How to make my horses not become 2D when zoomed out?

[scape9819]

What option in the Video settings allows me to make them 3D when zoomed out. I hate when they look 2D and don't even move their legs.

[Double A]

You could probably disable sprites, but unless you can play Crysis 2 at max on your comp, I wouldn't suggest it.

[Teutonic Warlord]

You could probably disable sprites, but unless you can play Crysis 2 at max on your comp, I wouldn't suggest it.

That game has SO much detail. But I think I read somewhere one of the problems with M2TW is that with multi-core processor systems it still uses just one. I think they stuck with the old technology of when there was only one core so it only knows how to use one. I could be wrong though and just have this mixed up with something else. BUT if this is true, then taking out the 2d view of units would overload your computer and/or severely limit the number of soldiers on the field.

[Aeratus]

The range at which 3D becomes sprites is based on the "unit detail" option in the graphics option. However, there's a max range even at the highest detail.

[sumaznguy]

well if you have a strong graphics card you can probably set the settings higher and see if that helps.

I have unit detail on highest detail but I usually zoom in to see the units. It's nice seeing thousands of troops run across the field.

[Ishan]

What option in the Video settings allows me to make them 3D when zoomed out. I hate when they look 2D and don't even move their legs.

Disable sprites like AA suggested. Open the medieval2.preference.cfg file with notepad and change this setting highlighted in red:

[video]
unit_detail = highest

That game has SO much detail. But I think I read somewhere one of the problems with M2TW is that with multi-core processor systems it still uses just one. I think they stuck with the old technology of when there was only one core so it only knows how to use one. I could be wrong though and just have this mixed up with something else. BUT if this is true, then taking out the 2d view of units would overload your computer and/or severely limit the number of soldiers on the field.

You are correct but unit detail is dependent upon the GPU not CPU.

[scape9819]

Disable sprites like AA suggested. Open the medieval2.preference.cfg file with notepad and change this setting highlighted in red:

[video]
unit_detail = highest

You are correct but unit detail is dependent upon the GPU not CPU.

I looked at the video settings and can't find "disable sprites". Could you please tell me where I can find it?
Thanks

[Ishan]

Setting the unit detail to highest disables sprites iirc.

[Double A]

Setting the unit detail to highest disables sprites iirc.

Only if they're on screen, or so far you couldn't see them anyway, I think.

[sumaznguy]

Well for regular games GPU is the most important. Shooters and adventure games where there are like a few dozen characters on the screen at most.

From what I understand games with hundreds or thousands of units like RTS games such as Total War games, the CPU is required for all of those units. I don't know the exact details but people usually say the CPU is also important for RTS games.

If I had to guess (which means I am making it up so someone will have to provide the proper information), AI(units doing stuff) requires CPU processing power, while GPU is required for visuals. So for RTS I imagine both are equally important. CPU to control the thousands of units, and GPU to make the thousands of units look good. But the units are small so perhaps the thousands of units are not graphically demanding as 20 close up characters. While for adventure games where there are only 20 characters doing stuff on the screen does not demand that much CPU power but everything is up close therefore demands more GPU power to make stuff look good.

[Aeratus]

TW games are CPU intensive. I've read that in some mods like SS, it can take 10 minutes for slower CPUs to process the AI's move on the campaign map in between turns, while computers with i7s can do it in half a minute.

[John Doe]

TW games are CPU intensive. I've read that in some mods like SS, it can take 10 minutes for slower CPUs to process the AI's move on the campaign map in between turns, while computers with i7s can do it in half a minute.

There isn't much graphic involved in end of turn compare to a battle.

[Ishan]

Well for regular games GPU is the most important. Shooters and adventure games where there are like a few dozen characters on the screen at most.

From what I understand games with hundreds or thousands of units like RTS games such as Total War games, the CPU is required for all of those units. I don't know the exact details but people usually say the CPU is also important for RTS games.

If I had to guess (which means I am making it up so someone will have to provide the proper information), AI(units doing stuff) requires CPU processing power, while GPU is required for visuals. So for RTS I imagine both are equally important. CPU to control the thousands of units, and GPU to make the thousands of units look good. But the units are small so perhaps the thousands of units are not graphically demanding as 20 close up characters. While for adventure games where there are only 20 characters doing stuff on the screen does not demand that much CPU power but everything is up close therefore demands more GPU power to make stuff look good.

You are right on all accounts.

TW games are CPU intensive. I've read that in some mods like SS, it can take 10 minutes for slower CPUs to process the AI's move on the campaign map in between turns, while computers with i7s can do it in half a minute.

True.
And it's a myth this game uses a single core so i7 doesn't really gives an edge. What matters is the frequency & cache memory of the processor.
And SS etc are so much slow in turn times because of the huge maps and several AI characters finding their path, AI-path finding etc.

Only if they're on screen, or so far you couldn't see them anyway, I think.

No they get stored in the VRAM for the amount of time the battle is going on, that's why it's quite a punch on graphics card, leading to lower fps rate which in turn results in sluggishness.

[sumaznguy]

I just checked on highest settings they still look funny when zoomed out. Well I only have the i5 2500k Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics (amazing for integrated graphics imo). I will have to see if its any different once I get a video card. I am thinking of the Radeon HD 6850.

[Double A]

Try "getting over it." I hear it works very well with regards to graphics.

[Teutonic Warlord]

Try "getting over it." I hear it works very well with regards to graphics.

[Ishan]

Integrated Graphics is not exactly tip top to begin with. Buy a dedicated G.card first to see the difference.

[sumaznguy]

Integrated Graphics is not exactly tip top to begin with. Buy a dedicated G.card first to see the difference.

Will graphics card even make a difference besides boost in frames? I already have the game on highest settings with huge units (minus AA and Extreme Shaders I think) on 1920x1080 resolution. Even with thousands of troops the game is still quite playable. 10-15fps not the smoothest gameplay but the visuals are amazing. It helps that M2TW is not that new.

In fact Shogun 2 TW runs fine too. The default settings are mix of med/high settings with trees on low. But everything in the game looks so good even on integrated graphics.

I am getting a video card in a few months.

[Ishan]

G.Card makes all the difference as it increases the fps which is the only thing that makes the game worth playing. 10-15 fps is not worth playing, get a new card and play the game in 60+ fps to see what you're missing.

[StealthFox]

You can effectively disable sprites by doing this:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=472285

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Simply, if you are annoyed with this short sprite draw distance in battles, want to enjoy beautifuly crafted TA soldiers and highest Unit details setting is not enough for you, you can increase draw distance by editing battle_models.modeldb file. located in:
Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\unit_models

First: backup battle_models.modeldb !!!!!!! no matter what, make safecopy, just do it !!!!!!
seconds (did i mention to backup?)
1) open battle_models.modeldb with notepad (preferably notepad++)
2) hit Ctrl+H (find and replace) to replace ".mesh 10000" with ".mesh 200000"
3) hit Ctrl+H (find and replace) to replace ".mesh 6400" with ".mesh 10000"
4) save
5) you did make backup? right??

you can fool around with greater values than 200000

Do not use any text in this post as copy reference. Just select part of text inside your file battle_models.modeldb

Because of increased distance from which sprites will be generated, more gpu power will be required. USE IT ON YOUR OWN RISK

I have done this with my game and it works great!