I bought RTW, but ended up playing STW WE instead.

[Togakure]

1.02 is the final official patch, which is what I use. If you want to try different ones(1.02, 1.03, 1.05) you can download and install the statswapper, which lets you switch between them as you like. There's a link for it somewhere in the STW MP thread, stickied at the top of this forum. Look for a post by TosaInu.

1.05 is really just 1.03 with improved Mongol stats. I use it for Mongol battles against other human players only. 1.03 tones down the muskets and beefs up nag inf and monks, among other things (cav charge is stronger, but cav melee is weaker, etc.). We used 1.03 for a while, even had a tourney using it, but almost everyone (in the "second generation" of STW players that played online a lot over the last two years or so) eventually went back to 1.02. At the time that the official server shut down, it was in use exclusively, pretty much.

I haven't heard a lot about mods for STW that are good--the game itself is so nice you don't really need a mod, imo. There is an MTW/VI mod called Samurai Wars that makes MTW look and play like the original STW. Some people really seem to like it. If you liked the way the original STW played (less powerful guns, arguably more emphasis on proper unit match ups and flanking), then you might want to give it a try. Some very talented people have put a lot of work into it recently. Check the MTW forums for info on it.

[Jay Tee]

Thanks TogakureOjonin, I downloaded the stat swapper. From the reading I did, I think I'll start with either 1.03 or 1.05 as I don't really like the idea of overpowered gunpowder units.

[Togakure]

Have fun. If you ever play with other humans online on a fakeserver, remember that your stat versions must match. If they don't, the game will drop any non-hosts with a different stat version when you go to the battlefield (after you select mons and armies, which can be annoying if that took a while). With the statswapper you can ALT+TAB out from the game, switch and ALT+TAB back. Just be sure you haven't entered a game before you do this (do it while you're still in the lobby).

The tell-tale sign of a stat mismatch is the message "Player X dropped out of sync" upon reaching the field. This message occurs with other problems occasionally, but in my experience it most often occurs when there is a stat mismatch.

EDIT: The game host will get this message. The non-host(s) whose stat version doesn't match the hosts will simply find themselves back in the lobby, wondering what the hell happened.

[Wilbo]

And you guys use v2.0 for online battles?

[Togakure]

When the official server shut down, most (95%) were using 1.02 exclusively. Only some old-timers who prefer gameplay closer to that of the original Shogun used 1.03, and they rarely came on.

After the official server shut down and the fakeserver was put up, there was a very brief period where a regular group showed up on the weekends. Most were using 1.02, but some of the 1.03 players showed up for a few games too.

My take is this: if you find anyone on the fakeserver, they are more likely to have 1.02 than 1.03. If you arrange to meet here first, you can discuss what patch you'd like to use. Installing a swapper will allow you to take advantage of any opportunity to play that presents itself.

Personally, I tend to play 1.02 because I've played many more games using it, so I'm used to how it plays. When I use 1.03 my guys don't perform like they do in 1.02 because of the stat differences, and I have to adjust my playing style and unit selections, which takes time to fine tune. As one rarely plays more than a few games here and there nowadays, I never get to the level of proficiency using 1.03 that I have using 1.02. Granted, given that I hardly play anymore, it really doesn't matter. I play little better than a newbie regardless of which stat I'm using.

Anyway, hope that helps.