Got a Little Question I'd Like To Ask............

[Phil of Loreauville]

Quick intro to my question:
So I'm sitting here on an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico babysitting a helicopter without a lot to do. Just me and my laptop, getting bored.
Looking through my laptop bag I find my Kingdoms disc. So i decided what the hey? I popped it in and started a new game.
Now I haven't played MTW2 (I like playing with the RR/RC sub-mod) in months. After about 15 minutes into the game I realized, "This is pretty fun. Why haven't I fired this up lately?"
So my question to all is ------What is it about this game that keeps you playing it?
Think about it. Medieval Total War 2 came out, when? 2006? Without doing much research, I'd say Stainless Steel came out shortly thereafter. That's 6-7 years ago. Judging from the activity on this forum and the visitors that still frequent my RR/RC site I'd say that this game is far from dead. There's also plenty of modding projects still going on as well.
What is it about this game that keeps you playing? Especially with all the new games coming out that are being hyped to super-star levels (I think most of the hype is a little over-done personally).
I've got my reasons, but I'd like to hear what some of you have to say first.

[paleologos]

It's called "gameplay".

[Andytheplatypus]

For me its the facts that so much of it can be changed and that there is a large moddibg community.

[Vissewalde rex de Gerzika]

The moddability is definitely the main reason, total makeover mods like TATW are amazing and can easily attract new community.

[Honors Bastion]

The thing with Medieval Total War 2 is that it has so more modding capabilities then a lot of other games that allow for total conversions of the game. Mods like Third Age Total War, the two Warhammer based mods, and a 1600s central Europe based mod are only a few exmples of the modding capabilities of M2TW that give it a much longer extended life then a lot of other games.

Just look at the Empire Total War, Napoleon, or Shogun 2 mods. Their modding is limited to things like new units, slightly changed gameplay, and new/different factions. There are no big changes yet to the campaign map and the possibility of total conversions like third age are incredibly difficult.

[Phil of Loreauville]

What I love about the game is the Empire building and managing aspects. The way you can pay attention to so many details and at the same time you can advance your leaders. The combat is just as involved.
It seems that most of the recent games are hardly as involved. I've checked out a few games my kids have recommended. And all it involves is rushing into an area where a group of flunkies awaits you. Blast through them on to the next gang of rejects that stands out in the open awaiting your assault.
And then there's a cut scene where your character (or group of characters) interacts and achieves the mission ------ i.e. they play the game for you. Then it's off to take on the next group of guys standing around.
I'm not saying there aren't some good games out there, but I quickly get bored with them.
I guess what the appeal is, to me, is the fact you really have to think and plan to succeed. And the Total War series gives you the ways and means to plan.

[Shaun]

The timeframe is also pretty important too. M2TW was the last TW game that was based almost exclusively on the pre-gunpowder era on a grand scale.

[Honors Bastion]

What I love about the game is the Empire building and managing aspects. The way you can pay attention to so many details and at the same time you can advance your leaders. The combat is just as involved.
It seems that most of the recent games are hardly as involved. I've checked out a few games my kids have recommended. And all it involves is rushing into an area where a group of flunkies awaits you. Blast through them on to the next gang of rejects that stands out in the open awaiting your assault.
And then there's a cut scene where your character (or group of characters) interacts and achieves the mission ------ i.e. they play the game for you. Then it's off to take on the next group of guys standing around.
I'm not saying there aren't some good games out there, but I quickly get bored with them.
I guess what the appeal is, to me, is the fact you really have to think and plan to succeed. And the Total War series gives you the ways and means to plan.

And that is pretty much why I won't touch most of the nwer game sthat get released, especially the dreaded first person shooters.

The timeframe is also pretty important too. M2TW was the last TW game that was based almost exclusively on the pre-gunpowder era on a grand scale.

Oh, yes this a big factor as well.