Hate to say that I do not like the game!

[TinCow]

ETW's state out of the box is vastly superior to that of both RTW and M2TW (can't comment on STW/MTW, as I didn't play them when they first came out). There are many annoying aspects to the game, most significantly with the AI, battle pathfinding, and CTDs, but it's a definite quality improvement over the previous titles when they were at the same level of patching. I think a large part of this is due to major improvements in the engine which have removed a lot of the problems in the RTW/M2TW engine.

I admit that the lack of naval invasions has essentially made me stop playing the game, but I am hopeful for the future with patching. A expect a patch-polished ETW with released mod tools and the promised multiplayer campaign mode to be the best TW game released so far. Let's just hope that the patches and improvements needed to get it there are released before we all get tired of waiting.

[Smellycat]

ETW's state out of the box is vastly superior to that of both RTW and M2TW (can't comment on STW/MTW, as I didn't play them when they first came out). There are many annoying aspects to the game, most significantly with the AI, battle pathfinding, and CTDs, but it's a definite quality improvement over the previous titles when they were at the same level of patching. I think a large part of this is due to major improvements in the engine which have removed a lot of the problems in the RTW/M2TW engine.

LOL no it isn't we're had 4 patches now out of a box i couldn't even start the game.

[TinCow]

LOL no it isn't we're had 4 patches now out of a box i couldn't even start the game.

I don't think your experience out of the box is typical. My game ran fine out of the box, except for very annoying CTDs when boarding during naval battles. That CTD was fixed in the first patch, though I still get a few random ones. If you are finding that you are having technical problems that are not often reported by other people, it is probably because your computer is the problem. Sometimes it's hardware, but more often it is OS configuration or driver problems. Failure to update VPU drivers, failure to update your OS, and general incompatibility problems aren't really ETW's fault. Sometimes you just need to format and make a clean OS install. It's annoying, but it's part of life as a PC gamer.

If you're having problems, I find it important to try and get a feel for how often other people are having the same problem. If the problem is common, then it's likely a game software issue. If it's uncommon, then it's likely an issue with your own machine. Being unable to start the game out of the box is definitely an uncommon problem.

[Smellycat]

I don't think your experience out of the box is typical. My game ran fine out of the box, except for very annoying CTDs when boarding during naval battles. That CTD was fixed in the first patch, though I still get a few random ones. If you are finding that you are having technical problems that are not often reported by other people, it is probably because your computer is the problem. Sometimes it's hardware, but more often it is OS configuration or driver problems. Failure to update VPU drivers, failure to update your OS, and general incompatibility problems aren't really ETW's fault. Sometimes you just need to format and make a clean OS install. It's annoying, but it's part of life as a PC gamer.

If you're having problems, I find it important to try and get a feel for how often other people are having the same problem. If the problem is common, then it's likely a game software issue. If it's uncommon, then it's likely an issue with your own machine. Being unable to start the game out of the box is definitely an uncommon problem.

I can play the game after 4 patches so i doubt it is my computer and if you check the readme's to each patch they mention ctds being fixed. I have a vivid memory of playing RTW and M2TW out of the box for months (untill the patches came fixing the secondary weapon in RTW and the peasant army zerg being better than knights in M2TW) without major hiccups. I am not alone in having technical issues just go to the official forums

[A Very Super Market]

We know you are not alone, but TinCow is saying that it is still uncommon that you have these problems. I for one have not had any CTDs, and thus, I have no reason to post a thread about how I my game is fine.

[TinCow]

Part of the issue is that there are so many different possible PC configurations, that it's impossible for the devs to test them all prior to release. Once a game is released, a lot of new bugs (particularly hardware bugs) pop up, simply because suddenly there's a much wider base using the software. For this reason, I personally don't consider these uncommon incompatibilities to be major faults of the dev. It would be unreasonable to expect them to test every possible hardware configuration, so some are going to slip through.

What I do blame the devs for are things like the lack of naval invasions. That exists in everyone's game, and is a clear bug that should have been noticed prior to release. There's no way that one wasn't pointed out in testing, so its presence OOB is irksome.

[Smellycat]

If you read my comment you will see i am disagreeinf with the view that ETW's state out of the box is vastly superior to that of both RTW and M2TW . If you followed the drama on the official forums as well as TWC (yes the org has shrunk a lot) you would see that lots of ppl think that CA botched this release. Adding to the annoyance is the fact that we had to pay extra to get all the units (lucky noone came up with the idea to make the unplayable factions part of dowloadable content they could charge for). I like the game but i regret buying it for the first time in the series. Its been shelved 2 weeks now waiting for an AI. consider the enthusiasm in the posts pre release here : is it really the players/posters that are to be blamed for the lack of it now?

[Smellycat]

We know you are not alone, but TinCow is saying that it is still uncommon that you have these problems. I for one have not had any CTDs, and thus, I have no reason to post a thread about how I my game is fine.

Yes but why do you feel you have to post in a thread about how the game is not fine? I for one wouldn't troll that thread if i had no problems- I would be too busy playing the game

[A Very Super Market]

How am I trolling? Have I insulted you in some way?

[Wandarah]

Yes but why do you feel you have to post in a thread about how the game is not fine? I for one wouldn't troll that thread if i had no problems- I would be too busy playing the game

Have you made a positive post, about anything, ever? What about candy man? Do you like candy? Moonlight? A good book? What's up bro - do you need a hug?

