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Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: LongBlade on October 27, 2014, 02:34:56 PM

Title: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on October 27, 2014, 02:34:56 PM
OK, no, I don't have any new news regarding the game.

But we're all eager to see it, and I ran across some history regarding the period (roughly) that might be of interest to us. Rather than posting it in the history section, where it's likely to receive fewer eyeballs, I figured I'd put it here.

A 750 year old city founded by Ghengis Khan has been unearthed.

QuoteThe city's name was Ukek and it was founded just a few decades after Genghis Khan died in 1227. After the great conqueror's death his empire split apart and his grandson Batu Khan, who lived from 1205 to 1255, founded the Golden Horde (also called the Kipchak Khanate).The Golden Horde kingdom stretched from Eastern Europe to Central Asia and controlled many of the Silk Road trade routes that connected China to Medieval Europe.

This city of Ukek was built close to the khan's summer residence along the Volga River, something which helped it become prosperous. The name "Golden Horde" comes from the golden tent from which the khan was said to rule. [See Photos of the Medieval 'Golden Horde' City and Artifacts]

source: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/10/27/ancient-city-ruled-by-genghis-khan-heirs-revealed/?intcmp=features

Here are some images of artifacts found there: http://www.livescience.com/48431-photos-ancient-golden-horde-city-revealed.html
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: jomni on October 27, 2014, 06:01:52 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on October 27, 2014, 02:34:56 PM
Here are some images of artifacts found there: http://www.livescience.com/48431-photos-ancient-golden-horde-city-revealed.html

Archaeologist in bikini!  That should spark interest in this group.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on October 27, 2014, 06:10:12 PM
Yeah but she's flatter.than the steppes.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on October 27, 2014, 06:29:30 PM
But I bet she could ride you like a Mongol. :2funny:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: panzerde on October 27, 2014, 09:15:53 PM
I admit it. I wasn't going to go read the article just to see a picture of some pottery sherds. I clicked the link as soon as I got to "archeologist in bikini."


I am now forced to confess that my interest in history is not as strong as my interest in archeologist bewbs. I'm going to tell myself I only went to look because she was an archeologist and not an actress.  ;)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on October 27, 2014, 10:08:29 PM
Back in 2009, my wife and I were in Isreal. We toured the ruins of Scythiopolis, a Roman era city settled by Scythians serving in the Roman army. At one time ten thousand people lived there. Later it was destroyed in an earthquake and abandoned until rediscovered in the 1950's. The city had been completely covered by earth and trees and the ruins stretched for blocks with homes, temples, baths, and the forum still with marble floors and tile mosaics on the walls. It was like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. But without Nazis'
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on October 27, 2014, 10:17:15 PM
no nazis, no Indiana Jones.  those are the rules.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on October 27, 2014, 10:34:40 PM
Quote from: Gusington on October 27, 2014, 06:10:12 PM
Yeah but she's flatter.than the steppes.

You, sir, are a boob snob.

They *all* deserve love and attention.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MetalDog on October 27, 2014, 10:46:38 PM
As long as you can find them ;)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: em2nought on October 28, 2014, 01:39:02 AM
Quote from: jomni on October 27, 2014, 06:01:52 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on October 27, 2014, 02:34:56 PM
Here are some images of artifacts found there: http://www.livescience.com/48431-photos-ancient-golden-horde-city-revealed.html

Archaeologist in bikini!  That should spark interest in this group.

She has a bit of a Michelle Jenneke look to her http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfkwW4GgAiU in my mind anyway. LOL
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on October 28, 2014, 07:56:27 AM
Chicks never dig short guys so it is my duty to be a bewb snob. What's right is right.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on October 28, 2014, 09:45:32 AM
I never minded them small, as long as you can tell what they are when you get to them. And please, no piercings. At either end.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on October 29, 2014, 10:07:40 AM
Quote from: Gusington on October 28, 2014, 07:56:27 AM
Chicks never dig short guys so it is my duty to be a bewb snob. What's right is right.

  Attila was supposedly rather short and rather homely.  This aspect of his nature may have been somewhat exaggerated.  I was just reading the first blog about the game and it seems to rehash every last cliché in the history of the world.  You just have to wonder about what absurd versions of history find their ways into imaginary gamer's brains:  Tiger tanks, blah, blah blah, decadent empire blahblah blah and it seems to have been that way for decades.

Here's some of the blog:

Attila is not fair. It is not reasonable. There are no pretty pitched battles against the Hunnic Empire. Attila is coming, and he will reach you, and you will have to deal with him. Yet the horde may seem endless, and certainly when possible they will push on you and strain you to your very limits. The real question is how will you survive against the Hunnic multitudes? Or indeed, how long?
Well, there are many ways you may survive against Attila in the game, and many new and old gameplay features besides to aid you in your struggle, in ways both familiar to staunch Total War players, yet also in ways that may surprise even the most stalwart of you.


You could just take the Sangiban the Alan route and go right through the middle of the horde (which at that time was mostly rather chewed up Germanic levies).  That's a surprise.

Anyway, I hope the game is better than the mindless blather of the blogging about the game:

http://blogs.sega.com/totalwar/2014/10/15/total-war-attila-developer-blog-1/

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: sandman2575 on October 29, 2014, 10:27:25 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on October 29, 2014, 10:07:40 AM
Attila is not fair. It is not reasonable. There are no pretty pitched battles against the Hunnic Empire. Attila is coming, and he will reach you, and you will have to deal with him. Yet the horde may seem endless, and certainly when possible they will push on you and strain you to your very limits. The real question is how will you survive against the Hunnic multitudes? Or indeed, how long?


Wow, this sounds pretty cool and even pretty innovative. I like that CA is announcing off the bat:  this game isn't like previous expansions.  Attila isn't just Hannibal without the elephants.  The game is meant to be unbalanced, so all you out there who immediately cry "game balance is borked!!!", go away.

Remains to be seen if this means little beyond "Hun spam coming your way" -- but I'm definitely intrigued now.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on October 29, 2014, 10:41:58 AM
Quote from: sandman2575 on October 29, 2014, 10:27:25 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on October 29, 2014, 10:07:40 AM
Attila is not fair. It is not reasonable. There are no pretty pitched battles against the Hunnic Empire. Attila is coming, and he will reach you, and you will have to deal with him. Yet the horde may seem endless, and certainly when possible they will push on you and strain you to your very limits. The real question is how will you survive against the Hunnic multitudes? Or indeed, how long?


Wow, this sounds pretty cool and even pretty innovative. I like that CA is announcing off the bat:  this game isn't like previous expansions.  Attila isn't just Hannibal without the elephants.  The game is meant to be unbalanced, so all you out there who immediately cry "game balance is borked!!!", go away.

Remains to be seen if this means little beyond "Hun spam coming your way" -- but I'm definitely intrigued now.

My research into this era is rather limited. I've read one book on the subject.

*If* my reading is accurate there really wasn't much that could be done to stop the hordes from the steppes.

Geography was the principle limiting factor. About the time the Huns rolled into (what is now Germany and then the Rhein) the geography shifted and no longer favored mounted archers. So their conquests stopped.

The classic western European answer to the hordes was to sally forth a bunch of heavily armored knights. These would typically charge, whereupon the horde would scatter. The knights would impact nothing and the horde would pepper them with arrows. Sometimes the knights chased the horde back to the steppes. The horde would gleefully retreat until the knights were well out in the open and then they would ride circles around them peppering them with arrows until no one was left alive.

Ultimately the only thing which saved the West from continued periodic assimilation was gunpowder. After the gunpowder age really took hold the incursions from the east ceased.

Frankly, I'm not sure what else the devs are going to do with this. Maybe they'll blow out the espionage/sabotage aspect of the game. But typically a city was given noticed to surrender or be burned to the ground - and those were the two only options.

Anyone else have a better/different understanding of history?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on October 29, 2014, 10:58:04 AM
Quote from: LongBlade on October 29, 2014, 10:41:58 AM
[Attila is not fair. It is not reasonable. There are no pretty pitched battles against the Hunnic Empire. Attila is coming, and he will reach you, and you will have to deal with him. Yet the horde may seem endless, and certainly when possible they will push on you and strain you to your very limits. The real question is how will you survive against the Hunnic multitudes? Or indeed, how long?



Anyone else have a better/different understanding of history?

  I won't claim a better understanding, but I can provide a number of counter-examples:

  1) there were a lot of supposed "Steppe-barbarian" incursions all over the place.  The Mongols were the most massive, but not the most typical and even they were squealched by Tamerlane (who destroyed the Mongol city mentioned in the OP).
  2) The Chinese turned most of them back
  3) Most were not particularly massive
  4) Some (the Hungarians) were beaten precisely by the first armored knights.  You might even say that armored knights originally evolved to defeat steppe archers
  5) The Hunnic empire was a temporary patchwork, mostly of Germanic tribes or clans and collapsed pretty fast when Attila died.
  6) like many "well-known" things about history, massive hordes of steppe archers are exaggerated from one spectacular case and read back into earlier cases that were actually very different 
  7) (Added after checking Wikipedia:  Also the Persians defeated Attila around 442 in Armenia as did the Visigoths, Alans and Romans at Chalons in 451.)             
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on October 29, 2014, 11:17:09 AM
Thanks, Meng.

Definitions always matter :)

I'm not sure anything I read contradicted what you say, and in any case it's been years since I read that book. I very well could have lost a lot of detail. It's probably more a matter of what we'd consider a "Mongol horde." I can certainly imaging smaller incursions being less successful/memorable. These would certainly make for more variety in a game. I guess we'll see as more information is released.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on October 29, 2014, 01:46:19 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on October 29, 2014, 10:07:40 AM
Quote from: Gusington on October 28, 2014, 07:56:27 AM
Chicks never dig short guys so it is my duty to be a bewb snob. What's right is right.

  Attila was supposedly rather short and rather homely.  This aspect of his nature may have been somewhat exaggerated.  I was just reading the first blog about the game and it seems to rehash every last cliché in the history of the world.  You just have to wonder about what absurd versions of history find their ways into imaginary gamer's brains:  Tiger tanks, blah, blah blah, decadent empire blahblah blah and it seems to have been that way for decades.

Here's some of the blog:

Attila is not fair. It is not reasonable. There are no pretty pitched battles against the Hunnic Empire. Attila is coming, and he will reach you, and you will have to deal with him. Yet the horde may seem endless, and certainly when possible they will push on you and strain you to your very limits. The real question is how will you survive against the Hunnic multitudes? Or indeed, how long?
Well, there are many ways you may survive against Attila in the game, and many new and old gameplay features besides to aid you in your struggle, in ways both familiar to staunch Total War players, yet also in ways that may surprise even the most stalwart of you.


You could just take the Sangiban the Alan route and go right through the middle of the horde (which at that time was mostly rather chewed up Germanic levies).  That's a surprise.

Anyway, I hope the game is better than the mindless blather of the blogging about the game:

http://blogs.sega.com/totalwar/2014/10/15/total-war-attila-developer-blog-1/


Agree that they've been spouting some exceptionally mindless blather about it.

Frankly, I'm not very stoked for a TW game focused on Attila.  All the CA yammering about Attila The Honey Badger just rankles me more because of that.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: sandman2575 on October 29, 2014, 02:12:45 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on October 29, 2014, 01:46:19 PM
All the CA yammering about Attila The Honey Badger just rankles me more because of that.

Aw, c'mon.  That's kinda funny. 

He pretty much was the Honey Badger of history.  "Attila don't care." (historical note:  was printed on all Hunnic coinage.)   
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on October 29, 2014, 02:24:56 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on October 29, 2014, 01:46:19 PM
Agree that they've been spouting some exceptionally mindless blather about it.

Frankly, I'm not very stoked for a TW game focused on Attila.  All the CA yammering about Attila The Honey Badger just rankles me more because of that.

  I'm interested, more because of things that aren't easy to turn into blather than because of Attila's weirdly inflated reputation.  It's kind of funny that the gaming blather seems to have backed itself into doing something interesting more or less by accident in this case.  The start point of the game (395 supposedly and the supposed birth year of Attila) is also the official birth of the Eastern and Western Roman Empires (or the last time the Empire was in a state coherent enough to be split).  Leaving aside the apparently necessary marketing of Attila as the ultimate foe, in 395 there were a lot of options for the Western Empire and its collapse less than 100 years later could have been managed very differently.   Moreover, while Attila himself is not very well documented, there is pretty good documentation for the period.  We even have original documents signed by Theodosius from about this time -- not apparently that much real documentation will have much impact on the titanic need for massive blather -- but it is there, and available and (as I noted elsewhere) there is even St. Ambrose who has been sitting in situ since this period.  So in a way, 400 AD is a world much closer to the present than you might think, which gives the whole Attila thing a more interesting flavor than say Caesar in Gaul -- which could have been much more realistically marketed as the end of the world (Caesar is  coming and he can't be stopped -- and he wasn't) than the unstoppable Attila (who got stopped at least 4 times: Constantinople, Armenia, Gaul and Italy). 

    Plus, if presented with some aspects of realism, Attila himself is potentially a lot more interesting than say Julius Caesar in Gaul, since Attila is not taking a relatively advanced army into a moderately quaint and shaky set of poorly-organized protostates, oh, no, Attila is somehow assembling a powerful (if extremely fragile) set of allied tribes and exploiting the interfaces between steppe and forest, Roman and non-roman, urbanized and pastoral.  Could be quite interesting.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on October 29, 2014, 03:47:17 PM
Quote from: sandman2575 on October 29, 2014, 02:12:45 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on October 29, 2014, 01:46:19 PM
All the CA yammering about Attila The Honey Badger just rankles me more because of that.

Aw, c'mon.  That's kinda funny. 

He pretty much was the Honey Badger of history.  "Attila don't care." (historical note:  was printed on all Hunnic coinage.)


I'm not disputing the history.  Just the terrible wordplay the CA people have been using.  I saw some digital advert for it which was the epitome of the term "blather". 

"Attila is coming.  Attila cannot be stopped!  You will fear Attila!" etc etc.  It sounds like something written by a twelve-year old.


Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on October 29, 2014, 06:21:32 PM
Well I'm hoping it's the second coming of Barbarian Invasion myself and they can call it anything they want. Playing the Huns in BI was a real challenge. You could kick everybody's ass but then try to rule them--- nobody liked you, your culture, or your gods. Nobody would trade with you and your only navy was, "Large Boats". And in order to win, you had to control Constantinope and Rome.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: sandman2575 on October 29, 2014, 06:28:27 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on October 29, 2014, 03:47:17 PM
"Attila is coming.  Attila cannot be stopped!  You will fear Attila!" etc etc.  It sounds like something written by a twelve-year old.

I can't argue with you here.  That is indeed lame.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on October 29, 2014, 08:38:00 PM
I am also counting on a second coming of Barbarian Invasion. In the meantime the mindless blather doesn't really bother me. Reminds me of dialogue from The Terminator.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on October 29, 2014, 11:11:37 PM
Quote from: Gusington on October 29, 2014, 08:38:00 PM
I am also counting on a second coming of Barbarian Invasion. In the meantime the mindless blather doesn't really bother me. Reminds me of dialogue from The Terminator.


LOL.


Attila the Honey Badger Terminator.

I think we need a photoshop done for CA.


Anyway.. I also hope it's another Barbarian Invasion if nothing else and the Attila situation isn't so OP that it overshadows everything during most of the campaign.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on October 29, 2014, 11:48:08 PM
the scorched earth feature looks interesting.  depending on the campaign map I can see a Eastern Front mod.  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on October 30, 2014, 10:19:37 AM
Yeah, I might just use the Scorched Earth feature on my own people just for the fun of it. You know, keep them in line.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on October 30, 2014, 11:57:11 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on October 30, 2014, 10:19:37 AM
Yeah, I might just use the Scorched Earth feature on my own people just for the fun of it. You know, keep them in line.

  That might make your average Aetius or Theodoric unpopular.  We know the Huns were perfectly capable of totally erasing towns.  Luxeuil for example.  Not so sure about cities.  Oh...Acquaelia?  So ...cities too.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on November 07, 2014, 02:40:36 PM
A new, longer trailer has been released. 





It's more of that ridiculously bombastic narration, but it does hint a little more at features & gameplay. 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on November 07, 2014, 03:47:15 PM
Thanks for the video Martok. He kind of looks like your avatar. :2funny:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 07, 2014, 03:52:00 PM
Crap can't watch it til later...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on November 07, 2014, 05:00:43 PM
Quote from: Martok on November 07, 2014, 02:40:36 PM



It's more of that ridiculously bombastic narration, but it does hint a little more at features & gameplay.

That makes me want to avoid even watching it due to the reaction I may have.

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 08, 2014, 03:32:20 PM
Just watched it...very cinematic. I liked it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 08, 2014, 07:05:50 PM
Quote from: Gusington on November 08, 2014, 03:32:20 PM
Just watched it...very cinematic. I liked it.

  I thought it was very funny.  I probably would be very interested in the game no matter what -- Late Antiquity is very interesting, but this trailer
brings out some of the weirdness of the time.  Which is nice.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 08, 2014, 07:43:39 PM
Funny? Like a clown?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on November 08, 2014, 09:48:30 PM
Quote from: Gusington on November 08, 2014, 07:43:39 PM
Funny? Like a clown?


You should give a nice motivational speech now, Gussers.


----->

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Frapgenius%2F56D8E57E3B496D175A14F4_Large.jpg&hash=812d2a37471f0ef7d04ef6126e48a09352b15c25)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 09, 2014, 10:18:31 AM
Teamwork....teamwork...


Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 10, 2014, 09:35:24 AM
Quote from: Gusington on November 08, 2014, 07:43:39 PM
Funny? Like a clown?

Funny haha?  Yes, I chuckled a few times.  Apparently that's some kind of Stilicho-figure they are busy assassinating, I guess, though the motivation is a bit murky.  He was considered a barbarian and he was probably one of the last people capable of keeping the Western Empire running for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stilicho
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 10, 2014, 02:33:20 PM
My next dog's name will be Stilicho.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 10, 2014, 02:46:07 PM
Quote from: Gusington on November 10, 2014, 02:33:20 PM
My next dog's name will be Stilicho.

  Exactly.  There can't be too many Stilichos!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on November 10, 2014, 03:01:13 PM
That's what I always order when I go to Taco Bell.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 10, 2014, 05:23:35 PM
^That sh*t will kill you!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on November 10, 2014, 05:53:20 PM
Quote from: MetalDog on October 27, 2014, 10:46:38 PM
As long as you can find them ;)

Where did you dig that up from?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on November 10, 2014, 06:07:46 PM
Talking about old Roman places, I did manage to spend a couple of hours in Volubilis many moons ago - was on the way to Fes at the time.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 10, 2014, 08:04:53 PM
Did it remind you of your 30s?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on November 11, 2014, 09:57:42 AM
Dunno, Gus. can't remember that far back. If it wasn't for the name tag in my shirt, I would forget my own name.

...uh....15.1/2.........
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on November 11, 2014, 02:22:08 PM
Quote from: Gusington on November 10, 2014, 08:04:53 PM
Did it remind you of your 30s?

Hell Gus, it was probably during the 30s.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 11, 2014, 03:58:08 PM
HAR like 30 AD...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on November 11, 2014, 04:14:03 PM
We're talking about Bawb not Windy here.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 11, 2014, 04:49:51 PM
Bawb is clearly older.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on November 11, 2014, 05:37:31 PM
Ask him about that fkng massive boat he built once
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 11, 2014, 06:22:20 PM
HAR
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on November 11, 2014, 06:23:40 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on November 11, 2014, 05:37:31 PM
Ask him about that fkng massive boat he built once

oo ar.......It was the Airfix HMS Nelson.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 12, 2014, 09:46:32 AM
Quote from: bob48 on November 11, 2014, 06:23:40 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on November 11, 2014, 05:37:31 PM
Ask him about that fkng massive boat he built once

oo ar.......It was the Airfix HMS Nelson.

The waterjet propelled protected cruiser from 1874?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on November 12, 2014, 10:57:28 AM
Hmmmm.................NO!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: FlickJax on November 12, 2014, 11:20:12 AM
Is there a game here?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 12, 2014, 11:39:26 AM
Quote from: FlickJax on November 12, 2014, 11:20:12 AM
Is there a game here?

  Not so much.  There's the Mongol city wiped out by Tamerlane.  There's the Attila game that doesn't exist yet.  There's the question of
whether Attila is worthy of such bombast as we have seen from CA.

I have a few answers:

   1) Attila is probably more interesting in historical context rather than as a force of gamey nature
   2) There really was a coherent 5th century world and it would be nice if the game got some of that into the game
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on November 12, 2014, 12:29:22 PM
Quote from: bob48 on November 11, 2014, 06:23:40 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on November 11, 2014, 05:37:31 PM
Ask him about that fkng massive boat he built once

oo ar.......It was the Airfix HMS Nelson.

ah come on, we all know it was you, big moustache, hammer, lots of wood

animals 2 x 2, lot of rain
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on November 12, 2014, 12:38:46 PM
I was building a shed.........for visitors..........
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 12, 2014, 12:47:28 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on November 12, 2014, 12:29:22 PM
Quote from: bob48 on November 11, 2014, 06:23:40 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on November 11, 2014, 05:37:31 PM
Ask him about that fkng massive boat he built once

oo ar.......It was the Airfix HMS Nelson.

ah come on, we all know it was you, big moustache, hammer, lots of wood

animals 2 x 2, lot of rain

   Or just a hydraulic engine:

   http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E00E4DA1630EE34BC4B52DFB7668383679FDE

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on November 12, 2014, 01:31:19 PM
Interesting.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on November 14, 2014, 12:25:56 PM
New video posted at the TW Center showing new features and changes. I like the new unit cards look. It's here... http://twcenter.net    Enjoy.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 14, 2014, 01:55:31 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on November 14, 2014, 12:25:56 PM
New video posted at the TW Center showing new features and changes. I like the new unit cards look. It's here... http://twcenter.net    Enjoy.

Wow!  Looks great, but I've been a total fanboi since I played the demo for Shogun2, so Attila looks fantastic to me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 14, 2014, 03:04:59 PM
Can't wait to check it out once I am in front of a proper computer...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on November 24, 2014, 10:20:09 PM
It looks like February 17, 2015 is the expected release date.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 24, 2014, 10:39:03 PM
Saw that earlier. That gives me roughly four months to get in a couple of more regular Rome 2 campaigns, as well as campaigns of Shadow of Mordor, AoW3, WOFF, Wings, and Shogun 2. Because once Attila comes out I know that's all I'm going to be playing for at least 2-3 months. Plus I haven't really got my money's worth yet from Rome 2 @ about 150 hours in.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 25, 2014, 09:31:20 AM
Quote from: Gusington on November 24, 2014, 10:39:03 PM
Saw that earlier. That gives me roughly four months to get in a couple of more regular Rome 2 campaigns, as well as campaigns of Shadow of Mordor, AoW3, WOFF, Wings, and Shogun 2. Because once Attila comes out I know that's all I'm going to be playing for at least 2-3 months. Plus I haven't really got my money's worth yet from Rome 2 @ about 150 hours in.

Yep, Attila is the next big game for me too.  So that gives me a few months to play Shogun2 again, Far cries 3-4 and so on.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on November 25, 2014, 10:25:27 AM
And we get a special new DLC, "The Viking Forefathers" which includes the Danes, the Geats, and the Jutes. Free at pre-order of Attila. I understand the Jutes come with special boots just for Ass-Kicking purposes. But Geats is more fun to say. Check it out... http://twcenter.net
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 25, 2014, 10:38:31 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on November 25, 2014, 10:25:27 AM
And we get a special new DLC, "The Viking Forefathers" which includes the Danes, the Geats, and the Jutes. Free at pre-order of Attila. I understand the Jutes come with special boots just for Ass-Kicking purposes. But Geats is more fun to say. Check it out... http://twcenter.net

  As usual, the world through the eyes of gamers as imagined by marketing types, has its puzzling side.  For example, in the fifth century, the dangerous Germanic tribes (aside from Vandals, Goths, Burgundians, Lombards, etc. etc.) were the Saxons, Angles and Jutes (hey!  They made both lists!).  The Saxons even had a special blade named for them.  One would think the actual pagan tribes would be more interesting than some theoretical proto-Vikings, but marketing the fifth century in any form seems to be a chore.  Good thing Attila's reputation has been kept burnished bright since apparently even the Vandals ring no bells in imaginary gaming brains.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on November 25, 2014, 12:12:07 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on November 25, 2014, 10:38:31 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on November 25, 2014, 10:25:27 AM
And we get a special new DLC, "The Viking Forefathers" which includes the Danes, the Geats, and the Jutes. Free at pre-order of Attila. I understand the Jutes come with special boots just for Ass-Kicking purposes. But Geats is more fun to say. Check it out... http://twcenter.net

  As usual, the world through the eyes of gamers as imagined by marketing types, has its puzzling side.  For example, in the fifth century, the dangerous Germanic tribes (aside from Vandals, Goths, Burgundians, Lombards, etc. etc.) were the Saxons, Angles and Jutes (hey!  They made both lists!).  The Saxons even had a special blade named for them.  One would think the actual pagan tribes would be more interesting than some theoretical proto-Vikings, but marketing the fifth century in any form seems to be a chore.  Good thing Attila's reputation has been kept burnished bright since apparently even the Vandals ring no bells in imaginary gaming brains.


The Vikings, much like the Spartans, have been overrepresented recently in strategy gaming and media circles compared to the huge array and variety of other cultures & factions in their respective periods. 

Much of the recent extra hype due to movies and cable shows.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 25, 2014, 01:20:40 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on November 25, 2014, 12:12:07 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on November 25, 2014, 10:38:31 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on November 25, 2014, 10:25:27 AM
And we get a special new DLC, "The Viking Forefathers" which includes the Danes, the Geats, and the Jutes. Free at pre-order of Attila. I understand the Jutes come with special boots just for Ass-Kicking purposes. But Geats is more fun to say. Check it out... http://twcenter.net

  As usual, the world through the eyes of gamers as imagined by marketing types, has its puzzling side.  For example, in the fifth century, the dangerous Germanic tribes (aside from Vandals, Goths, Burgundians, Lombards, etc. etc.) were the Saxons, Angles and Jutes (hey!  They made both lists!).  The Saxons even had a special blade named for them.  One would think the actual pagan tribes would be more interesting than some theoretical proto-Vikings, but marketing the fifth century in any form seems to be a chore.  Good thing Attila's reputation has been kept burnished bright since apparently even the Vandals ring no bells in imaginary gaming brains.


The Vikings, much like the Spartans, have been overrepresented recently in strategy gaming and media circles compared to the huge array and variety of other cultures & factions in their respective periods. 

Much of the recent extra hype due to movies and cable shows.

  Vikings I can understand -- but you're getting proto-Vikings here.  That's like selling an early atmospheric steam engine to the Tiger Tank crowd as a proto-Tiger Tank.  Now admittedly, a game that featured early steam engines would be wonderful, and the proto-Vikings will no doubt add spice to the problems of finding allies in Germania Superior, but, what?  Saxons won't sell?  There was a whole Imperial command named for either containing them or employing them or both.   I guess I should be happy anyone even noticed that anything happened after Sparta quit working for the Persians and lost their funding.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 25, 2014, 01:48:05 PM
The Vandals may be my first play through, then the Byzantines.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on November 25, 2014, 01:53:57 PM
It does seem a little early for the Vikings, but I'm not gonna be the one to tell them they got to go home. :knuppel2: I get what you're saying Ming. But why not throw the Mongols and the Turks in too.?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 25, 2014, 02:38:57 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on November 25, 2014, 01:53:57 PM
It does seem a little early for the Vikings, but I'm not gonna be the one to tell them they got to go home. :knuppel2: I get what you're saying Ming. But why not throw the Mongols and the Turks in too.?

  The thing is I think it is absolutely wonderful that anyone -- much less a big game -- is paying any attention at all to the fifth century.  It is odd that even if you do pay attention to the fifth century, you have to sell whole tribes as "proto-Vikings" as if too admit, the fifth century on its own does actually exist in one of those mysterious cultural voids that form outside of Tiger Tanks (I mean Panzers, what's wrong with me!!?)and Spartans.  Now I feel as though the actual Vikings might have a cultural void sneaking up on them when King Arthur somehow becomes popcultural again.  Not likely.  After all what antique sppedlunker of obsolete knightly virtue is to be preferred to good, honest plundering and so on?  How can I assume proto-manly postures?  How can I be elite with primitive engineering?  It's a slippery slope: first the protovikings, then the atmospheric steam engine as proto-tiger tank, then the Venetians as ex-Spartans and so on.  Pretty soon there will be no cultural voids -- we'll be able to play anything as long as it is sold as something else.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 25, 2014, 02:55:09 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on November 25, 2014, 02:38:57 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on November 25, 2014, 01:53:57 PM
It does seem a little early for the Vikings, but I'm not gonna be the one to tell them they got to go home. :knuppel2: I get what you're saying Ming. But why not throw the Mongols and the Turks in too.?

  The thing is I think it is absolutely wonderful that anyone -- much less a big game -- is paying any attention at all to the fifth century.  It is odd that even if you do pay attention to the fifth century, you have to sell whole tribes as "proto-Vikings" as if too admit, the fifth century on its own does actually exist in one of those mysterious cultural voids that form outside of Tiger Tanks (I mean Panzers, what's wrong with me!!?)and Spartans.  Now I feel as though the actual Vikings might have a cultural void sneaking up on them when King Arthur somehow becomes popcultural again.  Not likely.  After all what antique sppedlunker of obsolete knightly virtue is to be preferred to good, honest plundering and so on?  How can I assume proto-manly postures?  How can I be elite with primitive engineering?  It's a slippery slope: first the protovikings, then the atmospheric steam engine as proto-tiger tank, then the Venetians as ex-Spartans and so on.  Pretty soon there will be no cultural voids -- we'll be able to play anything as long as it is sold as something else.

  This reminds me of two things:

   first the atmospheric steam engine: 

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcomen_atmospheric_engine

   Second the RPS review of Far Cry 4 that says the game is fine after you clear off the marketing and the plot and the plot missions.  Which magically the coop mode does!  Well not the marketing, of course, there you still have the old man against himself, man against man, man against nature skulldrudgery.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on November 29, 2014, 11:18:25 AM
Another new video showing the new Diplomacy and Politics features. This game is starting to look better than Selma Hayek carrying a plate of hotwings and a keg.  http://twcenter.net
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 29, 2014, 01:55:02 PM
^Come now...nothing looks that good.

Is the video worth watching?

BTW I pre-ordered the game through the VIP Green Man Gaming section yesterday for ~35.99...the deal should still be on for anyone interested. Don't pretend you're not.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: SirAndrewD on November 29, 2014, 03:32:34 PM
Yeah, the video is worth watching.

Sort of makes me mad that Rome II didn't have these features though. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on November 29, 2014, 06:10:55 PM
I am still debating whether to pre purchase or not, still have 3 months before release and guessing we'll see some additional price breaks before then.  Does look good though so who knows:)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on November 29, 2014, 08:14:51 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on November 29, 2014, 11:18:25 AM
Another new video showing the new Diplomacy and Politics features. This game is starting to look better than Selma Hayek carrying a plate of hotwings and a keg.  http://twcenter.net

That all sounded so rational.  I especially liked the tutiliage of retainers feature!  Not a hint of infantile bombast!  the Tutiliage must be working!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on November 29, 2014, 11:58:05 PM
Damn right I'm interested for $36. Thanks for the tip Gus. Hope you get a VIP cut.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Yskonyn on November 30, 2014, 02:02:13 AM

Quote from: Gusington on November 29, 2014, 01:55:02 PM

BTW I pre-ordered the game through the VIP Green Man Gaming section yesterday for ~35.99...the deal should still be on for anyone interested. Don't pretend you're not.

Pre ordered as per your tip! Thank you, sir!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 30, 2014, 03:00:55 PM
I live to serve. Have you seen the developers' YouTube video on politics, diplomacy, etc? It's here in case you haven't:


Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Yskonyn on November 30, 2014, 04:10:49 PM
Yes I have! Crusader Kings-light in TW! Yummy!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 30, 2014, 06:05:31 PM
I thought the same thing...the campaign map and all the overlays are making the strategic part of the game look a lot like CKII.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on December 01, 2014, 07:23:07 AM
ive been very meh about this release until i saw that video - looks great, loving all the new stuff
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Anguille on December 01, 2014, 07:54:53 AM
Quote from: Gusington on November 30, 2014, 03:00:55 PM
I live to serve. Have you seen the developers' YouTube video on politics, diplomacy, etc? It's here in case you haven't:



It's looking really nice...and the strategy map finally gives all the information i want/need.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 01, 2014, 08:22:57 AM
Yeah...looks like they have been taking UI design cues from the Paradox CKII team.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on December 01, 2014, 12:24:57 PM
I dunno.  Much of it still reminds me of the R2TW interface, but they (thankfully) improved it both mechanically and aesthetically.

The only part that resembles CK2 is the circular symbols, instead of the old flags, on the map view.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Yskonyn on December 01, 2014, 02:17:01 PM
Well, Nef, characters relations never mattered in TW before... In Atilla they seems to matter for the first time. That was my CK2 reference.  :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 01, 2014, 03:22:39 PM
Me too. Plus the increasing number of map overlays...which for me is a good thing.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on December 01, 2014, 04:25:40 PM
Quote from: Yskonyn on December 01, 2014, 02:17:01 PM
Well, Nef, characters relations never mattered in TW before... In Atilla they seems to matter for the first time. That was my CK2 reference.  :)


Oh.  I suppose.

It just looked more like some of the old hereditary stuff from the original STW/MTW with an extra feature or two.  They kinda half-ass attempted some of these extra CK2-like features in R2TW but it sucked.  Hopefully they don't add more suck to the next one, and do a better job of it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on December 01, 2014, 07:46:41 PM
Pre-ordering a Total War game?  What can possibly go wrong?   ::)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on December 01, 2014, 10:59:17 PM
Quote from: Toonces on December 01, 2014, 07:46:41 PM
Pre-ordering a Total War game?  What can possibly go wrong?   ::)


:2funny:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Yskonyn on December 02, 2014, 01:53:42 AM
Lol!
I have pre ordered most of my TW collection and always got my money's worth out of every title so far. :)
The amount of bitching about the games is second to none in the TW community. Lots of entitled whiners IMO.
TW games are cool!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on December 02, 2014, 08:14:00 AM
Am debating whether to pre-order this one or not. 


I've really enjoyed Rome II, and I can't help but believe CA will do at least as well with Attila.  The new features interest me as well. 

On the other hand, I'm not as interested in the late Roman period as I am the early/middle period (although I retain a degree of interest).  In addition, I'm pretty turned off by all the bombast we've seen in the media blitz thus far, not to mention the ridiculous labeling of certain DLC ("Viking fore-fathers"? really? ::) ).  And of course, I've long had a "thing" about not liking to pre-order games (and Total War titles in particular). 


I'll probably hold off in the end (knowing me), but I'm still tempted... 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: FlickJax on December 02, 2014, 08:26:43 AM
I want to know what happened to the warhammer game they were  meant to be making?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on December 02, 2014, 08:57:27 AM
Quote from: FlickJax on December 02, 2014, 08:26:43 AM
I want to know what happened to the warhammer game they were  meant to be making?


This.

:coolsmiley:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 02, 2014, 09:18:59 AM
By using the new math, the Warhammer title will be CA's 2016 release.

I love the Dark Age era...the fall of Rome is something I never get bored of reading about. Attila was a no-brainer preorder for me, despite the possible pitfalls.

I'm pretty sure I will get at least 200 hours worth of gameplay out of it, if my play of Rome 2 or Shogun 2 are any indication.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on December 02, 2014, 10:53:13 AM
Quote from: Martok on December 02, 2014, 08:14:00 AM
Am debating whether to pre-order this one or not. 


I've really enjoyed Rome II, and I can't help but believe CA will do at least as well with Attila.  The new features interest me as well. 

On the other hand, I'm not as interested in the late Roman period as I am the early/middle period (although I retain a degree of interest).  In addition, I'm pretty turned off by all the bombast we've seen in the media blitz thus far, not to mention the ridiculous labeling of certain DLC ("Viking fore-fathers"? really? ::) ).  And of course, I've long had a "thing" about not liking to pre-order games (and Total War titles in particular). 


