[WIP] Middle Earth Strategikon ~60% Complete

[Bowmaster]

Sticky this!

[Incomitatus]

Don't worry uddhava, there will be more, much more. However, what's there already took almost 24 hours of non-stop writing and editing, and it was the easiest, simplest part. Contrary to popular belief, I do have a life. At the very least, I do need to eat and sleep, for I am but a mortal Man. As we say where I come from, hold yer horses, now.

At least the first part of the next part should be up tonight, though. EDIT: Make that tomorrow, I'm working on it, and bits may start to appear soon, but it's taking longer.

As far as this being sticky... I would greatly appreciate it when it's done (if it's ever done, perhaps I should say when all the sections have a draft written and posted). Before that, I'm not sure it would be appropriate to add it to the sticky collection.

EDIT: Added the following to "Why the AI Attacks" section of Part II: Diplomacy :

The AI is most likely to backstab you, even if they like you and are allied, if you are the weakest neighbouring faction and they are not already at war with another neighbour and they are going broke. The AI's preferred solution to financial difficulty is conquest. Don't let your neighbours go broke! This is actually why small repeating tributes, like 100 gold/turn for 100 turns, to your allies can make them much more loyal... not only does it help them with their finances a tiny amount, it also influences their perception of the financial cost of betraying you. If you can afford it, always be giving your neighbouring allies small tributes.

[uddhava]

Don't worry uddhava, there will be more, much more. However, what's there already took almost 24 hours of non-stop writing and editing, and it was the easiest, simplest part. Contrary to popular belief, I do have a life. At the very least, I do need to eat and sleep, for I am but a mortal Man. As we say where I come from, hold yer horses, now. :

I know, that's why I've never been a very active forum member

[Incomitatus]

I know, that's why I've never been a very active forum member

Yeah. I tend to be a binge forum member. I'll be very active for awhile and then disappear for months. I'm hoping this guide qualifies as a magnum opus... not that I'll necessarily permanently fade away when it's done, but I would feel like I've given back enough to do so without guilt.

[FC Groningen]

Looks really great! Thanks for including me in it somewhat!

[Incomitatus]

Looks really great! Thanks for including me in it somewhat!

You're more than welcome. There's a serious lack of good guides for the Evil factions, so I was very glad to see you were starting one, and it looks like it will be a very good one when complete! I look forward to following your work on it.

EDITED TO ADD FOR EVERYONE: AAAAARGH! I forgot what is probably the most obvious difference for character development between TATW and M2:TW

Corrected now. If you've already read that section, it's worth going back to, both to learn more and so you can marvel at my stupidity. The new entry is now the second point.

[uddhava]

Excellent + rep (if I'm allowed again, have to spread the love some more ). Well written and indepth. I'll eagerly await your next installment.

[uddhava]

Incomitatus,

I tried the remove_trait thingy and it only worked for one trait. In most cases it cant 'find the trait in the database'. I'm assuming this is because the trait has a shall we say 'mothername' for which the console searches in the database. So Winning First would fall under battledread or something like that. Oh well I was gonna aks if you know of any list where to find trait descriptions and their corresponding 'mothernames' but here it is:

http://totalwar.honga.net/traits.php...2=silvan_elves

Might as well share for others.

[Incomitatus]

Incomitatus,

I tried the remove_trait thingy and it only worked for one trait. In most cases it cant 'find the trait in the database'. I'm assuming this is because the trait has a shall we say 'mothername' for which the console searches in the database. So Winning First would fall under battledread or something like that. Oh well I was gonna aks if you know of any list where to find trait descriptions and their corresponding 'mothernames' but here it is:

http://totalwar.honga.net/traits.php...2=silvan_elves

Might as well share for others.

Actually, I've been intending to include that information from the beginning! I just haven't gotten around to writing that part yet

But yes, traits have family names and level names. For example, as you pointed out, Winning First is the first level of the BattleDread trait. When using the console to remove (or add) traits, you have to type the master name. If you are adding the trait (bad cheater you! ) you also have to specify the level you want to add. For example, add_trait Imrahil BattleChivalry 2 would give Imrahil the level Noble in Battle.

It is also possible to add points in a trait with the console (levels often take multiple points to advance), but I've never seen the need when you can add full levels and I don't have the command syntax committed to memory.

Note, you can get some really weird and buggy outcomes if you try adding levels of a trait to a character who already posses an anti-trait to the one you are trying to add. If you are going to go adding traits, always make sure you remove any anti-traits first!

