Veterans of TW, are you buying this game?

[zoner16]

Heh, that may actually be the reason to be honest. I always loved the spy mechanic in KoH, it is as brilliant as it is simple in concept, and having it in a TW game makes it all the much better. I have to admit I haven't really tried them out properly, because I'm playing the virtuous and philantropic Kong dynasty that would never ever do something as heinous as espionage, but my next playthrough will be someone less idealistic.

The spy mechanic is actually very useful late game. The big factions have the funds to keep a lot of generals on payroll, and they also tend to lose a lot of them in big fights, so turnover is high, which makes the likelihood of your agents getting picked up fairly high as well. Since there's less chance of the faction getting wiped out, your agents usually have time to rise in the ranks and get into useful positions. Visibility is great, but the options to kill army movement, open city gates, and reduce enemy satisfaction across the board are both cheap in terms of resources and incredibly effective.

[Dave Strider]

I've been playing Total War since 2007-2008, started with Rome 1 and Medieval 2, was around for the launch of Empire and Rome II, was disillusioned by the latter up through Warhammer 2 which brought me back to the series because the fantasy games were so polished. Was iffy on Thrones of Britannia, but didn't hate it.

Three Kingdoms is, hands down, the best historical Total War game since Shogun 2, possibly since Rome 1 and Medieval 2. It's polished, it's well optimized, it's immersive, it's beautiful, it's fun, and it's engaging from turn 1 right up until the moment you win. You never truly feel safe until the campaign is nearly won. There's constant tension and always fear of being backstabbed, you feel like the odds are always against you and it's so ing great when you beat them and claim Tianxia for yourself.

You're doing yourself a disservice not playing it, imo.

[stevehoos]

No, no interest in limited insular cultural options in the game. Looks like diplomacy is a lot better, just not on my radar. No big conversion mods will ever be possible. Waiting for Ancient Empires patch.

[lionskin]

I've been playing TW since the first shogun TW game back in 2000 and own every single one except the war hammer series (They are not TW to me). I must say I am enjoying this game and wish I had more time to play like back when I was younger. I used to be a big moder too but not any more, I'm too old hehe.

[AHumpierRogue]

Played since Medieval 2. Got it and I love it, the smoothest TW release by far and one the best releases in recent years honestly.

[Huberto]

I'm not as stuck on the older games as some veterans, meaning I play the newer games, mostly the reformed and modified TWR2 and Attila + DLC. I am strictly a historical fan though, so I've had misgivings about 3 Kingdoms because of Dynasty Warriors impact on game design (see avatar). But Three Kingdoms has some features that will please fans of military history. Supply and attrition are meaningful factors, for example making campaigns more interesting and fun. I'm using these as strategic elements in my current playthrough. I have 2 commanderies in Shaanxi/Sichuan region that are being invaded by 3 full stacks of my enemies and I'm withdrawing carefully to deplete their supply reserves as I build up a base of operations to their north from which I'll bring my core armies down when they are weakened. My worry is based on how fast cities under siege run out of supplies now, usually in only a few turns for smaller cities. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this all plays out, it will be close.

Also worthy of mention is actual diplomatic tension, beyond the abundance of diplomatic options provided. Finally there are deals to be had with anyone in Total War, but there are real risks to doing them, not doing them. This may all become transparent after more hours of play (I'm around 40 right now entering late campaign) but right now diplomacy is very much the fluid mini-game that appears tied more than ever to what's happening on the campaign map. Playing as Liu Bei I watched Yuan Shao's successors vassals declare independence as my armies approached their regions. Nicely done.

Plenty of quibbles with some design choices, but this game seems mostly built around providing a deeper strategic experience then we've ever had before. The battles in Records mode are different from recent historical games only in the sense of far greater impact of generals, both type and skill set. There is rebalancing to be done, and hopefully introducing new tactics and units to the game, CA? Also very much looking forward to realism mods that can go with the improved campaign gameplay. Caveat emptor and all that. No one can make a final judgement on this game yet.

