My rules to make the game last longer, more fun.

[MiniKiller]

Alright I've come up with a few rules for myself in my campaigns from now on. Making the game and factions last longer.

1) Only attack if you've been attacked by that faction.
2) Never break an alliance yourself and help allies as much as possible
3) When at war with a faction stay only with that one, dont fight with any others (Unless they attack you)
4) Never completely wipe out a faction.
5) Dont attack or take rebel provinces after a cival war for 10 years. (Other factions, not your own)
6) Can attack other factions first (responce to #1) only if they are are different religion.
7) Dont send in enough men to make another faction flee, always have the battle.
8) If a faction's troops flee/garrison, give it back.
9) Obey the Pope at all times.
10)Always accept cease fires/alliances
11)When two allies go to war, stay allied with the smaller one.

I'll put more as I come up with em. Figured I would post it here, maybe a few of u will like and use a couple rules I use myself.

[RZST]

i find that roleplaying the king is a nice way to spice up the game :)

ie, if hes a "strange" king then by all means do "strange" stuff like attack allies, disband armies, destroy some buildings, abandon provinces :).

[Nowake]

Dont attack or take rebel provinces after a cival war for 10 years.


That's futile and unrealistic. The others work http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Hetman_Koronny]

*bows*

I am also not so keen on winning within 100 years...

1) Good rule. I always do that. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif

2) I can easily contain myself from breaking an alliance but helping out allies is always a tricky thing to do.

3) Yes, that is also safe.

4) Yes, this can be done however not at all times. You don't really want to leave an enemy province (even with a few troops) in the middle of your empire. The best thing is to leave them on a small island on in Finland but this can't always be done.

5) A good idea. I'll consider following it.

6) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif That is always a good excuse when you're really bored waiting for someone to attack you or for the Horde to arrive.

7) Well, I never know how many is not TOO many http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif. The enemy sometimes flees when I have fewer troops then they do. Must have something to do with my butcher generals http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif.

8) Hm, I don't know. I'll have to try that.

9) AMEN

10) They never offer such to me anyway.

11) Sure thing

Have you ever tried raiding enemy territory? I create an uber army (once stack) with the best general (specialist attacker, utterly fearless and legendary leader http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/ht_charge.gif guy if I have one http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ) and best troops (mostly offensive units) and send them for a raid. Once I beat an enemy army in one province I move to next one, then next and so on. This usually causes to leave a few loyalist rebellions behind my raiding army. They often have good troops too. This really can strengthen your enemy and provide you with challenges.

Has anyone tried that? I need to add that my uber army rarely returns from a raid... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

*bows*

[The Tuffen]

Quote[/b] ]Have you ever tried raiding enemy territory? I create an uber army (once stack) with the best general (specialist attacker, utterly fearless and legendary leader guy if I have one ) and best troops (mostly offensive units) and send them for a raid. Once I beat an enemy army in one province I move to next one, then next and so on. This usually causes to leave a few loyalist rebellions behind my raiding army. They often have good troops too. This really can strengthen your enemy and provide you with challenges.

Has anyone tried that? I need to add that my uber army rarely returns from a raid...

Yeah I've done that a few times, the last time i did it i sent my king from Greece, though constinapole, then though most of the provinces till i was starting to weaken badly. I managed to re-inforce his units though by transporting some in from Egypt and his spree continued http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Eastside Character]

Quote[/b] (MiniKiller @ Mar. 02 2004,18:18)]Alright I've come up with a few rules for myself in my campaigns from now on. Making the game and factions last longer.

1) Only attack if you've been attacked by that faction.
2) Never break an alliance yourself and help allies as much as possible
3) When at war with a faction stay only with that one, dont fight with any others (Unless they attack you)
4) Never completely wipe out a faction.
5) Dont attack or take rebel provinces after a cival war for 10 years.
6) Can attack other factions first (responce to #1) only if they are are different religion.
7) Dont send in enough men to make another faction flee, always have the battle.
8) If a faction's troops flee/garrison, give it back.
9) Obey the Pope at all times.
10)Always accept cease fires/alliances
11)When two allies go to war, stay allied with the smaller one.

