What mod should I go for?

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi guys,
I have read lots of members suggesting that another member buy M:TW for the modifications and I was wondering which one I should choose, there are just too many to choose from, all created by talented individuals, and they all sound so superb. I personally am looking for something that does not completely change vanilla's gameplay, but just improves it slightly by adding new features and balancing the unit statistics. I was thinking either the BKB Super Mod or the XL mod or something else that is similar. What modification do you guys think I should go for? Thanks.

[The Unknown Guy]

Caravel´s pocket mod, I´d say. It´s pretty much the same but altering the gameplay to offer more challenge (Start Byzantine on High on that mod...)

Personally, I did not like the XL mod. Too much alteration and not all of it nice, althrough I concede that separating Venice and Genoa was neat.BkB I couldn´t even install

[cegorach]

If you need more Medieval - BKB's and XL are the mod for you. MedMod is very good too, but somehow smaller than both before (only 2 campaigns).

The rest are total conversion mods - changing tha timeperiod and often many, many other things.

Samurai mod - basically STW on MTW engine with many new additions you can't find in STW.
Its main advantage is the timeframe and the place you are fighting - Japan during the civil wars.
Major flaw (to me)- small number of units, though well balanced and difficult.

Napoleonic TW - v7 allows for more than earlier editions. Over 180 new units with excellent new animations, new techtrees, over 30 historical heroes and interesting features such as historical battles, new battle maps and movable artillery and rockets.
Flaw - unhistorical starting positions, the fact that the AI poorly uses missile infantry with good melee and old MTW provinces with only campaigns different by set up rather than anything else.

Hellenic TW - Completely new campaign map, large number of units with new animations ( chariots, elephants, ram and other) of superb quality, excellent battle maps, interesting historical battles and numerous factions to choose with different fighting styles. It is also pretty difficult.
Flaw - CTDs in some cases.

Fall of Rome - simplier conversion which has smaller number of new animations ( Legions, new steeds etc), but its difficult compensates for that somehow. Some interesting ideas (new use of crusades) and interesting campaigns are also the good points of this mod.
Flaw - less advanced than the rest, but good to try.

Middle Earth TW - simply amazing battle maps ( MORIA !) and brilliant animations ( Trolls, dwarfs, elves etc).
Flaw - no campaign, smaller number of factions, some units are missing ( Ents...)

Pike and Musket TW - placed in the period between 1480 and 1700.
Huge number of new units ( over 700), factions (about 55), historical heroes ( over 200) and unit animations. Some unique ideas ( warwagons, ski troops, field fortifications, new 'dismounting' system, entirely new ideas for buildings), very historically accurate and difficult with some factions. Some new historical battles and more or less evident advantages.

Flaws - some old animations, map from MTW XL so not so realistic as should be, old battlemaps and very low, but still existing propability of a CTD - the price for the size of the mod.


If I forgot something I beg to apologise...

That should be quite insightful and reliable review.

Regards Cegorach

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Caravel´s pocket mod, I´d say. It´s pretty much the same but altering the gameplay to offer more challenge (Start Byzantine on High on that mod...)

Personally, I did not like the XL mod. Too much alteration and not all of it nice, althrough I concede that separating Venice and Genoa was neat.BkB I couldn´t even install

Mate it really is easy. If you look on the first page of the super mod thread i do explain it as i have countless times to people

[caravel]

Mate it really is easy. If you look on the first page of the super mod thread i do explain it as i have countless times to people

Same here, never had any problems installing any mod though to be honest.

[Sensei Warrior]

I've played XL, BKB's SuperMod, and MedMod.

XL and BKB are definately for those who need MORE MTW. Alot more factions, units etc. Both are good, although may sometimes be a little daunting or confusing. Kind of like MTW when you first started playing it. They both take large steps to improve the AI.

MedMod doesn't have alot of 'new stuff', per se. WesW concentrated on completing stuff CA never got around to, vast improvements to the AI, fixing the AI's inability to handle trade and etc. He has managed to make the AI one tough cookie. MedMod IV is incomplete, WesW has stopped updating it, and at least since 7-22-06. I used to play v3 which is complete and it was quite a challenge.

I haven't tried Caravel's PocketMod but am watching it very closely. If I wasn't caught up in my own personal mod and getting ready to plunge into an AAR I would've already taken a whack at it.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Thanks guys. I think I will try BKB's super mod first and then I probably will have a go at XL. After I have played them both I will probably have a play of some of the total conversions such a H:TW. Thanks for the advise.

[Yun Dog]

I can recommend XL and Samurai Wars - played and enjoyed both mods immensly