A Stork, A Stork ... My Kingdom For A Stork

[jaggy]

The process of procreation in MTW is really getting on my nerves. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-furious3.gif My last Hungarian campaign ended prematurely in 1169 when I couldn’t get an heir online in time. Now, I am left with a King, his heir the Prince and about 8 or 9 princesses. The King has a command rating of 3 and the Prince 5. King is age 43, Prince age 39 in 1118.

I calculated through painful experience (please see line 2 in para 1) that as my monarchs have a preset termination date at age 56, that leaves them exactly 40 years (or Game Turns) for them to produce heirs. You definitely need to produce an heir before your last prince turns 40 or you will end up with your medieval family tree coming to a premature end. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

I have done all the right things the second time round. All heirs that came of age were immediately lined with a spouse. Yet once again I find that the succession process is totally out of my hands. Besides offering 6 bullocks and 3 heifers on the sacrificial altars to the Goddess of Fertility while hopping on one foot, what else can one reasonably do to ensure succession?? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wall.gif

The funny thing is that the game seems to reward Auto-Combat (both in casualties and generation of heirs), which seems strange. You go through manual combat every single time (yes, yes, I know, I am a masochist) and you end up with ditto heirs. You press the Auto-Combat to zip through a turn and chances are sooner or later you are rewarded with an heir? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-confused.gif

Does anyone know who was in charge of Creative Assembly’s Pro-Creation Process, as I would like to wring his neck and offer him/her on the altar too I open to all positive suggestions as I am running out of bullocks and heifers here.
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

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

If you don't want to restart a long campaign again just write .unfreeze. while in the Strategic Map. It's a cheat and, as such, not very loyal, but can be used on an emergency to solve any sucession problem and avoid frustration. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wink.gif

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

[jaggy]

Wow, Aymar, that was fast http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif Sorry, us masochists are genetically predisposed from using cheats. Thanks for the tip but I have to put it on the altar too. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif By any chance, do you know who was in charge of Creative Assembly's Pro-Creation Process? If you do, I would just like to have his/her http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-furious3.gif name.

[NSS]

That should not be a problem,jaggy.

I thought the patch 2.1 for MTW:VI had already solved the 56 bug.

For myself,I'm running MTW:VI on the 2.1 patch dwnloaded from the official site and my monarchs are still hacking enemies at 60+. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif


Unless of course,you're still playing only the normal MTW without the VI expansion.

[Lord Ovaat]

NSS is correct, JAGGY, the 2.1 patch does fix that death at 56 quirk. But don't be too hard on codes, or cheats, if you prefer. ANY alteration to a game could be considered a cheat by an avid purist. You could stretch the point and consider VI to be a cheat, since it corrected some problems in the original MTW, ie, the Pre-Battle Screen. Modding would definitely be cheating; one is altering the game to suit his own interests. After playing a couple campaigns for a week or more, only to lose because my king can't find the handle, put me on the verge of uninstalling the whole game. Granted, chance is chance, and part of gaming, but when there's THAT much time involved, I found it unacceptable. The campaigns are single player, and meant for enjoyment. You can't cheat yourself. Just enjoy the game. MP would naturally be more structured, but they're only battles. One battle is seldom that critical in an overall campaign, unless you're playing Med Mod. If you lose your homeland provinces, you can't recruit troops. Period. Losing them IS catastrophic. I play Med Mod almost exclusively, because it did FIX some stuff I personally found objectionable. But I find it far more realistic. If your British, and you lose Britain, you're in a heap of hurt. I think the Saxons must have figured that out shortly after 1066. Just enjoy.
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] (jaggy @ Mar. 28 2004,06:05)]By any chance, do you know who was in charge of Creative Assembly's Pro-Creation Process? If you do, I would just like to have his/her http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-furious3.gif name.
LOL http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif No, I don't.

