Best Mods

[heisme]

I have just ordered RTW and the expansion packs online and would like to know the opinion's of what the top 5 mods are for RTW

[meliritos]

the best mod is going to be the INCA total war mod. Unfortunately we are still working on that but be sure to check our threads frequently because the work that is being done will surely pay off. But if you mean a working mod I'd vote for Europa Barbarorum. Its consistent, the people from the mod seem dedicated to it. There have been some mods that really rocked the community, like blue lotus, which artistically speaking was a wonder, but unplayable because of the bugs. And there is also another mod, with a fictional and cinematographic theme which seemed interesting.

[Warmaster Horus]

Right, and from a non-biased point of view, you'd have:
1)Rome Total Realism or Europa Barbarorum (my favorite is EB, personally) - too much to say about both, check out their forums at the TW Center (for RTR) and here (for EB)
2)Roma Surrectum (their recent release is nice!) - there's a nice article on it in the Gahzette's First release. Centred around Rome I think, but includes other factions
3)The Crusades (although I haven't played it recently) - Capture the Holy Land as the Crusaders or defend it as the Saracens.
4)The First Triumvirate - play as Julius Caesar and conquer Gaul, Pompey and defeat Caesar, Crassus and conquer Parthia, Vercingetorix to retake Gaul or Parthia to defeat Rome's Eastern Provinces.
5)Invasio Barbarorum: Flagellum Dei - The same timeline as Barbarian Invasion, but bigger and better.

Of course, mod preferences depend largely on YOUR preferences. I like historical accuracy and historical scenarios, so EB and TFT and The Crusades and Invasio Barbarorum fit like that. It really depends on you.
My advice is to download a mod that LOOKS good, and install it in a copy folder for RTW. That way, if you don't like it, all you have to do is delete the file in which you installed the mod. And you keep a version of RTW on your computer.
Hope this helps!

[Aradan]

If you are looking for historical accuracy and a vanilla-like timeline, then Europa Barbarorum, Rome: Total Realism, Roma Surrectum and Invasio Barbarorum are what you're looking for. Very very very good mods and which ones will win your heart is really a matter of taste, as each one has its own strong points.

If you like fantasy, then you must definitely see Fourth Age: Total War
(what do you mean I'm biased??? )

Ofcourse Warmaster Horus is right:

My advice is to download a mod that LOOKS good, and install it in a copy folder for RTW. That way, if you don't like it, all you have to do is delete the file in which you installed the mod. And you keep a version of RTW on your computer.

[The Potty 1]

... install it in a copy folder for RTW. That way, if you don't like it, all you have to do is delete the file in which you installed the mod. And you keep a version of RTW on your computer.

OK can I have that in idiot-sized chunks?

Install vanilla RTW / BI & patch it if required.
Copy the entire folder to a new folder.
Rename the new folder to RTW_Foo.
Apply the Foo mod to the RTW_Foo folder.
Create a shortcut to the main executable in the RTW_Foo folder.
Rename the shortcut to RTW Foo

Am I missing anything?
I assume you can run either instance ?

[Warmaster Horus]

Yep, that's right. Generally installation instructions are explained in the readme file.

The "biased" comment was for meliritos, who's working on Inca:Total War. Which, by the way, sounds really nice.

[Aradan]

Yep, that's right. Generally installation instructions are explained in the readme file.

Not always. I think there's a mini-guide sort of thing lying around here somewhere though...

The "biased" comment was for meliritos, who's working on Inca:Total War. Which, by the way, sounds really nice.

I know it wasn't meant for me, 'twas just a joke. I *am* biased afterall... :)