Armchair Dragoons Forums

Wargaming => Pre-Gunpowder => Topic started by: Martok on February 06, 2021, 10:34:38 PM

Title: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 06, 2021, 10:34:38 PM
(Continued from the Warhammer 3 thread, so as not to further derail it.) 




I remember I wanted to play as one of the Welsh and Scottish factions but both were rated 'Hard' or 'Very Hard' so it scared me away.

Hmm.  One of the things I've started to pick up on these last few years, is that the faction difficulty ratings aren't always reliable.  If nothing else, they should be taken with at least a few grains of salt. 

This has especially been the case with more recent TW games, since they typically receive numerous updates, all of which make significant changes.  CA never goes back to re-evaluate/redo the difficulty ratings from when a game was originally released, regardless of how much time has passed.  While I can certainly understand why this is the case (it's probably not a good use of their time & manpower), it does mean that a game's faction difficulty ratings tend to no longer accurately reflect the current state of the game anymore. 


Which isn't to necessarily say that the Welsh factions in ToB aren't difficult, of course.  Given my own experiences so far, I'd say that Gwined is indeed more of a challenge than Mide.  I don't think they're masochistically hard, however.  And for someone like you, Gus, who has a good amount of previous experience with Total War games, I suspect you'll find it to be a similar level of challenge. 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 06, 2021, 10:36:24 PM
As for myself, I may have to take a crack at Circenn now.  I'm curious to see what poor JD has been dealing with.  :) 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 07, 2021, 01:06:47 PM
Never realised that - they should make the faction difficulty ratings variable somehow. Makes sense now that you mention it.

All that said, I haven't won a TW game in years...I can't even remember my last win! The last time I got very close was in Fall of the Samurai probably 5 years ago where I weathered the Realm Divide, had one city left to take in northern Japan, and had my transport ships sunk. Nerd rage ensued.

Since then I have played but not won TW1 and TW2 campaigns, and have not yet fired up Thrones of Britannia or Three Kingdoms.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: judgedredd on February 07, 2021, 03:01:58 PM
As for myself, I may have to take a crack at Circenn now.  I'm curious to see what poor JD has been dealing with.  :)
I can't remember whether I messed with the settings...you can lower the difficulty
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 07, 2021, 09:04:50 PM
Never realised that - they should make the faction difficulty ratings variable somehow. Makes sense now that you mention it.

All that said, I haven't won a TW game in years...I can't even remember my last win! The last time I got very close was in Fall of the Samurai probably 5 years ago where I weathered the Realm Divide, had one city left to take in northern Japan, and had my transport ships sunk. Nerd rage ensued.

Since then I have played but not won TW1 and TW2 campaigns, and have not yet fired up Thrones of Britannia or Three Kingdoms.

Heh.  Well if it's any comfort, I'm generally not great with Total War games, either.  Warhammer II is especially brutal; I often struggle even on Easy difficulty. 


Still, I've found Thrones to be a bit more forgiving, for whatever that's worth.  That might be partially due to faction choice (as I mentioned previously), but I don't think it's any worse than, say, Rome II. 

It's also worth mentioning that I play ToB with a number of mods.  They generally mostly affect balance, pacing, flow, etc. than actually making the game harder or easier per se, but it's very possible they do end up affecting the difficulty in ways I'm not aware of. 




As for myself, I may have to take a crack at Circenn now.  I'm curious to see what poor JD has been dealing with.  :)
I can't remember whether I messed with the settings...you can lower the difficulty

Appreciate the heads-up!  Right now, I'm thinking I'll try out a campaign on plain old Normal difficulty for starters, and see how it goes from there.  If I'm getting my arse handed to me, then I'll see about turning things down a notch.  :P 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 08, 2021, 10:21:15 AM
What mods do you like for ToB? Right now I have just vanilla installed.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 08, 2021, 12:35:10 PM
For mods that directly impact gameplay, these are the ones I most recommend: 

1.) ToB Enhanced Campaign (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1963443214)
2.) ToB Enhanced Battles (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1952932541)
3.) Extra Skill Points (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1498039871)
4.) Global Weapons and Armor Upgrade (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1392469563)

While it doesn't affect gameplay per se, it's also worth checking out the Better Camera Mod (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1381306193), as it allows you to zoom both closer in and further out during battles. 



Should you also be interested in mods that enhance the game's atmosphere and/or immersion levels: 

1.) Immersive Shields and Armies (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1499836218)
2.) Shields Down While Marching (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1381213309)
3.) Variation Pack Reborn (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1497771666)



Enjoy!! 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 08, 2021, 02:13:27 PM
Thanks man! Should I not bother with vanilla and just mod up?
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 08, 2021, 02:52:19 PM
You're welcome, Gus!  Glad I can help. 


As much as I really wants to say you should play around with vanilla first, honesty compels me to tell you, yeah, go ahead and mod up.  The first two mods (Enhanced Campaign and Enhanced Battles) alone make the game a better experience, both in terms of balance and flow/pacing. 

(As an example, the EC mod allows you to start researching technology right away, rather than needing to first jump through various hoops to unlock access to specific techs.  It's maybe not quite as realistic, but it's a *lot* less frustrating.) 




Before I forget, there's one other mod you might be interested in (depending on how your experience with the game goes):  Minor Town Garrisons (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1375556898&searchtext=minor+settlement+garrison).  You can probably guess what it does.  ;) 

I admittedly have mixed feelings about the mod myself (I had it installed at one point, but later removed it), but a lot of Thrones players love it.  Much depends on how quick or slow you feel the game's pace is.  Either way, it's good to have options, and this is one I figured you'd appreciate.  :) 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 08, 2021, 03:39:48 PM
Thanks again! Will mod up later. Hoping to finally play my first campaign in a few weeks after I get my traditional winter eastern front fix (WWI and II) out of my system. Going to pair it up with an AssCreed Valhalla playthrough, also my first.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 08, 2021, 08:43:45 PM
Just modded up and wouldn't you know it at some point in the dim past (last three months) I had subscribed to about half of the mods you listed above, Martok. Thanks for suggesting the other half...I've subscribed to all of them.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 09, 2021, 03:26:37 AM
Ha, most excellent!  And you're very welcome, my dude.  :peace: 

 
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on February 09, 2021, 06:23:00 AM
Would you class this as being one of the better additions?
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 09, 2021, 10:52:35 AM
Honestly, yes, I would.  Of all the modern Total War games, Thrones is my 2nd-favorite (after Rome II). 



Although I will say that with ToB in particular, how likely you are to enjoy the game probably depends more than usual on what you like about the TW series (especially the historical titles), and which aspects are important to you. 

As a prime example, Thrones is often criticized for not having a great deal of variety between the various factions' army rosters.  However, anyone with at least a cursory knowledge of the time period knows how warfare was generally dominated by the shield-wall.  Therefore, most factions' army rosters are going to consist of mostly infantry -- a fact that I appreciate and enjoy. 

