The Story behind the polls

**Shambles** · 06-03-2005, 08:43

I just want to know The real story behind the polls that are Littering up the forum,

If you only own 2 or 1,
please tell us which game(s) they are.
Also if you think for its time STW was ground breaking and Was the best game at that time,
But you prefer MTW now but really it wasnt that ground breaking Wouldnt that mean STW was the better game?
And so on.

**Al Khalifah** · 06-03-2005, 09:16

I own all the Total War games and the expansion packs and I think Medieval is the best game with Shogun a close second. Rome is some distance behind.

Medieval was very atmospheric and realistic, with each faction having its own unique feel and character. Shogun was even more atmospheric than Medieval I felt and played like a real-time game of chess, with no unit ever becoming obsolete. The factions were pretty much the same, but their starting positions meant different strategies were always inherent for each.
Rome is very pretty and I admit that the 3D map is a big improvement, but it is blighted by realism issues and unless you play the Roman factions it lacks any atmosphere. In my mind the senate was never as brilliantly annoying as the Pope could be anyway. Some of the games factions are pretty boring to play because they have such a limitted range of a units and their numbers have to be bolstered by outrageous fantasy units.

So there you go. I've played all 3 (5 actually).
Medieval: Total War - 95%
Shogun: Total War - 93%
Rome: Total War - 84%

**Shambles** · 06-03-2005, 09:27

Some one owns 2 of the games and did not say which 2 :(
Its Defying the purpous of this poll ,

Please state which games you own unless you own all 3

As for expantions,
I dont deem them to be that relivant,
With shogun i still play sengoku jidai even with the WE,
And MTW still Rulled even Without the VI.
Even though i did haft to buy VI to make the campaign better than Stw campaign. "becous i now use the welsh and Just cant beat it"
The ambiance feel and replay abilaty In STW made me vote for stw.
However i only play Mp and custom battles in STW campaign is a bit easy,,

Where as i only play campaign in MTW, Becous I really love the micro management..

And i just dont play RTW anymore, becous they didnt finish the game

Thank you

**Drisos** · 06-03-2005, 11:18

I own only STW and don't want to own the others!

Great idea to set he 'the best game' poll up like this, shambles!

**Viking** · 06-03-2005, 11:32

Interesting poll.

I own only RTW and think it`s great.

**Craterus** · 06-03-2005, 11:56

I own RTW, and only RTW. Therefore, my favourite is RTW.

**R'as al Ghul** · 06-03-2005, 13:57

Very difficult.
I'm torn between MTW and STW.
STW was the first game of this style and CA did a lot of things right.
Campaign play and MP are excellent. The AI is quite good, too.
Only drawback is the Graphic engine. This is the game where you need the most tactical skills.

MTW expanded the campmap without causing too much trouble. AI got worse though.
Important things like seasonal turns, weather (fog), videos etc were unfortunately
left out.
MP can be Fun when playing the community mod or playing correct people.
Some of the factions can't be used in MP though (only in specific scenarios)
due to balancing issues which lead to the standard christian armies.
Graphic engine isn't that good either but the game is very moddable.

RTW extremely altered the campmap play without enabling the AI to deal with it
wisely. That's one major drawback for me. The zillion little bugs I can live with (minus the Horse-Acher bug). Battle-mode is horrible for me. Way too fast etc. Haven't played MP for this reason. The Graphic-engine is superb.

So, comparing all these impressions I voted STW.
The immersion, atmosphere, MP mode are not achieved by its followers.

R'as

**Kagemusha** · 06-03-2005, 14:38

I have all three of the games.I like STW is the best of them.Im kind hooked up in its atmousphere.

**ichi** · 06-03-2005, 15:45

STW was my first love, still the best atmosphere.

ichi

**phred** · 06-03-2005, 17:18

Originally Posted by ichi

STW was my first love, still the best atmosphere.

ichi

That's my sentiment, also. MTW and RTW are a close second and third.

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 06-04-2005, 03:18

I own all three, but I prefer MTW. It is the best one IMO, but only beats STW by a tiny margin for the inclusion of the Ottomans, ships and unique Irish units, especially with VI.