OVERVIEW
This thread will serve as a basic index of common issues, solutions, information, etc. for Rome: Total War (RTW). Questions and answers often exist, but can be difficult to find, esp. since RH does not have a full text search option. Posts will be linked by thread, or by direct link to a deeply buried post.

NOTES
1. Tip: use your browser's search/find function to locate relevant posts by typing Ctrl+F.
2. This Index will be updated, and will continue to be expanded, refined & tweaked.
3. If you know of a good discussion/strategy-related post or thread (even if it is another Forum), nominate by posting it in this thread with its link.
4. Reference the first applicable post # , if buried in longer threads.
5. Discuss individual thread topics within the respective thread.
6. Report errors, bad links, suggestions, etc. of existing Index content by posting in this thread.
7. When you crate a new thread, remember the Title is important in future searches for it.
8. In square brackets [ ] on this page, I sometimes will insert search keywords to help locate that topic accurately.
9. There will be certain overlap with other areas, like tech, strats, downloads, etc.; it is intentional (better useful matches as page grows).
10. Do not be bashful about suggesting your own posts; the object is to provide locatable, useful info.
11. The age of the post does not matter; however, things talking about outdated issues (like a Patch 1.1-specific strategy, for example) are not what we're trying to index.
12. Certain word combinations may seem strange; in places, things are done to help search engines crawl this thread and return external site results.

==================== CATEGORIES ====================

========== MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ==========
Support! Help! OMG! Please! Emergency!: 1 (HG) 2 (CA-TW) 3 (Activision) 4 (Sega)
FAQ [newbie, first, just, HG]: 1 2
Patch 1.5/1.6 Install Help + Experiences + Bugs: 1
New Driver Releases (ATI, nVidia, etc.): 1
Can my PC play RTW? : 1
Make all factions playable [unlock, NPF] : 1 2
Faction-specific information: 1
How do I cheat? [mode, console, tilde]: 1 (HG) 2(Activision) 3 (Thread)
My crack! [pirate, copy, illegal, steal, hack, warez, copyright, ]: 1 2
Command Line Options [show, error, nm]: 1
Newbie's first RTW campaign suggestions: 1
Replacement txt files [backup, CTD, .txt, mod, fix, descr, strat]: 1
Heavengames Code of Conduct [CoC, behavior, crack, warez, spam, troll, abuse, unban]: 1
What Browser is best? [Opera+Languages, Firefox]: 1
I'm missing a file! Help! [looking, send, CoC, copyright]: CoC 2 3 4 5
Will my savegame load/play in patch 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 [RTW, BI]: 1

========== DISCUSSION ==========
(DISCUSSION: GENERAL)
Diplomacy: 1
Spartan Hoplites vs Urban Cohorts: 1
Diplomacy [protectorate, buffer]: 1
Protectorate: 1 2
Berserkers: 1
Public Order [happy, happiness, revolt, wonder]: 1
Flame Arrows vs Armor Piercing [fire, missile, AP, range, archer]: 1 2 3
Wonder [Zeus, Corinth]: 1
Units drop dead after losing bridge battle [defend, death]: 1
Cavalry [deep, formation, wedge, charge]: 1 2
Formations [line, set]: 1
Trade, exhanged ancillaries named characters [general, spy, assassin, diplomat, swap]: : 1
Phalanx [pila, slinger, cavalry, maneuver, city, defend]: 1
Minor Named Characters [Spy, Assassin, Diplomat]: 1
Fight to death [defend, city, sally]: 1
Squalor: 1
Devastation: 1
Occupation [occupy]: 1
Enslavement [enslave]: 1 (also Exterminate)
Extermination [exterminate]:
1 (also Enslave) 2
Making money [City, cities, Ahm, guide, losing, loss, denarii, cash, army, upkeep]: 1 2
Glorious Victory [defeat]: 1
Grow family [marry, marriage, wed, children, fertile]: 1
Capture Rome [Carthage, walls, siege]: 1
Skirmishers [Skirmish Mode]: 1
Siege Towers: 1 2 3
Arcani: 1

