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Ha ha. I changed the question, since this seems to be the one most of you really wanted to answer. I have more games than I can reasonably play. Currently, I am focusing on PDS+ALL DLCs (most mods are mainly improved graphics like better text fonts or state borders): CK2/CK3/EU4/HOI4 will pass on IR. I recently started with CK3. It is my first RPG ever and I like it, but I doubt I will buy The Sims. I have played RTW1/STW2/MTW2/RTW2 with the top total conversion mods like RS3, EB1/2, and DEI. But I retired them all. TW combat just cannot be modded to the point that it is worth my time. Sadly, unlike other games, TW auto-resolve is pathetic too. For ancient tactical combat, I like FOG2. For ancient grand strategy, I like Empires (but I have been pushing for the patch before playing again). For ancient pure grand warfare, I like AJE (AGEOD's Alea Jacta Est; all releases). For ACW tactical I like SOW-GB ... and SOW-WL. I have and hope to play one day AGEOD's ACW1 and ACW2. UGCW is not bad, but I find too much time is spent in camp management which contributes little to game play. Also, the series has many innovative features, but fails to consider TOE cohesion at battlefield factor. I feel this is a mistake. The back story to the game is wonderful. The company is the brain child of an under appreciated TW modder. He has done very well. Formerly "Darth"; real name Nick Thomadis. For WWII and more, CMx2 v4 engine. I will be ordering Cold War. I also like GraviTeam's MIUS. For operational warfare, I have the entire Command Op2 series, but it needs another patch for prime time. Submarines: AOD (DOSBOX), and SHCE (DOSBOX), Sub Command modded SCXIIC, and Dangerous Water modded either LWAMI or Red Alert. When it comes to WWII, I think AOD was one of the best. I like sub sims, but when I am getting on years. I just don't have time for long non-productive war patrols. Disclosures: Formerly connected with MMG, AGEOD, and Panther Games. CMBO player since 2000 ... it is good to see the founders still here, apparently profitable, and not bought out by an EA or Ubisoft.

I consider grand strategy and 4X Sci-Fi as war. (They are games which simulate conflict, death, and destruction ... even if you choose to play relatively non-aggressive.) Let's say sports are not war provided that the intentional killing or maiming of your adversary is considered against the rules. So, boxing, American football ... all fall under non-war games. I loved F1 racing years ago. Some people find FPS games very tense (I loved the original Ghost Recon), but you can always chill for a few minutes. But racing requires full attention for the entire length of the simulated race. It is the most tense video gaming I know. The CM games are great. And 90% of my games are war games, since I find it makes the best gaming. I like City Skylines as it poses many interesting problems in optimizing things. Also, not me, but the things artistically gifted people build with it are truly amazing. I have to admit that I am a real engineering type with no artistic talent. War games come much closer to engineering than City Skylines.

Very funny. I ask for a list of non war games you folks play, and I get a list of non-Battlefront war games you folks play. Me: * City Skylines * Virtual Pool 4

Sorry. Link is broken in my browser.

Who said that? I know I have heard that before. Alexander?

Truly a hopeless crowd. EU4 is a war game; yes grand strategy, but a war game. Yes, chess is an abstract war game. I had Transport Fever 2 loaded for a while. A fantastically beautiful game, but if you ever played OTTD (Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe), then you realize TPF1/2 is totally lacking in an junction/switching networking. This is the heart of a rail game is you are not playing the business side. My only criticism of City Skylines is that: (1) It is not really a city simulator. There are many alternative organizations being tried across globe than cannot work in that game. (2) It is a utopian world more or less. SC4 did a better job covering class and poverty. --- It is a beautify game and wonderfully supported by the community.

Forget the pre-order, any hot stock tips?

At the moment, I am playing City Skylines. I am only an average player, but use a long list of mods. But I am always amazed what the truly gifted can create in this game. I am doing my first Winter city. I moved from some place where it always snows to never snows. So, now it is is quite scenic! I have some older rail games. RTD/RT2/RT3 but I have not played for a while. Also, I like VP4 (Virtual Pool 4) ... talk about physics modeling! Pool is great. You don't have to study the table an hour before taking your shot.

