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Beginners Guide to Medieval: Total War by frogbeastegg This document is entirely the work of frogbeastegg unless otherwise indicated.
You may do what you wish with this document as long as you do not make money
from it or claim it as your own work. I did this for free and I worked hard.
Don’t steal my stuff.
I regret to say that I am no longer taking corrections or additions for this guide; this is the final version and nothing more will be done with it. Feedback is still welcomed, but I don't have the time to keep updating this any more.
I just don't have the time or will to keep on updating these guides, not when I am writing a book. You're still welcome to discuss this guide in the forum.
There is now a printer friendly version of this guide available! You can
download it from two locations:
1. A PDF version of this guide is now available, as compiled by Tricky Lady. You
can download a copy here.
This is a beautiful conversion, and much better than my own Word version - also
up to date to 29th March 2004.
Click on this link and go through 3D Downloads Link
to guide, the file is called (surprise) printable beginners guide and the
author is frogbeastegg.
2. JUNIOR MEMBERS ONLY - if you have junior member status (or better) you can
access the orgs built in download thingy, look above the grey bar telling you
which forum you are in. You should see a link called 'files' in small letters.
The guide is listed under faqs -> printable beginners guide by frogbeastegg.
The printable guide is never going to be updated - this online guide will be the
most current version at all times. If you don't have Microsoft Word you can use open
office, a free program to view it. Alternatively you can get Microsoft’s
own free Word reader here
Index
1.Getting started
1.1 Useful resources
1.2 What to practise before starting a main game
1.3 Choosing your faction, difficulty, mode and era
-On era
-On difficulty
-On factions
-Faction and religion – which is easier for a beginner?
-On mode – Glorious achievement or conquest?
2.The campaign game
2.1 Your main aims
2.2 Buildings and the tech tree
2.3 Armies and units
-Army types
-Unit availability
-Should I save my cash by building lesser units?
-Should I build now or wait for better units?
-What does unit X do?
-Retraining Vs making new units
-What do my cavalry dismount into?
-What is valour?
-What is disciplined and elite?
-Why does morale matter when choosing troops?
2.4 Mercenaries
2.5 Finances and provinces
-Farming, mining and trade
-The payback factor
-Special province bonuses
-Rebellions and loyalty
-What about faction re-emergences?
2.6 Securing your borders
2.7 Diplomacy
2.8 The Pope
-Excommunication
-Getting recommunicated
-Avoiding getting excommunicated in the first place
-Wouldn’t it be easier to get rid of the Pope?
-So I can’t conquer the Pope entirely then?
-You can use the Pope to help you!
-Getting on the Pope train…
2.9 Agents
-By province
-By type
2.10 War!
-When should I attack?
-Where should I attack?
-Amphibious attacks
-Castle attacks
-So I’ve attacked, now what?
2.11 Events
-All those handy dates.
2.12 Crusades and Jihads
-How to have a successful crusade
-What do I do about other faction’s crusades?
-Crusader knights
3. The battle map
3.1 Basic aims
-When attacking
-When defending
3.2 Unit types
-A quick rundown of what is what and a link to a source of more detailed
information
-Morale
-Charging
3.3 The landscape
-Height
-Trees
-Bridges
-Desert
3.4 Generals and kings
-Killing and preserving
3.5 When to fight and when to withdraw
-Running for it with grace! Know when you cannot win and when you can win
3.6 Sieges
-Both defending and attacking strategies
3.7 Tactics and fighting styles
-Catholics
-Muslims
-Orthodox
4. Moving to intermediate
-Links to more advanced stuff
5. Appendix
5.1 Hotkeys
-Battle map
-Campaign map
5.2 Multiplayer
-basic do’s and don’ts.
5.3 Modding the missile units
-Step by step guide to basic missile stat modding
5.4 Unit size chart
-How many men are in each unit type at each size setting
5.5 Cheat codes and command lines
-Cheats for medieval and Vikings
-Command lines for Vikings
6. Credits