I'll put more as I come up with em. Figured I would post it here, maybe a few of u will like and use a couple rules I use myself.
All those rules certainly help to add more flavor to this game, but at the same time they have nothing to do with the idea of TOTAL WAR http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Regards,
EC

[Vanya]

GAH

When Vanya raids enemy territory, He never sends the best of His peasantry to do the deed. Instead, He sends the worst He has. Mercs, vice-ridden generals, decimated units, obsolete units.

Vanya sez... replace garrison with new, better units, and use the old ones on the suicide raid.

Of course, Vanya sends these armies on circuitous, suicidal raids... they often work at the beginning, but at some point, the enemy catches up after a few battles and manages to wipe out the raiding party. Vanya never pays ransom, so the loss of losers is irrelevant

And its a convenient way to dispatch them 6-toed, chinless coward sybarites that are getting fat from their unchecked gluttony. At least their death will bring youz some plunder AND disrupt your enemy

GAH

[MiniKiller]

Quote[/b] (Nowake @ Mar. 03 2004,02:33)]Dont attack or take rebel provinces after a cival war for 10 years.


That's futile and unrealistic. The others work http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
I do this so that the faction who had the civil war gets a chance to rebuild so it wont be completely wiped out.

It seems like you guys like many of my "rules" thanks its appriciated http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif

[Phatose]

I think they thought you meant 'don't take back rebel provinces after one of your own civil wars"

[MiniKiller]

ohh ic I meant from otehr factions.

[Jeanne d'arc]

Citaat[/b] (MiniKiller @ Mar. 03 2004,12:18)]
Citaat[/b] (Nowake @ Mar. 03 2004,02:33)]Dont attack or take rebel provinces after a cival war for 10 years.


That's futile and unrealistic. The others work http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
I do this so that the faction who had the civil war gets a chance to rebuild so it wont be completely wiped out.

It seems like you guys like many of my "rules" thanks its appriciated http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif
Well count on it when u do this that the AI never returns this favour to you lol.

[PseRamesses]

Quote[/b] (MiniKiller @ Mar. 02 2004,18:18)]1) Only attack if you've been attacked by that faction.
2) Never break an alliance yourself and help allies as much as possible
3) When at war with a faction stay only with that one, dont fight with any others (Unless they attack you)
4) Never completely wipe out a faction.
5) Dont attack or take rebel provinces after a cival war for 10 years. (Other factions, not your own)
6) Can attack other factions first (responce to #1) only if they are are different religion.
7) Dont send in enough men to make another faction flee, always have the battle.
8) If a faction's troops flee/garrison, give it back.
9) Obey the Pope at all times.
10)Always accept cease fires/alliances
11)When two allies go to war, stay allied with the smaller one.
12) Only ally with your own faith.
13) Only crusade thoose muslim infidels.
14) Never cut down feeling enemies or kill prisoners.

[Lacker]

There's lots you can do to try to make the game more realistic. Like I've posted before I like to chronicle the history of my faction. Spending nearly as much time documenting as I do playing sometimes. It really gives you an overall perspective on the chain of events leading you to whatever fate you end up with.

Last time I played I purpously incited a civil war within my territory. I was the Brittish and had just breached the 60% mark and I started trying to isolate my king, hike taxes, and killing off my loyal generals. Once the war started I sided with the less advantaged group and fought to my demise to retake the U.K. from the traitors. Darn French got in the way and beat me to it though, and a few decades later I was blitzed by the Egyptians. It was a blast though, and made for a VERY interesting history indeed.

Any other chroniclers here?

A

[Kaboom]

Or only have ship at the coast of your provinces. Don't try trade so hard

Well, I mod every ship take 6 turn to build. It make navy a true asset, and a naval battle may cost a country tens of year to rebuild You may try it

[Servius]

I also try to help keep Christian nations in their borders. So I help Spain rule down to Cordoba, and (as english) I empty Aquitaigne, Anjou, and Normandy and just hold Flanders, giving all the rest of France to the French. Lastly, I try to help Italy hold on to Italy. I can't much help Germany, Hungary, or Poland b/c so many of their provinces are inland.

