Rome: Total War: how's the manual?

[Heretic Apostate]

I made the mistake of bidding on a copy of Rome: Total War on eBay without reading all the text. To my horror, after paying for it, I realized that (1) it was a foreign import (but in English?), (2) it won't come with the manual or the box, and (3) I'm paying $8 S&H for the privilege.

So, as long as I've shelled out $25, how playable is the game without a manual? Maybe I can order a manual from the publisher, eh? I'm hoping that the import isn't too sucky, since I can't afford to buy another copy anytime soon... (I just bought a computer today, and will get it in 3 to 4 weeks...)

 

[mac1504]

Have you played any of the other Total War games? If you have, I think you will pick it up fairly quickly.

I haven't played it in some time, but it's a fairly intuitive game. A lot of the details of city management aren't even really covered in the book (at least not in any great detail to be of any use.) It's mostly just trial and error with aspects such as corruption, population size and happiness and lawfulness to build up your big cities. IIRC, a lot of players complained about the real usefulness of the manual.

If you haven't played any of the others in the series, then your best bet might be finding resources online. There are some good forums out there that can probably answer any major questions that come up.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

I've played M:TW, and recently bought the Viking Invasion expansion (and found out my current crappy computer couldn't handle M:TW; one of many, many, MANY reasons I bought a new one from Dell today ). I'm not fond of the battle part (because I suck at it, sadly...), but I do enjoy the conquest part.

Okay, so as usual, the manual is a brief tutorial, and they want you to buy the "strategy guide" for the real answers. Is that a good summation?

Now I just have to worry what version I'm going to get. I don't think I'll be too upset, since the guy has a good rep (not that I'd buy from anyone under a 98.9% rating).

 

[mac1504]

If you liked the conquest part of M:TW, then I think you will really enjoy Rome:Total War. This is the one aspect of the game they really enhanced and polished. The battles really just got prettier looking

I wouldn't bother even touching the strategy guide, like I said, there are plenty of forums and fan websites out there that will provide you with the information you need. Just google Rome:TW.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have when you start playing.

Oh, and enjoy your new computer- I'm definitely jealous, I have a feeling it will be awhile before I get a chance to update (first child on its way this June!)

Good luck!

 

[Heretic Apostate]

Oh, and enjoy your new computer- I'm definitely jealous, I have a feeling it will be awhile before I get a chance to update (first child on its way this June!)

My Gateway/WinME p.o.s. died about two years ago, after being nursed along for three years by me. This current computer was a shelf model, upgraded to be barely useful. (Too much unemployment in the last few years...)

This is going to be my first new computer in years. Intel Pentium 3.0 GHz, 1.0 GB of RAM, 250 GB of hard drive, 128 MB of video, Sound Blaster Live, and so on. I'm hoping those stats don't get too obsolete in the next three or four years, because now I have to start saving up for a new car (bought my latest in 2000, and don't expect to buy again until 2010; I buy for the long haul...).