So does anyone else play VH/VH?

[Intrepid Adventurer]

Hi all,

I was well underway in my Romani campaign, before I starting visiting these forums. I came straight out of MTW2 and as such didn't hesitate to play on H/H at first, before switching to VH/VH, because I thought H/H was too easy.

So I discovered that the EB team recommends VH/M and that explained why I had so much difficulty fighting Carthie African Elites, Carthie bodyguards (!!) and Aedui Naked Fanatics. However, I am slowly conquering North Africa as we speak and although the Carthies put up a good fight, I can't say the VH setting is a real pain just yet. Sometimes I lose against a significantly smaller army, but then I win the next battle against a more comparable stack (weird? troops are pretty much the same - perhaps it's the generals that matter...).

My question to you is: is VH/VH doable, or will it become too difficult later in the game when the AI gets access to better troops? Also, is it just me or is the battle AI better at VH than at M?

[bovi]

The battle AI is the same, poor thing on any difficulty, but it gets big bonuses/penalties in battle on any other setting than Medium, which throws our stat balancing and is therefore not recommended.

VH/VH is very hard indeed with most factions. Rome and Carthage are among the most powerful factions and should be possible but hard on VH/VH, but you'll have a hard time playing Hayasdan on the same.

[NeoSpartan]

You know.... VH/VH is doable, with some factions its harder than with others. Like with the Romani, KH, Carthege, basically all rich factions have an easier time than the broke factions like Aedui, Saka, Pavhla (sp), etc.

-The main reason is because the AI gets $$ due to scripting, and in the early game of a broke faction it can get extremely hard to beat the incoming stacks without taking too many loses. Oh and don't forget about rebels. That is what mest up my Aedui campain in VH/VH, by the time I killed the Arverni, and was starting to bring up my econ the Romans were on my a** and I didn't have enough men to stop them (nor could I train enough due to little $$, and low MICs). The steppe factions have to deal with the unit making machine of the Seleucids.

-However, EB says you should use VH/M because in M battle difficulty you can "enjoy" the stat system EB came up with. A lot of people like it, me too, but I can't deal with how easy it is to beat the AI so after this campain, I am not playing M anymore.

-Another thing its popular in EB is "Role Playing" that is trying to play as historically close as possible. Especially with the romans. This includes limiting ur tactics to no bridge or top-of-the-hill battles, no all elite unit armies, no spamming slinger, no Rushing the AI, waiting a LONG time to expand or expanding VERY slowly. Only attacking with Generals, etc..... So M battle difficulty is good for that.

[blank]

For battles you're probably better off with Medium, as VH horribly skewers the unit balance.

As for campaign, it depends on what your play style is.
If you're an aggressive player, you're fine with VH.

However, if you prefer to take it slow and build your infrastructure (like me), H or even M is better. Simply because on VH everybody will attack you and will not accept ceasefire no matter what you offer them, so you're forced to blitz them to get peace

[mlp071]

I played VH/M for long time , since that is recomended for EB. I switched to VH/H since it was becoming to boring to win every battle...You still can win, but will take way more effort and casualties , so i am happy for now..

[Lovejoy]

I used to only play VH and H, but then I realized, I hate losing. So started playing VH/M. My next camp will be a VH/H though. As Sweboz maybe?