Quote Originally Posted by lars573
That is not RPS. In a RPS system it's not that spear vs. spear lack advantage over each other. It's that they can't damage each other very well at all. AoE uses RPS. Where if two spear units could attack each other for 5 minutes and not get very far. But a sword unit would kill either in 5 hits.
When we say 'RPS' we are not speaking of RPS in it's pure form, but the RPS style of unit melee engagement 'rules' used in all TW games. Basically that one unit is more suited to taking on a certain type of unit than another. For example Pikes should do a great deal of damage to any type of cavalry, and a 9 star general's Kataphraktoi unit should be no exception. Yes they should fare better, but the end result should be the same. Brute forcing your way through with valour and upgrades is not sound tactics. The overriding factors of the unit type should take priority. A pike is a pike whether wielded by elite bodyguards or the conscripted peasants. The player should be forced to use his units intelligently... not bumrushing.

With TW it works as basically: Spears beats horses beats swords beats spears. If that system wasn't in place we would have a situation where certain units would become pretty useless. More definition of the 'RPS', as it was in STW would only improve gameplay and tactics while enhancing the overall multiplayer, and singleplayer experience.

Quote Originally Posted by lars573
RTW battles are the best form. Not over simplified (if you don't turn on arcade battles), not overly complecated (like S/MTW). Optimal. Now could there be improvement, yes. The AI needs work on army management. I won't mind working a little harder for victory in M2TW.
In your opinion. In my opinion they are boring, fast paced, simplistic slugfests, and in the opinion of many other RTW players they are the same. Which is why so many mods for RTW tend to address these sorts of issues. They are in no shape or form 'optimal'.