Org Promotion

[Gigantus]

I tried MTW2 but the inquisitors drove me away.

That's the kind of stuff that starts it - looking for a fix that is. If the solution is easily found (it's a simple text file edit), or even just the place where to ask, then the forum is doing a good job of providing support.
With the right motivation it also starts modding - even more so if the forum environment supports this as well. That is if you can find the place -

• Forum
• Historical Total War Titles
• Medieval 2: Total War
• M2:TW Modification
• Learn to Mod
• Modding Questions

Anyone surprised that the last post in that forum was six months ago?

How popular is modding the game versus just playing the vanilla version?

Seriously? The question is probably not asked correctly, the direct answer: if you can't mod then you haven't much of an option. If you still play the vanilla version after more then 10 years then hats off to you.
If the question is 'Do you still play vanilla or modded versions?' then I am wondering if you have ever tried a mod.

With regards to RTW and M2TW I would simply say that without the excellent modding capabilities these versions have they would have slipped into oblivion like ETW, NTW, S2 have already done and as R2 is busy doing. I think the question should be 'How much modding is still happening and how can it be supported'.

Certainly not by burying the forums 5 levels down.