I'll probably hold off in the end (knowing me), but I'm still tempted...

  I'm so happy with the simple idea of any Dark Age gaming (what?  No Tiger Tanks?  No Vikings?  No Spartans? ) that I am working hard to discount my own opinion (since it is nothing but an exclamation of "NEATO!")...so, I think Attila will be a good game despite all the overworked attempts to hype the Huns as being somehow unimaginable -- as in "of course you can't imagine them -- they are so far beyond Vikings and Tiger tanks and Spartans as to be unimaginable!  Trying to work the void in the mind against itself -- you look deep deep into the place where you don't see a Tiger Tank or a FW190 or a Spartan or a Viking and there, in the realm of shapeless dread is something shapeless -- the Huns (of course it might just be the fifth century, but that's something marketing said, "And by the way, the less you say about the fifth century the better, just keep beating on the mindless horror angle -- you can sell anything with enough mindless horror, right?).

  Anyway, as far as I'm concerned its a happy accident and I assume the game will be an unpopular masterpiece, hated by the professional haters and treasured by me and a few people who I cannot imagine except as non-Tanks and non-Vikings and non-Spartans.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on December 02, 2014, 03:40:42 PM
Carthage had Tiger tanks. They were called "War Elephants". They didn't have 88's but got much better gas mileage. They can call this game anything they want but it's looking more like Barbarian Invasion 2 to me. And that's a very good thing. Also I can see an easy transition to Medieval TW3.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 02, 2014, 03:52:17 PM
I can see that too. I hope not because I am still holding out for Victoria: Total War...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on December 02, 2014, 05:56:46 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on December 02, 2014, 03:40:42 PM
Carthage had Tiger tanks. They were called "War Elephants". They didn't have 88's but got much better gas mileage. They can call this game anything they want but it's looking more like Barbarian Invasion 2 to me. And that's a very good thing. Also I can see an easy transition to Medieval TW3.

They weren't very good in the snow, though.

:buck2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on December 03, 2014, 12:13:04 AM
No because elephants can't wear snowshoes. But they can wear ice skates Great, big ice skates.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on December 03, 2014, 09:46:07 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on December 03, 2014, 12:13:04 AM
No because elephants can't wear snowshoes. But they can wear ice skates Great, big ice skates.

  And there's just another reason why the fifth century is actually just another of the many completely invisible regions of the past -- despite the supposed wonder of Attila.  Also, something has gotten corrupted in the popular barbarian imagery department.  To tell the truth, I think barbarians have gone the way of King Arthur and Charles Martel -- they really just aren't something marketing can depend on any more.

  You can see the poor marketing "creative" looking sadly at all their barbarian verbiage and noting that it just doesn't ring any bells any more.  "I can scream barbarian all day long and nobody gives a shit."

  Even Elephants and Hannibal -- can't use 'em, no Hannibal or Sparta or Ceasar or Roman Legions or Spartans or Tiger Tanks.  We're talking nothing but this Attila thing.

   And what's he?

   He's a Hun.  That's like the SS in smelly rags.  Little Asian SS men on small furry horses.

   Jeez, the uniforms....no uniforms?

   Saddles?

   Like Cowboys?

   No!  Not like Cowboys!  Nobody buys Cowboys anymore!  Where have you been?

   Calm down.  So what about this Attila.

   He's a scourge.

   Like Tiny Tim?

   That's Scrooge.

   That's Good!  what about the zombie Christmas angle?

   I like that.

   He gets dressed up.  he has scores to settle.

   With the Western Roman Empire.

   Right.  Some kind of oppressive empire.

   Right.  And he doesn't wear a mask -- he's just "Attila" -- just like that.

   Wow!  the image or the non-image.

   That's what we're selling.  You look at it and there's just nothing there.

   Perfect!

 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on December 03, 2014, 10:24:42 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on December 03, 2014, 09:46:07 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on December 03, 2014, 12:13:04 AM
No because elephants can't wear snowshoes. But they can wear ice skates Great, big ice skates.

  And there's just another reason why the fifth century is actually just another of the many completely invisible regions of the past -- despite the supposed wonder of Attila.  Also, something has gotten corrupted in the popular barbarian imagery department.  To tell the truth, I think barbarians have gone the way of King Arthur and Charles Martel -- they really just aren't something marketing can depend on any more.

  You can see the poor marketing "creative" looking sadly at all their barbarian verbiage and noting that it just doesn't ring any bells any more.  "I can scream barbarian all day long and nobody gives a shit."

  Even Elephants and Hannibal -- can't use 'em, no Hannibal or Sparta or Ceasar or Roman Legions or Spartans or Tiger Tanks.  We're talking nothing but this Attila thing.

   And what's he?

   He's a Hun.  That's like the SS in smelly rags.  Little Asian SS men on small furry horses.

   Jeez, the uniforms....no uniforms?

   Saddles?

   Like Cowboys?

   No!  Not like Cowboys!  Nobody buys Cowboys anymore!  Where have you been?

   Calm down.  So what about this Attila.

   He's a scourge.

   Like Tiny Tim?

   That's Scrooge.

   That's Good!  what about the zombie Christmas angle?

   I like that.

   He gets dressed up.  he has scores to settle.

   With the Western Roman Empire.

   Right.  Some kind of oppressive empire.

   Right.  And he doesn't wear a mask -- he's just "Attila" -- just like that.

   Wow!  the image or the non-image.

   That's what we're selling.  You look at it and there's just nothing there.

   Perfect!





Do you write reviews for RPS perchance?

:P
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on December 03, 2014, 10:30:44 AM
Quote from: Nefaro on December 03, 2014, 10:24:42 AM


Do you write reviews for RPS perchance?

:P

  No, but I mostly enjoy their heavy-handed comedy.  I admit it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 03, 2014, 03:02:58 PM
Hahaha not Scrooge, scourge!! Scourge dammit!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JasonPratt on December 03, 2014, 03:29:17 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on December 03, 2014, 09:46:07 AM

   That's what we're selling.  You look at it and there's just nothing there.


FEAR THE HUN YOU CANNOT SEE!  O0

Attila, like Batman but with armies. Of batmen.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on December 04, 2014, 04:21:57 PM
Another one of those "Rally Point" episodes got posted today. 

It featured -- among other things (things that *really* excite me >:D ) -- a great, if all-too-brief, look at Constantinople and the Eastern Roman Empire in Attila (I already posted it in the Rome II thread, but it's worth posting here as well): 





Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 04, 2014, 07:48:04 PM
I've got to watch that on a proper monitor when I can. Congrats on finally getting your Greek on Martok!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on December 04, 2014, 08:22:29 PM
Quote from: Gusington on December 04, 2014, 07:48:04 PM
I've got to watch that on a proper monitor when I can. Congrats on finally getting your Greek on Martok!

  Odd that they have the Hagia Sophia (built after 500 AD) on hand in 395.  But I guess the Spartans made the Athenians build it or something.

  Also odd that they imagine the Spartans going after Persia after the Peloponesian War(s) when they were being paid by the Persians to keep the Athenians busy.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on December 09, 2014, 10:02:16 AM
Attila's on sale at Get Games for 20% off pre-order. Anybody know about how reliable this site is? The Wraith of Sparta DLC is also on sale 15% off.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 09, 2014, 11:54:27 AM
I used them once or twice without issue. Are the any other Rome 2 DLCs on sale?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on December 09, 2014, 12:13:51 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on December 09, 2014, 10:02:16 AM
Attila's on sale at Get Games for 20% off pre-order. Anybody know about how reliable this site is? The Wraith of Sparta DLC is also on sale 15% off.

They're just fine.  I've been getting my Total War base games there because they usually offer a sizable discount before release.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on December 09, 2014, 01:12:39 PM
Other than NTW, no nothing else TW on sale. But there are lots of other stuff on sale. Thanks for the info guys. I might wait a little longer before pulling the trigger, just to say I held-out a while.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 09, 2014, 03:51:46 PM
Like til after dinner?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on December 09, 2014, 04:01:50 PM
Bedtime snack.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 09, 2014, 06:35:06 PM
Now that's discipline.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on December 23, 2014, 12:07:47 PM
Quote from: Gusington on December 09, 2014, 06:35:06 PM
Now that's discipline.


   Something more about Attila: Army Management:

   http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?675271-Total-War-ATTILA-Army-Management-Feature-Spotlight


Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on December 23, 2014, 08:19:01 PM
Damn. Good find Ming. I hadn't seen this before. This game's looking better than Kate Upton playing Strip Volleyball. And losing. I can see a pre-order in my future.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on December 23, 2014, 08:28:04 PM
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 23, 2014, 10:18:23 PM
I preordered a month ago  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on December 23, 2014, 11:52:03 PM
I'll definitely pre-order at some point but it's not supposed to be released until what?  February?

Will get it discounted somewhere next month.  There are one or two British digital retailers that have had the last couple Total War titles on perpetual pre-order discount, sometimes exceptionally so.  I'm not concerned about missing it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 24, 2014, 08:52:59 AM
That's why i preordered...Green Man had it for 25% off so I jumped.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on December 24, 2014, 11:04:33 AM
Because you're a VIP. Most places have me listed as... VUP( very unimportant person). Or JITFAHGA( Just Ignore This Fu--er And He'll Go Away). I prefer VUP.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on December 24, 2014, 11:17:57 AM
Its back on sale at GMG for 25% off using the code 25HAPP-YXMASF-ROMGMG ....comes out to roughly $33.

http://www.greenmangaming.com/s/us/en/pc/games/strategy/total-war-attila/
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 24, 2014, 12:07:15 PM
See! Now the unwashed like Sir Slash can get it too.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on December 24, 2014, 12:24:03 PM
For this price, I will wash.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 24, 2014, 10:21:45 PM
Clearly, you're serious.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on December 24, 2014, 11:31:54 PM
^ Ha!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on December 25, 2014, 12:09:23 AM
Serious, yes. And don't call me Clearly. For 25% off, I'll not only wash but drop the soap too. And then pick it up. Quickly.  ::)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on December 25, 2014, 08:44:41 AM
hes a spec ops hobbit.
not only with you never know hes there, you wont see him comming.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on December 25, 2014, 11:15:41 AM
It does look good, but I'm surprised there is so much excitement over this. Attila really doesn't do much for me. I would have preferred a new period altogether, or even a return to Medieval times. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 25, 2014, 02:00:02 PM
Dark Ages and the fall of Rome are right in my wheelhouse...I love the era.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on December 25, 2014, 05:00:52 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 25, 2014, 11:15:41 AM
It does look good, but I'm surprised there is so much excitement over this. Attila really doesn't do much for me. I would have preferred a new period altogether, or even a return to Medieval times.

I'm not interested in playing as Attilla but the other factions would be cool...like late Rome
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on December 25, 2014, 05:34:05 PM

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 25, 2014, 11:15:41 AM
It does look good, but I'm surprised there is so much excitement over this. Attila really doesn't do much for me. I would have preferred a new period altogether, or even a return to Medieval times.





Quote from: mikeck on December 25, 2014, 05:00:52 PM
I'm not interested in playing as Attilla but the other factions would be cool...like late Rome

I think the other "barbarian" factions will make or break this one for me.  Excluding any Hun faction, of course. 

Some of the announced upgrades to the UI and campaign mechanics are welcome.  I wasn't very enamored with the campaign mechanic changes they made between Shogun 2 and Rome 2, but the ones for Attila look to be a nice improvement.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 25, 2014, 08:18:19 PM
I also like the evolution of the unit art from Rome 2 to Attila. At least the shots I have seen in the latest clips. I wonder too if Medieval 3 is in the works, after the alleged Warhammer title.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on December 25, 2014, 09:54:17 PM
Wish they would do a 1453-1700 version but that time period just isn't popular enough.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on December 25, 2014, 10:06:15 PM
^I hear you, I love that era too.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on December 30, 2014, 09:46:16 AM
Quote from: mikeck on December 25, 2014, 09:54:17 PM
Wish they would do a 1453-1700 version but that time period just isn't popular enough.

  The Fall of the Western Empire is an odd pick -- not that I'm complaining, I'm just intrigued that they came up with the idea at all.  The whole dynamic of how some tidbits of history get into games while most of what has happened makes no appearance at all is kind of mesmerizing -- in a more or less unwholesome way.  As a fanboi, I want to believe there is some kind of logic, while as an actual human being I'm stuck with a kind of horrified amusement or bemusement and no serious belief that there is anything resembling logic involved at all.

  Let's face it:  which bits of history end up in games is just plain strange and which bits of history end up in big computer games is even stranger.  For example, I haven't played any Assassins Creed, but what's up with what they pick as the settings for those things?  No to mention the interpretations they want to impose on events.  At least with games like Attila, the supposed dynamic that drives events is more or less geopolitical: you get your factions and your locations and resources and you fight it out -- it makes some kind of sense, even a gamey kind of sense.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 05, 2015, 11:46:46 AM
Quote from: Gusington on December 25, 2014, 08:18:19 PM
I also like the evolution of the unit art from Rome 2 to Attila. At least the shots I have seen in the latest clips. I wonder too if Medieval 3 is in the works, after the alleged Warhammer title.

RPS takes a look and adopts some of the usual themes in talking about Attila:
   
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/01/05/total-war-attila-preview-sega/#more-260575

  Which brings up more about the problem of imagining the 5th Century:  as a game and a century it follows Classic Rome and does not look the same and when Attila the game is discussed it is generally as an improved Rome II -- but this means that the themes one tends to pick for the 5th century (barbarian "hordes", imperial collapse, the end of the world, gathering darkness, flames, horror etc.etc.) also have to seem like positives -- because -- well -- you can't just look at the 5th century as a time period apparently even in a game -- it has to be chock-full of moral lessons and cataclysmic imagery.  Which is apparently great for games as marketing extravaganzas, but of dubious value if one is looking at some kind of functioning state imagery in the game.
Because the Total War series has come to be about  how to run a state (empire, kingdom, tribal confederation, republic, etc. etc.) so (paradoxically) there have to be some functional elements left in the 5th century (as in fact obviously in reality there were).  So the game has to have elements that cut against the supposed themes of unstoppable, nightmarish collapse.

To me this all sounds like a good mix even filtered through the lenses of RPS's need for themes (which Rome II lacked it seems, but that Attila will have) and the tendency of many people to insist that Attila is the game that Rome II should have been.  You get your goofy marketing themes of barbarian this and that plus the oddly overblown imageries of decline and fall and against all that some kind of functional state structures in the game and some gamey attempts by the player to make the functional elements work somehow.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 05, 2015, 03:25:25 PM
I have to admit I love RPS' view on this, the theme of impending doom. But it's not really new to the series: it's what I really loved about Barbarian Invasion 10 years ago.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 05, 2015, 03:40:22 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 05, 2015, 03:25:25 PM
I have to admit I love RPS' view on this, the theme of impending doom. But it's not really new to the series: it's what I really loved about Barbarian Invasion 10 years ago.

  I think the results will be a fun game, but the doom thing is a bit premature: sure the Western Empire evaporates but that might have saved everybody a lot of trouble.  The doom really hits in the later 6th century and into the early 7th : the Yellow Plague, the most massive erosion of topsoil between the late Roman Republic and fascism, Catholic Merovingians, human sacrifice at Sutton Hoo, the near collapse of the Eastern Empire (all between 550 and 650 except Catholic Clovis at 495 IIRC).  Even the cold weather was later: 450 to 950.

  You'd have to run the game well past 450 to get any real doom going, realistically anyway.  Even as late as about 500 you get the historical King Arthur, who really seems to have been a warm period kind of guy.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 05, 2015, 03:48:21 PM
The game starts in 395 so...OMG THE CATHOLIC MEROVINGIANS ARE COMING
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 05, 2015, 03:55:03 PM
Video preview over at...  http://twcenter.net/  Don't tell them it's Barbarian Invasion 2 or else they'll screw it up to try to make it different.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 05, 2015, 03:58:26 PM
Sweet, gotta watch that on a proper screen.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 05, 2015, 04:07:22 PM
I'm afraid to Gus. I might start uncontrollably licking my computer screen.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 05, 2015, 07:05:56 PM
We all do it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 05, 2015, 07:14:07 PM
no we all don't.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 05, 2015, 07:19:10 PM
Don't hate. And don't lie.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 05, 2015, 07:23:28 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.acmilan-online.com%2Fimages%2Fsmilie%2Flick.gif&hash=8453ba6f943b4999b52493f89ae9cc42cf0d8f15)

I like the unit pictures waaaaay more then the ones in RTW2.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 05, 2015, 07:27:07 PM
I'll second that one Star. With the voice in my head adding a third.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on January 05, 2015, 10:15:07 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 05, 2015, 03:55:03 PM
Video preview over at...  http://twcenter.net/  Don't tell them it's Barbarian Invasion 2 or else they'll screw it up to try to make it different.
Hmm.  Darren says the battles in Attila seem to be more quicker-paced than in Rome II; if so, that's definitely not a point in its favor.  I'm also with him in that I prefer the flags over the floating icons. 




Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 05, 2015, 07:23:28 PM
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.acmilan-online.com%2Fimages%2Fsmilie%2Flick.gif&hash=8453ba6f943b4999b52493f89ae9cc42cf0d8f15)

I like the unit pictures waaaaay more then the ones in RTW2.
I think I'm the only one who likes the unit cards in Rome II.  There's something about that art style that just appeals to me. 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 06, 2015, 09:49:20 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 05, 2015, 03:48:21 PM
The game starts in 395 so...OMG THE CATHOLIC MEROVINGIANS ARE COMING

  Not until 495 and I think the game ends in 465.  I'm not sure why it would end then, but you get your 70 years or 280 turns and that's the end of the world.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on January 06, 2015, 10:14:11 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 06, 2015, 09:49:20 AM
  Not until 495 and I think the game ends in 465.  I'm not sure why it would end then
Without googling it, I want to say that's around the time the last emperor of the Western Empire abdicated his throne.  (Even if I'm right, that seems like a pretty silly/lame reason to end the game in that year.) 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 06, 2015, 10:27:40 AM
70 years/280 turns seems awfully short...like me
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on January 06, 2015, 11:07:42 AM
Yeah, anything less than 300 turns is usually a deal-breaker for me (and 400-500 turns is preferable), especially for a game's main campaign. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 06, 2015, 11:59:05 AM
Quote from: Martok on January 06, 2015, 10:14:11 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 06, 2015, 09:49:20 AM
  Not until 495 and I think the game ends in 465.  I'm not sure why it would end then
Without googling it, I want to say that's around the time the last emperor of the Western Empire abdicated his throne.  (Even if I'm right, that seems like a pretty silly/lame reason to end the game in that year.)

  I think 478 or so is the traditional date of the end of the Western Empire as a political entity, but the real crisis could be seen as happening much sooner -- maybe 455 when the Vandals sacked Rome?

  Anyway -- maybe the point underlying the 70 years is that in game terms that is the critical period during which the Western Empire could have adapted to whatever one wants to take as the major changes in that time frame (the onset of colder weather?  better horse tack?  Smarter barbarians? incipient Catholic Merovingians? Prudentius? Allegory? the Ambrosian Plain chant? Sangiban?)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 06, 2015, 12:01:27 PM
I bet there will be mods extending the game to the Kennedy administration.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 06, 2015, 03:39:16 PM
With a Chappaquiddick dlc?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 06, 2015, 03:56:50 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 06, 2015, 03:39:16 PM
With a Chappaquiddick dlc?

  Well, hmmm...Cassidorus seems to have gotten fed up (in retrospect) with the mess in 465, which would make Chappaquiddick look a lot like Camelot in comparison.

  Of course if "King Arthur" was an Alan working for the mysterious Riothamus (Brittainic Great King?), then somebody (Arthyious the Alan with his Dragon Banner and Sarmation/Alan sword-stuck-in-the-ground religion) would have been at home in Camelot -- where ever that might have been.

  So maybe that's why things stop in 465.
 

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libius_Severus
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 06, 2015, 06:19:09 PM
I'll preorder whatever it is you described above if it will include elephants and camels and Ted Kennedy.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 06, 2015, 07:53:42 PM
I often don't know what Ming's saying but, damn I like the way he says it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 06, 2015, 08:25:19 PM
You should see him sober!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on January 06, 2015, 10:22:54 PM
I don't know...280 turns is a lot, no?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 06, 2015, 10:41:11 PM
In most past TW games I felt like I was just getting started after about 100 turn, IIRC.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 06, 2015, 11:01:27 PM
typically the 100 turn point is where you can bust out and do some serious expansion when you not starting off surrounded.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 07, 2015, 12:09:52 AM
The way I play, 100 turns is an Endurance Record. The highlight of my Barbarian Invasion history is guiding the Eastern Romans to victory while building a mini Maginot Line to keep the Huns out of Constantinople. I hope Attila is as tough now as he was back at the start of the century.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 07, 2015, 12:51:12 AM
100 - 120 was usually the end game with Shogun2.  the geography just doesn't allow longer games.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 07, 2015, 03:18:41 PM
Quote from: mikeck on January 06, 2015, 10:22:54 PM
I don't know...280 turns is a lot, no?

  It might work okay.  Maybe a lot happens pretty fast in this version of TW.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 07, 2015, 03:28:15 PM
I could dig that...maybe it would be refreshing to complete a campaign in a few weeks instead of a month.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 08, 2015, 11:02:56 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 05, 2015, 03:55:03 PM
Video preview over at...  http://twcenter.net/  Don't tell them it's Barbarian Invasion 2 or else they'll screw it up to try to make it different.

  In the victory conditions in the above version 446 is the year you have to survive to in order to win.  So that's only 51 years or 204 turns.
So what's so special about 446 AD?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 08, 2015, 11:09:36 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 08, 2015, 11:02:56 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 05, 2015, 03:55:03 PM
Video preview over at...  http://twcenter.net/  Don't tell them it's Barbarian Invasion 2 or else they'll screw it up to try to make it different.

  In the victory conditions in the above version 446 is the year you have to survive to in order to win.  So that's only 51 years or 204 turns.
So what's so special about 446 AD?

  The revolt of the Bacudae?  (about 446?): 

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavius_Aetius

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 08:02:27 AM
Total War: Warhammer has been confirmed on TWC and RPS. There is apparently an art book being released soon and in an interview about that Mike Sampson of CA confirms it. On my phone so I can't link, sorry.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on January 14, 2015, 08:34:13 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 08:02:27 AM
Total War: Warhammer has been confirmed on TWC and RPS. There is apparently an art book being released soon and in an interview about that Mike Sampson of CA confirms it. On my phone so I can't link, sorry.

SOLD!!!

all of money at the screen at once
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 09:27:43 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 08:02:27 AM
Total War: Warhammer has been confirmed on TWC and RPS. There is apparently an art book being released soon and in an interview about that Mike Sampson of CA confirms it. On my phone so I can't link, sorry.

  Finally!  I can save some money and not buy something!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: FlickJax on January 14, 2015, 09:30:12 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 08:02:27 AM
Total War: Warhammer has been confirmed on TWC and RPS. There is apparently an art book being released soon and in an interview about that Mike Sampson of CA confirms it. On my phone so I can't link, sorry.

I wants it!!!!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on January 14, 2015, 09:43:40 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 09:27:43 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 08:02:27 AM
Total War: Warhammer has been confirmed on TWC and RPS. There is apparently an art book being released soon and in an interview about that Mike Sampson of CA confirms it. On my phone so I can't link, sorry.

  Finally!  I can save some money and not buy something!

heretic
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 10:22:57 AM
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 14, 2015, 09:43:40 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 09:27:43 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 08:02:27 AM
Total War: Warhammer has been confirmed on TWC and RPS. There is apparently an art book being released soon and in an interview about that Mike Sampson of CA confirms it. On my phone so I can't link, sorry.

  Finally!  I can save some money and not buy something!

heretic

  I've been hoping desperately for years for TW: Warhammer to come out so that I could finally stop buying TW games.

  Here's what I hope will be a brief excursion into pure negativity: the only association I have with anything along the lines of warhammer games is that in the last days of my going to game stores, there were always 3-4 persons hanging around the cash register talking about the modifiers on every last blow of every last weapon in every last encounter in every last game of warhammer they had played ever. 

  So warhammer marks at least two stopping points for me: going to game stores and buying TW.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: FlickJax on January 14, 2015, 10:32:01 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 10:22:57 AM
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 14, 2015, 09:43:40 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 09:27:43 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 08:02:27 AM
Total War: Warhammer has been confirmed on TWC and RPS. There is apparently an art book being released soon and in an interview about that Mike Sampson of CA confirms it. On my phone so I can't link, sorry.

  Finally!  I can save some money and not buy something!

Burn him

heretic

  I've been hoping desperately for years for TW: Warhammer to come out so that I could finally stop buying TW games.

  Here's what I hope will be a brief excursion into pure negativity: the only association I have with anything along the lines of warhammer games is that in the last days of my going to game stores, there were always 3-4 persons hanging around the cash register talking about the modifiers on every last blow of every last weapon in every last encounter in every last game of warhammer they had played ever. 

  So warhammer marks at least two stopping points for me: going to game stores and buying TW.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on January 14, 2015, 11:07:31 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 10:22:57 AM


  I've been hoping desperately for years for TW: Warhammer to come out so that I could finally stop buying TW games.

  Here's what I hope will be a brief excursion into pure negativity: the only association I have with anything along the lines of warhammer games is that in the last days of my going to game stores, there were always 3-4 persons hanging around the cash register talking about the modifiers on every last blow of every last weapon in every last encounter in every last game of warhammer they had played ever. 

  So warhammer marks at least two stopping points for me: going to game stores and buying TW.
~>




The Enemy Within!™ ©®
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: sandman2575 on January 14, 2015, 11:36:14 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 09:27:43 AM
  Finally!  I can save some money and not buy something!

+1  --  couldn't care less about Warhammer. Disappointed CA is not moving on to a revamped Medieval Total War, which I figured which be the next logical progression.   
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 12:11:24 PM
Quote from: sandman2575 on January 14, 2015, 11:36:14 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 09:27:43 AM
  Finally!  I can save some money and not buy something!

+1  --  couldn't care less about Warhammer. Disappointed CA is not moving on to a revamped Medieval Total War, which I figured which be the next logical progression.

  It's a nice move for CA.  I hope it makes them a bzillion bucks.  It will also get them away from the terminally disgruntled population that works everyday to hate them more and more.  I'm sure the Warhammer crowd will be just as primed to hate, but how much hate can you actually extract from a crowd that has spent years wondering whether a double-enchanted-maxtourniquet-5-battleAx should do extra cross-sphinter-damage to a plus-nine-zombie-archbishop?  There's just really not that much hate-juice left in there really.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on January 14, 2015, 12:39:07 PM
Zero interest in Warhammer as well.  I still want a Victorian era game. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on January 14, 2015, 01:15:40 PM
Quote from: sandman2575 on January 14, 2015, 11:36:14 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 09:27:43 AM
  Finally!  I can save some money and not buy something!

+1  --  couldn't care less about Warhammer. Disappointed CA is not moving on to a revamped Medieval Total War, which I figured which be the next logical progression.

from what i understand, and im probably wrong, i thought this was a different part of CA doing Warhammer and the regular lot are still, you know, total-izing
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: sandman2575 on January 14, 2015, 01:51:28 PM
Hope you're right.  Y'all are welcome to Total Warhammer so long as some of the blokes at CA are working on more important stuff, i.e. Total War Medieval 3, or per SDR, Total War Age of Victoria.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 02:12:23 PM
Quote from: sandman2575 on January 14, 2015, 01:51:28 PM
Hope you're right.  Y'all are welcome to Total Warhammer so long as some of the blokes at CA are working on more important stuff, i.e. Total War Medieval 3, or per SDR, Total War Age of Victoria.

  It seems that the core development group is still set to work on non-Warhammer things.  (see for example far along in the things cited in:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/01/14/its-time-total-war-warhammer-confirmed/#more-262407)

  And after all, how many programmers does it take to turn out 30 different +3 versions of 30 different gnarly weapons?  Not many.  Its an endless money pit once you start churning out such stuff -- as GW discovered when it started making the warhammer figurines.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JasonPratt on January 14, 2015, 02:30:55 PM
uh, I didn't see things cited in that article...

While I would personally prefer Three Kingdoms Total War, I'm up for Total Warhammer.

Consider this, meanwhile:

40K Tyranids = xenomorphs from Alien

xenomorphs from Alien,  recently done right (at last) by Creative Assembly

Creative Assembly, probably fixing to do right by Warhammer

Warhammer in space == 40K

:D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on January 14, 2015, 02:40:06 PM
But it's not WH40k.   ???
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 14, 2015, 02:49:12 PM
Quote from: JasonPratt on January 14, 2015, 02:30:55 PM
uh, I didn't see things cited in that article...

While I would personally prefer Three Kingdoms Total War, I'm up for Total Warhammer.

Consider this, meanwhile:

40K Tyranids = xenomorphs from Alien

xenomorphs from Alien,  recently done right (at last) by Creative Assembly

Creative Assembly, probably fixing to do right by Warhammer

Warhammer in space == 40K

:D

From the total war creative director (mike something?):

We have five teams. The original core team is working on the main game, Attila at the moment, and it's still the same size as it was, or just slightly larger than on the previous project. So it's not like we're diluting the main team in order to do more projects. The main team will always be focused on single-player historical strategy games. All of these offshoots, though, we'll try different things. Some will work well, some not so well, and we'll just keep going.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on January 14, 2015, 03:11:46 PM
while im all pointy for medieval 3, im looking forward to warhammer total hammer war:hammer very much

bring on the dwarves
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 06:59:56 PM
I'm right here, let's go.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 14, 2015, 07:02:59 PM
I'll play anything Total War even if it's rainbows and unicorns.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 07:16:38 PM
I think Warhammer is a perfect universe for it. I like this plan.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: jomni on January 14, 2015, 08:01:26 PM
Warhammer is a no go for me. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on January 14, 2015, 08:51:30 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on January 14, 2015, 03:11:46 PM

bring on the dwarves


Hell yes.


(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhe2etic.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F11%2Fironbreaker-look-01.jpg&hash=6ba51388aa72cee6d3dd4e4f79882c297dc88ae6)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F33.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_lrazfqIzw91qg1h92o1_500.png&hash=0e13b7ab33499b07146db7dd286356d6ce4ec741)

^-^
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 14, 2015, 09:06:01 PM
^YES!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JasonPratt on January 15, 2015, 08:17:40 AM
^^ I heard Gimli's voice agreeing that the tall guys should ride out on horses to their certain deaths while he blows the super-tuba.

Quote from: Nefaro on January 14, 2015, 02:40:06 PM
But it's not WH40k.   ???

Not yet.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 19, 2015, 08:49:50 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 07, 2015, 03:18:41 PM
Quote from: mikeck on January 06, 2015, 10:22:54 PM
I don't know...280 turns is a lot, no?

  It might work okay.  Maybe a lot happens pretty fast in this version of TW.

Campaign Map:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?677856-PREVIEW-full-campaign-map!

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 19, 2015, 09:16:17 PM
Looks very similar to the Rome 2 grand campaign map, eh?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 19, 2015, 11:38:44 PM
Why yes it does. Except my Rome 2 map is covered with the blood of my smashed armies. And giant red elephant footprints leading away from the gore. I like this one better. I'm not sure about the floating icons replacing the banners carried by the armies. I think I'll miss them but somebody will mod them back quickly I bet.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 20, 2015, 08:41:30 AM
Yeah there have been grumblings over at TWC about the flags being replaced on the campaign map but like you say changes like that are usually quickly and easily modded.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 20, 2015, 10:07:37 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 19, 2015, 09:16:17 PM
Looks very similar to the Rome 2 grand campaign map, eh?

  Some of the Enraged (now the term for most of the standardized verbal stuff is "rage" in TW circles) are enraged because Athens and Sparta aren't on the Attila map.  And Greece is labeled Macedon.  Which causes some reflexive rage: "But they use Roman Equipment" (not surprisingly, I would say since the heyday of Macedon happened around 800 years before the world of Attila).

   Looking at the map, I end up wondering about the likely flow of events.  The Western Empire is all set for a very rapid decline, but the Eastern Empire seems to be facing some more obvious immediate problems.

   There's a considerable residue of rage on the topic of which tribes (or factions) are where and which ones aren't there at all.  I reserve some rage for thinking the following less enraged thought: there's a lot of tribes out there and historically, they changed names and locations pretty fast.  So the overall "a lot of tribes" picture seems plausible.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 20, 2015, 10:24:06 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 19, 2015, 11:38:44 PM
Why yes it does. Except my Rome 2 map is covered with the blood of my smashed armies. And giant red elephant footprints leading away from the gore. I like this one better. I'm not sure about the floating icons replacing the banners carried by the armies. I think I'll miss them but somebody will mod them back quickly I bet.

   There are enough changes to provide residual rage for all!  Even of the "kidding" variety.  It does seem that the focus of the game has shifted to the West.  Here's a residual rage sample:


  you have got to be kidding me, Gaul and Iberia have as much settlements as the African Continent, Palestina and Syria..
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 20, 2015, 11:06:52 AM
One of my finest moments in gaming(and they usually are only moments) was playing the Eastern Romans to victory in the Barbarian Invasion expansion for RTW. What a tough fight that was. Goths, Sanassids, Vandals, and then the Huns show up. I built a Maginot Line of forts to protect Constantinople, something you probably won't be able to do this time. The West Romans I couldn't get past about turn 5 before they fell apart.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 20, 2015, 12:15:38 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 20, 2015, 11:06:52 AM
One of my finest moments in gaming(and they usually are only moments) was playing the Eastern Romans to victory in the Barbarian Invasion expansion for RTW. What a tough fight that was. Goths, Sanassids, Vandals, and then the Huns show up. I built a Maginot Line of forts to protect Constantinople, something you probably won't be able to do this time. The West Romans I couldn't get past about turn 5 before they fell apart.

  Really, you are testing the limits of my rage by causing me to think about how to survive if I ever play as the Eastern Empire.  For the moment, my plan is never to play as the Eastern Empire.  I'm thinking -- oh -- Franks, Alans and if those go well, then the Western Empire.

  But, here is your moment of rage:

  That some people can defend that CA weakens the easern Roman Empire by giving them less settlements (Greece Syria/Palestina) just because the AI will never be able to take Constantinopel is quite funny. This way the player probably just need to wait in Constantinopel just because he hasn't the forces and finance to undertake something.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 20, 2015, 12:33:12 PM
Playing as either Roman faction in BI was fun and a challenge as was playing the Huns, Goths, Saxons etc. I'm not sure who I'll play as in Attila first but will probably get around to both Roman factions in time.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 20, 2015, 03:51:14 PM
The Vandals are going to be playable immediately upon release, correct? I don't think I have seen the Alans mentioned at all. And at 40 I am done with nerdrage. I just can't marshal the resources for it anymore.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 20, 2015, 04:10:35 PM
I have socks in my drawer older than 40, clean ones, but at my age I just can't find them. But they're there and I can't also get real excited about gaming inaccuracies as long as the damn thing plays and doesn't eat my hard drive, then I'm usually happy. But it does make you wonder sometimes if even I can find something not right, who's advising these guys? Perhaps a government conspiracy to alter history? :o
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 20, 2015, 06:41:36 PM
Don't type that too loud.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 20, 2015, 08:56:13 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 20, 2015, 03:51:14 PM
The Vandals are going to be playable immediately upon release, correct? I don't think I have seen the Alans mentioned at all. And at 40 I am done with nerdrage. I just can't marshal the resources for it anymore.

  Rage!  Rage!  against the dying of the light of the knowledge of how bad Rome II was at release.  All truths spring from that cataclysmic moment of primordial ire.

  Vandals: yes.  And the Alans are there too.  Franks and Alans I say.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 20, 2015, 09:00:39 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 20, 2015, 04:10:35 PM
I have socks in my drawer older than 40, clean ones, but at my age I just can't find them. But they're there and I can't also get real excited about gaming inaccuracies as long as the damn thing plays and doesn't eat my hard drive, then I'm usually happy. But it does make you wonder sometimes if even I can find something not right, who's advising these guys? Perhaps a government conspiracy to alter history? :o

  If I may introduce the correctly enraged tone: You're giving CA a lot of credit if you think any government worthy of having some history altered would ever even consider befouling itself by concerning itself with anything that has anything to to with the release of Rome II.  Remember how bad that was and always remember only we the enraged could stop it.  Because we did stop it.  There is no Rome II: there is only foulness and iniquity of the most vile kind.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 20, 2015, 09:43:34 PM
Meng has finally gone off the deep end. Alans really are playable? I don't know if I believe you.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 20, 2015, 10:21:01 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 20, 2015, 09:43:34 PM
Meng has finally gone off the deep end. Alans really are playable? I don't know if I believe you.