[Fisherking]

The other two had the same issues with CTDs, memory leaks, AI issues, and so on. It took much longer to get fixes and some of them came from the mod community prior to the official fixes…which for both games took a while, but for M2 in particular it seemed to take ages. For what ever reason 3 months seems to stick in my mind. That I believe was about twice the wait for the RTW patch. (6 weeks I think)

This game has not even been out that long!

Most of the changes have fixed technical glitches but most have not been aimed at game play, I don’t think.

I know with RTW I was making saves sometimes twice a turn or more.
I had a bleeding edge system at the time and still had to go and get THE best graphics card on the market to get it to work half way!

I know with the system I have at the moment that the land battle hang-up seem to be more to do with the locations on the map than the inability of the system to handle battles. (Something I noticed about a week ago but haven’t brought up until now)

The level of hate and discontent is even much milder than I remember from past releases.

If you think I am wrong you can always go and check the archives and the back of the threads.

[Sturmwolf]

I don't think your experience out of the box is typical. My game ran fine out of the box, except for very annoying CTDs when boarding during naval battles. That CTD was fixed in the first patch, though I still get a few random ones. If you are finding that you are having technical problems that are not often reported by other people, it is probably because your computer is the problem. Sometimes it's hardware, but more often it is OS configuration or driver problems. Failure to update VPU drivers, failure to update your OS, and general incompatibility problems aren't really ETW's fault. Sometimes you just need to format and make a clean OS install. It's annoying, but it's part of life as a PC gamer.

If you're having problems, I find it important to try and get a feel for how often other people are having the same problem. If the problem is common, then it's likely a game software issue. If it's uncommon, then it's likely an issue with your own machine. Being unable to start the game out of the box is definitely an uncommon problem.

Forgive My ignorance, but how does one obtain/use this first Patch, that can correct Navy CTD's ???

That is the ONLY issue I seem to have with ETW, every other aspect of Gameplay runs just fine. I have enjoyed every other Game since STW came out years ago, and have never had any problems until I purchased ETW. I had seriously looked forward to Naval interaction personally, being a former Naval Officer and Merchant Mariner, as I would LOVE to see how the Navies play/interact on the Game, but alas, " das geht nicht" ! !!!

Any advice/suggestions would be Welcome.

[TinCow]

Forgive My ignorance, but how does one obtain/use this first Patch, that can correct Navy CTD's ???

Patches are automatically downloaded and installed whenever Steam connects. If you're using offline mode, they will probably all install if you just do a manual connect.

[Sturmwolf]

Patches are automatically downloaded and installed whenever Steam connects. If you're using offline mode, they will probably all install if you just do a manual connect.

Thanks for the advice. I had tried that, Steam says the Game is 100% and Ready, have attempted both online/offline Mode in Gameplay. Unfortunately same results ico Naval CTD's.

Rather disconcerting, but for now I will have to pack up the Game and let it sit upon the bookshelf, until an actual Patch/ Resolution/ something can be utilized.

[Fisherking]

That is tough Sturmwolf!

Will the game work for you in just the single battles from the menu?

It is worrisome that it is only in the naval portion that you have the trouble.

Have you asked in the Apothecary if there are any fixes?

[rory_20_uk]

Well, at least I know I was right in not bothering to buy it for a good few months - possibly longer.

I'd rather not have loads of new options and features that show promise... but don't really work. I'd rather have a few that work really well (and for the love of god how many games are we at now? And still the AI on the tactical screen isn't great!)

Maybe I'm showing my advancing age, but I'd rather have the old method of ship combat where things are obviously fudged rather than have a system where you can constantly thrash the AI at sea as it is so poor.

So as soon as the modders descend on this pig iron and craft a steel rapier I'll have another look.

[Fisherking]

I didn’t know people were having trouble with the AI in Naval battles.

That is where most people admit to being often thrashed, especially by the pirates.

I have not experienced the AI always using the same tactics time and again if it has the units to do more with.

But then my most limited experience is in the land battles, as mine don’t complete loading often.

The game needs improvements in the way it is functioning, that is for sure. But I have enjoyed the play so far and only look forward to it getting better.

[Veresov]

Easy for me to dislike Empire as it either CTD's or lockups when I press the end turn button. It is also easy to dislike this game as the support is non-existant. Over a month and there still isn't a decent patch that fixes all these bugs.

It is simply crapware..

[Phog_of_War]

If you have Steam in online mode it is automatic

[mmk]

Working on the list I intend to send to CA.

While doing that: Any of you experienced sound problems in battles? Apart from the fact that I have certain sound problems when in campaign mode (as others here, if I remember correctly) it seems that battle sounds are also bugged - or could that be a soundcard/driver problem? Any advice is welcome.

[Fisherking]

It is tough!

It is hard to know whether to blame the machine or the game.

I was having trouble with land battles as Sturmwolf was having it with naval…funny he was navy and I was cavalry, anyway, I downloaded some new updates to my drivers. That should have fixed it, right?

No! Sadly now it does not work…I don’t mean it has a CTD…it does a complete shut down! It turns the machine off about 20 seconds to two minutes into the game. If it does not do that than it has been a video crash… It says unexpected system over heating…

The game worked better before the updated drivers! Would that I could go back now to auto resolve land battles…

But who do I blame, besides me, and how the heck do I fix it?

[disamen]

The thing I hate with the game is that you can't have your king in battles

2. There is regions that are to big. Example... Spain, France, Sweden, Russia region. The hole size of the Sweden region, is big as all of the poland regions. I want the regions more equal.

3. Some countries miss some units. For example Sweden: Carolines.

4. Some countries miss historicall stats.

5. I want more land. Such as south america.