Daft questions from a beginner

[bazzabear]

My first question is about the game contents themselves. I received the Special Forces Edition for my birthday - except I'm not sure that's what I've really got. That's what the box says, but there was no campaign map in it, and I've tried setting up some battles with the relevant forces, and can't find the HMS Victory, or the Ottoman Organ Gun in the game. Does it seem like I've been given the wrong discs? Or do you have to do something to unlock them?

The other question - and this is the real dafty - is about the advice I've read on here to aim your cannons at the ground just ahead of troops. Can someone tell me how to aim at the ground? I know in earlier games it was holding down ALT (or maybe CTRL) and right clicking, but I seem to remember the cursor changing to indicate what you were doing. That doesn't seem to happen here.

Thanks for any help!

Bazza

[Wausser]

My first question is about the game contents themselves. I received the Special Forces Edition for my birthday - except I'm not sure that's what I've really got. That's what the box says, but there was no campaign map in it, and I've tried setting up some battles with the relevant forces, and can't find the HMS Victory, or the Ottoman Organ Gun in the game. Does it seem like I've been given the wrong discs? Or do you have to do something to unlock them?

The map should be there, including a piece of paper with a code on it to unlock SF, and click on activate product on steam, this should give you the SF

The other question - and this is the real dafty - is about the advice I've read on here to aim your cannons at the ground just ahead of troops. Can someone tell me how to aim at the ground? I know in earlier games it was holding down ALT (or maybe CTRL) and right clicking, but I seem to remember the cursor changing to indicate what you were doing. That doesn't seem to happen here.

Thanks for any help!

Bazza

When you select a canon, just right click on the ground

[Krauser]

Yes, the Special Forces units are not actually in the box. Instead, you get a code to unlock a special DLC from Steam. The game requires Steam to run.

[bazzabear]

Thanks very much. Looks like I need to drop the makers an email then, I've been shortchanged to the tune of one piece of paper!

[Maleficus]

Yes, the Special Forces units are not actually in the box.

Can you imagine the field day the Daily mail would have if someone bought this game, opened the box, and a working organ gun fell into their lap?

[Yun Dog]

In fact, correct me if im wrong, I got two codes. I got one code on a small a5 piece of paper with the pictures of the SF units (organ gun etc), and I got a code on a little unit card for an addition unit (USS constituion?) was like the pre-order unit but I didnt pre-order just store bought. I think there is an easy test - arn't the units sposed to appear in the custom battle list or something? Someone will know what is the simplist way to see if you have the SF. Anyway when I start steam it shows I have 3 product activated under the ETW game launcher. Basically to activate the SF you click activate product in steam and enter the code and it will add it to your ETW file.

[Durallan]

normally lord yunson what store people will do is they will order in a bunch of these hyped up games, and then they will get in the same amount of these pre order special cards. now what can happen is someone might cancel their pre order or they order more than they sell, so you walk in the store and there is a special forces edition for sale and you get it and pay for it and they give you an extra little piece of paper (I had to fight for mine because the store staff were daffy lol (and I preordered!)) and that USS Constitution was the bonus pre order unit for the special forces edition for gamestop or some other chain I can't remember, anyway basically you got lucky, a rather nice staff person remembered they had the little cards left and you got one for free

not that I'm sure how useful the USS constitution is but hey, free unit

I ordered mine at GAME, and got the Prussian Death's Head Hussar. I have to say though it seems a bit sad to give away these exclusive units considering that not everyone got them, so these little units that someone spent time on are only sitting on a few machines where as all the other units run around happily on everyones machines that got empire.

[Psycotic Empire]

This is probably another stupid question, but how do you change you government to constitional monarchy. I've been playing as Russia, and i've been trying to read up on how to do this. So far i've only been able to change to a republic which doesn't really suit my needs for the time being, as i would still like to keep more control over my lands. Can someone tell me how? I'm a vertern player, playing CA games as far back as Shogan all the way up to Empire so i feel stupid asking simple questions.