[Faith]

Nope.
I'm sick of explaining why.
If I really want to pick up TW again, it's still modded m2tw or nothing.

[Dead*Man*Wilson]

Been down with TW since Shogun 1 demo.

Been playing Three Kingdoms the last 3 days and have been really enjoying it; despite the somewhat steep learning curve. The campaign is quite the experience.

I'd recommend to other TW fans without hesitation.

[welshy91]

Cheers for all the responses, mixed bag of reviews as I guessed. Decided to wait for awhile, when it's on a sale. I'm getting stuck into DEI mod atm so my urge to buy is sated for now.
One last question would be when they decide to create another historical game what next era you would like? and do you think the 3k style would be used by CA again for future historical games?
I'm personally want 16th-17th century era or the Victorian era from say 1830 -1914

[Daruwind]

One last question would be when they decide to create another historical game what next era you would like? and do you think the 3k style would be used by CA again for future historical games?
I'm personally want 16th-17th century era or the Victorian era from say 1830 -1914

Empire/Victoria/Age of exploration+colonialism. Another gun oriented game would be really great

WH3
Genghis-Khan/Alexander(Diadochi War) (Saga)
Empire 2 / Victoria

[REhorror]

Started Total War since Medieval 1.

Saw the whole female general/officer in the game and immediately NOPE the out.

Nobody can convince me the game is good after that.

[somatophylakes]

Empire/Victoria/Age of exploration+colonialism. Another gun oriented game would be really great

WH3
Genghis-Khan/Alexander(Diadochi War) (Saga)
Empire 2 / Victoria

Is anyone here a lotr fan ? I began to think about a Total War:Middle Earth saga since a couple of years and can't stop my hope on that. Also i would love a Medieval III and Empire Total War II, it would be sooo nice.

[Daruwind]

Is anyone here a lotr fan ? I began to think about a Total War:Middle Earth saga since a couple of years and can't stop my hope on that. Also i would love a Medieval III and Empire Total War II, it would be sooo nice.

LotR and Warcraft are two best fantasy setting after Warhammer. Problem is the licenses for both. But then CA managed to create very succesful TW Warhammer 1+2+(3) so there might be glimpse of hope. Warcraft has advantage that the games are already competetive and there is plentora of heroes, units, spells, continets..Middle-earth has this magical feeling. But it has a few questions, each age has very different power level. Balrogs army,dragons, army of Valinor... If they try to use films as base, more license problems?

[Jopel]

Playing since Shogun and bought 3k. Have to say not to my real interest (more European and would love to see a TW in 1600-1700 settings) but quite like it.

[Intranetusa]

Pike and shot (except with crossbows) was a form of warfare practiced in the area since the Warring States period, but unfortunately there isn't a single pike formation unit in the game. It would have been great if we could get pikes, rotating volley fire heavy draw crossbowmen, mixed pike and crossbow units, etc so we can have a unique form of warfare rather than the typical sword and shield stuff.


Furthermore, if CA followed a more historical approach with more factions and researched more historical weaponry/armor, they could've had a much bigger and more diverse unit roster. They could have taken a look at and learned from the unit rosters of the game Tiger Knight (also about the Three Kingdoms) where the factions Wu, Shu, and Wei have very different units that emphasizes their unique geography and specialties. Check out Tiger Knight's unit roster for example: https://imgur.com/a/AOdVKEK


As it stands right now, not only is the game missing a lot of historical units, but a lot of the units in the game are anachronistic or straight up fantasy (eg. dudes wearing fantasy leather, elite units wearing nothing but robes, 800 year anachronistic weapons, etc).
However, the game campaign is a huge improvement over previous campaigns, and the game is still quite fun overall.

[prithupaul]

I have played every TW game, with thousands of hours especially in Rome 1 and Medieval 2.

