How accurate is RTR actually?

[MatrixStorm]

I've found other mods like this one as well on the internet, and the people that played them say they are more realistic (historically) then RTR.
But others say that RTR is more realistic etc.
So, how realistic is RTR actually?

[Clearchus of Sparta]

RTR is as accurate as the makers at the time could make it.
There are engine limits which ultimately meant sacrifices in realism for gameplay's sake.

Different mods will sacrifice different things or cover different time frames.
What I can tell you, is that during it life, RTR has consulted with quallified historians (to Phd level), language experts and lecturers.

Im in no way claiming that RTR is more realistic than any other mod laying claim to realism.
But we try damm hard to make it so.

[florin80]

The accuracy/realism claim related to a mod is a very relative concept. There are things in rtr that are more on the controversial side to put it this way. But most people who say some mod(any mod) is the most accurate or 100% accurate don`t actually know what they`re talking about. They`re simply repeating what the developers or other fans have said before. Really, you can`t possibly think that there are so many of these guys who have read on all possible subjects covered by the game. Not even those modders who are called historians specialize on all aspects and some relay on others who are said to know better(sometimes having access to foreign language material) so you`d have to take their word on that. Not to mention that most of what one includes in a mod is more or less reconstructed and there will always be someone to say that the brooch or whatever single piece on which an entire unit is based in game is actually impregnated with artistic conventions and does not depict the subject accurately and so on. Only the minority of units for example is described in detail in existing sources to be more or less sure on how to accurately depict them and even for those there are aspects that are debated. I`ve seen not once, mods who had been aggressively defended as accurate to the point where simple questioning seemed cheeky, actually replacing some of their units or descriptions or factions on the admission from their developers that they were not accurate.
Besides, what`s accuracy in a game with so many restrictions? One guy represents the whole unit, the unit is recruitable in all places and remains the same for 300 years. No soldier ages in rtw. The more you use them the better they get. Buttom line, my advice is not to get bothered by a claim of lack of accuracy if you don`t actually realize it by yourself and it bothers you personally. It`s meant to be played, not studied.
Rtw and its mods with their unit, faction and building descriptions are really no substitute for reading a book so there is room for a more relaxed attitude towards them.

[fourganger]

I've always thought that RTR strikes the right level between accurate and enjoyable. The first mod I downloaded was Europa Barborum, but I didn't really get into it. Aside from an insane loading time, it was way over my head in complexity (this was before I had gone to university to study Ancient History). It has things like overarm hoplites which aren't currently in RTR (though they are in the next version).

RTR is much more to my liking.

[florin80]

I`d like to suggest not to get into comparing specific mods with an impression of wanting to establish which is best. Not only because it`s a matter of personal preference, but especially because those kind of debates usually turn heated with all that implies.

[AqD]

The accuracy is questionable beyond Greco-Roman world and the Germans. As you can see, many units of other factions are re-skined to have more realistic look based on old ones in RTW, which are themselves inaccurate already.

Nevertheless, this is how most classical mods I know make it - very few of them can really afford to make everything from scratch, based on history research on a scale large enough to cover the whole europe, pontic steppe and mesopotamia - and this is only about the individual units. There are other issues such as historical buildings, battle system, populations/manpower, economical conditions, government stuff etc. Therefore comparing historical accuracy between mods doesn't really make any sense - there is no mod that can be called accurate (as accurate as in real history, real world.) However, RTR does give a "realism" feeling and that's all it matters


BTW have you tried TIC? It's as realistic as it can get IMHO.

[confidential0216]

It doesn't really matter how accurate the game is does it? Play it and have fun, don't worry so much about whether it is 100% accurate or not. I don't think that's even possible. RTR is a great mod. Just enjoy it.