I also replace my garisons with upgraded units and send obsolete ones into my raiding army.

The trouble is, once I have gold armor on all my Chiv Knights, Longbowmen, Gallowglasses, CMaA, Billmen, Chiv FKs, Fuedal FKs, and Royal Knights, and my allies are well preserved, I can't really figure out what to do next. At that point I usually restart.

[katank]

servius, have you tried farming numerous virtues and getting jedi generals? it is actually fairly interest.

Another thing is to use your now uber army to take over the world in as little time as possible by waiting until say 1420 and then see if you can conquer everything before the game ends.

I also like to farm armies by combining high valour units and retraining them to get numerous upgrades to build an ultra elite army.

[Servius]

yeah, I do a lot of that with Royal Knights who are no longer heirs. I try to take out rebel provinces in Russia, which are hard to govern and usualy Orthodox too, and just keep fighting rebellions.

Several times I've put down rebellions of over 2K men with two or three units of Royal Knights. They have the best armor I can field and rather quickly get Valor 5 or 6. I once had an old king who was about to die and had like V7. I drove him straight into a unit of spearmen and he snapped them in half. Granted, they were v1 maybe and had a crappy general, but it was still cool to watch.

I'm thinking of changing my routine though. I'm thinking of only using Early era units even into High and Late eras, and only using up to the bronze armor upgrade. My Royal Knights will still be upgraded, but the Early era battles and units just feel more viceral to me than higher-era fights. I may also change the program so that no one progresses to the High or Late eras, or has access to castles higher than, um, the Castle. I also might not take Flanders next time and just hold the Isles. Even without Billmen and Longbowmen English is still a great faction to play b/c of Hobliars, Frydmen, Gallowglasses, Highlanders, and probably the best strategic possition in the game.

Also, sort of connected to another thread on why everyone hates you when you grow too big... I've found that if I hold the Isles and Flanders, and maybe a few rebel coastal provinces, but I keep a garrison army in Flanders and then just some reserve troops in my home provinces to quash rebellions, I can usually very easily mold a grand Christian alliance, have the Pope come to me as an ally, and focus on crusading and raiding to hold back the Muslim/Orthodox/Horde forces in the east. I think a key determiner of this is to keep your influence kinda low, between 3 and 5. This seems to happen when my armies are small and/or when I own only a few provinces.

I've found that alliances hold strongly in these conditions, such that if France attacks me all my allies will break with France rather than with me. Also, they more often support me in putting down rebellions and are usually more giving with their princesses.

[octavian]

yea, i chronicle all my campaigns fun although nobody who doesn't play total war want's to read them, still have to figure that one out..... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Crash]

Quote[/b] (Vanya @ Mar. 03 2004,10:16)]When Vanya raids enemy territory, He never sends the best of His peasantry to do the deed. Instead, He sends the worst He has. Mercs, vice-ridden generals, decimated units, obsolete units.

Yes, this is my idea of raiding too. I get my full moneys worth out of my mercernaries, obsolete units, and good generals with bad vices by sending them on suicide missions. But the suicide missions sometimes don't turn out to be suicidal. I have of a couple of four star mercenary generals right now that have won several battles, and I keep them around specifically for raiding and risky attacks or temporary garrison of a newly conqured region.

[Pox]

I like those rules. I used to do the same kind of thing. Now I have only one rule to make the game more fun:

Play multiplayer http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Satyr]

Sorry, but I just don't see the point to this

If you want more difficulty find a mod that suits your style. Otherwise switch to GA games.

I much prefer the first 50 years of a game, especially when I can play as a small faction. That first bit of conquering when my troops are fewer and not as good as the enemy's, that is the challenge I am looking for.

[discovery1]

Choose a small out of the way fraction, wait for some other fraction to become the almost sole power, then attack.

