TOTAL WAR: THREE KINGDOMS - MANDATE OF HEAVEN DLC REVIEW

[@PartyElite]

Tried to keep this one super short and to the point! After all, if you're looking at the DLC, you're probably already familiar with a lot of the core game mechanics. Let me know your thoughts - on the review, and on the DLC as well! And as always, if you're looking to pick it up, consider doing so at this link to support the channel and charity as you do - www.humblebundle.com/store/total-war-three-kingdoms-mandate-of-heaven?partner=PartyElite Cheers!

[@SkyGuy4991]

You should've made this longer because you didn't talk about the new empire mechanics, diplomacy and the things you get when characters reach the rank of emperor.

[@SmashingSnow]

A good review overall I don't own the game but would like to someday soon. I like the diplomacy mechanics the game offers and hope to see it in new Total war games.

[@caocao4731]

@@SkyGuy4991 Yeah, but a lot of that isn't part of the DLC, it's part of the FLC patch that comes with it. I think PE is just focusing on what is exclusively added by the DLC itself.

[@PartyElite]

That right - I try not to talk about the free additions that come alongside the DLC. They're great, but they're for free and for everyone, and shouldn't change the judgement call on what you're paying for with the DLC imho. It was why this review ended up on the shorter side - not as much to talk about, I felt!

[@SkyGuy4991]

@@PartyElite that may be so, but some people remain oblivious to the changes since CA didn't go into much detail about them, if at all.

[@shanemczane6725]

Hey CA, next up give us our Nanbois! That Southwest part of the map needs fillin'!

[@kevinzhu6417]

shi xie also needs to be in that pack, we need to be able to interact with the various tribes of china

[@Crunchybiscuit01]

@@kevinzhu6417 are you a time traveller?

[@Kaarl_Mills]

"A less T H I C C Dong Zhuo" Hnnnnnnggg, Im trying to expand my D O N G, but Im dummy T H I C C and the clap of my asscheeks keeps alerting the Coalition...

[@user-x7abxecg21]

Big Dong and Skinny Dong MMMMMMM

[@WellBattle6]

To be honest I’m glad the Trophy Cabinet doesn’t come with debuffs, otherwise you get a Thrones of Britannia situation where a lot of stuff is simply not worth their bonuses due to the debuffs.

[@PrussianWarfare]

That's why PartyElite was specific in how he worded it. Without any sense of synergy/disparity between combinations of items, the cabinet and library are basically just permanent free buff items that you get from completing objectives on the map. It's very simple and doesn't require much thought, since you just pick the ones with the best overall bonuses.

[@alptuna84]

@@PrussianWarfare I definetly agree with @WellBattle here just because your buffs should not come with debuffs.That would be extremely frustrating to manage at times.Plus,why cant a faction have simple mechanic which they only manage their buffs ? If the buffs are not game breaking,you dont have to have debuffs balance it.Games should be rewarding progress and achievement without undermining balance. It makes zero sense punish players when giving rewards.

[@oldrabbit8290]

I think that each book on the library should have 3-5 level of "understanding", which you can level up by active them for a set number of turn.. level 1 bonus is small, while level 5 bonus is significant - that way you will not only have to choose which book to use, but also what task you need to complete first to have enough time leveling up. the trophy could use some mild debuff though

[@PrussianWarfare]

Alp There's already several ways to manage and get buffs in the game. Equipment and followers for your characters, admin positions, most assignments, etc all give you positive effects; you as the player just need to optimize how to distribute those buffs. This is the same thing: Trophy Cabinet/Great Library has you get buffs after doing certain things on the campaign map. Pick best buffs in the trophy cabinet and go on your way. It would be 100% better if there was at least some synergy with equipping certain trophies/books to incentivize not just picking the best ones each time.

[@theshoes7488]

Wellbattle6 exactly... this is what happens when reviewers that aren’t aware of the total war history and problems review the games 🙄

[@Nevalith]

"No one was having fun...except maybe the Enuchs." - PartElite 2020 ... ...... Look...I don't care how much you pay me...

[@PrussianWarfare]

Thing about the pooled resources that you mentioned is that they often times don't reward the player towards doing anything different or utilizing a different playstyle: it's usually just "do well and you get buffs. Don't succeed and you get debuffs." I think this was a decent attempt by CA to move forward after the lackluster content release of 8P. Like you said though, there's several missed opportunities to have made the game more difficult, instead playing safe and comfortable with features and ideas we have seen before in previous total war games. Definitely something to grab on a steam sale.

[@zaleost]

I think part of the reason why the Yellow Turbans fall so quickly is so that the game can transition in to the events of the main campaign at around the same time. But I agree that as the Emperor they should come up some other ways to make the campaign last a bit longer. The issue is that with a competent player in control, the events that led to the Han's downfall and wouldn't really occur.

[@alexhess1163]

Just defeated the rebellion as the emperor, and I have to say: my experience was completely different from yours. My allies were pretty useless; it was impossible for them to hold ground or finish off enemies. I essentially had to attack every key city and fight every key battle myself, with the warlords as support. They really need your imperial army or they get smacked around. But they're good for distractions and following up on your victories.

