Hello All :)

[Morindin]

Hi.

I thought I'd make a topic and introduce myself.

Firstly I'd like to say Im somewhat surprized at the ranking system and restrictions on where one can post in this forum. I am a "forumite" of many years and this has to be the first forum I have come across to have such a system. I actually like it a lot actually, nice thinking.

Anyway, I've been playing computer games before I could walk, my first game I ever owned on a PC was Lords of the Realm, which I personally consider to be the great great grand daddy of MTW style games.
I was purchasing another computer game the other day and I saw MTW for $15. I had seen it in the store from time to time and it looked interesting, so I picked it up as well. I must say I am quite impressed.

I've had the game for about a week now and I conquered the world using the Byzantines on my first go on easy, so I've restarted the game using the English on Hard and enjoying it much more.
MTW reminds me of those oldschool games that are more about the enjoyable gameplay than pretty graphics and voiceovers, i.e. the quality ones. My only wish is that there was more diplomacy in the game but I understand that is going to be fixed in RTW.

I'm using 1.1 of course, and I have actually been mariginally impressed with the AI (I always fight my own battles).
Sure it's usually easy to beat, but on bridge battles it DOES defend both bridges and uses some cunning tactics from time to time. Maybe I just got lucky with my copy? :)
It does make some funny mistakes (such as having a general that is a balista unit) but I dont mind that, I like to pretend I was simply a better general on the day, although I havnt lost a battle yet even being outnumbered 4 to 1.
Anyway, I don't have very high expectations from AI knowing the ins and outs of programming myself, so the AI hasnt ruined the game for me thus far.

My version didn't come with a manual, it was a jewel CD case, so I've read the unit guide on this site (very helpful), and I've also read every thread of first 17 or so pages of both the main hall and multiplayer forums :P
Multiplayer looks very interesting indeed and I consider myself to be tactically sound under pressure, having played many RTS games where things get hectic and confusing. I am no stranger to hotkeys and having read so much of the multiplayer forum I think I know the do's and don't, still, practice makes perfect however.

I am wondering (since I only have 1.1) if it is worth buying VI with RTW just around the corner? Do many people play 1.1? This is a little late to be joining the community I know.

Also some of those historical multiplayer battles some of the regulars here have set up looked fantastic, I would love to participate in one of those. I feel that is where the best of multiplayer MTW would be, I have played a few games against my GF (who is much much better than the AI even on her first go) so I know what to except in MP, but personally the thought of "upgrading" units valor for money doesnt quite sit right with me - and I understand is the cause of many problems. Hence why I think the historical reinactments are so appealing.
One thing that I have noticed however from reading the MP threads, is that multiplayer seems to concentrate on too much number crunching, inevitable I guess but also extremely unrealistic. A commander wouldn't know exactly the attack/defence/armour/speed rating of his pikemen vs cavalry for example, another reason I find the historical reinactments appealing.

[Qilue]

Welcome to the Org.

As to VI, it does add a separate campaign and a lot of other interesting stuff to the game, so it is worth the purchase.

[Soulflame]

I hope you can find it for a reasonable price. I bought the Battle Collection, which is MI + VI for 30 euro's. I was apalled that the week after I found MI selling alone for 39 euro's and VI for another 30.

So I hope for you that you can find it cheap somewhere. It does add a few nice things.

If you plan to buy Rome;TW anyway, then it's a bit tricky... VI will probably drop even more in price when that's out, but it will be harder to find, and maybe you don't want to return lesser graphics and such.
You could opt to buy R;TW later, but you'll probably regret that as well ;).

[boot]

Hi Guy
Yep iv got MTW+VI and i like to play the VI coz i live in the UK Anyway so i find it very intresting and there s not so many Factions so u can keep an eye on things....id get it to finnish the MTW saga off. ~:)

Boot

[Louis de la Ferte Ste Colombe]

Welcome Morindin,

For MP purpose, most players are on VI 2.01.

With RTW coming, it's likely that in 2 or 3 months there will be few VI players online, and most players will have moved to RTW. Up to you to see if it's worth it.

I play mostly MP, 4v4 battles are more fun ~:)

I'd say the AI is somehow better than what most people say. In SP campaign, the strategic part is too weak, so AI armies are overpowered and gives the AI a bad name.

