Current state of ETW?

[SeppoY]

So I installed ETW again. Haven't played it for like 6-8 months, and I remember that the game (when I last played it) had a lot of issues, mainly with the AI. Back then the AI didn't know how to use the navy to move armies to islands... they declared war but never attacked, and some nice bug threw like 5000 men from india back to Sweden! Ridiculous with diplomacy, like I would trade half of my empire to a few worthless pieces of land... etc etc.

Anyway I just started a new campaign with sweden and russia declared war, but didn't attack at all, they had one army spinning near the border before declaring war but then after the declaration, it moved away! So is the AI still pathetic like it was or whats going on? Is this like oblivion, which needs 50 mods to make the game playable?

[irish437]

No, its pretty decent now. Play on Vh/VH and llet me know if you don't see the AI trying to wreak havoc on you. If you don't want a real heavy mod, just intall Darth Mod Lite. You'll have a great challenge on your hands.

[eXistenZ]

Everybody has an own opinion of "decent" so try it, and see.

[SonOfCrusader76]

No, its pretty decent now. Play on Vh/VH and llet me know if you don't see the AI trying to wreak havoc on you. If you don't want a real heavy mod, just intall Darth Mod Lite. You'll have a great challenge on your hands.

The game seems great to me - although v1.6 is my first experience with it since I only bought it recently. I was afraid the battles would be boring compared to previous games - not a bit of it!

[magman]

I would say that if your issue is AI VHVH doesn't fix that. Sure you will have a good bit of difficulty, but it will be more due to the enemies absurdly strong economy and morale boosts. At that point it almost becomes essential to manipulate stupid AI to win.

too be fair in that mode enemies will attack you if you declare war...with a stack a turn.

[Abspara]

I find it utterly boring, even after the "fixes".

[A Fistful Of Dollars]

I think its incredible and people complain too much

[SonOfCrusader76]

I think its incredible and people complain too much

Agreed - it is incredible - I love the battles, they're absolutely epic.

[Ahlerich]

i think it is as good as i can get. the most successfull disappointment of the series by far.

[Timur_the_Lame]

its just boring compared to RTW and M2TW. probably because of gunpowder...sigh...and the lack of milan...always backstabbing...lol

[501st Legion]

its just boring compared to RTW and M2TW. probably because of gunpowder...sigh...and the lack of milan...always backstabbing...lol

More likely due to lack of soul or immersion compared with the said games. No matter how good the AI will be, as long as the immersion factor is severely lacking ETW won't last more than a year on my hard drive.

[Timur_the_Lame]

More likely due to lack of soul or immersion compared with the said games. No matter how good the AI will be, as long as the immersion factor is severely lacking ETW won't last more than a year on my hard drive.

yeah good point. just harder to get into

[Indiana_Jones]

More likely due to lack of soul or immersion compared with the said games. No matter how good the AI will be, as long as the immersion factor is severely lacking ETW won't last more than a year on my hard drive.

I get pretty immersed in ETW, more so then Rome, but I guess I'm biased as I like the period of Empire a lot more

[SonOfCrusader76]

I get pretty immersed in ETW, more so then Rome, but I guess I'm biased as I like the period of Empire a lot more

One thing I would say is where are the general's speeches? Where are the funny comments enemy characters made when you clicked on them in M2: TW? Where's the 'victory speech' at the end of a battle? If anything reduces the immersive factor, it's the omission of these things. I'll tell you something that is vastly improved on the other games, and at the same time it's taken a step backwards - confused?

The advisors. They're so funny to listen to now - the voice actors really get into character, both the one on the battlemap and the lady on the campaign map. However, the advice they give has gone backwards! Sure, we all got sick and tired of the advisor in M2: TW telling us how to use ladders, towers and rams, but at least you knew what you were supposed to do! When I first played a city battle, I was confused as to how we were supposed to go up the walls (until I clicked on them and discovered that they rappel up - cool) and I had no idea how to go about actually winning the battle, because the advisor didn't tell me anything. Having said that, the advisor on the naval battles (which I bloody love - like Sid Meier's Pirates, just a lot better) does say useful things from time to time.

