Zoom on hilly battle maps

[ezoons]

I'm playing with the "restricted camera" turned off. But still, on hilly maps, when my army is on the defensive and guards a mountain I can only see them up close - and the camera won't move away any further.
Kind of difficult to control your troops when you can only see one unit at a time.
And don't even get me started on hilly forest maps...

I remember seeing the "-ian" switch mentioned somewhere but it wouldn't work with MTW VI 2.01, would it?

Are there any other ways to change the default zoom settings?

[lugh]

Not that I know of, at least I've been trying since I first fought in the mountains and still haven't found a way.
I become accustomed to governing from the front, from the enemy's perspective, it actually is kind of helpful, isn't it in chess that you should try and visualise the board from your opponents perspective?

[Procrustes]

I use the -ian switch with patched VI and it works. The camera is truly unrestricted then - you can get these great overhead shots of the whole battlefield.

HTH,

[elbasto]

I use the -ian switch with patched VI and it works. The camera is truly unrestricted then - you can get these great overhead shots of the whole battlefield.

HTH,

Can you give a more detailed explanation on how to do it?

[ezoons]

Thanks Prokrustes, I was under the impression that this switch was killed by the 2.01 patch so never even tried it (silly, really). Now I have it enabled and could not be happier.
Unless, of course, someone told me how to properly manage crossbow units...

elbasto, using the "-ian" switch is really simple. Here's the detailed instruction:
1. Right-click the MTW shortcut that you're using to launch the game and select its "properties" @ the bottom.
2. In the "object" bit you'll see the full path to the game's .exe file, wrapped in "". Just add the -ian bit to the end. That is, after the last symbol that was there originally (the second "), press space once and then type -ian. Press "apply" -> OK.
3. To see if this works, launch a quick battle and enjoy yuor view :)

[The Darkhorn]

Somewhat related topic. I can't remember how to pan the camera up and down. I don't mean level of camera. I mean actually pointing more straight up and down. It's very handy in hilly terrain. Sometimes I can't see very well otherwise when trying to defend a hillside.

[ezoons]

Right-click and hold while moving the mouse up/down as per your requirements.
On a side note, all camera controls by default have keybord shortcuts - on the num pad.

[elbasto]

Thanks a lot ezoons.

[The Darkhorn]

Yes, thanks. I just used it in a battle. Ahhh, how great it is to watch the shower of arrows from above.

[Ciaran]

I´ll have to use that on the occasion, I wonder why it´s not the default.

[ajaxfetish]

I think it's thought of as giving the player too much of an advantage. The game wants you to have more of a general's eye view. (and medieval generals didn't have recon planes or hot-air balloons ) That said, I like it, too!

Ajax

[Procrustes]

I know it may be considered a "cheat", but I love the birds-eye views. I found the restricted camera to be just too frustrating - I was always getting lost somewhere on the battlefield.

In case anyone doesn't know, the -ian switch also allows you to switch between different factions on the campaign map. Press the number keys across the top of your keyboard - each one corresponds to a different faction. Hold down the shift key and cycle through them again to get them all. This way you can play as the rebels, pope, novogorod, etc - just don't try playing one of the "unplayable" factions in GA mode or you are likely to crash. Even if you don't switch factions, you can try to help them out once in a while, or peak at what they've got if you are curious.

Best,

[elbasto]

I know it may be considered a "cheat", but I love the birds-eye views. I found the restricted camera to be just too frustrating - I was always getting lost somewhere on the battlefield.

In case anyone doesn't know, the -ian switch also allows you to switch between different factions on the campaign map. Press the number keys across the top of your keyboard - each one corresponds to a different faction. Hold down the shift key and cycle through them again to get them all. This way you can play as the rebels, pope, novogorod, etc - just don't try playing one of the "unplayable" factions in GA mode or you are likely to crash. Even if you don't switch factions, you can try to help them out once in a while, or peak at what they've got if you are curious.

Best,

Hey, that's great info!

Are there any preassigned numbers to factions or they vary from campaign to campaign?

[Procrustes]

Hey, that's great info!

Are there any preassigned numbers to factions or they vary from campaign to campaign?

Glad it helped! They are always the same. I think the Danes are "4", and the Spanish are <Shift>"2", but I may be wrong - can't remember any others off the top of my head.

Best,

[Arkell]

Have u guys tried zooming out really really high, from up in the sky with this
-ian mode? Always feels like Richard Branson watching a battle from his hot air balloon

Watching the replays and u scream flank properly you idiot! Only then to discover the 'idiot' is yourslef