3K has many features that I have wished for throughout the two decades of Total War games - army order of battle, characters behaving like individuals instead of a collection of numbers, specialised training and recruitment, an elaborate court system, relations between characters, more realistic representation of alliances, legendary weapons and armour to name a few.

It also brings back some of my beloved features from old games that were missing from the recent abominations - trading territories, payments in instalments, slower less blobby battles, formations, destructive cavalry charges, family trees, female characters etc.

More than anything, it gives me a chance to experience a rich exotic unfamiliar culture. This is what I love most about games like this. All history is fascinating to me. The characters in the game do not need to look like me for me to be interested in them.

It was an easy buy from me.

[somatophylakes]

LotR and Warcraft are two best fantasy setting after Warhammer. Problem is the licenses for both. But then CA managed to create very succesful TW Warhammer 1+2+(3) so there might be glimpse of hope. Warcraft has advantage that the games are already competetive and there is plentora of heroes, units, spells, continets..Middle-earth has this magical feeling. But it has a few questions, each age has very different power level. Balrogs army,dragons, army of Valinor... If they try to use films as base, more license problems?

Maybe just something between books and movies, it would be nice. The combat system would be as WH franchise hack and smash, so just set, map and units are also not this great work to do, we know what they are already. What may they improve or did different ? Don't know, i only know i would buy it instantly. Yes of course the issue is about license, but i guess they can spend all the money of 3K on TH: middle earth, right ?

[Yerevan]

I have played every TW game, with thousands of hours especially in Rome 1 and Medieval 2.

3K has many features that I have wished for throughout the two decades of Total War games - army order of battle, characters behaving like individuals instead of a collection of numbers, specialised training and recruitment, an elaborate court system, relations between characters, more realistic representation of alliances, legendary weapons and armour to name a few.

It also brings back some of my beloved features from old games that were missing from the recent abominations - trading territories, payments in instalments, slower less blobby battles, formations, destructive cavalry charges, family trees, female characters etc.

More than anything, it gives me a chance to experience a rich exotic unfamiliar culture. This is what I love most about games like this. All history is fascinating to me. The characters in the game do not need to look like me for me to be interested in them.

It was an easy buy from me.

I can totally relate to this.

It's the lack of personification in the dynasties and characters that made R2TW feel so bland to me. Even after most of its most blatant issues were addressed. The lack of transversal human and political interactions inside and outside factions made every campaign feel like a play of numbers. Everything coming out of context.

3K is clearly going the right way. And frankly, I'm surprised, because I still remember how everybody on this forum that complained about the absence of family tree in R2 was called a whiner, or a hater; and recalled that a proper total war game should only be about war. So I really didn't expect CA to explore this direction. This is a very good surprise. I'm wondering if it's not because TWW's RPG's element were so well received...

Anyway, until now, I haven't witnessed any absurd behavior from the AI, neither on the campaign nor battle map. Which is crazy, only a few days after launch. It really feels like I'm playing an alternate version of romance of the 3K, and I wonder if it's not the cleanest TW game launch.

However, even if I love the classic chinese painting feel of the loading screen and the zoomed out map (the art, the music, are almost on par with S2TW's), I find the UI confusing.

[Basileos Leandros I]

I own every single TW historical game, with Collectors Editions most of them + TW Eras included. My first experience was with Shogun TW back in 2000, so I'm as old as possibly can be on this.

That being said - I bought TW 3 Kingdoms!

First impressions so far - I love love love the UI, it's absolutely gorgeous. So beautifully done, the graphic artistry is superb. Furthermore, diplomacy is a lot improved, and that's a huge plus but I have some trouble adjusting to all of the icons on the battlefield. Way too cluttered.

[JupiterMoneta]

I have some trouble adjusting to all of the icons on the battlefield. Way too cluttered.

By pressing and holding spacebar on the battlefield, a menu appears on the rightside of the screen where you'll be able to adjust it to your tastes.