Shogun 2 TW shipped with no direct x11 support

[Pray To Jesus]

Just to let you know, $40 on Amazon direct download. Should I buy it?

 

[Sulaco]

Just to let you know, $40 on Amazon direct download. Should I buy it?

Unequivocally yes.

If you've ever enjoyed a Total War game, or enjoy historical real-time strategy, this is one of the finest of the bunch, hands-down.

 

[Merad]

Is there a full manual out there somewhere? All I'm finding is a little 20 page quickstart guide thing.

 

[Sulaco]

Is there a full manual out there somewhere? All I'm finding is a little 20 page quickstart guide thing.

I believe the "manual" has been replaced by the "Total War Encyclopedia". Basically, an in-game guide that brings up info on anything you click on; units, buildings, clans, anything.
I think it works quite well, and looks fantastic. I bought the game retail, and always prefer a physical manual I can hold, but this is one of the better "digital manuals" I've used.

 

[Regs]

Seems like the armies are pretty even throughout. Experience and weapon/armor upgrades go along way in this game.

 

[Liet]

Well I'm definitely enjoying it. It's one of the better TW games, and I've been surprised not to have run into major bugs yet, like the Admirals in Rome:TW not leveling properly because an .ini value was typoed...


Has anyone found out how to enable AA?

 

[Kudro]

Has anyone found out how to enable AA?

Force it through your video card's control panel. CA's implementation of DX9 and DX10.0 does not support AA. DX10.1 and DX11 will support AA, but won't come until a later patch. (The upcoming patch brings DX10.0/10.1 and DX11).

 

[Nintendesert]

The game is great. Even without DX10/11 it looks good. Me and my brother are playing a campaign together. Those damn Shoni need to get squashed here soon...

But this is exactly what we were dreaming of years ago! Playing together on that big campaign map, watching each other's fights, yelling over vent to watch out for those flanking cavalry etc. It's a ton of fun. We've had no technical problems and it's just awesome.

The level of polish and atmosphere created with the great art, the great sound and just great gameplay have made for an amazing experience. The training of your generals and of yourself as you play really tailors itself to how you want to play.

Big big props to CA for this one. They knocked it out of the park.

 

[ParadoxDenmark]

Is anyone experience the invisible units glitch which plagued the last game? I never found a fix for it and, and the bug made the game unplayable for me.

 

[Nintendesert]

We've experienced no technical glitches like that yet. The only problem I have is with the 11.4 ATI drivers and the water not being visible. It's a problem with AMD and not the game though. I need to change back to 11.2 or 11.1 to see if that fixes it.

 

[Farmer]

This is a good game. I've played at least 12 hours this weekend and it hasn't crashed once nor have I suffered any major slowdowns, even on a massive, 5000+ man battle defending Kyoto against two aggressors.

Units close fast. If on the defensive, once enemy melee units get in range of my archers, they will begin charging, allowing me only 2-3 volleys before I have to peel back and send melee up front. This speed makes cantabrian circle/swooping crane for horse archers less effective as well. cavalry will immediately go around for the flank. I say this specifically because in Rome TW archers and siege weapons could always do massive damage before their melee closed in. Often times I could route an AI army of comparable size with minimal losses simply because I had more archers and siege.

As for campaign play, I'm not sure what the optimum is, but after the initial 2-3 additional provinces, I tend to focus on getting as much overseas trade as possible to generate revenue, and working on getting as many trade routes and filling those routes with the most profitable trade partners. Then switch off between capturing provinces and econ, and trying best not to piss everyone off. At about 50-100 turns in, my trade revenue will be 1.5-2X greater than tax revenue, and you start to warchest. It's hard to say how big your warchest needs to be before you move on Kyoto, I think I went too little this playthrough. Anyhow, moving on Kyoto or growing too much will essentially result in the loss of all your trade partners, at the time when your army upkeep is absolutely massive. You can cushion this by raiding trade. I'm not sure the best way to circumvent this. This time I've made the provinces surrounding Kyoto that get taken along the way vassals, that way I don't have to worry as much about them being immediately retaken by enemies, since the bulk of your army will be focused on defending Kyoto from the repeated counter offensives. As an econ bonus, these vassals are automatic trade partners, so you get revenue without worrying about additional garrison units and counteroffensives.

Would like to hear some strats.

 

[Kudro]

The game is great. Even without DX10/11 it looks good. Me and my brother are playing a campaign together. Those damn Shoni need to get squashed here soon...

But this is exactly what we were dreaming of years ago! Playing together on that big campaign map, watching each other's fights, yelling over vent to watch out for those flanking cavalry etc. It's a ton of fun. We've had no technical problems and it's just awesome.

The level of polish and atmosphere created with the great art, the great sound and just great gameplay have made for an amazing experience. The training of your generals and of yourself as you play really tailors itself to how you want to play.

Big big props to CA for this one. They knocked it out of the park.

How many turns are you into this MP campaign? I've read a lot of reports of the campaign becoming desynched after both turns 15/20 as well as turn 80. It's where you and your coop partner will see two different things by the AI on the campaign map. His armies and provinces may appear as your army and provinces, etc. This is the issue that has been keeping me from pulling the trigger and buying the game (that, and I want to see if CA is true to their word and will actually release the DX patch within 4 weeks).

