Help me out. I am getting started with SS

**lorderon** · December 17, 2010, 08:57 PM

Hi all,

I just downloaded my first mod today, which is SS 6.3.

I have a few questions to make my experience go well.

- What AI should I use for challenge and a good AI that will be a good ally ( not too much backstabbing)?
- What is BGR, should I use this sub-mod? Does it make the game stupidy difficult or a pleasent diffculty? (I like smart challenge)
- What should I know before starting a game in SS?
- Do muslim ally with catholic?
- What sub-mod should I use for a fun gaming experience (not too much on the realistic side...I don't want my experience to be a pain in the ass in the name of realictic

Thank you

**Asterix** · December 17, 2010, 09:53 PM

first-gracul's for an aggresivve challenge, lusted for a passive ally, and savage for an in between.
2nd-don't use BGR first time round unless you are suicidal. its unbelievably complicated.
before starting a game, remember to never expand too fast. remember to keep an eye on finances before you end up broke due to a massive army. plan who you are going to ally with and go to war with, and be careful who is your ally-its not smart to ally with a nation you intend to wipe off the map.
rarely. it happens though.
Meneth's Stainless Steel Compilation combines several good sub-mods and lets you toggle them on and off as you wish. It also includes BGR II, a much simpler version of BGR that, IMHO, is infinitely better than BGR IV. you can choose which version you want. use IV after several campaigns and if you wish for a massive, in-depth, micro-managed campaign in which you don't really intend to win.
Enjoy!

**lorderon** · December 17, 2010, 10:08 PM

Thank!

Also, is there a version of BGR already included in SS 6.3 or it optional?

**Asterix** · December 17, 2010, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by lorderon

Thank!

Also, is there a version of BGR already included in SS 6.3 or it optional?

when you go to setup, you have an option to add BGR. it is optional.

**lorderon** · December 17, 2010, 10:42 PM

Thank again,

Just started to look at sub-mod manager from the compilation and I have yet another question

When I remove/add some mods and save and then return and look if the setting were saved...it returns to default...why? Exemple: I remove permanent arrow and click on ok to save...but when I reopen the sub-mod menu permanent arrow is maked as active when I just unchecked it...why?

Thank again

**Asterix** · December 17, 2010, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by lorderon

Thank again,

Just started to look at sub-mod manager from the compilation and I have yet another question

When I remove/add some mods and save and then return and look if the setting were saved...it returns to default...why? Exemple: I remove permanent arrow and click on ok to save...but when I reopen the sub-mod menu permanent arrow is maked as active when I just unchecked it...why?

Thank again

well, is the thing you intended to do (such as not having permanent arrows) work? i remember when i was trying to do a 2tpy campaign (2 turns per year) it did the same thing, but all my settings were as i intended.

**PaleBlueDot** · December 18, 2010, 04:44 AM

I had the same worry yesterday, why is the permanent arrow still checked? So I started a game, and the arrows went away just a few seconds after they hit the ground.

Asterix: What is this about not expanding too fast? Im new to SS as well. In RTW or M2TW, quick expansion is easy and gives you a huge advantage, something that bothered me as I preferred to turtle. As long as you can resupply your troops and garrison your new cities, what is the problem of expanding fast in 6.3? Is there any mechanism to keep that from happening, like enemies ganging up on you or some economic penalty?

**Asterix** · December 18, 2010, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by PaleBlueDot

I had the same worry yesterday, why is the permanent arrow still checked? So I started a game, and the arrows went away just a few seconds after they hit the ground.

Asterix: What is this about not expanding too fast? Im new to SS as well. In RTW or M2TW, quick expansion is easy and gives you a huge advantage, something that bothered me as I preferred to turtle. As long as you can resupply your troops and garrison your new cities, what is the problem of expanding fast in 6.3? Is there any mechanism to keep that from happening, like enemies ganging up on you or some economic penalty?