Likewise, Thrones sometimes gets criticized for having "boring" battles.  Again, however, when you have opposing shield-walls grinding against and hacking at each other, it's not exactly as if there's always a lot of finesse to it. :P  Which doesn't mean that other unit types and good tactics (holding the high ground, flanking the enemy, etc.) don't still matter, obviously, but they aren't quite as crucial compared to most of the other series' entries. 


I guess what it boils down to is that one of Thrones' main critiques is that the game is *too* historically accurate, not that anyone ever actually phrases it that way.  And in reality it definitely isn't "overly" accurate -- there's plenty of realism that was left on the cutting room floor, so to speak -- but it's funny to think about it in those terms.  ;D 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on February 09, 2021, 11:21:34 PM
STOP making me want this game.  :nope:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 10, 2021, 07:53:19 AM
Um, no?  >:D 

Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on February 10, 2021, 07:55:47 AM
Patience, Sir Slash, there's always a Steam sale around the corner.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 10, 2021, 10:04:23 AM
You don't have it??
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on February 10, 2021, 11:18:11 AM
Do not have it. The reviews were very negative. I didn't consider mods making it a winner though.  :dunno:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 10, 2021, 01:29:43 PM
Thrones  was already a decent game.  Mods just made it better.  ;) 


In fairness, I will say that (like Rome II) ToB was not in the greatest shape at release; a lot of the negative reviews it received at the time were well-deserved.  It wasn't until the final patch (the Steel & Statecraft update) that the game finally came into its own, but by that point, it pretty much was stuck with a mixed reputation. 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 10, 2021, 10:12:59 PM
^I think that was the 17th patch, IIRC. Still...I enjoy R2TW now.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 11, 2021, 05:09:18 AM
I was actually still referring to ToB in my previous post.  I only used Rome II as a comparison. 

Although the fact that, like myself, you also enjoy Rome II (at least after the patches) was one of the reasons I used that game as an example.  8) 




Incidentally, I did play a little ways into a Circenn campaign yesterday.  While I've not run into any problems yet (it's still too early), I can already see (or at least guess) a couple reasons why they might be more difficult, and hence why judgedredd was having a hard time with them.  If nothing else, it appears to me as if Circenn's position and geography could be rather...challenging. 

It's yet further evidence -- not that any is needed, as far as I'm concerned -- that faction difficulty ratings in Total War games are pretty meaningless.  ::) 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 17, 2021, 02:59:59 PM
^Interesting. I really want to play as one of the Welsh factions. I think the best thing to do is to dial the difficulty down to Easy or Normal, ignore the games own difficulty ranking, and go to town. Going to start in the next day or two.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 18, 2021, 04:21:54 AM
Yeah, that's pretty much what I've started doing as well -- and in all my Total War games, not just Thrones.  Choose a gentler difficulty level, and then just dive on in. 

Good luck to you, sir, and have fun! 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2021, 09:20:35 AM
Diolch!
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: tuna on February 18, 2021, 09:49:36 PM
I had to tone down warmhammer2.. you play at the level, that the game is 'fun' for you!
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 22, 2021, 09:15:38 AM
Just started my campaign yesterday as Mide (sp?) and I have to say the campaign really started to suck me in. The art style is not for everyone and I can see players not liking it, but I don't mind it and after an hour got used to it. The campaign is really immersive and gave me that just one more turn feeling. The number of factions is shockingly high but after about 2 hours a dozen factions got killed off anyway. I have everything set to 'normal' difficulty. The campaign map and the tactical battles look beautiful too. I also like the streamlined family and political dynamics, but I do miss the agents. Other than the art style, the only reason I can see ToB getting the crap reviews it gets is for the obscure setting and factions...it's just not for everyone. But I dig it so far.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 22, 2021, 06:23:34 PM
Just started my campaign yesterday as Mide (sp?) and I have to say the campaign really started to suck me in. The art style is not for everyone and I can see players not liking it, but I don't mind it and after an hour got used to it. The campaign is really immersive and gave me that just one more turn feeling. The number of factions is shockingly high but after about 2 hours a dozen factions got killed off anyway. I have everything set to 'normal' difficulty. The campaign map and the tactical battles look beautiful too. I also like the streamlined family and political dynamics, but I do miss the agents. Other than the art style, the only reason I can see ToB getting the crap reviews it gets is for the obscure setting and factions...it's just not for everyone. But I dig it so far.

Glad you're enjoying it!  Mide was my first faction as well, and (thus far) remains my favorite.  :bigthumb: 

I knew from our prior conversations that agents would be the one thing you'd likely miss (I still don't :P ), but I suspected you'd still enjoy it despite that.  Otherwise, I like Thrones for all the other reasons you mentioned as well.   




I had to tone down warmhammer2.. you play at the level, that the game is 'fun' for you!

Agreed! 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 22, 2021, 07:40:46 PM
Agents being absent seems like a missed opportunity for druids, witches, etc. Oh well.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on February 22, 2021, 10:56:07 PM
How're the battles?
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: judgedredd on February 23, 2021, 01:51:35 AM
I loved the change in art and presentation.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2021, 11:54:34 AM
I also mis-typed, I am playing as Gwined, not Mide. My bad.

Battles so far for me...I have fought 5-6...are awesome. And the history is presented sort of like myth, with an Elder Scrolls kind of vibe. I love it.

So...ToB is underrated and horribly maligned!!
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 23, 2021, 06:03:37 PM
So...ToB is underrated and horribly maligned!!

QFT!! 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2021, 08:03:44 PM
 8)
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on February 23, 2021, 08:20:22 PM
So...ToB is underrated and horribly maligned!!

QFT!!

I'm not listening, I'm not listening...
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2021, 10:45:41 PM
Listen to me now and hear me later...I sat down @ 9pm tonight and after five minutes with ToB it was 11pm.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 23, 2021, 11:47:05 PM
^  I laughed, and then applauded at this statement.  :D 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 24, 2021, 09:30:17 AM
I am ashamed that the negative reviews kept me away from ToB for so long :/
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on February 24, 2021, 10:47:02 AM
For me, it's price. But that will drop soon.  :peace:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 24, 2021, 12:32:59 PM
^I've seen it on sale for as low as a dollar.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on February 24, 2021, 01:01:45 PM
Well, since you teed it up:

(https://media.giphy.com/media/NmiVAPnPAHbonwjzpV/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 24, 2021, 06:35:26 PM
Dang.  I've never seen it *that* low, but I know Thrones tends to go on sale for something like $13.66 fairly regularly, 




I am ashamed that the negative reviews kept me away from ToB for so long :/

No need for shame, Gus.  There's nothing wrong with maintaining a healthy dose of skepticism.  And with all the things that Thrones does differently (at least compared to previous TW titles), there was certainly cause for it. 


