I'm converted

[Azi Tohak]

Okay, after reading DensterNYs post about having problems in the battles, and having (for the ten-thousandth time) an enemy general impale himself on my pikes in RTR...I decided to give MTW a shot.

My old laptop was just barely under minimum specs (stupid laptop vid cards) so I had to wait until this computer (purchased for RTW). Anyway, I start playing...

And I must say, I think this game is superior. No more a-historical 5 full army stacks so you can smash everyone on every front (I'd love to see a 220 BC empire do THAT). I've actually got to manage my monies.

But best of all, I actually lost a battle! I was amazed! I don't lose in RTW to the AI (not to brag, but the AI is just bad). Now I have to play give and take with the Seljuks and Fatmids while praying I can hold onto Naples and trying to get Hungary and Poland to play nice so I can move all my troops (since I don't have the money to support many big armies) over to the East.

I love it!

Sure, MTW does not look as good as RTW, but then, it doesn't have to. I figure RTW is like the (just flat dumb) sorority girls on campus. Nice to look at, maybe fun for a while, but eventually, the lack of activity upstairs drowns out looks. MTW is more like the girls in my major. Maybe not so good looking, but certainly attractive enough, and being smart makes them more interesting for longer.

Sorry if that was too philosophical.

In short, I just wanted to say, I don't doubt the people who insist MTW is better anymore.

AI makes all the difference in the world.

Edit: Thanks Roark. Ahem...yes...I've only been playing for a couple of weeks (well, this and FF VIII) but I did buy VI and I am using the Byzantines (I've also used the Almohads too) right now mainly. Still in early, but I have graduated up to hard difficulty (what, the computer just flanked me?!? NOO!) and I am loving it. Except for Sicily. I just want to smack Sicily. Bad! Don't stab the big guy in the back! Bad!

And I am also an avowed Byzanto-phile. Have been for a while. So it is fun to use one of my heros (Alexius I) even if I can't use his son or grandson. Mmmm...Katanks...mmmm....

Azi

[Roark]

I really like reading posts by people who are excited by MTW, mainly because I don't feel like such a freak, or such a latecomer to the game. I've been going hard for 3 months, and I'm (obviously) still learning heaps and enjoying it immensely.

Have you got the expansion, dude? If not, I highly recommend it. Viking Invasion transforms the whole game.

What campaign are you currently running?

[WesW]

Don't feel isolated, Azi, there are a lot of other players, many of them old vets, who have come back to MTW as well, or else gone on to other series. I think that the EB mod will enhance Rome in a lot of ways, but all the tactical AI is hardcoded, and that is what the main gripes are about. It'll be interesting to see if these issues are addressed in the expansion, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Martok]

Ah yes, it's always good to see someone find their way to the True Path! Glad you're enjoying Medieval, Azi; may your Byzantines crush all who oppose them--especially the Sicilians.

[Mount Suribachi]

Welcome to the gang Azi

I bought MTW on the day of release and I'm still playing it (currently the Napoleonic mod) and having great fun

[Zarax]

Don't forget to try some of the mods after you've beaten the game a few times, they will really renew the challenge for you.

[edyzmedieval]

Welcome to the club, Azi

I am known as an old Byzantophile, so if you need any help, don't hesitate

I'm glad that MTW is getting more and more addicts, because the great mods can be played by others also.....

Also, it's not a waste of time to create a mod for MTW now, because with the release of RTW, people forgot about MTW

[el_slapper]

Have bought MTW the day of its french release(2 weeks after UK's one). Played a lot, then went to EU2 & other Paradox games.

Last week, was in Birmingham. 2 good news.
1)found a gf - and this should last
2)found Viking - impossible to find it in France

So I'm currently in a full revival. Wales will rule the British Isles

[Advo-san]

1) What 's a gf?
2) I ve never seen a game like MTW. 2 years of gaming and still haven't got enough... I also like Warcraft 3, but it is a whole different game.
3) If you make it with the Welsh, let us know your timeline. I ve tried and failed...

[el_slapper]

gf = girlfriend. I went from Paris to Birmingham to meet a Polish girl. Why be simple when you can be complicated?

Now it's around 840 and I am finishing the Northumbrians. I've also eaten the beginning nearby neutrals plus the Man Island. I am 4 years from building my first coastal trading post - and I have the fleet for that. Though I have lost my best heir and a cool army due to an unforecasted meeting with some Vikings(damn they're tough ). Ah, and I'm playing hard, not expert(I'm not THAT good). I backstabbed the northumbrians though, as they were not allied & suffered more than myself from a Viking wave. I've lost some alliances then, but Now I have some powerbase.

