Just bought Empire Total War

[Spike88]

I'm kinda late to the party(considering Napoleon Total War was just released), but I just purchased Empire Total War, along with all the addons. I would of purchased it sooner, but when I had first got my laptop and tried the demo it caused my laptop to lock up and crash.


But after getting Crysis to work on High, much thanks to Feuer Frei! :up:. I decided to try it again. I re downloaded the demo and let the game set itself to Very High. Loaded up the one battle and started playing. At first I noticed it was a little sluggish moving the camera, but it worked itself out. The only other lag I experienced was once after an American unit had all fired there guns, I viewed it up close, and trying to rotate the camera was a bit sluggish. I'm currently downloading the main game now, and will soon be playing. :up:

To help pass the time and set the mood, I rented The Patriot and Master and Commander in Blu-ray.

Edit: Just realized I spelled Bought wrong in the title.

[Task Force]

yep empire is a good game... Lol, if you ever want that lag back get darthmod UC. lol

[Spike88]

I'd rather be lag free. :haha: Especially since the lag would make me manually turn the computer off by holding the power button.


I was actually being Indecisive between Empire and Napoleon, but decided I'd rather play through the American revolution first. So I'll get Napoleon later.

[Task Force]

lol, yea. Lag sucks, I remember when I use to have lag when I first go the game. Acouple of upgrades later it only lags when alot of units are in one small place...

[rsslcs]

If you need tech help/a multiplayer opponent then I'm on TWC (or here obviously lol) :) if you need me, same name over there too. :up:

[Spike88]

I'd love to play multiplayer, but I'd probably lose within 5 minutes. :haha:


I just played the Napoleon Total War Demo, and lost on easy. :har:

My connection is being a slow 181kbs today, so this download is going to take a while.

[rsslcs]

I can help a bit if you want :up: But I'm crap as well! :haha:

[Spike88]

My main problem is I'm too busying watching one group of units, and admiring the graphics and not realizing one of my flanks is being destroyed. :O:

Plus I suck with Cavalry.

Stupid connection is down to 135kbs instead of the normal 300-400kbs

[rsslcs]

well whenever you want a game/help with smth PM me! :salute:

[Spike88]

Will do. :salute:


My connection has lowered down to 130KB/s, I'm only at 14% :wah:

[rsslcs]

Gawd man, I bought NTW online and I waited 2 days to finish downloading. I just feel lucky to have bought ETW on DVD.

[Spike88]

It's down to 50KB/s it seems as time goes bye it gets worse. :haha: 17% done.

I think it's because the GF is downloading stuff, and so is her sister, or her sister's boyfriend.

[rsslcs]

I'll mail you my disks if you want! It'll install faster that way. :haha:

[Feuer Frei!]

But after getting Crysis to work on High, much thanks to Feuer Frei! :up:.
Thanks very much for the credit.
Kind of you to do that. :salute:

[Spike88]

Thanks very much for the credit.
Kind of you to do that. :salute:
No Problem.

I'll mail you my disks if you want! It'll install faster that way. :haha:

I think the snail mail would get the disk to me faster than the download. :rotfl2:

When I woke up at 5:30 this morning it was at 50%, so by the time I get home at 2ish, it should be done hopefully.

Know that my strategy in Total War games usually turns to just having more units than the other sides. Whenever I try to be strategic, my men will always end up screwing up(In Rome: Total War, and Medieval II)

[rsslcs]

yeah.. I did that too.. :damn: I'm still pleasantly surprised when I win a battle at a disadvantage.

[Spike88]

yeah.. I did that too.. :damn: I'm still pleasantly surprised when I win a battle at a disadvantage.
What time zone are you in? So we can set up a possible match today.
Also do you have the addons?


I know in Rome Total War from time to time I would win battles that I had a number disadvantage, but I usually was against the weakest units. :haha:

I hate using Calvary because it's a pain to make them run away form the enemy so they can charge again.

[rsslcs]

I am GMT. All addons purchased. :up:

[Spike88]

Okay, I'll most likely be available from 4-6 EST.

[rsslcs]

ok that's ideal. :)

[Spike88]

Just got home, going to play around with a couple quick battles and then I'll be ready.

[rsslcs]

what's your steamID so I can add you?

nvm I found you!

