Never Multiplayed

[CountMRVHS]

I've had, played, & loved MTW ever since I got it last summer. I got VI, downloaded the latest patch, and even started to work on some mods. But I have totally neglected the multiplayer side of this game.

I have *never* gone online to play a game, ever. But maybe MTW is different. I'm asking any of you who have played against other humans -- how does it compare to SinglePlayer (well, besides the obvious lack of a strategic map portion)?

After playing against humans, do you find it too easy to go back to the campaign and face the AI?

Where/how do you even PLAY multiplayer?

Do you need to join a clan?

How about when it comes to playing Viking era MP battles? Do you choose which era you play? It would be pretty silly to have Pictish units facing off against late-era Turks, for example... As I'm most into the Viking campaign, I'd be most interested in playing with those type of armies.

What is the best thing about MP?

What is worst about it?

I'd like some balanced, thoughtful opinions on this. Who knows, I may never play MP, but I thought I'd give people the opportunity to convince me

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

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Well I have only played shogun mp but I can answer some of your questions.


how does it compare to SinglePlayer (well, besides the obvious lack of a strategic map portion)?


After playing single player for a while I moved to mp and found it MUCH more fun. The battles reach tactical depth unheard of in SP...also you can have 8 armies at once.



After playing against humans, do you find it too easy to go back to the campaign and face the AI?


After playing online I've never wanted to go back to sp http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif



Where/how do you even PLAY multiplayer?

You have to register online, then go through MP thing on your main menu ingame.



Do you need to join a clan?


No.



How about when it comes to playing Viking era MP battles? Do you choose which era you play? It would be pretty silly to have Pictish units facing off against late-era Turks, for example... As I'm most into the Viking campaign, I'd be most interested in playing with those type of armies.


You choose the era you play in...early, high, late, viking.



What is the best thing about MP?


The advanced tactics...the battles there are incredable.



What is worst about it?

You spend more time waiting than in sp.

[octavian]

it will be the best decision you ever make i'll give a comprehensive answer sometime when i am not in a rush, but do it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif

[ichi]

Quote[/b] ]I'm asking any of you who have played against other humans -- how does it compare to SinglePlayer (well, besides the obvious lack of a strategic map portion)?

After playing against humans, do you find it too easy to go back to the campaign and face the AI?

I think that MP is very exciting, quite a challenge, and rewarding as anything I have ever played. I learned a lot about fighting battles and it certainly did make the SP battles easier. The campaign part is still there tho, and I also enjoy a new campaign from time to time. The tricks I learned in MP allow me to fight and win hard battles in SP, but the challenge is still there.


Quote[/b] ]Where/how do you even PLAY multiplayer?

Fire up the game and choose multi. Then choose register on gamespy. You need a decent 56K connex at a minimum, but DSL is better and works very nicely. 56K suffices if thats what you got. Once you register on gamespy (there are many threads in the Jousting Fields and in the Apothecary if you have probs) then choose Play on gamespy and voila

Do you need to join a clan?[/QUOTE]

No, not mandatory. However, a clan can help you make friends, learn tips, open other doors. My game really picked up when I became a Ronin Warlord and some of the older vets taught me their tricks. There are lots of threads about how to join a clan.


Quote[/b] ]How about when it comes to playing Viking era MP battles? Do you choose which era you play? It would be pretty silly to have Pictish units facing off against late-era Turks, for example... As I'm most into the Viking campaign, I'd be most interested in playing with those type of armies.

Yes you pick the era. Make sure that you download and install a few things first - get the latest patch - for VI its 2.01, get the mappacks volume 1 and 2, and the new Reconquista Mod. There are usually good Viking era games to be had, and no, you won't have face any Turks in them.

What is the best thing about MP?[/QUOTE]

The people

What is worst about it?[/QUOTE]

The people

There are some really nice people in the game. The friendships I have me, even tho they are online friends, have been remarkable. But there are some, well lets just say, jerks out there as well. Overall the people are a positive. Sometimes gamespy can be a weak link, and the are a few probs, but overall it is worth it.

I'd like some balanced, thoughtful opinions on this. Who knows, I may never play MP, but I thought I'd give people the opportunity to convince me[/QUOTE]

Give MP a try for yourself - nothing I can say can match first hand knowledge. Get online and if you hate it, give up. There's a lot of folks online who are seriously addicted, so watch out.

ichi

[Xiphias]

I've never played MTW online either so I can't tell whether this is true for it.

I generally don't play strategy games online because you generally have to play seriously all the time. You can't run round shooting offensive buildings like you can in an FPS game like battlefield 1942 and still except to win. They do have the advantage over FPS games in that good reactions aren't required and a 56k modem doesn't have to be a disadvantage.

You will lose at lot at first, it'll happen in (almost) every online game you play and it can be pretty annoying. You will get better once you've been playing for a while.

[CountMRVHS]

Thanks for the very detailed replies, everyone

I think I may actually make the leap and try it out sometime soon...

Don't tell my wife It would get even harder for her to have her turn at the computer if I was getting my butt kicked for hours on end...
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[octavian]

yes, the biggest problem will be getting off the computer, although after playing 5 or 6 online games, so will sometimes find yourself physically tired. i was going to answer all your questions, but the honorable shinano and ichi beat me to it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif

[SnakeCharmer]

Got the game about three weeks ago and have only played multiplayer with the exception of an English campaign that I havent touched in a while.

As far as I can tell MTW is like STW in that MP is night and day different than SP.

[CountMRVHS]

Oh no

I logged on last night and I couldn't get connected to a game... there was a message about incompatibility. Apparently all the modding I've been doing doesn't jive with the Multiplayer setup. (I do remember reading about that in Starkhorn's new faction guide, but at the time I figured ehh, when will I EVER want to multiplay?)

So... do I need to open up another version of MTW in order to join an MP game?

[CBR]

If you have modded anything in the unit/projectile/era files then you will have version conflict trying to join normal games.

You have to have a clean copy of MTW/VI to play online. Or at least have mods that doesnt effect the essential files.


CBR

[Ja'chyra]

I've got my modded version on the C drive and the unmodded version, multiplayer, on my D drive and it works fine.

Watch out for firewalls too.

Good luck, you'll enjoy it.