Basic Orientation for RSII Newcomer

[Anthropoid]

Howdy folks. I'm a new RTW player. After hearing for years what a great game it is, I finally bought RTW Complete a week or two ago, and have been enjoying it a lot. As with even the greatest of games however, one soon begins to realize the limitations and wonder what sorts of mods there are that expand the details, the realism, the strategic depth, maybe even the the tactical texture.

In shopping around the various mod sites and reading old threads, I was contemplating Europa Babarorum, but then I spotted this Roma Surrectum and it looks like one of, if not the best, mod for RTW (given the purposes for mods I mention above).

I notice that this RS section of this forum has a LOT of activity. dvk your description of the mod, directions to install etc. also are superlative and that was a lure (given I already had some difficulty with an attempt at installing EB, and I've installed plenty of gaming mods in my time).

So how would you guys compare and contrast this mod with EB? Seems like they are a couple of the heaviest hitters eh?

One other question I have: I was impressed when I learned that the modding communities from some of my favorite games of old (Oblivion for example, and Fallout3 as well) had eventually evolved into more 'collaborative' communities (at least some of the accomplished ones) and some of the best individual mods for some of those games had actually been 'bundled' into combined packages. Any hope of something like that ever happening among the best RTW modders?

I don't know if it is true or not, but I gather than Extended Cultures and, for example, RSII might be rather complimentary mods to combine into one bundle??

[dvk901]

You know, it's persons like yourself who make me want to say "Take that!" to the nay-sayers who said some years ago that RTW was dead, and anyone wanting to mod it after M2TW came out was wasting their time. I have noticed that there seem to be a lot of new people on the Forum of late who are trying things out, and it makes me happy, considering I have four + years tied up in this time consuming hobby.

Anyway, we don't really encourage comparisons of mods simply because they seem to degrade into 'fan-boy' comments that are sometimes cruel and thoughtless, given the amount of time a LOT of people have put into various mods. I much prefer to encourage people to try other mods, because there is a lot to be said for each of them. Tone and I, for example, kind of the backbone of the RS2 team you might say, were big 'SPQR' fans, a mod written solely by LT1956. It is a Roman mod, without doubt or kidding. He wrote it for people who love to play Rome. It is fun, challenging, well done and polished, and I don't think anyone would be disappointed with it.

XGM, mainly written by DimeBagHo (whom I think has retired), is a more Greek based modification that focuses mostly on the dynamics of the game and making it fun for Greek fans.

Europa Barbarorum is probably without a doubt the most 'purely' historical mod out there, and a mega-ton of work was done on that mod to portray the world 'as it was' in those days. It's really a work of art historically, and should never be slighted.

Following closely would be RTRVII, which has been around a long time (before us), and is also an exceptionally done historical mod. We have been closely associated with them for several years now, and have worked together and shared resources for a lot of things to make our respective mods better without having to 're-invent the wheel', so to speak.

RS2 came in a the end of all this....when RTW was already old. The 'signature' of this mod was, at one time, in the first release (RS1.6) it's containing the named and numbered Legions of Rome, with individual shields, banners and their unique histories. Then, we kinda went nut and tore the game to pieces in an effort to improve everything we possibly could graphically. All new models for units were created. Far more emphasis put on all factions and cultures. And RS2 is a 'historical' mod to a point. Our aim was to create as historical as possible of a 'setting' to start the game, and from there the player makes his\her own history.

One other thing that I feel makes RS2 a bit unique is that the Romans are presented in every detail possible for this game..both historically and as a people. I know that players have said they get kind of 'attached' to their Legions..even feeling bad when they are decimated or wiped out. Might sound silly, but it is, I suppose, the effect of personalizing the Legions and seeing the men who fought in them as people like us....not just historical 'information'.

[menawati]

Like dvk said it's not a great idea to start comparing mods in these forums, even if it is meant totally objectively.
I love the Total War games and have played many great mods over the years and you sorta get bored with one after a while and move onto the next but one thing I will say about Roma Surrectum.....it's the only one I always return to playing again for long periods of time.

[Hamilicar]

Yeah RSII is great along with the other mods that are out there. i would have them all but i dont have the space on my computer. they all have something unique to the mod like Roma Vict is trying to make sea battles playable. and XC is a different than most other mods in my personal opinion in that its all about doing the most with the least and not having huge standing armies of uber soldiers. but like i said all of them are great and you just have to try different ones to see what style you like.

[Anthropoid]

Cool! Very good comparisons!

[Brusilov]

The advice that many will give is to try as many of the R:TW mods out there and see which you like personally.

At one stage or other I've played most of them - although none recently.

There are mods to cover all periods (Authurian, Troy etc) including various fantasy worlds (LoTR).