7 Things I Wish I knew earlier about - Medieval 2 Total War

Summary

This video shares seven insightful tips for improving gameplay in *Medieval 2: Total War*. It covers everything from effectively eliminating assassins by trapping them, to utilizing different attack types for various units. Key strategies include understanding the benefits of controlling Jerusalem for morale boosts, how to make the most of chivalry vs. dread, and using the regicide mechanic to wipe out factions. The video also introduces a fun little cheat code that can drastically speed up campaigns. The tips aim to enhance both tactical understanding and overall enjoyment of the game.

Takeaways

• 😀 Surround assassins with eight units in a box to trap and eliminate them, especially if they're near the sea or mountains.
• 😀 Holding **Alt** and right-clicking changes attack types, such as turning archers into melee units, and some units can switch weapons for added effectiveness.
• 😀 Archers placed on castle walls can shoot down to the plaza below, often rendering enemy cavalry unable to retaliate.
• 😀 Chivalry increases population growth and morale but decreases dread. Dread lowers enemy morale and aids in executing prisoners or exterminating settlements.
• 😀 Regicide occurs when all generals in a faction are killed, causing the faction to dissolve and become rebels.
• 😀 Controlling Jerusalem provides a **20% morale boost**, a valuable advantage regardless of faction or religion.
• 😀 Chivalry adds **0.5% population growth per level** for settlements, accelerating development and unit upgrades.
• 😀 Dread improves general performance in battle by reducing enemy morale, especially useful for aggressive and fast-paced strategies.
• 😀 The console command `poop` can be used as a fun cheat code to alter the speed of your campaign and enhance gameplay experiences.
• 😀 Units like spearmen and cavalry may have special weapons that can be switched by holding **Alt**, boosting their effectiveness in combat.
• 😀 It took the speaker years to discover these gameplay mechanics, so they encourage experimentation and trying new things for better campaign outcomes.

Q & A

What is the significance of holding Jerusalem in Medieval II: Total War?

Holding Jerusalem provides a +20% morale boost to any faction, regardless of their religion, which significantly improves the effectiveness of your troops in battle.

How can you change the attack style of units in Medieval II: Total War?

By holding down the 'Alt' key and right-clicking on certain units, you can change their attack type, such as switching archers to melee or using special weapon types like lances or spears.

Why is placing archers on walls a useful strategy?

Placing archers on walls allows them to fire onto the plaza, often giving them an advantage against cavalry. In many cases, the enemy cannot do much to counter this strategy, making it a powerful way to gain control of settlements.

What are the differences between chivalry and dread in Medieval II: Total War?

Chivalry focuses on maintaining high morale and population growth, providing bonuses like better unit production and settlement growth. Dread, on the other hand, lowers enemy morale through fear, making it easier to win battles and conquer settlements with less resistance.

How does having chivalry affect a general's faction?

Generals with high chivalry boost population growth in settlements by +0.5% per chivalry point, which helps your cities grow faster and unlock advanced units more quickly.

What happens in regicide, and how can it affect the game?

In regicide, if all the generals of a faction are killed, that faction is eliminated, and their settlements turn into rebel territories. This can be a strategic advantage for wiping out factions quickly, but it also leaves you with rebel settlements to deal with.

How does executing prisoners impact your faction in Medieval II: Total War?

Executing prisoners increases the dread of your general, which lowers the morale of enemy factions and helps in conquering them more easily. However, this comes at the cost of losing chivalry, which can have other long-term consequences for your faction.

What is the advantage of using dread over chivalry for generals?

Dread is beneficial for generals who rely on fear to demoralize enemies. It helps in battle by reducing the morale of opposing troops, which can lead to quicker victories and the ability to execute prisoners without penalty to the faction's reputation.

Can the console command 'poop' actually speed up gameplay?

Yes, the 'poop' console command is a funny little cheat that can speed up gameplay, making campaigns move faster. It's not an essential gameplay mechanic, but it can make the game more enjoyable for players looking for a quicker experience.

How does the strategy of regicide help in a long campaign?

In long campaigns, regicide can be used to wipe out a faction by killing all their generals, which forces the faction to disband and turn into rebel territories. This can be a quick way to eliminate an enemy without needing to fight a prolonged war.