"As the Alani ride into battle, bloody scalps displayed proudly on their saddles, few can dispute their reputation for unsurpassed ferocity."


The only god they worship is a sword planted in the earth, and they favour a life of relentless conquest.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 20, 2015, 10:24:41 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 20, 2015, 09:43:34 PM
Meng has finally gone off the deep end. Alans really are playable? I don't know if I believe you.

  Yes!  there are Alans!  Not even CA (hoarders of infinite iniquity though they may yet be -- i cannot conceal my rage!) would have Huns without Alans.  they are in the playable faction list and have a playable-faction-sized "medallion" on the campaign map.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 21, 2015, 12:21:09 AM
My rage at CA extends only as far as they make games I can't stop playing.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 21, 2015, 10:27:40 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 21, 2015, 12:21:09 AM
My rage at CA extends only as far as they make games I can't stop playing.



  I'm spending too much time in the TWC forums reading stuff like:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?677451-Lots-of-Negativity-around-Total-War-Attila/page2
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on January 21, 2015, 10:48:05 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 21, 2015, 10:27:40 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 21, 2015, 12:21:09 AM
My rage at CA extends only as far as they make games I can't stop playing.



  I'm spending too much time in the TWC forums reading stuff like:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?677451-Lots-of-Negativity-around-Total-War-Attila/page2

The world would be a really great place if it wasn't populated by so many idiots.

I'm just going to get the game, enjoy it, as I've enjoyed every TW title since the first Shogun, and avoid those deep dark forum places like the plague.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: solops on January 21, 2015, 10:58:35 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on January 21, 2015, 10:48:05 AM
I'm just going to get the game, enjoy it, as I've enjoyed every TW title since the first Shogun, and avoid those deep dark forum places like the plague.

You should build a bunker.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 21, 2015, 11:00:34 AM
My time over at TWC has dropped to almost nil. I still check the home page once a week for interesting info on mods but I never peruse the forums anymore. A hive of scum and unreasonable negativity they become.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 21, 2015, 11:10:23 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 21, 2015, 11:00:34 AM
My time over at TWC has dropped to almost nil. I still check the home page once a week for interesting info on mods but I never peruse the forums anymore. A hive of scum and unreasonable negativity they become.

  I quit posting there about a year ago.  I've been going back to see what's up with Attila and I have been trying to find something at least mildly amusing about the "rage"...but other than the bare notion of "rage"...nothing all that funny has come along.

  The precise formulation of rage as diagnostic knowledge that must be faithfully reiterated only to the faithful and not to infidels who don't show proper signs of rage (who must be "sheep" and a million other terms of abuse) seemed to be almost funny yesterday....but not so much today.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 21, 2015, 11:23:57 AM
Yes...you and i are on the same rage page.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 22, 2015, 05:48:43 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 21, 2015, 11:23:57 AM
Yes...you and i are on the same rage page.

  With less rage, here are the historical battles to be included in Attila, and some other stuff and a run-through of the big Hun-stopper battle in 451:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMNH9ry4V-0&feature=youtu.be

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 29, 2015, 01:42:01 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on January 22, 2015, 05:48:43 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 21, 2015, 11:23:57 AM
Yes...you and i are on the same rage page.

  With less rage, here are the historical battles to be included in Attila, and some other stuff and a run-through of the big Hun-stopper battle in 451:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMNH9ry4V-0&feature=youtu.be


   And here's almost an hour of Scandinavian skulldrudgery:

   http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?678753-Let-s-Play-Viking-Forefathers
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 29, 2015, 03:00:44 PM
There's been a whole bunch of pre-release videos just lately of game play. The Eastern Romans looks like a bitch-in-heat to play with a tide of barbarians coming at you from all angles. :'( I believe their campaign starts with the Visigoths already inside your territory and burning the shit out of everything. I would've liked a couple of turns to prepare before hit me. But maybe they will tweak the start a little before release.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 29, 2015, 03:25:18 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on January 29, 2015, 03:00:44 PM
There's been a whole bunch of pre-release videos just lately of game play. The Eastern Romans looks like a bitch-in-heat to play with a tide of barbarians coming at you from all angles. :'( I believe their campaign starts with the Visigoths already inside your territory and burning the shit out of everything. I would've liked a couple of turns to prepare before hit me. But maybe they will tweak the start a little before release.

  Unfortunately, part of the "vision" for Attila seems to be that a massive tide of (flaming mixed metaphors) comes crashing into the middle of the Late Antique world.  I think all this destruction and collapse stuff is being exaggerated just to make the game more "intense" (= what? more like X-treme something or other?) for people who have no interest at all in what the world might really have been like in the 5th century.
It's true that to match the extremes of history Rome has to get sacked twice (410 and 455), but Constantinople historically held up okay and the Eastern Empire gathered strength for most of the period.  I agree that the game would be more interesting if they backed off to say 370 AD and let the Empire break up (or not) on a different time table.   Though 395 does make sense from the point of view of Imperial divisions and Barbarian onslaughts (now that I think about it).
  Anyway...the Middle of Late Antiquity was complicated and dumping the Visigoths on it is a sensible simplification.  As for me, I'm going to start as an Alan and maybe be a Roman of some sort after touring the world as a Barbarian.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 29, 2015, 03:40:52 PM
All the factions interest me, not sure which I will start as. Perhaps a Goth of some sort, like Robert Smith. Or maybe a Jute.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Staggerwing on January 29, 2015, 10:05:29 PM
In response to that referenced video...

I was taught that the pronunciation of Jute is more like 'Yute', much as the correct pronunciation of Jotun ('Frost giants') is 'Yo-tn'. This would also fit in with some of the contemporary Roman accounts referring to a people whose name started with 'Eu', such as the Eucii.

Why do I even bring this up? The word "Jute" was what my grandmother used to refer to Dutch traffic cops when she got a ticket for speeding in her MGB.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 29, 2015, 10:55:20 PM
A Cute Jute will beat a Blank Frank anytime. That's what my grandmother used to say. Or was that a Vandal with a Handle? Anyway, we locked her in the attic. Because nothing rhymes with attic.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 30, 2015, 09:00:21 AM
Static.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 30, 2015, 10:46:46 AM
Don't be... dramatic. I stand corrected.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 30, 2015, 11:09:35 AM
Quote from: Staggerwing on January 29, 2015, 10:05:29 PM
In response to that referenced video...

I was taught that the pronunciation of Jute is more like 'Yute', much as the correct pronunciation of Jotun ('Frost giants') is 'Yo-tn'. This would also fit in with some of the contemporary Roman accounts referring to a people whose name started with 'Eu', such as the Eucii.

Why do I even bring this up? The word "Jute" was what my grandmother used to refer to Dutch traffic cops when she got a ticket for speeding in her MGB.

Yes, Jute is Yute like Ute or "Youth" in My Cousin Vinny.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on January 30, 2015, 11:24:31 AM
"the two Utes"....
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on January 30, 2015, 01:37:26 PM
Hahaha
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on January 30, 2015, 03:16:33 PM
Quote from: Gusington on January 30, 2015, 01:37:26 PM
Hahaha
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on January 30, 2015, 03:44:22 PM
It's an Indian tribe. Are they in the game? Ute Scorpion Ballistas? They have some tough bugs out west. :coolsmiley:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 05, 2015, 08:34:12 PM
So getting close to release and still haven't pre order....I am sure to cave at some point.  Saw this preview and does intrigue me, especially the parts about the battles being more dynamic.

http://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-attila-devs-talk-units-hun-politics-and-the-apocalypse/#page-1
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 05, 2015, 08:48:52 PM
Thanks for posting!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 06, 2015, 09:41:59 AM
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on February 05, 2015, 08:34:12 PM
So getting close to release and still haven't pre order....I am sure to cave at some point.  Saw this preview and does intrigue me, especially the parts about the battles being more dynamic.

http://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-attila-devs-talk-units-hun-politics-and-the-apocalypse/#page-1

  I was going to Pre-order, but I'll wait til I get a new game machine: March?  April?  Next Year?  The Year  After That?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 06, 2015, 10:59:31 AM
I pre-ordered weeks ago and got 20% off at Greenman. But it's too early for me to think about Attila yet. I don't want to risk having any "Performance" issues with my current games. Game-tile Dysfunction is a serious affliction. :P
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 06, 2015, 03:43:43 PM
I was thinking the same...I too am not ready yet, despite preordering. Maybe I am not as excited as I thought I was. Maybe I'mtoo into WWII Eastern Front games right now. Maybe I'm too excited for Homeworld to come out.

Maybe I need some gaming Viagra.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 06, 2015, 04:45:44 PM
I've been playing Rome 2 with the sound mod that changes the music back to Rome 1 and now I can't stop that music playing in my head. But at least it covers up the voices.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 06, 2015, 07:41:37 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on February 06, 2015, 09:41:59 AM
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on February 05, 2015, 08:34:12 PM
So getting close to release and still haven't pre order....I am sure to cave at some point.  Saw this preview and does intrigue me, especially the parts about the battles being more dynamic.

http://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-attila-devs-talk-units-hun-politics-and-the-apocalypse/#page-1

  I was going to Pre-order, but I'll wait til I get a new game machine: March?  April?  Next Year?  The Year  After That?

Still deciding myself.......I might as well do it since I know when I see other people playing it, I'll buy it anyway, might as well save a few bucks.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 06, 2015, 10:16:46 PM
Livestream posted

http://www.twitch.tv/gamespot/b/621190831
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 11, 2015, 08:00:39 PM
Sounds like preloads start tonight, although probably depends on what place you purchased.  They also released a game guide.

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/146624-Total-War-ATTILA-Official-Game-Guide?s=fe93edbd4090e16542c473538730b4ec
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 11, 2015, 09:03:09 PM
Hmm I haven't got any notices from Green Man about a pre-load. Loin-moistening nonetheless. I wonder...should I halt my WWII Eastern Front binge and begin an Imperial Roman binge?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 11, 2015, 09:06:27 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 11, 2015, 09:03:09 PM
Hmm I haven't got any notices from Green Man about a pre-load. Loin-moistening nonetheless. I wonder...should I halt my WWII Eastern Front binge and begin an Imperial Roman binge?

Saw someone imply that gmg won't get until release day, not sure if true or not.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 11, 2015, 09:09:52 PM
Really? Hrmph.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 11, 2015, 11:30:08 PM
continue on your East Front quest young man!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 12, 2015, 08:20:43 AM
It's difficult to pull away, I'll admit. But...the Vandals are coming. As are the Alans. Still Eastern Front just 1750 years earlier. I'm torn!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Pete Dero on February 12, 2015, 09:36:52 AM
First reviews are already in : http://www.bluesnews.com/s/159011/game-reviews
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 12, 2015, 10:43:27 AM
I purchased through Greenman too and have also not received a pre-load notification either. Their pre-purchase policy says they will send out purchase keys on the day of release or, a couple of days before hand dependent on the publisher. I hope we won't have to wait too long because that's the whole reason for pre-purchase isn't it? For Rome 2, I was already loaded and  playing on the morning it released. Looking at the Goths or Franks for a first start because I like factions that are easy to spell and pronounce.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JudgeDredd on February 12, 2015, 10:44:49 AM
I was expecting your link to take me to a review...not so Peter. Is the review on the site?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on February 12, 2015, 10:57:18 AM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on February 12, 2015, 10:44:49 AM
I was expecting your link to take me to a review...not so Peter. Is the review on the site?

Blues News is a news aggregator of sorts. Look at the bullet points under Game Reviews. There are five hyperlinks. I read the Gamespot one, which basically advises waiting for the patches. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/total-war-attila-review/1900-6416029/

I also noticed Evolve has a review, and that one tells me to pass on it. A shame, as I thought it might be fun.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JudgeDredd on February 12, 2015, 11:00:28 AM
My bad...I was expecting a review so I just didn't look when I didn't see a great big link there...thanks both.  O0
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Pete Dero on February 12, 2015, 11:16:43 AM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on February 12, 2015, 10:44:49 AM
I was expecting your link to take me to a review...not so Peter. Is the review on the site?

It links to 5 reviews on the Bluesnews website.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JudgeDredd on February 12, 2015, 11:27:07 AM
See above  ;)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Space6ghost on February 12, 2015, 12:43:24 PM
For those who pre ordered from Green Man Gaming. A heads up to check your email, I recently recieved a message from Green Man with the Attila Steam Key.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 12, 2015, 01:06:52 PM
Yes, got my key and pre-loading on Steam now. Can't wait to burn some shit down. I mean re-develop some community properties. For the new owners. Me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 12, 2015, 01:09:36 PM
Another alternative...

I picked up the Pre-order from GetGamesGo for 20% off.  The Steam pre-load key was instantly provided on the site's account page at purchase.

http://www.getgamesgo.com/product/total-war-attila



Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on February 12, 2015, 01:14:30 PM
When does it actually come it?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 12, 2015, 01:17:24 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on February 12, 2015, 01:14:30 PM
When does it actually come it?

When does what come?

(I hope this isn't some kind of verbal trap.)



EDIT:  If it's regarding the GetGamesGo Steam code for Attila, that is on your Account page.  There's a button to show the codes for each of the games you've purchased there.  Just click on the one for Attila.  After you buy, it should take you to that page by default.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JudgeDredd on February 12, 2015, 02:03:27 PM
I really shouldn't buy this as I seldom get my money's worth out of the Total War franchise...so I might hold off on this also  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on February 12, 2015, 02:10:32 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on February 12, 2015, 01:17:24 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on February 12, 2015, 01:14:30 PM
When does it actually come it?

When does what come?

(I hope this isn't some kind of verbal trap.)



EDIT:  If it's regarding the GetGamesGo Steam code for Attila, that is on your Account page.  There's a button to show the codes for each of the games you've purchased there.  Just click on the one for Attila.  After you buy, it should take you to that page by default.

Lol sorry - meant 'out' - when does the game actually release
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JudgeDredd on February 12, 2015, 02:12:08 PM
Steam says 17th Feb
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on February 12, 2015, 02:14:06 PM
Thanks - will wait for fellow grogs feedback before purchase
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 12, 2015, 04:14:49 PM
I figure it'll be the same situation as with their stand-alones derived from the previous games.  Like Napoleon TW and Fall Of The Samurai.  Most of the bugs have been worked out of Rome 2 after all those patches so this one should be in decent shape on release since it's using Rome 2 as the basis.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 12, 2015, 07:21:23 PM
Quote from: Space6ghost on February 12, 2015, 12:43:24 PM
For those who pre ordered from Green Man Gaming. A heads up to check your email, I recently recieved a message from Green Man with the Attila Steam Key.

Never got the email, but did check my order and the key was there for use.....so all downloaded and ready to go.  Hopefully not a disappointment.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 12, 2015, 10:18:12 PM
Got my key - GIGGITY.

On Metacritic it has about 81% rating with 22 'reviews' in.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 12, 2015, 10:39:58 PM
Isn't it the 17th somewhere?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 12, 2015, 10:49:31 PM
I thought it was a given to wait on a Total War game for at least 6 months.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on February 12, 2015, 11:10:29 PM
^ Exactly.  All we're seeing in this thread is who the suckas are.   >:D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 12, 2015, 11:41:35 PM
we know who will be loitering with intent.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 13, 2015, 08:45:06 AM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on February 12, 2015, 10:49:31 PM
I thought it was a given to wait on a Total War game for at least 6 months.

Ideally.

But this one falls into the 'Sequel' category, since it's pretty much Rome 2 with new units & factions.  I would be extremely surprised if it had anywhere near the same amount of issues that Rome 2 did on release, since those were worked out.


Either way, I'm diving on the grenade.  You know I'll surely complain if there are some annoying bugs.  ;)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JudgeDredd on February 13, 2015, 08:50:43 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on February 12, 2015, 10:39:58 PM
Isn't it the 17th somewhere?
erm???
Quote from: JudgeDredd on February 12, 2015, 02:12:08 PM
Steam says 17th Feb

:P
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 13, 2015, 11:01:03 AM
Six months? At my age I'm not sure I'll have 6 months to wait on this one. I plan on having pillaged half of Europe by then. I think this game will be good to go at launch. And I can't wait to see what the modders do with it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 13, 2015, 11:08:13 AM
On Metacritic there are a few reviews that state what Nefaro says above - because it's a sequel the tech issues that plagued the launch of Rome II are not there. Plus I got Attila for 25% off.

That's not to say there may not be a whole NEW slew of tech issues :)

But I've preloaded and am ready for Tuesday.

Suckas.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: FlickJax on February 16, 2015, 06:39:27 AM
http://deals.simplygames.com/p/total-war-attila--includes-viking-forefathers-culture-pack-dlc-pc?ref=email_campaign
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 16, 2015, 07:00:31 AM
Quote from: FlickJax on February 16, 2015, 06:39:27 AM
http://deals.simplygames.com/p/total-war-attila--includes-viking-forefathers-culture-pack-dlc-pc?ref=email_campaign

Pretty darn good deal...although I have never heard of the place or ordered there before...too late for me, already pre ordered from GMG and preloaded.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Zulu1966 on February 16, 2015, 05:09:05 PM
Quote from: FlickJax on February 16, 2015, 06:39:27 AM
http://deals.simplygames.com/p/total-war-attila--includes-viking-forefathers-culture-pack-dlc-pc?ref=email_campaign

Great deal - thanks for that - all worked fine - game downloading from steam now.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: tgb on February 16, 2015, 09:39:15 PM
So is it safe to say that Attila is to Rome 2 as Napoleon was to Empire?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 16, 2015, 10:04:04 PM
I don't preload anymore. I find that even after preload, I still wait 45 minutes for it to "unlock". I'll just download and install when released.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 17, 2015, 12:29:31 AM
Quote from: tgb on February 16, 2015, 09:39:15 PM
So is it safe to say that Attila is to Rome 2 as Napoleon was to Empire?

Yes.  In my estimation.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 17, 2015, 09:37:26 AM
Will be firing it up tonight, think I will play as the Huns first.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 17, 2015, 10:11:03 AM
Playing now. I'll give some opinions after I come down from my Attila-High.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: solops on February 17, 2015, 11:30:20 AM
I hear that the faction of Rome has to be built up from close to scratch, rather than starting as a fully advanced and developed nation suffering from corruption and ambitious governors, generals and senators. Not very historical, if true.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 17, 2015, 01:02:31 PM
Looks like I won't be playing after all. I didn't check the game specs before ordering, something I always did for other TW games. My processor is just too slow for game. I figured if Rome 2 ran fine, then Attila would also but alas no. So no pillaging here today.  :'(  Looking forward to the group opinions coming soon.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on February 17, 2015, 01:06:39 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on February 17, 2015, 01:02:31 PM
Looks like I won't be playing after all. I didn't check the game specs before ordering, something I always did for other TW games. My processor is just too slow for game. I figured if Rome 2 ran fine, then Attila would also but alas no. So no pillaging here today.  :'(  Looking forward to the group opinions coming soon.

Bummer. Sorry to hear that. I probably need to check, too. Haven't ordered yet. Waiting for Gus to bring the tablets down from the mountain.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 17, 2015, 02:35:48 PM
Quote from: solops on February 17, 2015, 11:30:20 AM
I hear that the faction of Rome has to be built up from close to scratch, rather than starting as a fully advanced and developed nation suffering from corruption and ambitious governors, generals and senators. Not very historical, if true.

No. I just saw a "let's play" involving the eastern Roman empire and it includes north Africa, Greece, modern-day Turkey and the western Middle East so not sure where that came from.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 17, 2015, 03:40:19 PM
Quote from: solops on February 17, 2015, 11:30:20 AM
I hear that the faction of Rome has to be built up from close to scratch, rather than starting as a fully advanced and developed nation suffering from corruption and ambitious governors, generals and senators. Not very historical, if true.

Nope. 

From what I've seen from LP vids, the Western and Eastern Roman Empires begin big.  However, they will be constantly assaulted by invading armies, internal issues, and possibly income problems.  I'm guessing more so for the Western one in some respects such as money & food.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 17, 2015, 04:14:16 PM
I'm still able to limp around the campaign map somewhat and it looks great. Love the new unit cards and Family Portraits along with the host of new governing offices and the re-done trade screen. Much more to running your country than in Rome 2. Both Roman factions begin with huge empires to run and defend and everybody hates you. Lots of Public Disorder right at go. And considering they've been around so long, everything needs upgrading and little in the way of enough military. The Sassninds look like a good place for new comers to play.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: solops on February 17, 2015, 04:19:19 PM
I meant that their tech and cities start off at low levels of development (supposedly), same as everyone else, not that they lack in areal extent. They ought to be far more advanced and developed than most of the other factions, but suffering from deterioration of their government. Some of Sir Slash's comments are encouraging.

Some of the developer comments over at the official site indicate that the computing requirements are significantly higher than for Rome 2, especially for the GPU. I am worried that my i7-4770, Nvidia GTX 770 w/ 2 gigs and 16 gigs RAM will be inadequate to handle more than medium settings, if that.

"2. The Min and Rec specs are higher than ROME II, it is a new game that is going on two years more recent and is based on a newer iteration of our TW Engine. As a result it is more demanding, if you ran ROME II at a certain combination of settings, ATTILA will be different. If you have high end kit though, ATTILA will certainly look more impressive."

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/146776-Official-note-on-ATTILA-Performance-amp-link-to-Member-run-Can-I-Run-it-Thread?s=69a1f8313e69636da94deea4d7722d48


Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 17, 2015, 04:22:09 PM
This may be the first game where you can play Rome that I would rather play as another empire.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: tgb on February 17, 2015, 06:56:19 PM
Quote from: FlickJax on February 16, 2015, 06:39:27 AM
http://deals.simplygames.com/p/total-war-attila--includes-viking-forefathers-culture-pack-dlc-pc?ref=email_campaign

Apparently they don't sell to the US since it isn't one of the countries in the drop-down box.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: SirAndrewD on February 17, 2015, 06:58:11 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on February 17, 2015, 04:22:09 PM
This may be the first game where you can play Rome that I would rather play as another empire.

Agreed.  However, my first campaign will be as the Eastern Empire.  Their starting situation is...dire.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 17, 2015, 07:18:25 PM
Going to fire it up now, then after dinner start. Still thinking of starting as the Huns.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 17, 2015, 07:25:39 PM
...and of course there's the waiting. Preload or not, as JH and others have mentioned...there is always waiting :/
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Boggit on February 17, 2015, 07:33:38 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 17, 2015, 07:25:39 PM
...and of course there's the waiting. Preload or not, as JH and others have mentioned...there is always waiting :/
Still??? I was thinking about getting this - having grudgingly got into Rome 2, and now enjoying it. It sounds like on my rig 8Gb RAM, and 1.5Gb GPU I'll be getting about 5 FPS, when you need at least 30FPS to run at least smoothly. Oh dear... :( I hope I'm mistaken, but please let me know if it's running like a snail with its legs cut off... ;)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 17, 2015, 08:00:12 PM
I only had time for one quick custom battle and it seemed to play out fairly well.  The CPU would break and fall back, then regroup and attack again versus staying in a meat grinder with my troops, which was kind of nice to see.  Really enjoyed the battle and look forward to getting deeper into the actual game.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 17, 2015, 08:12:32 PM
Initial impressions:

The UI is much improved.  Especially regarding the art.  I was disappointed with Rome 2's dead plastic looking UI so this is a great improvement.

The campaign map is running smoothly.  Maybe less frame freezing and such when moving the camera than before, so Vsync may actually be working properly here without the fps bottoming out. 

I don't expect the battles to be much different, other than some UI changes that seem to be prevalent throughout.  Haven't done one yet.

The in-game Encyclopedia is even slower than Rome 2's.  Even having it installed on my SSD, the damn thing takes a long time to load each page since the devs had the poor idea to place thumbnail pics in place of the traditional UI art.  So the pics must have a notably larger file size and, combined with the already slow loading Encyclopedia pages, makes the thing even slower.  Checking out unit and building info is too much needless waiting.

Speaking of thumbnail pics, some of the unit card art doesn't look that great.  But I'll take it because they're in color, which I missed more than expected.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 17, 2015, 08:44:03 PM
...and more waiting. "Performing first time set up" etc.

:/
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 17, 2015, 09:38:54 PM
I fired it up in a custom battle. Graphics set to "quality" which is the second best. Ran smooth as butter with large units. I don't have a great rig but it's decent. I live the new UI. I started a campaign to see the map and it's gorgeous. uI is more colorful than before. Map moved smooth as well...although I never had any graphical problems with Rome2. So far so good
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 17, 2015, 10:20:28 PM
Played about 3/4 of the Prologue and I really like what I see so far. I agree with the guys above, the UI is very good. My settings were set to Medium for the most part and I kept getting that annoying 'graphics memory running low' warning, but everything looked lush and colorful to me...you can judge for yourself below. Unit cards are fantastic...I liked Rome 2's but I love these.

Music is also a throwback to the expansion for the original Shogun - Mongol Invasion...very Asiatic. I dig it.

The battles ran smooth and the campaign map ran smooth, moreso than Rome II. So while I have read some players saying that optimization is garbage here, I have to disagree. It ran like butter on my creaking rig.

It almost feels like they took the guts of Rome 2 and poured them through a Shogun 2 filter. My initial sense is that I am really going to enjoy this one...probably get 100s of hours from it. Some screenies:

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-2.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382236517882769%2FD3F6E168A8588E34346F8FB00414FD3CA308B420%2F&hash=fc7a4423b9dadf952d4b4b66b593d6fa7b23c633)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382236517883588%2F27DC5FCD4AE46EE07AAB67DB5175098D735D4CD9%2F&hash=97143a83ca00e1c1c053f85e579e2d5b13811f23)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382236517883900%2FA09D2A37258CEABEDE370A4E7F0E1C482064C391%2F&hash=b171fe403a2f36540c7641192340b77ea3eec29d)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382236517884162%2FDAA8DE52BBE32619563D1B9803C39AC9E653106C%2F&hash=a48b92a64ec86cfb275d98c36c2c76868cadfaf9)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382236517884231%2FB7B81CEFEFB95565EFF1AB1D248437D424CAA6BB%2F&hash=554fe099078ca99d48f43a1a8849fe1a10866754)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382236517884316%2F60495808677704A3FFA9689528F55988DC65EB16%2F&hash=29a6dc62b609065f3e737faf98b949464366d21d)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382236517884392%2F0981AFD97C537E100FCDF8E085E0CFB4B070154D%2F&hash=74917334768f7ecdda8ad2a3d702f2a40310f14a)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382236517884493%2F485872B3DCD0DFF1C6A8294111CF73D5442B53EF%2F&hash=5f9256692e0413916f2a365b1698eaf68d12f73f)

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382236517883040%2FF6EE97FE1C484FB0DFC5B0C7DD9E3CFFF323C1B8%2F&hash=58364ac667f84d3c38ee9ac93b4e765d79fc5247)

:D :D :D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 18, 2015, 04:10:55 AM
I started a Saxon campaign on Hard.

Money seems more tight than Rome 2, but I only started with one city with three build slots so that's probably part of the slow start.

Took a lot more losses than I should have in one manually led attack on a Roman garrison.  Granted, the starting Saxon troops are some of the worst rated ones I've seen in a TW game so even the roman garrison troops were vastly superior. 

My only real complaint thus far is the Encyclopedia not listing which techs or buildings unlock which military units and characters.  I have to check the tooltips in the new building browser one by one.  So they removed at least one thing that was in previous versions.  Hopefully that's enough for their quota on this one.  ;)  However, I do like the extra specs and more detailed tooltip info on the units themselves.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 08:30:42 AM
The family dynamics feel more robust and meaningful here than they did in Rome 2. The artwork for everything from building slots to special events has been overhauled too. A few special events cards that I saw had some limited animation too. So from the start I am definitely more impressed with Attila than I was with Rome 2.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 18, 2015, 11:26:42 AM
Yeah, the family tree is back and a lot of people are ecstatic.  I didn't miss it as much as others but it is definitely better than what we had before.

As with Rome 2, they're obviously attempting to put more of a CK2 dynamic into the internal faction politics.  It felt tacked-on and unfinished with Rome 2 and it is still lacking in Attila but at least it has improved.  I don't expect it to have massive amounts of characters as in CK2, and all the webs that produces, but I would like to see the mechanics refined to something more than just hording or spending Influence points.   Not a big deal though because the rest of the game has been solid for me thus far.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Boggit on February 18, 2015, 11:39:14 AM
It looks really good. :) Will my Win 7 8Gb RAM cope with it?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on February 18, 2015, 11:53:35 AM
Quote from: Boggit on February 18, 2015, 11:39:14 AM
It looks really good. :) Will my Win 7 8Gb RAM cope with it?

Specs from Steam:

QuoteMINIMUM:
OS: Windows Vista*
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 3 GHz
Memory: 3 GB RAM
Graphics: 512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, AMD Radeon HD 2900 XT or Intel HD 4000
DirectX: Version 10
Hard Drive: 35 GB available space
Additional Notes: PC integrated graphics chipsets require 64 bit Windows, e.g. Intel HD series.

RECOMMENDED:
OS: Windows 7*
Processor: 2nd Generation Intel Core i5
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: 2 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti or AMD Radeon HD 5870
DirectX: Version 11
Hard Drive: 35 GB available space
Additional Notes: PC integrated graphics chipsets require 64 bit Windows, e.g. Intel HD series.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Boggit on February 18, 2015, 11:57:31 AM
^^ It looks like I might be ok after all. Thanks LB. O0
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 02:01:39 PM
My rig is aging and middle of the road at best...I was a little worried. But it has run better than Rome 2 on my machine so far. I am tempted to use the "unlimited video memory" option to get rid of those graphics warnings, though. Anyone use that?

And I definitely agree with Nefaro, the CKII vibe is strong here.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 18, 2015, 02:08:34 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 02:01:39 PM
My rig is aging and middle of the road at best...I was a little worried. But it has run better than Rome 2 on my machine so far. I am tempted to use the "unlimited video memory" option to get rid of those graphics warnings, though. Anyone use that?

And I definitely agree with Nefaro, the CKII vibe is strong here.

I've not had the video memory warnings since they fixed the issues with it in an early Rome 2 patch.  That's the one which says something about it lowering your video settings due to memory limitations, right?

I saw those a few times at the beginning of battles back in Rome 2 but I just let it go at the time.  I'd rather have smooth framerates than choppy little freezes.  But there used to be some issues with it.  AFAICT it's working fine in Attila. 

You can try the Unlimited option, but if that lowers your performance too much I would recommend going into the Custom graphics settings and lowering a couple options that aren't as important during the battles but which still use up extra memory (grass, trees, etc).
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 02:33:17 PM
Yep it's the warning that your settings are being lowered because of low memory. I'm a little wary of the unlimited video option...don't know how my machine will play with that. Maybe I'll futz with trees and shadows first like you said.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 18, 2015, 02:51:37 PM
My big limitation is my single core processor but with the performance cranked-up to full and if I get behind my computer and push, I can play the campaign well enough but the videos just won't run. I haven't tried a battle yet but don't have great hopes for it. There looks to be a lot more things on the campaign map... I see horses and deer and on the battle map, statues and civies running all around. I bet this slows down things a bit. I remember the same thing when Rome 2 came out with the deer running around the battle maps. Seems more eye-candy then actual immersion to me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 18, 2015, 04:05:39 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 02:33:17 PM
Yep it's the warning that your settings are being lowered because of low memory. I'm a little wary of the unlimited video option...don't know how my machine will play with that. Maybe I'll futz with trees and shadows first like you said.

I would recommend lowering the grass and trees details a notch first, and then maybe the building details or even the shadows later.  Just decide which ones don't seem to make much of a difference to you.

I generally lower grass in most games which have a bunch of it waving in the wind.  Such things can make a difference but are so mundane that it's not jarring when they're lowered one step.  I recall the grass in War Thunder Ground Forces occasionally making my fps drop so sharply that it would stutter, so I turned it off and haven't really missed it since.  When it comes to video memory, simply lowering the texture details on the grass and trees a bit can be enough.  Fetch me a shrubbery!

There may also be other questionable ones.  Rome 2 and Attila both have a dropdown for "Sky" details.  I mean.. how often do we stare at the details of the sky and clouds in Total War games?   ;D  There are textures that can easily be lowered without being very noticeable.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 08:10:37 PM
^Good advice. For Rome 2 there's even a mod that would get rid of clouds on the campaign map. It worked very well for me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 18, 2015, 08:35:01 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 08:10:37 PM
^Good advice. For Rome 2 there's even a mod that would get rid of clouds on the campaign map. It worked very well for me.

Yes, I used that one too.  Although the campaign map in Attila seems to be running okay with all the bells & whistles for me, so no worries in this one.

I'm loathe to admit it, but it's been very slow going as the Saxons thus far and I may have to switch to Normal difficulty instead of Hard.  Not enough money to pay for the upkeep on tier 2 spearmen that can stand up to the Roman armies that have recently shown up to defend Britannia and northern Gaul.  Every time I move on one of their cities, even for a quick raid, an army and a half shows up and attacks me before I can do anything. 

This is a good thing because it's challenging.  Enough so that all the extra penalties in Hard mode is making it hard to expand thus far, as advertised.  :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 08:40:00 PM
^Yeah the campaign map is really beautiful and runs well on my machine too. Star will be happy to hear the good news about 'Hard' mode.

I know it's very early but I am feeling this may be the best TW since Shogun 2. It's got the same technical vibe. Feels very well put together.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 18, 2015, 08:48:41 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 08:40:00 PM
^Yeah the campaign map is really beautiful and runs well on my machine too. Star will be happy to hear the good news about 'Hard' mode.

I know it's very early but I am feeling this may be the best TW since Shogun 2. It's got the same technical vibe. Feels very well put together.

Agreed.  It's in very good condition out of the gate, reminiscent of Shogun 2.

They still need to add the extra info regarding what all unlocks the military Units to the Encyclopedia.  I don't know why they removed that stuff, it was my main use for the pedia.  Perhaps it was unfinished, since we have all these new units in Attila?  Right now I have to mouse over every building in the Building Browser to check the tooltips, in a sub-window off the city build interface, for a specific unit type I want and do the same in the research tree to see what I also need there.

For example, I just unlocked a tech that upgrades a few of my earlier units.  The tooltip on the research says I can now build Nordic Axe Warriors but I can't do so on the recruitment pop-up so something is missing.   However, there is no unit unlock info or links in any of the Encyclopedia entries, for both the specific research and unit info pages, so I'm having to dig around a bunch of tooltips looking for mention of "Nordic Axe Warriors".  RAWR.   :knuppel2:

If that's the worst complaint I have, then I'm happy overall.  ;D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 08:54:14 PM
^That is a little more than an annoyance...or, it would be to me, anyway. That said I'm sure a patch will fill in that blank.

There are some other little design oddities too. Last night the first battle of the Prologue started with a black screen, unlike the traditional view of the battlefield or town where the fight is to take place. It threw me, and I thought my PC locked up and couldn't run the battles until I got it started by clicking the Start button.

TEEHEE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2015, 10:39:39 PM
Futzed with some settings, still got that warning once. Will further futz with buildings tomorrow, and shadows. No crashes tonight, almost done with the Prologue, and the Huns have appeared. And I got the below unfortunate message about one of my faction characters.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382321315493041%2F99D1A25A8FA78794D22906C257904CB032AB6A87%2F&hash=0e4d04378dceba9464f758d74a4fe0f41f7742cf)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 18, 2015, 11:14:14 PM
LOL.

