Medieval Total War is out!!!!!

[DrSpike]

The biggie isn't there..........what are the MP features?

[Papa Chubby]

This sounds very iteresting, but the lack of complexity in diplomacy sounds mildly distubing. Though diplomacy was not why I played Shogun, so I guess it does not have to be the biggest factor. Still believe that they could have elaborated a little on the existing Shogun system. Dont worry I´l stop know, don´t know the game enough to go into fullblown rant mode.

[Stuie]

I've been playing MTW since last Wednesday. Very much fun!

Yes, diplomacy is pretty tame. Not much going on there. But what I like is that I'm actually spending most of my time on the strategic map - building, planning, sending princesses off to marry into other factions, setting up trade routes, shuffling bishops around - instead of brief stops on the strategy map to get to the next battle. The tech tree is fairly large, and there are a ton of units.

The battle AI seems more robust than in Shogun, with frequent flanking manuevers and the like, even a feinted retreat, regroup, and assualt on my disorganized pursuit. Oops... nice one, AI.

Haven't built a crusade yet (I'm playing as the Danes in my first campaign - no crusades for you! ), but they look to be a fun addition to the game.

[Cookie Monster]

Originally posted by DrSpike
The biggie isn't there..........what are the MP features?

Don't know, I haven't tried MP yet. I'm not sure but I think MP is limited to battles only, no strategic game. Haven't finished reading the manual so if anyone else can verify until I get home that would be nice.

[DrSpike]

Yeah that's how it worked with STW, and it ruled.

[Stuie]

MP is limited to battles only; no MP campaign.

[Cookie Monster]

Originally posted by Grumbold
Hopefully the game is better balanced than Shogun was. There was little point in doing more than pumping out basic units until you owned most of the world. Then you could sit back and upgrade everything or just continue swamping the opposition.

I don't think this can happen in MTW. The AI is definately smarter. It tends to use the land better than the AI in STW. The other thing that impresses me about the combat AI is their skillful use of combined arms. In short, battles are not as easy to win as they were in STW. This viewpoint is from playing solely as the Turks as they don't have many advanced units in the beginning and only one province that produces troops.

[Stuie]

Originally posted by Haupt. Dietrich
The other thing that impresses me about the combat AI is their skillful use of combined arms. In short, battles are not as easy to win as they were in STW.

Also, the general and morale have an even bigger impact than in STW. If the AI comes at you with a five star general, you're in trouble.

You cannot just "sit back and pump out troops" either. You need to build an economy, develop trade routes and such, to support your army. That requires careful expansion so that you still have enough trading partners to keep the florins flowing.

[Grumbold]

The estimated UK release date is this friday (Aug 30) so I won't rush out to order an import copy

[DrSpike]

I have preordered it..........hope I'll see you gentlemen on the battlefield this weekend.

[Cookie Monster]

Originally posted by Stuie


Also, the general and morale have an even bigger impact than in STW. If the AI comes at you with a five star general, you're in trouble.

I echo that statement. I've fought battles, that I could have easily won in STW despite being outnumbered, but lost them badly because my general had a 2 star command rating and his had a 4 star rating. All he had were 2 units of archers and I had one unit of cavalry, one unit of archers, and one unit of urban militias and I lost.

I love this new system.

The other thing I noticed in MTW is that the AI tends to throw a lot more non combat units at you than it did in STW. By non combat units I mean emissaries, priests, assasins, etc.

[Stuie]

Originally posted by Haupt. Dietrich I've fought battles, that I could have easily won in STW despite being outnumbered, but lost them badly because my general had a 2 star command rating and his had a 4 star rating.

Yeah, that really through me off guard the first time it happened. My general had some horrible vices that I hadn't noticed, and my entire line started wavering the minute the enemy made contact. What the hell!? thought I. Next thing I know the entire line breaks, and I see my general running like a worthless cur.

Now he's got the "Good runner" vice on top of some others. So I had him assassinated. Hahaha. Nothing like sending an assassin after your own generals! What a hoot.

[Grumbold]

Lol. Kill your bad generals and blame it on enemy activities to whip up the populace into a fighting frenzy. Love it

[Cookie Monster]

That is too funny!

I like this new system of command ratings and vices. It really does add some realism to the game and forces you to consider much more carefully who to send into battle.

Has anyone picked up the strat guide published by brady games I think? Just curious because I have yet to see it on the shelves.

Here's a good one. I read in the manual last night that if you "accidently" drop your princess on her father or one of her brothers she disappears and some other unmentioned consequences occur! I wonder what those could be?

[Leonidas]

Gamespot gave MTW 8.7. This will be my next game purchase. It sounds like a winner:

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/filters/products/0,11114,539605,00.html

Although some of the reviewer's comments are really laughable :

This also means gamers used to Command & Conquer and Warcraft will have to work their brains a little harder and put up with less instant gratification.


Currently, the massive amounts of information to digest will strain the brains of even the most hard-core wargamers. Still, the strategy portion of the game is very rewarding to play, even if it's a bit too complex for some, and many fans of Risk and Civilization will simply want to play this mode alone.

We wouldn't want anyone to suffer from brain-strain. Is that covered under medical insurance?