So PBD, you didn't want permanent arrows? IMHO, as long as the option you want or don't want is as you want it, the check mark doesn't matter. i know virtually nothing about technical stuff, though. i may be telling you a load of crap.

there is no real mechanic AFAIK, but if you expand too fast, you end up sharing borders with a lot of countries that want you dead. Sure, expansion is very easy, but even in RTW (esp that, due to the total lack of decent diplomacy) countries attack you if you border them. Keeping decent garrisons and resupplying isn't hard, but what is is responding to an attack by a full stack army on the other end of your huge empire.
Be aware that after a certain point, like in vanilla RTW and M2tw, enemies start ganging up on you, sometimes very early on. This generally happens once your faction is a large size. My theory is to keep things steady, and never expand beyond what your military can defend. always be stronger than your neighbor, so they are never a serious problem. Expand at a rate that your military can keep up with. make it so that at every point of your empire vulnerable to attack, you have some sort of large defensive force. Of course, if you are playing as a faction like HRE, surrounded by enemies, this is kind of hard. Hope this helps.

**David93** · December 18, 2010, 01:52 PM

I thought instead of starting a new thread i would jump in here. I just wanted to know how do i increase my zeal, im using BGR and rr/rc im not sure which even causes this. According to my finances im making a profit every turn yet im going into debt? any ideas about that? I seem to be losing the ability to recruit people i havnt seen any active effects of this but its telling me that only my faction leader and heir are currently capable of recruiting more people how do i improve this. Can any one give me a good place to learn how to use both of these features. I like what there doing, but there insanely complicated and theres not really much of an explanation for them? :/

**Caesar Clivus** · December 18, 2010, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by David93

I like what there doing, but there insanely complicated and theres not really much of an explanation for them? :/

There is a BGR guide to download in the first post of the BGR thread in the submods forum

**Asterix** · December 18, 2010, 02:09 PM

David-increasing zeal is difficult. once your faction begins to grow, it will drop. i don't play with BGR, so i can't tell you how to increase it. I'd guess it would increase if your faction is in a lot trouble, ex. tons of enemies. (zeal is a BGR IV feature)
finances-your financial summary doesn't reflect your real profit at all. you know how when you hit the Faction Overview button those pop up scrolls come up? they show your nobles' expenses and contributions, which gives you an idea (just an idea) of how much you are spending. its complicated.
as for recruitment-yes, this happens when your king decides (u have little control over this) who gets to recruit. after certain events happen (i think once your faction gets larger) recruitment of advanced units is only allowed by your war council members (king, heir, and i think 1 or 2 others). basically, the larger your faction, the more restrictions and problems you run into. its realistic, but a pain in the rear end.
i suggest reading the BGR guides, which are probably a sticky in the sub-mod forum. if you still are daunted after reading them (i was) i suggest not using BGR.

**David93** · December 18, 2010, 02:32 PM

Cheers i suspected it was cause my faction was big, funily its only turn 5 im experiencing these problems because i picked the byzantines at the start. i think ill stick out this campain see how it goes if it becomes frustrating or annoying ill turn BGR of, hopefully ill get a hang of it but its not looking good.

**Asterix** · December 18, 2010, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by David93

Cheers i suspected it was cause my faction was big, funily its only turn 5 im experiencing these problems because i picked the byzantines at the start. i think ill stick out this campain see how it goes if it becomes frustrating or annoying ill turn BGR of, hopefully ill get a hang of it but its not looking good.

good luck, my friend. may the force be with you (you'll need it with BGR)

**bɑne** · December 19, 2010, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by David93

Cheers i suspected it was cause my faction was big, funily its only turn 5 im experiencing these problems because i picked the byzantines at the start. i think ill stick out this campain see how it goes if it becomes frustrating or annoying ill turn BGR of, hopefully ill get a hang of it but its not looking good.

BGR is for expert (veteran) players of Stainless Steel - keep that in mind especially if you are new