2nd Expansion

[Duke Malcolm]

Perhaps I simply missed it when it came up, but I haven't heard much business about the 2nd RTW expansion, Alexander, with Brian Blessed.

There's an article on the official site about it, but does anyone here have it? Are there any notable differences between it and vanilla besides the larger map and extra factions/units and Brian Blessed?

[GeneralHankerchief]

It's a mini-campaign. Basically, you have 100 turns as Alexander, to kill as much Persians and take as much land as you can. It's a tough job, and if Alex dies, game over. Not recommended for those who don't like to blitz.

[doc_bean]

Apparently it doesn't include the Indians, which makes it pretty lame imo. Also, it apparently isn't that good, since even Simon Appleton doesn't like it, and he's one of the biggest Rome fanboy around here.

[naut]

Its ok, I have it. The Indians are rebels IIRC.

[Ludens]

Its ok, I have it. The Indians are rebels IIRC.

You can play them in custom battles, but they aren't in the campaign (the only Indian city is Persian at the start, and cannot be reached anyway).

[Denizar]

The campaign is not so good. The one good thing about the game is the historical battles, and if you ask me it is worth getting the game just for them. YOU GET TO PLAY THE BATTLE OF GAUGAMELA!!! But really the campaign is neither fun nor realistic.

[Singleton Mosby]

YOU GET TO PLAY THE BATTLE OF GAUGAMELA!!!

Thanks for the tip. going to play it tonight :D

[econ21]

Also, it apparently isn't that good, since even Simon Appleton doesn't like it, and he's one of the biggest Rome fanboy around here.

Actually, I don't like vanilla RTW much. I'd rate it a 6/10. Maybe Alexander just suffers from the same faults - especially the too fast-paced battles? And it is not redeemed by having the scale, freedom, detail or variety of RTW. I'd rate ATW as a 4/10 or worse.

I am an unapologetic fanboy of several RTW mods, such as RTR, EB and Goth mod though. They merit a Spinal Tap style 11/10.

I'm hopeful ATW will get the same treatment - the campaign certainly has potential. A lot is now hanging on Lusted to rescue it.

[Lusted]

Im trying my best to make my Alexandros mod as good as i can.

[Byzantine Emperor]

no pressure then ;)

[edyzmedieval]

You can make the Indians with a bit of modding...

[doc_bean]

Actually, I don't like vanilla RTW much. I'd rate it a 6/10. Maybe Alexander just suffers from the same faults - especially the too fast-paced battles? And it is not redeemed by having the scale, freedom, detail or variety of RTW. I'd rate ATW as a 4/10 or worse.

I am an unapologetic fanboy of several RTW mods, such as RTR, EB and Goth mod though. They merit a Spinal Tap style 11/10.

I'm hopeful ATW will get the same treatment - the campaign certainly has potential. A lot is now hanging on Lusted to rescue it.

I thought you were also a big fan of vanilla BI ?

Alexander sounds like a good idea, but I just can't stand how RTW uses its hoplites/speamen/pikemen. I thought I'd give Rome another chance with RTR but I quit after seeing the AI sending me pikemen piece by piece again, never to start it up again...

[Lusted]

You should try using DarthsFormations mod, it makes the ai use the phalanxes much better by giving set formations to use in certain circumstances.

[econ21]

I thought you were also a big fan of vanilla BI ?

Alexander sounds like a good idea, but I just can't stand how RTW uses its hoplites/speamen/pikemen. I thought I'd give Rome another chance with RTR but I quit after seeing the AI sending me pikemen piece by piece again, never to start it up again...

Yes, I like vanilla BI - it's a 7 or 8/10, IMO. Mainly because of the embattled Roman strategic position. Just playing the opening video gives me goose pimples. Now you mention it, the absence of phalanxes may be one reason why it seems to play better than vanilla.

Remember you can only play the Macedonians in Alexander, so you won't fight phalanxes. You do get the other downside of RTW phalanxes, though: in the hands of a human they can steamroller nearly all non-phalanx infantry.

BTW, have you tried RTR Platinum edition? What they have done is scrap the phalanx formation. Now hoplites and even phalangites, IIRC, are fast moving, very densely formed, squares of spearmen. The AI uses them pretty well - not great, but infinitely better than the drunken tortoises of vanilla RTW. The hoplites in particular have no secondary weapon, so never switch to sword. Cavalry do not like them.

[Lusted]

Dammit, double post, please delete.

[Lusted]

Remember you can only play the Macedonians in Alexander, so you won't fight phalanxes. You do get the other downside of RTW phalanxes, though: in the hands of a human they can steamroller nearly all non-phalanx infantry.

You'll be pleastently surprised by Alexandros then. In the course of doing the Greek cities for it, i did some custom battles v Macedonians. The Greek Cities no longer use the vanilla phalanx formation, and instead only use signifierones overhand hoplite animation. The greek units gave as good as they got against the macedonian phalanxes, so things will no longer be a push over once my mod comes out.

[doc_bean]

BTW, have you tried RTR Platinum edition?

I tried the gold edition, doesn't the platinum one require BI ?

EDIT: doesn't say anything about BI required, I might try it when I get the chance then

Oh yeah, doesn't the BI shieldwall function similar to the RTW phalanx ? Does it have similar problems ?

[econ21]

I tried the gold edition, doesn't the platinum one require BI ?
Oh yeah, doesn't the BI shieldwall function similar to the RTW phalanx ? Does it have similar problems ?

Platinum is for the 1.5 exe, so it avoids a lot of the AI problems (e.g. save-reload bug) of the 1.2 exe you need for Gold or 0.74 EB. You don't need BI, although you can run it with the BI exe and I think that makes the AI a little better too.

I never use the shieldwall much and the AI seldom uses it against me. It's not a default formation like the phalanx one. It tends to make your line much more compact, which is a problem as I tend fight with rather parsimonious problems.