I've said it before (both here and elsewhere) -- as have you now -- but the simple fact is, this game is not going to be for everyone.  It's well-crafted, atmospheric & immersive, and overall is one of the more historically "authentic" Total War titles CA has made.  But the various changes to features & mechanics, combined with the lesser-known time period (as you pointed out), means that ToB was probably always going to have a harder time finding its audience, so to speak.  :) 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 24, 2021, 10:37:12 PM
^Reading your post and thinking about it for a bit, it is a miracle the game was made in the first place.

I personally haven't seen it on sale for 1.00, BTW, but IsThereAnyDeal.com claims that some out-of-left-field site had it on sale at one point for that low.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 25, 2021, 12:52:24 AM
^Reading your post and thinking about it for a bit, it is a miracle the game was made in the first place.

I both agree and disagree.  I agree, in that in an absolute sense, it would have seemed unlikely that a TW game covering that time period would ever be made. 



On the other hand...  Once CA determined they were going to make a "Saga" title (their first) -- and one in which they were planning to experiment with different gameplay features, mechanics, and/or concepts -- then the British Isles during the time of Alfred the Great was probably a better choice than most. 

The time period enjoyed a certain level of recognition (thanks at least in part to Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Tales novels & TV series), so it's not as if the choice was completely out of left field.  At the same time, however, it was still obscure enough that should the game turn out to be a failure, it was likely that that the fanbase wouldn't be as disappointed or upset -- or at least, that a smaller percentage of the fanbase would feel less put out by an underwhelming Total War title.  (Contrast Troy and the Trojan War, which is far better known.) 

And in the meantime, CA gets to find out which changes worked, which ones didn't, and which changes *could* work, but need to be tweaked/adjusted before being added to future games.  If ToB turns out to be a big hit as well, so much the better; but I honestly doubt they were ever expecting that. 


Ultimately, I suspect Thrones of Britannia was the result of a bit of serendipity:  CA wanted to test some new concepts & mechanics, and recognized that they realistically couldn't do so without actually putting out a new game.  That being the case, why not indulge their inner history nerds (and possibly a bit of national pride) by making a "smaller" (relatively speaking) TW game centered around a lesser-known period, yet still familiar to (and popular with) a certain percentage of their fanbase? 

I'm sure I've got a lot (and maybe even most) of the details wrong in my speculation here, but I'm willing to bet I'm at least in the ballpark. 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2021, 10:47:59 AM
ToB sold a lot more copies than I thought it did...225,000, as of 2018 (dated now I know). It is still at the bottom of the list as far as sales for TW games, though. As of 2018 the best selling TW game was Empire with almost 3.5 million copies sold, amazingly beating out the first Warhammer title @ 2 million and Warhammer II @ roughly 950,000.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: judgedredd on February 25, 2021, 03:16:03 PM
The difficulty bit me in the arse. That's why I stopped playing it. I liked the interface and the era...but getting screwed left, right and centre just made me move on.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 25, 2021, 03:44:41 PM
^  Totally understandable, JD.  It's hard to stick with a game if you just keep getting smacked around. 




ToB sold a lot more copies than I thought it did...225,000, as of 2018 (dated now I know). It is still at the bottom of the list as far as sales for TW games, though. As of 2018 the best selling TW game was Empire with almost 3.5 million copies sold, amazingly beating out the first Warhammer title @ 2 million and Warhammer II @ roughly 950,000.

That surprises me as well, especially the Empire numbers.  Given that it's generally regarded as the worst game in the series, I never imagined it sold even 1 million copies, let alone 3-4.  :o 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2021, 05:03:03 PM
A lot of people must have been sucked in to the E:TW modding rabbit hole.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on February 25, 2021, 05:36:39 PM
I think I might actually own that one.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 26, 2021, 03:07:58 AM
A lot of people must have been sucked in to the E:TW modding rabbit hole.

I sure hope that's the reason.  The alternative -- that people might actually enjoy the vanilla game -- hardly bears thinking about.  [shudder] 




I think I might actually own that one.

Then you have my deepest condolences.  (Note:  I own it as well, unfortunately.) 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2021, 09:32:58 AM
I have always hated Empire TW too, and it sucks because I love the era it is set in. I even tried modding it just yesterday for this:

https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?796057-Download-Link-Features-amp-Credits

...and I still couldn't get it to work properly.

:/
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on February 26, 2021, 11:52:10 AM
You guys are wrong about ETW. The Darth Mod and, my favorite, The American Revolution Mod made it a great little game. The AI was still pretty-much pooh but it did get better and the Economy in the game was spot-on.  :bigthumb:  Certainly not Shogun 2 worthy, but not the complete Pooch-Screw it's been made-out to be.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2021, 12:22:09 PM
There's an intangible 'thing' or set of 'things' that just hit me wrong with Empire.

ToB is better. Fight me.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 26, 2021, 12:43:37 PM
I have always hated Empire TW too, and it sucks because I love the era it is set in. I even tried modding it just yesterday for this:

https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?796057-Download-Link-Features-amp-Credits

...and I still couldn't get it to work properly.

:/

I'm fascinated by the Ages of Sail and Imperialism, and was really looking forward to a TW game that did a good job covering that/those era(s).  I'm still waiting for it.  :/ 

I've come to realize that I want an Empire 2 almost as much as I want Medieval 3.  Given that both games appear to be the community's top two wishes for the next major historical title, I wonder if the former isn't already in the works.  (Since if CA *is* planning to make both games, I'm guessing they'd do E2 before M3.)  Fingers crossed! 




You guys are wrong about ETW. The Darth Mod and, my favorite, The American Revolution Mod made it a great little game. The AI was still pretty-much pooh but it did get better and the Economy in the game was spot-on.  :bigthumb:  Certainly not Shogun 2 worthy, but not the complete Pooch-Screw it's been made-out to be.

Problem is, the crap-tastic AI (on both the strategic *and* tactical levels) was probably the single biggest reason why I can't stand Empire (although it was by no means my only complaint).  It was so damned dumb, it completely ruined my sense of immersion.  (I had a similar problem with Rome 1.)  And wishing no disrespect to the man, I've never been a fan of the Darthmods. 




There's an intangible 'thing' or set of 'things' that just hit me wrong with Empire.

ToB is better. Fight me.

I endorse this statement in its entirety.  :bigthumb: 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2021, 01:31:10 PM
I have nothing to back this up other than a gut feeling but I think the next historical TW title will be Medieval 3. The Empire and Napoleon games that include gunpowder weapons just never coalesced well, and if they stick to cold steel, it would be much better for them. Unless they have some kind of rework of gunpowder up their sleeves.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: tuna on February 26, 2021, 02:00:42 PM
I think ToB is my favorite non Warhammer TW.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2021, 02:13:48 PM
^Wow, that is bold. You're gonna have to fight Slash.

