Guide can be seen below!

All of the mods listed in this guide was merged, updated and improved in to one big mod!

I PRESENT TO YOU
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2752256116

If you liked this guide you're going to love that mod! Enjoy!

Send a small thank you[www.paypal.com]

ROMA INVICTA!

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=412776142
WHY: I wanted the AI to not just sit idle and wait for me to attack. I want to see some gauls or germanic tribes seize a moment while my armies were fighting of Carthage in the Iberian peninsula.

2:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1623319395
3:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1949431188
4:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1415360013
WHY: Nice touch to see your generals and their wifes age and change over the course of all that playtime. Even better when you see 'your equal' on the AI side standing at your borders ready for you.

5:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2420691432

6:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1970932617

WHY: I love the way the changes this does to how the game looks. Who doesn't want it good looking after all these years? And it is not heavy for my 960 GTX card either! Win-Win!

7:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2246133511

8:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2188020726

9:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2069985721

10:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2045642196

WHY: It's one thing to have the campaign map looking good. This on the other hand.. wow! The units and their details. It's a must for that clash of your 40 armies as you zoom in and look at them have at it.

11:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1730062353

12:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=458844755

13:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=318420643

WHY: Some nice touch to the cities and the unit cards. I prefer 'real' images instead of those 2D art ones. The last one is important though: It fixes the bug with having 40 units in your army.

14:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2432708158

15:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2436247164

WHY: No lines whatsoever. Just nature and the traders. It just gives the world a more immersive feeling, you know what I mean?

16:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=233589292

17:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1431419896

18:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1494382256

19:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2597408723

WHY: Now this is a big game changer. The big guys are the ones you want to fight, like Cartage and Egypt. And you want them, as big empires, to have massive armies. And you don't want them to send some stacks of levies at you, nooo, some real trained warriors. And as a last touch, lets just increase that 'other income' so that they get an extra bump to afford it.

20:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2096448001

WHY: Simple, it is a larger map. More cities and improved layout. It creates some interesting scenarios that didn't happen on the old/original one. A big plus is the included of 4 turns per year!

21:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1214366088

22:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=186922227

23:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1397295936

WHY: Bandits? Yes. Plagues? Yes. Because it adds something of an random event so the world doesn't feel so static. It's also frustrating to see the plague sweep across your lands and moving your armies away so you don't loose half of the troops. When it comes to the diplomatic things, I like to have the possiblity to choose what I want to happen. I like to have the freedom of choice. With the new outcomes I started to use it more for the benefits rather than just keeping the other houses happy.

24:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1497225180

25:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=821192894

26:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=205975174

WHY: I like long games and where you have to think about your choices rather than '1 turn and fixed!'. Rome wasn't built in a day, aye? The wonders is a great addition, gives some factions bonuses and I like to read about them ones in a while as they pop up. The season effects is a no-brainer, it is needed to keep that feeling of nature actually affecting your army.

27:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1487757748

28:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=250719205

29:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1480527106

30:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1480526390

WHY: There are other cultures in this world and I like to see egyptians in egypt! And if the campaign couldn't get any better, add more towns for a more alive environment... I actually place my armies close 'towns' now thinking they can relax in the inns after all that marching. And as I mention before, I like the freedom so if I want my capital to be somewhere... the it should be... I AM THE EMPEROR!

31:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=754698092

32:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=368300258

33:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=808472171

WHY: Bugfixes, because it is needed. Garrison because as the city grows, so should its defenders and keepers of the peace. And the last with corrections is to add some more alternatives to the factions. One thing I like about it is the auxiliary cavalry & infantry blockade until later in the game. Makes it much more challenging!

34:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1473594899

35:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1465654710

WHY: With focus on that the romans were hard to fight. Testudo was the ancient 'tank', it should be hard to route with arches & slingers. The shield wall is great to finally use if you're trying to hold a line.

36:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1448531545

37:
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=310675480

WHY: I love a more animated battle as you can finally see how some of your brave soldiers fight in to the enemy and it just feels more authentic. I also like when 1vs1 group clash and after some time there is no line anymore, just pure mix of fighting between each soldier. The blood mod is added since I felt that it could be improved as well as keeping the blood on the battlefield even after the fight.

Now that you have it all loaded and in the correct order... let's not forget an important step.
This is where we edit the savefile to how many units per army is allowed. And with the mod above, you wont have any troubles with visuals :)

• Download EditSF : https://sourceforge.net/projects/packfilemanager/files/EditSF/
  
• Start a new grand campaign and save directly after the intro
  
• Minimize the game and start EditSF
  
• Click on File->Open and locate your new save file (C:\Users\[NAME]\AppData\Roaming\The Creative Assembly\Rome2\save_games)
  
• Click on the + icon: CAMPAIGN_SAVE_GAME -> COMPRESSED_DATA -> CAMPAIGN_ENV
  
• Select CAMPAIGN_MODEL and change the 9th row from top (should have value 20) to 40
  
• Click on File->Save
  
• Wait until the texts changes from Red to Black. Then close EditSF
  
• Open up your minimized game and load the save file!

NOW ENJOY! I apologize for the many mods but this is worth it. It creates a game unlike any Rome you've played before but still relatable to the 'vanilla' feeling.

Don't forget to give it a thumbs up since I guess we won't see you for 500 turns now...?

Hey all!

After a pull through to approx. 400 turns I decided to check for an improved AI and I found one mod that I've been trying out and it feels a lot better! It not only change the recruitment but also the AI's building construction and gives it a bit of research bonus on higher difficulty ;)

So it's number 18 that I've replaced!
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1494382256

I'm also looking in to changing a mod for a bit better balance so stay tuned for more updates!

Also, I want to give huge thanks for all the likes and great feedback! It makes me happy to see that you enjoy it :)

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!

After yet another(or 2..) campaigns through to approx. 300 turns while running my own modified mod of income changes to a few factions I went ahead and uploaded the first version of it. It feels well balanced and really competetive when you face of the bigger factions now, especially as Rome you have Carthage growing the south, Macedon in the east while Egypt, Seleucid and Parthia have at it in the far east!


This time it's number 19 that I've replaced!
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2597408723

I have also found the REALLY ANNOYING bug with public order, sent a fix to the owners of said mod and they have finally replied that this will be fixed as soon as possible!

In other news, I've been trying to modify another mod and get in contact with the owner. It would change the start a little bit but I think it would greatly improve the gameplay... more of this later!

Again, I want to give huge thanks for all the likes and great feedback! Keep at it and let me know what you think!

Salutations!

Hello again!

With more mods, the loading times to campaign has been increase and I couldn't figure out why BUT an answer has been found and I have also confirmed that it works! In short:

- Copy all .PACK files of the mods own subfolders, usually found at:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\214950
- To the game's Data folder, usually found at:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Total War Rome II\data

And that should do it! My loading times lowered substantially! Enjoy!

Original post/answer:
https://steamproxy.net/app/214950/discussions/0/2952662888309858346/