Greetings and a question!

[Crazy_Banker]

I have played MTW since day one. Recently I ran across this sight and I must admit I have read every piece of advice with excitement. Thanks for all the great tips, special thanks to froggy.....I have always played on version 1.0 and am a little fearful of installing any patches. Can someone please expand on why I would want to install new downloads.

[Mithrandir]

Welcome CB,
The official patches fix problems, so it's always a good idea to install them.

Some mods add new units, lands etc. others just change stats. I haven't tried any of them, but there are some good ones out there, check out the dungeon on this site for more info...

[Ludens]

You should always install patches since they help solve problems with the game, not to mention that you can't multiplay without them. There are two patches for M:TW, one for the original game (M:TW 1.1) and one for the expansion (VI 2.01). If you have the Viking Invasion expansion, there is no need to install 1.1 since it is already included in the expansion.

I don't know the changes made by patch 1.1, but patch 2.01 removed a nasty bug that caused your king to die when he became 56 years of age and also solved an exploit that gave cavalry an infinite charge bonus (the so-called sideswipe exploit).

Other downloads are mods (modifications), made by enthusiastic fans. These mods change the game to make it more fun (e.g. Medieval XL, MedMod) or more realistic (e.g. BKB's Supermedieval), or sometimes place it in a completely different enviroment (e.g. Napoleonic: TW, Hellenistic: TW, Shogun for MTW:VI, Middle Earth: TW, War of the Roses). This is for players who like MTW but think it would be better if it had been done differently, or for players who got bored with the game. Most of these mods do require VI 2.01. The only exception I can think of is an early version of MedMod which is still downloadable. You can find information about the mods in the Engineer's Guild subforum (MTW modification forum).

[Crazy_Banker]

If I install Viking invasion, what will be the major changes to the format of MTW?

[Goofball]

If I install Viking invasion, what will be the major changes to the format of MTW?

Hi CB, welcome to the Org!

As I recall (it's been a long time since I played vanilla MTW) the changes with VI are all good. You get a few new playable factions in the Medeival game, a few annoying bugs are removed, I believe a few new units are available, and you also get the Viking campaign available for play. This campaign features only the British Isles and parts of Scandinavia.

It's well worth it my friend, I would recommend installing VI (and the subsequent patch) without delay...

P.S. Are you really a banker? I am too...

[Bobablooie]

Yes, definitely install VI! I waited because I enjoyed MTW just the way it was, but after I installed VI, I enjoyed MTW even more! I rarely play the Viking campaign anyway, but I'm grateful for what VI has given to the MTW play.
Pre-battle: after you invade or are invaded, instead of going right to the battle screen, you are given a "pre-battle" screen, which lists all of the forces you and your opponent have ready to fight. You can tailor your force (swap out/in units) to match/counter what the AI has, or, you can elect to withdraw entirely.
There are some other changes that VI adds to MTW like more units and playable factions, but the pre-battle screen makes you WANT to head into combat.
Don't delay, me-lad!

[Crazy_Banker]

So, I proceeded this weekend to buy the expansion pack and it seems it is no longer in production. Any advice on where I might be able to pick up the Viking Expansion.

[lugh]

Well, it is still available. Amazon still has it as a standalone. I dont recall seeing it in any real store though.
The thing is it was released as a battle pack, the original game plus the expansion so I would imagine most stores would only stock that.
If you cant order online and cant find a standalone copy you might need to fork out for the Battle Pack.

[Goofball]

If you cant order online and cant find a standalone copy you might need to fork out for the Battle Pack.

But don't worry about that too much. I recently bought the battle pack as a Christmas gift for my little brother. Total cost: $20.00 (Canadian).

[Marquis de Said]

But don't worry about that too much. I recently bought the battle pack as a Christmas gift for my little brother. Total cost: $20.00 (Canadian).

Plus it has the 2.01 patch included, so you don't need any more updates.

[Odin]

You can find the battle collection in most retail gaming stores, I just bought one myself for 19.99 american. Compusa had 3 copies of it. I had stepped on my CD and cracked it an needed a replacement. I never played VI either, vanilla was a fun game.

When you get it you will get the Hungarians, Argonese and scillians as playable factions, along with the Viking period which has many unique factions from England.

the best part of having the Viking expansion pack is thats what all the mods are written for, now that MTW has been out so long these mods have really been tweeked and tested.

Im to the stage now where I am ready to pick one, but definately go out and get VI, buy it off the web if you can, if not just get the battle pack like I did.

[macsen rufus]

I would definitely recommend VI - even if you don't play the Viking Campaign, the new units, factions and the reinforcement set-up make MTW even better!!

But the Viking campaign itself is great (esp if you're a Brit, personally I'm a Mercian but I haven't played the faction yet....).

The battle pack is still going strong in the UK, I'm sure I saw it on some in-store "chart topper" racks just before Xmas, and of course Amazon still do it.

As for the mods, I haven't tried any yet, though I will have a shot at XL and the BKB one as soon as my current empire has swept away the infidel West... I'm amazed to find a game I still haven't exhausted after two years. Few last more than a couple of months before the fun wears off. And I've learned so much mediaeval history, as well!

Oh, I haven't got RTW yet as my machine is too low spec, won't even run the demo properly

[Ludens]

Plus it has the 2.01 patch included, so you don't need any more updates.

Are you sure? I am pretty certain I had to download 2.01 after installing the battle pack. It is just a bundle of containing separate CD's for MTW and VI after all.

EDIT: before you ask, I bought my copy of the battle pack in London, so it's the European version.

[Odin]

Are you sure? I am pretty certain I had to download 2.01 after installing the battle pack. It is just a bundle of containing separate CD's for MTW and VI after all.

EDIT: before you ask, I bought my copy of the battle pack in London, so it's the European version.

I got the same "bundled" battle pack in the states, and thought I had to download the 2.01 patch as well (I did this before looking at the MTW version ) and I got a note when I tried to run the patch EXE that I had 2.01 installed.

I think your good mate !