Warhammer II: Total War - Who's playing?

[Martok]

I finally reinstalled and started playing this again after the most recent (and aptly-named) "Potion of Speed" update.  It's honestly pretty impressive what CA has accomplished with the optimization improvements; even on my average/low-end machine, it takes only 15-20 seconds to process turns, even on the Mortal Empires map! 

I'm not gonna lie; I'm having a blast.  :bd:  I currently have two (quite different) campaigns going: 


In the first one, I'm playing Lord Tyrion of Lothern, one of the High Elf factions, in the Great Vortex campaign.  I start off having to defend against -- and drive off -- an invasion of Dark Elves who have dared sullied sacred Ulthuan's soil, and even threaten my capital.  At the same time, I'm also trying to wrangle all the other (often-fractious) High Elven factions into working together, with the eventual goal of confederating them into a single, unified kingdom -- a Herculean task if there ever was one!  (Can you say "herding cats"?)    While all this is going on, I'm also having to deal with various pirate factions threatening my shores, as well as court intrigue involving both my internal court, as well as the numerous other High-Elven Houses.  It's gloriously byzantine fun!  >:D 

I've also started a Mortal Empires campaign as the Bretonnians, with the new FLC Legendary Lord, Repanse de Lyonesse.  Given both her background and abilities, she's an obvious Warhammer stand-in for Joan of Arc, with the main difference being that her campaign starts her away from her native Bretonnia, and instead has her campaigning in the deserts of Araby, where she seeks to cleanse the lands of the various Undead (Vampire Counts, Tomb Kings, etc.) that foul that part of the world.  There are other nearby Bretonnian chivalric knight orders (doing the same thing as her) she can ally with, so that together they can carve out their own sphere of influence.  Playing as "Damoiselle de Guerre", it feels very much like you're on Crusade, which is clearly intentional; it's been an interesting (and fun) experience thus far.  :) 

[undercovergeek]

I am - about 20 turns into a wood elf campaign, it's going quite well - I've hammered a few brettonnians and dwarves and am heading south to kill the skaven - can only afford one army so it's going slow but looking forward to what happens next

[solops]

I am about 60 turns into a co-op game with my son (home for the holidays!) who is playing for the first time. This is my first game with the new patch and my first un-modded game in a long, long time. The patch is great. The improvement in turn speed and some other refinements are just super. But, my impression of the base game is the same as several years ago - way too fast and superficial. It still needs some combat mods to get rid of the total arcade-speed thing as well as some fixes for trade and other odds and ends. All in all, the game is great fun.

[Emir Agic]

It still needs some combat mods to get rid of the total arcade-speed thing as well as some fixes for trade and other odds and ends. All in all, the game is great fun.

Solops, may you give recommendation for mods which reduce battle speed and improve trading?

[OJsDad]

I have this on my wishlist.  If I get it, should I also get TW:Warhammer 1?

[undercovergeek]

You can't play the mortal empire campaign without 1 which combines both maps into a huge game

[JasonPratt]

1 also has more factions than 2, so if only one then 1 -- unless you really want to play a faction (or more) from 2.

This is why Steam sales exist.  :D

[Gusington]

Undercover Geek has broke his cover!

[Con]

I had a bet that he was the "anonymous" in the White House

[Yskonyn]

Didn't know there was this speed patch. Definately going to take a look again in that case.

[Jarhead0331]

Damn. I already had my hands full with Mech Warrior 5, DCS and Star Citizen 3.8...

[Martok]

I am about 60 turns into a co-op game with my son (home for the holidays!) who is playing for the first time. This is my first game with the new patch and my first un-modded game in a long, long time. The patch is great. The improvement in turn speed and some other refinements are just super. But, my impression of the base game is the same as several years ago - way too fast and superficial. It still needs some combat mods to get rid of the total arcade-speed thing as well as some fixes for trade and other odds and ends. All in all, the game is great fun.

The battles are probably my main critique with TW's Warhammer franchise.  They don't feel quite as tactical as their historical counterparts, especially with the units moving so quickly as you mentioned. 

I still enjoy the combat, to be sure, but I do wish it moved at a bit more stately pace. 

I have this on my wishlist.  If I get it, should I also get TW:Warhammer 1?

Yes, but wait for a sale. 

Damn. I already had my hands full with Mech Warrior 5, DCS and Star Citizen 3.8...

Join us, Jarhead.  The Old World beckons...  >:D 

[Geezer]

I have it with some of the DLC but it's been on the back burner for a while.  I keep telling Santa I've been really good this year so can I please have Total War WH40K.  It's the last game I'll ever need.

[OJsDad]

I have this on my wishlist.  If I get it, should I also get TW:Warhammer 1?

Yes, but wait for a sale. 

On sale now.  I can get TW:WH2 and all DLC for $50.46 and TW:WH1 and all DLC for $39.93. 

[Martok]

Unless you have a burning desire to play specific DLC factions (like the Wood Elves in WH1 or Tomb Kings in WH2), I would save your money and just purchase the base version of each game.  The DLC is nice, but not worth the florins IMO; and the base games already include plenty of content & replayability.