One of my governors got the Flaccid trait recently.  :))
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 18, 2015, 11:32:35 PM
My old, pre-historic processor can run the battles just fine, albeit small ones-- 10 vs 4 units, city battle. So maybe I can play after all. I had a look at the units in the custom battle screen and I like what I see. Very nice mix of types and abilities costumed to factions, everybody gets something nice. Even the naval units are quite varied and impressive. If the naval combat has been improved, this could be the first TW game where naval combat is as much fun as land combat. BTW Radious will have his mod for Attila ready as soon as the Steam workshop is up. I can't wait to see what he can do with this game.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on February 19, 2015, 04:44:37 AM
what needs modding?

or is it the usual speed bump one?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 19, 2015, 07:01:58 AM
There was a small update released today for only the game launcher...seems like when they first posted the new update, it ended up preventing some people from playing the game.  CA quickly made a change and posted a new update that corrects the issue.  Seems like you have to restart Steam to get the update.  They also said another update to the launcher is possible today but not sure.  In both cases, they haven't really said what was fixed but since the updates were only for the launcher, probably just some house cleaning things.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 10:19:51 AM
My launcher kept telling me my video drivers needed updating when they didn't. And that I was ugly.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on February 19, 2015, 10:43:02 AM
And flaccid.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 19, 2015, 10:53:35 AM
Was flaccid originally used to refer to impotence? Just asking because the opposite of flaccid is erect and I would hate to think my poor tribe chieftain was being punished because he wasn't walking around with a constant erection (if it lasts more than 4 hours he is supposed to call a doctor right?)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on February 19, 2015, 11:01:27 AM
Quote from: mikeck on February 19, 2015, 10:53:35 AM
Was flaccid originally used to refer to impotence? Just asking because the opposite of flaccid is erect and I would hate to think my poor tribe chieftain was being punished because he wasn't walking around with a constant erection (if it lasts more than 4 hours he is supposed to call a doctor right?)

Great question. SoM is probably the best person to answer that, but these days he's up to his ears in alligators working. So I turned to Dictionary.com:

Quote1610s, from French flaccide or directly from Latin flaccidus "flabby," from flaccus "flabby, flap-eared," of uncertain origin (OED suggests it's imitative). Related: Flaccidly; flaccidity.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 11:13:03 AM
I can handle either ugly or flaccid but not both.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on February 19, 2015, 11:19:49 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 11:13:03 AM
I can handle either ugly or flaccid but not both.

Hey, "flabby-eared" isn't so bad.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 11:24:02 AM
'Rather dashing' is better.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 19, 2015, 11:46:36 AM
Is Flac-cid better or worse than Flatu-lent? My start-up also tells me my drivers are out of date, which they aren't. And that Gus is ugly. Such a belligerent game. Must be the "Hun" influence. :idiot2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 11:57:50 AM
Flatulent is fun. Flaccid isn't fun for anyone.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on February 19, 2015, 12:05:37 PM
....and flaccid flatulence is just plain messy.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 12:07:39 PM
^I don't think that exists.

Bawb please tell me you are going to purchase Attila Total War. If ever there lived a bloke ripe for Hun-slaying, 'tis you.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on February 19, 2015, 12:11:55 PM
I regret to say that I doubt I will. I do have Rome II but rarely play it - I just don't have a great interest in that period. I prefer Fall of the Samurai , its my favourite TW game by far. Now if they would just do one on the TYW/ECW..........
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on February 19, 2015, 12:26:21 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 12:07:39 PM
^I don't think that exists.

There's no such thing. It's a phallusy.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 12:28:33 PM
But Bawb...aren't you the [in]famous Hunslayer of the North?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: bob48 on February 19, 2015, 12:29:50 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 12:28:33 PM
But Bawb...aren't you the [in]famous Hunslayer of the North?

Only at weekends, if Mrs B lets me borrow the, erm, leather stuff........
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 19, 2015, 12:44:25 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 10:19:51 AM
My launcher kept telling me my video drivers needed updating when they didn't. And that I was ugly.

My issue was on the other end of game launching.  Sometimes the TW:A process just refuses to shut down when I exit the game.  It then refuses to start back up and will not let me exit & restart Steam either. 

Basically the Steam client just freezes up and won't let me do anything in it.

I have to reboot my damn computer to reset it.   :knuppel2:




Also be wary of using a faction which begins the campaign at war with the Huns.  There have been many reports that starting as the Ostrogoth horde (at war with Huns) means that the Hunnic hordes will chase & attack you to the ends of the earth, ignoring every other ripe city and faction along the way.  Terminator Huns.  **Insert Terminator background music here**
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 01:05:53 PM
Over at that hive of scum and villainy [TWCenter] a user has posted an odd method of improving Attila's performance:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?680877-Attila-Performance-Improvement-Guide

Basically, use your Rome II icon to start the game launcher, and then select Attila. I haven't tried it yet myself. But I will.

EDIT: The one catch appears to be that Steam thinks you are playing Rome II. I don't know how much that matters to you. Also, CA has said they are updating the launcher. Not sure if it's related.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 19, 2015, 05:59:40 PM
Here ya go, Gus.

My governor is such a filthy hooker..

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F532885921343275819%2F12651467C5029012ED822810D20489594E8BE3AC%2F&hash=2072b6a495d742eb7da51d9cc0d2f1b3c3b5dcb7)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 06:20:42 PM
^A filthy pirate hooker? Opposite of flaccid!

I actually remember that one from Rome 2.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on February 19, 2015, 06:23:08 PM
enough of you double entendres and card twaddle - is it any frikking good?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 06:29:04 PM
^Yeah man, it's quite epic. The Prologue can take as long as a proper campaign if players want it to. I've played about 5 hours and now I'm ready for the main event. Starting a Hun campaign later.

Technically it's tight, and graphically it is beautiful. I daresay this is the best TW since Fall of the Samurai. I'm wondering if its the same team responsible?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on February 19, 2015, 07:00:13 PM
ooo you tease you
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 07:03:53 PM
You'll see, if you get it. Do you enjoy the era?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on February 19, 2015, 07:20:25 PM
I told you guys you were suckers for pre-ordering a TW title again, didn't I?   O:-)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on February 19, 2015, 07:27:36 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 19, 2015, 07:03:53 PM
You'll see, if you get it. Do you enjoy the era?

era, shm-era

its TW, swords, axes and pillaging
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 19, 2015, 07:44:35 PM
Careful if you play this game. It may cause you to become, "Amourus". Or Flaccid. Playing as the Franks and I'm not in love with my troops. They're basically rabble to begin with and on the battle screen, they all look like they're wearing green pajamas.  ???
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 19, 2015, 07:56:07 PM
I try to time things so I am flaccid during gaming time.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 19, 2015, 08:22:20 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on February 19, 2015, 07:44:35 PM
Careful if you play this game. It may cause you to become, "Amourus". Or Flaccid. Playing as the Franks and I'm not in love with my troops. They're basically rabble to begin with and on the battle screen, they all look like they're wearing green pajamas.  ???

The armed rabble certainly aren't as impressive looking as Rome 2's various heavily armored troops.  CA has also left that annoying brown color filter over the 3D graphics and they seem even worse, like all my troops are constantly in shadow.  They look almost black even when the battle happens in the middle of a sunny day.  >:(  Dees eez boosheet!  Hopefully someone removes that shit filter in a mod.

As for the game, it's in pretty good shape on release.  I think there are some minor issues but it's definitely playable.  What's more, it plays a bit differently than the other Total War titles.  The economy is a bit more anemic; enough to force you to use cheap craptastic troops as filler and stick with them longer.  The new Horde mechanic means that wiping out a faction's last city means they convert to a nomadic horde entity and can move around, pillage, and eventually settle somewhere else.  The new Raze option is also turning some areas into deserted areas afterward, and rebuilding is pretty damn expensive so they tend to stay that way for awhile.

While many of the mechanics are the same as Rome 2, all the new additions promote a different play style than previous TWs and it's more difficult too.  The steamroller momentum is also slowed due to the huge cost of converting a different culture's main city building if you occupy a location. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 19, 2015, 11:15:00 PM
Yes, if the captured city's culture and religion is different from yours, then it's almost not worth the effort of occupying it as it the wait to convert is a bitch. Better to loot and sack your way to a really worthwhile place before settling down.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 19, 2015, 11:50:53 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on February 19, 2015, 11:15:00 PM
Yes, if the captured city's culture and religion is different from yours, then it's almost not worth the effort of occupying it as it the wait to convert is a bitch. Better to loot and sack your way to a really worthwhile place before settling down.

Although the Saxons (and maybe the Franks?) have a Faction bonus making conversion only cost half. 


This thing is definitely a jump in difficult over Rome 2.  My first big & nearly even field battle turned out fairly well but attacking a fortified enemy army of similar strength was disastrous.  The arrow/artillery towers are especially deadly and quick firing now in fortifications and siege battles.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Yskonyn on February 20, 2015, 02:31:20 AM
I really don't get why you would like these new units cards over those in Rome 2.
I'll take the stylised Rome 2 ones over the silly 3D pictures any time. :)
The UI is otherwise much more nicely looking in Atilla though.
The campaign map is beautiful and the Battles are so much more lifelike with All the extra doodads and critters on the map.
Its runs pretty well on high settings too on my rig.


.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 20, 2015, 03:29:51 AM
Quote from: Yskonyn on February 20, 2015, 02:31:20 AM
I really don't get why you would like these new units cards over those in Rome 2.
I'll take the stylised Rome 2 ones over the silly 3D pictures any time. :)
The UI is otherwise much more nicely looking in Atilla though.
The campaign map is beautiful and the Battles are so much more lifelike with All the extra doodads and critters on the map.
Its runs pretty well on high settings too on my rig.


.


I didn't mind the unit cards in Rome 2.  But after I saw that one guy's mod where he added painted versions of the troops, it looked far better.  Looked better than any of the unit cards CA had done before.  I don't think he quite finished all the units for it, though.  The ones in Attila aren't terribly good but they're functional.

The UI has had some excellent additions on both sides of the game.  Some of them made me wonder why they hadn't implemented them earlier. 

I'm seeing the AI armies razing a bunch of towns in my game.  I'll post a screenshot of the desolation soon.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 20, 2015, 08:51:05 AM
Started as the Huns last night and was destroyed in 20 turns! Quickest TW loss ever! Started again and will not go on the offensive as quickly this time.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 20, 2015, 11:38:45 AM
It has been humbling thus far. 

I've reach 410AD in my Normal difficulty Saxon campaign.  I own the three areas of Frisia and a fourth, Londinium. 

Definitely not able to steamroll like previous TWs.  Having to take it slow & steady.  Income is an issue, even after steady econ building, and it also makes fielding enough troops/armies to defend larger territories more difficult.  The aforementioned prohibitive foreign culture building conversion costs and expense to rebuild devastated regions are also a huge factor.  I consider the three regions I've taken to be a decent haul even after quite a few turns in, just due to the expense and the extra Public Order penalties added in Attila (immigration being a notable example). 

Expansion going much slower and I'm having to carefully calculate my next target and plan more carefully.  O0

I'm a bit disappointed to see that the various Celtic factions all have Nordic placeholder units & buildings.  I suppose those will be one of the future DLCs.  Will probably make my conquest of part of the British Isles easier since my Saxons use the same city types and won't have to convert them for buckets of money, although a couple areas may be Roman.  I wonder how many other cultural areas have such placeholder stuff that will be released later?

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 20, 2015, 03:03:10 PM
A bug that is making the game more difficult:

That empire bar thing, which limits the amount of armies and agents you can have at any one time at the expense of big diplo and order penalties, is rising all on it's own. 

It is only supposed to go up as you capture more territory AFAIK; that's how it was in Shogun 2 and Rome 2.  Then you would make more enemies and have increasing internal problems the larger you became, which is another way to slow down the steamroller effect. 

I've begun two campaigns in Attila and the bar has been steadily levelling up even when I'm not expanding.  I've levelled up three times now, to the point where I can have 6 or 8 armies maximum, but I still only own four regions ( 1 province plus an extra region) and it's still been slowly rising.  It lists me as being a "Great Empire".  ;D  Pretty sure this isn't working as intended.

So be aware.. aside from the extra difficulty related to the new feature additions, this issue will also make your diplo and public order penalties steadily rise at a  higher rate than it should.  It's probably an easy bug fix so hope to see it smashed soon.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 20, 2015, 03:24:08 PM
I think I noticed that last night as a matter of fact.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 20, 2015, 03:41:32 PM
Play ERE...get steamrolled by Goths
Think..."goths must be easier"
Play Goths....get steamrolled by Huns
think..."Huns must be easier"
Play Huns...get steamrolled by everyone

Checks and makes sure it's on Normal
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 20, 2015, 03:50:47 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 20, 2015, 03:24:08 PM
I think I noticed that last night as a matter of fact.

I see someone reported it on the CA forums, so I joined in.

The initial reply from the first guy was that it was probably working as intended but that's to be expected.  It's still listed as "in progress" and being looked at.

I was a bit flabbergasted when I was just sitting around waiting for stuff to build and my money to increase to only have my 'Imperium' level go up at the end of the turn.. a few times.  ???

Just checked... I can field up to 8 armies.  With only four regions!   Hahah!

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F532885921346685459%2FE6833105F162B5F7B67E705E8691373FB3DF4379%2F&hash=e82d42328d71bceb65cf55759ce30d71b4c5004d)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 20, 2015, 03:55:03 PM
 :crazy2:



Dunno.. maybe they intended even modestly sized factions to be hated by most everyone else (and to have far more armies available than they can field)?


And check out all the razed & devastated/abandoned areas!  Apocalyptic!  Does make it rather fluid and interesting.. as long as there are still factions around to fight.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F532885921346706370%2FD70FBA16A6A6814D7AB08C54C1C377B7256B807E%2F&hash=15d0d93568bab20b11097d7d7700abe7b42152c6)



Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 20, 2015, 07:27:55 PM
Quote from: mikeck on February 20, 2015, 03:41:32 PM
Play ERE...get steamrolled by Goths
Think..."goths must be easier"
Play Goths....get steamrolled by Huns
think..."Huns must be easier"
Play Huns...get steamrolled by everyone

Checks and makes sure it's on Normal

set it to "Gus".   ;)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 20, 2015, 08:12:13 PM
Well at least I know it wasn't just me that got batted around like Star in a bar on any given night.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 20, 2015, 09:12:31 PM
 :smitten:

so cute when your feathers are ruffled.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 20, 2015, 09:44:58 PM
I am adorable, eh?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 20, 2015, 09:48:52 PM
The Radious mod is out over at the Total War site and will be available at the Steam Workshop as soon as it's up. Looks like he's changed just about everything in the game right down to the weapon values. My hope is it will correct some of the oddities noted here. His mod for Rome 2 made the game much more playable early game and the economy and diplomacy more stable. But his battle effects make for some very tough fights so... Goths with an attitude maybe. Could be a winner.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 20, 2015, 09:55:26 PM
The other factions are already kicking my ass!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 20, 2015, 10:03:53 PM
marshmallows kick your ass in TW.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 20, 2015, 10:09:16 PM
Are you running your Attila campaign on Normal difficulty Gus?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 20, 2015, 10:10:29 PM
Yeah but the Hun campaign is rated as 'Hard.' Opposite of flaccid.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on February 20, 2015, 10:39:43 PM
I find it hard to believe that someone who's had the game for two or three days can mod it into a better game than the guys that have been working on it non-stop for a few months now.    ::)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 20, 2015, 10:53:34 PM
Im pretty sure hes had quite a bit of help from the devs.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 20, 2015, 10:59:54 PM
I was afraid that the period would not appeal to me and so far my fears are mostly coming true. I just don't like playing with brigands and bandits. I much prefer the armored and ordered ranks of roman legions or medieval knights, etc. and by the way, speaking of ordered ranks, why do the goths fight in perfect ordered ranks? I find it rather lacking in historical authenticity. I just don't think Germanic barbarians were that disciplined or highly trained as organized military units. In truth, it is not something I have spent a lot of effort in study, so perhaps I am wrong.

On the plus side, I like many of the UI changes, as well as the improvements to the strategic campaign game.

I will stick with it and try some play outside of the prologue. Maybe I'll try with the western Roman Empire to combine the combat of the glory days of Rome, with the new form of lighter, more mobile warfare.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 21, 2015, 12:00:12 AM
I agree Jar. My Franks look like a bunch guys heading to an AC/DC concert but they march in perfect order. Also lots of people say they see women warriors in the ranks but I haven't noticed that many. Anybody else seen any?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 21, 2015, 12:09:09 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 20, 2015, 10:10:29 PM
Yeah but the Hun campaign is rated as 'Hard.' Opposite of flaccid.

I wouldn't take the faction difficulty rating at face value.  Some of the 'Normal' starts have been difficult too.  I think the faction difficulty relates more to their starting size and the amount of stuff you have to manage rather than overall difficulty. 


Quote from: Jarhead0331 on February 20, 2015, 10:59:54 PM
I was afraid that the period would not appeal to me and so far my fears are mostly coming true. I just don't like playing with brigands and bandits. I much prefer the armored and ordered ranks of roman legions or medieval knights, etc. and by the way, speaking of ordered ranks, why do the goths fight in perfect ordered ranks? I find it rather lacking in historical authenticity. I just don't think Germanic barbarians were that disciplined or highly trained as organized military units. In truth, it is not something I have spent a lot of effort in study, so perhaps I am wrong.

On the plus side, I like many of the UI changes, as well as the improvements to the strategic campaign game.

I will stick with it and try some play outside of the prologue. Maybe I'll try with the western Roman Empire to combine the combat of the glory days of Rome, with the new form of lighter, more mobile warfare.

I agree about enjoying the earlier periods more.  Just seems like we're ordering bands of guys with shields and ragged clothes around now.  Homeless people with spears and a filthy brown filter to make them look like they've been rolling in mud.  ;D  If Attila's difficulty hadn't been improved over Rome 2, I wouldn't enjoy it so much.

I wish they would retrofit Rome 2 EE with some of the UI improvements.  There are some very handy ones.  The AI also seems to have improved some.

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on February 21, 2015, 02:49:15 AM
The mid to late medieval period has always been my sweet spot.  Knights, warhorses, couched lances, chivalry...that stuff.

There's nothing wrong with ancient warfare, but I've never found it as interesting as modern medieval warfare, say 1100-1400 or so.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on February 21, 2015, 02:50:44 AM
I will admit that you guys have me a bit upset that I didn't jump on this bandwagon, but I've got about 5 minutes invested in Rome 2 (at full $60 price).  I don't need another TW game.

But this sounds awfully awesome.  I'm really going to try to stick it out until it goes on super-sale like Rome 2 did.   :2funny:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 21, 2015, 07:00:35 AM
Question for the experts...one thing that has always driven me crazy is trying to move a formation around and your troops don't stay together.  If I have a multi line formation and in the front I have some infantry while in the back I have Calvary and attempt to move them all at once, the Calvary always moves so fast that it walks over the infantry in front of them, versus adjusting their speed to stay behind them in formation.  I have tried all the various formation moves and such, but still always happens.  Am I missing a trick in order to keep the horses in formation while moving groups?  I certainly can micro manage it, but defeats the purpose of moving formations around.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 21, 2015, 09:26:42 AM
during setup after you place units where you want you can lock the whole group into that formation and it will pretty much stay as it is.  if your having a speed problem with cavalry you can hit ctrl while clicking on a unit type and hit R to make them walk instead of run.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 21, 2015, 09:29:14 AM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on February 21, 2015, 09:26:42 AM
during setup after you place units where you want you can lock the whole group into that formation and it will pretty much stay as it is.  if your having a speed problem with cavalry you can hit ctrl while clicking on a unit type and hit R to make them walk instead of run.

I'll have to give that a try again, but have tried locking the group before and they still seem to outpace the front line troops.  Maybe I missed something.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: JudgeDredd on February 21, 2015, 09:32:55 AM
I think I know what you mean *GR* - I'm positive I've seen the same thing, even with specifying a formation...the cav just seems to move too fast

*edit - bloody fat fingers!  ::)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 21, 2015, 12:46:05 PM
^That's Grim, JD.

I have always preferred the story of the fall of Rome to the rise, and I love the Dark Ages (or whatever the PC term is for them today). So...Attila is right in my wheelhouse.

Last night I fired it up for about an hour and I reached a moment of zen after getting batted around again. As the Huns if I have three separate armies, I'll attempt to use one solely as a settlement to level up my tech, with my least-uber troops and the fewest in number.

I'll use the other two armies to slash and burn Rome to the ground. These 'field armies' will have the best tech and the highest numbers.

I started to try this last night and it looked to be working much better than just lashing out at everyone in a berserk, blood-soaked rage...as I did the night previous.

Players have to think differently as the Huns. You don't have to worry about the same things as more sedentary, traditional factions, but money is still vital as is tech. So it's a different play style, but it's just not different in the way I expected. I'm getting the vibe I am about to crack the game open...just have to get more time with it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 21, 2015, 02:45:14 PM
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on February 21, 2015, 07:00:35 AM
Question for the experts...one thing that has always driven me crazy is trying to move a formation around and your troops don't stay together.  If I have a multi line formation and in the front I have some infantry while in the back I have Calvary and attempt to move them all at once, the Calvary always moves so fast that it walks over the infantry in front of them, versus adjusting their speed to stay behind them in formation.  I have tried all the various formation moves and such, but still always happens.  Am I missing a trick in order to keep the horses in formation while moving groups?  I certainly can micro manage it, but defeats the purpose of moving formations around.

Nope, you cavalry will always walk faster.  Even when you've locked the formation with the 'G' key.  Give your formation shorter move orders and issue new ones when the infantry catch up.

I tend to give my first move order or two with the whole army locked in formation, and then put my cavalry into separate groups before the enemy gets close so I can move them separately.  Eventually do the same with the skirmishers & archers too once the melee has begun.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 21, 2015, 02:59:26 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on February 21, 2015, 02:45:14 PM
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on February 21, 2015, 07:00:35 AM
Question for the experts...one thing that has always driven me crazy is trying to move a formation around and your troops don't stay together.  If I have a multi line formation and in the front I have some infantry while in the back I have Calvary and attempt to move them all at once, the Calvary always moves so fast that it walks over the infantry in front of them, versus adjusting their speed to stay behind them in formation.  I have tried all the various formation moves and such, but still always happens.  Am I missing a trick in order to keep the horses in formation while moving groups?  I certainly can micro manage it, but defeats the purpose of moving formations around.

Nope, you cavalry will always walk faster.  Even when you've locked the formation with the 'G' key.  Give your formation shorter move orders and issue new ones when the infantry catch up.

I tend to give my first move order or two with the whole army locked in formation, and then put my cavalry into separate groups before the enemy gets close so I can move them separately.  Eventually do the same with the skirmishers & archers too once the melee has begun.

That's too bad....seems to happen in every version of total war, wish they could have addressed at some point.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 21, 2015, 03:08:54 PM
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on February 21, 2015, 02:59:26 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on February 21, 2015, 02:45:14 PM
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on February 21, 2015, 07:00:35 AM
Question for the experts...one thing that has always driven me crazy is trying to move a formation around and your troops don't stay together.  If I have a multi line formation and in the front I have some infantry while in the back I have Calvary and attempt to move them all at once, the Calvary always moves so fast that it walks over the infantry in front of them, versus adjusting their speed to stay behind them in formation.  I have tried all the various formation moves and such, but still always happens.  Am I missing a trick in order to keep the horses in formation while moving groups?  I certainly can micro manage it, but defeats the purpose of moving formations around.

Nope, you cavalry will always walk faster.  Even when you've locked the formation with the 'G' key.  Give your formation shorter move orders and issue new ones when the infantry catch up.

I tend to give my first move order or two with the whole army locked in formation, and then put my cavalry into separate groups before the enemy gets close so I can move them separately.  Eventually do the same with the skirmishers & archers too once the melee has begun.

That's too bad....seems to happen in every version of total war, wish they could have addressed at some point.

I'm just happy they improved the Formation Lock with the new series' engine.  Used to screw up on me all the time.  Actually, it still does, just not as much.  Every have a current move order with a locked formation and just clicked ahead again, thinking the damn thing will actually be facing in that same direction to only have the whole thing pointing off to your right or left?  Yeah.  ::)

Now I just hold rt-click and ALT key down then drag forward to force it's facing every time.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 21, 2015, 03:24:31 PM
Well, I know the Goths and Vandals learned a lot of military techniques from the Romans and many served in the legions...even before the 4th century. I'm not sure how far that training took them and how ordered they were. That said, there is usually a mod that's comes out and de-organizes barbarian units. I saw one for Rome 2 I believe.

I always play Rome anyway and I like to build a disciplined force by ensuring I don't lose entire units they gain experience and become very dependable. Truthfully, medieval armies didn't fighy ordered either. Didn't see real formations until the Swiss Mercenary pike men in the late 15th century. Before that it was a mob of dismounted Knights, levy infantry and bowmen surrounded on flanks by a mob of mounted Knights

I do feel the same that Jarhead does about factions. I much prefer to play the organized diciplined armies instead of the rabble. Never played anyone but Rome
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: endfire79 on February 21, 2015, 03:30:49 PM
Quote from: mikeck on February 21, 2015, 03:24:31 PM
Well, I know the Goths and Vandals learned a lot of military techniques from the Romans and many served in the legions...even before the 4th century. I'm not sure how far that training took them and how ordered they were. That said, there is usually a mod that's comes out and de-organizes barbarian units. I saw one for Rome 2 I believe.

I always play Rome anyway and I like to build a disciplined force by ensuring I don't lose entire units they gain experience and become very dependable. Truthfully, medieval armies didn't fighy ordered either. Didn't see real formations until the Swiss Mercenary pike men in the late 15th century. Before that it was a mob of dismounted Knights, levy infantry and bowmen surrounded on flanks by a mob of mounted Knights

I do feel the same that Jarhead does about factions. I much prefer to play the organized diciplined armies instead of the rabble. Never played anyone but Rome

I think the Mongols gave some order in the medieval period (organizing units into Tumens of 10,000, and consisting of smaller units of 1000, 100, 10 etc.)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 21, 2015, 07:14:00 PM
Possibly, but I don't think units fought on the battlefield in organized formations until the Swiss. There were units for organizational purposes but armies lacked drill and dicipline. I know nothing about the Mongols though so I defer. It is just a little off-putting watching my Iceni army marching in 25x4 fornations across the battlefield
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 21, 2015, 08:53:26 PM
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on February 21, 2015, 02:59:26 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on February 21, 2015, 02:45:14 PM
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on February 21, 2015, 07:00:35 AM
Question for the experts...one thing that has always driven me crazy is trying to move a formation around and your troops don't stay together.  If I have a multi line formation and in the front I have some infantry while in the back I have Calvary and attempt to move them all at once, the Calvary always moves so fast that it walks over the infantry in front of them, versus adjusting their speed to stay behind them in formation.  I have tried all the various formation moves and such, but still always happens.  Am I missing a trick in order to keep the horses in formation while moving groups?  I certainly can micro manage it, but defeats the purpose of moving formations around.

Nope, you cavalry will always walk faster.  Even when you've locked the formation with the 'G' key.  Give your formation shorter move orders and issue new ones when the infantry catch up.

I tend to give my first move order or two with the whole army locked in formation, and then put my cavalry into separate groups before the enemy gets close so I can move them separately.  Eventually do the same with the skirmishers & archers too once the melee has begun.

That's too bad....seems to happen in every version of total war, wish they could have addressed at some point.

seems fine to me.  at 6'2" it can hurt to walk as slow as shorter people so I dont.  but if you order a formation to move it does so at its best speed.  just unit tag the cav and hit R and slow them down.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 21, 2015, 08:54:14 PM
or....

set up your spacing pre battle to take the difference into account.   ;)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 22, 2015, 12:23:10 AM
Quote from: mikeck on February 21, 2015, 07:14:00 PM
Possibly, but I don't think units fought on the battlefield in organized formations until the Swiss. There were units for organizational purposes but armies lacked drill and dicipline. I know nothing about the Mongols though so I defer. It is just a little off-putting watching my Iceni army marching in 25x4 fornations across the battlefield

Sure they did. 

One example is how the Saxons fought at what is considered the beginning of the medieval era.  An organized shield wall at Hastings being a well known one.  The surely didn't just come up with it on the spot.

The line tactics generally implemented up until the late 19th century were pretty standard for any sizable army.  It just made sense.  The biggest variable being just how much training/practice those soldiers had doing so beforehand and, therefore, how well they could implement those tactics.

I would think most armies of any respectable size used line tactics in the middle ages unless they were just some relatively tiny raiding party or some small lord's retinue doing same. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 22, 2015, 01:34:15 AM
Sweet Alexander's Screaming Ghost, I'm getting DOW'd by two factions on a regular basis.  Don't even have to DOW anyone to expand right now. 

I'm sure this is due to the immense "Great Power" diplomatic penalty from the Imperium scale shooting up so quickly in Attila.  Dev said he/she would check it out after the weekend.

I now have between -40 and -100 diplo penalty with all other factions.   :o   Trying to gobble up Britain before the whole world DOWs me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 22, 2015, 01:04:50 PM
I'm finally in the mood to play Samurai 2, start a new game, making good progress, CTD at the same point every time I try to continue now. This has never happened to me in a Total War game, or in Samurai 2, which I have 26 hours in. What the flock?

Edit: I verified the file integrity which downloaded an 11mb file and that seemed to get me passed the point I was stuck at.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 22, 2015, 02:20:50 PM
Yes, but a shield wall is an immobile line. There is a big difference between standing in a line with interlocking shields and actually "maneuvering" on the battlefield in drill or even attacking in a formation. I haven't seen anything to indicate that between the romans (excepting the Byzantines) and the Swiss, there was an infantry force that maneuvered on the battlefield in any formation approaching what you see in total war. Makes no difference to me as I feel if you play total war because if it's realism, your missing the boat. It's real enough
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: besilarius on February 22, 2015, 03:20:49 PM
I cannot think of any great, organzied military like the legions during the early and middle medieval period.  (Except for the Byzantines.)
Charlemagne had such strong cavalry, that his infantry were primarily used as light troops for the forested areas that could shelter his various tribal enemies.
Richard the Lionhearted created a cohesive force of mixed spearmen and crossbowmen during the crusades.  The Swiss and Flemish militias were both pike armed forces, and so needed drill to keep formation with their cumbersome weapons.
They were designed to stand in the face of mounted troops, and only go on the offensive when the enemy was exhausted after the mounted charges failed.  These troops did not have the flexibility or maneuver of the Legions.  In many ways, this period could be thought of as very similar to the time of Marathon and the Greco-Persian Wars.
After the crusades there was a conscious movement to use the infantry as a solid base, using combined polearms and missile weapons.  Surprisingly, one of the last great militia victories was in Scotland at the battle of Flodden.  The Scots were trying out the pike tactics of the Swiss and were badly beaten by the english, armed with "bow and bill".
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Yskonyn on February 23, 2015, 02:24:26 AM
I am going to take this for a good spin when my son takes his afternoon nap.  O0
From what I have gathered so far, I think I would like the setting of Rome 2 with the interface and dynasty additions of Atilla. :P
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Shelldrake on February 23, 2015, 06:40:11 AM
Quote from: Yskonyn on February 23, 2015, 02:24:26 AM

From what I have gathered so far, I think I would like the setting of Rome 2 with the interface and dynasty additions of Atilla. :P
Sounds like something the modding community will come up with...eventually.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 08:46:12 AM
The AI here is definitley evolved. After another beat down as the Huns, I launched the campaign for a third time last night. Took everything slow and steady and acfually listened to my advisor and went for subduing to unruly barbarian rabble to the north of the Hun starting positions. Slow and steady wins the race here in the beginning, which is counter to how I thought the Huns woukd operate. Razed a few cities and knocked out a few tribes, and advanced to the second phase of both civic and military tech. Sustained some casualties and am down to two armies, but my economy is stable. Made it to the year 400 (for the first time, finally) and Attila was born. Approaching the winter of 402, and making a pushe to eliminate the Venendi, then go further south towards both the Eastern and Western Romans. Looks like this is the end of the beginning, as Churchill said.

Got some lag and some hanging at the end of turns, but no crashes yet.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 23, 2015, 10:48:56 AM
Quote from: besilarius on February 22, 2015, 03:20:49 PM
I cannot think of any great, organzied military like the legions during the early and middle medieval period.  (Except for the Byzantines.)
Charlemagne had such strong cavalry, that his infantry were primarily used as light troops for the forested areas that could shelter his various tribal enemies.
Richard the Lionhearted created a cohesive force of mixed spearmen and crossbowmen during the crusades.  The Swiss and Flemish militias were both pike armed forces, and so needed drill to keep formation with their cumbersome weapons.
They were designed to stand in the face of mounted troops, and only go on the offensive when the enemy was exhausted after the mounted charges failed.  These troops did not have the flexibility or maneuver of the Legions.  In many ways, this period could be thought of as very similar to the time of Marathon and the Greco-Persian Wars.
After the crusades there was a conscious movement to use the infantry as a solid base, using combined polearms and missile weapons.  Surprisingly, one of the last great militia victories was in Scotland at the battle of Flodden.  The Scots were trying out the pike tactics of the Swiss and were badly beaten by the english, armed with "bow and bill".

I haven't been playing Attila, but I have played lots of pre-modern games.  It seems to me that for any battle for which there are decent sources, you will find that there are formations and command control and so on.  For example, at Bouvines (a pretty well documented battle in 1214), the lighter-armed horse under the command of the Templars, systematically delayed the deployment of the Imperial forces until the French could bring up their infantry.  The Imperial infantry was deployed to make dense shock attacks, but arrived piecemeal and were held off by the more loosely formed French infantry until the heavier cavalry around the King counterattacked and began the rout of the Imperial forces.  So there were probably a lot of formations and moves and countermoves available -- we just generally don't have the sources to know exactly what they were.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 23, 2015, 11:12:17 AM
I agree with the AI being different from Rome 1. I don't know what it's agenda is, whether it's just more aggressive, smarter or more devious but it will keep you on your toes for sure. I really like the new Family Tree options but they are a little overwhelming at first with so many choices about positions to fill and skills to assign. It's got me cross-checking the Tech Tree all the time to try to decide which techs will best go with which skills, or interfere with them. You really have to be careful not to increase disloyalty in certain characters with your choices. It's kind of a lot at first.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 11:40:24 AM
Yeah...does the family tree auto-fill? It seems a lot of features are automated if they are too overehelming at first. I do like the random political events that occur too. I wonder if I am missing out on a lot of new features by playing the nomadic Huns...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 23, 2015, 11:59:29 AM
I'm not sure if new candidates automatically show-up or if you can adopt new members or both. And how long do they live? So far early game I'm seeing a lot less Agents on screen, probably intentional. I kind of get the feel playing that the world was in great shape when I left it in Rome 2, but now it's gone to hell and who's responsible for this damned mess?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 23, 2015, 02:23:56 PM
The new character actions from the ones in your family tree are easy to understand.  As with Rome 2, Influence points are spent on using them.  Each character gains influence when winning battles or governing a province.  Your faction's total Influence, compared to the random dudes on the left, is reflected in the bar on the top left of that screen.  I'm not sure if there are penalties for having less than 50% of the total available Influence for your faction (from the characters actually in your family tree), I've kept mine higher thus far.

I've mostly just been using the Inspire Loyalty and Gain Control character actions, with an occasional Embezzle Funds if my family ends up with extra Influence to burn.  Thankfully CA took out the large cost in state funds to take such actions, which was a fault with Rome 2's faction politics system.  Anyway, don't let your generals' and governors' loyalty get low or they will rebel.  So use that Loyalty command from one of your family characters on one whose loyalty has dropped from 10.

There is another point pool you'll expend when your character actions get a bad result, Control, shown as the yellow & red gauge on the top right.  I suspect character loyalty will start going down faster if this gets low so use character actions to keep it up over 50%.  I try to keep Control at a 57% minimum and preferably well over 60% because you can choose some character action results that expend this instead of other stuff.  Usually needing to expend around 4-6% Control each.  Most notably it's the Get Out Of Jail Free card for some bad events.

I haven't needed to use Assassinate or most of the other actions because I've kept all my subordinates loyal.  When non-family characters have a chunk of Influence, I give them a titled position (the slots on the right) which sometimes burns off a chunk of their extra Influence and adds a small bonus to a specific income or other such stuff depending on the title.

