RR Convert?

[Sanderlicious]

I've read all about it in the RR/RC compilation, bet remain somewhat unconvinced.
However, it seems so many people whom originally, like me, seem disgusted with the idea try it and then can't go without it. That and the fact that RR disabled is broken anyways, makes me second guess my already somewhat irrational stance on RR. (I tried it once, but gave up rather quickly. Really I didn't give it a fair shot)

On Monday I will download 6.3 and am still deciding whether or not to check the Real Recruitment box upon doing so.

So for all of you RR lovers and converts out there: what makes it so great?
Is it just the unit balance?
Is there any major difference in RR when BGR is on?
I've read what RR does, but what are the details? Your experiences?
etc.

Thanks!

P.S. Any specific details about playing the Byzies with RR on is appreciated

[Heskey]

BGR is kinda 'RR Plus', I don't think you can play BGR without it tbh!

If you're playing Stainless Steel, you must already appreciate a sense of realism. RR just builds on that, there's no reason to NOT get it, as unlike BGR it affects the AI as well.

It means regardless of how advanced your civilisation, you will still only be able to recruit the era-appropriate units after a historic event occurs at a realistic date; so no full platemail armour so soon after 1066 etc.

It also 'pushes' units OUT of the recruitment pool as your faction advances, to reflect the change in civilisation; i.e. you may find levied peasants are pushed out of the recruitment field in place of foot knights as your faction advances.

[SirKoskelot]

RR makes you appreciate your good units, as they are not so easy to get. Military disasters now actually may have impact, because you won't be making professional stacks in a few turns, even if you had loads of cash. At first sight the small amount of different troops may seem intimidating, but more units will come around as time progresess. Besides, why in hell would mailed knights be still availlable when feudals knights come availlable? The removal of old tech is also good because AI can't just stick to old units.

RR is the way to go, vanilla recruitment just doesn't work so well.

[napoleonic]

I've just made a thread about how rebels are somehow able to have pikes on 1130AD on the RR subforum, looks like rebels are not affected by RR?

generally, yes I like RR that actually I hope it will be a standard for future TW games, especially M3TW if it ever being built in the future

[Point Blank]

I've just made a thread about how rebels are somehow able to have pikes on 1130AD on the RR subforum, looks like rebels are not affected by RR?

generally, yes I like RR that actually I hope it will be a standard for future TW games, especially M3TW if it ever being built in the future

Unfortunately rebels can't be affected by events.

[Cahoma]

I've just made a thread about how rebels are somehow able to have pikes on 1130AD on the RR subforum, looks like rebels are not affected by RR?

generally, yes I like RR that actually I hope it will be a standard for future TW games, especially M3TW if it ever being built in the future

I've also seen rebel yeomen in Ireland around that time

and I never thought I'd like RR until I encountered that disabel RR bug, and now i must say it rulez

[Sanderlicious]

Thanks to everyone who helped convince me. Especially PB whom provided the guide and some good explanation

I will definitely give it a good shot and hopefully will be as enthralled as y'all seem. I am even bit excited about the changes which was unexpected.

+Rep all round

[Point Blank]

Attached an RR guide, its not at all necessary to read it to use RR but it gives some background which may be interesting.

RR doesn't change any game mechanics at all, you can play completely normally without learning anything new. Any beginner M2TW player can use it.

[Navajo Joe]

Sanderlicious,

I included RR first time I D/L SS6.1, since then I feel like I have lost my left arm, if it is not in a mod. I agree with all that the previous posters have stated, RR is an absolute must. When you build your army's you will be reliant on Mercs, lower grade troops and as you develop your infrastructure, your better troops become available. You have to really look after your men, they are no loner so expendable.
My current campagn which is 6.3 Early as K-Shah, I have built an army with Two Kwarmezian Noblemen, who are Heavy Horse, heavily armoured and are devastating, but I have to look after them, not easy to retrain, they are used at the appropriate time.

[SirKoskelot]

One shouldn't forget about AOR -units. I once sent my general from France to crusade Tunis with an army of spearmen and heavy cavalry. After a while, half his army was composed of local african units (desert cavalry, javelinmen, desert archers). So even if the building browser shows that there is alot less variety in units, it's actually the opposite.

[Heskey]

That's a shame. I did always think 'Bugger' when in 1110 my army of English Fyrd Spearmen are ambushed by Feudal Knights!

[crsutton]

I turned it on last night for my first try (RR) and played about 30 turns. No way I am going back to vanilla. It is very nice.

