So ...

[Kekvit Irae]

To be quite honest, the reason why I havent bought BI is because I dont think it will live up to my expectations. I've been burnt out on RTW for a long time.
It's kinda sad, I have more interest in buying UO's new expansion than RTW: BI.

[The Stranger]

the sad thing is i cant play RTW cuz its not what i expected...and i cant play MTW anymore after seeing RTW

[Doug-Thompson]

Let me put it this way: My usual Total War "Blitz" strategy of wiping out a rival faction in the first few moves is definitely not working. If you do that now, they turn into a horde and kick your behind if they are a barbarian faction. If they are a civilized faction, they're too big to blitz — unless they're the Sassinids, perhaps. I'm tempted to take a unhistorical approach and blitz the Sassinids with the Huns.

[Kraxis]

Frog, my advise to you, and I know your 'issues' well enough, is to find a friend that has BI and ask to borrow it. You have to try it, then you can form your own oppinion of the game as it is now. It is very much better now, but it still a far cry from perfect.

It is more surprising and challenging now, but there are times when it is the same old.

I'm about to write a new topic about the AI in tactical mode. But that is only against the Huns. Take a look when I'm done, you might like it.

[econ21]

At the risk of being repetitive (I seem to say what I am about to say every other post), but have you tried Rome Total Realism, froggie? My BI has not been delivered yet, but I am having a blast with RTR 6.1. I also stopped playing RTW after 1.2 - I am not sure it was disgust, more like "yawn, this is too easy". I didn't even bother to try the BI demo. However, RTR definitely brought back that MTW feeling for me. The combat "feels" like MTW in terms of speed and balance of arms, the history feels more right and if you play it on VH campaign, it is no walk over. As Rome, I took 50 provinces and ended up fighting virtually every faction on the map - none of which I could deliver a knock out blow to. It was a blast.

BI sounds like fun, but it is with mods like RTR and EB that I think I will spend most of my TW time. I would say download RTR 6.1 (you can't argue with the price) and then decide if you have enough enthusiasm for BI.

[rebelscum]

BI is pushing RTW towards MTW, another 600 years of BI then were in the middle ages. I've been playing as ERE, and frankly I'm not too impressed, there are a few minor differences, battles seem a little more realistic playing VH/VH/Huge. The archery simulation of the horse archers is fun with arrows flying this way and that. The addition of religion does add another element to the game. But I can't wait for RTR to get hold of it.

[Garvanko]

Changes?

1. More micro-management.

2. The battles are more fluid and spectacular.

Its become a more strategic game, IMO.

[Bob the Insane]

BI is more like MTW than RTW was...

But you have to remember it is just an expansion and if you really disliked RTW I don't know if enough has changed to make you like it...

It is basically better than vanilla RTW on just about every level from the fixes to the new features to the way the AI acts. But is it better enough for you?? No idea...