 

[Nintendesert]

How many turns are you into this MP campaign? I've read a lot of reports of the campaign becoming desynched after both turns 15/20 as well as turn 80. It's where you and your coop partner will see two different things by the AI on the campaign map. His armies and provinces may appear as your army and provinces, etc. This is the issue that has been keeping me from pulling the trigger and buying the game (that, and I want to see if CA is true to their word and will actually release the DX patch within 4 weeks).

We're past turn 15/20 but not yet up to 80 so I can't comment on that. I'll let you know though if we see it once we get up to turn 80.

 

[Regs]

But this is exactly what we were dreaming of years ago! Playing together on that big campaign map, watching each other's fights, yelling over vent to watch out for those flanking cavalry etc. It's a ton of fun. We've had no technical problems and it's just awesome.

I have not played any Total War multiplayer so I have no idea what functionality it has to offer. All of what you said sounds interesting and fun. Is there a lobby browser to host a game? Guess I will have to check it out one of these days for my own.

 

[ayabe]

Vassals aren't auto trade partners, you still have to request it. They will also declare war on you during the end game after a number of turns, even if you made them a vassal after the event, which I think is really stupid.

The entire endgame is a bit meh, everyone just declares on you and won't make peace. Even after you "win" and are Shogun, everyone is still at war with you and their attitude hasn't changed - again makes no sense.

 

[Farmer]

Vassals aren't auto trade partners, you still have to request it. They will also declare war on you during the end game after a number of turns, even if you made them a vassal after the event, which I think is really stupid.

The entire endgame is a bit meh, everyone just declares on you and won't make peace. Even after you "win" and are Shogun, everyone is still at war with you and their attitude hasn't changed - again makes no sense.

Ah yes, what I mean is they'll say yes for sure if you ask right after you make vassal.

I agree, you would think the vassals would be loyal to the new shogun. It was only a matter of 5 turns before the first vassal had "Hostile" attitude towards me.

 

[ayabe]

Ah yes, what I mean is they'll say yes for sure if you ask right after you make vassal.

I agree, you would think the vassals would be loyal to the new shogun. It was only a matter of 5 turns before the first vassal had "Hostile" attitude towards me.

Yeah I mean they are your vassals which by definition means you only allow them to breathe because they are paying you tribute.

 

[ParadoxDenmark]

We've experienced no technical glitches like that yet. The only problem I have is with the 11.4 ATI drivers and the water not being visible. It's a problem with AMD and not the game though. I need to change back to 11.2 or 11.1 to see if that fixes it.

Awesome. I'll give it a swing, then.

 

[Anneka]

Same as Regs. Dind't manage to play any multiplayer because i think here is where this type of game must do its best. Hope i will be able to try this sort of play this weekend.

 

[Regs]

Gah, I'm starting to get that end-turn CTD like in previous games. About 3 or 4 turns after I capture Koyota and become shogun.

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/10373-The-end-turn-crash-bug-is-back!/page2


Seems like a few others as well. I don't know who to blame anymore. POS Vista and their crap driver support bugs, or the time events in every TW game.

 

[Farmer]

Is anyone experience the invisible units glitch which plagued the last game? I never found a fix for it and, and the bug made the game unplayable for me.

You mean how you couldn't get into trade ports after you left them? Nope, that seems to have been addressed.

 

[Liet]

I'm confused on trade. I've got 8 provinces, am exporting almost every resources except steel, but no one wants to trade with me. Their trade icon isn't crossed out as is the case when either you or the other clan has no ports... I just always get denied and told that I have nothing they want.

So, I'm just parking 4 trade ships at the 4 sea ports I took early on. Anyone have advice on that? Is there a maximum number of trade ships I should park there?

 

[Farmer]

I'm confused on trade. I've got 8 provinces, am exporting almost every resources except steel, but no one wants to trade with me. Their trade icon isn't crossed out as is the case when either you or the other clan has no ports... I just always get denied and told that I have nothing they want.

So, I'm just parking 4 trade ships at the 4 sea ports I took early on. Anyone have advice on that? Is there a maximum number of trade ships I should park there?

Probably other factors are preventing them from entering into agreements, like, maybe you have historically invaded trade partners. A large factor is if you grow too powerful. In that case, all of the factions will have negative attitude toward you and will look to weaken you as much as possible.

Sometimes, some money up front will pry the AI into agreeing to trade. Depending how long you plan to trade/how profitable the route is, you can decide how much to give up front, how long your return on investment is.

There is probably an ideal number of trade ships. You always get more trade income for each additional trade ship you have parked at the trade spot, but there are diminishing returns, so at some point the additional trade income will be less than the upfront cost/upkeep cost of the trade ship, making it no longer worthwhile to add more trade ships. I have no idea what point that is.

 

[ayabe]

I think 3 is really the effective max for trade ships after that the improvement isn't worth the upkeep of the extra ships.

 

[Sulaco]

For you guys who have finished or reached the end game, I have a question.

I'm nearly 30 hours into my Takeda campaign, and only the Shimazu and Bessho clans remain a real threat to me. I control Kyoto now, and have for the past 2 turns.

My question is, except for the Imagawa clan, which is my vassal that I released very early in the game, everyone else left is at war with me. Which means, I have no trade partners except for the Imagawa.

So my money is quickly running out, and I'm losing thousands each turn.

Even if things go well, I'm still at least 20 or so turns away from finishing the game I would say, so I'm going to NEED some income. Anybody have any advice for getting income late in the game when nobody will trade with you? Thanks!