Siege battle crash in campaign mode

[LOTR-Luigi]

I seem to have stumbled upon a strange issue with the game, whenever I enter a siege battle (as either attacker or defender) in the campaign mode my game crashes and comes up with an error message (something about unspecified errors) however I am still able to enter other battles as per usual.

This aforementioned issue has occurred twice now, after the first time I did a complete uninstall of the mod and anything related to it, then subsequently went about reinstalling the mod. I installed Patch 3.0 (parts 1 and 2), running cleaner.bat at the end of each install, followed by patch 3.1 and 3.2. However the issue still continues to occur. What makes it more confusing is that I am able to create siege battles using the custom battle section without any issues at all. Hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on this issue.

[ElvenKind]

I seem to have stumbled upon a strange issue with the game, whenever I enter a siege battle (as either attacker or defender) in the campaign mode my game crashes and comes up with an error message (something about unspecified errors) however I am still able to enter other battles as per usual.

This aforementioned issue has occurred twice now, after the first time I did a complete uninstall of the mod and anything related to it, then subsequently went about reinstalling the mod. I installed Patch 3.0 (parts 1 and 2), running cleaner.bat at the end of each install, followed by patch 3.1 and 3.2. However the issue still continues to occur. What makes it more confusing is that I am able to create siege battles using the custom battle section without any issues at all. Hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on this issue.

Hi there and welcome to TWC!
Are you using any submod with TATW? You say you run Cleaner.bat at the end of each install, that is characteristic of MOS submod...

And, which town crashes in these battles?

[LOTR-Luigi]

Hi there and welcome to TWC!
Are you using any submod with TATW? You say you run Cleaner.bat at the end of each install, that is characteristic of MOS submod...

And, which town crashes in these battles?

I'm using the MOS sub mod, followed all instructions to the letter and using latest versions. However the issue has occurred both with and without the sub mod installed.

The issue isn't limited to a specific settlement(s) either, I've tested it on numerous settlements and it seems a universal issue for some reason.

[ElvenKind]

I'm using the MOS sub mod, followed all instructions to the letter and using latest versions. However the issue has occurred both with and without the sub mod installed.

The issue isn't limited to a specific settlement(s) either, I've tested it on numerous settlements and it seems a universal issue for some reason.

It can be couple of things then, maybe your system is not strong enough for TATW( it uses only one CPU core, lot of RAM, good graphics card required...) or, you haven`t installed it right.

1. What Windows do you have?
2. Is your M2TW steam or non steam version?
3. When you were installing TATW again, you haven`t run any Cleaner.bat file? That .bat file comes with MOS submod, so don`t mix it.
4. Where is your M2TW installed? Have you directed all TATW Installers to your Medieval 2 Total War folder?

[LOTR-Luigi]

It can be couple of things then, maybe your system is not strong enough for TATW( it uses only one CPU core, lot of RAM, good graphics card required...) or, you haven`t installed it right.

1. What Windows do you have?
2. Is your M2TW steam or non steam version?
3. When you were installing TATW again, you haven`t run any Cleaner.bat file? That .bat file comes with MOS submod, so don`t mix it.
4. Where is your M2TW installed? Have you directed all TATW Installers to your Medieval 2 Total War folder?

I'm on Windows 7, the game is the non-steam version. I didn't run Cleaner.bat when installing the vanilla TATW,only when installing the submod (sorry for any confusion on that part).

My M2TW is installed in Program Files (x86) , this is where my computer wanted it to be put and all of the TATW installers have been directed into this folder, as I said I've followed all the install instructions to the letter.

I don't think its an issue with my PC, because the vanilla M2TW and Kingdoms run fine on the exact same settings that have been selected for TATW, and as I said before I have no issue when creating a custom siege battle or when playing normal (non siege) battles in the campaign. Its just whenever I go into a siege battle the game crashes.

[ElvenKind]

Have you tried with lowering all Video settings? And update your graphics card, maybe that can help too.

[LOTR-Luigi]

Have you tried with lowering all Video settings? And update your graphics card, maybe that can help too.

Just lowered all the graphics settings down as much as I can and the issue is still occurring. Really not sure what could be causing this issue as I've never experienced anything like it in other Total War games/mods.

