out there better than what I'm devoting countless hours to? Why is'nt this product recieving the acclaim it so well deserves? I stumbled upon it by accident in a half price bookstore. I mean don't get me wrong I'm glad that not every joe has a copy of it lying around, but it makes me wonder at the same time.

[ichi]

Quote[/b] ]"Am I a part of an elite wargaming group?".
Elite: Function: noun
Etymology: French élite, from Old French eslite, from feminine of eslit, past participle of eslire to choose, from Latin eligere
Date: 1823 1) a singular or plural in construction : the choice part : CREAM
b singular or plural in construction : the best of a class
c singular or plural in construction : the socially superior part of society
d : a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence
e : a member of such an elite -- usually used in plural

2) a typewriter type providing 12 characters to the linear inch
- elite adjective

I don't think we are elite, as anybody could go down and buy a copy and start playing. A lot of people playing games go with the crowd - whatever is most popular. Others find TW too complicated; many layers that need to be mastered. Others are turned off by historical (almost educational) aspect - they want World Wrestling Federation hunks ripping off arms.

Most of us have a little interest in history, a need for a good challenge, way too much time on our hands, and a desire to rule the world.

I don't think there is anything better out there right now.


Quote[/b] ]Why is'nt this product recieving the acclaim it so well deserves?

My guess is that the game may appear to be too 'smart' or intelligent for a lot of folks looking for relaxation, or that it just never made it to the point were it was 'the game' that everyone has to be playing, for whatever social reasons.

ichiRW

[torsoboy]

To be honest, before I played M:TW, fantasy flavored games had more appeal to me. I'd be very happy if Games Workshop licenced the M:TW engine to make a Warhammer game. It's not going to happen though.

[TheSilverKnight]

the Total War Games are games for gamers who can hack elite battles and serious thinking situations. If you don't want a real game, you go back to playing monopoly http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[chris]

I have only had MTW for two months, and I plan on getting the Expansion pack for xmas. I started gaming loving the first person running around puzzels stuff. I played the army men series, and when rts came out i loved it. Then a next step, the AOE series, I thouroughly enjoyed them. When i got MTW i stood back in awe. It combined a stretgy simulation so complex that it would take more than a day to master, unlike AOE, wich has none whatsoever. It had a battle simulation unlike any I had ever seen. Aspects of AM:RTS were there, the zoomable 3d environment, the attention to detail, etc. But MTW had so much more. More men, more believable battle screens, no stupid little health bar making the game characters so fake. None of it. This game kicks serioud butt If anything better is out there, then I will be shocked an amazed, and if anything is, I will buy it

[Taillefer]

Scud - '' Am I part of an elite wargaming group ?''

The TW series is a software tool and you dont become part of an elite by the
simple act of purchase. Nor does the discrimination you showed in the
purchase demonstrate anything at all about you contrary to what the marketeers
seek to achieve with branding. Gosh you bought a Rolex (sic) man - you are an
' it ' person, obviously you are part of an elite ? It is how well you use this tool that
will demonstrate whether you yourself are part of an elite. Skill and skill only
defines worthyness to call yourself part of an elite.

Surely you have chosen well - you have in my opinion joined a fraternity lets say
like a Karate club, but will you be elitist before earning your green belt ?
You may progress along the fun only path or the gronard simulation way or as that
baseball guy (Yogi?) said " I came to a Y junction and I took it.''

Folks have fun in different ways, but skill only earns respect and the right to become
part of an elite.

If the question was ' Have I bought the best wargaming strategy game ?' Well no imhp.
that award could go to Harpoon3 (soon 4 ?) Subjective Scores of complex units
with vast databases and multi-layered interaction, without all that overdone building
pseudo management stuff.

If you question is ' Have I bought the best MP RTS ? - YES It stomps all over
titles such as :- 'Austerlitz ( Sid Meier derivative), the 'Combat' series,
Warhammer and Stronghold . The TW series imhp. exhibits a simplicity of control
which tempts us all to participate and hides well the complexity of its sub- strata.
A superb blend of military strategy, manouvering, tactics under pressure and
a complexity mastered only by the elite.

After all a golf club seems a relatively simple structure but I'm sure Tiger Woods
could write a book about its construction and in his 'elite' skilful hands, well need
I say more.

Whatever, have fun.

Taillefer.


PS. I do not speak as a vet., but as a mere MP aspirant. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Taillefer]

.....and I know, although you may prefer 'Strategy' in the
seclusion of you own home, - it is on the realtime
battlefield of MP where you can earn your spurs.

Taillefer.

[solypsist]

I'm elite with the chicks.

[scudknight]

"I do not speak as a vet., but as a mere MP aspirant."

You know it may be the Guinness, but your entire statement seemed a bit hostile. I think I'll sober up a bit before reviewing these statements again, but my original intent was to applaud this game and those who devote the hours to play it. In my opinion they are elite, and I am proud to be a part of the community.

[Australianus]

Well Scud I suspect that your well intentioned contribution has been semanticised to death.
I think it is an elite game (in the top drawer) and that was what you meant.
Go on enjoying it as I do and I cannot wait (but I agree that I will have to, for those looking to analyse this contribution) for Rome TW.
Building a better box over the weekend and I really hope that willimprove the experience.

[Taillefer]

Scud and Aust,

Perhaps it was the weather yesterday, or too much local brew, but it was on revisiting all a bit heavy. Got the bit between my teeth on other topics too. No offense intended.

Got a touch of the 'Victor Meldrews' (TV. 'One foot in the grave')ie. Angry old man. You'll get there

Hi Ho, today the cloud has lifted.

Cheers.

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

[Brutal DLX]

Quote[/b] (solypsist @ Nov. 28 2003,04:03)]I'm elite with the chicks.
I've seen better from you.

