Rome Total Realism

[Highland Warrior]

I'm thinking about downloading this mod, as it seems to add a lot to the rome experience. I'd like to hear others views on it first though, is it recommended? Any input is appreciated.

[econ21]

I started a thread on this a few weeks ago and somehow it survived the forced migration of most mods from the Colosseum to here (apologies, Catiline - I did not know of this forum until recently).

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=48929

My opinion is that it is a terrific mod. I really like the way that it is not that radical a shift - the units, the tech trees, etc are largely recognisable from vanilla. I like that, as it means I don't have to learn a new game to start playing. What it does change is:
(a) slow down the battles a lot - both move speed and killing speed. This makes them more like MTW ones and more memorable.
(b) pump up some non-Roman factions and weaken the Roman starting position, so that a Roman campaign is much more challenging (but still easy).
(c) get rid of some of the more ahistorical units - eg pharoah type Egyptians, wardogs, Roman archers etc.

The only downside is that with more provinces and stronger AI armies, it is a little bit of a slog at times.

RTR 6.0 is coming soon (27th July) and, like EB, sounds like it will be much more of a root and branch change to vanilla (e.g. both will not have a senate). I'll be trying both, but I'm very happy with RTR 5.4. To me, it is like RTW built to MTW standards.

[Fabolous]

RTR is in my opinion the best mod out there. If you can hold on, then wait at most a month for the release of 6.0. It is such an overhaul it will be practically an expansion. However 5.4 is an excellent mod, but 6.0 will be unbelievable.

[Highland Warrior]

Thanks for the input, I think I'll wait until the new release. I've still got a few challenges left to finish before I move on to RTR. It looks really good though, anything that adds to the challenge is always a bonus!

[Slug For A Butt]

Just my twopenneth for what its worth.

I only started using RTR a couple of weeks ago, and its breathed new life into the game for me. The toned down cavalry and pumped up phalanx units are a great improvement as far as Im concerned.
And the SPQR uber army is a challenge to beat too, shame I ended up sneaking through Romes open gates to take an undefended city while the army was away. . I regretted not getting the satisfation of finally finishing it.
Loving it at the moment and cant wait for 6.0

[CMcMahon]

The SPQR army is insanely hard to beat at the beginnning of the game.

A full stack with four generals and sixteen praetorian cohorts? Christ. I'll probably build a full-stack of archers and Athenian hoplites to take them out, as soon as I finish off Thrace.

[Slug For A Butt]

I just sent wave after wave of peltasts and theuroporoi (sp?) at them, cheap disposable armies that will deal out some punishment before running. But arrows seem to have no effect against those gold chev, gold shield praetorians.

[Slug For A Butt]

Oops, I meant Podromoi...not theuroporoi or whatever

[CMcMahon]

I sent three 3/4 stack armies of mostly upgraded hoplites,at that goddamn full stack, surrounding them from three of four sides, and they still kicked my ass. I sent ins something close to double their number of men, and they managed to rout all of my units, kill over 3/4 of my men, and for what? 200 kills from my hoplites. Bastards.

I'll see how they do against the full stack of armored hoplites I'm sending from Sparta and Athens now, along with a separate full stack of podromoi for me to micromanage myself. At least they never attack outside of their own territories. I can only imagine how hard they'd be to beat if they had enough cash to build up a second army.

[TonyJ]

I've just started playing this mod and all I can say is WOW !!

I'm playing as the Romans and genuinely felt at the start like I'm a nail on an anvil. I was constantly getting hammered by the Greeks and the Gauls, which is obviously historically accurate. I have managed to calm things down now, having kicked the Greeks off the peninsula at last and have been able to concnerate on only one 'front'.

I also like the way in battles that routing armies actually rally and come back at you - much better.

I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to reinvent their game and their playing style.

[RTW King]

I'm making my own realism MOD. These are the main changes:

1. Most units are now much cheaper to upkeep to allow for bigger army sizes.

2. Barbarian units such as Warbands and Swordsmen have had their armour value removed, as they clearly aren't wearing any. To make up for this I've improved their attack and morale, and made them cheaper.

