SS noob questions

[lummoxybez]

Just a few noobish questions that I can't answer by searching the forum or going through the FAQ:

1 - I can't Alt/Tab out of the game as I could with Vanilla. The Windows key doesn't work either. To switch to another window I have to close SS completely. I read the Question about 'Borderless Window Mode' and set my resolution to match my desktop, but still no joy.

2 - What is the difference between the Early and Late Campaigns? How many turns/years are in each and when do they start/end?

3 - What is faction ZXC that is mentioned in the FAQ?

4 - I changed the 'descr_strat' file so that turns are shown as years, and noticed that the game seems to be 1 turn/year. How come the map alternates between Summer and Winter seasons if that is the case?

5 - Is there a way to play as 2 turns/year without too much modding or affecting game play?

Thanks in advance.

[Alesianduke]

1 - I can't Alt/Tab out of the game as I could with Vanilla. The Windows key doesn't work either. To switch to another window I have to close SS completely. I read the Question about 'Borderless Window Mode' and set my resolution to match my desktop, but still no joy.

I can answer to this one. I have Windows 7 operating system and ALT-TAB works with SS 6.4 but on Windows XP it did not and for that i used to enter Task Manager (ALT-CTRL-DEL) which minimized Medieval 2 TW SS 6.4 (this was my way of doing it).

[NBK.]

I usually hold alt and press tab about 3 times then it finally tabs out.

[Aquila SPQR]

1 - I can't Alt/Tab out of the game as I could with Vanilla. The Windows key doesn't work either. To switch to another window I have to close SS completely. I read the Question about 'Borderless Window Mode' and set my resolution to match my desktop, but still no joy.

Alt+Tab does not work for me either. But Ctrl+Alt+Del does, so I do not complain.

2 - What is the difference between the Early and Late Campaigns? How many turns/years are in each and when do they start/end?

Early starts in 1100 and late in 1200 IIRC. I do not know however how late campaign looks like, because I always play early.

5 - Is there a way to play as 2 turns/year without too much modding or affecting game play?

You have to change "timescale" in your descr_strat file. WHen timescale is 1.0 - then it is 1 year per turn. If 0.50 - two turns per year. 0.25 - four turns per year.
But when I changed it - I had problems with my characters - I changed it to 2 turns per year but my family members were still ageing one year per turn (so after 10 "turns" - 5 "game years" characters were 10 years older). Deleting the "ageing script" section in "campaing_script.txt" seemed to fix it. But be aware that I am not a professional "modder" and may be wrong, so be sure to backup every file you are modding.

But there is something better to do in M2TW files. If you want you can add your own name to the names list (so, for example if you are from France, you can add your surename to the french names list and there is a chance that someone with your own name will be born in your country -as a priest, assasin or a family member). I like when someone with my name is adopted to the royal house and then I'm always trying to create a new royal line and make my "ancestor" a king

[Fred Putz]

4 - I changed the 'descr_strat' file so that turns are shown as years, and noticed that the game seems to be 1 turn/year. How come the map alternates between Summer and Winter seasons if that is the case?

I think it´s the default MTW setting.

5 - Is there a way to play as 2 turns/year without too much modding or affecting game play?

To get this working as You want it You´ll need some more changes. Perhaps have a look in the submod section. Don´t know if there´s a 6.4 one.

[Aquila SPQR]

Actually I also have a noob question - many times in the game I can see a foreign princess "trying to start diplomatic talk" at one of my cities, but nothing happens (I only see the animation of princess bowing and "giving something"). They often do it many times - turn after turn - and still nothing happens. Do they try to marry one of my generals (and fail) or what? I thought it may be a marriage proposal for one of my generals, but if they constantly fail, they should be disgraced, right? At least that's what happen to my princesses who fail

[Caesar Clivus]

3 - What is faction ZXC that is mentioned in the FAQ?

Think of it as algebra.

4 - I changed the 'descr_strat' file so that turns are shown as years, and noticed that the game seems to be 1 turn/year. How come the map alternates between Summer and Winter seasons if that is the case?

Because it's scripted. You have to delete that section from the campaign script

[nickname]

1. You need something Win can tapp to. The taskmanager works because then a new window ist open. Just have a window or the browser open. Even winamp should do it and you'll be able to tapp.


@Aquilla I think they try to bribe the city. AI likes to bribe agents, armis and city, but fails most of the time. Never see a pricess get married, maybe the ai can't do that. The only other posibility is, that the diplomatic AI wants to make a such bad offer, that the AI is rejecting itself.


Edit:
Never seen a forum before, that needed JS for formating a post...

[Bearnest]

2 - What is the difference between the Early and Late Campaigns? How many turns/years are in each and when do they start/end?

Early campaign starts in 1080 (1100 in 6.4) and Late Campaign starts in the 1300s. In Late some of the settlements are bigger (i.e. Large Cities, Fortresses), therefore you can recruit more advanced units from the beginning. Also, there are less Rebel settlements to conquer; you have to war with your neighbours earlier on if you want to survive.

5 - Is there a way to play as 2 turns/year without too much modding or affecting game play?

You'd have to change the timescale on descr_strat file, although if you're playing 6.4 is more complicated:
You have go to data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign and erase the Ageing Script chunk from the campaign_script file. Then, in the same folder, go to desr_strat change the timescale to 0.5.
Also, you need to go to data/campaign/early/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign and erase the same chunk. Again, go to descr_strat and change the timescale.
I'm fairly sure you need to do that on BOTH folders. (And backup before you do it, of course.)
And it doesn't really affect gameplay.

[Losthief]

Just a few noobish questions that I can't answer by searching the forum or going through the FAQ:

1 - I can't Alt/Tab out of the game as I could with Vanilla. The Windows key doesn't work either. To switch to another window I have to close SS completely. I read the Question about 'Borderless Window Mode' and set my resolution to match my desktop, but still no joy.

2 - What is the difference between the Early and Late Campaigns? How many turns/years are in each and when do they start/end?

3 - What is faction ZXC that is mentioned in the FAQ?

4 - I changed the 'descr_strat' file so that turns are shown as years, and noticed that the game seems to be 1 turn/year. How come the map alternates between Summer and Winter seasons if that is the case?

5 - Is there a way to play as 2 turns/year without too much modding or affecting game play?

Thanks in advance.

1) you need a window open, or a second screen, either or.
2) Different start dates and regions/families/etc, same everything else (world settings). So early takes longer to get to high middle ages units and techs. (like gunpowder, full plate, cannons, etc). So pick based on what type of gameplay you enjoy.
3) its generic stand in as in ZXC=insert random faction here
4) Both years and turns by default are shown on SS (one on the left by minimap, one on the right, by financial scroll).
5) not currently for ss6.4, you can change the turns/year easily enough, but all the unit pools, growth rates, etc etc should be adjusted probably too.

[k/t]

Late Campaign starts in 1220. Not 1200, not 1300.

[lummoxybez]

Thanks for the replies everyone!