[econ21]

I would not use the word elite, but I have always regarded MTW (and STW) as a superb historical wargame. Yes, it is not marketed as such and yes, historical accuracy is not prioritised. But as a warGAME, it is superb.

In SP, the tactical battles play so smoothly - combining real time with time to think. I think they are unmatched among wargames, which tend to go for clunky turn-based IGO-UGO systems (which in turn I vastly prefer to clickfest RTS fodder) or experiment with alternatives that are not nearly as well done as TW.

The detail of the combat system is much greater than you find in most hardcore wargames - weather, morale, terrain, formation, facing, weapons and armour, training, impetuosity, combined arms, leadership, fatigue etc etc. I actually find the relative strengths of cav, infantry, missiles etc much closer to what I regard as historically plausible than in most other wargames I've tried.

From what I have read about CA, I think they include some folk with a love of wargaming and while they aim for the broad real time strategy game mass market, I think they sneak in historical wargaming stuff when they can.

[Taillefer]

Well said Simon, I think you have captured completely the enthusiasm most of us feel:-

'' But as a warGAME, it is superb ''

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

[Lehesu]

We are all 1337 h@xor g@m3rz th@t c0mp133t1y PWN th3 c0mp3titi0n http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Foreign Devil]

I came across Shogun quite by accident while browsing on amazon one day. When I first installed it and started up the tutorial, I was blown away. Its still the only game out there like it.

Of course, none of my freinds had ever heard of it before, and I rarely see it in any form of media, and then usually because I'm looking for it.

In a way, I suppose it is something of an "elite" game. It requires thinking, which makes it something that only appeals to those willing to put some time into it. Not for everyone, but I think I like it that way.

[FoundationII]

MTW is a difficult and very intellectual game compared to other games (like any shoot'm up), some games are very irrealistic (like age of empires where every soldier can easily withstand 5 arrows fired at him from only a few feet away)

[TheSilverKnight]

Quote[/b] (solypsist @ Nov. 27 2003,22:03)]I'm elite with the chicks.
lol http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif
good one Soly http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[hrvojej]

There is one game IMHO that compares to the TW in complexity of gameplay, but it's a full TBS and has a fantasy theme: Dominions 2: The Ascension Wars. Other than that, no other comes close for my taste of games.

[Taillefer]

Soly,

''I'm elite with the chicks.''

LOL.

I deserved that, on a bad day the ' pretentious twaddle takes me over ''

You've got the right priorities man

Cheers.

Taillefer.

[Taillefer]

.....on the other hand, some will be with Brutal,
and say - it aint up to the ref to take a cheap shot

T

[dwarven_eagle]

Quote[/b] (chris @ Nov. 26 2003,18:05)]Then a next step, the AOE series, I thouroughly enjoyed them. When i got MTW i stood back in awe. It combined a stretgy simulation so complex that it would take more than a day to master, unlike AOE, wich has none whatsoever.
Couldn't have said it better. The AOE series including AoM could never come close to the TW series. The strategy, being able to focus on one recource, not four. NO POP LIMITS (those were so annoying)
The TW series are truly is a games of their own kind, but not elite. You could be an elite player of the game but the game itself is not elite.
I like history, pointing out the mistakes of others heroes. And if one can take so much history and put it into a pc game, a truly good game; it just is something amazing. (my parents let me get this game because it's half way educational http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Major Robert Dump]

NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337


WORD IS BOND.

[lancer63]

Don't know id the game is elite or if we're elite for that matter. I only know I'm adicted to MTW and need to get away from it at least for the holydays.
And always open for a BETTER game than MTW/VI if there is one.
I´ll take a look at those Harpoon games. Been meaning to since my Tom Clancy fever days.

[celtiberoijontychi]

quote: In a way, I suppose it is something of an "elite" game. It requires thinking

That's why I'd call it an elitist game. thinking seems to be outfashioned these days...

[Brutal DLX]

Quote[/b] (Major Robert Dump @ Dec. 02 2003,00:28)]NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337
NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337NO SLEEP TIL IM IN HEAVEN CUASE IM 31337


WORD IS BOND.
Get some sleep.

[Voigtkampf]

We are not Elite... We are TOTAL Elite http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I remember seeing the pictures of S:TW in a computer magazine for the first time; instantly I was blown away and I kept looking out for that game. Before that, the good old Master of Orion 2 was my choice of strategy, AOE was good too,but I never really got the taste of C&C series. Today, after S:TW and the M:TW I find no other game comparable to these masterpieces. But, it's definately not for everyone, my dears, and I can understand that. I borrowed Max Payne 2 and played it for half an hour, and though I think the game is, well, OK, I would never spent as much time I spent with the TW series. Now, on the verge (more or less) of triumphant,glorious achievement with the oncoming R:TW, sky is the limit...

Can you imagine all the possibilities? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[Martok]

I'd heard people describe PC games before as "eye-popping" and "jaw-dropping", but I'd always thought they were exaggerating.....until I came across the trailer for Shogun.

I don't remember now how I happened to find it; but I definitely remember my reaction to it It absolutely blew me away. I instantly began drooling, and started counting the days til Shogun was released. In that moment, I knew that CA had changed strategy gaming forever.

When they announced they were developing Medieval, I knew without a moment's thought that I would be getting it. To this day, I cannot get over how awesome these two games are.....

[Lord Rom]

The total war people took sid meirs civil war game and put swords and a little city building in it. And a whole lot more fun The best games I've come accross...I've been waiting for war games like this a long time. Now if they could get away from tech trees...The old Lords of the realm actually had better city building elements in my opinion, more realistic. And put soldiers on walls and bring in the ladders and battering rams.
Cry havoc
Rom