Fast attack [mobility, early game, speed, conquer]: 1
Faction Leader [fight, govern, coward]: 1
Phalanx [attack, cavalry, flank]: 1
Sieging walls [ladder, assault, Rome, Carthage, epic]: 1 2 3
Build order [smith, farm, road]: 1
Companion & Macedonian Cavalry [difference]: 1
Scythed Chariots, defeating: 1
Sally [defend, defense]: 1 2
Marian Reforms: 1
Generals [live, life, improve, win, star]: 1
Buffer States [diplomacy, diplomat]: 1
Greek Cavalry [speed, compare]: 1
Plague [quarantine, cure]: 1 2 3
RTR Illyrians [Realism]: 1
Cliblinarii [Bread Oven, Antigonus, Immortals, cavalry, Persian, Sassanid]: 2
General tactic & strategy discussion [divide, anvil, dogpile, ambush]: 1
Favorite Units [Spartan, Urban, cataphract, cavalry, archer, Elephant]: 1
Patch export_descr_character_traits.txt changes 1.5 vs. 1.2 [affect, diplomacy, battle, general]: 1
Ballistas [Scorpions, Repeating Ballistas]: 1
Chariots: 1

Traits, Ancillaries [Academy, building, unit]: 1 2
Retinue [pass, give, move, swap]: 1
Temple of Horse [Epona, Romans, Gauls, Spain, Awesome, Pantheon, Exp5, Patch, bug, 1.5, 1.6, Fix]: 1 2 3
Adoption [failure, candidate, not, completed, die, dead]: 1
Zone of Control [green, red, brown, move, army, display, block, path]: 1
Latin Pronunciation of Units [Principes, Velites, Caesar]: 1
Native resolution for LCD screens (1024x768, 1280x1024, 1280x800, laptop, windowed, mode, switch, pixel, taskbar): 1
Corruption, capitol [capital, distance, money, denarii, loss]: 1 2
Hit Points [casualty, recover, die, HP, 2X, resolution, full, dead]: 1
Ideas for improving RTW [improve, fix, add, better, future, patch, CA, SEGA]: 1

(DISCUSSION: CIVILIZATIONS)
Romans: All: 1 2
Romans: Julii [romans_julii]:
Romans: Brutii [romans_brutii]: 1 2 3
Romans: Scipii [romans_scipii]:
Romans: Senate [SPQR, romans_senate]:
Seleucid: 1 2 3 4
Carthage: 1 2
Parthia: 1 (also Armenia)
Gauls: 1
Germans: 1
Britons: 1
Egypt: 1
Greeks [greek_cities]: 1
Macedon: : 1
Pontus: 1
Armenia: 1 2 (also Parthia)
Dacia: 1
Numidia: 1
Scythia: 1
Spain: 1
Thrace:
Slave [Rebels, gray]:
Mercenary: 1

========== STRATEGY ==========
(STRATEGY: FACTIONS)
Romans: Julii [romans_julii, opening, Adder]: 1 2 3
Romans: Brutii [romans_brutii, opening, Adder]: 1 2
Romans: Scipii [romans_scipii, opening, Adder]: 1 2 3 4
Romans: Senate [SPQR, romans_senate, zzz]:
Seleucid [opening]: 1
Carthage [opening, Giakomo]: 1 2 3 4
Parthia [opening, Adder]: 1
Gauls [ zzz ]: 1
Germans [Germania, opening, Night_Raider (KaiserWinterfeldt)]: 1
Britons [opening, Adder]: 1
Egypt [opening, ustedloco]: 1
Greeks [greek_cities, Greece, opening, Adder]: 1 2
Macedon [ zzz ]: 1 2 3
Pontus [opening, Adder]: 1
Armenia:
Dacia:
Numidia [opening, Adder]: 1 2 3
Scythia:
Spain [opening, Adder]: 1 2
Thrace:
Slave [Rebels]:

(STRATEGY: GENERAL)
Wanderlust: The Art Of Mass Migration [strategy, Sassenach]: Article
Thinking strategically on the Campaign Map [yakcamkir]: Article

