My final thoughts on RTW

[Praylak]

I wouldn't put to much faith in the patch. I'll give CA/Activision a good grade on supporting products, but it seemed like we had to do allot of screaming and yelling to get the last patch for VI.

I like what the Total Realism mod is aiming to do, and the Europa Barb.. I'm not using the Realism mod yet because I'm concerned about some of the negative changes some people are reporting. Once it gets tweaked I intend to use it. In the end I think its the modders that will move this game to the level where I can really enjoy it. Like many games before, the fans that mod make a good game great. They seem better atuned to what the core players want from the game. Why this is I'm not quite sure, but if its any feature a game developer must include for it to be great, its the ability to mod it. All we need do now is be patient or participate if your able.

[ToranagaSama]

I'm not using the Realism mod yet because I'm concerned about some of the negative changes some people are reporting. Once it gets tweaked I intend to use it.

What things have you heard?

Issues, whether perceived (majority), or real are NOTHING compared to wasting your time playing Vanilla. Particularly, if you favored the MedMod. TR is the closest thing to it.

[Praylak]

What things have you heard?

Issues, whether perceived (majority), or real are NOTHING compared to wasting your time playing Vanilla. Particularly, if you favored the MedMod. TR is the closest thing to it.

My version is hardly vanilla now. I've changed more then I can recall, all for the better, but it would be nice to get them all in one mod, plus the extras.

My ony concern really was some unit balancing. Some mixed feedback at the TWC regarding chariots and such. Really though its nothing I can't edit myself as I've already changed many unit stats, specificly Egypts. But you make a good point, and I will install v3.2 now because some of the more pressing issues of the vanilla game are really starting to bother me. But version 4.0 looks like it going to be great. Can't wait.

[Swordsman]

Hi all! Haven't posted in a LONG time, but have still been playing MTW and picked up RTW a couple of weeks ago. Agree with just about all the issues posted here, but what REALLY bothers me is the cumulative effect of all the problems. We have Super Elephants, lots of individual unit stat issues, suicidal generals, more complex diplomatic options (with seemingly random results), V&V issues, etc.

Any small subset of these I could probably deal with without a lot of fuss, but while playing I always have a nagging suspicion that there are a multitude of random & bizarre things going on "under the hood". The complexity is nice, but only if there is some rational method for implementing it. Might as well have a Panzer Division attacking the Legions out of Germany, or a Fast Attack sub prowling the Med sinking Biremes at will-- not a lot worse than some of the bizarre things that have happened on campaign.

Guess the bottom line for me is that I want to feel as if I am playing a "rational" system, not just outlasting a bunch of random events. I may be off base, but I always seem to be just waiting for the next goofy thing to happen-- which ruins the immersive feeling and that just isn't worth my time. Also disappointed that a lot of this wasn't caught in playtesting (not asking for perfection but I'm a pretty casual gamer and some of the stuff is so obvious ...).

But I still have hopes for this game-- maybe the patch can correct enough of this stuff to give me back my illusions! Until then, it's back to MTW.

--Swordsman

[bmolsson]

So the executive summary is, a great game that needs a patch.....

[desdichado]

So the executive summary is, a great game that needs a patch.....

or three

[Red Harvest]

On the missile range thing. There are four basic classes in the game:

Slingers with 80 meter range (stone ammo)
Elite merc slingers with 120 meter range ("bullets" of lead or hard clay)
Archers with 120 meter range
Elite archers with 170 meter range

The Romans get archer auxilia eventually with the same "uber" range as others.

I'm getting ready to test a mod with elite slingers at 100 meters, and elite archers at 150. I have a hard time accepting a 42 to 50% range increase, especially since the elite missile kill stat is so high anyway.

[WiredOnCoffee]

I agree Praylak, it is the Modders that seem to do more for the game. Like with MTW, I tried a few of the mods floating around then found the XL Mod and loved it... for one it didnt totally change the game so that you needed to reinstall it, and added ALOT more factions makeing Scandenavia more interesting by adding Norway and Sweden to the mix. Im a Viking by blood (Norwigen/German) so I loved playing as Norway.

I would like to see a Later Game mod to add the Historical Headachs like Sparticus, The Goths, or The Huns. Infact, the Goths historically were a big reason Rome fell so hard. Being that they were the only large army to invade in Centeries starting around 410 A.D. I may be off on the year but the time period is right. If they are in the game I cant see getting that far in a Campaign so how about a Mod starting from where you leave off.... as Emporer.