But, then again, even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. I want RTW to be finished on time and I don't want to read on a newspaper, that an avid but far too zelous fan of MTW, had just burned a CA programmer at the stake... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wink2.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-laugh4.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

BTW, NSS and Lord Ovaat are right. Install the patch. That should make you a lot less frustated... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] (Lord Ovaat @ Mar. 28 2004,10:13)]NSS is correct, JAGGY, the 2.1 patch does fix that death at 56 quirk. But don't be too hard on codes, or cheats, if you prefer. ANY alteration to a game could be considered a cheat by an avid purist. You could stretch the point and consider VI to be a cheat, since it corrected some problems in the original MTW, ie, the Pre-Battle Screen. Modding would definitely be cheating; one is altering the game to suit his own interests. After playing a couple campaigns for a week or more, only to lose because my king can't find the handle, put me on the verge of uninstalling the whole game. Granted, chance is chance, and part of gaming, but when there's THAT much time involved, I found it unacceptable. The campaigns are single player, and meant for enjoyment. You can't cheat yourself. Just enjoy the game. MP would naturally be more structured, but they're only battles. One battle is seldom that critical in an overall campaign, unless you're playing Med Mod. If you lose your homeland provinces, you can't recruit troops. Period. Losing them IS catastrophic. I play Med Mod almost exclusively, because it did FIX some stuff I personally found objectionable. But I find it far more realistic. If your British, and you lose Britain, you're in a heap of hurt. I think the Saxons must have figured that out shortly after 1066. Just enjoy.
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif
BTW, I agree to what Lord Ovaat says about the .unfreeze. cheat. I really only use it for emergencies. Last ditch defense. Not as a system to get heirs.

[Mouzafphaerre]

-
Consider it as your king adopting a son. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
_

[Bhruic]

ANY alteration to a game could be considered a cheat by an avid purist

I think that you've missed the heart of cheating. Cheating is when you give yourself an advantage that other people do not have. If, for example, you modded the game so that your faction had archers with extra ammo, but no other faction did, that would be cheating. But if you modded all faction archers to have extra ammo it would not, because everyone would have a level playing field.

In this case, using .unfreeze. would be a cheat, because the computer players can't use it. I'd probably still use it anyway, were it the only way to continue a game, but there you go. :)

Bh

[Doug-Thompson]

As mentioned, the patch will solve the famous 56 bug.

Also, consider playing Muslims. Harems beat that Christian monogamy, at least as far as producing heirs. I've can't recall ever losing a game as a Muslim for lack of heirs, although I was close a couple of times.

Frankly, I've always thought that lack of an heir should result in a civil war, not total elimination.

============

.unfreeze. (Don't forget the periods) works even if your king isn't married. Woo Hoo http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] (Doug-Thompson @ Mar. 28 2004,17:44)].unfreeze. (Don't forget the periods) works even if your king isn't married. Woo Hoo http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif
Have you heard of ilegitimate sons?... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wink.gif

[Mouzafphaerre]

-
Illegitimate? A king? Never It's called natural son. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
_

[katank]

yep, I don't consider .unfreeze. a cheat for avoiding stupid loss for a fluke in the random number generator.

however, if you use it to get a free army of RKs, then that's a cheat.

also, if he was playing pre-VI, he wouldn't have the problem.

it's only VI v2.00 that had the problem IIRC.

[jaggy]

Hi, all. Thanks for the replies. NSS, Lord Ovaat, I didn’t know it was a bug and was patched Katank is right, I am using V2.0. Have patched it to V2.1 and am hoping my line of princes reach the stately age of NSS’ monarchs. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

Lord Ovaat, you are right about playing to enjoy the game. My current game is modded with FBE’s projectile stats which I find more realistic. I got tired of pumping arrows, pre-FBE mod, into Peasants and watching their patented leather rags deflecting said arrows. Truly, it’s a ludicrous attrition rate as they are not even armoured in the least. And yes, the Kings dying at 56 was driving me round the bend MTW is superb, it truly is and its very difficult for perfectionists (I consider myself one) as its dynamic and there are so many variables. The problem with perfectionists is that sometimes they can’t see the Royal King for the Spears or should that be the Wood for the Trees? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-dizzy2.gif

Do you mind telling me what Med Mod fixed for you personally that you found objectionable? I would really like to know as I was thinking of downloading it.

