Rome II

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

This BBC documentary is the real gladiator story. Sets the Roman mood.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Colosseum_A_Gladiator_s_Story/60034722?trkid=13467549

[mikeck]

The freeze occurred while the AI times were processing not doing anything graphics intensive. haven't had a current except in beta 4. Happened twice in a row

[Gusington]

I've watched that show that Kev recommends above and its pretty memorable and well done.

[JudgeDredd]

So - I did start a game as the Britons. Iceni to be precise. I decide I'm going to battle someone (guys up north - can't remember) so for a few turns I send my agent up there to do the dirty, build some forces and get ready. I'm playing on Easy - and by god the enemy can raise forces quickly!!

Anyway - I think it might be a good idea to broker some deals...maybe get a pal on board. So I go to the Demetae - who are apparently friendly with me. I can't do a damned thing to get them on side. Ask for Trade, nope. Ask for a defensive pact - nope. Ask for a military pact - nope. Offer money with all the above - NOPE!

So I go it alone. I take on the enemy - who seem to have spawned the army from hell itself in the time I've been pissing about doing god knows what. I battle on the field - and beat them...they scarper. But as soon as I get back to the strategic map, I'm engaged again - by the same bloody forces I just beat and who ran!

So anyway - I have no choice really - outnumbered I do battle - and lose all but 200 troops. So I run away and hide in some trees. And I see a BIG Demetae force..."hello" I think - "help is here"...only he decides to attack my battered army AND invade and head towards my one city.

And therein lies my problem with these games. I spend a plethora of wasted minutes/hours on diplomacy that NEVER seems to come off. And worse, your apparent "friend" is a twat.

Bored and game is closed until I can be arsed to piss about with it some more.

I wouldn't be so bloody pissed off having just been beaten...but the fact I was beaten by a force that was running from my IMMEDIATE previous battle, and then I was attacked by my apparent pal...given I have enough "yellow" and "red" factions out there - WTF am I being attacked by my friend - and NO - he wasn't in any sort of pact with the faction I attacked.

[Jarhead0331]

So - I did start a game as the Britons. Iceni to be precise. I decide I'm going to battle someone (guys up north - can't remember) so for a few turns I send my agent up there to do the dirty, build some forces and get ready. I'm playing on Easy - and by god the enemy can raise forces quickly!!

Anyway - I think it might be a good idea to broker some deals...maybe get a pal on board. So I go to the Demetae - who are apparently friendly with me. I can't do a damned thing to get them on side. Ask for Trade, nope. Ask for a defensive pact - nope. Ask for a military pact - nope. Offer money with all the above - NOPE!

So I go it alone. I take on the enemy - who seem to have spawned the army from hell itself in the time I've been pissing about doing god knows what. I battle on the field - and beat them...they scarper. But as soon as I get back to the strategic map, I'm engaged again - by the same bloody forces I just beat and who ran!

So anyway - I have no choice really - outnumbered I do battle - and lose all but 200 troops. So I run away and hide in some trees. And I see a BIG Demetae force..."hello" I think - "help is here"...only he decides to attack my battered army AND invade and head towards my one city.

And therein lies my problem with these games. I spend a plethora of wasted minutes/hours on diplomacy that NEVER seems to come off. And worse, your apparent "friend" is a twat.

Bored and game is closed until I can be arsed to piss about with it some more.

I wouldn't be so bloody pissed off having just been beaten...but the fact I was beaten by a force that was running from my IMMEDIATE previous battle, and then I was attacked by my apparent pal...given I have enough "yellow" and "red" factions out there - WTF am I being attacked by my friend - and NO - he wasn't in any sort of pact with the faction I attacked.

I have never seen anything like that before with respect to being reengaged by a recently defeated army.  Moreover,I'm not quite sure what kind of behavior you expected from the Demetae.  You say they are your "friend" but refused to enter any agreement or pact with you.  If you had no agreement with them, then they are not your "friend."  What color is the mask in the diplomacy menu?  Green, yellow or red? I have found that most factions will not enter beneficial agreements with you unless you are drastically more powerful then they, or have something they desire or want.  Perhaps your faction has neither...

[Gusington]

Nefaro many pages ago suggested starting with a non-aggression pact to break the diplomatic ice, then a trade agreement and then more advanced options. I've tried this and it works well.

[JudgeDredd]

I don't doubt you haven't seen it happen - but it did.

What happened though is that a single unit of Chariots attacked my army of 2000 troops. I thought that a bit odd until I saw that they were being reinforced by almost 3000 troops.

Anyway, I went into that battle (initiated by 1 unit of Chariots reinforced by 3000+ troops) and it ebbed and flowed, my units waivering, theirs...and eventually I got the upper hand and they ran. I chased, killing what I could. Anyway, we went back to the Strat map where I was shown the results and as soon as I clicked the OK button, I was attacked again. This time by a bigger force - but I'm pretty sure it was the one (the reinforcing one) I just gubbed...and they were being reinforced by 600+ garrison troops...and that was that. Maybe that's legit - I don't know. But I think if a unit has been involved in a battle, regardless of whether they were the initiating force or a reinforcing force, they shouldn't be allowed to attack again - but they most definitely did.

As for the Demetae - my bad. I was thinking of the Dumnonii - which was green and is now yellow because I just got my arse kicked presumably.  :-[

[JudgeDredd]

Nefaro many pages ago suggested starting with a non-aggression pact to break the diplomatic ice, then a trade agreement and then more advanced options. I've tried this and it works well.

Thanks - I'll try that. Seems like (on easy) I'm going to get my arse kicked. I don't know why I bother playing these games - I actually do sux so bad at them!  :)

[Gusington]

I haven't one a campaign of a recent TW title, stretching back to Empire: TW. I am not proud of this. Rome II is the first recent TW title where I think I finally have a fighting chance. Something about the game systems just click with me this time.

I liked Napoleon TW and loved Shogun 2 (especially Fall of the Samurai) but for the life of me I could not win a campaign in either.

[Nefaro]

This BBC documentary is the real gladiator story. Sets the Roman mood.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Colosseum_A_Gladiator_s_Story/60034722?trkid=13467549

Yes, that is an excellent Doc.  Watched it a few months ago, surprised at how good it was.

[Nefaro]

Nefaro many pages ago suggested starting with a non-aggression pact to break the diplomatic ice, then a trade agreement and then more advanced options. I've tried this and it works well.

Thanks - I'll try that. Seems like (on easy) I'm going to get my arse kicked. I don't know why I bother playing these games - I actually do sux so bad at them!  :)

You guys are playing this on Easy?!    :o

[Gusington]

I'm not. Normal/normal and it feels just right. I've played every single TW game since the original Shogun on normal/normal.

[Nefaro]

Any word on Beta4? 

I've not fired up Rome 2 in awhile.

[Gusington]

It's got mixed reviews over at TWC but then, what doesn't? I am still on Patch 3, my game hasn't downloaded 4 yet.

[mikeck]

Ask Caesar how far "pledges of loyalty and friendship" got him in Gaul. Seriously though, diplomacy hS always sucked in total war. I play Rome and everyone should know that I am coming to kill them. If they want to offer an agreement, fine... I'm still coming