[Fortebraccio]

WesMod No Unit: I modded the ships, reducing their building time to one year. As a result, every sea zone is swamped with full stacks of enemy ships, and naval superiority became an extremely expensive achievement.
A war against such naval powers could easily result in istant fleet annihilation. In my current campaign I have deployed 8 fire/wargalleys in every coastal sea zone, yet the Danish fleet outnumbers mine at least 2:1.

[Satyr]

Fortebraccio, why would you do this? There are already too many ships in Medmod, why would you want more? In my current game, I have been playing for 120 years and the Danes and the Burgundian both have multi stack fleets in some zones, why would you want more. I was thinking of making ships take 5 years to build or making them cost twice as much in an attempt to contain their numbers.

[Harald Den BlåToth]

Quote[/b] (The Tuffen @ Mar. 03 2004,05:50)]
Quote[/b] ]Have you ever tried raiding enemy territory? I create an uber army (once stack) with the best general (specialist attacker, utterly fearless and legendary leader guy if I have one ) and best troops (mostly offensive units) and send them for a raid. Once I beat an enemy army in one province I move to next one, then next and so on. This usually causes to leave a few loyalist rebellions behind my raiding army. They often have good troops too. This really can strengthen your enemy and provide you with challenges.

Has anyone tried that? I need to add that my uber army rarely returns from a raid...

Yeah I've done that a few times, the last time i did it i sent my king from Greece, though constinapole, then though most of the provinces till i was starting to weaken badly. I managed to re-inforce his units though by transporting some in from Egypt and his spree continued http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I do that actually...
I do it when I play vikinkgs...
I sack the Mecians, Saxons and The Picts in order to keep them undeveloped, easing my further anexations...
In MTW early, high and late campaigns I've never done becouse, excepting the mongols, all other factions are well balanced strategicaly and military...More than that, I always do play in in "glorious achievemts" mode, and I can't expand as a plague through all that map... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif

[Basileus]

Stop playing the game for a while and after a few weeks try a campaign again perhaps..

[NewJeffCT]

I try to do a lot of similar things – if I play Catholic factions, I always try to obey the Pope. However, that gets tough once you reach the high era. Once 1205 commences, I can usually start cranking out Chivalric Men at Arms, Sergeants & Knights, as well as Arbalesters and/or Pavise Arbs (or Billmen/Longbowmen if I am English).. by then the rest of the Catholic factions are still cranking out urban militia & spearmen. So, a crusade or two or three go through my territory filled with peasants, but come out with hordes of great troops.

I also never attack allies. I even try to aid them. Sometimes, I even try to nurse other factions along so I’ll have another big faction to fight by the time 1250 or 1300 rolls around. In my current campaign as the Turks, I immediately steamrolled Egypt, while my allies, the Byz & French were conquering Russia and Southeastern Europe (Byz) and Central Europe & the English Isles (French). The Spanish knocked off the Almos and then went to war with the French… so, I remained allied with the French and hit the Spanish from behind in Algeria. That way, they had to worry about two borders instead of one. I even relieved a French castle in Aquitine under siege by the Spanish (I had owned the seas by the time…)

I also mod build times for all 3 year ships down to 1 year and 4 year ships to 2 years. I also lower support costs for ALL units, as I tend to develop my economy better than the AI. It is not fun to have half a dozen fortresses with master armourers, master spearmaker, master swordsmith, etc by 1300 and fighting troops built in keeps & castles. This has helped the AI develop techwise and get bigger buildings.

If I am not being lazy, I pick out my faction ahead of time and then mod a few other factions to have bigger buildings to start (keep instead of fort, for example)

I do try to wipe out factions, as sometimes that is the only way a respawned Turk faction will ever get Janissaries.

[Satyr]

NewJeffCT, it sounds like you are ready for Medmod. If you want the other factions to produce good units, build their provinces up wisely, and trade efficiently and make as much money as you do you definately need Medmod. You will end up with 2 or 3 other factions that are very strong without you even needing to baby sit them. You really ought to download version 3.14 and try it.

