First Impressions

[PanzerJaeger]

And so it begins...

[Kongeslask]

- Started a "long" Grand Campaign as France, normal/normal. A few turns in Wurtemberg declares war on me for no apparent reason. The next turn Savoie does them same, again seemingly unmotivated. I invade and defeat Wurtemberg easily.

- In 1705 my monarch dies. I get a message about a war of succession starting. Austria and German minor allies Westphalia and Bavaria, the United provinces and Britain all declare war on me. I call on my Spanish allies. By 1710 I have taken Westphalia and the Netherlands region, knocking the UP out of the game. They are quite rebellious though and will probably revolt soon. In this time the only attacks against me are some tiny, ineffectual invasions by Bavaria and Savoie. Britain has hit my shipping hard, but this is thus far only a nuisance. My ally Spain has proved entirely ineffectual, marching small bands back and forth through their territory.

- AI leaves its batteries entirely undefended in field battles, making them easy prey for my lancers.

Haven't played further yet, but this does not bode well for the prowess of either the strategic or tactical AI.

[A Very Super Market]

Bah, hard is always the way to go.

[Gregoshi]

And so it begins...

Kosh?! Is that you?

[Necceh]

The AI hasn't been all that impressive, i'm usually not all that when it comes to strategy, i've been using a standard flanking approach, that i've used in other Total War Games and it seems to have worked fairly easily.

That being said i've only got it set on default, i'll crank it up on the next game :).

I love the game though, had a bit of a geek moment lastnight. Listening to Battlestar Galatacia sound track and had my infantry charge a line of Ottomons with the speed set to slo-motion, was a jaw dropping moment for me, rarely seen in games these days.

The campaign map is okay, but after playing EU3 it seems quite basic and yes it's really hard to spot certain units and so on.


Overall the game is fantastic, and despite some negative coments here i love it, these were simply me nit picking, hate it when i do that.

[Discoman]

When I was sieged the AI was very responsive. They sent two units an alternate route to flank the back of the fort and the rest attacked from the front. They placed their cannons far back, which were still vulnerable due to my cannon emplacements. They also had a second army attacking from behind and it they charged two units in reserve, killed them, and attempted to scale the fort. Meanwhile their front assault was successful, until I flanked them with 3 groups of cavalry, which had a period of struggle as they were intercepted. The battle continued on and I won with only 1/4 my original army.

[Fisherking]

It must work then!

If you are playing on the easy setting the General has all the military acumen of a Cheese Merchant and on the difficult settings you face a veteran Field Marshal.


Most of the attempted AARs have ended in uncompleted games that the players would have lost…

[JeromeBaker]

So far here are some items I love about the game:

1. On VH/H I am losing a lot of troops in battle which is making me take battles more serious.
2. I love the way you advance techs (reminds me of civ series), as it gives you a lot more control of how you advance your empire.
3. I like the way it uses rakes and gentlemen way better than spys/ assasains. The fact that they spawn makes them more important as you dont want to throw them away in a useless duel.
4. Its nice having automatic ability to negotiate diplomacy with the click of a button instead of sending a diplomat.
5. I like how you build up cities, fortifications, buildings, ect.. around your main cities
6. I like the naval battles.
7. I love the animations where soldiers scale walls, climb fences, and horses jump fences. There are a lot of little details they did a great job on.
8. Love the style of fighting with the time period weaponry.
9. Most in depth TW game so far to me, which makes it my favorite ( i know its early to say this, but it is definetly my favorite).
10. Like the fact I can promote good millitary leaders.
11. Diplomacy is improved.

Things I dont like about the game:
1. A little buggy (lags sometimes when you click on a general)
2. I am sure I will get accustomed to the AI trying to take out my general and then battles will become harder to lose.
3. I had to buy a new computer to run the game, but this is not CAs fault, its mine for neglecting my old computer for so long it wasnt worth upgrading.