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 02:46:37 PM
New dlc announced for 2/26, The Longbeards, featuring the Burgundians, Alemans and Longobards, on sale at Steam for 7.19 (pre-order).
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 23, 2015, 02:59:41 PM
I saw that too. The Aleman Bejeweled Nobles units sounds a little..... you know. Anti-Manly is what I meant.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 23, 2015, 03:04:40 PM
Longobards and Burgundians would be nice.  I just hope they didn't copy & paste the Germanic unit list over and add one or two new units but I suspect that will be the case.

Rather questionable timing.  I doubt they created this DLC in the past week, even if there are only a couple new units.   ???

Quote from: Sir Slash on February 23, 2015, 02:59:41 PM
I saw that too. The Aleman Bejeweled Nobles units sounds a little..... you know. Anti-Manly is what I meant.

IIRC, the Burgundian warriors died their hair red because they thought it intimidated others.  Yes, you heard that right.  They wanted to be gingers.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 03:16:10 PM
On Steam it reads that between the three new factions there are 23 new units, plus a lot of other additional features including a new story arc (sounds similar to Attila for the Huns).
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 23, 2015, 03:20:23 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 03:16:10 PM
On Steam it reads that between the three new factions there are 23 new units, plus a lot of other additional features including a new story arc (sounds similar to Attila for the Huns).

Hrmm.. 23?  That's a lot.  Would be happy with that.  Re-skins?

At the same time, it just shows that they withheld a lot of content from the release last week.  Pretty much release day DLC.  :knuppel2:   
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 08:10:09 PM
^Definitely. But the quality looks more gooder than the Viking Forefathers pack.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Asid on February 23, 2015, 09:33:23 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on February 23, 2015, 03:20:23 PM

At the same time, it just shows that they withheld a lot of content from the release last week.  Pretty much release day DLC.  :knuppel2:

Agreed  >:(

:knuppel2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 09:41:46 PM
Three tries, three very quick defeats as the Huns. I just can't get anything going playing as this faction, which kinda sucks because I was looking forward to burning all of Europe down. Now what? Try one more time or just move on to a more traditional faction? Getting beat three times in six days is depressing. Especially coming of my last R2TW campaign where I snatched victory from defeat as Armenia :(
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Asid on February 23, 2015, 10:07:22 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 09:41:46 PM
I was looking forward to burning all of Europe down. Now what?

;D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 23, 2015, 11:04:44 PM
So far the Franks aren't too tough to play. They seem to be able to get along with the other barbarians tribes well enough as well as the Romans until you're ready to strike either way. And if things get too tough, pull up stakes and become a horde.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 11:09:55 PM
I've started as the Huns...for the fourth and final time. This go around I will set up camp in the winter, campaign in the summer and pay extra special attention to attrition while trying to bash everyone around me in the head. And I will keep all three of my starting hordes together. If this strategery doesn't work, nothing will :) and I will move on.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 24, 2015, 11:49:09 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 11:09:55 PM
I've started as the Huns...for the fourth and final time. This go around I will set up camp in the winter, campaign in the summer and pay extra special attention to attrition while trying to bash everyone around me in the head. And I will keep all three of my starting hordes together. If this strategery doesn't work, nothing will :) and I will move on.

You're really dead set on playing the Huns, aren't you?   ???
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 24, 2015, 01:13:20 PM
The new DLC is out now and a big update due Thursday. Lots of changes including to performance improvement :D and no torches. So you can't burn down city gates anymore, you have to hack through them if you don't have siege weapons. With axes. And swords. ??? Details are at,   http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Update  Opinions?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 24, 2015, 02:33:04 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on February 24, 2015, 11:49:09 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 23, 2015, 11:09:55 PM
I've started as the Huns...for the fourth and final time. This go around I will set up camp in the winter, campaign in the summer and pay extra special attention to attrition while trying to bash everyone around me in the head. And I will keep all three of my starting hordes together. If this strategery doesn't work, nothing will :) and I will move on.

You're really dead set on playing the Huns, aren't you?   ???

some form of Jewish guilt I suspect.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 24, 2015, 08:38:52 PM
The Huns are darkness incarnate. Who wouldn't want to play them? It does take a while to retrain your brain in their new mechanics, they operate quite differently from a traditional TW faction.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 24, 2015, 08:50:47 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 24, 2015, 08:38:52 PM
The Huns are darkness incarnate. Who wouldn't want to play them? It does take a while to retrain your brain in their new mechanics, they operate quite differently from a traditional TW faction.

I beat them like they stole something in my game as the ERE. Put my spear comintenses in "defensive testudo forming a horseshoe around 4 units of archers. Watch the Hun cavalry grind itself against the spears while their pitiful compound bow arrows hit the shields. Flaming arrows scare the horsies and off they go. Of course, after the battle, i execute all the little f***ers
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 24, 2015, 10:47:22 PM
^I'll remember that.

Finally did not get decimated tonight. The year is 403AD and Attila has been born. I raised two or three cities tonight and eliminated a few factions. Moving on the Gepids and then if I can keep the economy going I have to decide which Romans to eliminate first...East or West.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 24, 2015, 11:47:47 PM
Gus, where do the Huns stand diplomatically with the other factions at start?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2015, 08:50:22 AM
They have one or two small allies and are at war with 5 or 6 more. No trading is possible. And it's much easier to make enemies than friends. You're a pariah, more or less.

In my current game it's 403AD and both my allies have been destroyed. I am about to destroy the Gepids.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 25, 2015, 10:41:41 AM
Funny that you've had such a hard time, over at the TW Forum, the talk is that the Radious mod has made the game too easy. But I haven't tried it yet. I like my porridge... just right.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 25, 2015, 11:44:55 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on February 25, 2015, 10:41:41 AM
Funny that you've had such a hard time, over at the TW Forum, the talk is that the Radious mod has made the game too easy. But I haven't tried it yet. I like my porridge... just right.

I don't think it needs a mod just yet.  As with Shogun 2, the vanilla game is pretty solid.  More so once a few of the bugs get ironed out.

The only mod I might consider at the moment would be the always present movement speed reduction.  Or something that gets rid of that dark overlay filter on the 3D graphics (still pissing me off).
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 25, 2015, 01:25:03 PM
Agreed. Just because it was the beginning of the Dark Ages doesn't mean everything has to be that way. I'm hoping the changes tomorrow will make it run better on my old machine.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2015, 08:18:54 PM
This...this is why I am obsessed with the Huns right now.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528382874605644020%2F91100F153F68AB222A87889B3CE53A3F83553A2E%2F&hash=f75ecc54b40fe7f4ad1b8ae32b2aab83e8ee8d6e)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 25, 2015, 08:27:24 PM
Thus far CA has pretty much told us to buzz off regarding the Imperium diplo penalty issue.  The thinking behind it is nuts, however.

Here is one of the CA replies:

QuoteHiya, unlocking techs will cause your Imperium to increase - this is indeed by design. If you want to turtle down and build up your economy without increasing your Imperium you can choose to not research techs instead - you are not forced to research each turn.

You can quite easily offset the penalty to diplomacy by maintaining good relations with your neighbours. This can be done by joining mutual wars, harassing mutual enemies and giving gifts. Alternatively just conquer them then there's nobody to declare war on you anymore.

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/148385-Starting-imperium-growing-too-fast/page3


Yes, you heard that correctly.  Researching techs in Total War Attila will quickly raise your Imperium rating, which is basically a large Diplomatic relations penalty with everyone that goes up each level.  It also includes some Public Order penalties and other such stuff.  For the record, the diplo penalties aren't just for "your neighbors", they're for everyone.  And they far outweigh any small bonuses you can get for DOW'ing the same enemies.

It's been reported that after researching your first two techs, the Imperium rating will rise a level.  After ~8 techs it will go up again.  Etc etc.  With a -15 to -100 average Relations penalties for the first few levels.  Mixed with territorial expansion, everyone will hate you in record time.  Hell, you don't even need to expand much before being labelled as a "Great Power".  Think I got it with only one or two regions conquered.. nearly all of it came from research chugging slowly along.

And the CA employee suggested that we just need to completely stop researching techs (in a TW game!?) if we want to avoid increasing those penalties.  Because, evidently, people hated technological advances in the dark ages more than invading armies.    ::) Dubya Tee Muthaslappin' Eff?!   

I got some extra choice words on this design philosophy I will keep to myself.  Hopefully the modders can properly fix this nonsense instead of using a workaround.  We suggested they were valuing tech research far too high but someone at CA seems to want it that way.  Not sure they have a good grip on the what happened in the "Dark Ages".  ;D

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 25, 2015, 08:51:28 PM
Workaround mod for what I was bitching about:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?681823-Explaining-the-quot-Great-Power-quot-penalty-and-fixing-it

Not the best solution since it would probably make the actual 'Great Empires' with large territories easier from the start.  But it's something.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: W8taminute on February 25, 2015, 09:02:51 PM
I can understand nations hating you for being too high tech in a Civ game but to have that happen in a TW game?  Somethings not right with that thinking imo.   I don't recall other TW titles penalizing you this heavily for being too high tech. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2015, 09:16:42 PM
That is bizarre and definitely sounds incorrect. I wonder if everyone hated me because my tech was at level 2, or because I was playing as the Huns? Both?

Either way I have been defeated again, 4th campaign coming to a crashing halt :( Question is, do I continue to play, selecting another faction with the above weirdness still in place, or do I wait until it's fixed? Will the patch tomorrow address it? The answer you got Nef just can't be correct...

That aside, I am going to choose between the Langobards/Lombards/Longbeards, or the Geats, tomorrow, as my next faction. I just couldn't get on as the Huns...could not make it work.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 25, 2015, 10:11:21 PM
Meh...I kill everyone anyway. Barbarian heathens.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2015, 10:25:26 PM
Who are you playing as?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 25, 2015, 10:26:06 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 25, 2015, 09:16:42 PM
That is bizarre and definitely sounds incorrect. I wonder if everyone hated me because my tech was at level 2, or because I was playing as the Huns? Both?

Either way I have been defeated again, 4th campaign coming to a crashing halt :( Question is, do I continue to play, selecting another faction with the above weirdness still in place, or do I wait until it's fixed? Will the patch tomorrow address it? The answer you got Nef just can't be correct...

I am positive that teching up will increasingly make people DOW you.  The CA rep said it was intentional but I still question whether the amount by which it ramps up so quickly is called for.


Here are the base Relations penalties, as mentioned in that mod thread, from the game file.  Keep in mind that these base penalties can have numerous modifiers that will multiply them. 

Quote from: modder
Poking though the game database we have the following penalties for imperium:
Level 2: -5 penalty
Level 3: -10 penalty
Level 4: -30 penalty
Level 5: -40 penalty
Level 6: -60 penalty
Level 7: -80 penalty
(From table effect_bundles_toeffects_junctions rows 95-99)

When I held a total of three territories, and had researched various early tier Domestic and Military techs (within the first two boxes but not all), I was getting the -30 penalty.  Which was often multiplied up to -60.  When I had almost researched all of the first two tech blocks and a bit more (nowhere near halfway through the tech tree), my penalties had reached the -40 and -60 spots and were likewise multiplied upwards with some factions. 

I'm sure this is a problem with all factions who are doing any research, including the Huns.  My relations ratings in the diplo screen are completely bottomed out, in red, with everyone except my two earliest and closest allies, whom I had arranged marriages and other stuff with, but their relations ratings are also diving steadily.

It's basically a Realm Divide that starts from the beginning of the game and steadily goes up while you are researching.  Supposedly a shortcut to make Horde factions, which don't actually conquer & hold territory, still be given the "Great Empire" diplo penalties which used to be based on how much territory you held in Rome 2.  But attaching it to the research tree for all factions is an absolutely ridiculous way to go about it, if that's the case.  And it's the only reasonable explanation for why they did it.

Quote
That aside, I am going to choose between the Langobards/Lombards/Longbeards, or the Geats, tomorrow, as my next faction. I just couldn't get on as the Huns...could not make it work.

The new horde mechanics are cool but there seems to be some steady complaints about how it actually plays out on the campaign map and how the AI uses them.  I've not played a horde yet so I can't comment.  The regular land-holding factions are enjoyable, other than poor corner-cutting design decisions like the research hate thing.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2015, 10:31:02 PM
Well I for one can tell you that the Huns are very tough to play, resulting from what is going on under the hood. I'm hoping to have better luck with a more traditional faction but from your above numbers it sounds like every faction is going to be tough. I don't suppose you have the numbers from Rome II for relations penalties to compare?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on February 25, 2015, 10:31:52 PM
Gus, why don't you just try another faction?  And/or turn down the difficulty slider a notch?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 25, 2015, 11:49:58 PM
I remember in BI, playing the Huns early game was the easy part. It was later when you settled down that it became a bitch because you were handicapped in tech, trade and religion and could build nothing worth while as a navy to protect your coasts. If early game Huns is a bitch, then it can only get worse from there. Damn. Now I really want to play them.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 26, 2015, 01:07:17 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 25, 2015, 10:31:02 PM
Well I for one can tell you that the Huns are very tough to play, resulting from what is going on under the hood. I'm hoping to have better luck with a more traditional faction but from your above numbers it sounds like every faction is going to be tough. I don't suppose you have the numbers from Rome II for relations penalties to compare?

Rome 2 had the Imperium penalties, but the Imperium level only increased as your territory spread.  So the larger you became, the higher your "Great Empire" relations penalty would be.  A reasonable way to slow down the steamroller effect IMO.

But in Attila, it now goes up when you complete research.  Your so-called Great Power status, which was a way to combat the big runaway blob effect in Rome 2, goes up just by doing research AND via expansion.  So even if you're not invading & taking other territories, your research will still make all other factions increasingly hate you.

The CA rep on their forum posted that you don't have to research anything, and that you can just not do any research if you don't want that Great Power status to cripple all Diplomacy for you.  Which is.. well..  :idiot2:   You can see the official replies in the official forum thread I linked, to see the quote I left and another dev reply or two.  ;D

Attila is already more challenging compared to Rome 2, and has been fun to play.  But the diplomacy being crippled by this research nonsense has certainly made me  ::)  The users reporting it all thought it was a bug because it didn't make sense but CA says it's working as intended.  :2funny:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 26, 2015, 08:40:23 AM
The Radious mod addressed this issue by adjusting down the Imperial diplomacy penalties and some other diplomacy values as well. I've not played much of Attila. Has anyone noticed if the AI factions still seem to spawn huge armies with only one territory owned like in Rome 2?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 26, 2015, 08:47:27 AM
Who is getting the new DLC?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 26, 2015, 08:53:17 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 25, 2015, 10:25:26 PM
Who are you playing as?

ERE Gus. I had a few good fights with the goths. Eventually they sued for peace. The Huns hit with two armies but I staved them off with spear units in testudo. Next turn i forced both Hun armies I to a corner and finished them off. There are more coming but I got about 15-20 turns with no attacks. I'm at war with everyone because I'm allied with the WRE and I join their wars for cash.

So I dont care if everyone hates me...I'm killing all of them anyway
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2015, 08:56:49 AM
I got the new DLC. Tonight I start a new campaign either as the Geats (Viking DLC) or the Longbeards (new DLC). I don't want to mod Attila yet but if the diplomacy numbers prove to ridiculous I may use the Radious mod to calm them.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MetalDog on February 26, 2015, 08:57:00 AM
Quote from: mikeck on February 26, 2015, 08:53:17 AM
So I dont care if everyone hates me...I'm killing all of them anyway

THAT'S the ticket!!  Kill them before they kill you!!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2015, 08:59:38 AM
That's odd mikeck...as the Huns every rinky dink faction around me had armies of three stacks or more! I could not find a decent neighborhood to catch a break and just got devoured each game by factions like vultures.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 26, 2015, 11:37:15 AM
I'm going to pass on the DLC, for now.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 26, 2015, 12:08:38 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 26, 2015, 08:59:38 AM
That's odd mikeck...as the Huns every rinky dink faction around me had armies of three stacks or more! I could not find a decent neighborhood to catch a break and just got devoured each game by factions like vultures.

Not at all. Huns had several stacks which I have eviserated, Visigoths had a few stacks which I beat back at great cost ....Ostrogoths and  vandals seem to be fairly powerful but they moved past me into the western empire. Try a more conventional barbarian tribe like the goths or franks. It's almost impossible to attack the Huns and win because they are so mobile on the field....but if they are forced to come to you, spear units in testudo will shred
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2015, 03:26:03 PM
Time for Geats. Or Longbeards.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on February 26, 2015, 05:37:29 PM
Or.....Ere and Sassanids. Cmon Gus, leave the grab-ass barbarians alone and come on up to varsity: ERE v Persians
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 26, 2015, 05:50:01 PM
I'll pick up the DLC after a patch or two, and checking out the Imperium fixing mods.  Despite all my bitching about the Research-to-Diplo penalty nuttery, the rest of the game is in relatively good condition and the AI seems to be improved.

WT has it's hooks in me at the moment, though, so no hurry.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: W8taminute on February 26, 2015, 05:53:05 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on February 26, 2015, 05:50:01 PM
WT has it's hooks in me at the moment, though, so no hurry.


Ditto.  That and the fact that I'm broke and won't be buying any new games soon will keep me away from Attila for a while.   :'(
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Grim.Reaper on February 26, 2015, 07:12:27 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 26, 2015, 08:56:49 AM
I got the new DLC. Tonight I start a new campaign either as the Geats (Viking DLC) or the Longbeards (new DLC). I don't want to mod Attila yet but if the diplomacy numbers prove to ridiculous I may use the Radious mod to calm them.

Wasn't the DLC/update delayed until next week?

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/149986-Longbeards-Culture-Pack-next-week-and-a-chance-to-win-Will-s-Helm?s=a7f1eaf28544cd91515b79dca37e2c03
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2015, 10:37:45 PM
^Yep.

So I started a campaign as the Geats. Much more my speed with city building, army improvements and some Caledonian ass kicking. The Burgundians want some too.

I even saw the AI try to flank me on the battle map, with cavalry.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 26, 2015, 11:41:16 PM
Kind of shitty of CA to wait until the day of the update before delaying it. And no other notice of it anywhere. If I wanted to be bitch-slapped I would've just told my wife she's getting fat.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 27, 2015, 08:28:23 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on February 26, 2015, 11:41:16 PM
Kind of shitty of CA to wait until the day of the update before delaying it. And no other notice of it anywhere. If I wanted to be bitch-slapped I would've just told my wife she's getting fat.

I'd rather they finish and test it properly.  You know that if CA has to officially delay something, then it must've been in questionable shape. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 27, 2015, 10:24:20 AM
They must be waiting on the Longbeards to grow-out a little more. ;D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on February 28, 2015, 01:08:42 AM
Gus and Mirth playing TW.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F541893118088530960%2FE23ED35D91A3B40F5A6AFA112E5D9C6F0CB51EE7%2F&hash=1ac4b81cc0dbdea47cc88269e4b0f731d6a2366f)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 28, 2015, 08:35:55 AM
I'm not fluent in German.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on February 28, 2015, 08:44:58 AM
It may just be me but I haven't seen anything yet that's pulling my credit card
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: LongBlade on February 28, 2015, 10:51:32 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 28, 2015, 08:35:55 AM
I'm not fluent in German.

The color contrast is difficult for me to make out but it looks like it says:

"They should be fighting and not dancing."
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 28, 2015, 12:00:52 PM
That's some of the new units-- Berserker Dancers. Or maybe Skipping Scythians.  ;D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 28, 2015, 03:01:06 PM
Turkey trotters with kung-fu grip.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on February 28, 2015, 04:25:17 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 28, 2015, 03:01:06 PM
Turkey trotters with kung-fu grip.

.. playing Hide The Sausage.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on February 28, 2015, 06:32:30 PM
I have put about 15 hours into Attila and give it two thumbs up!

I skipped out on Rome 2 due to reviews (mostly from here), but I am glad they pulled it together for this one. I really enjoy the character and family options, it has a lot of flexibility. I like how diplomacy works, where your actions can have immediate or more long term effects. I also like the migrating factions (the horde mechanic), it really brings some innovation to a tired campaign system.

Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase. Not one single bug (noticed) in 15 hours. This is probably one of the best 1.0 builds I have ever played. Anyone have any info on the stability of campaign multiplayer?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MetalDog on February 28, 2015, 07:20:58 PM
Are you kidding?  These people don't play MP?!?!?!!  Games are to be played by yourSELF!!!


































(Just teasing fellas)  :P
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 01, 2015, 02:51:18 PM
I have read a couple of complaints on some stability issues in MP over at TWC but we all know how much that may be worth.

I agree that Attila is almost as stable as Shogun 2 was at release...must be the same team that is responsible, eh?

I do have to admit that Attlia is difficult for me...or I just get worse as I age. I was rocking Rome 2 with the Armenia campaign on Hard difficulty. Here I was smacked around four times as the Huns (also on Hard difficulty) and now with the Geats on Normal I am still getting a run for my money. The AI, both campaign and tactical, is a sneaky SOB. Pretty competent, and it will take advantage of your mistakes right away...and even lure you into traps.

Two weeks in and also about 15 hours invested and I am impressed :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 04, 2015, 12:53:54 AM
I am ready to concede my first game as the ERE, the Sassinids just kicked my butt. It was a slaughter. At first I fortified a single legion stack, which smashed two full stacks right away. At that point I got a little cocky and massed three full legions, marching  towards their territory. Then my three stacks hit four of their stacks and a massive battle ensued. I allow large battles and things got out of hand quickly. Their heavy cavalry just dominated the field, coupled with some teething troubles as I learn how to control huge forces, it was my Cannae. I am forming new armies and sending the rest of my forces in, but I think my goose is cooked.

I wish the game would allow you to concede the war and make peace on favorable terms for themselves, instead of just endless slaughter.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 04, 2015, 02:44:43 PM
You're scaring me away from ERE Swatter.  :'(
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 04, 2015, 02:55:29 PM
The Longbeards are here. Along with the update.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 04, 2015, 06:18:58 PM
So after the update I am now getting that annoying steam bug where would you like to play the game it starts updating something and at 95% it says "Steen is too busy to handle your request"

I have seen this before but every steam support forum has the standard disable your firewall crap. I tried verifying the cachet it didn't work I tried setting the game to run as administrator it didn't work now I am reinstalling. I know others at this issue what was your solution

My other steam games load fine with the exception of any total wargame Empire, shogun, Rome and Attila so it has to be something with the total war launcher
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 04, 2015, 07:05:04 PM
Oddly enough, when i went into the steam total war launcher options (where you can verify cache) I unchecked "synchronize with steam cloud" and it loaded. Still waiting for Attila to download again. All other steam games work fine. Must every Total war patch screw something up for me?

Edit: alright, since the usually cycle of reinstalling, restarting steam, running as admin, etc didnt work, I started Rome 2 and from that menu, I selected Attilla instead (when you start in TW game, te launcher lists the others installed above). That worked but good lord
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 04, 2015, 08:57:03 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on March 04, 2015, 02:44:43 PM
You're scaring me away from ERE Swatter.  :'(

I conceded defeat on that one, mainly because I heard they don't make peace easily. Don't be too put off by my experience, because I was still learning everything. I didn't have higher tier cavalry 10 years in and it crippled me against the Sassanids.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 05, 2015, 10:43:38 AM
Hot Damn! The new update has got my old Jurassic-computer playing this game smooth as a baby's butt. A clean baby's butt. Now I can start a proper Attila campaign. Maybe I'll play as the Huns to see what all the whining is about. And because I like horses and heads on stakes which you almost can't find anywhere now days--- except Amazon.  ::)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 05, 2015, 02:37:11 PM
Yeah my game optimized pretty well also...smoother in all aspects.

As the Geats I have landed in northern Germany and took a couple of settlements. The Rugians, Varanians and Burgundians are all being byotches, raiding the cities I have taken multiple times. I had enough, loaded up a full stack and took the Rugians tricked out capital. In response, two of my cities were razed! Ouch. Now while it did hurt to watch that happen, it was kind if cool too.

All that said, I am still trying to wrap my brain around the new system, where surviving and looting settlements is more important than actually building/maintaining an empire.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 05, 2015, 03:54:36 PM
Playing the Huns is tough sure enough. I thought I was doing well but wasn't paying attention to the food situation and now I'm in the hole and my units are deserting. Strategy Adjustment underway.  >:(
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 05, 2015, 10:36:35 PM
Wait until you start getting smacked around.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 05, 2015, 11:36:30 PM
My wife tells me I handle it well. ^-^
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 06, 2015, 07:28:54 AM
She's nothing compared to the northern hordes.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: besilarius on March 06, 2015, 07:43:34 AM
She should borrow Mrs. Bawb's frying pan.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 06, 2015, 12:39:09 PM
You ought to see what she can do with a frying pan and a set of high-heels.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 06, 2015, 03:21:49 PM
Hawt.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 07, 2015, 10:49:37 PM
I played a lot today... :D I am back down to one region, but I am at least surviving, unlike some other factions which started out at the top of the heap and then got trampled to dust...

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528383848395042456%2FB5C0F95B081F452AD36292518B5A97567D682E72%2F&hash=fad5d7c21817c971314224b012bc8fc18cc6c81e)

I was fighting for my faction's life at a few points, thought I would be snuffed out...

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-2.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528383848394393635%2FDA5449A57B3F9F6D0A1706FB4B66B41936DF774D%2F&hash=0bac8064f50b046ee740bd15be2163c10c3f1a79)

And finally HE has arrived...most of my enemies are Germanic barbarian tribes, so I am hoping HE gives them a good thrashing and gets them out of my hair. Then I can pick off targets of opportunity after they are weakened by HIM.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-2.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528383848395042312%2FFB21F1B9370850363198551A8C23D5673E51ADB3%2F&hash=3805c1c6f5dcc17337b86f59ec8ef9b356642d7b)

I hated the Burgundians since the very beginning of the campaign. They took a colony of mine in Britain and then 80 turns later, the Picts razed it. I rejoiced. And then the Burgundians were wiped out. Sweet.

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcloud-4.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F528383848395042567%2FCCD21897B5A231D24223FD74B9EDADB4BCC5B6E7%2F&hash=b2f2b9578eb0617d136f7c0e3b7b593b36a14b5a)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 08, 2015, 12:14:09 AM
Nice work Gus! I personally love fighting barbarians who use levy troops. I've started my 3rd campaign as ERE and the Sassy storm is about to hit... Lets see if I can handle it this time around.

This game is not easy, though there are some crazy moments. I need to upload a replay where my 400 man city garrison defeated a 2000 strong barbarian army, that was classic. The AI is too many times aggressive with their generals, a flaw that many humans share I would bet. At the same time, if the fight is well in hand, the AI needs to keep the general back.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on March 08, 2015, 12:36:45 AM
with all of your collective experience at this point with Atilla I'll ask this:
whats it really got to get a burnt out TW player into it?
over the last 6 or 7 months I've gone through RTW +add ons, Shogun 2 + add ons, Napolean + add ons and RTW2 with all its DLC. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 08, 2015, 11:53:03 AM
The goals of the game for most factions are completely different. Most factions don't have the player growing an empire, but maintaining a few provinces, or simply surviving. The dynamics are different as is the diplomacy and the AI is a mofo...it hunts and hunts and hunts the player down until you are dead, a la Terminator.

Technically the game is really tight as well, like Shogun 2. in 25 hours I have not had one stutter or crash. Under the hood the game is solid...there is a ton of stuff going on but I haven't had one hiccup.

If you are feeling burned out on TW, then this is the game to get out of that rut because the experience is totally different.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 08, 2015, 01:36:53 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on March 08, 2015, 12:36:45 AM
with all of your collective experience at this point with Atilla I'll ask this:
whats it really got to get a burnt out TW player into it?
over the last 6 or 7 months I've gone through RTW +add ons, Shogun 2 + add ons, Napolean + add ons and RTW2 with all its DLC.

Nothing except the time frame. I love it but if I was looking for something "new" in my TW game, I would be dissapointed. I like the game a lot mainly because it's solid and i love the time period
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 08, 2015, 02:00:24 PM
But...but...the goals of the game are totally different from every other TW...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 08, 2015, 05:33:23 PM
Uh oh...

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Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 08, 2015, 09:13:26 PM
Reply Options:

1) Stop staring at the sky! (-1 Stability)

2) It's a good omen!  (-1 Stability)

3) It's a prophet of our doom!  (-1 Stability)

4) Comet?  What comet? There IS no comet you fools!  (-1 Stability)



*Happy that EU4 turned out much better than EU3.*

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 08, 2015, 10:01:36 PM
What tech do you need to build Ghost-Buster units? Or is that an agent action?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 09, 2015, 09:10:48 AM
My go to ghostbuster unit is wholesale conversion of my faction to Judaism.

Has anyone won a campaign yet?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 09, 2015, 10:17:35 AM
Juda-Geats? I can't see why that wouldn't work. You may have a little trouble talking them into the whole circumcision thing though. I'll say this, playing the Huns is a real bitch. You've got to encamp to replenish your units, upgrade your buildings without which you soon run out of food and money. But staying put makes you a sitting target for all those AI 20 unit stacks that spawn. The only option is to balance the two but one bad battle can cost you the campaign as I learned when I attacked the city where Sebastopol is. Fighting the battle myself resulted in losing 600+ out of 900 men, almost all to those damned Arrow Towers which are really Cruise Missle Towers. I went back and re-fought the battle with auto-resolve and only lost 23 guys. WTF? The Huns are not the Jauggernaut they were in Barbarian Invasion. You have to hide, strike quickly at un-walled cities and then Force March back to safety early game. Very un-Hunly if you ask me. :(
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 09, 2015, 11:56:59 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on March 09, 2015, 10:17:35 AM
Fighting the battle myself resulted in losing 600+ out of 900 men, almost all to those damned Arrow Towers which are really Cruise Missle Towers. I went back and re-fought the battle with auto-resolve and only lost 23 guys. WTF? The Huns are not the Jauggernaut they were in Barbarian Invasion. You have to hide, strike quickly at un-walled cities and then Force March back to safety early game. Very un-Hunly if you ask me. :(


I find the Auto-Resolve can often pull out a win with fewer losses than running the battle manually.  Usually only when I have a clear advantage and I'm assaulting.  The other cases are questionable and if the power balance is close to the center or worse then a loss is a forgone conclusion for the auto-resolve.

So I tend to only use it for assaults where I have a numerical advantage and taking losses is the big question.  I do so to save time but if it also gives me fewer losses then I won't complain.  It tends to shaft you on the more closely matched contests however, so be wary.   
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 09, 2015, 01:00:21 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on March 08, 2015, 12:36:45 AM
with all of your collective experience at this point with Atilla I'll ask this:
whats it really got to get a burnt out TW player into it?
over the last 6 or 7 months I've gone through RTW +add ons, Shogun 2 + add ons, Napolean + add ons and RTW2 with all its DLC.

You've done a lot of TW stuff lately, it might be harder to recommend. While there are differences (leader progression, horde mechanics, and general difficultly), only get if it you want more TW. My brother played Attila and said "the battles were fun again". I skipped RTW 2 and generally haven't played a TW game for awhile, so I am having a blast.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 12, 2015, 11:48:20 AM
I am skeptical because I tried repeatedly to like RTW2 and could not really get into it.  I have seen several reviews of the game and reading comments make me feel a little better and GMG has it on their VIP page for around $30.... but still trying to decide as looking through the peephole she looks great, but opening the door I hope one does not come to realize it is not tore up from the floor up!


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 12, 2015, 03:13:16 PM
Do you like the time period?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 12, 2015, 03:31:18 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 12, 2015, 03:13:16 PM
Do you like the time period?

The Roman period?  Differently..... one of my favorite topics.  Attila I can dig it, maybe not as much as Rome but interesting time period.


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 12, 2015, 04:23:27 PM
I don't think you would be disappointed here then. I feel like I've barely scratched the surface after 30+ hours, and I'll definitely be back in a week or two after I get my sci fi fix. Taking a break for some Starships and some Homeworld.

Attila is tough too. I need some confidence building in another game to feel whole again :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 12, 2015, 08:34:09 PM
I would say if you really like the Total War games and haven't overdosed  on Total War games lately, it would be a good match. I have put in 60+ hours in the last two weeks. I haven't put time like that into a game in a long time.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 12, 2015, 11:04:57 PM
I feel like I'm still learning the game too especially the Faction Management and Political Intrigues. This TW is less about building a great empire and more about tearing them down. And then building something in it's place. It plays very different from other TW's and even from the Barbarian Invasion add-on for RTW. Some of the factions are brutally hard to play. Some are pretty easy. I'm not in love but, I will let this one bring it's toothbrush over and put it my bathroom and maybe borrow the car keys.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: W8taminute on March 13, 2015, 06:00:15 AM
^I'm excited about the buzz you're all sharing about your experience with the game but Sir Slash I really love your assessment. 

I'm saving my pennies for this one!  (Plus I want the new Homeworld)  8)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 13, 2015, 08:27:49 AM
I agree with Slash that this is probably the most difficult TW game to date ( pun intended) because it behaves differently than every other TW game. It's taking me time to wrap my head around that.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 10:24:24 AM
I am clearly still learning this game as well.  >:( It is definitely the toughest TW evah. Just lost my Geats campaign. In the final turns I had no less than 4 different faction armies besieging my capital and last city.

I enjoy the game, I just want to get [much] better at it. It is taking me a long time to adapt to the new mechanics. Time to cleanse the palette with SM: Starships and Homeworld. Hopefully I will be better at those two games!

That said this Geats campaign was far more epic than my attempts playing the Huns. Next I think will be the Langobards, after a couple weeks' hiatus.

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Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 15, 2015, 01:57:34 PM
Man, Gus, you can't seem to get the hang of it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 03:05:41 PM
^I forgot to mention that after I lost the final siege, the besiegers razed my capital :/

Has anyone here won? Over at TWC there is a dedicated thread to wins - with 7 posts as of today.

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 15, 2015, 03:26:19 PM
Teetering on the brink, FACING THE ABYSS

game in basket..... finger poised


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 15, 2015, 04:18:54 PM
Quote from: PanzersEast on March 15, 2015, 03:26:19 PM
Teetering on the brink, FACING THE ABYSS

game in basket..... finger poised


PE

Do it, jute/geat longships vs Byzantines with greek Fire....whaaaaaat?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 15, 2015, 04:55:47 PM
Playing as the East Romans I finally stomped the Sassanids into dust. Its 425 and I have a core of highly experienced legions just waiting to turn their attention to barbarian dominated Western Europe. I haven't won yet, but I am on the way.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 05:30:56 PM
Ok so until someone here actually wins a campaign, I won't feel so bad getting continually slaughtered.

Shogun 2 was the only TW I had not beaten until Attila came out.

PE did you get it yet?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 15, 2015, 06:06:02 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 05:30:56 PM
Ok so until someone here actually wins a campaign, I won't feel so bad getting continually slaughtered.

Shogun 2 was the only TW I had not beaten until Attila came out.

PE did you get it yet?

Got it, still waiting on it to download..... the gauntlet has been thrown!  Anyway, I will pick up HomeWorld on a sale and thought this may be a bigger challenger even though in the end I hated RTW2 and have been jaded from purchasing another TW game.


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 06:09:23 PM
^Have you played the Emperor's Edition of Rome 2? It's very, very good.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 15, 2015, 06:18:20 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 06:09:23 PM
^Have you played the Emperor's Edition of Rome 2? It's very, very good.

Honestly I have not, although I have it.  I gave up on the series and went back to Shogun and then just dropped all together.  So EE is a vast improvement on RTW2?  But it is not better than Attila, correct?

PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 15, 2015, 06:30:11 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 05:30:56 PM
Ok so until someone here actually wins a campaign, I won't feel so bad getting continually slaughtered.

Shogun 2 was the only TW I had not beaten until Attila came out.

PE did you get it yet?

Think I'm only missing one province, the three region area around Belgium/Belgica & NE France, for my specific territory conquest goals as the Saxons.  Shouldn't be a big obstacle since the Western Romans left all but southernmost France awhile back.  I think the re-emerged Gaul faction has it's two regions there and some other pushover.

Once I finish capturing Ireland and let the British Isles settle down, with help from steady religious conversion, I'll turn to those final ones.   After that it should be cheese, depending on time. 

