ETW review (I)

**edyzmedieval** · 12-23-2009, 01:51

Based on first impressions.

I purchased E:TW yesterday, the Special Forces pack (got the last copy, wohoo!) and throughly installed it today on my computer. Not a very fast computer, but I can run it on low and even on low the campaign map looks good. Installed it, it was already patched to version 1.5, but I got a small surprise from the start...

The special edition now has three extra units to add to the game once you activate it on Steam. The units that are available in the Special Forces pack for those who have the normal version.

Anyways, I loaded it up, and started a Hard/Medium campaign with the English. First impression? Campaign map looks amazing, I love the three different theatres of war plus extra trade opportunities. I was amazed by the depth of the game - buildings, troops, government... My favourite ones are trade and technology though. Since I was playing as the English, trade was pretty important and it's not that hard to make some cash in the beginning, since London gives you so much money in your treasury. Loyalty is quite hard to maintain, and you need to constantly improve your city in order to avoid any revolts and such.

I developed my farms and coal works in the countryside, and some minor additions to my cities, taxation a bit high (I like the separate option) and worked some trade deals.

Played a battle, didn't expect much since it was everything on low (sprites looks horrible on low...) but it had a good flow. It felt kinda sketchy, as a typical Total War battle - two lines, each other attack, no flanking maneouvres, nothing... I was on Medium, so I can't expect much. And it was against the Inuits, in the north of Canada.

You go to war quite often it seems. I'm against almost the whole of Europe, Prussia even attacked my London trading port and made it shambles, but otherwise nobody else attacked me in the first 12 turns that I have played. This enabled me to build up my Empire, strengthen my borders and train some more troops, and hopefully the following 10 turns will be the same while I build up my treasury reserves.

Bugs wise? So far so good. Stability is excellent, loading times are ok, no CTD's yet and I can't wait to discover the extra unit pack that I have included in my edition.

Overall, I haven't explored much but I am definitely liking the game and I am impressed by the effort CA made overall. Score, I would say something along a 9 strongly going towards 9.5 because of the depth and content in the game. Downloadable packs definitely add to the mix, as I think they contribute to the overall gameplay. And they are reasonably priced, at 3, 4 euros. That's like, what, 5 half-litre bottles of water?

I'm not a fanboy, I'm not sucking up to CA. Got nothing to gain from it. But perhaps I was too impressed by some aspects. When I throughly play it, especially after finishing a VH/VH campaign, I will give the final review for the game.

**peacemaker** · 12-23-2009, 05:46

Good to hear some positive reviews as of late ;)

My main gripes with ETW nowadays are
a)the BAI which seems to work great with some people but do poorly on other computers.
b)When you get to your 50+ turn, the loading times for other factions to move take forever. But that's just because I have a fairly low-end laptop :D

**Fisherking** · 12-23-2009, 12:03

The first unit available will be Roger's Rangers if you build the Military Governors Barracks in Rupert's Land.

The others take a lot of tech before you see them.

**Peasant Phill** · 12-24-2009, 13:53

Good review, though I expect your appreciation for ETW will drop a bit once you play some more.

2 quick hints if you want them:

1) Don't put your taxes to high. It hurts the population growth and your economy. New towns and more income with the same industry is the only thing that'll keep the unrest under control mid-game.

2) Try to get as many trade agreements as you can. Nations that trade with you are less likely to attack you. And if they still want to, you'll at least be forwarned.

**edyzmedieval** · 12-26-2009, 14:50

Originally Posted by Peasant Phill

Good review, though I expect your appreciation for ETW will drop a bit once you play some more.

2 quick hints if you want them:

1) Don't put your taxes to high. It hurts the population growth and your economy. New towns and more income with the same industry is the only thing that'll keep the unrest under control mid-game.

2) Try to get as many trade agreements as you can. Nations that trade with you are less likely to attack you. And if they still want to, you'll at least be forwarned.

Most probably it will drop once I stumble upon the annoying bugs that everyone is experiencing.

1) Taxes are really a feature I enjoy now, because I can micromanage my Empire. Each city has its own specific taxation and in this way I can maximize my revenue.

2) I find this hard to do. Only minor nations and couple others like Austria and Netherlands are allied with me, the whole of Europe is against me, and even trade agreements with minor nations are hard to obtain!

Oh well, tomorrow I'll continue my campaign. More impressions coming up!

**Peasant Phill** · 12-26-2009, 16:37

Originally Posted by edyzmedieval

2) I find this hard to do. Only minor nations and couple others like Austria and Netherlands are allied with me, the whole of Europe is against me, and even trade agreements with minor nations are hard to obtain!

Oh well, tomorrow I'll continue my campaign. More impressions coming up!

I find military agreements less interesting unless I really need a potential threat on my side or when a bit further in the game when Europe/America has settled on a few ongoing wars.

Trade agreements are actually quite easy to get IMO. Just throw some cash against it. if you give them 2000 florins or so they'll most likly oblige and you can earn that amount back in 4 turns or so. of course there will be 1 or 2 nations who'll break there trade agreement over and over again but the others will have grown friendly in 20 or so years.