In custom game, AI is a bit better, provided you pick the right troops for it. I found the AI weak for handling missile units, more specifically x bow, arbalest, and hybrid warrior archers. But for everything else, it's quite good, better than its reputation.
To see the AI at its best, go for custom games, gives the AI archers and longbows for missile. You can play custom 4v4 games with the AI; very funny, as the AI got a very specific sense of teamplay ~D

Good luck and have fun,

Louis,

[Doug-Thompson]

Greetings ~:cheers:

[Hetman_Koronny]

Hi Morindin and welcome! ~:cheers:

Be your stay @ the ORG at least as pleasurable as mine ~D And get VI, especially that is should be discounted by now.

[The Tuffen]

welcome to the org,

I'd also recommend getting VI as i find the enhancements are worth it ie. having a list of all the v+v gained by your generals at the end of the turn and the new deployment screen

[Colovion]

I'd say buy VI and try out many of the great mods:

HTW - NTW - MedMod - MTW XL - etc etc etc

[ah_dut]

welcome to the org mate and enjoy a long and prosperous stay here, when you're promoted, join us in the tavern for a few backroom brawls :joker: Get VI good MP investment and BTW have a chat with Katank our resident MTW god. Doug thompson and ludens are probably worth a vhat with as well, if you are an MTW god and have been excluded please email me at augustinefung@gmail.com

[Sun Tzui]

I'd say buy VI and try out many of the great mods: HTW - NTW - MedMod - MTW XL - etc etc etc

Don't forget the Blind King's Supermod !!!!

Welcome to the .Org Morindin

[Lonewarrior]

Welcome to the org ~:wave: ~:cheers:

[Nobody You'd Know]

I have found it pretty easy to get a game going MP MTW 1.1, and I can't host myself, so I think there are still a few out there playing that version. However, I bet most will go over to RTW over the next few months (as long as the speed isn't a terrible issue).

[Blodrast]

hi, and welcome to the Org !

well, you're the first person new to the forum (new as in just signed up, not new as in having visited before) who says that the Org's policy of restricting posting abilities for new patrons is a good thing ~D

I would say that if in your case the AI defended both bridges, you were either very lucky, or... I dunno. I am aware that you _can MAKE_ the AI defend them, if you explicitly get some troops and lure it to both bridges, but in my experience, the AI doesn't do that by itself...

I'm not sure VI is worth it. It's worth it if you get the Battle Collection, that's for sure, but otherwise, I don't know. I personally don't play the Viking Campaign, so ...

You can probably find people with MTW 1.1 for MP, but the ones with VI are more numerous, from what I've seen.

anyway, enjoy your stay ~:cheers:

[Morindin]

Hi all and thanks for the replies.

Yeah after reading this forum for a while it's pretty apparent its one of those forums that are a close knit community, and having such a system stops one-post wonders and is a good way to force the newbies like myself to make myself known. :)

I guess Ill have to pick up VI then! MTW only cost $15 NZ so I doubt VI will break the bank. Funnily enough that "other" game I picked up was doom3, and I must say that while it is really fun too (im a sucker from mindless death and pretty graphics from time to time) - MTW has been getting most of my attention so far.
Im purposely avoiding RTW at the moment because I want to give MTW a good dash before checking that out.
I look forward to online play - I quite like the Byzantines (yeah yeah newbie alert) mainly because Im a Roman "fanboy" and their units resemble the old Roman legions the best.
I also like the flexibility they offer without having units that are too dominent, especially in the later ages.
I find their units compliment each other well also, 2 VG units on the flanks and one in the center to keep those shakey Byzantine Infantry from fleeing works well from what I have played with so far (beating up my poor gf who likes the Egyptians :P). Supported with the right mix of ranged units and cavalry they can be devistating. Im also a big fan of leading from the front, sure its risky but I find generals are almost impossible to kill with anything but arrows, and if your infantry line is breaking and its the backbone of your army (as opposed to a cav army) you're in big trouble anyway. I like to be very bold with my cavalry units too which is another reason I dont like my general to be a cavalry unit. I feel its a waste of valuable resources just sitting there "just incase". All or nothing - there is no campaign or aftermath to worry about, it's like a last stand, win or lose, so I play as such.

I cant wait to get online and have a blast against some skilled opponents who will teach me a thing or two, im having CDkey issues despite typing it in EXACTLY the way its presented. I feel its a gamespy login issue more than anything else, Ill sort it out tonight.

[Blodrast]

heh, LOTS of people have had LOTS of problems with gamespy.
Make sure you use the link to play over the net from within the game, NOT login to gamespy etc. As for the CD key, I've had that problem myself lots and lots of times.
I know it's plain silly, but that's the way things are.