A few question

[xjlxking]

Hi, I want to download this mod. It looks awesome. Whoever made it should be proud.

As for questions, I just have a few questions
1- From what I read, this mod gives the AI huge bonuses, is there a way to shut it down? I am not good at this game campaign-wise. Troop battle is different, but only if I have Spartans
2- Does downloading this mod remove the imperial campaign?
3- Is there a way to JUST download the skins of the soldier? They are nicely done(from screen shots)
4- I don't have much times dedicated to games since I am in 12th grade and also work 8hrs. IS there a way to make the campaign map smaller?
5- I downloaded some skins for soldiers(Spartans obviously), will it interfere with the mod?
6- What's the campaign mission? I find it impossible to control a large empire in RTW(with no mod). With this mod, the map looks like it was increase 2x it's original size. How the hell do you keep order if you capital is so far away
thanks a lot. And I again, good job for creating such a nice mod. It's make it look like Rome: Total War 2

[DimeBagHo]

1- From what I read, this mod gives the AI huge bonuses, is there a way to shut it down? I am not good at this game campaign-wise. Troop battle is different, but only if I have Spartans

You can switch off the AI bonuses, but even so XGM is harder than vanilla RTW.

2- Does downloading this mod remove the imperial campaign?

XGM will not change your original RTW install at all, so you can still play the original game.

3- Is there a way to JUST download the skins of the soldier? They are nicely done(from screen shots)

The easiest way to do this is just to install the mod and then take what you want from the mod folder.

4- I don't have much times dedicated to games since I am in 12th grade and also work 8hrs. IS there a way to make the campaign map smaller?

No (at least not without a huge effort) but you don't have to conquer the entire map.

5- I downloaded some skins for soldiers(Spartans obviously), will it interfere with the mod?

That shouldn't cause a problem.

6- What's the campaign mission? I find it impossible to control a large empire in RTW(with no mod). With this mod, the map looks like it was increase 2x it's original size. How the hell do you keep order if you capital is so far away

There are new buildings that make it easier to keep order, and also the distance penalty levels off at a certain distance, so the effect isn't that hard to deal with.

[Publius Quirinus]

One thing to note (at least from the last version I installed) is that "switching off" the AI bonuses doesn't actually remove all the AI bonuses, it just reduces it significantly. Might want to look at tweaking the EDB if you're used to vanilla RTW (imperial campaign), the campaign map can be a bit overwhelming even with reduced bonuses.

[xjlxking]

I am playing it now and I noticed just one annoying thing. I know it can be changed, but I don't know how. I noticed that the hit point of soldiers is just too high. I had about 4 archer and it took about 4-5 volleys to only take about 7 soldier down(Roman Spear men).

There is also another problem. Calvary seems to have been hit with a huge nerf stick. I use generals to attack some Slingers. I end up losing. It's seems as if their only purpose is to charge, retreat, charge, retreat.

Finally, everyone has hitpoints that are too high. Battles take too long to finish. I had 2 Royal Spartans against a couple of Greek Hoplites. It took too long. Can any of these things be changed.

I understand they are not problems, I am sure the changes were indented, but hopefully it can be changed

[DimeBagHo]

Try installing with the 1hp system (it's an option when you run the installer). You will get shorter battles that feel more like vanilla RTW.

[xjlxking]

What's Vanilla RTW?

[Visiar]

What's Vanilla RTW?

an unmodded RTW

[devilbean]

Cavalry was nerfed, yes, but it's still very useful. The proper way to use it is exactly as you mentioned. Charge & retreat, or hammer & anvil if you like. Light cav is very weak in combat. Use it to chase down routers or to hit units that are 'wavering'. Skirmisher cavalry can also be used to rout wavering units if you're in a tense situation, but expect to lose a lot of 'em if you do that. And they rout really easily themselves, so you need to be careful with how much pressure you put them under or they'll just run off after 5 seconds of combat (if they've already lost 50% or so of their strength, they break like twigs). Heavy cav can be safely used against units that are 'steady' and 'shaken', but don't expect them to come out unscathed either. Once your general gains a few chevrons his bodyguards will become quite a bit stronger, and then you can use him to hit fresh units without suffering unreasonably. Finally the very heavy cav (cataphracts and the like) are tough enough to charge straight into lines of heavy infantry. Concentrate two of them on one unit and you'll split the line, creating a breach for your melee troops to exploit (but that's probably not the most effective way to use them... It's kinda fun in custom battles but in the campaign you'd be better off using them like you use the general).

[xjlxking]

Well, thanks everyone. Though, I disagree with what you guys did with the Cavalry. They weren't just nerfed, they are completely useless now. I send a General and his body guards to kill some Slingers(again). This is a head on charge. My general still has a huge loss. I don't understand, Slingers even historical were defenseless against let alone cavalry with javelins.

It seems that in this mod, you guys destroyed, or rather made the cycle much weaker. The cycle is how most RTS are based on. Infantry>Pikes(spears)>Cavalry>Missile>Pikes.
Using the huge 2Hp System, It's more like Mass Infantry, 1, or no missile, and use Cavalry to finish off retreating enemies.

Though, it's still a very nice thread. The best I've played

[Lord Fred]

Yeah, missile units are perhaps too strong against cav atm but other than that I think it is far more balanced historically.

You must remember that we are in a time period before stirrups were invented which is why cav of this period are so much weaker than the cav of medieval times.

Ideally you need to use a infantry unit as an anvil for the cav to strike on (which is what alexander did and why he was so successful).

Also the 2HP means that units wont generally break on the first charge but need a 2-3 to really start getting the casualties building up.

