Quote Originally Posted by Alexander the Pretty Good
[Angry strategy gamer]You have to remember that all game reviewers are terrible at real strategy and tactics. If they aren't playing a shooter, then even the simplest actions require much thought, and flanking an enemy is a rare and great accomplishment for them.[/Angry strategy gamer]

Seriously, CA had better improve AI and modding capabilities - remove the limits to things like factions and units! There doesn't seem to be any defensible reason for them!
LOL I totally agree Alexander. I've been trying to introduce this game to my first-person shooter friends and they have a hard time winning battles on EASY. Its pretty amazing, all they want to do is frontal assaults. Most of the time they turn off every single realism setting so that their haveily armored infantry are chasing down skirmishers without getting tired, or imagine this - urban cohorts with unlimited pilas!!!

Even dedicated RTS(warcraft/starcraft) players have difficulty (at least they have a hard time on MEDIUM). They expect units to turn and face a cavalry charge on their flank INSTANTANEOUSLY (and playing on huge unit size you can imagine their consternation when it takes a few seconds for that to happen, not to mention they expect their units to turn WHILE ENGAGED).

Its funny, the only people I can talk about this game to are in this forum, and from what I've seen, TW players are more intelligent and knowledgeable on average than other gamers.

As for the new expansion:
1. river crossing by light troops now available - probably won't work very well tactically. If the enemy army has any kind of cav and if your troops do indeed incur morale penalties while crossing, your light troops will never make it. They'll be charged by cav as soon as they are on the other side (I'm assuming all missile units are by the bridge defending) and because of the morale penalty, will almost certainly break and drown in the river.

2. night battles - I agree with whoever said that an encampment should be included because if its just a regular field battle in the dark with morale penalties, there's really no point.

3. If the Huns are playable, the cost of those 15 full stack armies will bankrupt you VERY VERY SOON (a la the mongols in MTW) unless you capture about as many provinces in about 5 turns or so, unless they start you with a ridiculous cash reserve.

4. They brought back the Persians. COOL