A Little Experiment

[Myoria]

After spending so long playing only TA:TW (always as good factions) I thought I'd like to re-visit vanilla M2TW to see how my playing style has changed and to see if it would have an impact on my playing the normal campaign. So, here are my quick and utterly unscientific conclusions. (playing as HRE, VH/VH, no sub mods, long campaign)

Strategy Map

First think I noticed id just how much cash I had! I think TA has taught me to prioritize my buildings and grow towns rather than push for military buildings right from the start

I made 0 use of Merchants and it really didn't seem to slow me down at all

oops, why are all these princesses getting old and unmarried? Oh yes, you can use them in vanilla

, my generals keep dying of old age at around 65


Battle Map

Now I found a few things curious here. Firstly, I seemed to win with FAR less casulaties. I think this is because in TA you really have to be careful as you can't afford to keep buying new troops and it takes ages to get units to the fighting areas as the start map has less settlements.

I'd really forgotten how to deal with cavalry - had to re-learn that FAST

Oh, none of my missile units can deploy stakes

But the best thing I learnt is that if you can deal with trolls you can deal with almost anything else the AI can throw at you

It made a real pleasant change to not be outnumbered all the time and made it much easier to beat the enemy quickly.


But most of all I realized that TA is SO much better than Vanilla that I haven't been missing much at all!

[menawati]

But most of all I realized that TA is SO much better than Vanilla that I haven't been missing much at all!

Very true.
I liked Stainless Steel until I got fed up with the turn times but vanilla M2TW........can't play it now, TATW soooo much better even if you forget the LoTR angle.

[Myoria]

Very true.
I liked Stainless Steel until I got fed up with the turn times but vanilla M2TW........can't play it now, TATW soooo much better even if you forget the LoTR angle.

Never played SS though perhaps I should.

[Miroslav Klose]

Yes, SS is the best (after TATW ofcourse) M2:TW out there, you should definitely try it!

[Baywatch]

Yes, SS is very fun. Even funner than TATW IMO. It's about as complete as it's going to get, I really can't think of any way that I would improve it and that's saying quite a bit.

[Myoria]

Yes, SS is very fun. Even funner than TATW IMO. It's about as complete as it's going to get, I really can't think of any way that I would improve it and that's saying quite a bit.

Ok, you've all convinced me

A quick campaign as Dale and then SS

[Big Pacha]

Yes, SS is very fun. Even funner than TATW IMO. It's about as complete as it's going to get, I really can't think of any way that I would improve it and that's saying quite a bit.

I like SS too but I'd hardly qualify it as "fun". In fact It's more "serious". You have to deal w: education + I still can't get those basic troops even on the late period campaign but It's way better than the original CA game (Med2 vanilla). Actually I haven't played Med2 vanilla for years...

TATW is quite fun esp. in battle. Watching my Ents kicking some Orcs up in the air is priceless

Hey, Med2 mods are soooo much better than the main game don't forget Broken Crescent on the top list!

[Baywatch]

I like SS too but I'd hardly qualify it as "fun". In fact It's more "serious". You have to deal w: education + I still can't get those basic troops even on the late period campaign but It's way better than the original CA game (Med2 vanilla). Actually I haven't played Med2 vanilla for years...

Well, it's not that I don't like Tolkien lore, I just like history more so I'm sure that plays a big part in me liking it over TATW. I just find "real Earth" much more interesting to play on than Middle-Earth. I also play SS RC/RR so, I'm not sure how much different the two are nowadays but if you don't like waiting to field higher tier units, definitely stay away from RC/RR. It strives to represent the progress of technology and the evolution of military tactics so, you're basically running around with armies of militia spearmen supported by a few knights for awhile, which I actually enjoy.

[Myoria]

It strives to represent the progress of technology and the evolution of military tactics so, you're basically running around with armies of militia spearmen supported by a few knights for awhile, which I actually enjoy.

So do I sometimes but then other times I prefer a less realistic and less thoughtful game. I have RC/RR for TA installed on one computer and not on the other.

[Big Pacha]

you're basically running around with armies of militia spearmen supported by a few knights for awhile, which I actually enjoy.

I respect your choice but this is exactly what I don't like in SS63. As for the Historic value of SS: absolutely! I love that! Same goes for BC.
I just qualify that as more "interesting", not "funny"

SS with RC/RR isversion 6.3 while without is 6.2, quite different.

Got that right. I miss SS62 so much... why did I "upgrade"? me!

[Muffer Nl]

SS with RC/RR isversion 6.3 while without is 6.2, quite different.

[Lord Uxbridge]

You're sorta right. There is the just-released SS 6.3, then there is the SS RR/RC compilation mod, installed over 6.1, that also includes 6.2 and many elements not present in 6.3, though the reverse also applies. Hopefully in future there will be a merge.

Hopefully there will. 6.3 is completely different to 6.1 isn't it though?? And SS are rather unfortunate initials don't you think??

[Baywatch]

And SS are rather unfortunate initials don't you think??

Oh boy, here comes the KK is a secret Nazi discussion.

[Big Pacha]

Oh boy, here comes the KK is a secret Nazi discussion.

This is discriminatory against Apes

@ Point Blank: yes, yes, I know... still, I'm just encouraging improvements cuz right now I don't enjoy 6.3 as much as I enjoyed 6.1. I kinda zapped 6.2 (sorry).
Easy

EDIT: I play Late Campaign so this RR issue is kinda odd for that period. Just sayin'

[Zigama]

I've also noticed that TA changes your perspective on the vanilla game. Somehow conquering HRE as Denmark didn't feel right (when will they start sending trolls? )

[Big Pacha]

random... who's that lunatic?

[PSSpyker]

The nostalgia critic
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/vid...stalgia-critic

Really worth watching all episodes, this guy is the best.