[Rilder]

Your complaining about dling empire? My computers max DL speed is 32kb/s... and thats when nothing else is using the net...

It took like two and a half weeks to get ETW downloaded.

Its worth it though, 130 hours and ETW is still entertaining.

Steam ID: Rilder

BTW, if you like Lets plays/ AAR's I did one for ETW on the Dwarf fortress forums! :DL (Doing this AAR, someone actually gave me all but two of the DLC, the guy ended up spending more on my copy of ETW then I did since I got it on sale!)

LP: Empire. Total. WARRRRR!!!! (http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=50685.0)

[Spike88]

I'm adding you Rilder. I do enjoy AAR's and was actually thinking of starting one for my campaign, whenever I start it. :haha:

Here's a rundown on the battles between rsslcs and I.

1st Battle on map Homestead, I was America and he was England.
I almost won when I broke his line, by flanking with linemen, but due to my poor use of Calvary I did not take the victory. Although it was a Heroic defeat due to my 4 units of 24lbers and my flanking capabilities. I wasn't expecting the melee ground units with shields to discrete my Calvary units. Although I do pride myself in having the fewest units set in and the highest number of enemy units killed.

2nd Battle, Some map in Mexico, I was Spain and he was France.
I had the higher advantage, but made the mistake of meeting him halfway. My cannons should of won me the battle but didn't, my main problem was the fact that I forgot about my Calvary until halfway into the game. Although I was able to use them to flank and take down his artillery. Was a close defeat

3rd Battle, Syberian Desert, I was Russia and he was Austria. Early on I sent some Dagoons to the very far left flank to flank his units, and I had also made my Rifleman build spikes. I had a standard 24lb cannon and 2 units of rockets. He realizes the the Dagoons are going in to flank and moves 4 units of Grenadiers to engage them. I make my dagoons dismount and send them to run at the enemies. They start firing at the enemies and I move the camera to focus on another part of the battle. When I look back all 3 units of dagoons are fleeing due to his grenades. They only lasted a minute. :o He gets 4-5 units of Howitzers up to my units and begins firing. It's not until half way through the battle do I realize I can charge the Howitzers with my Calvary through a hole in his defenses. I do and wipe most of them out but lose most of my Calvary. The battle lasted about an hour, despite him outnumbering me for most of the battle.Ended up with a close defeat.

[rsslcs]

Yeah Spike88 did well, jus a few oversights needed correcting. :up: (now Officially going to bed XD)

[Spike88]

So I decided to buy Napoleon Total War too. It's running at 350kb/s a second. Tobad it's 21gigs instead of the 15 that Empire Total War is.

[Task Force]

Yea, but Napeleon is a great game.:yep:

[Spike88]

Just woke up and NTW is finished. :yawn:

I want to start a campaign in NTW and ETW, to bad I have to go in work last minute. This is what sucks about being a supervisor/bookkeeper. But atleast
I make overtime. :up:

[Rilder]

Whatever you do just don't forget to rock to some Musket Guitar. :arrgh!:

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/3448/bitchenmuskatguitarmsic.png

[Task Force]

oah, and you might want to start looking into mods also, some of them really help, like the mass fire mod.(for NTW)

[Spike88]

Does the mass fire mod fix the fact that it seems half of your men don't seem to fire at certain times? Like when I was defending myself in the first Road to Independence mission. Only Three of my musketeers shot at the approaching Indians.

[Raptor1]

In ETW, if you don't have Fire by Rank researched, only your first rank will fire at the enemy if it has line of sight to it. Once you have Fire by Rank, it becomes much more of a massacre...

[mr chris]

Added you also Ridler. Hopefully on my return to England i will be able to enjoy ETW and NTW on-line.

[eddie]

Have been on the fence trying to decide which of the games to get, ETW or NTW. I would get NTW if they do anything like a mod of the American Civil War for it!

[Spike88]

Have been on the fence trying to decide which of the games to get, ETW or NTW. I would get NTW if they do anything like a mod of the American Civil War for it!
The one thing that I've noticed that is better about NTW, is the fact that when your Cannons fire, if you're watching them up close, the screen will shake. It also seems, although it might have been just my imagination, that after the battle progressed more and more, the map started to get foggier from the cannon and musket fire. There is also improvements the AI and such. Although the map in ETW is bigger I think.

