Mods for MTW2 and Kingdoms
Lets start a thread about MTW2/Kingdom mods as we have some info but it is scattered in all kind of threads. I have not tried too many but I offer opinions on the few I tried and will expand the opening post as I try more. Feel free to add your opinion on these or on any other mod you tried.
For now I just briefly mention the two most popular ones LTC and Stainless Steal, basically both are great and I agree with the short description I read somewhere here: LTC as MTW2 should be; SS as MTW2 could be. LTC feels like a correct, patched version of MTW2; whereas SS feels like an expansion pack with many new factions, new units and lots of new provinces. None of them is considerably more difficult than the vanilla game though in each the strategic AI feels better. SS also has many new features like loyalty traits and foraging for armies. I would suggest everyone to upgrade the vanilla game to LTC right at the start, and when you want new factions etc, switch to SS.
LTC: Lusted has a link to it in his sig.
SS: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=314
The long road. First of all it has an incredibly beautiful menu background image. I dont know who did it but it is very well done! Second, perhaps more importantly this is a very challenging version but IMO suggested only for the hardcore fans. Both recruitment and building costs are greatly (insanely) increased and building times are increased too (though turn number is increased too). This no doubt makes the game very challenging but IMO it also makes it rather boring. You will building dirt roads and grain exchange in the first half of the game and running around with the same milita army for long, long time. It also has new provinces nd might even have new units, though I never got to that stage. :clown:
All in all greatest challenge but only for the hard core fans.
tLR: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=315
Pro Doe et Rege. My favourite so far. It brings the game to a new level. It is more difficult than the vanilla or LTC but this diffiulty is not achieved by an insanely increased building cost/times as in the LR (though building costs are increased compared to the vanilla). It has new provines most of them like in SS and some new factions (though not as many as SS). However the novelty of this mod is twofold: (i) it has a unique (at least in MTW2) auxiliary/levy recruitment system and it has a reworked castle/city system. With these two system the game completely feels different from the vanilla, lot more "realistic" (if it means anything) and lot more challenging (though houserules are still welcome).
The auxiliary/levy recruitment system means that you can train your elite troops only in your home provinces. When you conquer a new province the first level of barrack give you no training abilities (!), the second gives you only levy troops specific to that area (so you will get cuman tribesmen around the blacksea, byz spearmen in Greece, kurdish troops in anatolia, etc.), and only the third level of barracks might give you some of your troops (but not the elite ones). So even if you upgrade to the highest level you wont be able to train your elite troops outside of your core provinces. Also, it means that it will take a reasonably long time (though ofc it depends how far away are you from your core provinces) to tech up to be able to train anything at all. Needless to say it slows down expansion and you have to plan carefully oyur invasion to provide reserve/garrison troops and not just one elite stack (if you can afford it ofc.).
Also, you are not restricted in unit types that much at the start (i.e. you dont have to fight with militia armies in the firts half of the game), but your access to elite troops are highly limited (i.e. you have be careful with them, though ofc it depends on the factions as well).
This is a very nice system, I love it. I know that RTW mods have similar systems (EB) but this is the first mod in MTW2, that I know, which has it.
The reworked castle/city system means that there is no difference in recruitment abilities (most of the time) but there is a huge difference in recruitment slots allowed. Castles of have lot more (4-6) compared to cities (1-2, or 3 at huge). So castles are the natural training centers. Also, castles have free upkeep slots (5!) for elite troops (!). The two thing combined together means that now it actually makes sense to have castles at strategic locations, both as traning centers and garrisoning elite troops. The upkeep of 5 elite troops can be quite a lot, so you can save a lot if you garrison them in castles. A few castles close together means that you can garrison an elite stack without paying a single florin upkeep! However, if you move out it will cost you a lot so this favours a defensive style with carefully planned offensives.
All in all, I love both kind of major changes and I strongly recommend this mod to everyone how wants a new and challenging game.
PDER: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=437
Re: Mods for MTW2 and Kingdoms
I have been playing Broken Crescent since its release two days ago.
- full conversion mod of M2TW focused on the Middle East
- all-new Muslim, Hindu and Christian factions plus completely re-worked Byzantines (called ERE) and Kingdom of Jerusalem
- the models and skins are truly beautiful with intricate and authentic shield and armour designs
- atmospheric music and beautiful UI
- "Area of Recruitment" system means more realistic and historical recruitment limited to faction "homeland" areas (a very basic implementation of the kind of idea taken to its logical extreme in Europa Barbarorum)
- all-new battle and strategic AI by GrandViz, author of the UltimateAI mod
So far I LOVE it - it's too early for me to tell you whether the re-worked AI is more of a challenge than vanilla but the sheer and stunning beauty of the skins, the new campaign map and the variety of factions (including for the first time Hindus) are more than enough to keep me fascinated for now.
I highly recommend it.
Guild: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=240
TwCenter: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=346
Re: Mods for MTW2 and Kingdoms
I love PDER too but since no one has mentioned it DIV is worth a DL.
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=71528
With a great heraldic system, designate your carachters to become either govenors or generals, legendary swords etc. Many factions from Kingdoms are playable like Teutonics, Kingdom of Jerusalem, Lithuania and Armenia. The English now has the Irish to confront too.
Re: Mods for MTW2 and Kingdoms
Hi gents,
Excuse my ignorance but, can anybody tell me which/if some of these mods are compatible with Vanilla, or even better with Lusted's Lands to Conquer? Some seem to have a specific folder, but I do not know whether they modify/overwrite any of the files required for vanilla/LtC or just add the ones they need.
In previous TW games, duplicating the folder was needed, but now five or six times the SEGA folder fills quite a bit in my HD.
Thanks.
Re: Mods for MTW2 and Kingdoms
I am currently playing Stainless Steel 5.1 for Kingdoms
It is fun to play I must say.
For all the features look here:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=126810
It is a pretty big download one has to admit....Cheers, Sub...who just repaired his internet connection....:yes:
Re: Mods for MTW2 and Kingdoms
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joh
Hi gents,
Excuse my ignorance but, can anybody tell me which/if some of these mods are compatible with Vanilla, or even better with Lusted's Lands to Conquer? Some seem to have a specific folder, but I do not know whether they modify/overwrite any of the files required for vanilla/LtC or just add the ones they need.
In previous TW games, duplicating the folder was needed, but now five or six times the SEGA folder fills quite a bit in my HD.
Thanks.
Look under "hosted modifications" and "mods in development" threads for more information. LTC, DIV, AD etc all have versions for vanilla too. Most mods are installed in the "mods"-folder so you just need one game but can play many mods.
Re: Mods for MTW2 and Kingdoms
Stainless Steel 4.1 for me. Expands the map, adds factions and is much more of a struggle for me.
Something to keep your eyes open for is Europa Barbororum II (EB2) I had the first one, and it was the best mod for RTW ive ever played. the original statement about area of recruitment and levies is probably inspired by EB, in which the player could install several types of governments for increased trade or military usage (including allied states, independent armies etc). Anyone who has RTW should definitely get this mod, as it is TRULY amazing.
Realise this is for M2TW but EB is great, and I'm looking forward to EB2, which will be a mod of M2TW :2thumbsup:
Re: Mods for MTW2 and Kingdoms
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joh
Hi gents,
Excuse my ignorance but, can anybody tell me which/if some of these mods are compatible with Vanilla, or even better with Lusted's Lands to Conquer? Some seem to have a specific folder, but I do not know whether they modify/overwrite any of the files required for vanilla/LtC or just add the ones they need.
In previous TW games, duplicating the folder was needed, but now five or six times the SEGA folder fills quite a bit in my HD.
Thanks.
For Vanilla 1.2 you need LTC 3.1.
Try this link http://files.filefront.com/Lands+To+.../fileinfo.html
Quote:
If you don't have Kingdoms (like me), version 3.1 is all you need. Plus it is a very simple download which creates its own icons on your desktop,so is very easy to operate. Also the other plus that I have noticed is that on my system, the mod has never crashed, unlike what I have heard happens on many other mods.
Happy Gaming :2thumbsup:
