Discovering new world in MTWII questions

[Monsieur Alphonse]

how do you change the turn format to make the game last longer? i tried looking it up in the FAQ's section but for some reason it doesn't display for me. New PC, I may not have something installed. It just seems like by the time you get to goto the New World, the game is all but over.

thanks btw for the answers.

Go to C:\Program Files\SEGA\Medieval II Total War\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign (C = harddisk) and open descr_strat. Set timescale to 1.00 or 0.50. 1.00 gives you 1 year per turn and 0.50 gives you 2 years per turn.

[ReiseReise]

Timescale is number of years per turn, default is 2. Changing the time scale to .5 or 1 would actually make it take longer to get to new world, correct?
I think what you really want to do is change the dates for that event.
In the same folder as descr_strat is descr_events. Towards the bottom of descr_events you will find
; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
event historic world_is_round
date 320 328

Change the 320 328 to something like 150 158 and you will get the new world in 150 years (75 turns) instead of 320 (160 turns)

Or you could change the timescale to 4.00 to make ALL the events (gunpowder, mongols, timurids) happen sooner

[FactionHeir]

Timescale is number of years per turn, default is 2. Changing the time scale to .5 or 1 would actually make it take longer to get to new world, correct?
I think what you really want to do is change the dates for that event.
In the same folder as descr_strat is descr_events. Towards the bottom of descr_events you will find
; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
event historic world_is_round
date 320 328

Change the 320 328 to something like 150 158 and you will get the new world in 150 years (75 turns) instead of 320 (160 turns)

Or you could change the timescale to 4.00 to make ALL the events (gunpowder, mongols, timurids) happen sooner

That was a good start but then went downhill. If he set the timescale to 4.0, his game would last only half as long as currently.

For detailed information on how to make the game last longer of change events, check link 1 of my signature.

[ReiseReise]

I don't see it as downhill, OP is complaining that the game lasts too long, I provided a possible solution to make it progress quicker.

At least you agree that my fix would work, I wasn't sure since I have never actually tried it.

[Emperor[1G]]

I was complaining the game didn't last long enough actually. As I said, just when you get to the New World, the game gets ready to end. Thanks for the mod tips btw, I altered the game file and now have 890+ turns AND the New World Event, mongols and gunpowder will arrive some 130 turns in.

Since I have you fellas here, rather then make a new thread Im going to ask your opinions on the subject of forts. I never used them in RTW and have never used them in MTWII, but I see people mentioning them as a viable tactic.

What is the point of them? Anytime I see the PC use them, I run right over and besiege them. Then they either A. sit there and lose men each turn as supplies dwindle, or B. try to sortie out the front door, where I assault them catching them in the doorway bottleneck and slaughter to my heart's content. Other then possibly slowing down an enemy stack for a turn, what is their strategic value?

[FactionHeir]

Slow down enemy stacks, prevent agents passing through, force enemy to take longer route, take out rebels that crop up around the map, place to store excess troops without fear of plague nor desertion.

[ReiseReise]

Sorry for my misinterpretation, I thought you wanted New World earlier, not to make the game last longer while keeping New World in its place. Alphonse had it right .

As for forts: I actually used them much more in RTW than in M2, but that could be due to a change in my style. The only time I use them now is when I have a weakly defended area. I will build a fort in a mountain pass and put the weakest unit I can find, eg 20 spear militias left over from some siege. The garrison will surely die, but it gives you an extra turn or two to build/move an army to defend against the invasion. I mostly use it when the AI seems to be preparing for war but they could attack next turn or maybe they will wait 10 turns, it is too expensive to keep an army around but the fort gives you a nice buffer and an extra turn to react. Also, they prevent enemy spies/merchants from moving through (if it is in a chokepoint obviously)