Life after RTW

[bedlam28]

No, im not done, ha! after reading frog's guide (fantastic) and all the tactical suggestions, I realise I've barely scratched the surface.

However, in those dark hours when I've played too much and my eyes are aching, and I keep thinking why my advance stalled, I get the desire to try a different scenery.

So: Do I go backwards? RTW is my first foray into this world of stratagy so there are the early editions, but backwards is not my usual tactic.

Or: Mods? I've seen some very tempting options out there by my more talented tacticians

Or: Is having 2 or more of these games running a bad bad idea and I should just be a good little roman and subdue the world for our future of Toga's and grapes??



All advice is welcome.

[Ciaran]

As you´ve just started, I´d not exactly recommend jumping to mods, because, as a tendency, mods are harder than the vanilla game.
If you want a different scenario and don´t mind somewhat dated graphics, try and get a decent copy of MTW (try to avoid the one that has een warned about here in the forum, there should be a sort of Bargain Bin version of MTW+VI about, I believe that´s what I´ve got, and that´s about all you can ask for. Try ebay or something if need be). It plays decidedly different from RTW (in my opinion it´s harder, and I think I´m not the only one to think that). Finally, you could also try another faction in RTW, they play very different to each other. If you don´t have a Roman campaign finished you´ll have to unlock the other playable factions first, but that info is in the guide of the Frog Goddess
In the end, the choice is yours.

[macsen rufus]

MTW and STW give you a whole different feel - less glitzy maybe, but IMHO superior gameplay. MTW in particular has LOADS of playable mods (I currently have Hellenic, Napoleonic, Samurai, & Pike and Musket, for lots of variety in eras and tactics). It's only going "backwards" in terms of release date, and arguably eye-candy, but I got bored with RTW & BI pretty quickly depsite the graphics. Admittedly I didn't try any RTW mods, and I've heard good things about RTR and the like, which supposedly improve RTW playability and realism.

Really it depends what you're looking for, but don't overlook the older games just because of their age.

Technically there may be issues with your video card, though, in which case check out the apothecary, as there are many threads dealing with these. In my case I got a GeForce5200 to play RTW, but have to roll back the drivers to play MTW with it, and use recent ones to play RTW. Hence my machine is in either "RTW config" or "MTW config". (It's been back in MTW mode longer than it was in RTW mode already....)

[econ21]

It's hard to go back to STW and MTW. At the time, they were IMO better games than vanilla RTW. But once you have played RTW, they are a major step down in terms of graphics and, IMO, the Risk-style campaign maps.

I would recommend you try some RTW mods first. The one I would recommend right now is Rome Total Realism Platinum. This has the same setting as vanilla RTW, so you will feel right at home. But it is a major reworking of both the combat model (slower movement, lower kill rates; cavalry and archers are downgraded) and the historical aspects (faction starting positions and unit rosters are more authentic).

After you are done with that, I would keep an eye out for the release of 0.8 of Europa Barbarorum, as that has very similar aims to RTR and in some ways is more ambitious.

Both the above mods look absolutely gorgeous, IMO, but also get close to the classic gameplay of MTW.

All that said, you might think about the new collection of all the TW games (is it Total War Eras)? It seems to have a very good price and if you only have RTW vanilla, it would be a no-brainer.

[Subedei]

Yes, I guess TW: Eras is a goood choice. I have got R: TW & M: TW and I will still buy Eras....but you should definitely check out the various mods...they are brilliant....I enjoyed RTR & right now I am playing the Sweboz in EB....Hell Yeah, one of the most thrilling campaigns I ever played in TW....

Not to mention hoggy`s & freinds "Blue Lotus Mod".....still gotta check that out....

[ATE]

It's hard to go back to STW and MTW. At the time, they were IMO better games than vanilla RTW. But once you have played RTW, they are a major step down in terms of graphics and, IMO, the Risk-style campaign maps.

I would recommend you try some RTW mods first. The one I would recommend right now is Rome Total Realism Platinum.

I agree. I wish i had started the totalwar series at STW or MTW, but i didn't. I really would like to try them, but going back to old grafic and missing in-game options just isn't that interresting.

I think HoMM 3 is the best in the series, but i would never go back to playing it again, or recommed anyone else did.

I would also recommend going RTR instead, and wait for MTW2, i know i am :)

[bedlam28]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, great responses; Ive played each roman faction but not gone out into the other factions just yet.
I like a few of the Mod options you guys suggested, and have to admit that Medievel sounds cool too.

Oh decisions decisions.

I know, destroy a civilisation now, decide later !

[macsen rufus]

I know, destroy a civilisation now, decide later !

That's the spirit!