What's the state of this game?

[Alx]

I gave up on TW series right after mtw2 came out, but I got an itch for a medieval age strategy game, and I just can't find a decent one. So I'm thinking of giving this thing another chance, and I wanted to ask you guys a few questions about the general state of the game to decide if it's worth for me to get into again.

1) Is there still cohesion retardedness where as soon as a unit engages in melee it slowly starts spreading out into the rear and sides?

2) Does AI still employ a hundred several unit stacks instead of combining, run large stacks around without a general and generals without stacks, launch ridiculous wars by sieging a well defended town with a few scrappy units?

3) Do most battles involve sieges, and is AI any better than the complete failure that it was in the initial release, both at attacking and defending?

I honestly want to know, maybe the expansion, patches and this mod has fixed these things, it's just what I remember ruined the game for me back then. I might jump into a quick medmod mtw1 campaign in the meantime

[Barser]

1: It is not that bad in ss I think

2: they combine them but sometimes they siege with to few units (think this was fixed in mtw2 patch)

3: the ai is better in ss thanks to lusted ai mod

all I can say is try it out for yourself and I am sure you will find it much improved from regular mtw2.

I recomend crimson tide blood mod and ss total combat flags and officers when you have installed the mod to spice it up further.

[spanish_emperor]

well the main problems have not being fixed although there is an improvement. The AI is still the biggest headache in the game but there is work going on to improve it.

[tallstark]

I would say like any other game, you figure out how to beat the AI within a reasonable amount of time and it gets boring but trying new mods gives you that hard time the first several campaigns that makes it fun for awhile.

[moosey]

yeah, the AI will always do peculiar things but im really liking lusteds campaign and battle AI which come with this, the update is by some accounts even better.

but if you want a hard time try installing this, with Real Recruitment and Byg's Grim Reality and trying a game with the Knights Templar on VH/VH, most difficult and fun campaign i had played in ages (even though i lost) lol

[Mauzeer]

1)not that much as in vanilla
2)yeah unfortunatley many full stacks are still without general
3)Ai wont siege you without appropriate force and wont get into the wars by blockading your ports only and at once
if you like TW series i would gladly recommend SS mod, if you like real challenge install RR and BGR submods and i bet you'll have lots of fun (especially with some specific factions)

[Alx]

Thanks guys. So I've tallied up some suggestions and I have counted the following:

crimson tide blood
total combat
flags and officers
Real Recruitment
Grim Reality

I take it these are all mods I can find under the sub mods forum; are they all inter-compatible? Anything else I should get?

[Grandmaster Ryu]

Louisiana.

[caralampio]

My experience is a little different than that of other posters in this thread:

1) Absolutely, they still do this.

2) Does AI still employ a hundred several unit stacks instead of combining,

No, this is improved. The AI tends to join stacks, and to place mutually supported stacks.

...run large stacks around without a general and generals without stacks,

Yes, they still do that.


...launch ridiculous wars by sieging a well defended town with a few scrappy units?

It no longer makes ridiculous sieges, but it still declares silly wars by sending a ship to blockade one of your ports.

3) There was considerable improvement after the patches, and mods such as this one, retrofit and others have improved it further. I think this mod's AI is quite passive when you ally everyone. Non-allies however will backstab you happily if you show any weakness, especially in border settlement garrisons, but will not attack if your garrisons are strong. Aside from the occasional silly port blockade, the AI behaves pretty reasonably. This allows you to set the game style you want... If you like peaceful development, ally everyone; if you like challenges, don't ally with any neighbors.

[Yoda Twin]

I have experienced with medc2 that the AI no longer makes war with you for no reason. Everytime the AI has gone at war with me it had valid reasons

[Wolfgrin]

Agreed. This mod is not perfect, but it has made MTW2 actually addictive. Every faction has its own opportunities and challenges. Most also have wonderfully expanded unit rosters. The money script ensures that, even though the AI does some dumb stuff, it will still give you a good fight. For instance, when I was playing as Genoa (replaces Milan), the Sicilians parked a full stack army on Corsica and left it there doing nothing. I thought they wouldn't be able to field many other troops with these wastrels on the payroll. But, when I landed my own army near Palermo, I found they had several other full stacks of good troops to keep me on my toes -- and even deal me a defeat in the field! Also, the variety of new character traits makes it possible to role play your faction. Act according to your king's personality, and the game takes on a different, more realistic feel. In short, definitely give it a try. If you're a die-hard grognard, it may not turn you on. In that case, try the Europa Universalis games, particularly Crusader Kings. It's not as colorful, but it is more realistic.

[Gorrrrrn]

<grognard>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grognard

(strange - I've been wargaming for a long time and never seen the word used before)
(not that I'm grumbling.)

[Grandmaster Ryu]

Qui parle en francais?

[Vasquez]

I have seen the State of this game and it is STRONG.

[Point Blank]

Still plenty of modding action in SS.

[brymht]

Is there going to be a 7.0? Any possibility of a optional AOR, just as it done with RR?

[Kiljaden]

SS 6.1 gets a strong thumbs up from a Vanilla-hater

Also from what I gather, SS 7.0 will not exist in the future. By the time KK finishes his other work including his help in Third Age:Total War, Empire:Total War will come out

[Vasquez]

So we are at end mod, so to speak with SS?

[delra]

1. yes
2. no
3. yes but less than in vanilla

4. I hope KK will move to ETW and fix it too like he fixed M2TW. :-)