I need some tips.

[QueyFBaby]

So I have been playing this game for about 2 weeks and I keep getting my butt handed to. I'm about to start over so could somebody please give me a tip on how to start off in a good manner? Thank you

[John Doe]

It'll be easier if you told us what faction you play.

The 3 important things in starting a game are

Expand by taking as many rebel cities as possible
built up your economy
keep/improve a global reputation above mixed

Have a look in Rebel666 and NazgulKiller 's guides for info.

[QueyFBaby]

I play with the France or Holy-Roman Empires the most and i'll look in to those guides.

[Loki_999]

It'll be easier if you told us what faction you play.

The 3 important things in starting a game are

Expand by taking as many rebel cities as possible
built up your economy
keep/improve a global reputation above mixed

Have a look in Rebel666 and NazgulKiller 's guides for info.

^^^ What he said.

[Loki_999]

You can probably start by reading lots of threads on this site including the guides that are here. Once done, you should be in a better position to analyze more closely where you are going wrong and ask for more specific help.

After all, the game is quite huge and complex and its a bit hard to say where you could be going wrong without at least some screenshots or additional info. Who are you playing as? What difficulty setting? Are you succeeding in battles and loosing on the campaign map, vice versa, or both? etc...

To deal with the battles either auto-resolve while you get the hang of the campaign, or practice some custom battles until you feel comfortable.

Just as a general suggestion, start a new game as England on Easy/Easy (or is it Very Easy/Very Easy... whatever the easiest settings are). Make your first priority to get the nearby rebel settlements and then take out the Scots. Once this is done you should be pretty secure as the computer doesn't often send armies to invade the British isles. This leaves you free to experiment. While you are starting you should train a couple of diplomats to go across the sea to try and make alliances (not always possible) and get trade rights with as many factions as possible starting with the closest ones (except Scotland of course). BTW: You could do the same with Scotland and take out England, but England is a bit stronger side overall.

As for your first buildings concentrate on economy buildings (market, land clearance, ports, roads, mines). To find out what buildings do what right click on them on the construction screen. This will help with money. If you won't suffer from public disorder then put your tax rate up to high (not very high - this can have consequences for your governor). Governors are your Royal family/generals and a general with good traits can really help with your income when kept in a city/castle.

On the topic of castles vs cities the common wisdom is that you should have a ratio of 3-4 cities to 1 castle but this can vary depending on situation, turn number, and borders, plus what sort of relations you have. Also depends on which faction you are playing as, for example, its possible to get very good armies from cities playing as the italian factions or iberian factions, or Byzantium... you really need to know what you are doing though.

As you are new to the game then its worth knowing that archers are England's real specialty along with some good infantry units. Heavy Cavalry is ok but they are completely lacking in horse archers. Play to your strengths and prey on your opponents weaknesses... Scotland suffers in the cavalry department but has some good pike units so you need to be careful if fielding cavalry and France has a good all round unit roster so not many weaknesses at all, plus some outstanding heavy cavalry.

My main suggestion if playing as England is read some guides on using archers. If used poorly you will be left wondering why the hell you wasted money on them after watching them rain arrows on the enemy for a minute and seeing 1 death (which is a lame dog called Colin who wandered onto the battlefield by mistake). When you know how to use them effectively (eg: planting stakes, hiding, flanking, etc) then a few units of archers can decimate the enemy in very little time providing they are adequately protected.

Also in battles, especially with archers, experience matters a lot. Learn how to increase the experience of units and how to retrain and merge units.

Finally, never underestimate the benefit of having a high dread or high chivalry general along with your army. A high dread general will scare the opponents troops, and a high chivalry general will hold off your own units running in nasty situations.

And really finally, because I've already overloaded you with info, if playing as England, don't upset the pope unless you are very confident. Upsetting the pope (ie: not doing what he tells you to do) is a quick route to excommunication, which can result in you becoming the target of every other catholic faction. Not an easy situation to deal with and difficult to get out of.

PS: learn some basic rules of war. Always chose your fights carefully. When you do fight, try and have the advantage of terrain or numbers or better both.

PPS: Read Sun Tzu: The Art of War

PPPS: I really will shut up now.

[QueyFBaby]

Thanks I will try this, I was playing on normal and I could beat the weaker people like the rebels. But never any real opponent like Spain or England.

[Mik528]

Thanks I will try this, I was playing on normal and I could beat the weaker people like the rebels. But never any real opponent like Spain or England.

