Ahem

[Ramses II CP]

So this might need to be deleted, but I feel obligated to ask why KotR gets a forum only when it ends.

Is this going to be an archive forum, or for the next iteration of the game?

Either way, thanks.

[Privateerkev]

Woot!

Free OOC thread!!!!

*spam* *spam* *spam* *spam* *spam*

[GeneralHankerchief]

I think the new game is gonna get its own subforum.

[Cecil XIX]

Hopefully all the topics will be moved here. I'd hate to have to de-sticky them and have them fall into obscurity.

[Northnovas]

This maybe a good area to discuss the game and future game.

[Privateerkev]

This maybe a good area to discuss the game and future game.

I'm up for it.

I've been re-reading your BBB AAR. (pronounced BABAR... )

I really like the titles. Maybe if we do a mod it can be one that has BBB in it like SS?

Any thoughts gentlemen?

[Zim]

I think I've heard a couple people mention Stainless Steel before, so it's likely a top candidate. I prefer the Broken Crescent mod myself, although I'm forced to admit the battle AI could use some work.

One thing I'm curious about is the faction we'll use. Keeping with the Roman theme, maybe the Byzantines?

[Privateerkev]

One thing I'm curious about is the faction we'll use. Keeping with the Roman theme, maybe the Byzantines?

A Roman theme would be keeping with tradition. But maybe it's time for something fresh. I have no ideas in particular.

[Northnovas]

I like the idea of the titles something a little more visual for the role playing, and the one thing about SS 4.1 is the combination of several mods trying to fix things in the game mechanics.
Maybe with FH ability we can make further adjustments. The other thing with SS is the extra provinces in the game. It is nice to see more settlements.

Has for a faction that will be a difficult choice.

[Zim]

I don't know, I think playing the Eastern Empire would be different enough from the last two factions, while still keeping with tradition.

I guess it all depends on what kind of "theme" we're going for. I'd personally suggest Broken Crescent for a completely new experience, but I understand the attraction of Stainless Steel and its titles and improved battle AI.

I guess my main preference for a faction at this point is something outside of Central Europe, which portion of the map I've come to know very well.

A Roman theme would be keeping with tradition. But maybe it's time for something fresh. I have no ideas in particular.

[deguerra]

I'm certainly an advocate for SS, but I like Broken Crescent a lot as well. The new traits and ancillaries would make for a much more structure roleplaying for sure :D

[Cecil XIX]

As I see it, there are essentially two issues concerning our chouce of platform: the roleplaying enhancements offered, and the difficulty of steamrolling. While I am perfectly fine with using a MII:TW mod, I think Europa Barbarorum must be considered as well. That mod has many aspects that are good for roleplaying, and it would also be more challenging than KOTR.

What's more, most MII:TW mods have switched to Kingdoms. We could also use the last vanilla version, but the choice would be another point of contention.

[AussieGiant]

I guess this is Econ getting things ready for the upcoming discussions.

I would prefer to not us HRE again. The game will use the same names for the most part and that would get a little strange.

Going east would be very interesting, but our collective ability to role play characters from completely different cultures could be a potential boon or a problem.

[OverKnight]

Going east would be very interesting, but our collective ability to role play characters from completely different cults could be a potential boon or a problem.

In contrast to our highly accurate portrayal of Medieval German Nobles?

ERE might be interesting if we wanted to continue the Roman permutations, though the various Greek titles might be a headache. Even when I was writing the Comnenian Resoration I could hardly make heads or tails of it.

We could go completely bonkers and play the Aztecs.

[_Tristan_]

We could go completely bonkers and play the Aztecs.

That could be fun but it would be necessary to give the AI a (very) big boost otherwise it should be a walk in the park...

[Ramses II CP]

I really think we should consider Broken Crescent for the next run. It does not have a true titles system like SS 4.1, although there are some titles from cities, but that is it's sole disadvantage. The Broken Crescent map is a complete break from Europe, and full of it's own unique strategic and tactical implications. The factions and gameplay are very much different from vanilla, especially the movement rate changes, and the Mongols on the battlefield are everything you could hope for. If we're nearby when they arrive, we will lose settlements to them without having to contrive success for the AI.

I haven't played SS since it moved to Kingdoms for it's current version, so I can't speak authoritatively on it, but what I recall from trying it out is that the game on the strategy map moves more slowly. That might be what we want, to allow for more interesting political developments, or it might not if power is more difficult to accumulate.

Anyway, I encourage everyone to try out BC. Right now there are clearly still some minor bugs (Some AI citadels eventually build cannon towers for example, which were supposed to be removed from the game) but the mod is extremely stable and quite enjoyable.

[TinCow]

I requested a subforum for the new game. I guess this is it. We'll get the name of the subforum changed when we figure out what we're going to call it.

BC is a good contender for the next game. I'm also drooling over Stainless Steel 6.0, which is due to be released soon. That requires Kingdoms, though, so I don't know whether it's a good idea or not.

[Privateerkev]

I have Kingdoms so I can handle a mod that needs it.

But, I know some in here might have some major reservations regarding Kingdoms because of Securom. So, if we stay with normal M2TW mods, I can try to do a dual-install because I have the hard-drive space. I just might be asking some of you for help on how to do it because I am relatively computer illiterate.

[Ramses II CP]

If the sparkly new Kingdoms patch proves stable over the next few days I'm going to pick up the expansion. For KotR I'd jump the hoops necessary to remove SecuRom anyway.

edit: No dual installs should be necessary PK.

[FactionHeir]

I think maybe half or less of the KOTR players have Kingdoms.
There's probably more of those in the modded hotseats.

Personally, I have no intention of getting it, but that shouldn't stop you from using it anyway

[TinCow]

I don't own Kingdoms either, but I would buy it if it was needed for the next game. Such a decision needs a lot of discussion, though, since a Kingdoms based game would limit the pool of players.

[Privateerkev]

edit: No dual installs should be necessary PK.

From my very limited understanding of mods, it seems that some mods only work up to patch 1.2 and won't for Kingdoms/1.3. Is this correct? And if so, does that mean I need two copies of the game on my system?

I wonder what would limit the pool of players more. A M2TW mod, a Kingdoms pure game, or a Kingdoms based mod. Any ideas? Obviously a pure M2TW game would probably limit us the least since most people have patch 1.3. But with a few of us patching to 1.4, that might put us out of reach with the 1.3 people. That is, if they ever get 1.4 out. They just took it back down...

[Northnovas]

I am also one who held off on Kingdoms but have the 1.3 patch. There are mods to accommodate such has the SS 4.1. Like TC mentioned I would also give consideration for a purchase with reservations.

The Securom is a minor issue more of an annoyance on principle. I just don't like the fact of paying for something again that is not an upgrade. If it was a new patch and many issues addressed that have been out in a mod I would not hesitate but when I can get the fix from a mod and enjoy the game without the further cost I am content with that.

Its not the issue of cost for a new game but what am I getting for my money.

[Privateerkev]

I was very much against Kingdoms because of Securom. But, I held my breath, installed it, and saw my computer did not explode like I first feared. Now I love it. The Crusade campaign by itself was worth the extra money.

But I know others have their reservations. We've learned the hard way that we need to all have the same version of the game so I'll try to dual-install if we go with a non-Kingdom mod. I have the hard-drive space just sitting there since I don't download things and I only play 1 or 2 games at a time.

[FactionHeir]

Afaik mods designed using 1.2 will not run into problems using 1.3.

Regarding the Kingdoms patch, it depends on whether it patches kingdoms.exe only or also medieval2.exe. If the former, then there should be no problems if a M2TW only mod is chosen.

[AussieGiant]

I don't have Kingdom's either.

I really think we should keep the game based on the main game and not an expansion...only because many people don't purchase an expansion for a variety of reasons. I guess I'm one of those examples...and I have every expansion up until kingdoms.

[Privateerkev]

Afaik mods designed using 1.2 will not run into problems using 1.3.

Regarding the Kingdoms patch, it depends on whether it patches kingdoms.exe only or also medieval2.exe. If the former, then there should be no problems if a M2TW only mod is chosen.

Cool, if they ever get around to putting it back up, I'll get 1.4. Let me know what to look for and I'll tell you which file it patches.

[Ferret]

well I have Kingdoms and would be happy with pretty much any mod. SS is close to vanilla but it would be good. Don't the current draft of rules require a perticular setting or faction?

[Cecil XIX]

well I have Kingdoms and would be happy with pretty much any mod. SS is close to vanilla but it would be good. Don't the current draft of rules require a perticular setting or faction?

You bring up a good point, Elite Ferret. I'm hoping Tincow's rules are more of a template for modification and discussion, because we would definitely want a set a rules that attempts to reflect the political structure of the faction we're playing as, as well as any minor differences between platform.

[TinCow]

The draft rules are intentionally written to be completely generic for faction and mods. They can be adapted for any faction in any mod without any problems. They would even work perfectly fine for RTW.

The only area where it would impact the selection would be in the number of provinces. The more provinces in a mod, the better the game will work IMO. However, even that area isn't a big deal. More provinces will work better with the rules, but the vanilla number will work just fine as well.