[NewJeffCT]

Quote[/b] (Satyr @ Mar. 09 2004,12:45)]NewJeffCT, it sounds like you are ready for Medmod. If you want the other factions to produce good units, build their provinces up wisely, and trade efficiently and make as much money as you do you definately need Medmod. You will end up with 2 or 3 other factions that are very strong without you even needing to baby sit them. You really ought to download version 3.14 and try it.
Well, I don't have VI and really don't have an interest in getting it... but, maybe I should check out Medmod.

[mbrasher1]

I think that the game lasts longer and is more fun when you don't build trade buildings. They seriously unbalance play by giving the player a huge advantage.

Remember having to save up for a fortress? Not if you trade.

[Satyr]

Mbrasher1, if you play with Medmod installed the AI factions trade as well or better than you do. It gives most of the factions lots of money to build infrastructure and troops and makes the game VERY challenging. Try it.

[MiniKiller]

Just a little update http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif


MiniKiller's
1) Only attack if you've been attacked by that faction.
2) Never break an alliance yourself and help allies as much as possible
3) When at war with a faction stay only with that one, dont fight with any others (Unless they attack you)
4) Never completely wipe out a faction.
5) Dont attack or take rebel provinces after a cival war for 10 years. (Other factions, not your own)
6) Can attack other factions first (responce to #1) only if they are are different religion.
7) Dont send in enough men to make another faction flee, always have the battle.
8) If a faction's troops flee/garrison, give it back.
9) Obey the Pope at all times.
10)Always accept cease fires/alliances
11)When two allies go to war, stay allied with the smaller one.

PseRamesses's
12) Only ally with your own faith.
13) Only crusade thoose muslim infidels.
14) Never cut down feeling enemies or kill prisoners.

Vanya's
15) When raiding never send the cream of the crop.

[eds]

Play with your eyes closed.

I find this greatly extends the length of campaigns.

[mfberg]

Only assassinate your own generals/priests/assassins
No spies.
Only priests in your own regions, no "spreading the faith"

mfberg

[Ar7]

A couple of my rules http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

1) Roleplay your king
2) Act from a historical point of you view e.g. try to help the factions of the same faith or the allies, never backstab, try to from solid alliances, listen to the pope etc.
3) No cheesy tactics, like training your assassins on a units of your own peasants.
4) No blitzing
5) A roleplay way of using agents, never flood agents. For example i make 3 inquisitors and 1 grand inquisitor and send them to Germany. They never leave the German borders, they are the German inquisition and the grand inquisitor is the head one, i kind of tend to remember their names and the game gets a medieval feel after a certain time, the same thing is with bishops, assassins, generals etc.

Well these were the main ones, quickly off my head and they certainly make the game more interesting.

[HicRic]

Quote[/b] (eds @ July 01 2004,15:03)]Play with your eyes closed.

I find this greatly extends the length of campaigns.
I imagine that would make the game fairly difficult even for you crazy professionals. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

Now if someone could win that... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

[mfberg]

I have found leaving the room during battles works sometimes.

[Rufus]

Those rules sound good if you're a major faction, but how do you win, for example, if you're the Welsh in VI and you never attack anyone? You can't just sit there with your four impoverished provinces and expect to hold off huscarles and Vikings

[Crash]

I play only the Late Age games now because there's no need to go out of your way NOT to win a campaign in a 100 years. Even in late age games I have to play conservatively to avoid total victory before 1453. Play Hard not Expert. The AI is too prone to rebellions and civil wars in Expert.

GA is the only way to go if your goal isn't just crushing military conquests. Playing conservatively in a Late Age game does create some tension as the game gets closer to the end because the certainty of victory is less. That makes for a more exciting and challenging campaign game.

[Zortanius]

I too like to make the game last as long as possible.

I do this even as a small faction - like the Danes. I have never played VI.

I follow most of minikiller's commandments.

Although once someone attacks me I ensure I wipe him off - vengeance is deadly. Also as some one suggested I like t go on tours of victory - send in a fairly large army and move from province to province - sending the enemy back a few decades albeit with lots of loyalist uber forces.

Playing GA or just in the Late Era is another option.

Cheers,