[devilbean]

If you're trying to attack a full unit of slingers with a family member that has 20-25 bodyguards, then it's fairly normal you're not crushing them outright. Try with the faction leader and his 60 bodyguards and it'll be a different story. And as for the cycle being broken... Light cav beats missiles in my games...

[xjlxking]

No, a Family member with about 40 guards. Yes, they won, but it has huge repercussion. I am talking about 30 heads lost(if they stay and fight). I haven't encountered any light cavalry, or at least not to my knowledge.

[Visiar]

I usually send in more than 1 unit of cavalry. If I don't anymore than a bodyguard, I send in some light infantry to support the cavalry.

[DimeBagHo]

A lot of different factors go into deciding the result of an engagement. Sometimes they add up to a surprising result. Here are few points to keep in mind when using cavalry to chase light infantry:

(1) Light infantry, which historically included slingers, and especially Greek light infantry, weren't useless in melee. They obviously weren't as effective as heavy infantry but they typically did fight out in front of the main line, and on the flanks, without protection from any other forces, and they were not afraid to mix it up in melee. So you can't just attack them and expect to win without a scratch.
(2) Because of the way charges work in RTW it can be very hard to make an effective charge against skirmishing units. If the target unit skirmishes directly away from the attacking unit you will lose a significant part of your charging time, maybe all of it. If the unit skirmishes away at even a slight angle your cavalry will change course and will get no charge bonus.
(3) Terrain makes a big difference. 'Scrub' is often hard to spot - it looks like open ground with lots of small bits of foliage on it. Light infantry often get a bonus when fighting on scrub, while cavalry often suffer a large penalty. If you are also attacking uphill, which might be a very slight incline, then you will suffer for it.
(4) Infantry can hold a line, so if you have 50 superior infantry against 100 inferior infantry, then at any one time the men in the front rank will still only be fighting 1 on 1 against the men directly in front of them. That won't be the case if you charge 40 cavalry into a loose formation of 80 infantry. The units will become mixed up and every one of your men will wind up fighting against two of the enemy. Often the enemy will be behind them where shield and defence stats won't count.

[Belisarius500]

Hi guys!

I have a few questions of my own:

I'm playing Greece now.I used auto_win cheat to eliminate Scythia and Parthia early on cause when i played with the Romans they really ruined it for me(won in the end,captured the whole map).
I ahve the territories to Armenia,Bactria and The Seleucids.

Now i'm waging a war against armenia and the same thing keeps happening to me and it's pissing me off sou it would be great if someone could explain it.-Some of their cities have like one or 2 units guarding them and those are always a general and a Cataphract so i send in my phanalx and guess what?100 Cataphract charge the 240 men phalanx head-on and rout it.the best part is-they take maybe 1-2 casualties.someone please explain that

my other question are about the mod itself.Why don't the Egyptians have chariots and can someone tell me exactly what cities in asia besides seleucia can produce armoured elephants

Much obliged

[Publius Quirinus]

Now i'm waging a war against armenia and the same thing keeps happening to me and it's pissing me off sou it would be great if someone could explain it.-Some of their cities have like one or 2 units guarding them and those are always a general and a Cataphract so i send in my phanalx and guess what?100 Cataphract charge the 240 men phalanx head-on and rout it.the best part is-they take maybe 1-2 casualties.someone please explain that

A lot depends on the phalanx unit too - if it's a levy/low-tier phalangite unit they will suck at keeping cohesion. Especially against cataphracts. Also, as DimeBagHo mentioned, uneven terrain might also contribute to this. Personally, I find that general's bodyguard + mass camels are the way to go against annoying cataphracts.

my other question are about the mod itself.Why don't the Egyptians have chariots

The 'Egypt' faction at this point was controlled by the Hellenistic Ptolemaics, so they would have a Greek style of fighting. I'm not so sure, but if I remember correctly chariots were outdated and archaic by that time period.

[CaesarVincens]

Elephants can be produced anywhere there is an elephant in the province.
If the Cataphracts charge your men, they have to be stopped and ready or else they will take heavy casualties just from the charge. Even if they are ready, Cataphracts are nearly armored tanks, they are very hard to kill, your best bet is to swarm them with spearmen or put spearmen on one side, then axe men or slingers attack from the rear. Axes and slings are armor piercing so they do more damage in effect.

[Belisarius500]

Elephants can be produced anywhere there is an elephant in the province.

yup,i know and i was asking which provinces in asia,besides babylonia,have elephants


@DimeBagHo- Thnx a lot man

i was also wondering...the guy who opened this thread i think,he was wondering if you could make the map smaller...well i'm wondering if you can make it bigger perhaps?maybe add india and china factions....for starters i would be happy if someone could provide me with a larger campaign map with no new factions.

[Unknown Soldier]

Factions are at maximum number (20 a game engine limit)

Map is at maximum number of provinces (200 - a game engine limit) and historically - the issue is the eastern factions never pushed westwards.

On the Cataphract issue - u should see them charge down hill full tilt into infantry - usually what happens is they burst through the enemy unit and dead bodies fly though the air a good distance - its an awesome and scary sight....

[Belisarius500]

Factions are at maximum number (20 a game engine limit)

Map is at maximum number of provinces (200 - a game engine limit) and historically - the issue is the eastern factions never pushed westwards.

On the Cataphract issue - u should see them charge down hill full tilt into infantry - usually what happens is they burst through the enemy unit and dead bodies fly though the air a good distance - its an awesome and scary sight....

do you know anyone who designs campaign maps and stuff who could do the expansion?