[Yun Dog]

normally lord yunson what store people will do is they will order in a bunch of these hyped up games, and then they will get in the same amount of these pre order special cards. now what can happen is someone might cancel their pre order or they order more than they sell, so you walk in the store and there is a special forces edition for sale and you get it and pay for it and they give you an extra little piece of paper (I had to fight for mine because the store staff were daffy lol (and I preordered!)) and that USS Constitution was the bonus pre order unit for the special forces edition for gamestop or some other chain I can't remember, anyway basically you got lucky, a rather nice staff person remembered they had the little cards left and you got one for free

not that I'm sure how useful the USS constitution is but hey, free unit

I ordered mine at GAME, and got the Prussian Death's Head Hussar. I have to say though it seems a bit sad to give away these exclusive units considering that not everyone got them, so these little units that someone spent time on are only sitting on a few machines where as all the other units run around happily on everyones machines that got empire.

Yeh Yay for me, I didnt even know I had it, till my wife said she wasnt going to throw away the reciept cause it had a little card attached to it, and it might be important and then I saw the card - good wife

I agree - I wanted the death head husars too - but I guess because they are a pre order unit it wouldnt be fair to give them out now - this whole thing suxorz balls when you think about it.

Ill swap you my crap US warship for your cool Hussars

Psyc Empire: dont feel bad - I dont know either I just play all my games never changing government - its not like it really makes any difference to the game

I think you have to research it first ???? Hey least you figured out how to change government!!!

[Rowan]

This is probably another stupid question, but how do you change you government to constitional monarchy. I've been playing as Russia, and i've been trying to read up on how to do this. So far i've only been able to change to a republic which doesn't really suit my needs for the time being, as i would still like to keep more control over my lands. Can someone tell me how? I'm a vertern player, playing CA games as far back as Shogan all the way up to Empire so i feel stupid asking simple questions.

If you are already a republic just make the upper class angry in your capital and side with the rebels.

It goes:
AM upper class revolt -> AM
AM lower class revolt -> R
R upper class revolt -> CM
R lower class revolt -> R
CM upper class revolt -> AM
CM lower class revolt -> R

So in order to go from absolute to constitutional monarchy you need to first become a republic.
And in CM, if you need to change your head of state you need to become a republic and then CM again...

[Durallan]

it certainly turns your factions civil war into quite a fiasco when you need so many revolutions just to change the head of state... what happened to good old asassinations? or something, some way od making it easier to change the monarch in a constitutional monarchy would be nice,

hehehe, while I appreciate the offer lord yunson I am quite happy with my deaths head hussar unit ^^ I must say the US warship one while enticing for americans (on their preorder) rather confuses me because I don't remember doing too much shipbuilding in the RTI campaign which makes it seem a bit of a waste

[Didz]

My first question is about the game contents themselves. I received the Special Forces Edition for my birthday - except I'm not sure that's what I've really got. That's what the box says, but there was no campaign map in it, and I've tried setting up some battles with the relevant forces, and can't find the HMS Victory, or the Ottoman Organ Gun in the game. Does it seem like I've been given the wrong discs? Or do you have to do something to unlock them?

I bought the Special Forces Edition, and its says 'Special Forces Edition' above the word EMPIRE on the box front.

Inside there should have been:

a) Two Disks
b) A printed manual with your Keycode printed on the back cover.
c) A printed campaign map.
d) A slip of paper entitled Empire: Total War is Steam powered.
e) A printed sheet entitled Special Forces Units, in which is printed your Download Code for the special units.

When you install the game you will be asked first for your keycode and then later for your special forces download code.

If any of this is missing then your game is incomplete and you should try and return it. Not always easy if its a present I know.

The other question - and this is the real dafty - is about the advice I've read on here to aim your cannons at the ground just ahead of troops. Can someone tell me how to aim at the ground? I know in earlier games it was holding down ALT (or maybe CTRL) and right clicking, but I seem to remember the cursor changing to indicate what you were doing. That doesn't seem to happen here.

