A few questions on M2TW & M2TW:K

[Darkarbiter]

Yes theres an option to change pixel shaders (I dunno about you but nVidia control panel can force pixel shaders too). 12 gigs sounds about right.

As to advantages or disadvanges... ouch you just let the cat outta the bag
(This is basicly including mods btw... I've only played m2tw mods)
MTW:
-Better music
-Faster yet reasonably detailed gameplay
-Religion works far better imo
-Sea and trade works better
-Combat feels far more tactical especially with hiding and forests
-Has a very effeciant feel... does what it does best... IMO this is a classic although m2tw will probably not be.
M2tw:
-Graphics
-Better AI
-More complicated (not necassarily a good thing in some instances)
-Larger community (suffice as to say)
-Mods
-Pickup lines (chicks dig it)
-Much more scope if you play a mod with lots of factions
-Longer campaigns (maybe not necassarily in vanilla)
-People will actually read your AARs

Can't comment on kingdoms (yet....)

[Swiss Halberd Pike Landsknecht]

ah thanks for the info

good to hear about the pixel shader in options menu (I was actually surprised I even was able to use it), but I will be able to play the game well if it is turned off.

I guess the good thing would be to have both games, so I can get the 'best from both worlds' As they both have advantages, and unless there are M2TW mods on the Swiss and 10th & 11th centuries (for Britain), I can stick with MTW for that era & factions.

[Darkarbiter]

ah thanks for the info

good to hear about the pixel shader in options menu (I was actually surprised I even was able to use it), but I will be able to play the game well if it is turned off.

I guess the good thing would be to have both games, so I can get the 'best from both worlds' As they both have advantages, and unless there are M2TW mods on the Swiss and 10th & 11th centuries (for Britain), I can stick with MTW for that era & factions.

Certainly they are both very different games but if you liked MTW you'll like m2tw.

[Swiss Halberd Pike Landsknecht]

in MTW, you couldn't place any of your men in / on the Castle Walls & Towers, you did however have (depending on construction and size) arrow & ballistic towers which would automatically fire at enemies approaching (although I think they eventually ran out of ammo?) you also had burning hot oil which automatically spilt on enemies trying to breakthrough (right under) the gatehouse. That def. had limited oil

In M2TW. do you also have similiar (auto) arrow towers? but can you also place archers, on walls to give them the height & vision to shoot down at enemies? Would be very good if you could.

Also are there any flails, maces and war hammers in M2TW or M2TW:K?

as it was ashame there were none (I think) in MTW

[FactionHeir]

In M2TW, you need to have a unit near the tower wall section to make it fire. Towers have unlimited ammo.
The unit on the wall has an insignificant range bonus but actually a penalty to hit due to most units shooting at the battlement itself or up into the sky due to having vision blocked by the person in front or the battlements.
They are quite difficult to hit with non artillery particles though and they get a large defense bonus.
No burning oil.
Maces and warhammers exist and are both classed as mace and armorpiercing. Just the visuals differ really.

[Swiss Halberd Pike Landsknecht]

ah OK

thanks for the info

I'm also thinking of maybe getting Shogun & Rome too, not played them, but I am also interested in those eras. Hopefully Shogun will work on Win Xp Home SP2.

[HoreTore]

Hopefully Shogun will work on Win Xp Home SP2.

If not, then I'm very sure that there is a mod/fix available to make it work, seeing as a bunch of people here still play it, and who still runs win2k or earlier?