Great Game, Not Realistic

[THE_IMPERIALIST]

I bought Medieval II Total War several years, and at first I was realy impressed. Other games like Age of Empires are quite pathetic compared to this game. As I played it though, I started to realize this was not that realistic at all. There are a great deal of inacuracies such as the recrutiment system. A king could call up his fudal troops from time to time without have having to pay for the soildiers, such as knights and thier personal soldiers along with levied peasents armed with simple weapons. Long term armies constisted of mercenires(a captain, usally a lord, led a company of professional soldiers who had dicipline, something knights lacked, would sell his services to the highest bidder). Ive tried mods and they, allthough alot better, still were based of the oringinal game and could only do so much. So if the Creative Asembly ever makes a new Medieval campaign, this time try to make it as realistic as possible, as your current work, allthough great, needs improvement namely in depth and historical accuracy.

Ive recently had a thought about the government system. Kingdoms like say England started out as fudal nations, but as time passed it became a strong, centralized monarchy. Mabye it can be implemented in a new medieval game, which would create a dynamic kingdom to control, and for the recrutement system it acts like you are recruting a standing army, unheard of during this period. As King you can have a "call to arms" to create a short term army, militias, part-time soldiers great for defending your walled towns and cities, and mercenieries which made up long term invaion forces. Along with other inacuracies to be fixed, I belive it can be implemented in a new game while being resonably cost-effective.

[Townsaver]

While there are those who would like a very realistic game like that, and some of the mods go for that...
I think CA is going to keep with a more dumbed-down, and frankly playable, version more like what they have.
I think a totally realisticx campeign would rock, and be a lot of fun, myself -- some of the time.
Most often, tho, I would probably play SS or DLV (if i ever get kingdoms, ill be happy to try DLV!)

So i guess what I am trying to say, is that the best you will probably be able to get along these lines is a grim mod.

[Silverheart]

You can´t really expect completely accurate realism in a game like this.
It´s a game, not a playable documentary... ^::^

[Chad29]

I think it's realistic enough. I mean your troops do get tired after a while of fighting, arrows shot from your archers can kill your troops, ect. There are some things that really did happen that should probably be left out just to make the game more fun.

The game isn't historically accurate, which they probably should fix. I don't think making it as accurate as possible would detract as much as putting certain realistic things in that would overcomplicate things.

[eggthief]

You can´t really expect completely accurate realism in a game like this.
It´s a game, not a playable documentary... ^::^

Theoretically it could be made like this, but CA, like any other company, cares most about their revenues so they will make a game that is easier playable and thus will appeal to a larger crowd. People here at TWC need to realize that we're probably a small portion of CA's customers.

[Wilhelm Ritter]

Definitly agree about the recruitment system's historical accuracy. Armies should also dissolve steadily over time and have to be fed. They should also mostly disappear once their primary objective is completed, this was not an era of permanent, professional soldiers (except knights of course). People wanted to go home after all...
My point is that some elements of realism would not be fun at all, they might be true, but would detract from the fun of the game. Although I do think you should be able to quickly levy some troops for free, especially if you are under siege.

[Double A]

You make a valid point, but if the designers implemented a real recruitment system, they'd have to think about how much resources would be used on it, and if it would really be worth it. And most of all, if it would make the game more fun.

[Parzival2211]

If historical realism is your main focus, you should try out games such as Europa Universalis or Crusader Kings from Paradox. These are grand strategy games though. Expect to read a 150 page manual before you can get started.

[shokh]

CA must balance realistic and gameplay in a point of view as company.
The basicgame allways will try to reach the most costumers (and the most $$$ *g*).

The mods in this gameseries adjust the game in different style to bring for different wishes different gameplays.
The only thing we can begging CA is to make the next games more mod-able to bring a faster progress then in ETW/NTW.

[eggthief]

The mods in this gameseries adjust the game in different style to bring for different wishes different gameplays.
The only thing we can begging CA is to make the next games more mod-able to bring a faster progress then in ETW/NTW.