[ShadowKiller2000]

Yes, I never realized before but now RR is the only way to go!

I have never played late enough, but do feudal units get completely removed from the unit pool, or only some? Ie. once 1500 rolls around give or take a few years.

[Point Blank]

Yes the availability of Feudal units begins to decline in the later years. For some factions they disappear entirely (the rate and timing varies quite a bit between factions). However, the faction will not be disadvantaged because the difference will usually be made up by professionals and a larger variety of urban units.

The number of castle free upkeep slots (feudal estates) will also often decline, but the number of recruitment slots will usually increase to take account of the greater infrastructure required to support the increased training time for professional units that may need to be trained from scratch.

[ShadowKiller2000]

Cool,

Thanks PB. Always wondered how that is handled. I usually get ADD after a couple hundered turns in the Early Campaign when it becomes easy with a monster empire.

[Sanderlicious]

Wow. Well, the enthusiasm for RR is very convincing. I think I am more than willing to give it a swing and hopefully I will be as enthralled as most of you seem to be.

I guess I was against it with the idea that if I can change history by creating a massive new Roman Empire, for example, then why cant I change history by making my civilization leap ahead the rest of the world in technology? Though I am still a little skeptical about waiting for new armor types, it seems the balance of units especially when fighting the AI make it far more interesting. I do like the idea of valuing your units more as I have always felt that they were to disposable...

[Gogolometro]

Best thing I can say, RR affect not only you, but the AI aswell. Second, RR offer you a chance to apreciate the mercenarys you ingnored before. Important part is AoE I just love it. PB, please add AoR for Italians, French and Germans. Is only place you conquer and not offer anything specific. Yes we push history, but will be nice like byzantine after I conquer Venice and Milan to get, lets say pavise xbows.
Important thing about RR, will make your army to look very real, core of peasents, levys, pro's, mercs and some feudal. Make you apreciate all of them. Even peasents, but not fork ones.

[Point Blank]

Wow. Well, the enthusiasm for RR is very convincing. I think I am more than willing to give it a swing and hopefully I will be as enthralled as most of you seem to be.

I guess I was against it with the idea that if I can change history by creating a massive new Roman Empire, for example, then why cant I change history by making my civilization leap ahead the rest of the world in technology? Though I am still a little skeptical about waiting for new armor types, it seems the balance of units especially when fighting the AI make it far more interesting. I do like the idea of valuing your units more as I have always felt that they were to disposable...

Tech advancement is not just about new armor types, its about other factors as well, such as in improvements in weapons or even style of warfare, eg Pike_and_Shot.

And each faction has different armors (27 general types + faction variations), and those armor types are available at different times to different factions (eg the Italian States have advantages in metallurgy). If you capture some of the Italian States, you can take advantage of that knowledge as well etc.

[Gogolometro]

Mate, I not ask pesante in AoR. I want some genovese crossbows. Was some of the common use mercs in medieval history. And are very rare in pools like mercs. Will be nice to get them in AoR like mourtadoi. In Germany I think a bit, they get heavy pools for elite mercs. Perfect.

[Alpha Zeke]

I've read all about it in the RR/RC compilation, bet remain somewhat unconvinced.
However, it seems so many people whom originally, like me, seem disgusted with the idea try it and then can't go without it. That and the fact that RR disabled is broken anyways, makes me second guess my already somewhat irrational stance on RR. (I tried it once, but gave up rather quickly. Really I didn't give it a fair shot)

On Monday I will download 6.3 and am still deciding whether or not to check the Real Recruitment box upon doing so.

\\Actually, Disable RR is a check box. it is included as default.

So for all of you RR lovers and converts out there: what makes it so great?

Units are based by reigion and nation, so every nation has more uniqueness, but each army you make will be as well. If you span empires from the deserts to the isles, your armies composer will be very different, so no more kilts in Jerusalem!

Is it just the unit balance?

A great one. And Tactics make a huge difference in battle as well.

Is there any major difference in RR when BGR is on?

Never played BGR, never will.

I've read what RR does, but what are the details? Your experiences?
etc.

It makes it so recruitment takes longer and fielding large armies costs more. So as a general rule of thumb, you keep your army in a recruit able state, and then when danger comes you recruit them all as fast as possible, then disband. Its actually the way I play normally for more money anyway But normally by turn 30 I can field two full stacks plus a decent garrison for every castle. Also, mercs play a huge role, so dont be afraid to use a LOT of them.

Thanks!

P.S. Any specific details about playing the Byzies with RR on is appreciated