So, are you saying, you buy keys from a market where games sell cheap, and then use them on your USA account? But you are breaking the rules, since you are using keys outside your market?

What is an up to date CMRT? Mine says 2.02 (game engine 4) Also, I thought the minor v4 engine patch was waiting for the CMRT release. Sorry, confused. Does the pre-order convey a discount or any extra content? Thanks.

Thanks, John. I was fine. And am sure anyone else who bought most games were too. I was just thinking of the noob who only got this title. Even though retired, once a software engineer always a software engineer, and so I report bugs whenever I see them. It's like telling someone that their tire went flat before they pull away from the curb. Stay safe! PS: Because of you, I now have the complete CM2 collection. I would have never gotten beyond WWII without you.

Thanks. I though as the forum admin he would catch his name or the word bug. There seems to be an activation short cut in the installation directory, but not installed on the desktop or program menus. Happy 2021!

John, Unlike the other installers, this one does not create an activate shortcut meaning "-showui". Thus, after activating the main game, it is unclear to the CM noobie how to activate their battle pack. Merry Christmas! (stay safe)

Ian, I think the performance issues you site are a matter of implementation and not physical laws of the universe. Suppose on Turn #1 no side receives any orders and the sides are not in contact. Suppose on Turn #2 no side receives any orders and the sides are not in contact. What can we say about the above example? The resources needed to go from Turn #1 to Turn #2 are identical. Thus, the loading for Turn #2 could be trivial, but it is not. Why? Because we assume it is not the same game (map and units with a small amount variation). Most of the loading is instantiating the simulated objects, not the action. But if we assume when creating a full game replay feature that the saved turn files are all the same game, then the objects from movie to the next should be 95% identical. Thus, we only need to load those objects which are not already loaded. So, beginning the replay will take like a scenario loading amount of time, but stepping between movie frame files should be relatively quick. Effectively, you are caching resources rather than discarding them. It is all a matter of correct implementation which is not that hard. As for sequence and presence of turn files, you are the program author and have total control. So, the only way this stuff can get corrupted is by a malicious user or crash. If the next turn is missing, then it is this simple: "CM ERROR: The full game move is corrupted and cannot be played." I know you understand all this, being a programmer yourself.

I never understood why we cannot get a full scenario movie? We can get minute by minute file. Is it so hard to chain them together? Thanks.

Erwin, for you. I fought this today. No touch up; max graphic. (no post processing) This is for you. Sorry, but I don't have time to write an AAR. http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e01.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e02.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e03.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e04.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e05.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e06.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e07.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e08.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e09.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e10.jpg http://www.kwlsystems.com/images/gameq/e11.jpg