3. Roman soldiers in many cases have an increased armour value, but less attack. Hatati and Principes can now form Turtle Formations. I've also made them a little more expensive.

4. Cavalry now take at least 2 turns to build, and generally are poorer, as I felt they were too dominant in RTW originally. However, I have increased their charge bonus.

5. Wardogs and Warhounds have been made very expensive so they are not used so ridiculously commonly. I've also removed their armour value.

[Kääpäkorven Konsuli]

(c) get rid of some of the more ahistorical units - eg pharoah type Egyptians, wardogs, Roman archers etc.

But there is still some like berserkers, axemens...
It looks like RTR-team doesn't care much about "barbarian" factions!

[King of Atlantis]

But there is still some like berserkers, axemens...
It looks like RTR-team doesn't care much about "barbarian" factions!

I thought the germanic tribes used axemen cause the generally couldnt afford swords, which were MUCH more expensive. I am no expert though, so i could be worng.

[Simetrical]

But there is still some like berserkers, axemens...
It looks like RTR-team doesn't care much about "barbarian" factions!

RTR hasn't had much chance to work on the barbarians. They'll be improved a bit for 6.0, with major improvements being saved for 7.0.

-Simetrical

[ScionTheWorm]

The SPQR army is insanely hard to beat at the beginnning of the game.

A full stack with four generals and sixteen praetorian cohorts? Christ. I'll probably build a full-stack of archers and Athenian hoplites to take them out, as soon as I finish off Thrace.

they're friggin impossible. had two large carthagian armies attacking them with high quality units (phalanxes, good cavalry).. the battle lasted forever, and my cavalry had no chance however they engaged. I lost of course, but bribed rome. the senate became rebels, and never attacked me again..

[Kääpäkorven Konsuli]

I thought the germanic tribes used axemen cause the generally couldnt afford swords, which were MUCH more expensive. I am no expert though, so i could be worng.

You are right swords were rare, but instead of axes they used spears. germanic armies weren't uniformly so somebody might have used axe, but spear was main weapon.

RTR hasn't had much chance to work on the barbarians. They'll be improved a bit for 6.0, with major improvements being saved for 7.0.

-Simetrical

But it is too late for 7.0 because I'am pretty sure that EB is released before.

Half year from release of RTW and there isn't historical germanic faction avaible...

[caesar44]

RTR hasn't had much chance to work on the barbarians. They'll be improved a bit for 6.0, with major improvements being saved for 7.0.

-Simetrical

7 ???????????????????? , what , when , why , who , how ?

[LestaT]

I just love the RTR even though I was sceptical at first as I don't really believe for 'realism' in games. Well there's so much bad things in the real world to care so much about what's real or not in a pc game..

BTW this mod is great, after finishing the factions in vanilla version I found that this mods adds more to game replaybility.

Then I install the custom edition and I found it better especially the night battles. the only thing I don't like is the exclusion of senate. I simply feels even senate should be an important faction as seperate from the regular Romans. (There are stories that some emperors have never set a foot themselves in Rome ).



I still believe senate should be left in but any Roman players should only 'entered' Roma after conquering 50 provices (though this not applies to other faction).

[Dutch_guy]

great mod , you should really give it a try.

I started as armenia , well I must say this is really , really hard to do.
a real challenge.
And the numidians are supposed to be even harder ...

Well as you might know from what i've just said , I'm still having fun with RTR5.4.1 and it will only get better with 6.0

The only down side is the lacking RTR MP community still visit their site and you'll see that this prob. is already being solved

[CMcMahon]

And the numidians are supposed to be even harder ...

Numidians don't have horse archers or catank archers, that's why.

[LestaT]

How to mod Roman general back to to Heavy Cavalry ? I'm not sure about realism value but at least in the movies all generals are on horseback right ?

OR

In RTR custom edition install back the Senate Faction (so I can kill them off before attaining victory)