Which historical R:TW mod to play in anticipation of TW:R2?

[Heskey]

Hi all,

I'm just wondering which Rome: Total War mod should I play in anticipation of Total War: Rome 2? I'm looking for a mod that is historically accurate and gritty, with a focus on either Rome, or the Britons.

I've owned every TW game since Rome: Total War after seeing it used on Time Commander (UK TV) as a teenager, but the game that's brought me back year after year is the Stainless Steel mod for Medieval 2: Total War. I've loved the feudal era since being heavily involved with Ultima Online since I was 11 years old, and the strategic depth and historical accuracy of Stainless Steel coupled with Byg's Grim Reality V serves me as my "Medieval Simulator".

Secondary to my love of feudalism are the Romans, and in anticipation of Total War: Rome 2, I'd like to know what is my Stainless Steel + Byg V equivalent for Rome: Total War?

The most popular mod names I see thrown around are Europa Barbarorum and Roma Surrectum; but that's not to say I'm asking for a decision to be made between these two alone.

I know very little about either of these mods - but I do know that if I posted in either sub-forum asking "THIS mod or <alternative>", I'll be screamed at to play the mod of the sub-forum I've posted the question in.

I thought here might get a more neutral, considered, and balanced answer to the question.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

[john duca]

Europa Barbarorum ? NO! (if you love lag)
Roma Surrectum is better..hd units, many regions and countries..BUT also many bugs and very veryyyy loong battles..(if you love graphics)
Rome Total Realism for better gameplay and some new nations (if you love gameplay)

[nomercysniper]

EB is probably my preference, i found RS too Rome centralized with little detail elsewhere, but if your looking for a Rome based mod it could be for you.

[Heskey]

i found RS too Rome centralized with little detail elsewhere, but if your looking for a Rome based mod it could be for you.

I'd like a mod that's fairly balanced and historical all over the board; I don't see the point in playing a nation that's really well researched and complex when my adversaries aren't much different to the vanilla game =[

[DaciaJC]

I'd like a mod that's fairly balanced and historical all over the board; I don't see the point in playing a nation that's really well researched and complex when my adversaries aren't much different to the vanilla game =[

You'll want to try out Europa Barbarorum, then. The majority of my time in that mod was spent playing factions other than the Romani.

[Mary The Quene]

Roma surrectum

[Heskey]

Perhaps I'm best just sticking with Stainless Steel for the meanwhile until TW:R2 comes out then, if there's no golden answer?

[2gutter67]

There's a newer mod coming out in about a month or two called Veni, Vedi, Vici. They're basically just updating the EB and RS mods into something a bit more (dare I say) modern. Everything they've showed so far is looking pretty fantastic in my opinion.

EB was pretty good, but was just terribly slow.

RS I found far too focused on Rome and not the other factions.

[Evelien]

Europa Barbarorum II won't be out before Rome II, so none.

[Numring]

I don't think you can place one mod above all the others - it all comes down to personal preferences. Thus I don't think a direct question as the one above is reasonable, watch a few videos, read through the previews and decide for yourself. I played the three 'big' mods RS, EB and RTR and could give you my own views however you shouldn't base your opinion on them.

Roma Surrectum is the one I started with and I find it to be the graphically the most pleasant (Great looking units (AOR-Recruitment) and remade battle maps, well made campaign map too!) It's choice of factions is good and each of them is fun to play as. It is way more historically accurate than the original although the developers often made very 'free' interpretations of however existing sources. Otherwise it offers well written text and some interesting scripts. If you want to play as Rome, I'd say go with RS. Rome is very thought out, has senat events and numbered legions after the Marian reforms. If you play another faction, Rome is a bit frustrating, their unit get overpowered stats if the AI controls them - I think you can edit that out, though.

EB's campaign map extends further east and is very historically accurate. Very. You have units speaking in their native language, every year's events are summed up, factions, units and buildings have their accurate names (with english explanations added) Barbarian and steppe factions are thoroughly researched and every unit, every design decision is justified by numerous reasons, the develeopers have really pushed RTW's limits. The units are good, but sometimes lack color and are not of as high quality as the ones of RTR or RS. You can say that the mod is very professional and if you want to learn something while having fun playing it (or are interested in the widely unknown Eastern or Barbarian factions), this is the mod to go.

RTR (Rome Total Realism) is nearer to Roma Surrectum, the mods share some models and unit concepts. I feel it's more historical than RS (Especially the rosters) but the most remarkable feature is the limited map, it concentrates on Italy, Greece and Parts of Iberia and Africa, who are provided with many! city, giving the whole campaign a very intense and deep feel. It sacrifices factions like the Seleucids or the Ptolemies to include multiple "Gaul" factions or Iberian tribes and the numerous Greek leagues. This different approach to the campaign map makes you concentrate on war theatres like Rome/Epirus/Carthage and (my favorite) prohibits you from conquering all of the Peloponnes or Italy in a few turns. It's very intense, so try it out even when you first play something different.

Hope that helped!

[Anna_Gein]

I suppose you could consider EB, RS2 and RTR as the most popular mods set on the same era.
You should aslo check IBFD (set in the late empire).

Best advise : test each of name. They all have more differences than similarities.

PS : RS2 is as much historical as Napoleon TW and shogun 2 TW.

[Darth_Revan]

RS 2!

[King Philip II]

The First Triumvirate and EB

[Heskey]

Has this become a thread to shout out your preferred mod, or are these replies geared towards answering my question? =[

Some reasons would be good, guys!

[King Philip II]

Has this become a thread to shout out your preferred mod, or are these replies geared towards answering my question? =[

Some reasons would be good, guys!

EB is good if you want to be your own Caesar. TFT is good if you want to play a scripted Caesar campaign .. or Crassus in The East ... or as Pompey in the Civil war (as well as Orodes and Vercingetorix). RTR and RS2 are also excellent historic mods, but if historic immersion is your top priority then EB is second to none IMO.

[Numring]

Has this become a thread to shout out your preferred mod, or are these replies geared towards answering my question? =[

Some reasons would be good, guys!

There are reasons, aren't they? :o You can't expect anyone to point to one particular mod while neglecting the different strenghts.

[Heskey]

There are reasons, aren't they? :o You can't expect anyone to point to one particular mod while neglecting the different strenghts.

I'm just reading through your post Numring; mine wasn't directed at yourself - more the people just naming presumably their favourite mod... Regardless of whether or not it has merit to the question asked =]

[LewisVee]

Honestly, iv always loved the SPQR mod however, Roma surrectum is up their.

[kikokyle]

Extended Greek Mod (XGM).

[RO Citizen]

Take both EB and RS2, they're both unique and awesome, and you have enough time until september to enjoy them both.