Hard game

[|OCS|Virus]

Man this is a hard game, I've owned this game for...what maybe four years? Still havn't beaten it once! Well, I should say once without cheating, heh heh. That is on the easiest setting, usually I will just end up starting a new game or throwing in the towel early. I'm not looking for advice, I just want to know if I suck at this game more than others, how often do you actually beat the game?

[matteus the inbred]

almost never, mainly because I never finish games either! after a while, once you've fought your way out of your starting position and conquered quite a lot of land, most factions become very similar and I get bored.
I was the same with STW, got bored once about half the map was mine.
I've beaten VI on partial victory a couple of times. Usually play on Hard, GA... rarely get past 1270ish cos I always start a new game and the old one rots away in the SaveGame section until I look at it again, decide I can't remmeber what I was doing and delete it...!

[Banquo's Ghost]

It certainly isn't an easy game, which is the appeal to me! I get thumped about 50% of the time.

It is possible to win quite easily by taking advantage of known issues with the AI. I would guess from what you wrote that you don't like this approach either. The toughest part of the game is the Early period, or the first few years of any starting period. If you can get through the early stages without getting discouraged, you should be OK.

Success at first also depends on which faction you choose. Although the game rates them as Hard, I think the Spanish are the easiest to start with - good provinces and easy to defend.

[Matty]

I never lose.

[BAD]

I never lose.

*gives you a gold star*

[Matty]

But I'm still too chicken to get my ass handed to me on MP.....

[NodachiSam]

Yea this game is usually a challenge. Sometimes the game takes perseverence to get you through. Even with a lot of land your empire can be ruined by a mixture of misfortune. Weak heirs and civil wars mixed with decent foes can be dangerous. Usually after a certain point you know victory is inevitable. I always play it out from that point unless I am happy with 60%

[bretwalda]

I never lose.

Take Armenians in XL Mod, on Early or High, Expert and see if you still never lose

[Peasant Phill]

I never lose.

What's the fun if the AI can't challenge you. I started playing XL just because I only lost when I didn't care.

[Weebeast]

I never 100% conquered the whole map even when I won the game. Now I'm pretty good on the strategic map on normal or hard(as Byzantine) but I don't play to win anymore. I'll never ever conquer the whole map I guess lol.

I won pretty often on GA or 60% thing until I set my game-end date to later dates...

True, the AI doesn't handle crusades very good.

I somewhat agree with that knowing that AI sends crusade without considering chance success but sometimes AI can make a crusade seems like two crusades.

[NodachiSam]

Getting to 100% can be pretty boring. I wish the option was there to sieze victory after 60%. Sometimes at that point I simply won't be happy with what I've done but going all the way to 100% isn't great all the time either. A "sieze victory" button that could show up underneath the end turn button after you got 60% would've been greatly appreciated. They could give the total victory ending for 90% and up perhaps.

[Matty]

What's the fun if the AI can't challenge you. I started playing XL just because I only lost when I didn't care.

Yeah, I play XL too - also BKB but the kerns don't come out right so I swapped back. I either choose a difficult faction or potter about waiting for one of the other AI countries to become dominant and then go to war with them. I also role play a bit (especially with limiting overpowered agents) and don't rush. Admittedly, I'm champing at the bit somewhat for the new game...

[Odin]

I have beat the game once in the years I have played it. I now play on the hardest level with the XL mod and its about 50-50 whether I survive or drop the game after the mongols peeter out.

There are some good challenges to be had though, Rebuilding the Byz empire in High, or Keeping the armenians alive through a whole game.

[Asmodai]

I never lose.

That was good

Try play on Expert. HRE in XL mod. Early off coures. Have fun. I played several(about 10-12 times) HRE and managed to win about in 8 games. I considering that i`m good M:TW player. But i never tell to anybode, that i never loose.

I remember Polish campaign, when i had to save couple of times cos my 60 years old king was dying in the next turn, and having no royal blood commanders i simply loosed that game. My only heir have 3 years so i saved that game many times. Very frustrating. King eventually survive long enough, when the heir was old enough to preserve royal line. But i do not write how much savegames and reloads was needed.

Also, playing HRE on Expert on XL mod i ended my game with one province, broken army, having no heirs and old fart as king....hopeless...

Danes on Expert (Vanilla only!) in early is quite a challenge too.

I once played on XL mod with Russians in Early....good lord, i must played every battle. Every soldier count. Lack of money was big problem and my core troop was a peasand with axe (woodsman tactics was greatly mastered by that campaign), and possesing heaps of druzina cavalry is simply a myth. Cannot afford and upkeep large numbers of them....


But i agree, that from the start, game is hard and offer quite good entertainment. But after consolidation of the empire/kingdom, there is nothing to do with enemies. They are simply too weak/poor/advanced to be any match to our armies.

[Budwise]

How often do you actually beat the game?

Quite often to be honest. WITHOUT CHEATING, if you are having trouble play as English on Early and after taking over the British Isles and some of France. When you are done build ships. Build enough ships to put two in every sea mass and then you will have more money than god. Then take over the easy pickings like Sweden or some island, watch who you go to war with when you attack though. With that being done, mass tech and when it becomes High Period, either build Billmen and Longbowmen or Chiv. Knights if you tech right.

Even knowing I have beat to 100% even without doing the massive fleet technique I usually quit right after 60%