Swords vs Muskets in Total War games

[Azunite]

Who thinks medieval and roman Total War were better than "Musket & Powder" Total War? I think ETW and NTW were bad, sword and cavalry era was better.
I didn't play NTW but ETW, I could say cavalry were weaker than peasants and when two companies clashed, the unit who fired first would win.
What's your opinion in RTW & MTW VS ETW NTW

[Clawhammer]

I love the total war games! I just got the gold edition of Medieval 2. I personally prefer Rome and Medieval so far, but that's just me. The others look pretty fun, too.

[Azunite]

Phalanxes and Cohorts of Rome: TW and Supreme cavalry force of Kapıkulu in Turkish armies in Medieval 2: Total War.
ETW and NTW has nothing! It is good Shogun 2 is coming up!

[Perseus]

Rome is the best. Have your infantry hold the line, and you'll win. You can't really do that in Empire or Napoleon because the no sword factor for foot soldiers.

[Clawhammer]

I like the Brittania campaign for M2TW Kingdoms best. I'm a Scotland fan. :) Rome is also awesome, I love the ancient Celtic times, such as Gaul and Brittania.

[Azunite]

In ETW, NTW, cavalry is nothing and everything else is overpowered.
In Rome, it is to hold the line and encricle the enemy with cavalry and to rout the enemy from flanks, the same as the real military tactics.
In Medieval 2, cavalry is the sole supreme force and it IS fun!
Campaigns in Rome and Medieval are better because I think they are more detailed but in ETW, you have to manage taxes according to theatres, not by cities.
And that ship thing was not well calculated. I know everything about sailing and the ship must go the fastest when you go upwind by 45 degrees but in this game it doesn't move !
I didn't even had fun with muskets and arquebus in M2TW
We have a turkish saying, " Muskets came, manhood went away." Becase muskets requiers no bravery and you don't die by honor but you die by a coward firing to you while hiding his head.

[Clawhammer]

" Muskets came, manhood went away." Becase muskets requiers no bravery and you don't die by honor but you die by a coward firing to you while hiding his head.

That is amazing. I'm adding that to my list of sayings. Thanks. Yeah, I collect swords in real life for that purpose pretty much.

But anyway, one thing I miss in M2TW is horse archers. They can be extremely useful.

[CairAndros]

I have played most of the TW series; minus N:TW and I have to say that each of them improved on the previous.

I prefer the simplified city menus in E:TW and then army/navy movement system that was introduced from R:TW onwards.

As far as battles go; it all depends on your playing style - in R:TW for example the enemy were holding the line and I charged it with some Spartans and won the day - in E:TW I managed to win by creating a line and supporting with my artillery then sending the cavalry in when the enemy were wavering.

I would agree with the removal of the sword from the fighting forces in the modern world though. One of the reasons I am applying to join the Royal Navy is the fact that you get to wear a sword as part of your dress uniform.

If you want a good read about swords etc in the gunpowder age read the early Courteney series by Wilbur Smith; thats Birds of Prey - Monsoon - Blue Horizon(in that order) =)