Is EB the best mod for any game of all time?

**I_damian** · 08-05-2012, 03:29

Originally Posted by Ibrahim

I will have to second the suggestions people have voiced, and say that it is really up to one's taste.

I'm not sure I agree with that. For example I absolutely can't stand a single song that Elvis ever wrote or sang, but there's no denying his awesomeness based on the impact he made and the amount of fans. Same goes for Citizen Kane. I can't stand it, I don't know what people see in it, yet it's widely regarded as the best film of all time or at least in the top 5.

So if I were to put myself in the mind of someone who hates EB, it would still be difficult to deny the fact that it's one of the biggest and most proffessional quality mods for any game, ever - if not THE no.1.

**SoFarSoGood** · 08-05-2012, 05:48

Originally Posted by I_damian

I'm not sure I agree with that. For example I absolutely can't stand a single song that Elvis ever wrote or sang, but there's no denying his awesomeness based on the impact he made and the amount of fans. Same goes for Citizen Kane. I can't stand it, I don't know what people see in it, yet it's widely regarded as the best film of all time or at least in the top 5.

So if I were to put myself in the mind of someone who hates EB, it would still be difficult to deny the fact that it's one of the biggest and most proffessional quality mods for any game, ever - if not THE no.1.

Basicly you have to decide how it's decided? I mean more people have probably seen Star Wars (for example) than Citizen Kane and if you had an opinion poll no doubt Star Wars would beat Citizen Kane for 'best film' by popularity. Is that how things should be decided though? Because more people think the earth is round it must be? Used to be that more people thought the earth was flat... did the 'reality' change or just peoples understanding? Clearly in the case of the earth being flat the latter.

Is EB better than Rome TW and the other mods of it might be a better question as if you're not into any of the Total War series then clearly the question doesn't matter or make sense (since all TW would be a waste of time). On that basis I say yes it's the best TW mod there is of any of the games.

**Blxz** · 08-05-2012, 12:24

People do NOT know about this mod to the scale you are talking. It is a big thing in some circles but don't make the mistake in thinking that because you like it that suddenly makes it an undeniable gold classic art piece. Its a niche mod of a (pretty popular I'll admit) strategy game and you would be hard pressed to find people who can appreciate it for its innate 'goodness' without having actually played it and enjoyed the gameplay first.

**vartan** · 08-05-2012, 16:27

Stating the obvious here, but there is a categorical difference between what you like or appreciate, and the objective measure of how a video game mod performs in terms of gameplay, replayability, reward/punishment, balance, etc.

**Frtigern** · 08-06-2012, 02:54

There's no other game that stimulates both my mind and my emotions. I enjoy the strategy of exploiting certain regions, building armies, and attacking enemies for specific goals just as much as I enjoy to see the fruits of my labor actualized on the battlefield up close and personal. It makes me care about a single company of soldiers making it through the fight, whether they be levies or the general's own cavalry. I enjoy the variety and the uses of every unit for different jobs. I enjoy that as I move to new lands, new and unique kinds of warriors with different weapons and formations can be recruited, and this is true of their mercenaries too, unlike vanilla RTW where units seemed so generic and simple, and where differences between faction units were superficial. I am and will always enjoy the company level (or cohort) style of combat and I am not bothered that I can only bring 20 of them, or ~3000 per battle. I realize that computers and game engines have limits, especially from 2006. I enjoy seeing generals mature and develop and am always surprised by the traits and ancillaries they pick up. I am not bothered that I don't have control of it. Sometimes it makes me want to foster those traits that I didn't expect or want and make them become what they were destined to be. If they are truly awful I let destiny show them their course as they bravely charge at a stronger enemy, falling in the process. That's why I think EB is the best TW mod out there.

**Blxz** · 08-06-2012, 04:28

Originally Posted by vartan

Stating the obvious here, but there is a categorical difference between what you like or appreciate, and the objective measure of how a video game mod performs in terms of gameplay, replayability, reward/punishment, balance, etc.

Were you replying to me?

If so, then I don't think that EB can rank as the 'best' if it is possible to even determine that. To be honest, I love EB. Second only to Europa Universalis mods, EB is the game I have played the most and enjoyed the most in my life. I still don't agree with I_damian's assessment that EB is just 'innately good' and that the fact can be appreciated by anyone even if they don't like these kinds of things.

In regards to the criteria you set I think EB would rate even worse. EB is based to be as historically accurate as possible within the engine's limits so things like balance are fairly poor. While this works in-game it is worth nothing that many units are almost required to be re-costed for multiplayer not to mention the in-ability to control the AI and its crazy recruitment of elites. Then of course there are considerable instability issues with persistent crashes on many systems.

I don't mean to unduly criticise EB and I understand what can be controlled by the modders and what can't but I want to be as honest as possible here. We on this forum love the game but I think comparing the mod to Elvis or Citizen kane or anything else out there is insane.

EDIT: I didn't even want to get drawn into this thread. While I think the whole point of it is stupid I can still appreciate that it is just some fans having a good time. I don't mean to come and try and shit on your parade. Also, for the record I think elvis is rubbish compared to EB but that's only an opinion influenced by my upbringing and interests.

**Grimmy** · 08-27-2012, 09:08

I'm holding my vote until I get to try Europa Barbarorum 3 for Rome Total War 2, which should be released in about 15 years if current production pace holds true.