Rome Total Realism vs EB

[Intranetusa]

Which is the better mod and which should I get?

Cuz I've heard the 2 have similar features, such as a new campaign map extending to India, and the new Egyptian-Pytolmic dynasty, and I've looked at the features. However, the RTR website doesn't give a detailed, indepth description of all the features.


Does EB focus more on the barbarian tribes & other factions while RTR focus primarily on the Romans???




Also, does Carthage get its legendary circular ports & huge naval fleet? (As it did historically)

[Orb]

I haven't actually tried RTR, but from what I've heard about it, I don't think I will.

EB has a beautiful and deep trait system, subtle interplay of nations and the Romans and Greeks receive as much attention as the barbarians.

[bovi]

Some people favor one, some the other. I've played both, and my choice is EB, but RTR has a lot of good in it too. Why not try them both, and decide for yourself?

[Intranetusa]

Can those of you who have tried both RTR and EB tell me the difference between the two??? (significant differences)

because I've read the description off of the EB website and this forum (and RTR site has no detailed description) and it doesn't really tell me much about either games.

[oudysseos]

I haven't played RTR for quite some time: since 6.0 came out in fact, and I never installed the PLatinum edition, but two cents worth is that RTR is great until you try EB. Many of the elements will be familiar: The Egyptians changed to the Ptolemies and so on. RTR also has a Zone of Recruitment element for mercs; I don't remember how well developed its faction recruitment was but I am sure it's not as advanced as EB.
What EB has much more of than RTR 6.0 is depth: RTR doesn't have all the units/buildings etc. in the correct native languages, or all of the faction specific wonders or really any of the role-play elements that EB has. Or the amazing latin, greek and celtic voice mods. It's an improvement over vanilla but doesn't go as far as EB. And the EB units are newer and prettier and as far as I can tell more historically accurate.
What RTR has that EB does not is a whole constellation of minimods that allows you to customize your install. There's a great 4 turns per year mod, an interesting naval mod, a polytheism mod that I wish EB would incorporate, a metropolis mod: you can really make the game your own, giving you lots of options if you're interested in the nuts and bolts of modding.
RTR 7.0 has posted some very interesting ideas that I'm keen to see the results of, especially their whole batch file/unlimited factions deal, but I am reserving judgement on it til it comes out as it might not work out quite so well in reality.

To sum up, EB trumps RTR in most areas and is definitely more challenging and harder, so if you want an easy intro to RTW mods, try RTR first and then EB. The hardest mod of all, for gameplay, is Arthurian Total War. Fantastic mod, fiendishly difficult to succeed at.

[Intranetusa]

thanks for the info.

Does anyone know which mod RTR or EB have the unqiue buildings?
ie. Egyptian pyramids in Egpyt or massive Carthaginian circular docks?

[Geoffrey S]

A loaded question, requiring thoughtful answers and mainly boiling down to personal preferences. At the moment, for me EB in its current state is the preferred mod. I'm looking forward to trying RTR 7.0 when it's released; the current release though is also a definite improval over vanilla Rome and certainly worth trying.

Why not install both? It's a simple matter of copying your Rome folder, certainly so if you've got enough space. Both mods are definitely worthwhile.

[Kugutsu]

If you have the HDD space, install both and see which you prefer!

EB certainly does it for me. Incredible detail in all factions (not just barbarians), a unique traiting system that makes your family members into individuals, and generally an awsome gameplay experience all round. I can (and have) quite happily spend hours just reading the unit cards about the history and uses of the various units, which are an education in themselves.

Im afraid I cant comment on RTR, having never felt the need to try it after finding EB, but Im sure someone will be able to tell you how they compare.

[Lovejoy]

Both are great mods.

EB
+Very historical
+Good skins
+TRAITS!
+Deap!
+Hard(er)
-Runs slow
-Still beta

RTR
+Tons of user mods, like imperator.
+Multiplayer community
+Some of the best skins ever.
+Runs fast
-Kinda easy

And both have there ups and downs. Play and love em both! :D

[Gazius]

RTR is what RTW should have been.
EB is the game that made me drop almost every other game. I might play a few others now and then, but I'm always back to EB. No other game can compare. RTR 7 may make a challenge, but as I see it:

RTR is a one night stand, EB is a happy marriage.

[GodEmperorLeto]

I'd honestly go with the whole "install and try both" idea, and decide for yourself. I mean, in some ways, you are comparing the two, and making them compete against one another. That's somewhat unfair. The guys at RTR have worked very hard to put out their mod, just like the guys at EB. Both mods deserve respect and appreciation. It is cheapening the work that the guys at RTR to say that EB is better.

Nevertheless, if EB is better, then that is simply because the guys here have gone so far above and beyond that it is incredible. But comparing the two is suggesting that the two are in competition, and I don't see it as such.

[iamphet]

As other posters have noticed, there are a lot of mods for RTR. For completeness I'd recommend Extended Realism Mod for RTR. Together with Candearius' guide it adds role-playing flavour to the game.

[Shifty_GMH]

I played RTR Gold for several months before downloading EB .80. I would recommend downloading and playing RTR Gold first. Once you have completed a campaign then download and play EB. EB .81 will hopefully, (fingers crossed), be out shortly and is not save-game compatible with EB .80. RTR Gold is definately an EB light......but well worth playing. RTR 7.0 does look promising, but I read somewhere that it probably won't be released till Q2 of 2007.

I have not played RTR:PE. So i can not recommend it one way or the other.

[oudysseos]

Or rather than install all theos minimods to RTR, what with compatability issues and so on, you could just play EB. It's your one stop shop for gaming excellence.

[Birka Viking]

Well I havent played RTR for a very longtime. But from my experience with RTR I can only say this. What RTR did with the original Vanilla game, EB did with RTR.
Cheers

[paullus]

I'll add this:

I get better battlefield framerates with RTR. But that's partly because I have the graphics options too high with EB because a lot of the units look soooo good.

But I'd say it boils down especially to this:

If you want to learn about the ancient world (its a lot of fun!) then EB is the way to go. It has more and better information, and not just in the military sector, than in many layman's ancient histories, and is better in some areas than quite a few scholarly works.

And yet its tremendously fun to play...sweet.

[iamphet]

Or rather than install all theos minimods to RTR, what with compatability issues and so on, you could just play EB. It's your one stop shop for gaming excellence.

Yes. With RTR you can select which features you want, with EB you must use them all.