[Advo-san]

Seems u r doin fine! you have your back covered by the sea, and you defeated the most powerfull faction, plus your about to raise some serious cash from trading..

P.S. How did you take those Huscarles out? Man they are mean.....

[Mount Suribachi]

Watch out for those Vikings El Slapper, they're tough. And the Saxons and Mercians aren't much easier to beat (Huscarles pwn everything non-viking)

[DensterNY]

Hey Azi,

Yeah, RTW is certainly a beautiful game but there isn't much challenge to it as opposed to MTW. Certainly the combat is much more interesting which is of course the key ingredient in the Total War series.

I remember the first time I got my butt kicked by the AI which showed me clearly that this AI was a different creature than the one made for Rome.

I had my army in a well formed line... spearmen in the front, swordsmen and cavalry in the flanks with archers behind the line for support. The enemy was marching slowly towards me with what seemed to be a smaller army so I wasn't too worried. As they came within firing range of my archers, I got smashed on the side and the rear flank by their infantry streaming out of the woods... their line was marching slowly towards me so that they could get these other troops to slip through the woods and attack me. Panic ensues as my left sword flank is enveloped, my archers are routed and I draw in my right flank swordsmen to support. As this is going on the AI's archers begin to fire volley after volley upon my spearmen so I send my cavalry around their spearmen to stop them. However, my cavalry gets pinned by their cavalry and their spearmen charge into my cavalry and mince them. Needless to say my army soon routed and I received my rude awakening...

That led to my desire to research and develop battlefield techniques and now I give respect to my adversaries and I treat each battle as a strategic puzzle.

Also, a question for the community: Do you think CA intentionally watered things down for Rome to make it an easier game to appeal to a broader fan base?

[Big_John]

Don't forget to try some of the mods after you've beaten the game a few times, they will really renew the challenge for you.

i second that. and since WesW didn't pimp his mod, allow me to do it for him. for ages now, the only mtw i've played is wes whitaker's Medmod (click the pic in WesW's sig). it really makes the game more fun and challenging. it's currently in the beta phase of version 4, but i still haven't found the time to try that out (still using 3.14).

i've also heard good things about BKB's supermod and Vikinghorde's XL mod, but i haven't tried them.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Another convert, great. I have say, although I play both I prefer MTW, even though Rome has a much sleeker design and better grathics.

[Azi Tohak]

The first battle I played after I saw DensterNYs I just did a quick battle with my Italians against a random French army. I just sat back and let the French come at me. Well, turns out their Gendarmes moved against my open right (left anchored on some woods).

I still won because I saw them coming...but the fact that I actually had to work (it was a tough fight) lead me to the troubles of actually getting the rest of the *@#$ game to work.

I will try some mods soon, and it is great to hear there are so many worthy ones out there. I checked out a post in the Engineers guild to see what to play. But right now, I am happy punishing the Sicilians (and avoiding the Italians) with my Byzantines.

Thanks guys,

Azi

[Gawain of Orkeny]

The hell with the AI . If youve only played sp your missing the true greatness of MTW/VI. Its the multiplayer game where it really shines above the rest. 4 on 4 battles can take over an hour with the battle ebbing and flowing in favor of both sides. Thiose are my favorites, the epics as we call them. Its what this game is all about .

[el_slapper]

Welsh campaign update : I had finished the North's. They had captured leaders & cood runner virtues - and those Carl Mercenaries are really an asset to any army. Then the Mercians attacked me, but their 1/2 peasant armies are good for training. So things were happening well.

And then some vikings attacked me in Beocrite. I repelled the attack, but with losses, the North's reappeared there. 3 full stacks. I'll continue tonight, but this makes me pessimistic about the next part of the campaign. Really a challenge!!!

[Advo-san]

Go mercians! I ve abandoned my mercian campaign...

[crpcarrot]

i played MTW first and then onto RTW after the patch was released cos of the all the bad reviews from the MTW players. but even though it looked pretty good got sick of all the rebels and all the routing and winning everything so went back to MTW lost my first 2 battles back in MTW havent played RTW since

[bEDEVERE]

I just got MTW after playing RTW a few months. I got the one with VI combined. I am loving it. For my first game I tried the English but wasn't feeling it so I figured I would run a VI as the vikings. The first game I botched enormously. I was getting wopped because I kept trying to fight an ordered old style war with clean set peice battles. Dammit I am a Viking! Not some pansy Roman!

