M2TW FAQ and Strategy Tips

[Daveybaby]

Think this should go in, as i've seen a lot of people say this is a bug, and its not:


Q: Archers / Artillery ignore my orders - they fire at different targets to the ones i select - they are bugged.

It's NOT a bug, it's a feature (no, really, no irony in that sentence, for once). Archers and arty will chose their own targets if you select them as a group and order them to fire at one unit.

In that case, the game group automation takes over and assigns each single unit a single, best target, out of the same code that lets you order a full charge of your battleline with a single click, pairing your units with those of the opponent.

If you want archers or arty to fire at a precise target, give them the order separately.

If still the archers/arty won't fire at the target, it's because either they don't see them, or can't get a good "firing solution" because your own men are in the way, or there's an enemy just on the edge of their skirmish range (that part is mostly true for javelins and IS slightly buggish, but it was already there in Rome, and was worse in MTW since back then javelin range was shorter than skirmish range. Just toggle skirmish off and turn it back on when there's a real danger to be overrun)

[afrit]

To chase small routing units that are hard to click on because they are far , use the middle mouse button (mouse wheel) to zoom in it, then -while still holding the button and zoomed in- right click on the enemy.

[FactionHeir]

Some tips from me:

Console is opened using the "ö" key for some european keyboards (non-english) usually for german and nordic ones.

Changing event dates:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=74279

Siege:

Use ballistae (on +fire mode) to take out enemy siege tools and siege weapons. Ballistae are the most accurate of the bunch you get early on even though they do fire fairly slowly. More like a sniper weapon, but with larger effects.

[Captainrave]

An exploit (I bet most of you have done this and not realised it!)

Vassal exploitation...

Have anyone worked this out yet? To be honest I didn't even realize it was happening until my game came towards the end.

Basically any money you give to a vassal they give it back next turn.

SO...

Have a large some of florins approx 1 million (obviously a late game option).
Give them all to a side in turn for you to become their vassal.
Next turn you get the money back.
Now Give them all that money for all their regions.
Next turn you get all the money back because they are your vassal (and you should now have at least a good portion of their regions).

I don't think its a bug, just an annoying exploit. I mean, if you are their protectorate they should give you all their excess cash since they have no need for it!

[Brass Eye]

A Pope-in-your-pocket for non-Catholic players

Or, How to take Rome and Not Have a Million and One Crusades Coming Down on Your Head.

Currently playing Byzantium, with the campaign map difficulty on hard. Here's how I neutered the Papacy and gave myself free rein to ravage the Catholic world.

1. Choose a godforsaken island outpost somewhere. Preferrably a low income place with a small castle. Corsica is ideal, especially since it is rebel-held at the start of the game. Capture it.
   
2. Gift said island to the Papacy the instant you take it.
   
3. Declare war on the Papacy and take Rome. Hell, take all of Italy. Notice the Papacy move its capital to its remaining province, the island outpost you gave to him.
   
4. Sue for peace with the Papacy, offering 1000 florins per turn for the rest of the game. If you're looking after your city trade upgrades, are garrisoning your rear-echelon cities with militia units to minimise upkeep, and by the time you've taken Italy, 1000 per turn should be chicken-feed compared to your income.
   It might take a while to get the Pope to agree to peace on these terms; use a skilled diplomat or a sexy daughter.
   
5. Watch your relationship with the Papacy sky-rocket from abysmal to perfect over the next few turns.

It seems you can do pretty much whatever you like to the rest of the Catholic world from here on in, so long as you maintain payment of your measly stipend to the Pope. I've yet to have a crusade called against me. Because the Papacy gets a large garrison stack free of charge when you gift the island to him, any money you give in tribute seems to be blown on wages, and he effectively stagnates.

[IsItStillThere]

A Pope-in-your-pocket for non-Catholic players

Or, How to take Rome and Not Have a Million and One Crusades Coming Down on Your Head.

Currently playing Byzantium, with the campaign map difficulty on hard. Here's how I neutered the Papacy and gave myself free rein to ravage the Catholic world.

Because the Papacy gets a large garrison stack free of charge when you gift the island to him, any money you give in tribute seems to be blown on wages, and he effectively stagnates.

Ooooh, that's brilliant.

Dirty, underhanded, evil, genius kinda brilliant.

[Bijo]

I've read it's possible to make it so that you can exchange retinue. export_descr_ancillaries.txt, but I can't find the file in my folder? :hmmm:


I have another question. It's said the ages of characters are hard-coded, so there's absolutely NO way of changing it anyway? There gotta be a way :(
Playing with 0.5 gets long-winded though they age properly. Playing with 2.00 is just too fast. Playing with 1.00 seems about right to be in between fast (2.00, ridiculous) and slow (0.50, tedious), but the age thing just keep bothering me.

I'm actually breaking my head over it even though it is not recommended :)