I played lots of RTW1/RS3. I think RTW2/DEI is far better. Yes, the 2013 released of RTW2 was a disaster and the worst launch CA ever had. But by 2017, RTW2 was a decent game out of the box with compilation of patches as the Emperor Edition. DEI gives you much more than vanilla. Better combat with about 6 sub mods to tune it the way you like. DEI has fixes for some combat bugs like phalanxes that can pass through one another. And naval combat where you can ram, but ships never back up to ram again. You get AOR recruiting with special provincial units. DEI also puts caps on how many of some special units you can have. For the campaign, you get a sophisticated system of supply. You get recruiting based on class; not just manpower. So, if you want cavalry, then you need people in the upper classes. If you want peltasts (slingers), then you want peasants. There are also choices to make in terms of empire like: will I romanize, ally, or occupy. And will I militarize/fortify or chose trading. These affect income, recruitment, and happiness. To romanize is the slowest process. If you ally, you are going to recruit the local units of the region. The underlying Rome is a better game and the DEI mod has 5 years of awards and it actively being developed. RTW1/MTW2 and mods are pretty stagnant. Most people didn't wait 4 years for a better Rome 2, they just went on to Attila. (Steam's workshop makes modding something that the computer illiterate can do.) In my opinion, the best TW title out of the box is Shogun 2. It is a piece of art. But the problem is all the Japanese clans really are fielding the same units. The map of Japan only offers limited possibilities ... it would be like Rome only being Italy. So, if you want Rome TW go with RTW2/DEI. If you want your Rome combat up to CM standards go with FOG2. If you want Rome grand strategy without fighting out the battles go with Empires. --- SOW is 2,000 years later and black power ACW and Napoleonics. SOW-WL being the later title is more sophisticated, but SOW-GB is a lot of fun. Besides realtime, the unique thing about SOW is that you play within the frame work of the AI. You often are just a gear yourself. You should know the scenarios are very well scripted. But there is a sandbox mode which is purely AI. From corps to brigade. I play 1 brigade of 5 regiments in Pickett's charge to day. Next post with be be screens. (no touch up, but I circled one objective in the distance.) --- Finally, you should consider Universal General Civil War with the Rebalance Mod. A great game with battles and full campaign. "Darth"; realname Nick Thados was a famous TW modder. He got pissed with CA's attitude to him around Rome 2. He decided to found his own game shop and produced a master piece. https://www.ultimategeneral.com/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/502520/Ultimate_General_Civil_War/

One more for you. I am doing some practice drills with the AI. SOW-WL

RTW1 = Rome Total War 1 RTW2 = Rome Total War 2 MTW2 = Medieval Total War 2 (engine is very close RTW1 and a major Roman overhaul was built with it) EB = Europa Bababorum 1 & 2 (Rome overhaul mod for RTW1 and MTW2 respectively) RS3 = Roma Surrectum (Rome overhaul mod for RTW1) DEI = Divide et Imperum (award winning RTW2 total overhaul mod) Empires = New release Rome period grand strategy (combat is auto resolved) FOG2 (Field of Glory 2) = Tactical combat during ancient times (like the CM of legions and phalanxes) AJE (Alea Acta Est) = WEGO full war simulation of Roman conflicts using AGEOD's AGE engine.

Erwin, There is SOW-GB (ACW) and SOW-WL (NAP). I just finished a brigade battle in the middle of Pickett's Charge. Here are some final screens. This is how it looks. I have graphics maxed out. This game is very smooth at low FPS, because it uses sprites not 3D polygonal animation. No HUD With HUD

I haven't read the book, but I believe the Civil War foreshadowed the power of prepared positions before the maturity of the machines born in WWI. General Sherman introduced the concept of total war. It was no longer simply a game of capture the flag. The telegraph for the first time introduced the possibility of political leadership to participate much more closely in the military aspect of the conflict. And finally, the railroads not since, the Roman Empire were the importance of lines of communication so well illustrated. One positive: Clara Barton introduced the concept of ambulances. Some soldiers went to the aid station to get a flesh wound bandaged, and in a week they would be dead from sepsis. No, antibiotics and no hygiene. For the first time (even old), photos of dead bloated bodies. But I disagree with those who would tell you a volley of musket fires was the equivalent of the Maxim. No, it wasn't at all.

Bozowans, I did a check. About $44 USD for AJE with everything. Some are scenario packs, and some are standalones. But they all use the AJE 1.05 engine. And when properly installed, they will all be accessible for a single EXE. I going to double check the scenario count I have now on my PC. Around 25 scenario with 2-3 sides to choose from on average. There are random factors. Like play the civil war with Caesar and Pompeus may abandon Italy for Spain or Egypt. You can tackle it many ways. Land battles mainly to march into Asia or do it by fleet. The game configuration has a range of difficulty options. Most of options here will change how the game plays. There are decent defaults. But you can make it harder, by the letting the AI see further or giving it more time to compute turns. Difficulty #1 Difficulty #2

Yes, it could be better with some simple mechanics like if you are being targeted at 45 degrees or more from the defensive structure you lose the bonus. TW mechanics are really weak and it, but it is okay if you come these games with no concepts. That's why unmodded the battles take 5 minutes and a few clicks. Modded 10-20 battles are okay for me, but to build an empire takes hundreds of battles. Auto resolve is quick, but the cost is often so high. But clearly it is what the customers want. We don't see much progression in over 20 years of TW in the battle system other than UI improvements. Compare that to CM. CMx1 and CMx2 look about as different two generations can be from the same vendor. I am okay with SOW and its flag, since for the most part it does capture the sense of black linear powder battle. (Where as I don't think 5 minute TW battles capture much historical flavor). SOW gives you smooth performance at low FPS even with 100,000 on the field (mainly because the use of sprites). I think the compromises are acceptable. TW battles are mainly about Cinerama graphics. And they do deliver it, but there is a limit how far you can play without depth. I also feel animating ancient combat is far harder for ancient battlefields than CM. I think small arms, main guns, shells, and death are far easier that the many fine details of human movement and close combat. Further I think TW animations suffer from the Hollywood understanding of ancient combat. They were not lines that rapidly degrade into 1v1 duels. No, ancient linear combat was far different involving coordination, discipline, and mutual attack/defense. The phalanxes were deadly until the Romans bested them, but a sarrisa and small shield is really pitiful if you are fighting by your lonesome. So, FOG2 does this well. The graphics are acceptable for its level of abstraction.

Do a search on Slitherine for AGEOD and Ancient. You will find all the AJE offerings. I think you would like it. It is not about Empires and building; mainly historical wars. I think they are very cheap right now as Slitherine has started their sale. Its WEGO with no obvious grid system. The world exists as regions. But there isn't really a higher game level built upon them other than the civilization. Turns are 1 months with some scenarios going for 300. There are seasons, supply, and attrition. Unlike TW there are violent storms and think carefully about naval ops. There is a fairly decent PDF manual and there have been 5 major patches. There is only one bug I know of, but not game breaking. You can PBEM, but I don't know if there is anyone to PBEM with. You get map overlays. And a very detailed ledger. Combat considers a multitude of factors, but it will take time to get used to reading the auto-resolve AARs. The handling of stack (organization) and movement is very intuitive drag and drop. It plays fine on WIN10x64; I am using a a Full HD 32" TV.

I have been taking classes from https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/home Prof Andretti of Univ of Green Bay does a fantastic job covering Rome in the Republic and Imperial period. Others such as Prof. Wressler of West Point does a wonder job looking at the technology of ancient Greek and Rome. Particularly civil engineering as he teaches engineering at West Point. There are many courses relevant to Rome and Greece. A course on Alexander. I found out he is Greek today and a native son. But then, he was not very accepted and a Macedonian; although 1/2 Greek on his mother side. But like the Romans, Greece was seen as "high culture". The rulers of Macedonia all spoke it. Alexander recruited Greeks, but key command roles were Macedonians ... he father's loyal commanders and his own boyhood generation. The are pseudo-mutinied twice. The second time was in Northern India, but it wasn't India then, but the Punjab region I think. After 10 years, these men wanted to go home. After 3 day, Alexander said yes, and began the march. He was die of a fever possibly from sepsis due to an arrow wound never fully healed. There were no anti-biotics. Alexander's campaign resulted in a huge infusion of capitol into the area around the Med. The Romans would spend lavishly to do projects to compete for "dignitas", but the Persion King of Kings simply stockpiled his wealth. Alexander reintroduced back into the regions he conquered, and we get the Hellenistic world. Sorry, I don't have any books for you. --- As per FOG2 it not squares, but octagons. Diagonal movement and combat is easy. It is a very flexible system. Squares are best for easy map construction, but Octagons are very flexible for combat representation. --- The main problem for SOW and TW is that a unit represented on a grid system, but as a point; not an object. The point in this case is the unit flag. All mechanics is based on the flag. Ever notice how in SOW you get a fence bonus even when you only straddle it? Yes, it does look weird. The past is just weird. Like Sherman rounds bouncing off of Tigers (put here in deference to John).