-ian switch??

**Byzantine_Fury** · 05-10-2006, 22:33

i have seen some stuff written about the -ian switch or w/e wut exactly is it/wut does it do? is it for MTW? thnx any comments would b helpful

**LadyAnn** · 05-11-2006, 03:27

-ian switch allows you to have higher elevation view, almost overhead view and you can move the camera up very high. This allows you to "see" the entire battlefield and thus may gain upper hand over other players. To some, it is a cheat and should never be used in game. To me, *shrugs*, you gotta do what you gotta do to beat me ;) Only makes your defeat looks even worse :) (just kidding).

Annie

**R'as al Ghul** · 05-11-2006, 11:44

The -ian switch doesn't work in MP.
It's not really a cheat either. It was intented do enable Ian, the promotion guy for M:TW, to take better screenshots. As said above, your camera is absolutely free. Additionally, you can run the campaign on auto, let the AI take over your faction, etc.

**professorspatula** · 05-11-2006, 14:15

It's best used on the campaign map where you can do all kinds of things with it enabled. Best of all, you can switch control between factions as much as you like. So if you're bored of running your huge nation, why not just switch to some tiny nation and see if you can turn their fortunes around.

**LadyAnn** · 05-11-2006, 20:01

Oh i forgot that it is later turned off for MP. Oh well, *feels like just woke up from a long sleep*

Good, my name is not Brunhild the Valkyrie.

Annie

**Byzantine_Fury** · 05-11-2006, 21:41

thnx yall, but how exactly do you enale it on campaign map? thnx

**Ludens** · 05-12-2006, 20:43

Originally Posted by Byzantine_Fury

thnx yall, but how exactly do you enale it on campaign map? thnx

You simply add it to the target line of the M:TW shortcut:

Code:

"C:\Program Files\Total War\Medieval - Total War\Medieval_TW.exe" -strictserver

So it looks like this:

Code:

"C:\Program Files\Total War\Medieval - Total War\Medieval_TW.exe" -strictserver -ian

(Don't forget to use the shortcut: if you start the game via the auto-run menu it won't work.)

**The Stranger** · 05-12-2006, 20:49

mine doesnt have

-strictserver

i just paste

-ian

behind it, but it works

**Byzantine_Fury** · 05-12-2006, 22:41

will it let me switch to non-playable factions like the papacy and the hungarians(since i have vanilla mtw)? or is there another way to play as papacy or factions not availible golden horde/swiss, etc... thnx

**Ludens** · 05-13-2006, 09:16

Originally Posted by Byzantine_Fury

will it let me switch to non-playable factions like the papacy and the hungarians(since i have vanilla mtw)? or is there another way to play as papacy or factions not availible golden horde/swiss, etc... thnx

The answer to both questions is yes. -Ian allows you to switch factions on the campaign map by pressing the number keys (with or without Ctrl). You can also make them playable by modding: you need to turn them into major factions, but I am not sure which file you need to edit.

**Geezer57** · 05-13-2006, 19:57

Originally Posted by The Stranger

mine doesnt have i just paste behind it, but it works

The -strictserver switch was added when VI came out. It's supposed to have some benefit with multiplayer. You won't have it in your shortcut with vanilla MTW.