MTW:VI:XL Cuman questions

[Banquo's Ghost]

Greetings!

First off, let me say thank you for the wonderful discussions and ideas in these forums – I have learned more about the game by reading the posts here that I could hope to any other way.

But now it is time to break cover and ask some questions which I haven’t seen answered.

I bought MTW some time after release as my computer then could not handle it. I enjoyed playing very much – I started out with the Spanish, learning a good deal about game mechanics and winning a couple of times on the conquest/normal setting. However, I got distracted away and have only recently installed again – this time, on the advice of an acquaintance, with VI and the XL mod. I wanted a bit more of a challenge, and to indulge my interest in role-playing as well, so I chose the Cumans – I’ve always had an fascination with steppe peoples.

I had to dismiss many pre-conceptions from my earlier days, and have had enormous fun learning how to deal with such a disadvantaged faction. Endless stretched borders, aggressive neighbours, weak resources and steppe tactics – not to mention a preponderance for pervert heirs and no-star generals with no loyalty save to their own black scheming souls. I’ve now run two ‘training’ campaigns with them, both ending in annihilation between the Horde and Byzantium, after I was bled dry by the Russians and Novgorods (my spellchecker wants to replace them with No-goods, which is rather encouraging but sadly inaccurate) – both of whom ally very effectively with the Lithuanians, it seems.

Now that I understand the capabilities of my troops better, and have seen the terrain I have to fight for (who knew, for example, that Wallachia, a province I had long planned to simply give up if it was attacked in favour of protecting Moldavia from covetous Byzantines, was such a defensible valley?) I am about to start a new campaign. It will be on GA but I am not really playing to ‘win’ but to preserve the Cuman way of life and forge a nation amongst the fractious tribes – and if blessed by the Sky gods, find a governor who can count without removing his boots and prefers the tender ministrations of women to those of goats. I already hear the clangour of javelin on shield as my bashkorts salute the return of their Khan.

Before the off, may I ask if anyone has had experience of the Cumans, particularly in the tech tree/units available? I can’t find this information and since I have yet got much past 1250, I don’t know if bashkorts and heavy steppe cavalry is all I get. For example, Avar nobles are not available in Moldavia despite being a region specific unit, so I imagine the XL mod changes things significantly in this regard.

On terrain, I have found that the battleground changes depending on the direction of invasion – in Lesser Khazar, I made this fateful mistake. To begin with, Lithuanians invaded from the north and there were bridges, upon which they broke and died like ocean waves. Feeling secure, I left a bridge defence army there until the Byzantines came from the east, to find myself defending a flat open plain with two leafless shrubs and a startled rabbit as cover for my flanks. Is this true of all provinces and is the only way out to test each province with an army from each direction till one learns? I think one would know the terrain of one’s own provinces fairly well, so I can justify research on this.

Finally, I have read several posts that use the verb ‘to turtle’. I can’t work out what this means from the context (unless it means to hunker down and tech up) so I would appreciate an explanation.

I have read with interest the reports on people’s developing empires and would like to share my campaign with everyone. Should I put it into the existing Main Hall empire thread or start a new individual thread – what’s the expected etiquette for a report that will be worded like a history?

Thanks again for all the info – I finally know how to march my entire army in one direction without them all falling out of formation!

[Martok]

Unfortunately, I haven't played the Cumans in XL yet, so I can't help you out there. I did put up your post in the Main Hall, however, so hopefully a few of the fellows there can give you some answers!

[Dutch_guy]

Greetings!

Finally, I have read several posts that use the verb ‘to turtle’. I can’t work out what this means from the context (unless it means to hunker down and tech up) so I would appreciate an explanation.

I have read with interest the reports on people’s developing empires and would like to share my campaign with everyone. Should I put it into the existing Main Hall empire thread or start a new individual thread – what’s the expected etiquette for a report that will be worded like a history?

Thanks again for all the info – I finally know how to march my entire army in one direction without them all falling out of formation!

Good first post Haruchai, and hope you keep on posting here !

It's been a while since I've played VI so I can only answer these quoted questions for you, although I'm sure other members of the community would be able and willing to answer them.

To turtle is basically what you thought it would be, playing defensively and teching up.