(STRATEGY, BATTLE: TITLED)
Newbie [beginner, strategy, Cheesewiz]: Article
Ueriah Doctrine [strategy]: Article part 1 Article part 2
Tackling Terrain, Conditioning for Climate [strategy, Cheesewiz]: Article
The Cavalry General [strategy, Ace_Cataphract]: Article
German Scare Square [strategy, Germania, Cheesewiz]: Article
Seleucid Shock and Awe [strategy, Ace_Cataphract]: Article
The Macedonian V-Phalanx [strategy, Cheesewiz]: Article
Cruel Carthaginian Tactic [strategy, Ignoramus, MP, screenshots]: Article
The Art of Siege: Romans [strategy, Tzu, Ace_Cataphract]: Article
The Seleucid Sledgehammer [strategy, scipio_africanus]: Article
Historical Roman Legions [strategy, The Crazy Person]: Article part 1 (Pre-Marius) Article part 2 (Post-Marius)
Germania Town Defense [strategy, screenshots, Saranalos]: Article
The Long Line in the Sand [strategy, phalanx, dad_savage]: Article
Roman Pila Storm [strategy, Ace_Cataphract]: Article
The Mayhem Tactic - Bashing with the Brits [strategy, Cheesewiz]: Article
General Roman Strategies [strategy, jonnuscaesar]: Article
Wrecking with the Romans [strategy, Rome, Red Pig]: Article
Bombardment Strategy [strategy, VH, barbarian, Jonathon Clark, The Mighty Pharaoh]: Article
Hammer and Anvil [strategy]: 1
Alexander's Art of War [cueball]: Article

(STRATEGY: UNITS)
Infantry:
Missile: 1 2
Cavalry: 1 2 3
Assassins [assassinate, kill]: 1
Spy [spies, sabotage]: 1
Diplomat [diplomacy]: 1 2
Chariots [defeat, cavalry, missile, dogpile]: 1 2 3 4
Wardogs [handlers, order, attack, target, unstoppable, recall]: 1

Parthian tactics, defense against [counter]: 1
Skirmisher counter [cavalry, charge]: 1
Spartan Hoplite [counter, cavalry, defeat, kill]: 1 2
Phalanx [defeat, pila, slinger, cavalry, maneuver, city, defend]: 1 2 3
Ballistas [attack]: 1
Slingers [Cretan, Baleric, arc]: 1

(STRATEGY: LOCATIONS)
Town Center [plaza, square, TC, morale, death, defend]: 1
Rhodes [conquer, kill, take]: 1
Mercenary Locations [region, area, frequency, number, experience]: 1 2 3

(STRATEGY: FIELD BATTLE)
Against non-phalanx Barbarians: 1
Rome Pre-Marius: 1
Phalanx: 1, 2
Ambush: 1 56k death.
Elephants: 1
Parthia: 1
Fun: 1

(STRATEGY: SIEGE)
Defence: 1 2 3
Attack: 1 2 3 4
Weapons [ranged, on site]:
1

(STRATEGY: HISTORICAL BATTLES)
Battle of Carrhae: 1

========== MODS/MODDING ==========
(MODS: GENERAL)
Mods & modding, general issues, links: : 1 2
RTR Germanic campaign [mod]: 1
Night Battles [custom]: 1
Mundus Magnus for 1.3 and 1.5! [mod, EB]: 1
Bug Fixer for Patch 1.5/1.6 [mod, Player1]: 1
What are the hardcoded limits in RTW [mod]: 1

(MODS: DATA & TXT FILE SPECIFICS)
\Data\text\campaign_descriptions.txt :
\Data\text\export_buildings.txt :
\Data\text\export_units.txt :
\Data\world\maps\base\descr_regions.txt :
\Data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign\descr_strat.txt :
\Data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign\descr_mercenarie s.txt [cav, elephants, archers]: 1
Change/alter build/construction times [export_descr_units.txt]: 1

========== NOTABLE AD-HOC HISTORICAL ESSAYS/INFO ==========
Macedonian: 1
Carthage: 1
Jesus [Christ, crucifixion, God, mentioned, role, year, 33, 284, Judea]: 1