An American Civil War mod or even an addon would be great.


If anyone wants to add me to steam my steamid is Spike88.

[Task Force]

Someone did a American civil war mod for ETW.

Oah, anouther thing about NTW I like is that the cannons can knock people down, not just kill them.

[mr chris]

Someone did a American civil war mod for ETW.

.

Is this the one you mean?

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=304229

Also can anyone recommend a major mod for NTW?
The are several out over at twcenter. But i wondered if anyone here had tried any out so far?
Was a little sad when i saw that Darth was not going to mod NTW.

[Task Force]

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=260572
no this one, I dont remember if this one has a campaign, one of the does tho.

for napoleon, I use this one.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=345863

[Raptor1]

Unfortunately total conversions, with proper campaigns and such, are impossible without CA's bloody mod tools for either game.

@Spike88 - Added you.

[mr chris]

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=260572
no this one, I dont remember if this one has a campaign, one of the does tho.

for napoleon, I use this one.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=345863

Thanks will give it ago.

[Spike88]

So I broke the ship Tutorial in NTW. I sank the first ship just fine, and ended up doing battle with the last ship right on the maps border. When I finally destroy his mast and go to board him, he's halfway out the map. I can't board him because he's outside the map, and I can't sink him because he's invincible.

[Spike88]

I don't see you're invitation Raptor. I sent one to Raptor 1 but I don't think its you. :haha: Unless you only play Counter Strike.

[Raptor1]

Added Spike88, as you said on your post, but that might not be the right because it says he hasn't been online for over a week.

Mine is Raptor1A, pretty simple.

[mr chris]

Same here Raptor i tried adding Spike88, But it comes up with a Dark Killer Spike.

[Rilder]

Maybe try going to his steam page? Dunno if you can add from a non-steam browser though...

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197960506784
(http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197960506784)
EDIT: Don't forget about the Subsim steam group!
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/subsim

[Raptor1]

Ah, of course, the username is not Spike88 but the nickname is...

[mr chris]

That worked:up:

[Spike88]

Yeah, Spike88 was already taken when I joined. We should get a 2v2 going someday.

[Spike88]

Anyone know how to view the Quotes in ETW?

[Raptor1]

Anyone know how to view the Quotes in ETW?

Should be in the localization files, grab the ETW pack editor and look around the files.

[Spike88]

:damn: Stupid Spain joined the American Revolution on the side of the English.

[Task Force]

They always do.

[Spike88]

They always do.

So they're supposed too? I don't remember that being in my history lessons.

[Spike88]

So I took a City by force, and put a hole through its wall during the processes. When I get control over the city I repair the only broken thing(which is the goveners hall).


About 6-7 turns later I have to defend said city from an enemy attack, only to realize the hole was still there. In the Campaign view it doesn't say anything is wrong with the city. Is this a glitch? :-?

[Arclight]

I think the ****y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urzOrmE44Qc) wall (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ki0ixbSfc) is on a separate tab, the last one with town selected iirc. Should show up as damaged if you put a hole in it. :hmmm:

[Spike88]

The only thing that showed up damaged was the Governor's House, the wall is apparently in perfect condition. I guess a hole in the wall is perfect condition. :hmmm:

[Spike88]

So I gave up on the Road To Independence until a later date and started an English campaign. Although I'm wondering if it was just a great idea to attack France in my very first turn. I guess it's a preemptive strike. I think I'm going to focus most of my forces on taking over India though.

[Task Force]

Hmm, your campaign, myself I would have waited a bit and sent a full stack (army) Spain will probably follow with france.

[Spike88]

Spain did follow with France, but United Provinces, the thirteen colonies and I think Austria joined on my side.

[Rilder]

I personally never attack on the first turn, None of the factions (In my eyes) can really support a war that early, armies are too small and not organized right and enough for my tastes, plus I'm usually to focused on infastructure improvements to fund to many new recruits. Though as England I did start a campaign against the pirates in the Caribbean pretty early.

[eddie]

Well, not sitting on the fence regarding ETW or NTW anymore, bought them both,lol I am interested in the ACW mod for ETW Task Force mentioned , and I found the campaign version!