Use your faction's powers to use France has amazing cavalry, as well as decent high period infantry. Holy Roman Empire has good cavalry and infantry as well, it's just difficult to get a hold of in the start.

You'll notice that France and the Holy Roman Empire start with a bunch of Generals that are not of the family. You can use these to attack. For France, Dijon, Bordeaux and Rennes should be big targets, Metz is another big one. You can go for Antwerp when you have a large force as it consists of crossbows, knights and pikemen.

As the HRE, you should focus on Hamburg, Magdeburg, Prague and Metz as well. Florence can also be a target if attacked quick enough. Your city of Vienna I believe has a powerful mine that can get you lots of cash, Metz does as well.

From there I suggest you attack the weaker enemies or attack those who attack you. As France, Portugal is a good target and Milan, HRE or England may attack you.

As HRE, you have many many foes, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, Milan and also France are possible enemies. But don't worry most of these are pretty weak compared to the Empire you start with. The ones you have to worry about are as HRE are Milan, Poland and France as these are the three powerhouses in my experience. As France worry most about Milan and England and also Spain these guys can strike pretty hard as they are all close neighbours.

The easiest to attack are: Denmark for HRE. They do start with some forces, but if focused and attacked quick enough you can smash them early. France's easiest are, really none, Portugal maybe but their city starts near but their second city is across Iberia, and crossing with rights of passage will lower relations. That leaves England and Milan. Both are strong but you will have to decide who to fight against. Milan Will attack you eventually so be prepared.

[John Doe]

You should try England instead, they don't have as many borders to defend as France and HRE, that'll get you to learn the basics. It cost to much money to have troops everywhere. I forgot to mention the pope, getting excommunicated doesn't make things easier. You could get away with it if the pope or your faction leader is approching 60 years old: when either dies, there is high chances you'll be reconciled, else it will cause religious unrest in your cities and other catholic will be more inclined to fight you.

[Irelia]

just kill them all

[Hupsel]

Dont play HRE or France as starters. Try England, Denmark or Sicily. Build up slowly use free upkeep miltias for the defence of your towns in the backside of your Empire, make sure you disband any units who you are not going to use within the next 5 turns, especially heavy cavalary and siege equipment. Defending your town with miltias and disbanding units youre not using is going to save you a lot of money.

Also, stay good friends with the pope. Try to get an alliance with him ASAP and keep the bonds good by granting him map information every 5 turns.

[Loki_999]

Dont play HRE or France as starters. Try England, Denmark or Sicily. Build up slowly use free upkeep miltias for the defence of your towns in the backside of your Empire, make sure you disband any units who you are not going to use within the next 5 turns, especially heavy cavalary and siege equipment. Defending your town with miltias and disbanding units youre not using is going to save you a lot of money.

Also, stay good friends with the pope. Try to get an alliance with him ASAP and keep the bonds good by granting him map information every 5 turns.

But for the love of all that is unholy, don't disband a unit with gold chevrons...

Thats what happens when you play late at night when you are tired.

[mavortium]

How many factions do you get to play in the GC? When I checked, I only saw that I could play England, Spain, France, HRE and Venice. Is this all the factions you can play in the GC? (I just bought the game yesterday).

[KngGilgamesh]

once you beat the game you can unlock more factions.

[Mik528]

Unless you edit the game file, but the feeling of reward when you win a campaign and unlock these factions is awesome. Also, if you destroy a faction in campaign (You personally finish off Denmark for example) you unlock it as well.

[mavortium]

So, how do you win a campaign? Play until the end year of it (and beat the Timurid and Mongol hordes) or finish your goals?

[thursgun]

So, how do you win a campaign? Play until the end year of it (and beat the Timurid and Mongol hordes) or finish your goals?

Well it depends:

Short campaign: Kill factions X and Y.
Long campaign: Hold 45 regions and hold the cities A and B.

X and Y, and A and B depends on the faction you are playing.

[Viking Prince]

Needing tips on how to play? The best articles have been conveniently archived and indexed for easy access: Scriptorium > The Catalogue Pt. 1: The Total War World and page down to the M2 sections. Have fun reading.


We also have a sticky at the top of this subforum to lead you there as well: Have any articles on battlefield strategy? . Do not forget to pm a Librarian with a great article that might be Script-worthy. Self -promotion is encouraged.