[@conq1273]

Yeah. I think trophy and library have a lot of potentials. Maybe apply the effect according to difficulty level. It could also be implemented in warhammer too since the tabletop sometimes can get trophies from defeating rivals.

[@darkpainter2591]

I don't know maybe in future updates the game really was at a low for a while. To the point where it was actually a pretty bad game but then it bounced back and I was actually interested in playing it again who knows maybe more stuff will be added over time this looks a lot more promising than 8 princes that's for sure

[@zrethor]

After playing around with it a bit I think there maybe should be some sort of universal trophy system as well, getting goals to aim towards makes the game alot more fun.

[@SeleucusNicator]

I agree with you completely about the trophy & library mechanics. Getting major buffs without any debuffs just feels, for lack of a better word, 'gamey' and too in favor of the player who can come up with more creative ways to manipulate the system in their favor than the AI. I use an expanded skill mod for Wu Kingdaissance that gives you the choice of gaining powerful skills with slight debuffs. I don't remember their names off the top of my head, but one gives you increased character satisfaction and public order at the cost of +5-10% corruption depending on how many points you invest in it and another gives army benefits and a substantial boost to food production in a commandery at the cost of negative 10 public order or more (the skill in question implies your army is eating the dead to stay supplied and effective in the field which obviously horrifies the civilians). Hopefully modders will expand on the new mechanics introduced in Mandate of Heaven and make mods that will give people the choice of adding more depth to their campaigns.

[@adamthompson9388]

Out of interest which difficulty were you playing on? Because you're a very experienced total war player so it's entirely possible that the emperor's faction may be tough but if you're good enough then it can be handled quite easily. Sort of like the Chaos invasion on Warhammer (which also depends greatly on difficulty level)

[@PartyElite]

I was playing on VH/VH (I'm not a fan of legendary, personally) so I don't think it's a difficulty setting thing, unfortunately! It is possible that it provides more of a challenge for newer players, for sure, but I figured the difficulty option should cover that

[@guywithdacap4713]

Let's ask the real question. When do we see Meng Huo and the Nanman faction? We want to play Elephant-units!

[@Mantis42]

Sometime this year they said.

[@guywithdacap4713]

@@Mantis42 YEAH! ELEPHANTS ELEPHANTS ELEPHANTS!!!

[@guywithdacap4713]

@@Mantis42 YEAH! ELEPHANTS ELEPHANTS ELEPHANTS!!!

[@guywithdacap4713]

@@Mantis42 YEAH! ELEPHANTS ELEPHANTS ELEPHANTS!!!

[@Ae13UPrime]

I downloaded and installed Mandate of Heaven and now the game crashes. A couple hundred turns into a campaign and all that time wasted. According to the TW: 3K discussion forum posts others have having the same problem. so until a patch comes out to fix this problem buying the Mandate of Heaven DLC is not advised.

[@n8tiveashii]

My game autosaves so I have no problem playing since it saves each turn

[@TheFlameSlayer]

would be interesting idk the chances of hitting 189 ad from 182 but emperor ling dies in 189 so it would be interesting if the emperor had to make sure they set up everything for the 13 year old Bian and possibly having to choose a regent which could cause rebellions and issues depending on who was picked

[@neeru34]

100K Let's go!

[@bruhmoment9510]

I like the DLC but personally think that the base game update that followed with it is much more important. A lot more events, and the possibility to choose to whack Emperor Xian for the sake of more prestige is a nice feature.

[@LDProductionsClass]

While a start date slider would be cool, isn't Paradox getting rid of that in CK3 since they found that most people just play one of a few start dates?

[@ElSayyidCampeador]

Except for CK 2 whenever an earlier start date is made everyone will play that. For CK 2 people find some of the earlier start dates too unbalanced.

[@LDProductionsClass]

@@ElSayyidCampeador iirc people universally like the 800s start, but the Old Gods start has too many Karlings, right?

[@Duke_Krst]

As always a great review ! I enjoyed enough of it during your playthrough I decide to get it :) hoping you'll play the yellow turbins

[@tariqnahr2096]

He won't, he only does these reviews to keep his access to new content. He is just a warhammer content creator pretending. It's sad to see.

[@christopherthrobbin7951]

How quick you all take out the yellow turbans? Got it done in 45 turns

[@MarcelSoares777]

Can i play as the emperor and still see the Han fall? Like Luoyang get destroyed and the war of the warlods till 3 kingdoms itself?

[@bluerationality]

Imperator got rid of sliders right? I don’t think a slider would work as well.

[@PartyElite]

They're planning on doing that with CK3 too. No deal-breaker, just would've been neat!

