NewbieQuestions

[Demonic Spoon]

Hey folks. I just recently reinstalled R:TW and am rather liking it. I have a few questions though.


what are the chances of a captain becoming a family member/general through combat?

My units seem to clump up like all hell in villages. In one battalion, members may be split up across the entire glob. This causes some massive unit AI issues...For example, when I had taken out 50% of a Gaul garrison, I lost 20% of my force after that point just because my units decided to be retarded. Any way to prevent this? Cities are too narrow for formations...

What exactly does more command stars do? Do your units fight better in combat? A friend of mine claims it only helps in autocalc.

Also, I read that a normal unit can take 10 hits before dying in combat. How does armor factor in?

What's the point of ballistas? With the exception of the ability to take down very light walls, archers do basically everything better. Granted, it's nice to be able to instantly attack a settlement, but really onagers are better for that.

How many people play RTR online?

I was thinking of picking up one of the expansion packs one of these days. Which one would you advise? Or should I just get M:TW 2?

[Prince_of_Macedon]

Hey folks. I just recently reinstalled R:TW and am rather liking it. I have a few questions though.

Welcome to the forum!

My units seem to clump up like all hell in villages. In one battalion, members may be split up across the entire glob. This causes some massive unit AI issues...For example, when I had taken out 50% of a Gaul garrison, I lost 20% of my force after that point just because my units decided to be retarded. Any way to prevent this? Cities are too narrow for formations...

I don't play Campaign, but I reckon this could be rectified by reforming your units into columns (or at least a formation with a more narrow front).

What's the point of ballistas? With the exception of the ability to take down very light walls, archers do basically everything better. Granted, it's nice to be able to instantly attack a settlement, but really onagers are better for that.

In my opinion, any form of artillery is weak. Ballistaes don't shoot as many arrows as archers per volley, and also, I find Onagers rather too sluggish to participate in a set piece battle. However, people use them online so I guess it's debatable as to how popular they are.

Onagers are great for taking out the Greek/Carthagenian "noob box" as well as elephants though. But outside of siege, I don't see much of a use for onagers.

How many people play RTR online?

I only play RTW online. And there are at least a dozen of us here who play online (for RTW). I don't have an actual fact for this, but most of the Multiplayer crowd play RTW (as opposed to RTR or NTW or whatnot).

I was thinking of picking up one of the expansion packs one of these days. Which one would you advise? Or should I just get M:TW 2?

I prefer the Ancient time period better. In any case, I'd offer up Barbarian Invasion since they have more factions than the Alexander expansion. If you enjoy the Medieval time period (and if you have an awesome computer), then you should give M2TW a chance. But if not, then you should stick with RTW (or possibly the BI expansion).

[Lord Romanus III]

Regarding the expansion pack, you should definitely get Barbarian Invasion. Medieval 2 Total War still has quite a few problems. If you do like good up-close battles, you should get it.

Cordially, Lord Romanus III

[Ludens]

what are the chances of a captain becoming a family member/general through combat?

It depends on how many family members you have. The game gives you one family member per two or three cities (however, it also enforces a minimum of two or three family members). If you have less than that, and an army led by a captian (or by a KIA general) is victorious, then there is a chance you are offered to adopt the captain. This won't happen if you have enough family members.

My units seem to clump up like all hell in villages. In one battalion, members may be split up across the entire glob. This causes some massive unit AI issues...For example, when I had taken out 50% of a Gaul garrison, I lost 20% of my force after that point just because my units decided to be retarded. Any way to prevent this? Cities are too narrow for formations...

Like Barbarian_Prince said, putting your units in collumns no wider than the street itself (the pavement, in civilized cities) will make them manouvre more easily through the streets. Pathfinding in cities remains a problem, though.

What exactly does more command stars do? Do your units fight better in combat? A friend of mine claims it only helps in autocalc.

According to a CA developer it increases attack as well as the morale of nearby units, however not everyone has been able to replicate the former effect in experiments. Command stars aren't that influential in normal combat, although I am told they are important in autocalc.

Also, I read that a normal unit can take 10 hits before dying in combat. How does armor factor in?

Actually, most units (with the exception of bodyguards and elephants) have only a single hitpoint. Armour and defense reduce the chance of an attack being succesful. A succesful attack will result in a kill or a knock-down. For more information on the combat system, read this post.

What's the point of ballistas?

Not much. They are intended to shoot holes in enemy lines (as the bolt can go through several soldiers), but they don't do that much damage, so onagers are generally a better choice.

I was thinking of picking up one of the expansion packs one of these days. Which one would you advise? Or should I just get M:TW 2?

I'd also recommend Barbarian Invasion. It only costs a few dollars, but it's got a more challenging campaign and it allows you to install many good mods. There are only two minor mods for the Alexander expansion, and although the campaign is challenging this mostly because the A.I. will throw stack after stack at you while you are racing time. I can't say anything about M2:TW, but it would be a pity to leave R:TW without trying out a few of the many good mods available.

[Towelie]

What's the point of ballistas?

I using them to defend my newly conquered barbarian vilages.. Those villa's have hill in the middle which is great for placing balistas, and not hurting your mens in fronth much.. Just aim them on gate, and once enemie start entering the gate it could be devastating, causing mass routing and morale drop..

[Roshak]

what are the chances of a captain becoming a family member/general through combat?

Depends on the battle and how the captain fought in it. In a heroic victory with the captain seeing heavy action I say 40-50%. If you all ready have a large number of general's compared to your empire you probably won't get them.

My units seem to clump up like all hell in villages. In one battalion, members may be split up across the entire glob. This causes some massive unit AI issues...For example, when I had taken out 50% of a Gaul garrison, I lost 20% of my force after that point just because my units decided to be retarded. Any way to prevent this? Cities are too narrow for formations...

Try using way points. Check out the first section of my guide ( in my sig there's a link to it) to learn how to do them.

What exactly does more command stars do? Do your units fight better in combat? A friend of mine claims it only helps in autocalc.

They boost your army's morale, fighting abilities, and so forth. Granted Auto-resolve will take command stars into effect, but its very noticable in high star ranking generals that your forces fight better and a harder.

Also, I read that a normal unit can take 10 hits before dying in combat. How does armor factor in?

Where did you read this? A unit fighting and not getting killed doesn't count as a hitpoint loss per say. For example if your general falls after a blow or gets pushed back doesn't mean he's lost a hit point but infact just part of the fighting animation. Units will get 1 hitpoint while special units will get 2-3 and Elephants 11 or so. Armor will make it more difficult to kill the unit.

What's the point of ballistas? With the exception of the ability to take down very light walls, archers do basically everything better. Granted, it's nice to be able to instantly attack a settlement, but really onagers are better for that.

Ballistas are not very affective but their cheap and can do some damage.

How many people play RTR online?

a few but since most are in the Medieval II lobbies not too many. Probably 3-4 but not sure.

I was thinking of picking up one of the expansion packs one of these days. Which one would you advise? Or should I just get M:TW 2?

None actually unless you want to see better and more challenging campaign battles. Barbarian Invasion would be the major one and would be nice to get if you wish to make full use of your game in mulitplayer.

However in my opinion its not really needed or worth it. There's little unit differences between the factions, and few new features to make it worthwhile. Yes the graphics are nice but bear in mind you can get the same graphical upgrades with the patches. Besides night battles and challenging campaign don't see the light in it.

Alexander is the other expansion which allows you to lead Alexander in his epic campaign. While it does add some new units, factions and the campaign itself looks pretty challenging. It will not drastically change your game or be worth it.

So I would instead use that Expansion money and get Medieval II if you got the system to that can handle it.