Recommended Difficulty?

**MrVamp117** · June 13, 2008, 10:22 PM

What difficulty provides the best play through? I'm looking for something that doesn't make the game a chore, but still provides a nice challenge. Any help?

**jerjes** · June 13, 2008, 10:43 PM

Hard/Very hard.

**MrVamp117** · June 13, 2008, 10:51 PM

I was actually thinking about going with that. I guess it's solved then, thanks

**icydawgfish** · June 13, 2008, 10:55 PM

I'd say go Hard/Medium because on any other battle difficulty, it'll be unbalanced.

**MrVamp117** · June 13, 2008, 10:57 PM

So on Medium the battle AI doesn't get a bonus?

**icydawgfish** · June 13, 2008, 10:59 PM

easy-player gets bonuses
medium-no bonuses
hard-ai gets bonues
very hard-ai gets even more bonuses and I think the player gets handicaps, but don't swear me to it.

**jerjes** · June 13, 2008, 11:03 PM

if you want a challenge go VH in battle, the AI behaves stubbornly and its moral takes longer to fall apart. Just my opinion.

**MrVamp117** · June 13, 2008, 11:04 PM

Hmm maybe Hard/Hard then? The A.I. could probably use the bonuses since it's not as smart as a human player

**Forsworn** · June 14, 2008, 01:13 AM

I find that the increased battle difficulty doesnt improve AI Tactical Ability "AT ALL". It only means if you have the same units dukeing it out than theirs will always win in a brawl. They dont act any smarter.

The settings I tend to play on is VH/M. The AI could use the extra money but if I fight them on the feild I want it to be an even playing ground. Even if the AI is somewhat dense at times when conserning tactics.

**Squid** · June 14, 2008, 02:28 AM

VH is actually quite a bit easier than H, do not play on VH.

**Brusilov** · June 14, 2008, 04:04 AM

The benefits you think the AI gets on VH strategy map doesn't happen due to a problem with the RTW engine. The AI gets less support on VH than it does on H!

I've heard mention about on H the AI gets an additional 10K gifted per turn.

**Caius Antonius** · June 14, 2008, 07:58 AM

Well, I prefer Hard campaigns and Medium battles, it's more realistic. VH battles are really unrealistic, you can loose 20 units of cavalry to a phalanx, even if charged from behind or sides.

**Brusilov** · June 14, 2008, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Caius Antonius

Well, I prefer Hard campaigns and Medium battles, it's more realistic. VH battles are really unrealistic, you can loose 20 units of cavalry to a phalanx, even if charged from behind or sides.

I agree with the comment about the battles. Even on 'H' it's hard to get a unit to break, they can hang in there down to the last few men - I am not referring to the 'elite' units either.

**tup** · June 14, 2008, 09:49 AM

I played a Pergamum campaign on M/M...*at*least*that's*what*I*think*now,*I*was*sure*I*clicked*VH/VH*or*so*before*but*after*starting*a*new*one*with*Syracuse*on VH/VH I*encountered*quite*massive*problems*regarding*happiness,*which*I*never*had*with*the*other*one,*not*even*almost.*So*unless*I*was*unlucky*with*traits*or*it's*something*faction*specific*I'd*say*this*has*to*do*with*difficulty. So the lower the difficulty, the easier to rule your empire.

**Brusilov** · June 14, 2008, 10:57 AM

If you expand at a steady pace (i.e. slow) or don't expand for x turns then it gives the AI factions time to build themselves up.

I tend to expand at a steady pace so the AI factions can be a bit of a struggle to beat. There is a point in all campaigns where your faction can take on and beat anything.

It all depends upon your play style and what you want to get out of the game.

If you find it too easy just add some 'house rules' to make it harder.

**EternalSlayer** · June 14, 2008, 11:23 AM

I would say:

H/N for 0 turn
H/VH for 1 turn

The reason for this is that the millions of stacks that your opponents will build up on 0 turn can become overwhelming if you're on H/VH.

If you want more of a challenge, use house rules as Brusilov suggests. For example not attacking a faction until it declares war on you can make it a lot harder, since they will often only attack you once they're confident of beating you.

**MrVamp117** · June 14, 2008, 11:48 AM

All right so I've given this some thought. I do play with 0 turn recruitment, and like Eternal Slayer said I'm going to be up against a lot of enemy stacks so I'd like it to be as balanced as possible. So I shall go with....*drumroll*
H/M. Thanks to all who helped

**Jingles** · June 16, 2008, 10:54 AM

I always play on Medium battle difficulty ( I don't like the idea of the enemy army getting weird bonuses out of nowhere) and Very Hard campaign difficulty. (despite what everyone says about some sort of glitch. Call me a conspirisist, but I've seen no proof of any glitch, and IMO the AI is more aggressive on VH)