New Game...

Now to think like a Viking. I want gold, material and to hear the lamentations of the women....so spread my navies out and begin a boat building regime in Denmark (then improve the farms asap) and look to the nice fat Rebel states to the south of England. I organized two major offensives but only kept the kingdom with tradeable goods. I let the second army hit and run up and down the coast at any poorly protected area. I now had 30k in the bank and kept two neighboring kingdoms in the south. All the other factions beat a path to my king asking to kiss his ass.

I am going to have to try the Welsh...that would be tough. None of the destruction bonuses the Vikings get.

The battles I have fought have been a real challenge and fun for it. Troop quality and moral seems to have a real effect as does knowing how to lay a good trap. I have seen the AI do some nice pull back and re-organize tricks that have been both impressive and surprising. The AI also seems very interested in attacking a king that shows up for a battle. To say that I was surprised is an understatement. Ok I admit I will miss that guy who tells the catheginian leader "The enemy general flees! Probably to some new debauchery he has just dreamed up!"

[Ace of Spades]

I just got MTW a week ago or so and was instantly hooked. I'm just playing the Quick battles right now until I can get the hang of army command. Bought the Viking Expansion and I am looking forward to that. Then with the Napoleonic Mod and upcoming ACW mod, I think I will stay hooked for a long time.

[edyzmedieval]

I just got MTW a week ago or so and was instantly hooked. I'm just playing the Quick battles right now until I can get the hang of army command. Bought the Viking Expansion and I am looking forward to that. Then with the Napoleonic Mod and upcoming ACW mod, I think I will stay hooked for a long time.

I'm still hooked with MTW, though I'm playing it since 2003!!!

[King of Atlantis]

Good to here you have found your way Azi. MTW is just great. I Have been playnig it and mods for a long time now and I havent even tried MP. I am re-installing it without mods cause it sounds fun.

[edyzmedieval]

MTW is great, and it's even greater when playing MultiPlayer.

And it's at the peak when you're playing mods like BKB Super Mod(my fav), Xl Mod or MedMod.

[fester]

I'm coming back to .....Just posted some of the reasons why in the RTW forum. Imagine how excited I am as I've never realy played MTW properly cos my computer was below spec at the time. I had to auto calc. the majority of battles cos there where to many units for it to manage and it just crashed. When RTW was released I bought a comp. to match and have since lost my old coppy of MTW. God I'm so excited !!!!!! Longbows billmen an AI thats actually flanks me, loosing battles, a sense of achievement when I win a battle I could go on all night but I've got to go on amazon and order some thing realy important! Looking forward to posting again in this section of the forum.

[Roark]

I just finished my first Viking era campaign as the Saxons. What a rush.

It was actually a real challenge for my espionage strategy game, as the Saxons are restricted from building decent boats to cross the deep seas between the British Isles and Hordaland/Jutland, so I couldn't hit the Vikings where they lived. I had to start some big rebellions with the aid of my cunnywarren-spawned +2 valour spies.

Huscarles dominate, but I've got a fire in my heart for those nutty Berserkers now, so it'll be a Picts game next.

[el_slapper]

Finally got exterminated with the Welsh. 4-front war is not winnable in this game - especially as Viking Lands are unreachable. I didn't declare any wars - the AI just saw I was getting too strong & charged me from all directions . Was fun, but frustrating.

[Tamur]

After being gone for nearly a year, I'm coming back to MTW as well. I set up a tactics page in anticipation of RTW kicking MTW's tail tactics-wise. I was stunned to find that, not only are advanced tactics a thing of the past in RTW, but replays as well. *shakes head sadly*

*pops in MTW disk back in for the long haul*

[Zarax]

Welcome back to the rebel outpost, we never stopped working on MTW and while most noobs have gone to the fancy graphics/uber micromanagement/useless AI RTW the old egine is reaching its finest hour with many MODS being still in development and some near completion to complement the already excellent classics we have.

Personally, what made me go back to the old ways is the overcomplex modding that needs triple the work for stuff you could do in 20 seconds with MTW.

So I came back and started developing my small project, a mini mod based on faction specialization and improved strategical AI.

If you want something bigger there's the classic BKB, XL and MedMod...