Hey everyone. Long time player of the TW series, first time poster. (God I hate people who use that expression..DOH! first time, honest) :)
This was the first community based forum that had a complete guide with most if not all of the games facets listed in an organized manner. I felt obligated to join up and become part of the community as TW is in essence (for me) the perfect game.
What I wanted to touch on here was just how incomplete a new players strategy really is, especially if you are playing a catholic faction. I basically turned the game into a florins generating, tech building, massive military expansion and to hell with the pope, religion, even sacking cities. All I wanted was advanced echnologies with stacks of cutting edge armies on easy setting! This defeats the whole genius of this game. What I really want to get into is at least playing medium/medium and using the games ... subtler paths to victory. Of course, this is Total War afterall and there will still be lots of room for sheer aggression and barreling over weaker factions, I just think a lot of newer players and players of other strategy games fall into this trap of tech/military/economic building to support a massive army that has to protect much of everything because diplomacy isn't being used!
Anyways, just thought I'd come on, admit my own shortsightedness and express my desire to become a well rounded player who plays .. "The Complete Game".
NWO