Again, this would hurt their sales. Making a game easier to modificate will increase its lifespan, giving you as the buyer less reason to buy a new (CA) game because your old one's still a blast and the new one will drop in price after a while anyway.

[Chad29]

You know, I wonder why priests can't denounce priests of other faiths. They can only denounce heretics, but what's the difference between a heretic and an imam to a catholic priest?

[Wilhelm Ritter]

Again, this would hurt their sales. Making a game easier to modificate will increase its lifespan, giving you as the buyer less reason to buy a new (CA) game because your old one's still a blast and the new one will drop in price after a while anyway.

True, but making a game that's not that fun, ( like ETW) especially compared to their older game is going to make people stop buying CA games...

[eggthief]

True, but making a game that's not that fun, ( like ETW) especially compared to their older game is going to make people stop buying CA games...

You'd be surprised.

[AussieGuy]

If you want realistic, try Crusader Kings by paradox. Its the most realistic medieval simulator, ever.

Big companies like CA will always cater to the larger market.

[KnightOfPortugal]

I think it's good the way it is. We want to play with knights who experience over time and such, not with stinking levies who get disbanded after every settlement you capture =/

[Double A]

I think it's good the way it is. We want to play with knights who experience over time and such, not with stinking levies who get disbanded after every settlement you capture =/

Heretics can't call Holy Wars

It's... I dunno. I think Catholics formally acknowledged Islam as a religion, even though they didn't like them. It would be cooler if they could have some kind of priestly debate.

[cenkiss]

I bought Medieval II Total War several years, and at first I was realy impressed. Other games like Age of Empires are quite pathetic compared to this game. As I played it though, I started to realize this was not that realistic at all. There are a great deal of inacuracies such as the recrutiment system. A king could call up his fudal troops from time to time without have having to pay for the soildiers, such as knights and thier personal soldiers along with levied peasents armed with simple weapons. Long term armies constisted of mercenires(a captain, usally a lord, led a company of professional soldiers who had dicipline, something knights lacked, would sell his services to the highest bidder). Ive tried mods and they, allthough alot better, still were based of the oringinal game and could only do so much. So if the Creative Asembly ever makes a new Medieval campaign, this time try to make it as realistic as possible, as your current work, allthough great, needs improvement namely in depth and historical accuracy.

Ive recently had a thought about the government system. Kingdoms like say England started out as fudal nations, but as time passed it became a strong, centralized monarchy. Mabye it can be implemented in a new medieval game, which would create a dynamic kingdom to control, and for the recrutement system it acts like you are recruting a standing army, unheard of during this period. As King you can have a "call to arms" to create a short term army, militias, part-time soldiers great for defending your walled towns and cities, and mercenieries which made up long term invaion forces. Along with other inacuracies to be fixed, I belive it can be implemented in a new game while being resonably cost-effective.

We are not watching a documentary here.We are playing a game.

[THE_IMPERIALIST]

We are not watching a documentary here.We are playing a game.

Is it so wrong to expect CA to put out something realistic? I dont expect any game I play to be 100% accurate, but CA could do much better if they tried. Then again, some people I played on multiplayer had no idea of even rudementry history, so if CA whats to appeal to them as well then they will keep it dumbed downed and thier future games will be nothing more more than expensive updates.

[Ishan]

What type of realism you want i'm not getting it?
And i think CA has done a magnificent job already considering the fact that it's a year 2005 old game which we are still playing.

Is this the type of realism you expect from CA?
Because that's not possible.

Spoiler for Realism: 

[eggthief]

What type of realism you want i'm not getting it?
And i think CA has done a magnificent job already considering the fact that it's a year 2005 old game which we are still playing.

Is this the type of realism you expect from CA?
Because that's not possible.

Spoiler for Realism: 

It sure would be possible, although the AI probably would have difficulty with it. But the game is simply aimed at the mainstream audience, a group which doesn't want their brains having to put any effort to it.