When I was using RTW, there is a mod to throw in that gets rid of the flags above your units. Not the one each unti carries, but its that ugly one that floats above any unit, it starts bouncing when you select it,lol I forget the name of it, but was wondering if something like that was available for ETW and NTW?

I'd also like to get ride of the green markers below the feet of a unit when it is selected, but not sure if that is possible?

[Spike88]

I believe there is a graphic option to remove them in vanilla.

[Task Force]

Yes it is, I believe in the UI options in the setting menu.

[eddie]

Thanks for the help!:)

[Rilder]

Oh hey, make sure you check out Darth Mod, its an awesome mod for ETW that improves basically every single thing. :DL

[eddie]

I've read a bit about the Darth Mod, but haven't gotten to it yet. First I want to try The American Revolution Mod (TAR) then have a go with the DM.

[Rilder]

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=57966.0

Starting a ETW LP, READ IT, Or I will line up in an orderly fashion and shoot at you. :arrgh!:

[Ducimus]

Just got it a week ago, and it already has me by the balls!

The only thing i don't like about it this far, is stuff it doesn't have from rome total war.
- awesome music
- general speech's.

Other then that, it kicks ass.... mine specifically. Most engrossing game series ever.

[Takeda Shingen]

Just got it a week ago, and it already has me by the balls!

The only thing i don't like about it this far, is stuff it doesn't have from rome total war.
- awesome music
- general speech's.

Other then that, it kicks ass.... mine specifically. Most engrossing game series ever.

I miss that stuff too, but the battle music isn't bad at all. TW is one of the all time great game series. Can't wait for Shogun II.

[Ducimus]

I'm still working on the US campaign. I took all the regions listed in my goals, but i suspect the game won't end until i take 15 regions ore the time runs out.

The cherokee, i can see are going to be a big problem. Oh, and the Spanish was enlighting. Those bastards were "very friendly", and then... out of nowhere, they unload an entire army in conneticut, and declare war at the same time. Luckly, General washington and the main army wasn't more then 1 turn away, and I had a second, smaller army holding up the northern border.

I crushed those treacherous spainards, and forced them to the beach, where i attacked them again and slaughtered them to the last man. Later on, like 8 turns later they ask for peace, but make demands I share technology with them. HA! I gave them a counter offer which they declined. Once all the british are off the land, and the cherokee are dealt with, im going to turn the entire brunt of my effort on spain, and take the entire Spanish main! Lets see if their so pompus then!

[Ducimus]

Linking for future reference, in case i run into this problem:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=234925

[Ducimus]

You know what... this game HAD me by the balls. Now i find myself put off. The road to independence campaign. The tutorial is long and drawn out. With Chapter 3 being somewhat misleading into thinking your playing the full campaign. The completion requirements are too high for being a tutorial. (15 areas conquered, not 7 like the objectives would have you beleive) The real campaign for the US starts in chapter 4. Which means after spending all this time and effort into building your "empire", you have to start ALL over again. I spent 3 to 4 hours a day for the last 3 days doing chapter 3. BAH

So i get to chapter 4, start a new game, and immediately i'm set upon burnout. I hate starting over, and i hate doing things twice. (Screw you chapter 3!)

So here's my quick synopsis of Empire total war from the perspective of my last total war game being RomeTW:

My Likes:
- Improved control for maneuvering units on the battlefield. This is a biggy for me because i'm really nitpicky about formations.
- Technology tree.
- Streamlined access to important functions. Like Diplomacy. I REALLY like not having to recruit an emmissary and walk him across the damn map to give a simple proposal or demand.
- the musket volley's by ranks. That's freaking cool.
- Grape / canister shot, and mortors.
- being able to recruit more then one unit at the same time at the same location.
- Fortifications like the picket fences and berms the troops can use.
- No "senate missions" that i saw. (The thing i hated most about RomeTW, was those senate missions)

My dislikes:

- Starting with multiple regions, armys, and multiple things going on. I honestly like it better when i start with just one region, carefully build my state, so everything is micromanaged how * i* want them, and then start rolling over everything like Ghengis Fricken Khan. i don't starting with a ready made country with multiple states or regions, because....