My favorite TW of all time is Fall of the Samurai.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on February 26, 2021, 02:19:51 PM
 :bigthumb: Mine too.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2021, 03:36:39 PM
^Bawb, always a man of wealth and taste.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on February 26, 2021, 03:52:15 PM
I would be a lot happier if the wealth part were true :-)
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: mcguire on February 26, 2021, 04:25:28 PM
I would be a lot happier if the wealth part were true :-)

I dunno, what do you taste like?  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on February 26, 2021, 05:09:55 PM
Chicken?
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2021, 06:56:16 PM
Probably a little tough by now 😎
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on February 26, 2021, 11:55:27 PM
I loved FotS too as well as Shogun 2. The franchise hit it's peak with those games. And Bob could only taste like Bully Beef.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 27, 2021, 01:18:19 AM
Well this thread certainly took an odd turn.  ???  Jeez, I can't step away for even a moment... 




I think ToB is my favorite non Warhammer TW.

I would have to say Rome II remains my favorite of the "modern" Total War titles (largely due to my continuing strong fascination with the time period), with Thrones being a damn close second.  It's such a well-crafted game overall, and captures the feel of the time period so well, that I find it impossible not to like it. 




I loved FotS too as well as Shogun 2. The franchise hit it's peak with those games.

Have you checked out Three Kingdoms, Sir Slash?  I don't know that it would supplant your assessment of Shogun 2/FOTS as the series' peak, but at the very least, I suspect you might enjoy it. 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on February 27, 2021, 01:19:13 PM
I have checked-out Three Kingdoms and it looks scrumptious. After wanting a TW set in China since forever I feel ashamed I can't bring myself to pick it up after a lot of negative reviews. Still on my list when a good sale comes along. Have you tried it Martok? Or anybody else here?  :waiting:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 27, 2021, 02:05:27 PM
The only reason I haven't played Three Kingdoms yet is I don't have any companion reading to go along with it. And I'm a little intimidated.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 27, 2021, 06:12:26 PM
I have checked-out Three Kingdoms and it looks scrumptious. After wanting a TW set in China since forever I feel ashamed I can't bring myself to pick it up after a lot of negative reviews. Still on my list when a good sale comes along. Have you tried it Martok? Or anybody else here?  :waiting:

I don't know what negative reviews you've seen (although obviously every game is going to have some), but TW3K has generally scored very well.  I know the DLC's are a little more hit-and-miss, but the main game itself has received a high degree of praise. 


I have played 3K a bit, yes, albeit not much, partially because it doesn't run the best on my potato of a computer.  (Looking forward to upgrading later this year!)  The fact that it runs as well as it does, however, is a testament to CA's optimization efforts; it almost runs better than Warhammer 2, though admittedly this is not an immense achievement.  ::) 

My "TL;DR" impression of the game so far is favorable:  It looks good, sounds good, the variety of factions/lords makes for a high degree of replayability, battles are solid (note: I've only played the "Records"/historical mode, so I can't comment on duels), and at least in the early game, the AI is not only competent, but it "feels" like another player in the world (just like yourself).  It all combines together to contribute an excellent sense of immersion & atmosphere, one that's at least the equal of what is found Shogun 2 and Rome II. 





The only reason I haven't played Three Kingdoms yet is I don't have any companion reading to go along with it. And I'm a little intimidated.

I can't really help you with the former, I'm afraid.  My interest in Chinese ancient/medieval history was primarily sparked by reading Sun Tzu's The Art of War, which ironically was written centuries before the Three Kingdoms period. 


As for the latter, I certainly sympathize.  TW3K admittedly can feel a bit overwhelming at times. 

Whenever you do get around to playing it, one thing I would recommend is picking a southern faction for your first game or two, as it's generally a bit less...intense.  In contrast, I (not knowing better at the time) played as Kong Rong my first few attempts.  I only later discovered on Reddit that it's typically advised for new players to start in the south, as northern China in TW3K is -- and I quote -- "an absolute thunderdome".  ;D 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 27, 2021, 07:00:23 PM
Ha thanks Martok. How do you translate 'thunderdome' into Chinese?
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 27, 2021, 11:07:04 PM
I imagine whatever they call it, the term probably translates back into English something like, "round angry sky with yelling clouds". 

Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on February 28, 2021, 06:06:03 AM
^ROFL - Nice translation, Martok  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on February 28, 2021, 11:21:49 AM
I would buy Total War: Absolute Thunderdome right now.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on February 28, 2021, 04:56:54 PM
^ROFL - Nice translation, Martok  :bigthumb:

Thank you, thank you!  [bows]




I would buy Total War: Absolute Thunderdome right now.

Go play as Kong Rong or Cao Cao.  It's pretty much the same thing!  :D 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on March 01, 2021, 10:09:08 AM
This thread has got me more interested in Three Kingdoms, of all things. Thrones of Britannia has started to get real and my Gwined is now at war with like 10 different factions, including Mide and Circenn. We are still allied with the Anglo Saxons. We've also invaded the west coast of Ireland. FIGHT ME ALL OF BRITANNIA!!
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on March 01, 2021, 01:30:08 PM
Ha, fantastic.  :bigthumb: 

Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on March 08, 2021, 10:17:13 PM
Well, after about 35 hours my Gwined campaign came crashing down all around me and I was wiped off the face of the game world. I was doing well for about 2/3 of the campaign and got very close to my kingdom victory objectives, but I did not play aggressively enough and in the end Welsh rebels, Irish armies, my own royal family and Anglo-Saxon nobles all dined on my Cornwall dragon's corpse.

Both Welsh campaigns are rated as 'hard' and I believe it now, along with JD's claims above that the game can get frenetic towards the end, with the whole map jumping down your throat. All that said...ToB is by far NOT one of the worst Total War games...far from it. I will play again, maybe an Irish or Anglo-Saxon faction. Something not as difficult.

Bastards.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on March 08, 2021, 10:43:11 PM
Too bad Gus. I can't believe they weren't thrilled at the prospect of your Enlightened Rule.  :o  Maybe it's time to go all, 'Cromwell' on their asses.  :hehe:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on March 08, 2021, 11:55:34 PM
Well, after about 35 hours my Gwined campaign came crashing down all around me and I was wiped off the face of the game world. I was doing well for about 2/3 of the campaign and got very close to my kingdom victory objectives, but I did not play aggressively enough and in the end Welsh rebels, Irish armies, my own royal family and Anglo-Saxon nobles all dined on my Cornwall dragon's corpse.

Both Welsh campaigns are rated as 'hard' and I believe it now, along with JD's claims above that the game can get frenetic towards the end, with the whole map jumping down your throat. All that said...ToB is by far NOT one of the worst Total War games...far from it. I will play again, maybe an Irish or Anglo-Saxon faction. Something not as difficult.

Bastards.

Ha, glad you've been enjoying it, Gus.  I had a feeling you would, but it's still nice to see.  :)  Hopefully next time things go more your way! 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on March 09, 2021, 10:16:43 AM
Has anyone won a campaign of ToB?
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on March 09, 2021, 10:01:26 PM
I admit that I have not (yet), although apparently there are plenty of people that have.  I wouldn't mind meeting one of these mythical creatures.  :D 

Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on March 09, 2021, 10:15:29 PM
Me too.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on March 09, 2021, 11:19:48 PM
Sounds like the game has won a few campaigns. That count?  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on March 10, 2021, 12:17:05 AM
"In Thrones of Britannia, Britannia always wins." 

Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on March 10, 2021, 10:07:44 AM
'Britannia will learn you, son. And you won't soon forget it.'
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on March 10, 2021, 12:47:23 PM
This is surprising to me. They seem like such nice people unless you catch them at a Soccer Match.   :hehe:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on March 10, 2021, 01:28:09 PM
I'm not now, or ever have been, is any shape or form, or by any stretch of the imagination, a soccer fan.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on March 10, 2021, 01:28:36 PM
Smart man.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on March 10, 2021, 03:34:08 PM
I always thought the name was wrong. Instead of, 'Soccer', it should've been, 'Sock-Him'.  :go-on:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: tuna on March 18, 2021, 06:32:10 AM
Has anyone won a campaign of ToB?

I've won a couple times, I think Endlish tribes, Lpst bad a couple times too.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on March 18, 2021, 10:45:24 AM
I went from hero to zero very very quickly. I was so close I thought I was a few turns away from winning a couple of times.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on March 18, 2021, 10:55:53 AM
Same.  I thought I was big enough to start dominating then the entire island attacked me and smacked me down.  I haven't played it that much though.  Every time I watch Last Kingdom, I fire it up again.  Then the Olde Englishe place names confuse and frighten me and my enthusiasm diminishes.  I need a Dark Ages English-to-idiot version of the map.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on March 18, 2021, 01:51:25 PM
There is a mod for ToB on the 1066 Norman Invasion available @ the Steam Workshop which I have downloaded and installed, but have not fired up yet. I'm curious to see if it alleviates the late game gangbang issue.

The place names for my Welsh faction started making my brain hurt after a while too.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: BanzaiCat on March 18, 2021, 01:54:38 PM
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on March 18, 2021, 02:58:28 PM
Bwahaha it's just that easy!
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on May 13, 2021, 05:40:57 PM
Thrones of Britannia is currently 66% off on Steam.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on May 13, 2021, 05:59:25 PM


Been there. Its in Anglesey. The name plate is bigger than the village  ;D
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on May 13, 2021, 06:02:03 PM
There is no way that place was named by a sober person.  :P
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on May 13, 2021, 06:08:58 PM
Apparently, it means;

“Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio of the red cave”
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on May 13, 2021, 06:22:08 PM
I bet that whirlpool leads to another dimension.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on May 13, 2021, 07:50:38 PM
Thrones of Britannia is currently 66% off on Steam.

You shouldn't so nonchalantly leave that kind of information just lying around this place ....
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 13, 2021, 08:47:00 PM
Thrones of Britannia is currently 66% off on Steam.

You shouldn't so nonchalantly leave that kind of information just lying around this place ....

I just read my email notification for several TW games I do not own...yet...being on sale. I think I can be strong enough to not buy any more...than one...maybe two.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on May 13, 2021, 11:04:48 PM
Thrones of Britannia? Is that a game about Public Toilets in England?  :hug:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on May 14, 2021, 03:34:30 AM
Apparently, it means;

“Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio of the red cave”

Yep, sounds about right.  ;D 




I bet that whirlpool leads to another dimension.

We could always ask Vance.  (Hey, maybe I could get back to my own reality then!) 




Thrones of Britannia is currently 66% off on Steam.

You shouldn't so nonchalantly leave that kind of information just lying around this place ....

I just read my email notification for several TW games I do not own...yet...being on sale. I think I can be strong enough to not buy any more...than one...maybe two.

For me, it's far, far too late.  I clicked on the link to the sale (https://store.steampowered.com/sale/totalwarhistoricsale) (because I'm a masochist like that), and pretty much every game and DLC I'd likely be interested in already shows up as being in my library.  :-[  :P 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on May 14, 2021, 08:58:40 AM
Me too. I'm not proud.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on May 14, 2021, 11:07:38 PM
"Somehow" Thrones of Brittannia just started downloading on my pc?  :whistle:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on May 14, 2021, 11:18:09 PM
Spontaneous Down-Loadage?   :o
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on May 15, 2021, 04:42:14 AM
"Somehow" Thrones of Brittannia just started downloading on my pc?  :whistle:



(https://i.imgur.com/KlVRQGG.png?1)


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: besilarius on May 15, 2021, 08:09:01 AM
Perhaps Merlin got free of the tree.
Nimue needed some new, empty space to stash him.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on May 15, 2021, 08:12:18 AM
And somehow it was added to my library yesterday.  :D
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on May 15, 2021, 11:48:10 AM
And somehow it was added to my library yesterday.  :D

Apparently our Steam accounts both got hacked?  ::)
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on May 15, 2021, 01:26:25 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on May 15, 2021, 01:37:11 PM
And somehow it was added to my library yesterday.  :D

Oh dear, what a shame. You'll just have to make the best of it now.  ::)
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on May 15, 2021, 03:11:40 PM
Once you find out the source of the hack, you may want to check out the 1066 mod...
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on May 15, 2021, 03:22:01 PM
 :2funny:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on May 15, 2021, 05:43:53 PM
And somehow it was added to my library yesterday.  :D

 :bigthumb:




Once you find out the source of the hack, you may want to check out the 1066 mod...

I confess I still haven't done so myself yet, even though I have it installed.  :doh: 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on May 15, 2021, 06:20:09 PM
I have it installed but haven't played it yet.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on May 15, 2021, 06:48:13 PM
That's the case with 99.9% of my games.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on May 15, 2021, 08:39:38 PM
Once you find out the source of the hack, you may want to check out the 1066 mod...

Any other mods you would recommend?
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on May 15, 2021, 11:03:55 PM
I'm gonna be lazy, and just quote myself from a few months back...  8) 



For mods that directly impact gameplay, these are the ones I most recommend: 

1.) ToB Enhanced Campaign (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1963443214)
2.) ToB Enhanced Battles (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1952932541)
3.) Extra Skill Points (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1498039871)
4.) Global Weapons and Armor Upgrade (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1392469563)

While it doesn't affect gameplay per se, it's also worth checking out the Better Camera Mod (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1381306193), as it allows you to zoom both closer in and further out during battles. 



Should you also be interested in mods that enhance the game's atmosphere and/or immersion levels: 

1.) Immersive Shields and Armies (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1499836218)
2.) Shields Down While Marching (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1381213309)
3.) Variation Pack Reborn (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1497771666)



Enjoy!!



Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 16, 2021, 11:29:28 AM
I have a few hours left to deliberate whether I pick up Thrones of Britannia or a couple of the culture packs to fill out the rosters for RTW2 and Shogun 2. I am trying to be responsible with my return to PC gaming and only picking up content or games I actually want to spend time playing.

Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on May 16, 2021, 01:34:08 PM
Martok supplied me with most of the mods I used in my last play through of ToB and they were all good. I 1066 mod myself.

ToB is unfairly maligned, I enjoyed it. That said...Shogun 2 trumps it for sheer fun, for me anyway.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on May 16, 2021, 01:38:06 PM
 :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on May 16, 2021, 01:50:02 PM
I'm gonna be lazy, and just quote myself from a few months back...  8) 



For mods that directly impact gameplay, these are the ones I most recommend: 

1.) ToB Enhanced Campaign (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1963443214)
2.) ToB Enhanced Battles (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1952932541)
3.) Extra Skill Points (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1498039871)
4.) Global Weapons and Armor Upgrade (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1392469563)

While it doesn't affect gameplay per se, it's also worth checking out the Better Camera Mod (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1381306193), as it allows you to zoom both closer in and further out during battles. 



Should you also be interested in mods that enhance the game's atmosphere and/or immersion levels: 

1.) Immersive Shields and Armies (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1499836218)
2.) Shields Down While Marching (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1381213309)
3.) Variation Pack Reborn (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1497771666)



Enjoy!!

Thanks!
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 16, 2021, 05:31:08 PM
Martok supplied me with most of the mods I used in my last play through of ToB and they were all good. I 1066 mod myself.

ToB is unfairly maligned, I enjoyed it. That said...Shogun 2 trumps it for sheer fun, for me anyway.

The biggest draw for to ToB over Three Kingdoms is really familiarity and preference for the time period and factions. Vikings, Bretons, Gaelic, Scots in a post-Roman empire and pre-middle ages setting is pretty cool. I also have watched some videos and it hits the sweet spot for units between RTW2 and TWM2. But...the RTW2 Spartan expansion is really cool sounding too. Ok. I really want Troy to be released on Steam and then for them to develop an  early bronze age game. Egypt, Samaria, Hittites, early Greek states...I'd love to see a chariot charge. 
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on May 16, 2021, 05:42:47 PM
I have a few hours left to deliberate whether I pick up Thrones of Britannia or a couple of the culture packs to fill out the rosters for RTW2 and Shogun 2. I am trying to be responsible with my return to PC gaming and only picking up content or games I actually want to spend time playing.

I'm afraid I can't be of much help there.  Sure, it would be easy to recommend picking up Thrones; however, I'm also a big fan of Rome II, and Shogun 2 remains the benchmark for the series (at least for its modern historical games, although Three Kingdoms is probably very close behind).  You can't raelly go wrong here, regardless of what you end up purchasing. 




Thanks!

You're welcome! 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 16, 2021, 05:46:37 PM
Well for all my blubbering sounds of gaming virtue, I broke down and picked up the remaining culture/unit packs for RTW2 and Shogun 2, the Spartan expansion, and ToB. All for less than $30. So the DLC for two games I really like and new game is not too bad.

I think I may be one of the few people who feels no need or desire to have the addon blood and gore packs. I just do not find they add any significant value or pleasure to the gameplay.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on May 16, 2021, 05:53:11 PM
The biggest draw for to ToB over Three Kingdoms is really familiarity and preference for the time period and factions. Vikings, Bretons, Gaelic, Scots in a post-Roman empire and pre-middle ages setting is pretty cool. I also have watched some videos and it hits the sweet spot for units between RTW2 and TWM2.

Yeah, Thrones definitely does a nice job of capturing that time period.  Like a lot of folks, Bernard Cornwell's tales of Uhtred in the Saxon Chronicles made me hunger for a game set during then, so ToB was very much a case of a wish made manifest. 



But...the RTW2 Spartan expansion is really cool sounding too.

If you're considering getting the Wrath of Sparta campaign pack...don't. 

It genuinely pains me to say that, but honestly, it's just not worth it -- not even on sale.  I've played around with the campaign as both the Athenians and Spartans, and it's both underwhelming and disappointing.  Wrath of Sparta was a great idea on paper, but it failed in the implementation.  Save your money. 



Ok. I really want Troy to be released on Steam and then for them to develop an  early bronze age game. Egypt, Samaria, Hittites, early Greek states...I'd love to see a chariot charge.

I support this statement 100%! 



Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on May 16, 2021, 05:58:26 PM
Well for all my blubbering sounds of gaming virtue, I broke down and picked up the remaining culture/unit packs for RTW2 and Shogun 2, the Spartan expansion, and ToB. All for less than $30. So the DLC for two games I really like and new game is not too bad.

Shit, I was too slow in responding.  :(  Seriously, Bison, I would still return/get a refund for Wrath of Sparta.  You're better off spending that $6 on a coffee or beer, plus you won''t lose hours of your life in frustration playing a repetitive and underwhelming campaign. 




I think I may be one of the few people who feels no need or desire to have the addon blood and gore packs. I just do not find they add any significant value or pleasure to the gameplay.

Fully agreed.  I've never seen a need to get the blood DLC for any of the TW games. 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on May 16, 2021, 06:10:51 PM
Yeah, I skipped the blood gore DLC too.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 16, 2021, 06:16:23 PM
Well for all my blubbering sounds of gaming virtue, I broke down and picked up the remaining culture/unit packs for RTW2 and Shogun 2, the Spartan expansion, and ToB. All for less than $30. So the DLC for two games I really like and new game is not too bad.

Shit, I was too slow in responding.  :(  Seriously, Bison, I would still return/get a refund for Wrath of Sparta.  You're better off spending that $6 on a coffee or beer, plus you won''t lose hours of your life in frustration playing a repetitive and underwhelming campaign. 

Well I guess I will have lowered expectations going into the campaign but I have a weakness for the time period. I have read Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War a few times and several modern historical versions. Hopefully, I can find some redeeming qualities with the game.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on May 16, 2021, 10:41:34 PM
Well I guess I will have lowered expectations going into the campaign but I have a weakness for the time period. I have read Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War a few times and several modern historical versions. Hopefully, I can find some redeeming qualities with the game.

I have a great fondness for the time period as well, which I think is why I found Wrath of Sparta so especially disappointing. 

To be sure, the campaign does get some things right, and I have no doubt you'll manage to get at least some enjoyment out of it (perhaps even more than I did).  But of all my Total War purchases, Wrath of Sparta is one of the very few that I genuinely regret. 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 17, 2021, 08:29:25 AM
I have a great fondness for the time period as well, which I think is why I found Wrath of Sparta so especially disappointing. 

To be sure, the campaign does get some things right, and I have no doubt you'll manage to get at least some enjoyment out of it (perhaps even more than I did).  But of all my Total War purchases, Wrath of Sparta is one of the very few that I genuinely regret.

I started a campaign last night just to see the map and click through the upgrade paths. I can see how repetitive gameplay could be an issue due to limited variation between the units and upgrades in the factions. I fully expected this to be the case but I do look forward to Greek phalanx clashing into each other. Also, I think my goal will be to turn the historical reality and make Sparta a naval and land power.

