Which RTW Version is best for RS?

[EternalSlayer]

I'm yet to start playing RS, I'm still finishing campaigns in RTW 1.0. (Yeah, I know, I only got the game two months ago)

But when I do start I was wondering whether expansion packs are required or recommended, I expect I'll need to upgrade to RTW 1.5 at the least, but which types of settings and versions give the best results for:

1)AI (combat and campaign map)
2)Randomness in empire building (by this I mean who takes over the map, there's nothing I hate more in RTW than the Romans winning all the time, ideally I'd like it to be as varied as possible in who takes over an area of the map)
3)Resource Management
4)Difficulty (Although I'm not great yet, I would like a challenge)

Of all of them, 2 really is the most important to me. I don't know why, but I just enjoy watching good, random AI outcomes in action. Please give me some feedback on what in your opinion works best. Thanks in advance

[snuggans]

1.5. period. best for compatibility.

however using alexander .exe will change a couple of things... including changes to your #2, because some factions will like to make naval invasions.

[tone]

Certainly worthwhile having the BI.exe or the Alexander.exe (ideally the latter)

[Brusilov]

You can upgrade to RTW 1.5 simply by using the patches released by Activision/ Creative Assembly.

If you are playing with RTW 1.0 then the least you should do is upgrade it to 1.2 (the last patch before RTW BI was released).

RTW 1.5 is better than RTW 1.0
RTW BI is better than RTW
RTW Alexander is better than RTW BI

I would also be true to say that any mod is better than RTW. The maps in the mods are generally larger with more settlements.

The skins of the units in the mods aren't dangerous to your vision. RTW I guess needed to make the factions easily spotted (?) on the battle map. Some of the colours are really bad in RTW.

The one thing that I didn't like about RTW playing as Rome was that you were ordered all over the place by the senate. Some missions made sense but others like assassinate a character on the far side of the map just did my head in. Some mods retain the senate but most appear to have removed it.

When you start playing RTW based mods I'd suggest playing a fairly easy faction (for instance Rome) before trying the other ones. It's probably the easiest way to learn the game. I would definitely suggest that you should try each faction once in a game - it will broaden your perspective.

You may find that in some mods you will find certain factions doing very well on a regular basis. The developers of the mods attempt to balance the game as best they can. In RS I usually find the Seleucids doing very well and Macedon / Rome doing well centrally. Every now and then something happens different and the Ptolemaics gain the upper hand over the Seleucids and Epeirus wins in the centre of the map.

[EternalSlayer]

Excellent, my path is clear then.
Thanks.