STW,MTW,RTW - does play sequence matter?

[C-F]

Hi, I'm new here and to the game series.
Just wondering if it makes sense to play these games in sequence of their publication or does it matter? I do have the Trilogy and 'snooped' into RTW - it seems Mind-boggling for the unexperienced and was therefore wondering if starting with one of the earlier games would help the learning curve. On the other hand, if I start with say STW would I have to 'unlearn' a lot to master RTW? Guess its all about strategy ?!?
Any opinions as to start with game X because.... would be highly appreciated.
Thanks.

[Strike For The South]

WELCOME No they are each different you can learn just as well with any of them. Dont let STW freaks tell you any different

[NodachiSam]

Welcome!

I suppose play order doesn't really matter too much. Each game is a little different, and STW is the simplest and probably easiest game to learn but they all have enough similarities you could probably do pretty well jumping from one game to another skipping the tutorials, though I suggest you do take them.

It doesn't matter too much but you would probably do well to start at the front of the triology as each game becomes a little more in depth. If you go out of order each step will be a downgrade of sorts. STW is not as pretty but its still a good game. I think a lot of people still go back to earlier games on occasion. So feel free to only play a campaign or two, you'll probably try it again some other time anyways.

Flip a die and divide the result in half rounded to pick?
Whatever, enjoy the series!

[ichi]

Shogun has a lot of interesting features, and MTW essentially built on the same principle. Rome is very different for either STW or MTW.

I've always had a fondness for STW, its fun and beautiful. MTW, especially VI, is a terrific game and still has a good online community (some diehards still play Shogun online but I recommend MTW VI for the best online experience). Rome has many interesting qualities and there's probably more folks playing it online right now than either MTW or STW.

Whichever you play (and I recommend them all) be sure to download the latest patches, get the expansions, and then try some of the mods.

Remember that while any of the three have fun SP campaigns, the most fun comes from battling online.

ichi

[Rodion Romanovich]

MTW had a better tutorial for the battles, if you want to get into battle faster. I also personally think MTW has the best battle speed and balance, although the BI expansion to RTW has improved RTW gameplay a lot. RTW is essentially in gameplay the same game on the battlefield, although with different unit balance and battle speed, and different AI, but the basic principles about morale, fatigue, terrain, incline etc still haven't changed much. The campaign map is however different. I think it's good to play at least the MTW battle tutorials before playing RTW, as the RTW tutorial says very little.

[Sjakihata]

Welcome


First of all - yes, a lot of things changed between the game (fortunately sometimes to the better). However, the controls are very different. Fx. in stw/mtw you use left mouse to move units, in rtw you use right mouse to move. And a lot of others things as well - so essentially, you will have to unlearn some to learn RTW, if you start with stw/mtw.

That said - both games rock! I can really recommend playing, as soon as you are tired of RTW, go play shogun, then advance to MTW. Mtw is a lot more difficult to manage than either RTW or STW. Stw is the simplest - yet it's waay cool, you get NINJA and SAMURAI

Hehe, anyway, have fun dude

[screwtype]

STW is not as pretty but its still a good game.

Objection! I think STW is the "prettiest" game of them all. Except of course that RTW has more detailed units. But the landscapes, the weather effects, the in-game movies - they are better and more atmospheric in STW than in either of the later games.