========== NOTABLE POSTS FROM DEVELOPERS AT CA ==========
Shieldwall, A.I. Design [BI, Fishpants, Intrepid C I F]: #16, #18, #34
BI Release Date [Fishpants]: #1
Answer questions [BI, Fishpants, MikeB, NDA]: #10
Hordes suck? [simulate, movement, tribe, Fishpants]: #12, #38, #45
More civilizations [BI, religions, pagan, influence, unrest, disorder, Intrepid C I F]: #8
descr_regions [BI, exist, Celts, Burgundii, Roxolani, and Berbers, Fishpants]: #7, #12
Yubtseb elephants [mod, altered, text, command line, never, realistic, easter egg, unit description, Intrepid C I F]: #21
Improve combat model and AI for BI [Intrepid C I F]: #7
Recovering Titles [death, triggers, Friend of the Emperor, Fishpants]: #8
Emergent faction crashes BI [slave, nomadic, barbarian, steppe, rebels, Fishpants]: #15
Harder to get command stars for BI generals [bug, 10, command, aggressive, battle, win, BI, Fishpants]: #10
BI Expansion installs 1.3 to RTW [bugs, multiplayer, Fishpants]: #3
Year campaign ends [BI, continue, won, play, conquer, whole, map, Fishpants]: #7
Horde settle down titles disband [BI, combat, drops, hard, recruit, Fishpants]: #7
Huns rated easy [BI, damaged, building, culture, religious, beliefs, governor, Fishpants]: #2
Change speech [BI, general, Fishpants]: #2, #8
Faction Leader Rebels [BI, known, bug, general, stars, Fishpants]: #5, #3
Patch 1.5/1.6 announcement [Fishpants]: #10, #33
Deserting Faction Leader!! [BI, defecting, better, emperor, bugfix, 1.6, Fishpants]: #3
Online Play: chat facility turned off [racist, ban, offensive, behaviour, The Shogun]: 1 2 3 4
Easter Egg: We still haven't found it!

========== BUGS, GAMEPLAY ISSUES, 'STRANGENESS' ==========
Turn off green marker arrows: 1
Pointy Feet/Spike Legs/Pin Foot/Thin Ankles [Unit Shaders]: 1
Video settings: 1
CD code error, bad CD key: 1
Monitors, CRT, LCD, TFT native resolution: 1
Audio settings, sound card: 1
1.2 + 1.3 + BI savegames do not work or load: 1
\preferences.txt
Long time between turns (AI thinks too long)!: 1
Cure Flaming Arrow / fire arrow CTD (texture problems): 1 2
Mouse cursor laggy: 1 2
Delayed reinforcements [unlimited, battlefield, AI, control, units, BF]: 1 2
Replay files [Battle, Replays, .rpy, watch, create]: 1
General Tips [fun, odd, advantage]: 1
Temple of Horse [Epona, Romans, Gauls, Spain, Awesome, Pantheon, Exp5, Patch, bug, 1.5, 1.6, Fix]: 1 2

========== COMMON DOWNLOADS ==========
RTW Demo (2004-09, 164MB): 1
RTW Barbarian Invasion demo (2005-10-08, 225MB): 1
RTW Mundus Magnus mod (2005-10-06, 7.1MB): 1 2
RTW Rome Total Realism 6.0+6.2+Music (2005-11-20, 287+40+125MB): 1 2
Make all factions playable [unlock, NPF] : 1.2 1.5
RTW Patch 1.2 [MM, RTR]: 1
Unit comparison: 1
Replacement txt files [backup, CTD, .txt, mod, fix, descr, strat]: 1
Quick build mod [fast buildings]: 1
Replacement campaign map [scan]: 1 2
Maps: 1
Germania technology tree [jpg, graphic, German, C Franziskus]: 1

========== OTHER SITES AND FORUMS==========
Squalor [org]: 1
Smackus Maximus: Link Written for 1.0, but still the best all-round guide to the campaign going.

========== USEFUL LINKS ==========
DOWNLOAD Patch 1.3, 1.5, 1.6
README for Patch 1.5/1.6
export_descr_buildings.txt - (Only for Patch 1.5 & 1.6!) this file must be placed in the RTW Data directory (e.g., c:\Program Files\Rome - Total War\data).
Here is Patch 1.2
Manually uninstall RTW
Desktop Install RTW 1.0
Install multiple versions of RTW in one drive.

To Do List:
1. Check relevancy of all links.
2. Tidy up Strategy categories.

[This message has been edited by yakcamkir (edited 09-22-2006 @ 04:53 PM).]