Wouldn't be surprised if the whole known world declares war on me before the end, with the ridiculous relations penalties that increase with your research.  I've not been playing Attila much lately, in the hopes that either a patch or a mod will address this without making it too easy for the horde factions at the same time.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 15, 2015, 07:13:17 PM
There is a mod for relations already out. I also have a mod to double the unit size, though I haven't used that one yet.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 07:14:33 PM
How is the relations one?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on March 15, 2015, 07:29:16 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 12, 2015, 04:23:27 PMI need some confidence building in another game to feel whole again :)

<--- scratches Gus of his Homeworld player list.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 07:37:14 PM
'Off'?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on March 15, 2015, 07:43:48 PM
yeah, that...

but I could train you in it.  make you into the sword you were ment to be.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 15, 2015, 08:23:09 PM
Shortsword?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 16, 2015, 02:54:02 AM
Quote from: Swatter on March 15, 2015, 07:13:17 PM
There is a mod for relations already out. I also have a mod to double the unit size, though I haven't used that one yet.

Yes, but the relations one is just a lowering of the Imperium relations penalty across the board IIRC. 

This is better than nothing, but also likely means that horde factions won't have much in the way of relations penalties compared to the regular land-owning factions.  I guess that's how it currently is, anyway, but I'm just concerned that far fewer factions will take any issue with hordes after the penalties are lowered across the board. 

It's just a terrible corner-cutting by CA to accommodate the new Horde mechanic without actually creating new code to address the disparity between the two faction types' Imperium rating (and it's diplo penalties).
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 16, 2015, 08:07:39 AM
Early in, so far so good.  Will start my full Campaign in earnest tonight possibly as the Saxons......


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 16, 2015, 08:18:31 AM
Nice. Get ready to get ready, and post impressions!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on March 16, 2015, 08:25:29 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 16, 2015, 08:18:31 AM
Nice. Get ready to get ready, and post impressions!

  I've been playing Attila, but in TW fanboi mode.  Some impressions: the average "Germanic barbarian" seems to be bigger than the average steppe person.
  For some reason (might be the new computer) the world looks larger.
  Persians are very dangerous.
  Once a faction gets on a boat, they can hang around for a long time.
  Huns are even more dangerous than Persians.
  Romans are nice.

 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 16, 2015, 10:31:35 AM
As the Franks, I got no problem getting along with all my neighbors. They all love me. Even the Jutes whom I am at war with. Grabbing Rome's cities isn't too hard either but I can't do anything with them because of the cultural and religious differences, the public order just drops and drops. Strange that you get more income from "Looting and Occupying" a city than from just "Looting" it. I Loot and Occupy and then abandon cities, which gives you even more income. ^-^ The Frank's victory conditions also don't require you to occupy cities in Gaul just territories east of the Rhine which is also kind of odd. It's MUCH easier to auto-resolve city assaults than fighting them out on the battle screen as long as you have numbers on your side. Those Arrow Towers are just murder, even in heavy fog they never miss from the next area code. Still a great game though. I want to do ERE eventually.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on March 16, 2015, 11:07:14 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on March 16, 2015, 10:31:35 AM
As the Franks, I got no problem getting along with all my neighbors. They all love me. Even the Jutes whom I am at war with. Grabbing Rome's cities isn't too hard either but I can't do anything with them because of the cultural and religious differences, the public order just drops and drops. Strange that you get more income from "Looting and Occupying" a city than from just "Looting" it. I Loot and Occupy and then abandon cities, which gives you even more income. ^-^ The Frank's victory conditions also don't require you to occupy cities in Gaul just territories east of the Rhine which is also kind of odd. It's MUCH easier to auto-resolve city assaults than fighting them out on the battle screen as long as you have numbers on your side. Those Arrow Towers are just murder, even in heavy fog they never miss from the next area code. Still a great game though. I want to do ERE eventually.

  There is some excuse for the "arrow towers" -- though you can't tell from anything in the game -- Apparently around 350 AD, many Roman defenses got a new layout that emphasized big clear fields of fire for ballistae.  Of course a ballista tower would be big and not enclosed -- more like an early modern gun emplacement than an arrow tower.  On the other hand, such defenses don't seem to have done very well against the barbarians -- maybe the old-style high walls and deep ditches would have worked better.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 16, 2015, 07:25:48 PM
I suddenly have a hankering to play as ERE as well. Langobards or ERE will be next, then Sassanids.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 16, 2015, 08:10:23 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on March 16, 2015, 08:25:29 AM
  Persians are very dangerous.
  Huns are even more dangerous than Persians.

That's frightening. The Sassies can field tremendous armies, I had a hell of a time with them.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on March 17, 2015, 08:19:23 AM
Quote from: Swatter on March 16, 2015, 08:10:23 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on March 16, 2015, 08:25:29 AM
  Persians are very dangerous.
  Huns are even more dangerous than Persians.

That's frightening. The Sassies can field tremendous armies, I had a hell of a time with them.

  As the Easy Alans, it wasn't the Sassanids that wiped me out, it was Mazun (which has Persian troops).

  The next time I was the Easy Alans, the Huns wiped me out.

  Maybe I should be the Franks or the Sassanids.  Easy Franks sounds good.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 17, 2015, 11:53:54 AM
Sassanids are the easiest I hear.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 17, 2015, 12:30:38 PM
Started as the Saxons last night.... secured the North by trade and non-aggression pacts.  Then turned my focus on Britannia and some of the WRE settlements.   It appears that I will have to deal with the Franks soon and the Vikings are worrisome.  I think I will expand West and try to told off on the North and defeat the Franks before they get too powerful.

Thus far, I have no complaints.


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 17, 2015, 01:42:17 PM
New Celtic DLC announced, here's a sample:

http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Total_War_ATTILA_The_Picts

Not sure of release date but I now add the Picts to the list of factions that I want to play next, right under the Langobards and the ERE.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 17, 2015, 01:46:02 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 17, 2015, 01:42:17 PM
New Celtic DLC announced, here's a sample:

http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Total_War_ATTILA_The_Picts

Not sure of release date but I now add the Picts to the list of factions that I want to play next, right under the Langobards and the ERE.

Yea.... let the DLC rain down on bath you while it melts your wallet...

Anyway, I'm going through all the factions right now so I am going to do the Saxons and the one of the Roman factions next.  It appeared that the existing DLC is not a must get at the moment so I will just wait for a drop in price until someone says otherwise.


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 17, 2015, 01:51:34 PM
Otherwise! j/k

The Saxons look very interesting as well but they are slated as 'Hard' which, in this game, is uber-difficult. And since I have been spanked badly in each campaign I have played, it frightens me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 17, 2015, 02:11:12 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 17, 2015, 01:51:34 PM
Otherwise! j/k

The Saxons look very interesting as well but they are slated as 'Hard' which, in this game, is uber-difficult. And since I have been spanked badly in each campaign I have played, it frightens me.

Well I will let you know, its the quiet before the storm right now.  I'm thinking if it is hard and after all I have read I will be in for a early exit from the campaign.  :D


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on March 17, 2015, 02:24:53 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 17, 2015, 01:42:17 PM
New Celtic DLC announced, here's a sample:

http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Total_War_ATTILA_The_Picts

Not sure of release date but I now add the Picts to the list of factions that I want to play next, right under the Langobards and the ERE.


Here's the official trailer: 

https://youtu.be/8wrdBy6VZYE

(Can't get YouTube embedding to work all of the sudden...?) 


Holy hell, there's a *lot* of hate for this one.  On YouTube and Twitter, all I'm seeing is rage; you can imagine what the reaction on TWC is... 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 17, 2015, 02:40:42 PM
"Picts" even sounds painful. And everybody knows Vandal girls are the easiest. And the most dangerous.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 17, 2015, 04:05:44 PM
There is a ton of hate for this one. I'm still getting it because 'hey whateva' is my new mantra.

Picts!!!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 17, 2015, 05:24:19 PM
I honestly don't understand the hate for these DLCs! I mean, if you dont want it, don't buy it. People complain that they contain stuff that should have been in the original release but that would have made it more expensive. I like the paradox style cafeteria DLC...keeps the cost down and you pick and choose what you want. I'm going over to the TWC forums...if I'm not back in 10 minutes, go on without me
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 17, 2015, 07:23:42 PM
^It's been more than 10 minutes...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MetalDog on March 17, 2015, 08:10:25 PM
Quote from: Martok on March 17, 2015, 02:24:53 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 17, 2015, 01:42:17 PM
New Celtic DLC announced, here's a sample:

http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Total_War_ATTILA_The_Picts

Not sure of release date but I now add the Picts to the list of factions that I want to play next, right under the Langobards and the ERE.


Here's the official trailer: 

https://youtu.be/8wrdBy6VZYE

(Can't get YouTube embedding to work all of the sudden...?) 


Holy hell, there's a *lot* of hate for this one.  On YouTube and Twitter, all I'm seeing is rage; you can imagine what the reaction on TWC is...

Remove the s from https
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on March 18, 2015, 05:28:41 AM



Aha!  Thanks MD

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MetalDog on March 18, 2015, 05:59:32 AM
 ;)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on March 18, 2015, 08:24:16 AM
Quote from: Martok on March 17, 2015, 02:24:53 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 17, 2015, 01:42:17 PM
New Celtic DLC announced, here's a sample:

http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Total_War_ATTILA_The_Picts

Not sure of release date but I now add the Picts to the list of factions that I want to play next, right under the Langobards and the ERE.


Here's the official trailer: 

https://youtu.be/8wrdBy6VZYE

(Can't get YouTube embedding to work all of the sudden...?) 


Holy hell, there's a *lot* of hate for this one.  On YouTube and Twitter, all I'm seeing is rage; you can imagine what the reaction on TWC is...

  That's the hate-the-game game: buy one and scream about it for the rest of your life.  Certainly a less expensive option than getting lots of games and playing some of them occasionally.

   Yes, and I pathologically went and looked at TWC.  Sure enough, there's a thread where you can go post about how you didn't buy Attila because Rome2 has done so much for your game hating pleasure and be praised for your insight.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 18, 2015, 11:26:39 AM
Yes, and at TWC, if you mention that Rome 1 and MTW 1 were far better and had great AI, you earn extra praise for your insight
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on March 18, 2015, 12:04:13 PM
Quote from: mikeck on March 18, 2015, 11:26:39 AM
Yes, and at TWC, if you mention that Rome 1 and MTW 1 were far better and had great AI, you earn extra praise for your insight

  That one has me stumped.  I played those games and I cannot see what they can possibly be talking about.  By the way the AI in
Attila seems to be slightly better (or stranger? or more likely to cause useless comments by your troops?) than in early Rome2, though this could be something of an illusion caused by:
1) lots of fog -- I hate foggy battles!  The AI seems (seems, mind you) to do better in fog.
2) using artillery to fire within a wood -- Now how on earth would that work?  You'd have to be AI to come up with that as an "ambush" (it's an ambush, my men scream -- right -- the enemy is catapulting the crap out of the trees!) like that.  Apparently it worked.  Well it was scary in the fog I could not figure out what the banging sounds were.  It was a fine (fanboi) game moment when I wondered whether the Huns had cannon or something to make the boom-crack sounds I was hearing as they whacked away at the woodland at pointblank range.
3) Hiding in a gulley -- this AI plan backfired.  It's true I could not see a ton of Huns lined up in a depression, but neither could the AI imagine that I lost track of my cataphracts and had them perfectly positioned (completely by accident) to obliterate them from deep in the rear before they could get out of the gulley -- that really made up for all the fog and catapulting in the midst of trees
4) Your own troops are as AI as the AI.  It's an ambush!  which means "Oh dear here are the enemy!"  Did somebody fail to inform them that they were looking for the enemy?
5) the constant commentary by the commentary guy:  Our troops are running away!  (why is this a surprise?) etc. etc. etc.
6) or I am just more of a fanboi than ever since Fall of the Samurai?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 18, 2015, 12:34:24 PM
Quote from: mikeck on March 17, 2015, 05:24:19 PM
I honestly don't understand the hate for these DLCs! I mean, if you dont want it, don't buy it. People complain that they contain stuff that should have been in the original release but that would have made it more expensive. I like the paradox style cafeteria DLC...keeps the cost down and you pick and choose what you want. I'm going over to the TWC forums...if I'm not back in 10 minutes, go on without me

I'm sure the complaints are due to people thinking it should've been in the original release, or as a free post-release update.

In this case, their argument may have some traction because the current faction units/buildings/etc for the Celtic British isles are the exact same as the Proto-VikingSaxon factions.  Which is just wrong and obviously a placeholder.

I think that has made conquering the British Isles, in my Saxon campaign, much easier since the building types are the same and I don't have to convert them.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on March 18, 2015, 01:34:54 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on March 18, 2015, 12:34:24 PM
Quote from: mikeck on March 17, 2015, 05:24:19 PM
I honestly don't understand the hate for these DLCs! I mean, if you dont want it, don't buy it. People complain that they contain stuff that should have been in the original release but that would have made it more expensive. I like the paradox style cafeteria DLC...keeps the cost down and you pick and choose what you want. I'm going over to the TWC forums...if I'm not back in 10 minutes, go on without me

I'm sure the complaints are due to people thinking it should've been in the original release, or as a free post-release update.

In this case, their argument may have some traction because the current faction units/buildings/etc for the Celtic British isles are the exact same as the Proto-VikingSaxon factions.  Which is just wrong and obviously a placeholder.

I think that has made conquering the British Isles, in my Saxon campaign, much easier since the building types are the same and I don't have to convert them.

  I'm sure the DLC were lined up before the release, but that doesn't seem like a bad thing.  After all, any sign of coherent planning in working out a history-based game is something of a wonder -- except in the marketing of course which was all coherent planning and no sign of any connection to reality.
  I wonder if the Celtic world of the British Isles was all that different from the Teutonic world of the Saxons, though.  I mean in reality not in terms of hyping the darkness of the Dark Ages.  After all one of the reasons given on TWC for hating CA is that "we know nothing about the Celts in this period"...of course you could argue that this is the only period for which we know much of anything about the Celts (linguistically for example).  The actual Anglo-Saxon-Jutish take-over of Anglo-land went pretty smoothly once the Roman army left and the probably-not-that-different Christian Celts of Cadwallon were perfectly happy to ally with the Pagan Mercians (Saxons more or less) against the Christian Northhumbrians in the early 7th century.
  The Saxons who would have been really different would have been those Saxons who stayed in Saxony.  The ones who actually took over Mercia and Northhumbria and so on would have been more like the Romano-Britons in terms of their social organization and in terms of having been in contact with semi-urbanized Roman civilization, I would think.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on March 18, 2015, 03:42:10 PM
Quote from: mikeck on March 18, 2015, 11:26:39 AM
Yes, and at TWC, if you mention that Rome 1 and MTW 1 were far better and had great AI, you earn extra praise for your insight
Anyone there who says Rome 1 had great AI is flat-out retarded.  I can't even excuse those who never played the first Shogun and Medieval titles (and therefore had no measuring stick to compare RTW to), as the AI was still so obviously bad as to be ludicrous. 

When I -- never more than an average strategy-gamer even on my best day -- could regularly trounce the enemy when outnumbered 3-to-1, you *know* the computer player is dumb as a post.  :buck2: 




Quote from: Nefaro on March 18, 2015, 12:34:24 PM
Quote from: mikeck on March 17, 2015, 05:24:19 PM
I honestly don't understand the hate for these DLCs! I mean, if you dont want it, don't buy it. People complain that they contain stuff that should have been in the original release but that would have made it more expensive. I like the paradox style cafeteria DLC...keeps the cost down and you pick and choose what you want. I'm going over to the TWC forums...if I'm not back in 10 minutes, go on without me

I'm sure the complaints are due to people thinking it should've been in the original release, or as a free post-release update.

In this case, their argument may have some traction because the current faction units/buildings/etc for the Celtic British isles are the exact same as the Proto-VikingSaxon factions.  Which is just wrong and obviously a placeholder.
Yeah, I'm getting the sense that this time around, all the faction DLC might be going a little too far in terms of milking money from the fanbase. 

To be fair, I doubt it's CA's idea; I imagine it's Sega behind this DLC blitz. 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 18, 2015, 04:58:07 PM
Yeah but you can't really "milk" money from anyone because it's your option to buy. That's why I don't mind the DLC. I don't buy all of them because frankly I don't play any of the barbarian tribes so it doesn't make much difference to me. If that keeps the cost of the game down then even better.

Martok you are 100% right...Rome 1 AI was horrible but everyone looks at these things through rose colored glasses
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 18, 2015, 11:02:11 PM
I am a little shocked myself, but I am still playing Attila after 85 hours. The only games I have played more than this (according to Steam) are Skyrim and Mount and Blade. I am in the year 427 with the ERE and my power is supreme, but I am still challenged every turn. I have never played a TW game vanilla and had this much enjoyment even after building a powerhouse. A good part is the faction politics. I have family members dying in battle,  from assassination, or old age and its tough to get everything working together. A mod or patch the would make civil wars tougher would really put this game over the edge. Having disloyal nobles banning together at once could bring even the best player to his knees.

A multiplayer campaign set to normal or hard, one player as the ERE and the other WRE would be a lot of fun. I am trying to get my brother to do that with me, but he's obsessing over War Thunder ATM.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: GDS_Starfury on March 19, 2015, 05:54:22 AM
only 83 hours?  is that because of to many other games?
according to Steam Ive played 207 hours or RTW2 and 183 hours of Shogun2.  :buck2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: besilarius on March 19, 2015, 06:46:08 AM
Swatter, don't know if this would be feasible, but you reminded me of a great game from years ago.
Was in a group that had map and miniatures campaigns.  The GM divided the East Romans into two players, and the West into three factions (would have played better as two, but he had some historical justification.)
Each player had two goals to keep the Empire going, but to be in charge.
Then his surprise, each player also controlled a tribal group (Franks, Goths, Saracens) that attacked the other half of the Empire.
So if you had Anatolia in the ERE, you would also have the Franks attacking the WRE. 
The player who did best was the campaign winner.
Was one of the very best campaign games I ever participated in.  The Diplomacy and deals were utterly cutthroat.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 19, 2015, 08:56:34 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on March 18, 2015, 01:34:54 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on March 18, 2015, 12:34:24 PM
Quote from: mikeck on March 17, 2015, 05:24:19 PM
I honestly don't understand the hate for these DLCs! I mean, if you dont want it, don't buy it. People complain that they contain stuff that should have been in the original release but that would have made it more expensive. I like the paradox style cafeteria DLC...keeps the cost down and you pick and choose what you want. I'm going over to the TWC forums...if I'm not back in 10 minutes, go on without me

I'm sure the complaints are due to people thinking it should've been in the original release, or as a free post-release update.

In this case, their argument may have some traction because the current faction units/buildings/etc for the Celtic British isles are the exact same as the Proto-VikingSaxon factions.  Which is just wrong and obviously a placeholder.

I think that has made conquering the British Isles, in my Saxon campaign, much easier since the building types are the same and I don't have to convert them.

  I'm sure the DLC were lined up before the release, but that doesn't seem like a bad thing.  After all, any sign of coherent planning in working out a history-based game is something of a wonder -- except in the marketing of course which was all coherent planning and no sign of any connection to reality.
  I wonder if the Celtic world of the British Isles was all that different from the Teutonic world of the Saxons, though.  I mean in reality not in terms of hyping the darkness of the Dark Ages.  After all one of the reasons given on TWC for hating CA is that "we know nothing about the Celts in this period"...of course you could argue that this is the only period for which we know much of anything about the Celts (linguistically for example).  The actual Anglo-Saxon-Jutish take-over of Anglo-land went pretty smoothly once the Roman army left and the probably-not-that-different Christian Celts of Cadwallon were perfectly happy to ally with the Pagan Mercians (Saxons more or less) against the Christian Northhumbrians in the early 7th century.
  The Saxons who would have been really different would have been those Saxons who stayed in Saxony.  The ones who actually took over Mercia and Northhumbria and so on would have been more like the Romano-Britons in terms of their social organization and in terms of having been in contact with semi-urbanized Roman civilization, I would think.


I forgot to mention that the Celtic tribes DLC release had been openly admitted to by someone at CA on or before release day for Attila. There were implications that it was pretty much finished at that point.  I was certainly reading about it's imminent release, on their forum, within a day or two of Attila's release and it had evidently been discussed thoroughly by that point.  I originally read that it was supposed to be the first DLC, so maybe there was some 'shell game' going on with the release times after all the complaints.

Combined with having the proto-vikings as their placeholders, which is still inappropriate for the Roman-Celto-British, I can definitely understand the customer complaints.  While I'm not up in arms about them practically removing whole factions to sell as DLC just yet, I think it's a good idea for their customer base to give them hell about it so that the practice doesn't get increasingly worse. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 19, 2015, 09:36:47 AM
I typically remain calm about this kind of thing but I do agree that snipping the Celts out to sell them later is not right.

That said, the nerd rage is at extreme levels here. Buy it, or don't.

Is there going to be a Celts mini campaign, or is this DLC just a culture pack for the grand campaign?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 19, 2015, 09:46:56 AM
So far, I feel the game has been worth it for me....

The DLC whoring is crap, however I will not pay full price and will wait until it drops to be really cheap in the summer sale or whatever.....


So far with my Saxon Campaign I have managed to piss off and start wars on two different fronts.... so I could be in trouble real quick..... however historically I have been over cautious, now I just throw $*@)$ to the wind.... sometimes it is more fun to lose than to win.


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 19, 2015, 09:52:30 AM
I felt that way right before my Geats were pound into Nordic sand. But I do miss the game since I have not been playing it this week. It beckons.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on March 19, 2015, 10:04:34 AM
As does Carthage for me in vanilla Rome 2

One day
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 19, 2015, 10:55:41 AM
Just to ask a slight OT question.... how does Attila compare with RTW2 EE?  I have considered a reinstalled after playing Attila to see the difference, however I figured it was easier just to ask you guys about if it is worth a reinstall and play.....



PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 19, 2015, 11:18:38 AM
I'm wondering when the Yahoos over at Steam are going to get the Workshop for Attila up and running. I've played the Huns to where Attila himself is born vanilla campaign, and want to do a Radious campaign to the same point and compare the two. Steam has got me so damned spoiled that I'm too lazy to just download it and install myself. I haven't seen anything in the DLC that I can't live without until a Summer-Sale comes along.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 19, 2015, 11:19:31 AM
Quote from: PanzersEast on March 19, 2015, 10:55:41 AM
Just to ask a slight OT question.... how does Attila compare with RTW2 EE?  I have considered a reinstalled after playing Attila to see the difference, however I figured it was easier just to ask you guys about if it is worth a reinstall and play.....



PE


Attila is more difficult in general.  But I enjoy the period & factions in Rome 2 more. 

So why not, if you feel like revisiting Rome 2?  I was thinking of doing the same again soon too.   May fire up a new campaign as Ptolemaic Egypt and/or Carthage again.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 19, 2015, 12:26:58 PM
And it doesn't matter. This is how the game companies make more money. They then make more games. Want them to include everything and still charge the same that they were in 1985 for Commodore 64 games...not likely. Just the way most companies do it so the only way to "protest" is not to buy I suppose
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 19, 2015, 01:05:31 PM
Quote from: besilarius on March 19, 2015, 06:46:08 AM
Swatter, don't know if this would be feasible, but you reminded me of a great game from years ago.
Was in a group that had map and miniatures campaigns.  The GM divided the East Romans into two players, and the West into three factions (would have played better as two, but he had some historical justification.)
Each player had two goals to keep the Empire going, but to be in charge.
Then his surprise, each player also controlled a tribal group (Franks, Goths, Saracens) that attacked the other half of the Empire.
So if you had Anatolia in the ERE, you would also have the Franks attacking the WRE. 
The player who did best was the campaign winner.
Was one of the very best campaign games I ever participated in.  The Diplomacy and deals were utterly cutthroat.

That sounds very cool. Getting that large group of cool people playing the right game is priceless.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 19, 2015, 08:11:34 PM
After 15 patches Rome II EE is now sound. I'm going to play a Macedon campaign at some point in the next few months. But opposite of Nefaro, I generally enjoy the Dark Ages more.

And UCG the Carthage campaign is very fun. And I actually won that one!!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 19, 2015, 08:25:07 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 19, 2015, 08:11:34 PM


And UCG the Carthage campaign is very fun. And I actually won that one!!

Nice.

I started Carthage a couple times, but incoming updates in the midst of them persuaded me to start fresh next time (preferably after all the patching was done).  They usually started off getting brutal pretty quickly anyway because I'd have Rome and a few others DOW'ing me in no time, before my armies were even finished recruiting.    :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 19, 2015, 08:36:03 PM
^It's worth going back. The Carthaginian unit roster is very unique and very fun. I actually don't recall how hated I was as Carthage.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: W8taminute on March 20, 2015, 05:49:47 AM
This guy plays a lot of strategy games and I just love how he explains how to play them.  Here is video 1 of his series on Attila.  Skip to 1:52 if you don't want to watch the in game intro movie.

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 20, 2015, 07:42:24 AM
Thanks for posting that...I need a guide like that to help me wrap my brain around the new game dynamics.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 20, 2015, 10:52:55 AM
So far I am doing fairly well was the Saxons, however I think I will start over as a different faction as I think one of the Romans or the Huns would be more fun to play.... so a restart for me.  Also, I will probably reinstall Rome as well.


PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on March 20, 2015, 10:58:02 AM
Quote from: PanzersEast on March 20, 2015, 10:52:55 AM
So far I am doing fairly well was the Saxons, however I think I will start over as a different faction as I think one of the Romans or the Huns would be more fun to play.... so a restart for me.  Also, I will probably reinstall Rome as well.


PE

  I gave up on the Alans (the Huns live in their neighborhood) and switched to the Easy Franks.  The Saxons almost wiped me out, but then the Romans turned up and crushed the Saxons leaving me to pick up the pieces.  Thanks Rome!  Seems like a good start.

  The Saxon armies were truly immense.  I think they fielded around 5000 men in the first few turns.  Frightening, but not as endless as the Huns.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: PanzersEast on March 20, 2015, 11:03:34 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on March 20, 2015, 10:58:02 AM
Quote from: PanzersEast on March 20, 2015, 10:52:55 AM
So far I am doing fairly well was the Saxons, however I think I will start over as a different faction as I think one of the Romans or the Huns would be more fun to play.... so a restart for me.  Also, I will probably reinstall Rome as well.


PE

  I gave up on the Alans (the Huns live in their neighborhood) and switched to the Easy Franks.  The Saxons almost wiped me out, but then the Romans turned up and crushed the Saxons leaving me to pick up the pieces.  Thanks Rome!  Seems like a good start.

  The Saxon armies were truly immense.  I think they fielded around 5000 men in the first few turns.  Frightening, but not as endless as the Huns.

I have decimated the Franks and have two regions under control.  The Romans were giving me some trouble, but overall my empire is steady and I thought I would have a harder time.  Maybe it is just me but maybe they are just not my faction... so I will reset.  Not the game itself, but we all have certain factions we like to play as and I think I will try some others with a little more clearly defined goals.

PE
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 20, 2015, 11:08:20 AM
Damn! Now I gotta go play the Huns. He's doing better than I am.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 20, 2015, 12:24:43 PM
I think someone wanted to know when the first person "won". Well I picked up an official Minor Victory last night, but the game allows you to play on for a bigger victory so I am.

I am thinking the game needs a very important feature: You need to be able to create puppets states from provinces you already own. Further more, your puppet states should not be allowed to fight each other. In addition, each puppet state should have the warmest relations with you.

To me, that's probably the biggest missing feature for me so far.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 20, 2015, 12:54:52 PM
You get the chicken dinner, Swatter. How many regions did you own when you got the minor victory?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 20, 2015, 02:13:26 PM
Damn, did we have a chicken dinner included? Congrats on the win Swatter. Evil minds at CA are plotting how to get back at you. Don't go out by yourself. :-X
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: W8taminute on March 20, 2015, 04:22:24 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 20, 2015, 07:42:24 AM
Thanks for posting that...I need a guide like that to help me wrap my brain around the new game dynamics.

You're welcome.  This guy has done let's play videos for To End All Wars, War in the East, Civilization Beyond Earth, and more.  He's very thorough and his voice is clear and he doesn't fill his speech with trash talkin'.   I've learned a lot from him and you will definitely get a better feel for the game dynamics watching his series. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 20, 2015, 10:05:11 PM
I watch Pewpew's videos too. He is very knowledgeable about the games he plays. In the second episode his Huns assaulted a walled city and he lost a bunch of Huns. He was quite speechless for some time as his losses mounted and the enemy held-out against his forces. That's the same reaction I had as my Huns littered the ground around my first walled-city-assault. Speechless but for many Hunnic curse words shouted at the screen. And I looked like this... :(
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MetalDog on March 20, 2015, 10:47:56 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on March 20, 2015, 10:05:11 PM
I watch Pewpew's videos too. He is very knowledgeable about the games he plays. In the second episode his Huns assaulted a walled city and he lost a bunch of Huns. He was quite speechless for some time as his losses mounted and the enemy held-out against his forces. That's the same reaction I had as my Huns littered the ground around my first walled-city-assault. Speechless but for many Hunnic curse words shouted at the screen. And I looked like this... :(

Yellow is a sign of jaunidce, Slash.  In our modern times, it shouldn't be too difficult to take care of, but, them there Roman times might have a different effect.  You should probably get that looked at.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 20, 2015, 11:24:21 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 20, 2015, 12:54:52 PM
You get the chicken dinner, Swatter. How many regions did you own when you got the minor victory?

Good question, for the ERE minor victory you basically need to hold what you start out with and maintain a strong army. Once the Persians are defeated, your going to earn at least a minor victory. The trick is to get a military victory now, which requires many more territories. People say the Huns are stronger than the Persians and Attila is now of age. I haven't had to tangle with them yet, so lets see if I can keep it up.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 20, 2015, 11:27:43 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on March 20, 2015, 02:13:26 PM
Damn, did we have a chicken dinner included? Congrats on the win Swatter. Evil minds at CA are plotting how to get back at you. Don't go out by yourself. :-X

With Attila of age, I'm sure a shocker is coming. The AI (IMO) has an advantage with cavalry heavy armies because it is a good micro-manager with them, especially skirmishers. I suspect when I fight the Huns, the will hit at all my weak points as a commander. I just hate running down those mounted skirmishers.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 21, 2015, 09:23:18 AM


I watch Pewpew's videos too. He is very knowledgeable about the games he plays. In the second episode his Huns assaulted a walled city and he lost a bunch of Huns. He was quite speechless for some time as his losses mounted and the enemy held-out against his forces. That's the same reaction I had as my Huns littered the ground around my first walled-city-assault. Speechless but for many Hunnic curse words shouted at the screen. And I looked like this... :(
[/quote]

Yellow is a sign of jaunidce, Slash.  In our modern times, it shouldn't be too difficult to take care of, but, them there Roman times might have a different effect.  You should probably get that looked at.

It's actually a "Banana and Lemon Overdose" problem Metaldog. Along with "That damned Arrow tower just killed my General from down town Cleveland" Shock. But maybe I should see a doctor. To get the AI's boot removed from my ass. Wonder if my insurance covers that?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 21, 2015, 11:14:36 AM
See it's that minor victory possibility without much territory that I was trying for with the Geats last week. I was just going to max out my capital and watch the money roll in. But as I upgraded my city food was in very short supply and everything went downhill from there, ending in the siege of my one and only city by 4-5 different faction armies. But...I'll be back, with a longer beard.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 25, 2015, 08:49:21 PM
Need more blood & gore in your Attila campaign? Well you Longbeards are in luck. For $2.99 you can own the new Blood & Burning DLC for Attila TW complete with all manner of impalings, decapitations and vomiting. Maybe even a Hun stopping to take a Hun-Hockey. Who knows, it is the Apocalypse after all. Oh, and the Celts are ready too.  8)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on March 26, 2015, 09:05:47 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on March 25, 2015, 08:49:21 PM
Need more blood & gore in your Attila campaign? Well you Longbeards are in luck. For $2.99 you can own the new Blood & Burning DLC for Attila TW complete with all manner of impalings, decapitations and vomiting. Maybe even a Hun stopping to take a Hun-Hockey. Who knows, it is the Apocalypse after all. Oh, and the Celts are ready too.  8)

  I want the copying-of-rare-manuscripts DLC.  Particularly the Codex Argentius -- Sooooo, Gothic!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 26, 2015, 09:30:18 AM
Picts!!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 26, 2015, 12:45:15 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 26, 2015, 09:30:18 AM
Picts!!


... or it didn't happen!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 26, 2015, 01:03:23 PM
Why anyone would want it to happen without Picts is beyond me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on March 26, 2015, 01:06:28 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 26, 2015, 01:03:23 PM
Why anyone would want it to happen without Picts is beyond me.

  It didn't happen.  No Picts here.  We have a lovely palimpsest of Rutilius' peaceful journey back to Gaul in 411 AD, however!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 26, 2015, 01:30:20 PM
Just noticed that a blood and gore DLC had been released at some point...of that's your kind of thing
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 26, 2015, 02:28:39 PM
Quote from: mikeck on March 26, 2015, 01:30:20 PM
Just noticed that a blood and gore DLC had been released at some point...of that's your kind of thing

Yes, it is.

Paying for something that should be offered as an option in the original.. not so much.

Also...saying there's "gore" is just BS.  It's just blood, which is fine.  But they should label it as such.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 26, 2015, 04:59:37 PM
^And vomit. I never buy the blood packs, I find them...icky.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on March 26, 2015, 05:22:07 PM
Me too. I never really zoom in enough to see it anyway
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 26, 2015, 06:45:32 PM
I also think it's in kind of bad taste. I know it's 'just a game' and all but I just don't dig it. Personal preference and all that.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on March 26, 2015, 07:18:13 PM
Agreed. My own blood all over this game is enough gore for me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 26, 2015, 08:11:11 PM
So now a hard decision as my next campaign looms...Lombards or Picts?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 27, 2015, 08:28:48 AM
Quote from: Gusington on March 26, 2015, 08:11:11 PM
So now a hard decision as my next campaign looms...Lombards or Picts?

Pict whichever is the most appealing at the time.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 27, 2015, 11:14:53 AM
I quit playing Attila once I realized the terrible band-aid change they made to the Imperium rating.  The mods out there are just workarounds which adversely affect other parts of the Diplo/Relations facet.  Can't bring myself to resume my Attila campaign without getting frustrated.

It doesn't make the game unplayable, but their half-assed & uneven implementation to accommodate the new Horde feature just pisses me off.  Partly because their reply recommends, "just don't research anything" as a solution to the additional and ever-increasing Relations penalty for Non-Horde factions.  ::)

Until someone can implement a better mod fix, the mod workshop is in, and the DLC spree & their accompanying updates have abated, I'll go back to Rome 2.  Which is a shame because there are some nice UI and family tree improvements in Attila.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on March 27, 2015, 01:12:02 PM
I see what your saying about the Imperium penalty, but I really haven't noticed any ill results of using a mod that lowers the penalty. Even with a mod that lowers the penalty, WRE was nearly destroyed by 405. So, whatever the reason for Imperium, its not to coordinate resistance against Rome. I have still been at war (as the ERE) 95% of the time with someone (many someones). The diplo mod just made relations more flexible for me.

I would add a few more options to diplomacy, but overall I think it works well. If they release a patch/expansion that retrofits Rome 2 with the Attila feature set, I'm sold.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on April 29, 2015, 09:21:27 AM
FINALLY!!! The Steam Workshop for Attila is live. And.... free of charge.  O0
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on April 29, 2015, 10:35:34 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on April 29, 2015, 09:21:27 AM
FINALLY!!! The Steam Workshop for Attila is live. And.... free of charge.  O0


Now to wait on the mods...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on April 29, 2015, 11:03:41 AM
Quite a few listed already. Two total conversion mods, Radious and Ancient Empires, and a bunch of unit and enhancement mods. I'm re-starting my Hun campaign using Radious to see what's changed.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on April 29, 2015, 01:41:58 PM
Anything in there yet?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on April 29, 2015, 03:14:15 PM

Quote from: Gusington on April 29, 2015, 01:41:58 PM
Anything in there yet?

Quote from: Sir Slash on April 29, 2015, 11:03:41 AM
Quite a few listed already. Two total conversion mods, Radious and Ancient Empires, and a bunch of unit and enhancement mods.