But first, I am going to play a ToB campaign. I started up a Welsh (Gwined) campaign. I am not overly enamored with the portrait art but I'll get used to it. I do like the shield wall animations.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: besilarius on May 17, 2021, 10:16:58 AM
In re, the Peloponnesian war, a friend has a game by Longbow Games that covers the period.  Sorry, cannot recall the name.
I've seen it on GOG and been tempted.
It hits my friend's sweet spot for gameplay and level of historicity.
Might be worth a try for that particular itch?
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 17, 2021, 11:21:25 AM
I think you are referring to the Hegemony game series. They are pretty fun games. I played them several years ago.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 17, 2021, 11:28:13 AM
OK. I do not get the mixed reviews for ToB at all. Three hours into my Gwined campaign and my rule is fragile. Food and supply shortages. Powys is expanded rapidly and cutting me off which is a huge problem.  We are allies which is good but I'll need to march a long way and thru "friendly" lands to add to my domain. I like this game a lot so far.

I really like the mix of Crusader Kings type political and family management/intrigue. It's what I hope they bring to MTW3 when it's finally developed.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 17, 2021, 01:08:13 PM
Whelp...I think my Gwined campaign has come to an end. I have a reoccurring game crash when I attempt to appoint a governor to a new province. This a certainly a bit disappointing and something I hope is just associated with the current campaign save game files.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on May 17, 2021, 01:24:44 PM
 :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on May 17, 2021, 01:30:59 PM
Whelp...I think my Gwined campaign has come to an end. I have a reoccurring game crash when I attempt to appoint a governor to a new province. This a certainly a bit disappointing and something I hope is just associated with the current campaign save game files.

Found this on the interwebs:

Are you trying to replace an existing governor by a new one by any chance? If yes, then this is a known bug. Try removing the existing governor from his position before assigning the new one.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 17, 2021, 04:37:28 PM
Whelp...I think my Gwined campaign has come to an end. I have a reoccurring game crash when I attempt to appoint a governor to a new province. This a certainly a bit disappointing and something I hope is just associated with the current campaign save game files.

Found this on the interwebs:

Are you trying to replace an existing governor by a new one by any chance? If yes, then this is a known bug. Try removing the existing governor from his position before assigning the new one.

Thanks Mike, but the issue was installing a governor over a newly conquered territory. So there is simply no one there to replace unfortunately.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on May 17, 2021, 04:42:30 PM
To remedy my disappointment, I started a campaign to conquer feudal Japan but the power went out during a thunder storm.../sigh/…it's like the universe is telling me to post-pone my desire to conquer the known world for today. :(

I'll fire up a game later today. Perhaps its just a sign to lead Sparta to victory and conquer the ancient Greek world instead?
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on May 17, 2021, 05:38:21 PM
 :(
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on May 17, 2021, 08:28:06 PM
I had a hard crash in ToB when changing a gov but it hasn't happened again.

Also, I'm having to rethink how I usually go about my TW games with the difference in Tob and I really like that I'm having to do it. Im terrible at it but it feels much more realistic and makes me do some more long-term planning instead of just upgrading settlements to get money to make more bigger stacks of troops than my neighbors :)
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on May 17, 2021, 08:34:48 PM
If Ancient Greece is your thing, try Imperiums: Greek Wars...came out last year and an Alexander campaign dlc comes out in a month or two. I just started playing  through the tutorials and there is a definite complex charm to it.

That said, I enjoyed playing the TW Wrath of Sparta campaign. Maybe because Greek history is my weak spot - until a year or so ago I preferred Roman history. Now I can’t get enough of the Greek city states and the Seleucids. No logic to it.

I also have never bought a ‘blood pack’ just because I think they’re in poor, poor taste.

My ToB campaign was also as Gwyned and I was very close to actually winning on normal difficulty, until the AI got wise and kicked my ass into eternity and out of the game!
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on May 18, 2021, 11:01:11 PM
I've had the occasional crash when assigning a governor in Thrones, although I've been fortunate enough to not see it be a recurring issue like it was in Bison's campaign.  That sucks.  :( 



I think you are referring to the Hegemony game series. They are pretty fun games. I played them several years ago.

Yeah, I own the first two games.  They're obviously not on the same level as the Total War series, but I enjoyed playing them. 

Gus' recommendation of Imperiums: Greek Wars is also a good one.  I've not spent nearly as much time with that one as I'd like (what else is new?), but I've seen enough to realize it's something of a diamond in the rough. 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 19, 2021, 07:02:20 AM
you guys might want to eyeball the new King Arthur-inspired game from HPS that's linked in this week's TN
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/news/digital-releases-aplenty-tuesday-newsday-5-18-21/

opening a new thread for it here https://www.armchairdragoons.com/forum/index.php?topic=3252
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on August 05, 2021, 01:29:10 PM
Started another campaign and hope I don’t have another corrupted save game file. Of note I just realized there are no agents in the game...
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on August 05, 2021, 02:15:37 PM
I haven't been back to ToB since my ass-kicking but I still say it is a highly underrated entry into the TW series.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on August 05, 2021, 04:51:55 PM
I agree. I actually really like the way the game plays and the historical period. One of the benefits of not visiting the super fan boy forums is I miss out on 99% of all the negative vibes. So honestly, I have no idea why people dislike it.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on August 05, 2021, 09:49:25 PM
^Me neither. I only go to the superfanboy forums to check on mod releases.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on August 06, 2021, 12:37:46 AM
Have fun, Bison!  Fingers crossed there are no corrupted saves this time.  :peace: 




I agree. I actually really like the way the game plays and the historical period. One of the benefits of not visiting the super fan boy forums is I miss out on 99% of all the negative vibes. So honestly, I have no idea why people dislike it.

The new (at the time) unit recruitment system and lack of agents were extremely controversial.  I can sort of understand why that might be the case, but I also feel the game gained a worse reputation than it deserved because of it.  I've personally always felt the recruitment system was brilliant, and while I know Gus misses having agents in Thrones, that was one of its biggest selling points for me. 

There were also fans who felt (and still feel) that the game was nothing more than a reskin of Attila, that it was CA attempting to make an easy cash grab, etc.  I'll admit I was baffled by that one:  Thrones was clearly a passion project for Jack Lusted (who would later be placed in charge of the much-ballyhooed Three Kingdoms), as well as almost everyone else who worked on it.  (The company *is* headquartered in England, after all...) 


The one primary critique I agree with is that -- somewhat like Rome II -- the game itself was still rather rough when it was first released.  It wasn't until after the 1st major patch dropped that ToB ran relatively smoothly and bug-free, and it wasn't until after the 2nd patch (the Allegiance update) that the game felt like it was genuinely headed in the right direction.  The third major patch (the Steel & Statecraft update) was an even bigger improvement, bringing the game to its final form we know today. 

