Empire Mod Questions & Recommendations

[apostrophefz]

I bought yesterday. Let's go:

I hear the vanilla campaign is crap; which are the basic mods?

Is there a Brazil mod? Or portuguese focused one?

[Alwyn]

You might want to try playing the vanilla game a bit so that you can decide for yourself (a) whether you think the vanilla campaign is bad and (b) if so, why you think it is bad.

Your answer could lead you to different mods. For example, if you don't like siege battles because you see them as repetitive (and if they cause lag) then you will want a mod such as Shokh Hates Sieges, or another mod which includes a 'no forts' feature. If you want more historical realism, then you could try Empire Realism or Imperial Splendour (generally, where I don't provide links to mods, you can find them on the Hosted Mods part of this forum).

You asked if there is a Brazil mod. You can play as Brazil using husserlTW's Sturm und Drang. I have tried that mod and I liked it; it includes better AI and extra units as well as new factions to try. (You can select 'restore vanilla' on the Sturm und Drang menu if you want to to go back to playing the vanilla factions.

You could play as Portugal with several mods, including Imperial Splendour and Empire Total Factions. (Imperial Splendour gives you more historical realism and more variety between factions with the option of improved AI and other great features, Empire Total Factions gives you more of a 'vanilla' experience with a very wide choice of factions to play and improved AI).

[apostrophefz]

What about the darthmod? It's known for its corrections of AI and pathfinding, correct?

[Alwyn]

You're absolutely right, Darthmod provides players with the benefit of a lot of skilled modding work to improve the AI and pathfinding, plus a host of impressive features. It's definitely worth a try. The only reasons that I didn't mention it were (a) it seems to be the mod which almost everyone has already heard about and (b) there are a lot of good mods which I didn't mention, such as Imperial Destroyer (which includes a break-through in making more regions available on the map). As I said, which mod will suit you may depend on what you don't like about vanilla.

As well as Darthmod, other mods also provide improved AI, including Imperial Splendour (through an optional sub-mod which is being developed - I believe it's still possible to join the team testing it and to provide feedback, although I could be wrong), Empire Realism, Sturm und Drang and Empire Total Factions - and, if a mod does not include better AI, you can add it using Bran's Empire Campaign AI.

[apostrophefz]

Last question (of the hour)! Do I have to install Napoleon to play the grand campaign? I mean, speaking of patches and tweaks to the game? Does it complement the vanilla , or is it separate play?

[Alwyn]

You do not need to install Napoleon: Total War (NTW) to play the grand campaign in Empire: Total War (ETW).

They are separate games - NTW is not an expansion pack for ETW. Unfortunately, having NTW does not add any features to ETW.

I believe that some mods for ETW have managed to include some features of NTW in ETW (such as Bran's NTW Graphics for ETW mod, Imperial Destroyer and possibly others.)

[apostrophefz]

incredible answers, mate. thank you a lot!

[Alwyn]

You're welcome

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

If you have discovered a mod through this thread that you enjoy why not go and nominate it in the Modding Awards? http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?1680

It's free.

[wuseldusel]

Hi,

I'm looking for a mod, that offers a few improvements (graphics f.e.) and patch bugs (austrian grenzers), but not new units(!). I also want a better AI. For now I use Brans AI, but is there another mod, that offers me a better AI and these improvements?

[wangrin]

Hi,

I'm looking for a mod, that offers a few improvements (graphics f.e.) and patch bugs (austrian grenzers), but not new units(!). I also want a better AI. For now I use Brans AI, but is there another mod, that offers me a better AI and these improvements?

As you don't want new unit but a better (I suppose historically accurate) gameplay, I suggest you to have a look to Empire Realism.

If you look about graphic improvements and reworked gameplay, you can look at Imperial Splendour, but the game deeply modify factions' unit rosters.

[PikeStance]

Hi,

I'm looking for a mod, that offers a few improvements (graphics f.e.) and patch bugs (austrian grenzers), but not new units(!). I also want a better AI. For now I use Brans AI, but is there another mod, that offers me a better AI and these improvements?

As you don't want new unit but a better (I suppose historically accurate) gameplay, I suggest you to have a look to Empire Realism.

If you look about graphic improvements and reworked gameplay, you can look at Imperial Splendour, but the game deeply modify factions' unit rosters.

Direct link to the CAI overhaul here
Direct link to BAI here

You are more than welcome to join my beta testing. The more the merrier. If you join the beta testing, you do not need to download the Tactical Commander: Battle Realism since it is included.

[Lordsith]

I highly recommend to play Imperial Destroyer with VadAntS Desease submod. This submod adds unique features to the game such as deseases, heat , frost attritions, new replenishment mechanic, inflations ,new events where players can decide how to manage them and a lot of other features which make Empire total war more like Europa Universalis 4.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forum...rial-Destroyer

Sorry for double post

[Alwyn]

Welcome, wuseldusel.

If you would like to improve the appearance of land units and ships without adding units, you could use the graphics pack of the Additional Units Mod without using the Additional Units Mod (AUM) itself. If you would like the campaign map and battle map to look more like the maps in Napoleon: Total War, you could try Bran Mac Born's NTW Graphics for ETW mod. Other mods which change the graphics are available from the Mod Threads forum.

If you would like a mod which improves the AI and graphics, your options would include Imperial Splendour (which has improved graphics and textures and offers improved AI as an optional sub-mod) and Imperial Destroyer. Alternatively, you could use a mod such as Empire Realism for improved AI, while using the graphics pack of the AUM and/or Bran Mac Born's NTW Graphics mod. Imperial Splendour, Imperial Destroyer and Empire Realism (and other big, advanced mods) are all available from the Hosted Mods forum.

[Lordsith]

I highly recommend to play Imperial Destroyer with VadAntS Desease submod. This submod adds unique features to the game such as deseases, heat , frost attritions, new replenishment mechanic, inflations ,new events where players can decide how to manage them and a lot of other features which make Empire total war more like Europa Universalis 4.

[wuseldusel]

Thank you all for your great answers! Empire is totally new to me and also the mods, so this is huge for me.. I have to look over your suggestions in detail to decide that.

[PikeStance]

Another mod to try as well;
A Proper Empire: Terra Incognita
It features: Manpower and Supply, Resistance to Foreign Occupation, Education and Research Costs, New Technologies, Rebalanced Combat and Economy, Realistic Projectiles and Artillery, and much more...
I am not associated with it, but I did play it a while back. A different experience.

[Captain Orange]

Any mods that will make minor nations playable. I prefer if its a startpos.esf file.

[Alwyn]

Welcome, Captain Orange. This post makes some suggestions.

[Akahige]

I dig through the workshop and couldn't find any mod that changes building tree icons. They are just so incredibly ugly compared to Shogun 2. Is there a mod that fixes this issue?