Quite simply select your cannon, place the cursor over the piece of ground you want bombarded and right click. As long as none of the enemy units were highlighted the cannon should fire at the ground around where you clicked. The same works for buildings, if you hover over a building and click the cannon will bombard the building.

Sometimes cannon get target fixation and ignore you. But usually if you tell them to 'Stop Firing' by hitting the HALT button and turn off 'Fire at Will' they will pay attention. The only other reason they sometimes fail to actually fire is because the target is out of range or hidden from view.

For example I have occassionally had to systematically destroy half the buildings in a town to clear a line of fire on an occupied town hall in the centre.

[Psycotic Empire]

Thank you very much for this!=)

[Krauser]

In fact, correct me if im wrong, I got two codes. I got one code on a small a5 piece of paper with the pictures of the SF units (organ gun etc), and I got a code on a little unit card for an addition unit (USS constituion?) was like the pre-order unit but I didnt pre-order just store bought. I think there is an easy test - arn't the units sposed to appear in the custom battle list or something? Someone will know what is the simplist way to see if you have the SF. Anyway when I start steam it shows I have 3 product activated under the ETW game launcher. Basically to activate the SF you click activate product in steam and enter the code and it will add it to your ETW file.

If you right-click ETW in My Games of Steam, there is a DLC tab. It should say Elite Units if you have Special Forces and also Elite Units of the West if you bought the extra units DLC. I'm not sure about the bonus pre-order units.

[bazzabear]

Thanks everyone for the help, sorry it's taken me so long to get back.

The customer service were pretty helpful - got me to send a photo of my game box, manuals and the like to prove I wasn't trying it on, then sent me a game code for the extra units. Obviously leaves me without the campaign map, but not too bothered about that.

I have some other daft questions which I'd love answers too, although I'm still scanning through the forum to see if they exist anywhere else:

1) Why do some region capitals have 4 contruction sites, but others only one? Is it population based?

2) I have a fleet of ships stuck in port at London. Every time I try to order them out, a apatronising voice tells me that ships can't travel over land. I'm also unable to send another ship into the port. Just a bug?

3) What difference do bayonets make? Is it just a charge bonus? Or an increase in melee?

I have to say, the manual with this iteration of the series is pretty disappointing. Questions 1 and 3 above are things which I think would have been fully covered in previous game manuals. Another example is pikemen. I can guess what the different formations do, but there's nothing which actually tells you. Trade theatres you only find out about by seeing AI in them and looking into them yourself. That';s another wuestions actually:

4) Is it worthwhile making up trade fleets and anchoring them in the trade theatres? Make much money?

[Didz]

1) Why do some region capitals have 4 contruction sites, but others only one? Is it population based?

Not really sure what you mean. Region capitals all have the same potential build tree, which is limited primarily by technology, enlightenment and the money available to pay for buildings.

2) I have a fleet of ships stuck in port at London. Every time I try to order them out, a apatronising voice tells me that ships can't travel over land. I'm also unable to send another ship into the port. Just a bug?

Sounds like it. London is not a port, therefore there should not be any ships there at all. The nearest port to London is Greenwich, and it should be possible to construct and move ships in and out without any problems.

3) What difference do bayonets make? Is it just a charge bonus? Or an increase in melee?

Should be both, but personally I don't use melee tactic's so I haven't given it much attention.

4) Is it worthwhile making up trade fleets and anchoring them in the trade theatres? Make much money?

This is a complicated question to answer.

Moving a trade fleet to a trade port will provide your nation with the potential to import trade goods from that trade theatre. Whether you actually do so depends on whether can keep the trade lanes from that trade theatre to your home ports open. If you can you will receive a regular quantity of Ivory(a.k.a. Slaves), Sugar or Spices.

