StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Would anyone be interested in a Medieval: Total War Let's Play? I've been having a lot of fun with Starglider's LP, and I've been wanting to play through MTW again for a while. So three questions:

1. Would you guys be interested in doing one?

2. Can you change the names of generals? I can't remember if it's possible in-game. If not, and you guys are interested, would you guys be ok with me keeping track of which generals you are, and changing the names in the write-ups?

3. I already have a way of recording the progress of it, but are there any free programs that I could use to take screen shots. I'm fine with using Print Screen, except it only saves one picture, so it'd be a little more trouble to so it that way. If there's a free and easy way to do, I'd love to hear about it.

Can you change the names of generals?

I don't have that game, but I know it has a ton of mods and total conversions, so I am sure the tools exist to do it.

Lord Relvenous wrote:W3. I already have a way of recording the progress of it, but are there any free programs that I could use to take screen shots. I'm fine with using Print Screen, except it only saves one picture, so it'd be a little more trouble to so it that way. If there's a free and easy way to do, I'd love to hear about it.

I recommend Taksi for games that don't have a built-in screenshot function.

There are perhaps three ways to tackle a let's play, you can plan it out and make it essentially a piece of original fiction that happens to use game screenshots as illustration, you can improvise and make up semi-random new fluff as you go, or you can simply add minimal narration and maybe riffing to a playthrough. I am using (2), because I wasn't sure when I started if it would be worth doing a full game, and because I don't have the time for (1). (3) works best for games that have a strong plot (i.e. RPGs and adventure games), it would be pretty boring to watch a game of say Masters of Orion 2 with no original characterisation.

To see how it should be done I would recommend this Icewind Dale 2 LP and this XCom Apocalypse LP, they're both classics of the genre.

Thanks, Starglider. I'll have to check those out, as well as Taksi.

As for story-telling, I'd probably apply to method 2 as well. My experience in modding is very little, so the less I can do with it, the better, and it seems like option 1 would entail more modding. I think that option 2 would also be easiest within the MTW play-type, as I won't be able to control my enemies. I'd come up with an original story for it, but the story would evolve in reaction to game events.

As my confidence with modding is somewhat some, any really helpful areas to get tips? (I'll try googling it, but if there are some really great sites, I'd rather be linked there than stumble upon them).

Why MTW and not Rome? The latter has far superior mods.

Anyone that wants to do a LP of Medieval 2 Total War needs to read "A Scotsman in Egypt" by Jerusalem first. I'd say it's one of the best LPs on the internet.

Thanas wrote:Why MTW and not Rome? The latter has far superior mods.

I would agree. Heck even vanilla RTW/BI is quite fun. Though you might have to consider the mod. 58BC is fun, but it's pretty heavily scripted to make you follow history, for example. And whether or not the details of stuff like EB and such (civilization levels?) is fun or simply too much tedium is, of course, dependent on each and every person.

I like building my legions anywhere I damn well please, thank-you-very-much.

Still, I'd enjoy a RTW LP. Because fuck it, it's Rome.

I'd go for a RTW LP, make me some ally/barb turncoat / client for ya.

I'll have to check out RTW. I've never actually played it. After I've gotten familiar with it, I'll get one started up.

I would say go for either SPQR total war or Roma Surrectum. Mainly due to the fact that you have numbered legions, you can allow every member to be in command of one single named legion.

You can use the ideas on the AAR section on tons of Total war forums.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=391

One of the best AAR in my opinion:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=152779

No, SPQR and Roma Surrectum are not that challenging.

I vote for Rio's Flagellum Dei, which is definitely a challenge for the WRE.

Thanas wrote:No, SPQR and Roma Surrectum are not that challenging.

Well, the reason I voted for those mods is not because of the fact that they are challenging, but the fact that named legions kinda add some kinds of personality to any member who command a legion.

Named legions are in almost any other mod as well, including Rio's.