Best R:TW game? or mod?

[13th-Caesar]

I love RTW, its great. But I have read on wikipedia and other posts about RTR, BI and EB. Are these all of the extra games? Which one is the best? and why? also where can you download them/buy them? Thanks very much!


Also, is Alexander expansion worth getting, what are the major differences between all the games/patchs?

[Caerfanan]

Not a big RTW player yet, but I heard (read) a lot af players here having a very good opinion on EB if I'm correct!

[13th-Caesar]

I am very interested in Romans (I heard they had East and West), Egypt and Greece mainly, the others I dont really care. Will this affect whch game is better for a particular person?

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi 13th-Caesar,
A modification for a game is based upon a game's engine and is, unless created by the developer, they are usually made by fans, free. There are two type of modifications (mods) total conversions, and mini-modifications. Total Conversions completely change the game into something totally different replacing the art, skins and sometimes even the units and buildings. Without a certain program or extension on the shortcut, total conversions cannot usually work together. Mini-modifications are modifications that add or extend a certain part of the game. They can often, yet sadly not always, work together providing they do not overwrite the same files as each other. Europa Barbarorum and R:TR are total conversions and can be downloaded here (https://www.europabarbarorum.com/downloads_mod.html) (EB) and here (http://www.totalrealism.net/download.html) (R:TR).

BI and Alexander (http://www.totalwar.com) are expansion packs which need R:TW to run, yet are completely separate games. They both cost money and are made by the developer of the primary game. They often are in a similar time period to the original game as well.

Patches update the game, fix bugs and, unfortunately, often make a few nasty new ones in the process.

The patches of R:TW are:
1.1 (http://www.gamershell.com/download_7208.shtml)
1.2 (http://www.mofunzone.com/game_patch_downloads/rome_total_war_1_2.shtml) - required to install all future patches - also required for R:TR (GE)
1.3 (http://games.softpedia.com/get/Patch/Rome-Total-War-13-English-Patch.shtml)
1.5 (http://games.softpedia.com/get/Patch/Rome-Total-War-15-Patch.shtml) - required only if you have R:TW solo (no BI) - required to play EB and most other modifications
1.6 (http://games.softpedia.com/get/Patch/Rome-Total-War-Barbarian-Invasion-16-Patch.shtml) - required only if you have BI (patches Rome: Total War up to 1.5) - also required for most BI modifications
1.9 - Alexander comes with this version.

1.5 is probably the least buggy should you desire to play as all other factions other than the Romans, however, since it introduced a nasty game-breaking civil war bug, if you wish to play as the Romans patch 1.3/1.2 is probably best for your intents and purposes.

Hope this helps you, cheers!

[x-dANGEr]

The patches of R:TW are:
1.1
1.2 - required to install all future patches - also required for R:TR (GE)
1.3
1.5 - required only if you have R:TW solo (no BI) - required to play EB and most other modifications
1.6 - required only if you have BI (patches Rome: Total War up to 1.5) - also required for most BI modifications
1.9 - Alexander comes with this version.

I believe (and know :P ) that patch 1.3 is the one needed if you want to install 1.5, not 1.2.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

I believe (and know :P ) that patch 1.3 is the one needed if you want to install 1.5, not 1.2.That's strange, EB installation instructions, and those for most mods, request that 1.2 be installed and then 1.5 in that order, as does totalwar.com. Are you completely sure x-dANGEr?

[UltraWar]

Terrae Expugnandae is the best mod to play

[13th-Caesar]

Are any mods unbiased? For instance, surely EB is biased towards barbarians, same with BI?

[Warmaster Horus]

No, that's a mistake due to the name. If you check the EB faq, you'll find:

Q: Is your mod all about barbarians?
A: No, our mod seeks to recreate, as accurately as possible, the classical world as depicted within R:TW at the time of campaign start. This includes all factions, and we have modders working on every area. Personally, I like Rome the best.

Q: Then why do you call yourselves "Europa Barbarorum?"
A: The project was born over a year ago, when the thought was that the team could provide as much historical information as possible to help CA portray the barbarian factions as more than just a bunch of drooling, naked neanderthals. When it seemed clear that CA wasn't accepting outside help, the team became determined to turn this research into a mod. The purpose of the mod expanded to include accuracy for all factions, but the name has become part of our identity. It may not be completely descriptive any longer, but the team has always been known as Europa Barbarorum. It is like a given name, it is a part of who we are, not what we are.

In addition, the term "barbarian" originally meant foreigner. Everyone is a "barbarian" to someone.

To think that BI is biased towards barbarians is right and wrong. It did introduce more depth to the "Barbarian" factions, but it also added to the Romans (Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire). For example the rebellions, and various traits (such as "ups the reds"...).

Most total conversion mods set during the RTW time (270BCE-14CE) are actually rather unbiased. They try to provide historic reality with gameplay, meaning every faction has a chance of winning. For further proof, check out the EB threads (especially the Gameplay Guides section, here:https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=128). You'll find plenty of players choosing different factions.

If you want to see the difference between EB and RTR, you'll just have to check the mods yourself. EB is the most historically accurate (comes with biographies for some starting characters, in-depth description of buildings and units). RTR, though, is a good compromise between EB and RTW.

[econ21]

The Romans (and Greeks and Egyptians) are all very well done in the realism mods. RTW Greeks have a rather thin line up and the Egyptians are abomination; RTR and EB improve them a lot. The Romans in RTW are actually pretty well done, so you won't notice too much of a change in RTR and EB. But they are gloriously skinned in the mods; the equites or the triarii, for example, are very resplendent. RTR and EB also can do fun things for the Romans with traits - in EB you can get a triumph, for example; in RTR you can use Marcus Camillus's Roman leadership mod to get numbered legion ancillaries and leadership traits.

I'd particularly recommend BI for those who like the Romans. It is great to have them on the defensive - especially in the West. Their troops are still excellent, but they have to take on multiple stacks of nasties. Goth Mod for BI is a kind of RTR makeover of BI and very highly recommended. IBFD is similar.