Quality of players

[Gornard]

Hey, i was thinking of playing some online games, ranked or otherwise. I've heard alot about the various exploits involving morters etc. But what are peoples general oppinion of the people they usually find online. Are they all fairly up to speed? is there a steep learning curve for beginners? are they farily mixed in terms of skill level? or is there really that much to learn at all, will i be just blown off the map by the same stratagies each time?

Only really played single player and against friends and the multiplayer was far to unstable in previous TW games to play online IMO.

[Bisbjerg]

Only way to find out is to play online
I don't see mortarspam that much anymore, because everybody hates the players using them and I have actually never played against a cheater (at least, thats what i think )
Usually i find the random guys i play online very mixed in skills, and if you're a noob, thats no problem at all.
The best way for me to get better at the game is through losing and watching my lost battles, so that i dont do them again next time i face the same problems so for me losing is no big deal.

[Gornard]

sounds ok

Just out of interest, how many morters constitutes a spam? Any at all?

[Bisbjerg]

I would say 5+ is too many, and can have a very devastating effect.

[Gornard]

I was using 2, but the damage even those do is insane.

[Lance]

There are plenty of idiots who dont follow the rules even though they agreed to them. So you will have someone with 6 ships in a 3 ship game, or someone with artillery in a no artillery game. And once the game starts you cant do anything about it. Only thing is: restart the game, which spoils the fun and steals time. Best is to play with people you get to know, just add them to your steam friends and hope for the best.

Lance

[guerra]

Multiplayer is a very mixed experience. When it works, it's vastly more fun and more challenging than the campaign could ever be.

Sometimes however, you have the problem of server disconnects, steam downtime, lag issues, etc. Not to mention that some players camp and really just wait for you to attack their entrenched position, other players spam units, whether it's riflemen or mortars or some other thing.

But you will find some very good people with good ability in the game, and I recommend you add those people to your friend list on steam.

[Elfinian]

Sometimes however, you have the problem of server disconnects, steam downtime, lag issues, etc. Not to mention that some players camp and really just wait for you to attack their entrenched position, other players spam units, whether it's riflemen or mortars or some other thing.

I just can't believe how many players like to play in this way. Defend defend defend, personaly i hate this because i can't enjoy the game, i said it before and i will say it again, i prefer loosing than win someone who built's a ''fort'' on a hill and wait..maybe it has to do whith the age of the players, and maybe i am too old to play games.
As far as the spammers, well that is a major problem of the game, i just can't believe that playing online can someone cheat,well done Sega...

But you will find some very good people with good ability in the game, and I recommend you add those people to your friend list on steam.

Indeed, a lot of the people play fair (don't cheat,don't spam, have knowlegde of the game and follow their strategy), so the only way is to play with them. But i have to say that unfortunately they are not the majority, at least this is my personal opinion based on the games i have played until now, and that is why i am not playing online as much as i would like to. I hope i prove false in the future and enjoy this game more.

[Arej]

"As far as the spammers, well that is a major problem of the game, i just can't believe that playing online can someone cheat,well done Sega.."

What? Spamming != cheating. And every multiplayer game has cheats/cheaters.

[Pent uP Rage]

What? Spamming != cheating. And every multiplayer game has cheats/cheaters.

I have to agree w/ this. Spamming sucks, but it's not cheating.

But at OP...I'd try to get people from around here if you want some straight up MP with no funny stuff. Not everybody here is an honest player, but I'd wager that more are than aren't.

I've yet to fight a MP ETW battle. I just lost the taste for it after the Horse Archer RTW spam. I just quit playing TW multiplayer. Never even clicked on it in the M2TW menu. But ETW has made me wanna try it out. It's tough though b/c I refuse to play w/ random people, so I'm still waiting for someone to accept my invites. They're usually too busy w/ the campaign though.

[Arej]

Why do you refuse to play with random people? I've had good experiences so far. About 150 games played. If I've made rules, people have followed them. Although I am prepared for the fact that someone won't obey the rules.. but it doesn't *really* matter. Then I'll just change my tactic.

EDIT: Okay.. why did I say that. I just played a game where I said "max 2 artillery" and the guy takes 4 mortars. And then, when he's clearly losing, he quits. Oh well.

[nightwar]

Why do you refuse to play with random people? I've had good experiences so far. About 150 games played. If I've made rules, people have followed them. Although I am prepared for the fact that someone won't obey the rules.. but it doesn't *really* matter. Then I'll just change my tactic.

EDIT: Okay.. why did I say that. I just played a game where I said "max 2 artillery" and the guy takes 4 mortars. And then, when he's clearly losing, he quits. Oh well.

Lucky You! Ive played 165 games 30 i lost cause ppl not following rule's or quitting when i was still winning.

[Pent uP Rage]

Why do you refuse to play with random people? I've had good experiences so far. About 150 games played. If I've made rules, people have followed them. Although I am prepared for the fact that someone won't obey the rules.. but it doesn't *really* matter. Then I'll just change my tactic.

EDIT: Okay.. why did I say that. I just played a game where I said "max 2 artillery" and the guy takes 4 mortars. And then, when he's clearly losing, he quits. Oh well.

You answered your own question there.

[Arej]

You win the game if the other player quits.. and that's why I don't make rules that handicap me. If they break the rules, they still don't *really* have an advantage, they're just jerks.

[nightwar]

You win the game if the other player quits.. and that's why I don't make rules that handicap me. If they break the rules, they still don't *really* have an advantage, they're just jerks.

No I mean My "Allie" quit's.

[Stokes52]

Honestly I've been really pleasantly surprised with multiplayer and the multiplayer community in ETW, its been really nice so far.

One thing that I really like about this game is the emphasis on strategy and tactics over "click click click". I remember thinking up a new tactic to use on the field, then getting home and using it and finding out it works like a charm.

Almost everyone I've come across so far in ETW multiplayer has at least an average understanding of the game, but maybe 1 out of 5 also an excellent grasp on tactics. Whenever I lose it always seems like I was out thought, not out clicked, which is what I love about this game.

On that note, the quality of players, at least right now, seems average to low, at least in my opinion. I've played many who easily fell for my traps etc, but at the same time I've played with a few players who knew their armies will enough to strike and maneuver when it was most advantageous to them.

If you like ETW battles, hop on multiplayer and try some 1 vs 1s, you'll gain a much better understanding of the game and you'll have loads of fun. If you lose a battle, save the replay and watch it again, so you can see how you lost and what you can change next time.

[PrinceMoore]

I would like in a future patch maybe weapon/unit restrictions but unranked for maybe possible no motars in game

[Valentin the II]

You can usually see if a player is good by talking to him (hi, rules?, etc.....).
If he doesnt talk, kick/leave the game.

[Arej]

Well, not really. You can't tell the skill of the player by talking. But if you are polite it is a lot more likely they will follow the rules than if you say "hey no mortars or i ban you!!!!!!!""".

[nightwar]

Well, not really. You can't tell the skill of the player by talking. But if you are polite it is a lot more likely they will follow the rules than if you say "hey no mortars or i ban you!!!!!!!""".

ppl who dont talk ot are rude are the ones most likely to cheat or rude. this comeing from 234 games played sofar.