Aymar, how about if I just singed the miscreant’s toes or eyebrows?http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I am really looking forward to RTW but judging from the graphics, I will probably need a new CPU or graphics card or both.

Doug, you are right about the Muslims. My friend is playing the Almohad and he’s just churning out heirs like there is no tomorrow. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-stunned.gif In my previous game I was expecting a civil war too but it just ended. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[Cazbol]

Quote[/b] (jaggy @ Mar. 28 2004,05:48)]King is age 43, Prince age 39 in 1118.
Note that the prince is the king's brother. If the king dies the brother takes over and this brother may already have mature sons. They just won't show up on the heirs list until their father becomes king as they first become heirs when he does. The situation isn't so bleak.

Do what everyone is saying and install the patch. It also solves the bug with cavalry reinforcements always arriving first.

[jaggy]

Thanks Cazbol. Interesting observation about the King's brother. I have installed the patch and hopefully my monarchs get to live to a ripe old age. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-yes.gif

[Lord Ovaat]

Gee, Jaggy, what do I like about MED MOD? That could take some time, but I'll list some off the top of my head. First, the seas are divided into two areas, northern & southern, split at the Straights of Gibraltar. No ship can get through, effectively limiting the amount of trade we can accumulate. Wes has tweeked the AI to build more ships, establish trade routes, and generally be more efficient. I have no idea just what those guys did who worked on it, but the AI people now really have an attitude
The Mod creates more factions, many more units, changes some basic issues that were unrealistic, and establishes the homeland concept. English faction, for example, can only recruit troops in Britain, Ireland, and their traditional holdings in France. Further, NO faction has access to all units. The English are limited to Gallowglasses, clansmen, fyrdmen, billmen, modest knights, mounted sergeants, an Irish spear unit, and THREE types of longbows (one for each era), which increase in strength. Specific troops get bonuses in specific provinces, and some can only be built in specific homeland provinces. Actually, I don't particularly like playing the Brits, but find myself doing it occasionally just to get the English Longbows. Their melee stats are awesome when coupled with their rate, range, and effectiveness of fire. Might be the single best unit in the game. These are just a few items, and the new mod will be much better with a whole new campaign map. No need to pine for RTW. Just download and enjoy the challenge. It is a totally different game. (Hey, Wes. Do you pay for advertising?) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Doug-Thompson]

Quote[/b] (Aymar de Bois Mauri @ Mar. 28 2004,19:35)]Have you heard of ilegitimate sons?... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wink.gif
As I said: Woo Hoo

[Doug-Thompson]

Quote[/b] (jaggy @ Mar. 29 2004,01:44)]My friend is playing the Almohad and he’s just churning out heirs like there is no tomorrow. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-stunned.gif
A simple matter of probability. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif , nudge, nudge, say no more.


woo-hoo http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] (Mouzafphaerre @ Mar. 28 2004,19:47)]-
Illegitimate? A king? Never It's called natural son. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
_
LOL http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] (jaggy @ Mar. 29 2004,01:44)]Aymar, how about if I just singed the miscreant’s toes or eyebrows?http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I am really looking forward to RTW but judging from the graphics, I will probably need a new CPU or graphics card or both.
LOL http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif I think the patch wil ease your pain and deprive you of such malicious thoughts.

As for RTW, you are correct. Most of us will need a new CPU and graphics card... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-cry.gif

[TheRookiee]

Thanks for this post http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif I too am having the same problem I started in the early age, and I'm in the year 1275, and gunpowder was recently discovered. I'm having a blast building fortresses all over. I finally beat back the massive Mongol Hordes in some great castle battles. I'm playing on Hard as the British and have over 1 million florins in the bank. I have Asia, France, Spain and part of Africa under my control.

