Re: Empire total war!

**TactiKill Jay** · 03-04-2009, 07:58 PM

Is it just me or is this game a difficult one to run? Large naval battles drag and even the land battles aren't as smooth as I would expect them to be. I'm on a quad core with the 8800 GTS (G92), and 2gigs of DDR3. I know that stuff isn't top of the line anymore, but I just put this system together this past summer so I definitely wasn't expecting to run into issues running games so soon. My video settings aren't even maxed out either.

**Gambit7** · 03-04-2009, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by TactiKill Jay

Is it just me or is this game a difficult one to run? Large naval battles drag and even the land battles aren't as smooth as I would expect them to be. I'm on a quad core with the 8800 GTS (G92), and 2gigs of DDR3. I know that stuff isn't top of the line anymore, but I just put this system together this past summer so I definitely wasn't expecting to run into issues running games so soon. My video settings aren't even maxed out either.

Runs beautiful on my system.
core 2 duo e6600 OCed to 3.4GHz 4gb of ram and an 8800GTX.

Defrag your drive, get more RAM (if you're running Vista, 2GB isnt enough), and lower your settings.

**machowner** · 03-04-2009, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Gambit7

Update:
The MP Campaign (coop and vs.) feature that caused the release delay will be patched in after release (when, I dont know). The game wont release with an MP Campaign unfortunately, but of course you'll be able to skirmish in MP with Steam support.

The 1st MP patch will be a 2 player beta release hopefully soon after launch. The client has the capability, it's just not turned on right now... hence the reason there was no hint of it in the demo or even on the website anymore (they've taken the advertising for that feature down).

Kinda sad, they better get that feature up soon. I'm kinda pissed it's not available as I've already pre-ordered.

hmm, that doesn't sound good. Reminds me of in-game voip for frontlines, advertised, then it was supposed to be patched, I don't think it ever made it in.

what settings are you running gambit, the default ones or custom?

**johnflenaly** · 03-05-2009, 07:44 AM

Awsome game so far loving the campaign, did a skirmish with ghambit yesterday and got creamed, he would have been able to pull it back but dinner called. Can't wait for the MP campaign to come in, If anyone would like to join me I'll be in the TS channel for this game tonight and we can get some skirmishes going.

**amu107.9** · 03-05-2009, 09:52 AM

You all are killing me!
Now I have to go and buy it. Good thing all the bills are paid for this month.

Did you all buy the regular game or did you buy the special edition package as well?

**Gambit7** · 03-05-2009, 11:31 AM

This is the best Total War by far, even though they havent even patched in the coop campaign yet.

Gamespy gave it 5 stars (which is stupid rare for an RTS):
http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/empire-total-war/959077p1.html

What I like about it is:
a) the campaign map is easier to navigate and manage. other TWs were a bit too much live Civ and that took away from the tactical elements. This map moves a lot quicker and the choices are simpler... although there's enough layers in there for all you strategy crunchers. It's obvious to see why though, and that's because the map covers the whole world instead of just one small region. Also, instead of just focusing on one city where you have to manage everything within, they've spread it out over each subregion.

b) the unit combat isnt watered down at all... it feels frakkin real. Unlike prior titles, ranged units dont have as much power as before. In other TWs archers and catapults could decimate an army before the melee even began... not so with this title. Yah, cannon can lay some waste, but their reload times are "back to reality" unlike other TWs; and they dont have superhuman aiming (at least not in the beginning).

Overall it's definitely more of a challenge, even though the UI and campaign are much slicker. You THINK it's easier, but it's not. The Naval battles are stupid hard and I have to brush up on my tactics. I love how you can capture ships. Also, since there's a navy you can xport your army all over the map - so no port city is ever safe.

As has been said before, ETW was slated to be one of the best of all time... they're close to that now and once they patch in the last feature it will be.

p.s.
I bought the regular game from Steam, because it came with Rome: Total War gold. I had the game already so I'm just giving one to someone else.

**Gambit7** · 03-05-2009, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by machowner

hmm, that doesn't sound good. Reminds me of in-game voip for frontlines, advertised, then it was supposed to be patched, I don't think it ever made it in.

what settings are you running gambit, the default ones or custom?

I run high settings but tone down the shadows and turn up the AA. Turning up the AA makes everything very real looking. In any game, shadows are almost always the culprit when it bogs down. Interestingly though, it bogs down in the campaign map and not in battles.

Everything in this game is customizable to a high degree. graphics, audio, UI, etc. There's a slider and/or keymap for everything... so make the game however you want it

**TactiKill Jay** · 03-05-2009, 03:05 PM

I just clocked my chip up to 3.0 and that has helped a lot, but it still won't run perfectly smooth in a large 2v2 naval battle. I also tried to defrag my drive, but after 4+ hours and it still not finishing I finally had to turn my computer off and go to bed. Guess I'll try that again another time. I suppose it probably is my ram holding me back though since I'm on Vista with just 2 gigs. I'll pick up some more soon, but my videocard should be ok right, or is it time to upgrade that as well? I was thinking about buying a 2nd one to run SLi, but I can't find the 8800 GTS anywhere, I guess they discontinued that now..

**Gambit7** · 03-05-2009, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by TactiKill Jay

I just clocked my chip up to 3.0 and that has helped a lot, but it still won't run perfectly smooth in a large 2v2 naval battle. I also tried to defrag my drive, but after 4+ hours and it still not finishing I finally had to turn my computer off and go to bed. Guess I'll try that again another time. I suppose it probably is my ram holding me back though since I'm on Vista with just 2 gigs. I'll pick up some more soon, but my videocard should be ok right, or is it time to upgrade that as well? I was thinking about buying a 2nd one to run SLi, but I can't find the 8800 GTS anywhere, I guess they discontinued that now..

No point in upgrading your vid. card if you're running Vista with only 2gb. Upgrade the RAM 1st and then have a look-see. A raid array will help also. Another thing to realize, since you're running 2gb you're gonna be using pagefile. Since your HDDs arent defragged that'll slow it down also. That's one reason I use more than one physical drive; one for the OS the other for games.

Games like Empire rely more on processor and ram more than anything else.

**WaterIsPoison** · 03-05-2009, 11:44 PM

I'll admit, nothing is more satisfying that mopping up routing infantry with cavalry.

**machowner** · 03-06-2009, 12:49 AM

yea, that is fun, also blasting cannon balls through infantry lines. I like the way they skip along the ground, the infantry and cannon balls, haha.

**UnDeaD** · 03-07-2009, 11:29 AM

Some reviews are in, it does look to be the highest rated Total War game so far, next to Rome.

http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/94296...war/index.html

I haven't bought it yet, to much on my plate right now for gaming. But eventually.

**amu107.9** · 03-07-2009, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by UnDeaD77

I haven't bought it yet, to much on my plate right now for gaming. But eventually.

ditto

**westyfield** · 03-07-2009, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by machowner

yea, that is fun, also blasting cannon balls through infantry lines. I like the way they skip along the ground, the infantry and cannon balls, haha.

Yeah, I love watching a cannonball bounce then cut a line through the enemy formation.

**amu107.9** · 03-09-2009, 02:03 AM

Gambit if I had trouble running big battles in supcom.
Will I encounter a similar scenario while playing online?

Of course I am in the process of upgrading my stuff but that's probably a month or more out.