As for your second Question,
you can post your pics and history of your Cuman empire in the thread called ''pics and history of your empire'' located in the main Hall.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=47087

looking forward to read about your Cuman Empire !

[Ludens]

Is this true of all provinces and is the only way out to test each province with an army from each direction till one learns? I think one would know the terrain of one’s own provinces fairly well, so I can justify research on this.

I haven't played the XL mod (in fact, it is sometimes since I played M:TW) but I can offer some general advice. Firstly, yes, the terrain of the battlefield depends on the direction from which the province is attacked, but you can find out which terrain you will have by opening the province parchement, moving your mouse over the province from which you expect to be attacked and looking at the bottom of the parchment. This can save you some nasty suprises, as sometimes (but mostly) attacking province A from B will result in a bridge battle but not vica versa.

Many campaign stories are indeed in the Empire thread of the Main Hall, but it is not obligatory. Also, junior members cannot post there, so you will have to get promoted first. Therefore, it might be a good idea to start a temporary story thread in the EH, so the moderators can see you interact with the other members. If you are planning a real story, you might want to post it in the Mead Hall, the board's story and art forum. You can find a link to it in my signature.

welcome to the Org, Haruchai .

[SaintBlackAdder]

Before the off, may I ask if anyone has had experience of the Cumans, particularly in the tech tree/units available? I can’t find this information and since I have yet got much past 1250, I don’t know if bashkorts and heavy steppe cavalry is all I get. For example, Avar nobles are not available in Moldavia despite being a region specific unit, so I imagine the XL mod changes things significantly in this regard.

Hi m8 lets see, i to didnt play Cumans yet, but i can answer about Avar Nobles they are region and time specific unit you can only build them in Moldavia and only in early .
Dont know what units Cumans get, but you might try custom battle with them in different eras and see if they get something new in high and late.
On terrian Ludens told all that is needed so no need for me going there.

Finally, I have read several posts that use the verb ‘to turtle’. I can’t work out what this means from the context (unless it means to hunker down and tech up) so I would appreciate an explanation.

Well ‘to turtle’ means that you take easily defensible provinces like Britain islands and then build big navy to get money so you can tech yourself, with tech i mean you build all the buildings you need to get higher end units.

Hope this helps.

[King Noob the Stupid]

My post might be quite off topic, but at least it's a thread about the XL mod, so:
Where can I get the current version of the mod that runs on VI 2.01?
What do I have to do to turn my German version of the game into an English 1 the mod i compatible with?
and, the most crucial question:
If the game is hardly playable anyway due to a too new graphics card (CTD after every 3D battle and unpredictable random CTD after some time of playing), will it be worse with the mod installed?

[Weebeast]

Well I've never played Cumans either but yeah all factions can get Avar Nobles in Wallachia in early era only. I will definitely play it someday. I played Lithuanians the other day and Cumans got this much more interesting location than the Liths have - in the middle.

Welcome here , Haruchai.

Where can I get the current version of the mod that runs on VI 2.01?

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=40 Go to XL thread. It's on the first page.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

It was kind of you, Martok, to copy my post to the Main Hall. It seems that not too many people have played the Cumans, so maybe I will be able to contribute a little to the knowledge base.

Taking the advice above, I looked at a custom battle for Late, and of course, the Cumans don't exist then - having been overrun by the Horde. (My experience exactly ) So I think that the most I will get as infantry are spearmen, bashkorts and cuman warriors, unless I can invade some provinces with other troop types. Having taken Volnhyia once, I know that I can build woodsmen, for example. Mind you, armoured bashkorts are quite something against heavy cavalry. I started off being defeated and quite worried by boyars, but with a good volley and charge by bashkorts, they melt away. I'll let everyone know how they develop.

As for Avar nobles, they are not available to me at all, whatever I build. I beleive this is because Cuman Heavy Cavalry, which have the same requirements with bonus in Levidia, are to all intents and purposes the same stats. Sort of Diet-Kataphratoi

I'll post my empire experiences in the thread suggested and maybe in a little while, be able to contribute some guide information for the Cumans.

[Banquo's Ghost]

It appears that I may not post even replies in the Main Hall so I hope no-one there feels that I am ignoring their advice