Alas, my 8 star awesome king died, and his 59 year old son took the crown. He then in turn had a son, but he was only 12 when his father died. My empire has turned to ruin. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif

I was about to start all the way over when I read this thread about the cheat code. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-book2.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif I will try it out, so I can continue this fun campaign.

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

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] (TheRookiee @ Mar. 29 2004,13:38)]Alas, my 8 star awesome king died, and his 59 year old son took the crown.
It wasn't the King's son. It was his brother... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Gregoshi]

Quote[/b] (Aymar de Bois Mauri @ Mar. 29 2004,18:59)]It wasn't the King's son. It was his brother... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif Geez Aymar, talk about splitting heirs http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[Voigtkampf]

Let him do it, Gregoshi , Lord Aymar is quite good at it, and we don't want him to switch over to splitting atoms, do we now? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-builder.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] (Gregoshi @ Mar. 29 2004,22:35)]
Quote[/b] (Aymar de Bois Mauri @ Mar. 29 2004,18:59)]It wasn't the King's son. It was his brother... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif Geez Aymar, talk about splitting heirs http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif
Hey, I was just trying to be thorough... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/flat.gif

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Quote[/b] (voigtkampf @ Mar. 29 2004,23:49)]Let him do it, Gregoshi , Lord Aymar is quite good at it, and we don't want him to switch over to splitting atoms, do we now? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-builder.gif
Why not? Before I entered university I was undecided about following Physics or not... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wink.gif

[jaggy]

Quote[/b] (Lord Ovaat @ Mar. 29 2004,09:06)]Gee, Jaggy, what do I like about MED MOD? That could take some time, but I'll list some off the top of my head.
Thanks for the info, Lord Ovaat. When, er, I mean if I manage to finish my current campaign, I will look into Med Mod. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[jaggy]

Quote[/b] (Doug-Thompson @ Mar. 29 2004,10:56)]A simple matter of probability. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif , nudge, nudge, say no more.


woo-hoo http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
Those ... er ... harems sure come in handy, don't they? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[jaggy]

Quote[/b] (Aymar de Bois Mauri @ Mar. 29 2004,18:59)]
Quote[/b] (TheRookiee @ Mar. 29 2004,13:38)]Alas, my 8 star awesome king died, and his 59 year old son took the crown.
It wasn't the King's son. It was his brother... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
With all due respect, Aymar, it could be King's son. You need to count the Toes. Five-Toes, its the King's brother; Three-Toes, its definitely the King's son. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[TheRookiee]

Quote[/b] (jaggy @ Mar. 30 2004,07:48)]
Quote[/b] (Aymar de Bois Mauri @ Mar. 29 2004,18:59)]
Quote[/b] (TheRookiee @ Mar. 29 2004,13:38)]Alas, my 8 star awesome king died, and his 59 year old son took the crown.
It wasn't the King's son. It was his brother... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
With all due respect, Aymar, it could be King's son. You need to count the Toes. Five-Toes, its the King's brother; Three-Toes, its definitely the King's son. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif Silly me hahaha. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-clown.gif

It must have been his brother.... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-juggle.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/handball.gif Although for a king, he had some strange behaviors.

[jaggy]

Quote[/b] (TheRookiee @ Mar. 29 2004,13:38)]I'm playing on Hard as the British and have over 1 million florins in the bank.

I was about to start all the way over when I read this thread about the cheat code. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-book2.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif I will try it out, so I can continue this fun campaign.
Hi, fellow-sufferer, TheRookiee. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif 1 million florins?? Its called Medieval Total War and not Medieval Total Banker http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif . I hope I can reach that financial point. The best I managed to do in 1169 at Easy Level was about 60,000 florins.

I have the .unfreeze. command bottled up in a test-tube. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif Even with 2.01, you might still end up heirless. I don't want to replay just because of a roll of the die in the procreation department. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif