Thrones of Britannia

[Gusington]

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.

[bob48]

 

[thecommandtent]

I'm gonna be lazy, and just quote myself from a few months back...   

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

1.) ToB Enhanced Campaign
2.) ToB Enhanced Battles
3.) Extra Skill Points
4.) Global Weapons and Armor Upgrade

While it doesn't affect gameplay per se, it's also worth checking out the Better Camera Mod, 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
2.) Shields Down While Marching
3.) Variation Pack Reborn



Enjoy!!

Thanks!

[Bison]

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. 

[Martok]

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! 

[Bison]

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.

[Martok]

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%! 

[Martok]

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. 

[bbmike]

Yeah, I skipped the blood gore DLC too.

[Bison]

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.

[Martok]

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. 

[Bison]

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.

[besilarius]

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?

[Bison]

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

[Bison]

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.