[british_general]

its just boring compared to RTW and M2TW. probably because of gunpowder...sigh...

Dude! This is what the game is about!!! The introduction of gunpowder and the ensuing conflicts!!! Its a bit like saying,"I hate crysis 'cause of all the gayish superhuman strength I have." Only an idiot would say that! I mean, If you knew there was gunpowder, why the HELL do you buy it?(Sorry, I just had high blood pressure rate from watching to much of something I can't tell you)

P.S. I lurve this game thanks to the gunpowder! The guys start shooting, the enemies start falling due to invisible-looking balls(not the human one) and your men start charging!!! It is ing cool! Anyway, if you compared the fighting style of E:TW and other games, the E:TW fighting style is 10x better!!! If you get bored, just play so well that you are surely going to win, and then use slow-mo to watch the men fight melee! They fight like hell unlike Rome, which is:stab,block,slice,block,stab,block,slice,block... Where the hell do you find the fun in that?, I see guys in E:TW fighting till they fall and once on the floor, they kick the enemy in the shins before standing up for the finishing blow With their bayonet! How does stab,block,slice,block,stab,block,slice,block appeal to you now?

[SonOfCrusader76]

Dude! This is what the game is about!!! The introduction of gunpowder and the ensuing conflicts!!! Its a bit like saying,"I hate crysis 'cause of all the gayish superhuman strength I have." Only an idiot would say that! I mean, If you knew there was gunpowder, why the HELL do you buy it?(Sorry, I just had high blood pressure rate from watching to much of something I can't tell you)

P.S. I lurve this game thanks to the gunpowder! The guys start shooting, the enemies start falling due to invisible-looking balls(not the human one) and your men start charging!!! It is ing cool! Anyway, if you compared the fighting style of E:TW and other games, the E:TW fighting style is 10x better!!! If you get bored, just play so well that you are surely going to win, and then use slow-mo to watch the men fight melee! They fight like hell unlike Rome, which is:stab,block,slice,block,stab,block,slice,block... Where the hell do you find the fun in that?, I see guys in E:TW fighting till they fall and once on the floor, they kick the enemy in the shins before standing up for the finishing blow With their bayonet! How does stab,block,slice,block,stab,block,slice,block appeal to you now?

We'll discuss that when Rome 2: Total War appears...

ETW is a great game, but it's a bit daft to compare it with an engine that's years old.

[Timur_the_Lame]

Dude! This is what the game is about!!! The introduction of gunpowder and the ensuing conflicts!!! Its a bit like saying,"I hate crysis 'cause of all the gayish superhuman strength I have." Only an idiot would say that! I mean, If you knew there was gunpowder, why the HELL do you buy it?(Sorry, I just had high blood pressure rate from watching to much of something I can't tell you)

P.S. I lurve this game thanks to the gunpowder! The guys start shooting, the enemies start falling due to invisible-looking balls(not the human one) and your men start charging!!! It is ing cool! Anyway, if you compared the fighting style of E:TW and other games, the E:TW fighting style is 10x better!!! If you get bored, just play so well that you are surely going to win, and then use slow-mo to watch the men fight melee! They fight like hell unlike Rome, which is:stab,block,slice,block,stab,block,slice,block... Where the hell do you find the fun in that?, I see guys in E:TW fighting till they fall and once on the floor, they kick the enemy in the shins before standing up for the finishing blow With their bayonet! How does stab,block,slice,block,stab,block,slice,block appeal to you now?

I dunno the gunpowder just makes me feel like i am fighting with an all archer army which is boring. but you are entitled to your opinion. and i bought the game because i loved rome and medieval before it. lol

[James Cook]

I still get CTD in battles

[Tidybeard]

I've had no crashes as yet and think the game's awesome. All I hear is moan, moan, moan but I love it.

[Sjan]

AI is still pathetic, programming is still sloppy.