::)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on April 29, 2015, 08:03:48 PM
^Don't you have some seamen to play with, Commander?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on April 29, 2015, 09:52:20 PM
Total of 163 mods listed so far. Radious mod makes early game more survivable as you have more money and food but increases cost of units and buildings so you don't have to buy them to survive and can choose which to prioritize. As the Huns, everybody still hates me but they aren't constantly declaring war on me and those AI spawned stacks of 20 unit armies are much less present. Vanilla Huns had me hiding in the mountains from all the AI factions after me. It felt like playing Whack-A-Mole and I was the mole. Radious lets me whack back and spend more time plundering and dealing with my faction problems. As I've gained power, some factions have even asked me to help them out. And of course there's lots of new units for his mod but most you don't see early game but if your faction can survive long enough and has enough money, you can recruit some truly epic units later. Even the non-playable factions have some powerful units. Very similar to what he did with Rome 2. I'm going to give the East Romans a try and see how I do.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on April 30, 2015, 08:04:21 AM
Still sounds like the vanilla game has some unbalanced Diplo relations craziness for each of the two faction types. 

Hopefully someone creates a mod to address just that.  While bits & pieces of the Radious Mods have been helpful in the past, I've found that they also usually include stuff I don't want.   Even the separated bits.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on April 30, 2015, 08:35:19 AM
163? That's awesome.

I may try the Huns again for the 4th time with the Radious mod.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Boggit on April 30, 2015, 06:12:00 PM
Radious has been churning out great mods since Shogun 2. It sounds like he's still doing great stuff with Attila. O0
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on June 09, 2015, 07:47:39 PM
New Belisarius DLC announced  :D :

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?691165-Total-War-ATTILA-%96-The-Last-Roman-Campaign-Pack-we-play-as-Belisarius

I am contractually obligated to buy this on day one. CAN'T WAIT!!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on June 10, 2015, 05:19:26 AM
As cool as that as, I'm even more pumped about another announcement that was slipped in during this video: 





At long, LONG, last, the original Shogun and Medieval are going to be available on Steam!  Fuck yeah!!! 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on June 10, 2015, 08:31:18 AM
I can accept that.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on June 10, 2015, 08:32:33 AM
Quote from: Gusington on June 09, 2015, 07:47:39 PM
New Belisarius DLC announced  :D :

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?691165-Total-War-ATTILA-%96-The-Last-Roman-Campaign-Pack-we-play-as-Belisarius

I am contractually obligated to buy this on day one. CAN'T WAIT!!

  Looks great for a huge number of reasons -- not least that it is focused on a smaller area than the whole map, and possibly also because the world of the early sixth century is a lot better understood than whatever happened with the Huns.

   Plus...its an EXPEDITION -- what a great concept!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on June 10, 2015, 08:33:53 AM
^Yes! Reading further though, it looks as if the Persians are not represented, which is a let down. But...the Vandals are :)

Maybe the Persians can be modded in at some point.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on June 10, 2015, 08:45:35 AM
Quote from: Gusington on June 10, 2015, 08:33:53 AM
^Yes! Reading further though, it looks as if the Persians are not represented, which is a let down. But...the Vandals are :)

Maybe the Persians can be modded in at some point.

  Focussing on the West makes sense for a lot of reasons.  One would be that the Byzantines remained a regional power there (especially if you count Venice which was technically their vassal) for another 600 years -- basically until the Normans cleared them out before going on and taking Jerusalem for an added stunt.  Another is that there are good accessable sources (Cassidorus himself was even hard at work in this period) for the West -- there may be equally good sources for the East, but traditionally they aren't nearly as easy to find.  And of course Procopius.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on June 10, 2015, 09:08:41 AM
That must be why the Persians are left out, then. CA has a catch 22 with all their games as far as history - how far do they go, or not, as far as detail before they get lost...or risk dork ire by leaving factions out altogether?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on June 10, 2015, 10:46:20 AM
Quote from: Gusington on June 10, 2015, 09:08:41 AM
That must be why the Persians are left out, then. CA has a catch 22 with all their games as far as history - how far do they go, or not, as far as detail before they get lost...or risk dork ire by leaving factions out altogether?

  I think a lot of the "detail" in most games is pretty decorative.  On the other hand, Western pop culture -- which I guess goes all the way back to Aristophanes -- has always had a lot of trouble with the Persians.  To take one example -- supposedly everything about Sparta was so much more wonderful than anything about the Persians.  But Sparta was a minor regional power by 390 BC and Persia was busy manipulating both Athens and Sparta in the Corinthian War.  Persia also recovered from Alexander and the Selucids and was a rival to Rome and Byzantium for over 600 years.  So the evidence suggests that pop culture has had some kind of problem with how to represent the Persians for about 2500 years.  And to think Herodotus thought he was clearing that all up once an for all.
  So to represent the Persians adequately -- especially at the height of their power in the sixth century -- would take a major breakthrough in the use of some kind of imagination (which strangely enough seems to be the main quality lacking in AAA games these days) and the use of Attila in Attila suggests any excruciating pop imagery is to be preferred over any informed imaginative approach -- so not much hope for the Persians except as some kind of deviant (deviant from what?  Who knows?) lords of ultimate evil -- which might be amusing, but not necessarily very productive in terms of actual game play.  After all what is Mordor but Persia with lots of Assyrian names?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on June 10, 2015, 12:44:44 PM
Here's a simple yet effective way to represent the Persians. Problem solved  :coolsmiley:

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Firanpoliticsclub.net%2Fphotos%2FU13-Sassanian3%2Fimages%2FSassanian%2520Persian%2520Cataphract%2520Double%2520Headed%2520Spearman.jpg&hash=cb10cc7e39aa4ce1579078871ba7a406eb0d7a58)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on June 25, 2015, 11:19:02 PM
Anybody playing the "Last Roman" DLC yet? I played a few turns as Rome and so far it's not too different, not too same. But not-- just right either. It's a little confusing at first with the relationship with the Roman Empire which is actually the Eastern Empire but I like the idea you can become your own separatist kingdom if you want in Africa or Italy or stay the loyal sap that Justinian wants you to be. More to follow.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on June 26, 2015, 08:19:03 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on June 25, 2015, 11:19:02 PM
Anybody playing the "Last Roman" DLC yet? I played a few turns as Rome and so far it's not too different, not too same. But not-- just right either. It's a little confusing at first with the relationship with the Roman Empire which is actually the Eastern Empire but I like the idea you can become your own separatist kingdom if you want in Africa or Italy or stay the loyal sap that Justinian wants you to be. More to follow.

  I started this campaign.  I felt pretty rusty (I haven't played Attila in months), so I took the Visigoths (over on the edge, shouldn't be too hard for a rusty player).  Things got nasty right away: the Suevi attacked and looted two (yes2!) towns including a nice coastal spot.  I was playing on easy so I had the cash to raise reinforcements for 2 starter armies and headed out to see how rusty I was.  The King of the Visigoths more or less personally obliterated the King of the Suevi in a rather medieval melee of horsemen, and things have been okay since then.
  I heard that Belisarius had declared his independence, but last I looked the Vandals still looked healthy so maybe that didn't work out so well.

  I'm enjoying the campaign a lot more than I expected, but I've always liked being a Visigoth when I had a chance and I'm a total total war Fanboi anyway at least since the demo for Shogun2.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on June 26, 2015, 08:27:46 AM
I checked it out last night...think I want to play as the Vandals.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on June 30, 2015, 09:26:06 AM
Quote from: MengJiao on June 26, 2015, 08:19:03 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on June 25, 2015, 11:19:02 PM
Anybody playing the "Last Roman" DLC yet? I played a few turns as Rome and so far it's not too different, not too same. But not-- just right either. It's a little confusing at first with the relationship with the Roman Empire which is actually the Eastern Empire but I like the idea you can become your own separatist kingdom if you want in Africa or Italy or stay the loyal sap that Justinian wants you to be. More to follow.

  I started this campaign.

  It's been the best hours of Total War ever.  it kind of reminds me of the Third Age Mod for Medieval II.  I guess it is the landscape and all the Germanic goings on.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on June 30, 2015, 01:01:32 PM
Really? Ever??
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on June 30, 2015, 01:29:02 PM
Quote from: Gusington on June 30, 2015, 01:01:32 PM
Really? Ever??

  The ongoing Visigoth (me) vs Ostrogoths (AI) battle is the best overall campaigning and battling that I have experienced in the TW series.
Every one of the battles has been top-notch.  I think the battle AI has gotten pretty good if you fight the battle without pausing and micro-managing.  Of course you can mess up the AI if you micro-manage, but that wasn't a command-control option anyone had in the period.

  The most recent battle was pretty cool.  It reminded me of the patch 2 days of Rome 2, when I was a Normal Parthinian.  Anyway, the battle-odds estimator showed me (the Visigothic King with the army of the King) as inferior to the Royal army of the Ostrogoths even though I outnumbered them and had Noble Gothic Lancers and even some Germanic Spearmen.  What did they have that could beat that?  Right?
  So I was a bit nervous and massed my cavalry with the King (a formula that had never failed) on one flank and got the spears and whatnot deployed on a big hill.    And then I could not see the Ostrogoths.  Evidently they were doing something clever and I had to attack them.
  Eventually I spotted them on a ridge so I got everybody onto a higher part of the ridge and attacked when I saw them charging.  They broke really fast and it wasn't until I ran the replay from their point of view that I saw why:  They went after my leader with their best troops just as he happened to be ducking out of the cavalry and getting behind the spear line.  So the best part of their army arrived between the cavalry wing and the infantry just as those attacked.  Their best troops were hit from both sides and routed so fast that when I reviewed the army for the follow up charge, there was nothing but archers and fleeing Ostrogoths left.  Given how often the Ostrogoths had smashed up my armies, that was pretty surprising.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on June 30, 2015, 02:15:43 PM
I'm enjoying playing as the Roman Expedition and agree the battles seem better than in Rome 2. Historically cavalry was dominant on the battlefield in the 500's and this is reflected in most infantry units having mediocre stats. But the cavalry is much stronger now and able to do multi-role functions such as scouting, missile attack, and charge effects. Some things till confuse me though. My Roman armies in Vandal territory have ample income from taxes but who am I taxing? The Vandal populace? My own armies? Or back home in Constantinople? Same with faction intrigues. Who am I trying to increase support from, back home or here in Vandal Land? I can do my own tech and raise and lower taxes but who does that effect if I have no settlements under my control? And the big one, what happens if I keep a city for myself? I hope it doesn't result in a "Realm Divide" like event in Shogun 2 where everybody declares war on me. I'm too afraid to try yet to see.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on June 30, 2015, 06:45:01 PM
Once I get my fill of undead in AoW3, I originally planned on playing some Spec Ops and then some AssCreed: Black Flag...and then this Attila. But you guys are making this sound really good. Still trying to decide on playing as the Romans or the Vandals.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on June 30, 2015, 10:34:07 PM
Either way, watch out for the sneaky Berbers Gus. I got them to attack the Vandals for $1000. And a couple of camels.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on July 01, 2015, 06:44:20 AM
Ooh I hope the Berbers are modded in as playable at some point.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on July 01, 2015, 07:03:51 AM
Attila is the first Total War I suck at. I just can't get a good game going before disaster strikes.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: jomni on July 01, 2015, 07:51:06 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on July 01, 2015, 07:03:51 AM
Attila is the first Total War I suck at. I just can't get a good game going before disaster strikes.

I suck at Anything Rome 2.  Just can't get used to the building restrictions to get my economy going.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on July 01, 2015, 09:21:14 AM
Quote from: jomni on July 01, 2015, 07:51:06 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on July 01, 2015, 07:03:51 AM
Attila is the first Total War I suck at. I just can't get a good game going before disaster strikes.

I suck at Anything Rome 2.  Just can't get used to the building restrictions to get my economy going.

  The Last Roman DLC in Attila seems a little easier.  At least as a Visigoth playing on easy.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on July 01, 2015, 09:26:54 AM
There's an expanded campaign mod at Steam that has playable Berbers, Burgundians, and a couple of others I can't remember.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on July 01, 2015, 09:38:44 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on July 01, 2015, 09:26:54 AM
There's an expanded campaign mod at Steam that has playable Berbers, Burgundians, and a couple of others I can't remember.

  Suebi?  Bretons?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on July 01, 2015, 10:55:05 AM
I hope so...got my ass kicked in Attila as well. Actually won in Rome 2 as Armenia, set at normal difficulty...which was still pretty difficult.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on July 01, 2015, 10:56:14 AM
It the Suebi and the Roman Empire. The non-Belisarius version of the Roman Empire.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on July 01, 2015, 11:52:26 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on July 01, 2015, 10:56:14 AM
It the Suebi and the Roman Empire. The non-Belisarius version of the Roman Empire.

  Speaking of which, last night, I got the sad message that The "Kingdom of Rome" (ie Belisarius) faction was no more.  I think the berbers got him.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on July 01, 2015, 02:25:19 PM
Quote from: Gusington on July 01, 2015, 10:55:05 AM
I hope so...got my ass kicked in Attila as well. Actually won in Rome 2 as Armenia, set at normal difficulty...which was still pretty difficult.

  Something or other about Attila didn't quite work for me.  Admittedly I was a Frank and that was it.  I'm finding the Last Roman DLC more to my taste AND I'm doing okay now that the atmosphere is back to normal and the crops are coming in.  If I win as a Visigoth, I'll try the Franks or Ostrogoths or something.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on July 01, 2015, 03:32:50 PM
 I'm a bit confused. With the quote last Roman" DLC if I want to play as the Byzantines does that mean I don't get a country? only an army generaled by  Belisarius to travel around the map with ?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on July 01, 2015, 08:00:27 PM
Quote from: mikeck on July 01, 2015, 03:32:50 PM
I'm a bit confused. With the quote last Roman" DLC if I want to play as the Byzantines does that mean I don't get a country? only an army generaled by  Belisarius to travel around the map with ?

  In the vanilla game, you can't play as Justinian.  The Empire sends troops to help Belisarius, but you don't control the Empire if you are Belisarius.  I'd rather be a Visigoth anyway so that's all fine with me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on July 01, 2015, 09:29:56 PM
In the DLC the Byzantines are the Roman Empire and are an AI controlled faction. You can only play "Roman" as Belisarius' Expeditionary/ hoard force that begins in North Africa already at war with the Vandals. The Byzantines/ Romans are active though, sending armies to North Africa too on their own. But they don't really help much just wandering around and the Vandals seem to kind of ignore them too. Another strange thing is my Roman expeditionary force has no trouble recruiting units everywhere, even in Vandal territory though some are just basic spear and melee types. The campaign AI is pretty good and especially reacts to your laying siege to their walled cities. Fun so far.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on July 02, 2015, 06:30:40 AM
So when you capture your first city as the wandering Romans, you get a choice of cedng it to the empire or keeping it for.yourself?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on July 02, 2015, 09:18:54 AM
Yes. Every city you get that choice. And after you have no control over the city if you give it to the Empire though you can replenish in that territory. And you know what a shitty ruler Justinian was so the Public Order in them drops like Bill Clinton's trousers, when he was young mind you. But the odd thing is you can recruit Roman Units anywhere you go. And, being a Horde faction, you can camp and upgrade your various tents/ buildings if you have enough coin and surplus population-- some of the tents increase your expedition size. I just spent $3000 to upgrade my Public Latrines to Private Latrines. I figure that'll make my troops much happier. I don't know what the next upgrade from there is, maybe Nat-Geo magazines to read in there or dirty poems to go on the walls. "There once was a Vandal from Nantuckett......"  ;D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on July 02, 2015, 04:30:18 PM
^I've heard about that Vandal.

I love the dynamic of fighting for Rome but having the choice to take a city for yourself or for the empire. Very proto-feudal!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 12, 2015, 07:54:47 AM
Quick question: I'm playing the original Attila again as the Persians, and I'm using the Radious mod. I have had a series of political events occur (a trader comes to your court, etc.) and for the life of me I cannot find the political screen where I choose what choice to make on each scenario...in other regular Attila games the screen was easily accessible through my faction crest at the center-bottom of the UI. I hit that now...and can't find the resolution screen! And so now I have the little yellow exclamation point there for unresolved events. Does Radious disable the resolution for these events or am I just losingmy mind? Help!!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 12, 2015, 08:43:50 AM
I play Radious all the time and can't remember not being able to make a choice when a Political Event occurs. Sometimes I get an event message and then a turn or two later I'll get a choice to make but I thought that was vanilla not Radious. Check it out at the TW Forum and see if anybody else has had this problem. If the Persians get a Political Event to make a Nuclear Deal with Obama, I'd take it.  ;D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on August 12, 2015, 10:56:59 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on August 12, 2015, 08:43:50 AM
I play Radious all the time and can't remember not being able to make a choice when a Political Event occurs. Sometimes I get an event message and then a turn or two later I'll get a choice to make but I thought that was vanilla not Radious. Check it out at the TW Forum and see if anybody else has had this problem. If the Persians get a Political Event to make a Nuclear Deal with Obama, I'd take it.  ;D

  So true, a nuclear power in the 6th century would have some significant technological advantages AND a big bomb.

  Weirdly enough, one of the last papers I wrote in French ( Le Defi Sassanid) covered this topic, but it was about the Sassanid lead in Cosmic Imperial Imagery.  Poor Hericlitus fought his way all the way to Cteistiphon only to find a vast machine that could elevate an Emperor (preferably Persian) into a vast working model of the heavens.  Mr. H was never quite the same.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 12, 2015, 12:20:46 PM
Could it be that not enough time has passed to make a decision? I could swear that there is a panel in the UI that I can use, though...GAH
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 12, 2015, 02:54:07 PM
Have you played a couple of turns without any result or change?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 12, 2015, 07:39:43 PM
Going to in a minute...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 12, 2015, 09:14:16 PM
OK so I got another message and no apparent way to affect an outcome...what am I missing?

(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.akamai.steamusercontent.com%2Fugc%2F1477531776554783133%2F3B6BEFF5806E987A528BE45611B38A82401C0E14%2F&hash=cb443bc216d10b581bf3e18da60186f2f765fa02)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 12, 2015, 09:27:05 PM
What happens when you click on the check mark? Anything? I'm going to try to play some and see if it happens to me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 13, 2015, 06:51:59 AM
Click the check mark and the message is minimized. I can go back to the measage in the scroll on the right hand side but there is no political screen to 'solve' the issue. I wonder if Radious disables it...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 13, 2015, 09:15:44 AM
And there's nothing coming up when you click on the Faction Button at the bottom? That is odd. I haven't run across that at all in my games. I tried playing Sassinids last night but got no Political Events as yet. I know Radious disabled Sacking in his mod but I'm not aware of any disabling of Political Events. I'll keep playing and see if it happens to me. A real concern though.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 13, 2015, 12:28:54 PM
No - nothing comes up when I hit the faction button (concerning political events)...I wonder what will happen if I disable the mod...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 13, 2015, 12:39:44 PM
I checked Radious' changelogs and he only lists-- minor changes to political events-- and -- changes to costs of political events. Nothing about disabling them. Does the game play OK if you just ignore the message? I know in the Last Roman, I got messages that would trigger a choice message a couple of turns later. Like a message that Justinian had become obsessed by conquering Italy from his wife and then 2 turns later a choice came up to agree with him or try to talk him out of it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 13, 2015, 02:18:29 PM
Yeah I thought that may happen but 25 turns in and nothing yet. Plus I could swear that there was some other way to access them but so far...nothing...?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 13, 2015, 10:54:42 PM
I just had a political event occur.... finally. When I clicked on the Faction button at the bottom, the Faction screen had on the right hand side a portrait of the character related to the event. Clicking on the portrait brought up the decision/ choices to make. Now I remember this happening previously in the game but it sure is easy to miss. Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 14, 2015, 07:07:42 AM
Thanks Slash, will try it out when I get back to my gaming machine tonight.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 14, 2015, 09:00:59 AM
No problem. I try to be kind to NY Jet fans. They need it. Playing as the Sassanids is kind of boring. Everybody likes you except for a couple of pissy vassals and there's nobody to fight. Even the ERE wants to be my friend asking for a marriage and alliance. Nothing to do but build and keep the people clean and happy. Even the family members all get along. What's wrong with these people?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 14, 2015, 09:56:40 AM
You know what...you're right. I was thinking the exact same thing last night. There's tons of money and armies and cities but it gets dull and repetitve. It's too easy. And that's ME talking. Who else to play in fhe same neighborhood though?

And as far as the issue with the political window...I will try it later but something just doesn't sound right. I don't remember clicking on portraits for anything. It was just a simple click, go, it's done...maybe I'm just losing my mind.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 14, 2015, 11:34:29 AM
I wish the map went a little further east into India.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 14, 2015, 12:20:45 PM
I might go back to Rome II and start a new Armenia campaign.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Boggit on August 14, 2015, 06:36:12 PM
Quote from: Gusington on August 14, 2015, 12:20:45 PM
I might go back to Rome II and start a new Armenia campaign.
Probably OT, but I just wanted to say TODAY I WON AT SHOGUN2: TOTAL WAR PLAYING CHOSOKABE! I'm SHOGUN! ;D O0 Yay!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 14, 2015, 09:49:14 PM
^Still haven't won a Shogun 2 campaign :/
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 14, 2015, 09:51:41 PM
Congrats on the win Boggit. Sho 2 with it's Realm Divide was a bitch to beat. You've well earned the crown and little demon mask Boggit-san.  8)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 18, 2015, 09:28:40 PM
OK so I tested what you posted on the previous page Slash and nothing...no portrait to click on.

To make myself feel better I started Spec Ops: The Line and pre-ordered the new Mad Max game. I hope you're happy.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 18, 2015, 10:47:49 PM
I am happy but not because you don't have a portrait to click. That I'm sad about. :'( Also confused as to what the problem could possibly be. I've had no problems with any of my ATW games vanilla or Radious other than an occasional crash. Though that damned black sky/ climate change thing threw me for hip-toss when it first hit( in the Last Roman). Maybe you're just not Hun-Enough for this game.  :P
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 19, 2015, 07:30:19 AM
If you have a minute, would you mind posting an image of the screen where you are resolving the political issues?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 19, 2015, 11:15:15 AM
I'd be happy to Gus, if I'm able. I don't have a Facebook account so is there any way to send a Steam screenshot to my computer to upload or directly to you? I got lots of screenshots on my Steam page but without a Facebook account---how would I be able to send or retrieve them? Are the Steam screenshots saved anywhere on my computer that you know of? Because I've looked and can't find them if they are.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 19, 2015, 01:24:54 PM
Yeah if you have a ton of Steam shots, view them online on Steam, copy the URL (link) and you can post them here with the image posting tool.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 19, 2015, 02:06:27 PM
OK. I'll see if I can get the game to give me another Pol. Event.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 19, 2015, 02:37:33 PM
Thanks Slash...either a shot of the actual event or the screen where you resolve it, just to verify that I have not lost it completely.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 19, 2015, 09:58:34 PM
Working on it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 20, 2015, 06:37:19 AM
Thank you Sir.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 24, 2015, 08:25:02 AM
You've forsaken me, haven't you...:/
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 24, 2015, 10:54:02 AM
Still working on it Bernie. The game won't give me another political event. I loaded a save just before the one pol. event I did get but it won't give me another. I'm actually getting close to a campaign win as Sassanids needing only one more Puppet State, a few more techs and a shit-load of money. And I haven't fought a single battle yet. :o I haven't forsaken you Grog-Father.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 24, 2015, 02:34:20 PM
After looking forward to playing the Sassanids for so long I am officially disappointed...just too easy. For my next trick I am going to go back to Rome 2 and start a Macedon campaign.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Rayfer on August 24, 2015, 08:32:07 PM
Quote from: jomni on July 01, 2015, 07:51:06 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on July 01, 2015, 07:03:51 AM
Attila is the first Total War I suck at. I just can't get a good game going before disaster strikes.

I suck at Anything Rome 2.  Just can't get used to the building restrictions to get my economy going.

A big +1....tried many times to get a campaign going but fall short.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Bison on August 24, 2015, 08:33:41 PM
Quote from: Gusington on August 24, 2015, 02:34:20 PM
After looking forward to playing the Sassanids for so long I am officially disappointed...just too easy. For my next trick I am going to go back to Rome 2 and start a Macedon campaign.

Pontus.  That's the challenge I want you to take up!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 24, 2015, 08:58:38 PM
Pontus is looking good too but I've wanted to play as Macedon for freaking ever.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 24, 2015, 10:37:20 PM
Mod or vanilla? Macedon was a bitch as vanilla for me. Radious makes the early game a little easier and has some very sweet Macedonian units.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on August 25, 2015, 06:40:54 AM
Quote from: Bison on August 24, 2015, 08:33:41 PM
Quote from: Gusington on August 24, 2015, 02:34:20 PM
After looking forward to playing the Sassanids for so long I am officially disappointed...just too easy. For my next trick I am going to go back to Rome 2 and start a Macedon campaign.

Pontus.  That's the challenge I want you to take up!

I thought Pontus was fairly easy compared to many others. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 25, 2015, 07:40:35 AM
Macedon with Radious...I have reached that point where I don't think I can go back to vanilla. Not sexy enough.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on August 25, 2015, 02:44:20 PM
I'm having a problem with the launchers. I can launch Attila by selecting it from the Rome 2 launcher but for some reason, the Attila launcher is Busted. This way though, I cannot activate my mod workshop mods. Does anyone know a way to go into the game folder and manually activate them?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 25, 2015, 03:13:31 PM
OK Gus. Here we go. When you get the Political Event message, Click on the Faction Button at the bottom and Attachment #1 shows the screen with a portrait in the upper right corner, in this case it's, Khorsau or something. Right under the lighted button with the head silhouette. Click on it and Attachment #2 shows the choices at the bottom of the screen-- Kill Him, Take the Gift, or Ignore Him or along that line. I hope these attachments of mine work for you as I ain't too savy with attachments. I'm not Tech Support for sure. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 25, 2015, 03:18:34 PM
Well I'll be damned if it didn't work. :o  Mikeck, Attila should launch from it's own launcher without problem. If it doesn't, then there maybe some other problem I'm not familiar with. And I will second the Sexiness of the Radious units. They make my loins moist.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on August 25, 2015, 03:27:01 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on August 25, 2015, 03:18:34 PM
Well I'll be damned if it didn't work. :o  Mikeck, Attila should launch from it's own launcher without problem. If it doesn't, then there maybe some other problem I'm not familiar with. And I will second the Sexiness of the Radious units. They make my loins moist.

Well, it should but won't. Rome 2 won't now either after an update. Just says "launcher not working". I tried uninstalling and deleting the remaining folder. Also turned off anti virus. No dice. Have to use the Shogun launcher now
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on August 25, 2015, 05:24:28 PM
Quote from: Gusington on August 25, 2015, 07:40:35 AM
Macedon with Radious...I have reached that point where I don't think I can go back to vanilla. Not sexy enough.

Radious mod makes building way too easy Easy Mode. 

Don't be a panzy, Gus!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 25, 2015, 08:34:15 PM
OK hold on. Slash thank you for the above - I have to try when I have some more time.

BBMike I saw issues exactly like yours listed on TW Center...check out the forums there. In between the whining and crying there may be some help.

Nef - is the initial difficulty for Macedon 'Hard' or 'Normal'? If it's the former I'll have no shame in using Radious.  8)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 25, 2015, 10:36:02 PM
Macedon is Normal Gus but in vanilla the damned Greeks teamed-up against me while I was trying to take-out the faction you start at war with to the east. In vanilla not having enough food is a killer and Macedon starts with almost no food production. So it's a tough start.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 26, 2015, 07:02:53 AM
I do believe that Nefaro has classified you as a pansy then.

I was a pansy until I won my Armenia campaign in Rome 2. Now all the chicks dig me.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on August 26, 2015, 08:36:51 AM
If you succeed at winning with Epirus, then you lose panzy status.

Or, better yet, win without using the Easy Buildings Mode in Radious, of course.   :P  Kinda defeats the purpose of having to balance the penalties with the benefits that come with the more evolved buildings when there is little downside to just building whatevah.  C:-)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 26, 2015, 11:01:45 AM
I plead guilty to Pansy Status then. I'm too much a sucker for the Sexy Units. Those Macedon boys with their short skirts just send me. :-*
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on August 26, 2015, 11:32:11 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on August 26, 2015, 11:01:45 AM
I plead guilty to Pansy Status then. I'm too much a sucker for the Sexy Units. Those Macedon boys with their short skirts just send me. :-*

I enjoyed playing the Macedonian successor states. 

My point was that the Radious Mod makes the game easier since the better buildings had their associated penalties lowered or nullified.  The increasing Food & Public Order penalties as other output goes up are a major factor in game balance/difficulty. 

I actually like having to increased income & production with repercussions elsewhere instead of just building everything possible with no worries and no consideration required.  Am I nutty like squirrel turds?   :idiot2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 26, 2015, 02:32:46 PM
Not at all Nutty. I first played vanilla at launch and haven't really come back since all the patches so maybe I'm the one who's  :idiot2:.   The game was very hard for me at launch with new buildings sometimes causing more problems than correcting them. Radious does make the game easier but I can play on a proper difficulty level and survive long enough to conquer some turf. And I don't have to worry so much about the Pissed-Off Peasants.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 27, 2015, 07:27:04 AM
I like Radious' work too, especially for the units...but that said it did make the Sassanid campaign way too easy. Maybe Macedon won't be as milk-toasty.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on August 27, 2015, 09:00:43 AM
Quote from: Nefaro on August 25, 2015, 06:40:54 AM
Quote from: Bison on August 24, 2015, 08:33:41 PM
Quote from: Gusington on August 24, 2015, 02:34:20 PM
After looking forward to playing the Sassanids for so long I am officially disappointed...just too easy. For my next trick I am going to go back to Rome 2 and start a Macedon campaign.

Pontus.  That's the challenge I want you to take up!

I thought Pontus was fairly easy compared to many others.

I think Pontus might be a good pick.  I took easy Pontus for my first game and was annihilated by the Selucids -- but it was Okay.  Easy Egypt was next and extremely fun.  Then came the Normal Parthenians and Patch 2.  One of my favorite games ever.  But that was long ago and many patches ago.  I'm sure the game and the mods and what not are very different now.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 27, 2015, 01:17:28 PM
Macedon it is! Unless it's Pontus. Or the Seleucids. All are alluring.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 27, 2015, 01:45:35 PM
Seleucids are a very challenging allure.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on August 27, 2015, 02:09:40 PM
Pontus was one of my favorites due to it's interesting mix of Macedonian/Greek and Eastern type units. 

As long as you don't piss off a big neighbor early on (notably Seleucids before their problems begin) then it's not too difficult a start, but you can still expand rapidly.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 27, 2015, 03:33:10 PM
Yes, a rough neighborhood to be a trading power in. Has anybody ever won as Carthage?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on August 27, 2015, 06:42:31 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on August 27, 2015, 03:33:10 PM
Yes, a rough neighborhood to be a trading power in. Has anybody ever won as Carthage?

I've started a couple campaigns as Carthage, but updates made me abandon them with a plan to restart, but never did.  I recall it was one of those factions who gets DOW'd by four or five neighbors very early on, so I doubt it's easy going.  I had an easier expansionist time with tiny Syracuse fighting Romans, oddly enough.

Some factions just tend to be regularly dogpiled by the way your AI neighbors are programmed to think.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 27, 2015, 07:00:29 PM
I won as Carthage last summer. It was a great campaign. Took me about two months.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on August 27, 2015, 10:05:22 PM
I didn't last no time as Carthage. Just too many enemies around. I've done best as the German Confederation which was tough until most of the other German tribes came over and we were able to eliminate the Gauls. Then the money started rolling in big time. Still the Germans are hampered by their shitty navy.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 28, 2015, 08:09:30 AM
Armenia played similarly to what you describe above, sans navy. The Rome 2 Armenia campaign was probably my favorite of the last few years and I would actually go back to it and play again. The triumph of winning and destroying your enemies after almost being wiped off the face of the earth is always satisfying :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: W8taminute on August 29, 2015, 01:39:17 PM
^  O0


(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdinosaurdracula.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F09%2Fgif2.gif&hash=b11e5be81f5484e96f31e734ed54dc0db18c3211)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on August 30, 2015, 08:46:31 AM
I'm always impressed how much you guys know about this era.  Other than the Romans and Carthage, I don't have the slightest idea who those other factions are, or how they fit into history.

Can you guys recommend a good book or two that maybe walks through all of this history?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Philippe on August 30, 2015, 10:53:19 AM
Background for the two games is a huge subject.  When I've had a little more coffee I might be able to come up with something that gives an overview of the earlier period (i.e. what gets covered by Rome Total War).  But a good starting point for Attila would be Peter Brown's The World of Late Antiquity.  One of it's virtues is that it isn't a thousand pages long, so you might actually get around to finishing it.  One of the differences between the two periods was a pretty fundamental change in world view (which isn't surprising given that half a millenium separates the two games).  The Roman Empire ultimately fell because people eventually got tired of having it around, rather than because of anything external like military force.  Speaking of things military, Edward Luttwak's Grand Stategy of the Roman Empire is always worth a read.

One thing you might do for starters is to simply look up every group you encounter in the games and read their wiki's, even if (especially if) you think you know who they are.  Wiki's on these subjects are generally pretty good, and the information you get will often be focused on what you want to know but will also lead you to look at related questions.  Rome Total War takes place during the Hellenistic period, and the history can get pretty complicated.  For keeping track of the outlying peoples it often helps to have a background or interest in archaeology, and since that's pretty uncommon, google is your friend.


Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on August 30, 2015, 07:01:10 PM
^I read the World of Late Antiquity and really enjoyed it. Toonces you can also check out some titles by Bryan Ward Perkins and Peter Heather on the era. Some of the titles are better than others.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on November 24, 2015, 01:07:31 PM
Age of Charlemagne campaign pack coming. 




More info here (http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/TWA_Age_Of_Charlemagne). 


Dammit.  Now I might have to pick up Attila just so I can play this... 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on November 24, 2015, 01:54:16 PM
Maybe this will fix my issue
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Yskonyn on November 24, 2015, 02:17:44 PM
Bastards! Now I am spending my free time again rummaging through wiki's, Era books and thinking about a new RTW 2 campaign! :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 24, 2015, 02:33:40 PM
Yes! yeeeees

Looking forward to this. Maybe I can even win a campaign.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on November 24, 2015, 03:27:59 PM
I've got my eye on Attila during these upcoming Steam sales...   :knuppel2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on November 24, 2015, 03:30:51 PM
Because we wants it Precious. Yes, we wants it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on November 24, 2015, 03:32:35 PM
As soon as they said, "knights" I knew I was going all in.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 24, 2015, 06:25:26 PM
Just pre-ordered Charlemagne. The game's mechanics are to be redone so perhaps I will have a fighting chance this time. Besides, the original Attila is great fun even if I suck at it. Plus this new iteration is at a 13.49 price point.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on November 24, 2015, 06:29:31 PM
For all the cool-sounding features they're adding for the campaign pack, I'll freely admit it's the setting/era itself that's the main draw for me.  One hardly ever sees strategy games (or just games in general) that focus on the early Medieval period, so this one got my attention right away. 




Quote from: Toonces on November 24, 2015, 03:32:35 PM
As soon as they said, "knights" I knew I was going all in.
Talk Martel to me, baby!  8) 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on November 25, 2015, 02:54:45 AM
Is Attila stand alone?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: AchillesLastStand on November 25, 2015, 03:49:10 AM
Quote from: undercovergeek on November 25, 2015, 02:54:45 AM
Is Attila stand alone?

Yes.......
TW ATTILA: Age of Charlemagne Campaign Pack
Huge new Campaign, set at the dawn of the Middle Ages.
Enter the Medieval era with Knights, Housecarls and a new illuminated UI art style.
8 Playable factions with all new Units, Tech and Buildings.
New game features with Story-based and Kingdom Events.

I may have to reinstall Attila because this looks like one of the more interesting DLC,s they have had by far.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 25, 2015, 10:29:59 AM
I agree - very happy that the rumors of this are true.

