Does RTW need to be modded?

[TLF]

I just received my first copy of this game.
It is the Gold Edition which includes Barbarian Invasion.

I read on a forum that it needs to be modded to be playable.
I suppose that this is an overstatement, but it might reflect some problems with the Vanilla game.

If it is best to use a mod, what is a good small mod (less than 50mb because I am on dial-up) that fixes most of the criticisms of Vanilla?

Also, does the Barbarian Invasion make any changes in the game-play of the original game or is it completely separate?

 

[mech654]

Barbarian Invasion is completely seprate.

I doubt you could find a mod that is lass than 50mb.

 

[Dachs]

I just received my first copy of this game.
It is the Gold Edition which includes Barbarian Invasion.

I read on a forum that it needs to be modded to be playable.
I suppose that this is an overstatement, but it might reflect some problems with the Vanilla game.

If it is best to use a mod, what is a good small mod (less than 50mb because I am on dial-up) that fixes most of the criticisms of Vanilla?

Not less than 50 MB, as far as I know. Vanilla isn't unplayable, but it is definitely a much better game when modded. Europa Barbarorum and Rome Total Realism, and to a lesser extent the Extended Greek Mod make it a lot better.

Also, does the Barbarian Invasion make any changes in the game-play of the original game or is it completely separate?

It installs some patches (1.3 and 1.5 I think) and also improves the AI somewhat AFAIK. I don't think it allows night battles in vanilla.

 

[germanicus12]

In Vanilla BI you can fight night battles. In Rome Vanilla you cannot.

 

[Dachs]

In Vanilla BI you can fight night battles. In Rome Vanilla you cannot.

That's what I meant.

 

[Maniacal]

With the gold edition Rome will be at version 1.5, and Barbarian invasion will be at 1.6

Europa Barbarorum is the best mod I have found, you won't be able to play Rome: Total Realism as it requires something like version 1.2 for some stupid reason (so everyone with the gold version can't play it).

Sorry about the dial up, perhaps you could download it somewhere else like at a friends and put it on a CD or flash drive?

 

[kibbles]

Generally Vanilla is very poorly balanced, I always enjoyed mods because a lot of them are better balanced.

 

[Maniacal]

I recommend playing the vanilla to learn the basics of the game first, and then when you do switch to mods you'll have some idea how to play the game and you'll appreciate all the changes in the mods.

 

[Aramazd]

I recommend playing the vanilla to learn the basics of the game first, and then when you do switch to mods you'll have some idea how to play the game and you'll appreciate all the changes in the mods.

QFT.

Although, I would say vanilla is pretty enjoyable on the first few play-throughs. Which can take a long time depending on how often you play.

I'd suggest play Vanilla, and wait until you have a lot of free time to download Europa Barbarorum (say overnight or on a weekend trip), dial up makes downloading difficult. If you have a 3G phone that can be tethered, you could use that to download the file.

 

[Atticus]

I've been browsing mods in twcenter.net, and am most interested in the ones whose whole setting is different. These looked interesting:
Rise of Persia
Chivalry Total War
Crusader: Total War
Rome Medieval
Battles of Asia
Napoleonic Total War 2
Three Kingdoms: Total War.

Have some of you tried some of them, and what did you think?

 

[Maniacal]

Napoleonic Total War 2 isn't really that great. It'snot bad, just odd since the Rome wasn't designed with 1700s warfare in mind.

No idea about the rest, Chivalry probably isn't that bad.

I'm happy with Europa Barbarorum though.

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

Europa Barbarorum is the best mod I have found, you won't be able to play Rome: Total Realism as it requires something like version 1.2 for some stupid reason (so everyone with the gold version can't play it).

I have RTW Gold, and I can play Rome Total Realism. I also seem to remember reading somewhere that EB is for RTW only, not BI.

Though I think there is an effort to make an EB for BI. I know there's Invasio Barbarum for BI.

 

[LightSpectra]

I don't like most mods. The ugly models distract me from the game, usually.

 

[Dachs]

I have RTW Gold, and I can play Rome Total Realism. I also seem to remember reading somewhere that EB is for RTW only, not BI.

Though I think there is an effort to make an EB for BI. I know there's Invasio Barbarum for BI.

There is an EB for BI and an EB for Alex, and has been for some time.

 

[Maniacal]

I have RTW Gold, and I can play Rome Total Realism. I also seem to remember reading somewhere that EB is for RTW only, not BI.

Though I think there is an effort to make an EB for BI. I know there's Invasio Barbarum for BI.

Apparently there is some a RTR version for gol,d which i found out after I psoted that. EB does have fan versions for Bi and Alexander, and the main one you just install to the regular RTW folder. BI is mod-foldered

I don't like most mods. The ugly models distract me from the game, usually.

What crappy mods are you playing then? The ones I've played IMPROVED the graphics!

 

[LightSpectra]

What crappy mods are you playing then? The ones I've played IMPROVED the graphics!

Europa Barborum and the one about Persia look awful. Rome: Total Realism is nice, though.

 

[Maniacal]

Europa Barborum and the one about Persia look awful. Rome: Total Realism is nice, though.

Er, did you actually play EB? Not ever skin in it is perfect but for the most part they look as good or better than vanilla. The screenshots on the website aren't that great.

 

[LightSpectra]

Er, did you actually play EB? Not ever skin in it is perfect but for the most part they look as good or better than vanilla. The screenshots on the website aren't that great.

Yes, I tried it, but admittedly not for very long. The long load times were boring the hell out of me so I only got about five turns into it before I gave up.

But I'm not judging the gameplay, only the graphics.

 

[kibbles]

I've been browsing mods in twcenter.net, and am most interested in the ones whose whole setting is different. These looked interesting:
Rise of Persia
Chivalry Total War
Crusader: Total War
Rome Medieval
Battles of Asia
Napoleonic Total War 2
Three Kingdoms: Total War.

Have some of you tried some of them, and what did you think?

BTW,
Battles of Asia
Napoleonic Total War 2
Those 2 contain no campaign and are generally for multiplayer. Rome medieval is terrible and is way to buggy. Chivalry is ok, but I go to med 2 for my medieval needs. I haven't tried three kingdoms or crusader so i couldn't say. Rise of Persia (ROP) is a safe choice too.

Off topic: Rome total war has been running really slowly for me, especially on the campaign map, and I just upgraded (campaign map is fine in Medieval 2)! Is my disc perhaps starting to wear out? And if so is there an alternative to buying a new copy? I'd rather not lose another $20 for a game I already have.

 

[Atticus]

Thanks kibbles, you just saved me hours of downloading

Unfortunately Medieval II doesn't run on my pc too well, so I'll be glad to play a mod.

And I don't know if it helps on your problem, especially if you have it only on RTW campaign map, but check from task manager if there's some heavy programs running without visible window.