- Politics and diplomacy in this game is overly complex when your patience has been tested already. (I'm looking at you chapter 3!) There are so many players in this game, with their fingers into everything. It's one big tangled web of allies and enemies. I can't sneeze without pissing somebody off and incurring a war before i'd like one. You can also chaulk this one up to having to start over, but its much better when you start small, so you can establish the diplomacy and not have it ready made. When you work it yourself from scratch, its much easier.

- Turns take forever. I like to global scope, but damn it takes forever for a turn to complete for the AI.

- All the units seem alike regardless of nation or faction. Skirmishers, line infantry, cannon, calvary. Thats pretty much all you seem to need. And while im on this subject, HOW IN THE HELL DID INDIANS GET CANNONS?! Indians shooting cannons in 1780 isn't in any history i'm aware of.

- Inablitly to set tax rates for individual provencies or states. Just one flat tax rate in empire TW.

- Game lacks character. Small things like No general speech's, no cinematic flair of the zoom in on the campaign map when a battle is about to start. There are some things from RomeTW that really need to exist here that gave the game character. Your generals in RomeTW were vital, and the game gave a sense of personality and attachment to them via that speech. Doesn't exist here. Empire total war, is a sterile and sanitized environment. It just doesn't feel like a TW game to me.


I'm sure i can go on, but i'm running short on time.

Currently D/L Medieval2 total war gold. I'll see how good that one is. From video clips on youtube, it looks like its based on the romeTW engine, so I guess ill see how that one is.

[Takeda Shingen]

Ducimus, start a full campaign as Prussia. You'll start with two territories and a relatively safe position to build your empire. I promise you that your view of the game will change for the better. The America campaign is wonky; don't judge the game by it.

[Ducimus]

Yeah I was looking at Prussia. I nixed the idea when i saw they only had one DLC unit, and the infantry selection small. I'll give it another go though.

Still though, ETW lacks flair. As silly as it is, I miss this stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5b4MxwRlcY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcLxq-6Ny4o

(Not to mention a decent soundtrack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQSh-uBCPoo&feature=related) that really puts you into the spirit of things (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YeulwYhQoU) )

[stabiz]

I think Napoleon is better then Empire, but they both are lacking compared to Medieval 2 and Rome.

[Ducimus]

Ok.... I just had something happen that may have put the nail in this games coffin for me.

As everyone who plays these series knows... they are not short game. Neither in the strategic map, or in battle.

So there's this one battle. First run through, i beat the pants off the attacking army handy. I occupied a hill, put my artillery on it, put some front lines at the bottom of the slopes, with reserves half way up. And my cavalry and a unit of more reserves to make up a rear vanguard in case those incoming renforements decide to attack from the rear. Which they do. Though for some odd reason during the battle, one of those units i could not target.

Now while i did beat them, my general and his entire body guard are mysteriously dead, and i placed them on the hill, behind the artillery. Ok fine, whatever. but we can't have that, so i replay the battle again from scratch.

So, second run through, i repeat my tactics, and again, i get this unit coming from the rear (in addition to the cavalry which i match with my own). Though this time its a line of infantry (where as last time it was a unit of cavalry i could not target). Ok, so i pull some reserves and send them out to meet this infantry. Fire at will is on, their in range, their in the map.. and NO FIRING. i then notice that my infantry is trying to fight them in melee, so i press the melee button, and hope for the best, because i cannot do anything else.

Again, i beat them handily, and the ENTIRE ARMY IS OFF THE FIELD, but the battle is not ending. I press fast forward on the time scale. Wait for 10 minutes and marvel at all the corpses laying around that were shot to hell from my infantry. Again Nothing. Stuck there, won't exit the battle. So having no way else to exit the battle, i quit the battle.

The results? The game shows i only killed 200 of his men, and 1000 survived, oh, and I was defeated! HE routed, most of his army is laying on the field, and yet, he magically only loses 200 and i'm defeated?

What a crock! This is not a cool bug. I was thinking that those forum in other forums like twcenter about ETW being buggy was just past ranting and fixed by now. But apparently not!

Did i mention I hate doing things twice? I gave it another go, but this is a deal breaker.

EDIT: I'm going to take a break from this game and try again later. Maybe find a mod that fixes bugs.