Doesn't CKII have a similar DLC that begins in the 9th century? The Old Gods? I guess it's 100 years later than this...but I could swear Charlemagne made an appearance in CKII, didn't he?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Queeg on November 25, 2015, 11:20:46 AM
Quote from: Gusington on November 25, 2015, 10:29:59 AM

Doesn't CKII have a similar DLC that begins in the 9th century? The Old Gods? I guess it's 100 years later than this...but I could swear Charlemagne made an appearance in CKII, didn't he?

CK2 has a DLC devoted to Charlemagne.

https://www.paradoxplaza.com/crusader-kings-ii-charlemagne
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Xtiaan72 on November 26, 2015, 11:23:35 AM
Worst Creative Assembly Game In History.... but at least they are still improving  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Yskonyn on November 26, 2015, 02:57:56 PM
Pre-ordered Charly DLC.  :smitten:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on November 26, 2015, 04:47:09 PM
I wonder if the Charlemagne campaign pack will include any historical battles.  Would love to be able to re-right as his grandfather at the Battle of Tours. 




Quote from: Xtiaan72 on November 26, 2015, 11:23:35 AM
Worst Creative Assembly Game In History
We're gonna have to agree to disagree on that one. 

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: undercovergeek on November 26, 2015, 06:02:27 PM
Quote from: Xtiaan72 on November 26, 2015, 11:23:35 AM
Worst Creative Assembly Game In History.... but at least they are still improving  :knuppel2:

can you back that up?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on November 26, 2015, 07:48:03 PM
Quote from: Xtiaan72 on November 26, 2015, 11:23:35 AM
Worst Creative Assembly Game In History.... but at least they are still improving  :knuppel2:

? Rome 2 or Attila?

Either way, I disagree. Both are great games.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: AchillesLastStand on November 26, 2015, 09:24:26 PM
Quote from: Xtiaan72 on November 26, 2015, 11:23:35 AM
Worst Creative Assembly Game In History.... but at least they are still improving  :knuppel2:

Not really, that award goes to Empire with that being followed up by Rome 2. Attila introduced many things{family tree, etc}that if they had been R2 it would have been much better. The new DLC at least so far looks to be a great addition. The only problem I have with their last few titles is that they have ran poorly on AMD cpus which is why I switched to Intel. :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 26, 2015, 10:18:56 PM
I love Attila but I suck at it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Xtiaan72 on November 26, 2015, 10:26:43 PM
Creative Assembly Definitely Needs Some "Help".... And Attila was a big of a "Dick" so don't worry about it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on November 26, 2015, 10:31:19 PM
What?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on November 26, 2015, 10:35:02 PM
Quote from: Xtiaan72 on November 26, 2015, 10:26:43 PM
Creative Assembly Definitely Needs Some "Help".... And Attila was a big of a "Dick" so don't worry about it.

Uhhh...wha?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Xtiaan72 on November 26, 2015, 11:41:32 PM
In the end did he conquer the West...? I prefer to think The Greeks did... Am I wrong? Or are you guys commies?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on November 27, 2015, 12:03:54 AM
Did Azz hack an account or something?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Xtiaan72 on November 27, 2015, 12:13:13 AM
No, I'm going to take care of him personally after the holidays. Merry Christmas guys.  >:D
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Yskonyn on November 27, 2015, 03:48:46 AM
Not to be disrespectful, perhaps its a language barrier, but most one-liner posts of Xtiaan don't make much sense to me.
It would be nice to communicate using more than one sentence. :D  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on November 27, 2015, 02:32:30 PM
Quote from: Yskonyn on November 27, 2015, 03:48:46 AM
Not to be disrespectful, perhaps its a language barrier, but most one-liner posts of Xtiaan don't make much sense to me.
It would be nice to communicate using more than one sentence. :D  :uglystupid2:

I don't think its a language barrier. The guy is posting out of the Midwestern United States.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 25, 2016, 07:04:56 PM
Revisited some Total War this week.   

Mostly Rome 2 because it's my favorite period and I've been on another classical warfare kick lately.  But I've been browsing Mods for both that and Attila lately.


Any notable Mods you guys have played for either?

The Divide Et Impera mod for Rome 2 looks pretty good, for one of those general overhaul types that doesn't stray too far from the base gameplay but makes small changes to much of it.

I also noticed a different smaller mod which adds specific cultural Manpower restrictions to recruitment in each geographical area.  This means that you can't just conquer some foreign place and start pumping out a bunch of your own culture's troops there after building conversion.  I suppose it implements foreign auxiliary recruitment and the manpower numbers replenish a certain amount every turn based on % of Culture and some other factor regarding population/income.  I'm intrigued but haven't tried yet.

As for Attila mods, I think someone finally added one that specifically removes the Imperium diplo penalty gain from researching stuff.  Should probably look up the one that allows you to continue recruiting non-upgraded unit types too.  A couple of the major  ::) points of Attila for me so hopefully there are proper working mods to fix 'em now.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 25, 2016, 07:10:13 PM
I've been using Radious' mods a lot lately, but my current campaign is vanilla.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 25, 2016, 08:47:02 PM
Jesus Tapdancing Christ between the civil wars, imperium penalties and traitors, my empire is buckling and falling apart...any advice for getting a grip on all these things? I may have to restart :/
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on March 25, 2016, 11:02:09 PM
Quote from: Gusington on March 25, 2016, 08:47:02 PM
Jesus Tapdancing Christ between the civil wars, imperium penalties and traitors, my empire is buckling and falling apart...any advice for getting a grip on all these things? I may have to restart :/

Which TW are you playing?  Attila?

I can give advice on Rome 2, or most of the others after a quick refresher.  But I haven't played Attila as much due to a couple sticky points (which may now have mod fixes, fortunately).

Part of the problems in Attila is the fact that researching techs makes everyone else increasingly hate you.  Your Imperium penalties go up, even if you're not expanding, as long as you're researching.  ::)  Yes.  You heard that correctly.  Researching better crop rotation or legal codes makes foreign powers downright loathe you!   ;D  This is a serious game design flaw and CA has stated they weren't going to bother changing it themselves.

The excuse given for such a terrible mechanic was that it helps "balance" the diplo hatred for Empires in comparison with wandering Hordes.  I'd almost guarantee they didn't implement a proper mechanic due to release date deadlines or something, and they just shoehorned in this stopgap.


In other words, if you're Researching stuff... everyone else will increasingly hate you in vanilla Attila.


As for revolts in recent TWs it's all about managing Public Order and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Culture.  Which, in Rome 2, requires PO & Culture buildings, and possibly Diplo characters if your Culture keeps getting pushed down in a province.  You'll need plenty extra food to put up such buildings (amongst others) so that is also part of the build-up.  This pretty much goes for Attila too.

One poorly done facet of Rome 2 was the faction "politics".  Just a bad CK2-wannabe mess.  Managing simple Influence/Senator numbers, or whatever they're called, is an enjoyment sucking pit of despair. 

If you leave any of the non-family leaders without an army or navy, they'll just spam your other Generals with Assassination attempts and other nonsense.  The assassinations almost always wound my generals and put them out of action for ~6 effing years.  So I tend to plant the more powerful non-family ones in a small garrison army in a backwater & let him rot.  I think that tends to keep them from spending points on Assassinations so often, for some reason.  Then, when my main generals inevitably die or get assassinated, and I have to hire a non-family general, I immediately spend the money and Influence to Adopt them if they're not too old.  This eventually knocks down your influence, so there doesn't seem to be a perfect way to go in the long run.  I think they pretty much wanna force you to fight a civil war eventually.   :knuppel2: 

Also - having to spend the empire's funds on every one of your little factional actions is a bit ridiculous too.  Makes you wonder where all these other non-family generals get their hordes of assassination money if you're having to spend such huge amounts from the treasury on each.   :knuppel2:

I'll not mention the similarly CK2-wannabe random event nonsense in Rome 2.  Ugh.  May as well be choosing a straw every time to see if you get the short one.  :idiot2:

They obviously tried to inject their own CK2 style internal politics into these titles, and it turned out terrible.  There are probably mods to change or remove some of that stuff, but I keep gritting through the constant annoyances for some reason.


I've really only been using some graphical UI mods in most of my campaigns in Rome 2, attempting to play it as intended, but I'll probably give the DEI overhaul mod a try soon.

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on March 26, 2016, 08:54:27 AM
Yeah it's Age of Charlemagne in Attila, vanilla. In addition to what you mentioned above there is also war weariness which negatively affects your faction, and it doesn't matter if you started the war or not. I'm sure there are other things going on underneath the hood too, and some that are different between Rome 2 and Age of Charlemagne...I'll have to look deeper. My Danes are the number 3 or 4 faction in the game world right now (we were number 2 only to Charlemagne until the civil wars began) and I am pretty sure success has something to do with these complications 🤕
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on July 26, 2016, 10:47:28 PM
Man alive, this isn't your mom's Total War.

So I'm just now getting around to playing this as the Picts and I have no idea WTF I'm doing.  To be honest, I really don't like the new province mechanisms in the new Total Wars.  I prefer to select AI control and focus on the warfighting.  I have no idea what my strategy should be for building up my provinces.

This game has jumped the shark. 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on July 27, 2016, 09:07:26 AM
I never played as the Picts but as the Sassanids, it was best to have a mix of province types with as many of the different resources as possible. Of course nothing beats Gold. For that faction trade and commerce trumped the military needs which could always be filled-out quickly with lots of cheap troops.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: solops on July 27, 2016, 03:31:58 PM
OK, someone please tell us WHAT mod kills the Attila diplomacy-research penalty...and a link would be super, too.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on July 27, 2016, 03:50:25 PM
Quote from: solops on July 27, 2016, 03:31:58 PM
OK, someone please tell us WHAT mod kills the Attila diplomacy-research penalty...and a link would be super, too.


Ridiculous BS isn't it?


This mod (http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=492050532) says it removes the Imperium research penalty.  But I don't think it's possible to surgically do it that way.

AFAIK, the only way to mitigate it is to reduce or remove the Imperium penalty as a whole.  Which means not only the research penalties, but also the normal oldies related to empire size & such (which were just fine IMO before they f'd it up in Attila by adding research to it).

There are 4+ other mods that reduce or remove Imperium penalty overall.  I think the ones which reduce it are attempting to mitigate the additional research penalties without completely getting rid of all of it.



This mod (http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=620027579) lowers the Diplomatic penalty for it across the board.  May be the ideal way to go, although you'll still have other penalties going up due to research and all else.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on July 27, 2016, 04:00:41 PM
Actually, the following one sounds promising at just getting rid of the Research imperium gain, and has been updated fairly recently:


http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=496609947
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on July 27, 2016, 05:12:02 PM
I am playing as Aksum (Ethiopia) right now and it is a great campaign.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on July 27, 2016, 08:16:17 PM
Quote from: Gusington on July 27, 2016, 05:12:02 PM
I am playing as Aksum (Ethiopia) right now and it is a great campaign.

Did every other faction in existence begin loathing you after you finished a few research nodes?

:crazy2:

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on July 27, 2016, 08:47:09 PM
No - I have that above mod installed :) And a few others for enhanced trade, etc.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on July 27, 2016, 10:31:46 PM
What's different about Aksum Gus? Who's your friends? Who's your enemies? What cool units do they have?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on July 27, 2016, 11:50:05 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on July 27, 2016, 10:31:46 PM
What's different about Aksum Gus? Who's your friends? Who's your enemies? What cool units do they have?

Aksum, and some of the other factions in the Desert(?) DLC, differ more than most other factions in the game.  Desert tribes, but not just low-tech tent dwellers!  What's more, some of those have two different options as to what religion/culture you want to use.  Which means different bonuses & different units per playthrough of each. 

Some good stuff in that DLC, although I've yet to campaign with most of them.  My Total War backlog is huge the past few years, despite all the hours I've put in.   Great problem to have.  :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: jomni on July 28, 2016, 12:07:23 AM
I somehow skipped Attila. Is it better than Rome? I kinda liked Warhammer but not Rome 2.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on July 28, 2016, 12:53:25 AM
I think its great if you like Total War games.  If you are only warm on Total War games, then its more of a risk. If you love the era, you really can't go wrong.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: jomni on July 28, 2016, 01:53:00 AM
Quote from: Swatter on July 28, 2016, 12:53:25 AM
I think its great if you like Total War games.  If you are only warm on Total War games, then its more of a risk. If you love the era, you really can't go wrong.

I like TW in general but not Rome 2. So my question is, does it play more like Rome 2 or Warhammer (interface and mechanics)?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on July 28, 2016, 07:34:08 AM
Quote from: jomni on July 28, 2016, 01:53:00 AM
Quote from: Swatter on July 28, 2016, 12:53:25 AM
I think its great if you like Total War games.  If you are only warm on Total War games, then its more of a risk. If you love the era, you really can't go wrong.

I like TW in general but not Rome 2. So my question is, does it play more like Rome 2 or Warhammer (interface and mechanics)?


Like Rome 2 with improved interface info, better art.  But fewer different unit types for most factions, and a few poor design decisions.  Preventing recruitment of previous unit types after newer ones are researched, AI Hordes razing too many cities into nothing & not repopulating them quickly enough to prevent a post-apoc wasteland in areas, and giving diplomatic penalties for doing research via adding extra Imperium penalty. 

Most of those negatives were results of the design decisions behind implementing hordes (think Chaos faction in Warhammer, but with numerous different ones roaming about & razing/pillaging at once.) 

If you can mod or ignore these issues then it's an excellent TW game.  I just hope they don't fill up TW:W with too many Horde factions and create a dead moonscape of razed cities, like I've seen in vanilla TW:Attila.




Edit:  Like Rome 2, some of the factions have almost the same unit roster.  It also doesn't have the extensive leader levelling & equipment, and other such new stuff in TW:W.  Closer to Rome 2, albeit at the end of the Roman period instead of early on.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on July 28, 2016, 09:33:42 AM
I should probably do an AAR like I have been promising BB for months now. But in the confines of a post I can tell you that Aksum has some pretty exotic archer and hunter units, some awesome camel cavalry (armored and lancers etc.) and some interesting infantry and swordsmen related to the spice trade. The spice trade is huge for them and makes up the biggest part of their historical narrative and a big part of their building browser. Their strategic location for spices just happens to put them in the same neighborhoods as the burgeoning monotheistic religions and their starting borders touch on Eastern Romans, Sassanids and Armenia, just to name a few. I enjoyed the last campaign I played as a Viking faction, but Aksum blows that one away easily. After this campaign, I will go back to the Med and play as the Lombards. But I digress...Aksum! You will like the answer :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Swatter on July 28, 2016, 11:07:41 AM
Quote from: Nefaro on July 28, 2016, 07:34:08 AM
Quote from: jomni on July 28, 2016, 01:53:00 AM
Quote from: Swatter on July 28, 2016, 12:53:25 AM
I think its great if you like Total War games.  If you are only warm on Total War games, then its more of a risk. If you love the era, you really can't go wrong.

I like TW in general but not Rome 2. So my question is, does it play more like Rome 2 or Warhammer (interface and mechanics)?


Like Rome 2 with improved interface info, better art.  But fewer different unit types for most factions, and a few poor design decisions.  Preventing recruitment of previous unit types after newer ones are researched, AI Hordes razing too many cities into nothing & not repopulating them quickly enough to prevent a post-apoc wasteland in areas, and giving diplomatic penalties for doing research via adding extra Imperium penalty. 

Most of those negatives were results of the design decisions behind implementing hordes (think Chaos faction in Warhammer, but with numerous different ones roaming about & razing/pillaging at once.) 

If you can mod or ignore these issues then it's an excellent TW game.  I just hope they don't fill up TW:W with too many Horde factions and create a dead moonscape of razed cities, like I've seen in vanilla TW:Attila.




Edit:  Like Rome 2, some of the factions have almost the same unit roster.  It also doesn't have the extensive leader levelling & equipment, and other such new stuff in TW:W.  Closer to Rome 2, albeit at the end of the Roman period instead of early on.

In all fairness, they are going for an "end of the world" feel. I thought it added more to the game than it took away.

Attila is not as leader focused as WHTW, but it has a nice family system full of intrigue.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on July 28, 2016, 07:02:21 PM
Quote from: Swatter on July 28, 2016, 11:07:41 AM


In all fairness, they are going for an "end of the world" feel. I thought it added more to the game than it took away.

Attila is not as leader focused as WHTW, but it has a nice family system full of intrigue.


I expect the TW games to exaggerate history.  But my first couple campaigns were heading towards a 5th century Mad Max film, as shown in one of the examples people posted about it:


(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFizIM4u.jpg&hash=9149a1afdf6e326d85b6c53493cac45849ca7f24)




I can't really blame the AI for doing it, either, because the horde mechanics lend great reward for leveling cities to the ground.  Given the high cost of repopulating such razed cities, and majority of battles being siege fights due to how the TW series works, it's an expected outcome. 

Just a question of too hot or too cold, I suppose, but the TW situation is much more exaggerated than the myth of the European "Dark Ages", by reducing so much civilizaton to barren wasteland.  Maybe they've improved it in Vanilla recently?  Mods are still being used to fix it, though.  The TW series is known for requiring some improvements via modding, so nothing new.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on July 28, 2016, 08:56:01 PM
Yeah there are many mods that eliminate or at least reduce city-razing.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on July 28, 2016, 09:35:04 PM
I saw one 'Let's Play' video where the player, as West Rome, razed almost all his cities and disbanded his armies to put his budget back in the black and started over with just Italy and a few other provinces to rebuild his empire. It worked. Totally un-historical but possible in TW. You can do just as well ignoring history as trying to recreate it in this game. Like Nafaro says... Too hot or Too cold.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: jomni on July 29, 2016, 12:39:49 AM
I can appreciate this sort of thing happening in Warhammer.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on July 29, 2016, 09:27:28 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on July 28, 2016, 09:35:04 PM
I saw one 'Let's Play' video where the player, as West Rome, razed almost all his cities and disbanded his armies to put his budget back in the black and started over with just Italy and a few other provinces to rebuild his empire. It worked. Totally un-historical but possible in TW. You can do just as well ignoring history as trying to recreate it in this game. Like Nafaro says... Too hot or Too cold.


Using a scorched earth policy, as Rome, sounds more fun to me than numerous AI hordes continually laying waste to much of civilization.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on May 13, 2017, 09:50:00 PM
Have any of you guys tried this mod?

Medieval Kingdoms Total War

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?696447-Medieval-Kingdoms-Total-War-General-Overview-(WIP)

I was watching a few YouTube videos and it looks pretty epic.

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 13, 2017, 10:24:13 PM
No campaign yet for that, it's for custom battles only.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on May 14, 2017, 08:46:59 AM
Ah ok.  I thought I saw some campaign play on YouTube, but I didn't read the details.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 14, 2017, 11:32:46 AM
The creator hints at a possible campaign being released soon-esque.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Queeg on May 14, 2017, 02:57:01 PM
There is a 1295 submod of the Medieval Kingdoms mod that does include a campaign.  It's a very good mod (I've played 10 years or so of an England campaign).  I'm not sure why it's running on a separate track from the main mod and downloading it from Steam Workshop is a bit of a chore (at least when I did it 2-3 weeks ago), but it's a very nice mod.

Links:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?752740-Medieval-Kingdoms-Total-War-1295-A-D-SUBMOD

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=872702351
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 14, 2017, 04:10:43 PM
^That looks quite good. Besides 'subscribe' to it in Steam what else do you have to do?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on May 14, 2017, 05:35:45 PM
 ::)

http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/discussion/872702351/135512931364641467/



Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 14, 2017, 06:08:03 PM
^So did you do it, Smart Guy[tm]?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on May 14, 2017, 06:15:46 PM
No.  Truthfully it sounds like it's still wip and 50/50 if it crashes.  Honestly I've barely scratched the surface of vanilla so I'm willing to wait until it gets fleshed out more.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 14, 2017, 07:07:00 PM
^Mm hmm.

Play the Ethiopians in the Grand Campaign. One of my favorites and I won :)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: trek on May 14, 2017, 09:47:09 PM
I've tried the 1295 AD submod for awhile. The only thing better about it is the medieval buildings. However, the Castle that is sometimes included in a city looks too large and out of proportion for the buildings around it at least to my eyes. Everything else looks better in the current 1212 AD mod and it's more stable. The previous 1212 AD mod had medieval looking buildings borrowed from Warhammer. They've excluded it from the current edition. Better looking medieval buildings and a campaign are coming in the near future. Beyond that my favorite mod for Attila is the Age of Vikings Mod as it has a full Campaign and Viking Longship amphibious assaults. It is partially based on The Last Kingdom books, TV series, etc. but is still historically accurate.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on May 14, 2017, 10:54:35 PM
Why can't they just make Medieval 3: Total War like everyone wants?
I like Warhammer...but did we need Warhammer 2 1 year later? I don't get it
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 15, 2017, 07:10:23 AM
Thanks Trek - I won't go through the trouble of setting it up, it does not sound worth it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: jamus34 on May 15, 2017, 09:13:31 AM
Quote from: mikeck on May 14, 2017, 10:54:35 PM
Why can't they just make Medieval 3: Total War like everyone wants?
I like Warhammer...but did we need Warhammer 2 1 year later? I don't get it

I have to agree here. They have so many other games they can go back to it makes no sense to make a direct sequel a year later. Besides money.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: FlickJax on May 15, 2017, 09:33:35 AM
I am sure they have sales figures to go on so no problem here, although MTW3 would be very nice.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on May 15, 2017, 10:21:58 AM
 Well I don't think they can compare the number of Warhammer copies sold versus the number of medieval two copies sold since the engine has evolved so much since then and digital download and services allow so many more people access. That said, it's their company they're very successful and I'm sure they know more about it than I do. Nevertheless, on the forums,  I've seen people screaming for the next version of medieval and the most popular mods seem to be the ones that convert these games to a medieval setting
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 15, 2017, 12:46:02 PM
Medieval 2 with the Stainless Steel mod is still excellent, as are the mini campaigns for the Crusades, the Teutons, the Americas and the British Isles.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: mikeck on May 15, 2017, 02:12:42 PM
Quote from: Gusington on May 15, 2017, 12:46:02 PM
Medieval 2 with the Stainless Steel mod is still excellent, as are the mini campaigns for the Crusades, the Teutons, the Americas and the British Isles.

Yes. Agreed. But would love a new one with the new engine. Of well. Apparently it isn't in the cards
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 15, 2017, 02:16:21 PM
There is the as of yet unnamed project covering an as of yet uncovered era in history somewhere in the cards. Maybe it's the Renaissance era. Dare to dream!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: trek on May 15, 2017, 02:42:21 PM
Originally they said emphatically that they wouldn't do a Medieval 3. Then later they seemed to back-pedal somewhat. If they are watching all the forums (TW Center, Steam, TW.Com, etc.) then they've got to know that MTW3 would be a huge seller. Personally, if it wasn't for the Age of Vikings and 1212 AD mods I probably would uninstall Attila as I've already gotten my fill of the time period including the Charlemange DLC so like most everyone else I'm ready for the Medieval Period. MTW2 was always my favorite TW and still is. I wouldn't count a 3rd one out as I've got a sneaking suspicion that it just might happen.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 15, 2017, 07:14:55 PM
The medieval era in Europe is my favorite era that CA have covered, but Fall of the Samurai is probably my favorite CA game of all time. It's almost perfect.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Toonces on May 15, 2017, 07:54:22 PM
Why?

I've only dabbled in TW: Shogun2 but that time I've spent was the Rise, not the Fall, because of the more medieval aspect.

I've heard Rise is better from many, so I'm wondering what the appeal is.  I haven't even booted that campaign up TBH.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 15, 2017, 09:01:08 PM
I love the 1850s-1860s tech era and that combined with the Japanese struggle between tradition and tech is just awesome. The naval battles are fantastic. The artwork is unreal. And both tactical battles and the campaign play are lots of fun. It's the nearly perfect TW game. Gonna return to it soon to play the regular, 16th century campaign, I think.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on May 15, 2017, 09:42:49 PM
Agreed. Shogun 2 Fall of the Samurai was my all time favorite TW campaign..... with the Darthmod.  :clap:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on May 16, 2017, 05:06:33 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on May 15, 2017, 09:42:49 PM
Agreed. Shogun 2 Fall of the Samurai was my all time favorite TW campaign..... with the Darthmod.  :clap:

  I have always liked that one, but I must have played a half-dozen mods of Medieval2: MiddleEarthian ones, English Civl War ones etc. etc.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 16, 2017, 07:23:59 AM
You know I never modded any campaign of Shogun 2...it always felt perfect 'as is' to me. I've modded every other Total War game.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on May 16, 2017, 08:44:55 AM
The Darthmod really made it shine. I think calling in Naval Gunfire in a battle is THE best single thing in any TW game ever.  :smitten: 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 16, 2017, 08:48:22 AM
I have to agree...unless the AI shells you. Not so cool, but still amazing to watch a fortress being pounded into submission.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on May 17, 2017, 05:52:02 AM
Quote from: Gusington on May 16, 2017, 07:23:59 AM
You know I never modded any campaign of Shogun 2...it always felt perfect 'as is' to me. I've modded every other Total War game.


I played my first Shogun 2 campaign unmodded - all the way through to a last minute win.  It was a wonderful tooth grinder.

But I did start using a Slower Movement Mod, and another one that lessened the Realm Divide effects a bit after that.  Both meant to ease the time pressure in each side of the game (tactical/campaign) for a more relaxed pace.




I need to go back and play a full campaign of FotS.  Never got far into that one.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 17, 2017, 08:29:04 AM
I still haven't won a campaign of Shogun 2 in any of its iterations. I got very, very close in Fall of the Samurai but ran out of time 💀
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: fabius on May 18, 2018, 10:43:28 AM
How do Attila battles compare with Rome 2?
Specifically does it give more field battles compared to Rome's high rate of siege battles?

Asking because there's promising looking Ancient Empires mod coming for Attila, and I'm still holding off on Britannia while the campaign AI is reported as bit bellow par
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 18, 2018, 11:21:39 AM
Has Ancient Empires released? Is it expected over this weekend?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 18, 2018, 11:26:29 AM
Sorry didn't answer your question - I haven't noticed much of a difference between Rome 2 and Attila battles. I enjoy them both.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: fabius on May 18, 2018, 11:38:38 AM
Thanks, yeah Public Beta 1.0 is released. Looks real nice
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 18, 2018, 11:49:23 AM
Would you play this instead of Rome 2 from what you've seen? Is it available on Steam workshop?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: fabius on May 18, 2018, 01:21:00 PM
Heck yes was thinking of giving it a try, and even buying Attila to do it if the field battles were a more frequent ratio to sieges.

I play Rome 2 with DEI mod that adds more too it. But looks like Attila has more base game stuff for modders to work with; and heard the AI is slightly better ???
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 18, 2018, 01:30:32 PM
I am just about to start a new Rome 2 campaign and am deciding which game to use...Ancient Empires or standard Rome 2...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: fabius on May 18, 2018, 01:54:55 PM
If you already have Attila, why not a new take on it ?
Though beta could have stability issues...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 18, 2018, 01:58:17 PM
Do you know when it goes to v1.0? I thought that was happening this weekend.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: fabius on May 18, 2018, 02:16:30 PM
TWcenter is saying it's released already. Pretty sure there's Steam link there too.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: fabius on May 18, 2018, 02:27:42 PM
Found the link to part one of 2

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1385069240
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 18, 2018, 02:35:32 PM
Nice, thanks!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: fabius on May 18, 2018, 02:46:30 PM
If you've played with DEI mod, let us know how it compares :-)
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 18, 2018, 06:58:45 PM
^I did but years ago...
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Boggit on May 21, 2018, 12:32:00 PM
What in your opinion is the best mod for Rome 2 and for Attila?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 21, 2018, 01:26:39 PM
It's been a few years since I've played Rome 2, but I am about to fix that. For Attila I've used a lot faction customization and addition mods as well as mods that get the campaign part of the game to run smoother. All around though, for an all encompassing transformative mod, Radious has always been my go to, and AFAIK he has created mods for every TW game for at least the last 3-4 years.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: fabius on May 21, 2018, 01:46:36 PM
Radius is worth a try.
Rome 2, I'd also recommend trying DeI. I think there are submods for it too, if you want faster or longer battles.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 21, 2018, 02:27:45 PM
^I was going to leave it to you to recommend DeI since I have only read about it but never used it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: solops on May 21, 2018, 03:34:35 PM
Quote from: Gusington on May 18, 2018, 11:21:39 AM
Has Ancient Empires released? Is it expected over this weekend?
Is this an HOI4 mod?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: fabius on May 21, 2018, 04:33:46 PM
Quote from: Gusington on May 21, 2018, 02:27:45 PM
^I was going to leave it to you to recommend DeI since I have only read about it but never used it.

I will add, Rome has a more challenging start in that mod !
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on May 21, 2018, 06:23:17 PM
Quote from: Boggit on May 21, 2018, 12:32:00 PM
What in your opinion is the best mod for Rome 2 and for Attila?

DEI for Rome 2 is good, but it changes the gameplay.  You'll want to read up on the new mechanics beforehand.

I've not used Radious mods since Napoleon TW, only checking out their change lists on occasion.  I consider them cheats since they make the campaign side of TW easier, but if that's something you want then go for it.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on May 21, 2018, 07:44:53 PM
Ancient Empires is a mod for Attila TW that moves the timeline back to 200 BC - 200 AD.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Nefaro on May 23, 2018, 02:30:59 PM
Quote from: Gusington on May 21, 2018, 07:44:53 PM
Ancient Empires is a mod for Attila TW that moves the timeline back to 200 BC - 200 AD.

Isn't that still an unfinished work-in-progress?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Jarhead0331 on May 23, 2018, 03:43:43 PM
^Its beta. I just watched some let's play vids and instantly reinstalled Attila to get the mod. Looks outstanding.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 24, 2020, 02:03:16 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on May 23, 2018, 03:43:43 PM
^Its beta. I just watched some let's play vids and instantly reinstalled Attila to get the mod. Looks outstanding.

  Speaking of Necrophobiaitis mods -- here's Attila 1212.  This is the defense of Toledo in 1212 by me as Easy Castile on Easy with an Easy Castile Mod.  Still (as seen here) one of my catapults ran out of ammo and it was raining and it took a good 10 minutes to rally the locals and drive off the irate nobles with the help of the Knights of Santiago no less.



Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 24, 2020, 04:34:32 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on February 24, 2020, 02:03:16 PM


  A few archers gauging the range and some men with sparkling spears:

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 24, 2020, 10:00:22 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on February 24, 2020, 04:34:32 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on February 24, 2020, 02:03:16 PM


  A few archers gauging the range and some men with sparkling spears:

  And the Emir's apparently slightly Jewish household cavalry troops collide in the woods near Granada with dismounted Knights of Santiago, who look pretty surprised though they were the ambushing party:

 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: solops on February 24, 2020, 10:35:07 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on May 23, 2018, 03:43:43 PM
^Its beta. I just watched some let's play vids and instantly reinstalled Attila to get the mod. Looks outstanding.
Oooooooo! This looks interesting. I never really cared for Attila's content. I got it in the hopes it cleaned up some of Rome2's problems, which it did somewhat. All I need now is a mod that takes it back to the ancient Mediterranean. Is this it?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Martok on February 25, 2020, 01:02:52 AM
Nice screenshots, MengJiao!  The 1212 AD mod is really something else.  The only reason I haven't played more of it is because of all the other games (including TW games) I already have on my plate.  I very much look forward to seeing further development on it (bring on the Crusades, College of Cardinals, and Mercenaries!). 
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 25, 2020, 06:49:35 AM
Quote from: solops on February 24, 2020, 10:35:07 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on May 23, 2018, 03:43:43 PM
^Its beta. I just watched some let's play vids and instantly reinstalled Attila to get the mod. Looks outstanding.
Oooooooo! This looks interesting. I never really cared for Attila's content. I got it in the hopes it cleaned up some of Rome2's problems, which it did somewhat. All I need now is a mod that takes it back to the ancient Mediterranean. Is this it?

  The big mods I know about are 1212 (which starts in 1212 AD) and the Ancient Mod which seems to sort of cover Rome II's chronological space sort of...I guess you could wonder why 1212?  But it is sort of the middle of the Middle Ages so it makes a kind of generic sense.  Oh and the Mongols turn up which is always sort of nice, I guess...if you are in Spain and they are far far away.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 25, 2020, 08:00:00 AM
Quote from: Martok on February 25, 2020, 01:02:52 AM
Nice screenshots, MengJiao!  The 1212 AD mod is really something else.  The only reason I haven't played more of it is because of all the other games (including TW games) I already have on my plate.  I very much look forward to seeing further development on it (bring on the Crusades, College of Cardinals, and Mercenaries!).

  Thanks!  Visually, 1212 is a pretty fine mod.  I like the slightly more chunky less shiny look that things have at least in Spain.  There's also an amazing number of factions and France apparently lost at Bouvines (it's now 1214 so that makes some sense.)  There are some Crusader states still hanging on and the Pope (Honorious III it seems) wants me to take Cairo.  The French are gone so its up to me apparently.  Little does the Pope suspect that the Italian Communes are going to back me if he gets nasty.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2020, 08:46:59 AM
Only slightly Jewish? Not kosher!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 25, 2020, 09:09:40 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 25, 2020, 08:46:59 AM
Only slightly Jewish? Not kosher!

  One of their shields has a mogen David on it -- perhaps extra talismantic protection?
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 25, 2020, 11:16:51 AM
That can never hurt.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 25, 2020, 12:09:45 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on February 25, 2020, 11:16:51 AM
That can never hurt.

   Or try lions and spades and animals and suns!::

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 25, 2020, 03:43:59 PM
I love a well-dressed army.  :bd:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 25, 2020, 04:18:36 PM
Quote from: Sir Slash on February 25, 2020, 03:43:59 PM
I love a well-dressed army.  :bd:

  And here on the initial charge, the knights have their lances out and have crashed though the woods and hit the Emir's spearmen from behind:

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 25, 2020, 06:55:03 PM
How rude.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 25, 2020, 07:32:19 PM
Back when I was in Spearman Training School, the first lesson on day 1 was ALWAYS look behind you. Especially in woods.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 26, 2020, 12:12:03 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 25, 2020, 06:55:03 PM
How rude.

   Sure, but like Mustafa here seems to be saying to himself: "Rude or not; if I see another psychotic gnome I'm going to wring his neck.  I'm not fooling around with any bows or spears or battle-axes -- I'm just going to wring his neck."


Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 26, 2020, 03:36:57 PM
That guy's pretty scary-looking. Not too smart though. He brought a pair of hands to a sword fight.  :idiot2:
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 26, 2020, 09:54:09 PM
I am not psychotic.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 26, 2020, 11:05:27 PM
All psychotics say that. In fact they say it over and over and over. Usually just to themselves though. Gnomes I don't know about.
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 27, 2020, 07:50:48 AM
Quote from: Sir Slash on February 26, 2020, 03:36:57 PM
That guy's pretty scary-looking. Not too smart though. He brought a pair of hands to a sword fight.  :idiot2:

   The sword cuts both ways -- here a Knight of Antioch (yep, Castile took Africa by vassalizing a chain of vassals -- the vassal of your vassal is the vassal of your vassal etc. -- so I switched to "Very Hard" Antioch on Easy with an Easy Mod) -- anyway, here a more heavily armored opponent of the Kingdom of Antioch stabs a knight who is still using his lance -- alas for him -- when things have gone to close melee sword mode:

Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Gusington on February 27, 2020, 08:16:54 AM
Total insanity!
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: Sir Slash on February 27, 2020, 10:12:59 AM
Now that looks like a right-proper dust-up. Plus a really nice view while you're wading through the gore of your enemies.  O0
Title: Re: Attila: Total War
Post by: MengJiao on February 28, 2020, 08:47:48 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 27, 2020, 08:16:54 AM
Total insanity!

   I was worried when steppe barbarians turned up to raid, but after quelling that I accidently took over most of Asia Minor and the Balkans by clobbering the Turks while they were away clobbering the rump of the Byzantines' little Empire (the Latins have Constantinople in the aftermath of the 4th Crusade which went awry and stormed Constantinople twice in 1204 and 1206 or so).  So I envassalated the Turks and now all their vassals and vassals vassals vassals are mine from Uzbekistan to the Adriatic.  Here are the savage barbarians with some axes.  The Templars are sort of keeping them corralled: