Hi Lusted and LTC players!
Long time lurker, rare poster, mostly TWC daily reader. In the past been playing RTW DarthMod exclusively untill M2TW came out (much deeper, difficult, immense game than Rome imo, though it has its flaws, but hey nothing is perfect) and now I very much like LTC (one of the best current mods for M2TW around imo) and want to say BIG THANKS to its creator Lusted Keep it up man
Now I also like trying/experimenting new things in M2TW, so although with my amateur, basic modding skills, I'd like to share my M2TW and LTC customizing experience
In descr_strat.txt I changed timescale back to original, that is 2 years per turn. The reasons for this is that I feel the game is more challenging this way you don't get bored, you can't turtle too much (need to capture those 45 regions) cause time is running out. Just my preference though.
I find playing LTC on vh/vh gives the ultimate challenge.
Also I edited/balanced kings_purse
In campaign_script.txt made timurids appear with elephants again, I like the challenge fighting these monsters
In money script made max 5000 cash boost only if conditions are met (AI low on cash) cause I feel that vh campaign gives AI financial bonuses already. I don't like fighting endless annoying stacks, want big but more decisive battles. My opinion though.
In descr_events.txt I changed the date of gunpowder invention to around 1300s, cause firstly I feel it to be more realistic historically (first primitive/prototype gunpowder 'cannons' (bombards) appeared in the early 14th century and only extended in use across Europe by the end of 14th century; the same thing is said in bombard's unit description)
and secondly having citadels and advanced walls in 1300s gives great challenge in sieges with only catapults and trebuchets
Speaking about sieges in descr_walls.txt I increased walls and gates hitpoints 2-3 fold (in vanilla they very paper walls) and towers now are as hard as walls.
Also I reduced the tower firing frequency by 2 times (in vanilla they're machine guns).
Besides, I increased the range of towers (both simple, ballista and gunpowder) 1.5 times, so now defenders can outshoot attackers (of course simple towers with a range of a longbow can't reach trebuchet, only ballista ones do) which is very realistic and good. Attackers must think twice before advancing under hail of missile and risk of being repelled, also they must be careful not to deploy too close. Without artillery attackers will have especially hard time. So sieges are really challenging for me now as it should be where defender heavily outnumbered can hold back and put up heroic fight. Back in medieval sieges were bloody, risky business. I try to imitate that.
In descr_settlement_mechanics.xml I changed back population upgrade numbers close to vanilla 500-1000-2000-6000-12000-24000 also citadel upgrade you must have 12000.
I balanced population growth by reducing farming level and increasing actual growth benefit from building a farm, also customized all other parameters for my taste.
In export_descr_buildings.txt I adjusted building costs and time back to original (but keeping Lusted's building tree), just increased costs for some buildings like gunsmiths (they were way too cheap for such a tech), wall upgrades and others. Now you really have to worry about running out of money.
Added agent_cap for spies and assassins to control AI spamming them, besides it really is hard to micromanage so many agents
Edited unit replenishment rate (lowered a bit to make decisive battles matter)
Added experience bonus for lower troops trained at higher tier.
Moved jannissary archers to highest archery for turks, made heavy billmen available at 1 lower barracks (i.e. HRE trains dismounted imperial knights at the same tier) and other things can't remember right now
In export_descr_units.txt ships are 2x expensive (AI spams too much of them imo), artillery pieces set to 3 (for a payoff for such a price), longbow range 200-210-220 according to 3 units
You can download my edited files here http://hosted.filefront.com/pjblitzkrieg/1922850
So this is what I've changed in text files in LTC (for my taste), now let me tell you about what add-on mods I use:
HA's weather mod (except blood - way too much imo) adds greatly to the feel of environment http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...hlight=weather
the famous Burreks skins + blood mod created nice nationalistic variety between units + blood looks realistic http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=80484
Byzantium skins - finally byzies look normal again: no more elves, no eye-soaring bright purple. Also variety between units like shields, banners other part is bigger http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=80998
Blood, Broads and Bastards awesome mod, enhances RPG element so much and brings that classical title and loyalty feel from MTW + have many addional features and traits http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=84493
Diverse loading screens adds up to 50 new loading screenies + I've added more from such mods as TLR, RTJ http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...hlight=loading
Dust mod adds the missing feature from M2TW of units kicking out dust when marching http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...highlight=dust
Cannon and gunners smoke mod
Early generals mod - who the hell weared plate armour in 11th century lol? http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...=early+general
Xenophonia - foreign languages mod enhances the game notably, when you heared vanilla voices million times. As you brits say, variety is a spice of life. German speeches in xenophonia are especially cool and 'reich-ish' lol http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=256
So these are my favourite add-ons to LTC, now about the my own music mod for M2TW:
You can add your own music using this guide http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=77905
My music for M2TW:
*M2TW original tracks - well of course
*MTW ost - what an awesome war classics, remember those good old MTW times
*some tracks from Alexander movie for Byzantines
*RTR soundtrack, very nice music
*Braveheart makes me cry everytime lol
*RTW Chivalry mod music has some great themes
*civilization 4 medieval music fits so good for campaign map
*some tracks from CC-light music mod for RTW
*few themes from Europa Universalis for campaign map
*King Arthur movie music is so panoramic and epic
*Kingdom of Heaven ost - this is a must have - epic, christian themed music, great for crusades
*Lord of the Rings - words can't express the grandeur of this masterpiece
*2 epic tracks from Chronicles of Narnia. Remember this when you very eagerly waiting for M2TW? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cze1F2PFTmg
*Stronghold+crusader music - who can forget such a cute medieval game?
*MTW Vikings Invasion ost makes me all berserk inside
*MTW XL has nice 3 tracks
So just wanted to say hello to you LTC fans, share my M2TW playing/editing experience and say thanks to Lusted for creating this great mod on which we can realize/customize our own ideas. Thanks again Lusted and good luck to you in future modding
Cheers and happy conquering
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