[ElvenKind]

Just lowered all the graphics settings down as much as I can and the issue is still occurring. Really not sure what could be causing this issue as I've never experienced anything like it in other Total War games/mods.

You could try to reinstall using these steps ( NOTE! All these steps bellow are also explained in pictures here:
LINK )

1. Go here and apply step 3 from section How to fix it for your main M2TW folder ( C:\Program Files (x86)\SEGA\Medieval II Total War, or if you installed M2TW somewhere els, like for example in D: \ Games\ Medieval II Total War ).

2. Uninstall TATW using Control Panel\ Uninstall program.

3. Delete manually Third_Age_3 folder in your C:\Program Files (x86)\SEGA\Medieval II Total War\mods folder ( or, if you installed M2TW somewhere els, like for example in D: \ Games\ Medieval II Total War, then delete it there in D: \ Games\ Medieval II Total War\ mods folder ).

4. Unhide hidden folders:
On your DESKTOP, click on START in the bottom left corner, in Search Programs and Files type in Folder Options, click on Folder Options, go to VIEW section, and in Hidden files and folders check the box next to SHOW hidden files, folders or drives. Apply, and OK.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

5. First, check what is the name of your PC ( right mouse click on Computer icon, go to Properties, and check what is Computer Name ) then, BEFORE installing Third Age again, go to Virtual store ( C:\ Users\ [user name or your Computer`s name]\ AppData\ Local\ VirtualStore\ Program Files (x86)\ Sega, and delete M2TW folder found there.


6. Install all four TATW parts - TATW part 1 and part 2, TATW patch 3.1 and TATW patch 3.2 ( CHECK the INSTALLATION paths carefully for ALL Installers, all of them have to have\Medieval II Total War as a destination ending, for example, if you have installed M2TW somewhere els, like for example in D: \ Games\ Medieval II Total War, then installation path is D: \ Games\ Medieval II Total War for all installers ).

7. For battle crashes:

Disable daylight saving settings, if you have Windows 7, 8 or Vista, go to Control Panel, Clock, Date and Time, Change the time zone, Change time zone, uncheck `Automatically adjust clock for Daylight Savings time`. Apply and OK.

If you have Windows XP, simply double click the “clock” time display in the lower right of the windows task bar. In the “Date and Time Properties” dialog box click on the “Time Zone” tab. Below the map uncheck the box labeled “Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving time.” Apply and OK.
Good luck!

[LOTR-Luigi]

Thanks. I've decided to completely delete M2TW from my program files (x86) folder and I'm going to just reinstall everything from there, it'll be time consuming but I don't see an alternative at this point.

[ElvenKind]

Thanks. I've decided to completely delete M2TW from my program files (x86) folder and I'm going to just reinstall everything from there, it'll be time consuming but I don't see an alternative at this point.

You mean, you have decided to uninstall M2TW from your PC..
There is a difference between deleting and uninstalling a game... Just deleting it you will screw up things.

[LOTR-Luigi]

You mean, you have decided to uninstall M2TW from your PC..
There is a difference between deleting and uninstalling a game... Just deleting it you will screw up things.

Yeah thats what I meant, uninstalled everything and then made sure there wasn't anything left in program files (x86).

Have reinstalled everything now but the issue still persists and I can no longer even play open battles (ones not near settlements). I've checked for the 'auto adjust clock' in the control panel so that can't be the cause. I also made a point of testing every single type of video quality and unit size to see if that made any difference and the result was the same each time.

[LOTR-Luigi]

Okay have finally managed to fix this issue. All I had to do was delete the two descr_geography_new files (under the data folder of TATW) and I can now play the game without any crashes.

Thank you for your help ElvenKind. I might suggest making a note of this fix, it doesn't seem to be very well known (trawled through various forum topics here and elsewhere to find mention of it) but it works and might well save people from doing unnecessary re-installations of the game.

[knight of meh]

Generally battle crashes are caused by a time stamp error in the descr_geography files. Deleting these two files in the TATW data folder should fix the problem: descr_georgraphy_new database fileand descr_georgraphy_new text document. Another method is to disable daylight savings time on your computer. A third option can be found here.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...Before-Posting!)

that is quoted from a sticky and the top of this Sub-forum ...