With the benefit of hindsight, I don't think I would've recommended Thrones until after the 2nd patch came out.  While the game had "good bones", with some interesting/new ideas, it was admittedly not a very enjoyable experience in the beginning. 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on August 06, 2021, 09:20:21 AM
I did not know that info about Jack Lusted. I always loved his mods for M2TW. Now I feel extra guilty that I still have not played Three Kingdoms yet :/

The 1212 mod for Attila comes first, though.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on August 06, 2021, 09:55:12 AM
No need to feel bad, there are only so many hours in a day.  Three Kingdoms will still be there when you're ready for it.  ;) 

Have fun with the 1212 mod! 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on August 06, 2021, 01:24:08 PM
1212 is such a giant overhaul it's a bit overwhelming/intimidating.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Undercovergeek on August 06, 2021, 01:48:35 PM
Just consider it MTW3 but with no tutorial or manual
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on August 06, 2021, 02:56:59 PM
Tutorials and manuals are for losers anyway :)
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on August 06, 2021, 08:06:36 PM
My ongoing assumption is computer games no longer have game manuals.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on August 06, 2021, 08:37:14 PM
^In all seriousness, Imperiums: Greek Wars, as an example,  has a great PDF manual, but I think it’s the exception rather than the rule.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on August 06, 2021, 09:54:56 PM
Yeah, actual manuals are rare these days. 

I still have this awful temptation to purchase WITE2 -- despite knowing I'd probably never get around to playing that beast -- simply because it comes with that wonderfully extensive manual. 

Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on August 22, 2021, 03:42:34 PM
Confession time. I keep trying to get into this game but end up feeling a bit overwhelmed and not sure what do at times. I like what I'm seeing but feel like I'm missing some really basic concepts about supply/economy as well as my strategic goals. Not sure if anyone has tips or some links to guides explaining key concepts. I'm not looking for a guide on how to "beat" the game but how to play it so it tells the story I know is in there somewhere.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on August 22, 2021, 04:33:43 PM
After looking at UCG's posts in the 'screenshots' thread, I was also wondering if there was a good 'How To' guide or video out there as well. I have a few Total War games and was thinking of starting a game with this one.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bob48 on August 22, 2021, 04:40:29 PM
You haven't got time for that sort thing; you have far too many games to catch up on  ::)
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on August 22, 2021, 04:49:55 PM
True, that's probably why I didn't much past the wondering part.  ;D
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on August 23, 2021, 07:18:01 PM
Confession time. I keep trying to get into this game but end up feeling a bit overwhelmed and not sure what do at times. I like what I'm seeing but feel like I'm missing some really basic concepts about supply/economy as well as my strategic goals. Not sure if anyone has tips or some links to guides explaining key concepts. I'm not looking for a guide on how to "beat" the game but how to play it so it tells the story I know is in there somewhere.

Unfortunately, most guides for Thrones I've come across are either very basic (beginner's tips/"for noobs") or are of the "how to win" variety -- there doesn't seem to be much in between.  :-\ 


What areas are you struggling with/overwhelmed by, exactly?  I mean, I can tell you right off the bat that it's a good idea to focus on improvements that increase your food output and/or army supply (especially in the early game), that you generally want to upgrade a province's main settlement's unique building chain as soon as you can reasonably afford it, etc.  That's still pretty broad advice, though.  If you have more specific questions, I'm happy to help as best I can. 


As for strategic goals, most folks aim to establish one of the kingdoms (England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland), depending on which faction they're playing as.  So Mide and Dyflin are both looking to "become" Ireland, Mierce --> England, Circenn --> Scotland, etc. 

Personally, I often also identify a faction or two that I think needs to be eliminated.  I often find that in the process of taking out these factions, I end up furthering my goal of establishing the larger kingdom as well -- that, or I lose gloriously and go down in flames, which is also fun.  :P 


Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on August 23, 2021, 08:45:46 PM
Confession time. I keep trying to get into this game but end up feeling a bit overwhelmed and not sure what do at times. I like what I'm seeing but feel like I'm missing some really basic concepts about supply/economy as well as my strategic goals. Not sure if anyone has tips or some links to guides explaining key concepts. I'm not looking for a guide on how to "beat" the game but how to play it so it tells the story I know is in there somewhere.

Unfortunately, most guides for Thrones I've come across are either very basic (beginner's tips/"for noobs") or are of the "how to win" variety -- there doesn't seem to be much in between.  :-\ 


What areas are you struggling with/overwhelmed by, exactly?  I mean, I can tell you right off the bat that it's a good idea to focus on improvements that increase your food output and/or army supply (especially in the early game), that you generally want to upgrade a province's main settlement's unique building chain as soon as you can reasonably afford it, etc.  That's still pretty broad advice, though.  If you have more specific questions, I'm happy to help as best I can. 


Seems like I've found those same guides.  :)

I think settlement management and diplomacy seem to just be a struggle and I can't figure out what I should be focusing when developing a province.

Also, for whatever reason the UI just doesn't seem to click with me.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on August 23, 2021, 08:47:51 PM
^Try the in-game encyclopedia. In the TW games since Rome 2 they have been very detailed and you can spend 50 hours just going through them if you wanted to. They're also user friendly and easy to navigate.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on August 23, 2021, 09:32:30 PM
^Try the in-game encyclopedia. In the TW games since Rome 2 they have been very detailed and you can spend 50 hours just going through them if you wanted to. They're also user friendly and easy to navigate.

Will do thanks!
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on August 24, 2021, 08:39:29 AM
Also if you have any mods installed, they sometimes futz with the functionality of the encyclopedia...
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bayonetbrant on August 24, 2021, 09:45:04 AM

Unfortunately, most guides for Thrones I've come across are either very basic (beginner's tips/"for noobs") or are of the "how to win" variety -- there doesn't seem to be much in between.  :-\ 

I think we just found your next article  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Martok on August 24, 2021, 11:03:15 PM
^  You sadistic madman, you.  Like I'm not already behind schedule on my current article...  :P 

Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bayonetbrant on August 25, 2021, 06:06:09 AM
^  You sadistic madman, you.  Like I'm not already behind schedule on my current article...  :P

 >:D
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Bison on August 25, 2021, 05:38:41 PM
^  You sadistic madman, you.  Like I'm not already behind schedule on my current article...  :P

 >:D

There is always one who owes Brant an article which seems to go through a multiple year writing cycle. :D
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on August 25, 2021, 05:59:25 PM
I still owe him an article on Pong.
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bayonetbrant on August 25, 2021, 06:07:41 PM
I still owe him an article on Pong.

The board game version
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: bbmike on August 25, 2021, 06:16:46 PM
I should Kickstarter that.  ;D
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: thecommandtent on August 25, 2021, 07:56:21 PM
I still owe him an article on Pong.

The board game version

Solo version of course  8)
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Sir Slash on August 29, 2021, 11:18:38 PM
I could never make-up my mind about Pong. I went back and forth about it.  :2funny:
Title: Re: Thrones of Britannia
Post by: Gusington on August 30, 2021, 09:06:14 AM
 :-[