A few questions

[The Great Apple]

Post number one:

1) I have here the tech tree that came with the game, but it doesn't seem to be correct. For instance, as the English, in one city I have a Swordsmiths Workshop. According to the tech tree I should be able to build Civalric Men-at-Arms. But I can't... I should also be able to builid longbowmen at a place with a master bowyer right?

2) Some things in this game seem a bit cumbersome. For example: Castle walls should not mysteriously fire arrows! You should have to put archers inside the castle for it to be able to shoot you! Also you have no option to not ransom back the prisoners from a fight. I often find myself killing them at then end, as I don't need money, and I often take about twice as many prisoners as I kill.

There are so many little things which could make this game sooo much better. The RTS element is good, but I supose, being a civ player, I want the turn-based bit to be more like civ...

Now, to find a place to put post number two...

[TwinMfg]

Post number one:

1) I have here the tech tree that came with the game, but it doesn't seem to be correct. For instance, as the English, in one city I have a Swordsmiths Workshop. According to the tech tree I should be able to build Civalric Men-at-Arms. But I can't... I should also be able to builid longbowmen at a place with a master bowyer right?

2) Some things in this game seem a bit cumbersome. For example: Castle walls should not mysteriously fire arrows! You should have to put archers inside the castle for it to be able to shoot you! Also you have no option to not ransom back the prisoners from a fight. I often find myself killing them at then end, as I don't need money, and I often take about twice as many prisoners as I kill.

There are so many little things which could make this game sooo much better. The RTS element is good, but I supose, being a civ player, I want the turn-based bit to be more like civ...

Now, to find a place to put post number two...

Welcome, fellow civ player! MTW is definitely NOT like civ. Its focus is on the RTS battles, not the building/strategy level. It's still a fun game though.

Some units are not available until the High or Late periods of the game. Any Civalric unit won't be available until 1205 (or there abouts). Gothic units aren't available until the Late period (don't remember the date). Longbowmen become available in High. Unfortunately, the tech tree doesn't identify the time period in which units are available. There some better tech trees in the files/download page, but they don't have "dates" either.

Your other issues are even more design-related. Look on the bright side: not many arrows come at you from those castle walls; it's not like they're given several groups of archers to harrass you with.

As for prisoners, I believe they're being historically acurate. I don't think POW camps were common until much later. So, what's your choices? Ransom them back or kill 'em. Ransoming them means you have to fight them again. Killing them affects your vice/virtue. I normally just ransom them back to make the game a bit more difficult. There may be a happy medium in killing about half the prisoners; just kill what you captured about halfway through the battle and ransom the rest. That should slow down your vice problem and return fewer men to the enemy.

[bretwalda]

Hello, and welcome! I am a big civ player but - as they say - this is just another cup of tea... ;) What is more I first ditched MTW since I am TBS player and could not stand the realtime battles. However later I picked up installed Viking Invasion (that made it even better) and since then I am enjoying it... The two games are just... different but real good!

[Aurochs]

Here's what you do with that tech tree sheet:
1)Take it to a trash can.
2)Throw it away.

That thing is useless. Instead, download and print this. It is much more accurate, and includes all the information on that foldout, plus tech trees for the VI campaign and block maps for both so you know what resources are where. Very useful in planning your game.

[ichi]

Welcome to the Org Apple.

Since TwinMfg answered your question about unit availability, I'd just like to mention that once you clear out a section of a castle the arrows that were coming from that section stop (altho arrows from the remaining occupied sections will continue).

You are given the opportunity to decie the fate of rebels that you take prisoner, but once the battle ends you will try to ransom prisoners of other factions. Sometimes this ransom is refused by the other faction. Remember that there are Virtues and Vices associated with always killing prisoners on the field. The first few times it will raise your General's Dread level, which is nice, but after repeated slaughters your men will get angry that they are not receiving their cut of the ransom.

Sometimes ransoming isn't a bad idea, as the troops can be inferior and the General's get bad Vices for being Captured or . . .for running away. This Runner Vice can really hurt in later battles.

And, if you like Civ try Rome Total War, the single player campaign is much more Civ oriented. I prefer MTW for the fantastic multiplayer.

ichi

ps There was once a great warrior online in MTW named Apple; if you ever go online with that name be prepared.

[macsen rufus]

Sometimes ransoming isn't a bad idea, as the troops can be inferior and the General's get bad Vices for being Captured or . . .for running away. This Runner Vice can really hurt in later battles.

Can't agree more - once had an important battle - 5-star general with "good runner" vice was routed easily, but same battle played with a 2-star, no vice general went easily to me. The few points morale lost outweighed the valour gained from the 5-star guy. Runners get pensioned off or killed in my army nowadays!!

[Don Corleone]

Not to mention, who said you can't kill your captured troops? Push the dagger icon next to the prisoners during the tally screen (shows your units' individual kills), and it kills all your prisoners before they go to offer a ransom.