To F5 or Not to F5: That is the question.

[Aurelius1]

I find the use of radar on the tactical map to be irritating in the extreme, and don't use it at all.

I know that many may say that it simulates scouting, but would the scouting of the battlefield not have occurred prior to the armies involved taking the field, and once engaged, be the duty of the light cav?

Having a link up to "PopeStar One", and having up to the second satellite recon of enemy activity strikes me as cheating, at worst, or unsportmanlike at best.

(Forgive me if this has already been discussed to death.)

[spmetla]

I play with it off. It lets the enemy actually come as a surpise out of woods and such if didn't scout ahead.

[Basileus]

i dont use it either, i found it more fun that way.

[Kristaps]

In general, when playing campaigns, I press all F keys to disable all helping menus on the battlefield.

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

Then, I tie my both arms behind my back (You'll need an assistant for this though....) and blind myself using two pirates' eye patches. Then, I proceed battling the AI by typing with my blinded head.

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

I find this is the most fun way to fight the AI

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

[Aurelius1]

And if that fails, you just hit them with a giant bolt of sarcasm from above, eh?
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif

[spmetla]

I bet when Kristnaps is victorious on battle he feels greater satisfaction then any of us. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Kaboom]

the radar is for simple things. It only show what your men see If turn it off I have to click each of my units to see the enemies. Too much work, and I already hate the time when I forget a unit, they are attacked from behind

But I think it is too easy when you can see enemy troop in nearby province, and see what they bring and their order before the battle At least don't show the enemy on the pre-battle screen (in Viking Exp)

[The_Emperor]

Quote[/b] (Kaboom @ Feb. 26 2004,09:23)]But I think it is too easy when you can see enemy troop in nearby province, and see what they bring and their order before the battle At least don't show the enemy on the pre-battle screen (in Viking Exp)
I agree, seeing the enemy's order of reinforcements takes the surprise out of it.


Anyway the Radar map takes a chunk out of my line of sight. In the heat of battle I tend to scroll like mad all over the field and ignore it anyway.

Besides my understanding is that the radar map lags multiplayer, so I always make sure it disabled for that. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Demon of Light]

Quote[/b] (Kristaps @ Feb. 25 2004,09:01)]In general, when playing campaigns, I press all F keys to disable all helping menus on the battlefield.

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

Then, I tie my both arms behind my back (You'll need an assistant for this though....) and blind myself using two pirates' eye patches. Then, I proceed battling the AI by typing with my blindead head.

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

I find this is the most fun way to fight the AI

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif
If he can successfully play a complex game like MTW like that, imagine what his wife/girlfriend has to say about his sexual prowess?

[Zone]

With his nose? Each to their own

[kiwitt]

"F5" another key....discovered.

hmmmm. Time read that manual again.

[Simovek]

Only reason I leave it on is because I like to use the Speed up/down feature thing on it. Other than that I never look at it

[Senta]

Quote[/b] (Kristaps @ Feb. 25 2004,18:01)]In general, when playing campaigns, I press all F keys to disable all helping menus on the battlefield.

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

Then, I tie my both arms behind my back (You'll need an assistant for this though....) and blind myself using two pirates' eye patches. Then, I proceed battling the AI by typing with my blinded head.

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

I find this is the most fun way to fight the AI

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif
been there, done that... waaay more fun than your regular game, too http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-curtain.gif

and btw, i never look at the radar, even if it's on...

[lancer63]

I just shut down the monitor and play using the force. Great training and lots of fun. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kiwitt]

So young "Skywalker" http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-computer.gif you think you have mastered the force.

Remember the "lightning" in those battle scenes.
Wait till those shoot out of your monitor.

[Rowan11088]

The Force? That's nothing. I just hack into the computer construct within the Matrix and remember "There is no MTW". And that gives me 100 bajillion GA points, total domination of the entire universe, and 300 million units of Swiss Armored Pikemen at valor 54.6. And a one man peasant unit named Neo.

[Kristaps]

Quote[/b] (Demon of Light @ Feb. 26 2004,04:01)]If he can successfully play a complex game like MTW like that, imagine what his wife/girlfriend has to say about his sexual prowess?
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

What wife, what girlfriend? What are you talking about? You have time for those when you have MTW???

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

p.s. and when I don't play I read the forum...

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

[Aurelius1]

Quote[/b] ]Only reason I leave it on is because I like to use the Speed up/down feature thing on it. Other than that I never look at it

CTRL+T will look after the time dilation issue for you.

I don't believe you guys who are saying you don't peek.
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif

[neogerry]

Quote[/b] (Rowan11088 @ Feb. 26 2004,21:14)]And a one man peasant unit named Neo.
lol http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

[Shigawire]

[edit]
Oh, I didn't notice I posted in the Main Hall until afterwards.. this post was actually about ROME:TW , but the crux of my statement relates just as highly to the previous TW-engines - as consequential comparisons
[edit]

The radar isn't the worst bit, if it's executed properly.

The worst bit is that there IS NO REAL LINE-OF-SIGHT (LOS)
Contrary to what people have been thinking. The people in your army don't have any influence on what your 'camera' sees. In fact, even if you 'hide' your entire army behind a tall and steep mound, you can still see the enemy on the other side of the mound, EVEN THOUGH NONE OF YOUR SOLDIERS CAN.
I think this is preposterous, especially for a game that advertised with a 'true LOS' system.. Also, I'd like to see more Fog-Of-War (FOW) in terms of intelligence/data.. I'm not talking about Command&Conquer type 'FOW', because the terrain should be perfectly visible in all directions..

But whenever your soldiers see an enemy formation at a long distance, you can't know for SURE which units are where. You can barely distinguish cavalry from infantry.. And sometimes, you don't even see the enemy, you just hear them. I'd like to see a Fog-Of-War imposed on the intelligence gathering, just as it is executed in Combat Mission. In CM, the system works like this:
Whenever your troops HEAR an enemy, that enemy is pinpointed at a certain position with an icon stating this:
Sound contact(infantry?)

This way, it would simulate the imperfection of intelligence-gathering at this time of history.

(Specifically for Rome:TW...)
Also, in conjunction with such an FOW-system, I'd like to see the Falconer-scout units.. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif
These would send off their highly trained falcons in order to determine the GENERAL DIRECTION of the enemy - I don't want the Falcon to work like a biological GPS satellite http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif
These were often used by Romans as scouts..
The art of Falconry lives today, as you might see on .. er.. Animal Planet? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-clown.gif

Tuddeleiduu http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-party2.gif

[Aurelius1]

Well said, Shigawire.

[Cazbol]

Quote[/b] (kiwitt @ Feb. 26 2004,14:23)]"F5" another key....discovered.

hmmmm. Time read that manual again.
New to me too. Off it goes then.