+rep for the providing the link, if I don't remember to put it in the Guide (I'm actually planning on teaching people how to look things up for themselves in the actual game files, it's quite easy) please remind me!

EDITED TO ADD: The next instalment (or part of an instalment) will be as soon as I'm done writing it. I'm not stopping for rest until I get at least the Character Development section done, and I've got a long ways to go with that still! Keep watching here, stuff's going up in small chunks...

EDITED AGAIN TO ADD: On second thought, I may fall asleep over my keyboard before finishing what I want to... no promises.

[The Norseman]

Good job! I will add this to the Guides Compilation.

Regarding the economy and character development. You should take a look at Jän`s guide where he included most of the economy and CD tips, however there were some stuff he forgot and if you take a look in the files you can see that there are a lot of ways you can earn a great deal of money.

+rep!

[Incomitatus]

Good job! I will add this to the Guides Compilation.

Regarding the economy and character development. You should take a look at Jän`s guide where he included most of the economy and CD tips, however there were some stuff he forgot and if you take a look in the files you can see that there are a lot of ways you can earn a great deal of money.

+rep!

Thank you, Norseman!

Look in the files? Man, I've spent so much time buried in the files over the years I have dreams about them. I wish I were kidding.

Jän`s guide... how can I put this politely? I have a great deal of respect for anyone who puts a guide together: as I'm sure you would agree, it is a lot of work and I don't think any writer can write without feeling they are putting their ego at risk. So kudos to him!

That said, there are likely to be many issues where his guide and mine do not agree. My advice to you, naturally, if you were a betting man, is put your money on mine. But of course, I'm rather biased.

AND FOR EVERYONE: I'm terribly sorry, but I must get some sleep before I continue writing the guide. Didn't get as much done as I wanted, but 20 hours of staring at it is enough! More tonight.

[uddhava]

AND FOR EVERYONE: I'm terribly sorry, but I must get some sleep before I continue writing the guide. Didn't get as much done as I wanted, but 20 hours of staring at it is enough! More tonight.

Well thats terribly disappointing. But I suppose you will be forgiven for this lapse in discipline

Uddhava

[FC Groningen]

Glad you are willing to spend so much time on the technical part of the game. I'll make sure to put a reference in my guide regarding your general tips.

[The Norseman]

Jän`s guide was written back in 2009 so it is likely parts of his guide are outdated. I just hope everyone looks at when these guides were made and to which patches they are made for!

[Incomitatus]

Jän`s guide was written back in 2009 so it is likely parts of his guide are outdated. I just hope everyone looks at when these guides were made and to which patches they are made for!

Indeed. A lot of what will be in mine will be based off of the mechanics of the game engine, nevertheless some of it can't help but be dependent upon how things work now in TATW 3.2.

Well thats terribly disappointing. But I suppose you will be forgiven for this lapse in discipline

You sir, are a harsh taskmaster!

Oh well, onward!

EDITED TO SAY: Hey guys! So, I just put up sections on Authority, Loyalty, and Obedience (Chivalry and Dread coming soon!) and then looked at the whole guide (so far) and opened up all the spoilers and... my lord, this thing is already huge! Is that okay? Is the level of detail/wordiness acceptable? Does putting so many things in spoilers help or hurt reading it? I'd appreciate some feedback. I really, really appreciate the positive feedback so far, it makes me feel less intimidated to have started this, but what what would be really helpful would be at least some people letting me know what is particularly good, what works, what doesn't work, what isn't clear, what needs improved, etc. Let me know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong, please!

[uddhava]

Gotta go to work now so I will post some indepth feedback this afternoon but too keep you going in general:

So far it's excellent. The spoilers keep it clear and it is the detail which (to me) makes it good. Although I'm not as adept at 'reading' the game as others I have a lot of experience with TW (owned every game since shogun 1). So it's the extra detail which is interesting for me. It makes me look at the game in a different way. Apart from that, it's also very well written. So keep going!

(and don't forget to post the link to the Royal Military academy in a relevant section for example on traits )

Good luck

Uddhava

[Death From A Distance]

Great Post Incomitatus. Really Useful. Never got into trait management before but adds a whole new level to the game.
Brilliant! Thanks!

[ordinarysteve]

Just want to say thanks for the great guide. cheers!

[Incomitatus]

Thanks uddhava, I'd +rep you for the feedback, but apparently I need to spread some rep around.

[Ultra123]

i prefer the spoilers immensly, it draws the reader in, and agree its that level of detail almost tolkein-ish that i enjoy most from your works.

keep it up!