However, these are worth nothing unless you can sell them, and so importing them is pointless unless you also have trade partners willing to buy them. If you have trade partners and your trade lanes are open then the imported goods will be re-routed to them and you will receive a price for them equal to the current market rate, which varies according to the amount of goods being offered on the world market. The more of a commodity that is being imported the less money that commodity earns.

Generally, speaking this trade is very lucrative, provided you have the navy available to protect your trade routes. Madagascar is the best trade theatre to develop, Ivory coast comes a close second, followed by the East Indies and Brazil is the least lucrative of the four.

[Peasant Phill]

1)Some regions are 'richer' than others. Population has something to do with it but not everything. Some regions will never have as much cities as others.

2) A bug, sadly

3) Bayonets make a lot of difference. They provide, as you guessed, an increase in melee and charge stats. Think of it as giving your men short spears instead of clubs.

4) Yes, it's worth it but be prepared to spend a hefty amount on it to protect your investment.

[bazzabear]

Thanks guys - perhaps I didn't explain the region thing properly.
In the actual 'city' of each region, you have construction sites, right?
So, in London I have one site for a barracks type building, another for cannon foundry, another for a parliament and anothe for a pleasure type (I think), plus the 'walls' construction site.

But in Georgia, I only have the option for the barracks type, no others.

[bazzabear]

Oh, should have said, my ships aren't actually in London - just the port nearest to London (which I couldn't remember the name of)

[Boohugh]

Thanks guys - perhaps I didn't explain the region thing properly.
In the actual 'city' of each region, you have construction sites, right?
So, in London I have one site for a barracks type building, another for cannon foundry, another for a parliament and anothe for a pleasure type (I think), plus the 'walls' construction site.

But in Georgia, I only have the option for the barracks type, no others.

Regions are basically split into 2 types, those that can build the full range of buildings (usually a nations capital and a few others such as Scotland) and those where you can only build a Governer's Mansion/Barracks. There isn't any way to change them and other than the different icons on the map there doesn't seem to be any obvious way to tell the difference (they aren't labelled differently for example). It seems to be a sort of relic of the city/castle feature in M2TW but not as developed. If I had to guess, I'd say it was put in to highlight the historically more important regions and provide some gameplay balance (so you can't build the best units in every region).

Regarding not being able to move the ships, that sounds like a bug. When you click on the fleet, does the green movement range area show?

[Fisherking]

The stuck ships are a bug. Check again in a turn or so and see if you can move them then, or reload to a previous save and see if they move. If that doesn’t fix it you may have to kill off the ships or restart the campaign.

As to regions and buildings...Large regions have more options for buildings than smaller ones. Some of the choices seem a little subjective on the part of the developers, but that is how it is. The lesser regions only build a government building and walls. The greater region have the barracks, arsenal, maybe the admiralty, and so on. It can’t be changed and they never grow into a more developed region.

[bazzabear]

Cheers Boohugh and Fisherking, that makes sense.
I thought it might be the case, but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a way of expanding.

The ships do show a coloured surround, but it's the paler green which I think denotes a 'zone of control'. The brighter movement zone doesn't seem to exist. Now I just need to decide whether to leave the ships there (as they occasionally get to intercept fleets using the Channel) or if it's not cost effective.

[bazzabear]

Can anyone give me a quick quide to naval battles? I've started just autoresolving all of them, as I haven't a clue what I'm doing - but if past experience of autoresolving normal battles is anything to go by, I bet that costs me a load of damage.

Do people self-control all their ships in a big fleet? Is there a way of getting most of them AI controlled and just doing one or two yourself?
Is it just a case of giving all your ships a target and leaving them to it?

[bazzabear]

Oops. Pressed post too soon.

I was going to ask about weird 'firepower' things, like opponent ships with only 2 cannons having a massive firepower (but still being wiped out by my brigs on autoresolve), but I've seen elsewhere that no-one else seems to understand this either!

Another question is about my settlement in Mysore which has had the fort walls breached. Back on the campaign map, they're showing up as undamaged on the settlement, but next time I was attacked, the hole was still there.