[@professoroak1920]

lol Fervor doesn't cause enough of an issue he says. I crushed the rebellion easily 20 turns ago in my playthrough and let me tell you, that shit is fucking me over hardcore. assignments only do so much and I'm having rebellions in each of my 4 towns every few turns. it's an endless cycle of put down rebellion, recover troops, repeat

[@qzamap3870]

I CAN NOT WAIT 11 MORE HOURS

[@MrHalstedt]

Get Venris on the blower, they'll sort them mechanics right out

[@buckloski9522]

Playing the Yellow Turbans and all my allies that rise up shortly into the game get crushed 5 turns in. Also the next DLC is gonna be the Coalition rising up to defeat Dong Zhuo in a smaller more detailed map like the Medieval 2 DLCs call me mystic Mac because I predict these things

[@MadpupYT]

I'm actually having huge issues with fervor. It seems like to me that AI warlords do absolutely nothing to try and counteract fervor in their commanderies and you as a player do not have building options to help actually decrease fervor is certain areas. I have a few commanderies that are permanently stuck on 100 fervor even though they are nowhere close to a YT faction commandery and they pop up rebellions every turn. There should either be a decrease in fervor spread from none YT counties, a small buff to the decrease you get from temples, or a decrease in the amount of negative public order you get from a negative fervor score.

[@christopherthrobbin7951]

MadpupYT use assignments! I personally kinda like the rebellions cause it increases you income if your good about destroying them.

[@Kingronthegreat]

I strongly believe “noteworthy” characters should all be legendary or at the very least unique models.. that generic cao ren is just sad to look at. For me, too many generics who should be unique is making the game dull. Back to WH after a few games on this dlc..

[@nikoladedic6623]

It's not less thick, it's more dynamic.

[@Matt-tx1tc]

Wrong type of DLC they should be doing for their main games. They have it right with warhammer. Big maps , expanding maps, and adding new starting positions and lords and without restricting them with when they cant start

[@xwseiferwx]

Dude, whatever that was at 1:03 made me thing my microwave was going off.

[@kldalm1379]

It keeps crashing ! only the mandate of heaven campaign ..

[@Gullington]

Cool overview. They need to mix the campaign mechanics of this game with the battles of total warhammer.

[@tariqnahr2096]

no

[@SmashingSnow]

Yes

[@tariqnahr2096]

@@SmashingSnow No

[@SmashingSnow]

@@tariqnahr2096 why not?

[@Vince-tt1uj]

Battles are not the main problem of this game.

[@charlesqdu]

Hmm, no mention of the deployables?

[@PartyElite]

Deployables were part of the free update, and I didn't want that to shift peoples' opinions on the value of the DLC itself, since everybody gets the deployables (among other things).

[@Coco-kh7ns]

Thicc Dong Zhuo is best Dong Zhuo

[@mitchellul]

when does this release on Australia?

[@PartyElite]

I think it's 3pm GMT on the 16th, so depending on where you are in Australia... I'm not sure

[@ivegotajousyaccent99]

How do you get those unit cards?

[@Pontidenvresige]

Its in the settings, ”alternartiv” unit Cards I believe. Why the default aint the alternativ I have no idea.

[@ivegotajousyaccent99]

Pontidenvresige Thank you!

[@AWearyExile]

The unit cards look a million times better

[@acidosis1985]

So it was a good expansion but could have been better.

[@PartyElite]

Yep - CA needs to push their good ideas farther to make them great ideas

[@acidosis1985]

@@PartyElite We need people like you who plays the game to tell CA the improves that needs to be made.

[@dassbear]

boo

[@TheIceDragon225]

no komodo dragons = 0/10

[@PartyElite]

Ez unit name

[@TheIceDragon225]

@@PartyElite .5/10*

[@theshoes7488]

Dude.... 🤦🏻‍♂️You claim not be be a historian... you don’t have to be to review this game.. just a *Total War Historian* (aka be familiar with problems of the past games) not to sound rude but you said share your thoughts.... so, the “trophy cabinet” and “library items” if they caused de-buffs we would get a thrones if Britannia situation where only a few become worth it and there is a “set” for each faction that becomes over used and no one has the need to experiment because it’s been basically mined... look it up, it’s what players HATED about TOB.. you should make a note of this man Because you go on for like 3 minutes about this, and it’s your biggest complaints.... it’s kind of a big deal and you criticized this mechanic. Edit: added the *you said to share your thoughts so I don’t get flamed by the dude when he reads this

[@PartyElite]

Yep I mean it when I say to share your thoughts! It's always welcome here, especially when put as politely as you did. As a counterpoint - consider the way buildings work in 3K: some buildings give you benefits but they also cost you something (public order, food production etc.). Think back to Rome 2 (and Atilla too, iirc) - they have similar buildings that help and hurt depending on what you need and what they are. It becomes a matter of balancing what you want and at what expense. The trophy mechanic has none of that decision making, so it's a little dull of an experience where you just pick the best buffs and never really need to look at the cabinet again.

[@theshoes7488]

Thanks for the response....I’m about to get the game. Anyways, I actually agree to an extent with the negatives for Balance ... it would just have to be in context related... Meaning... they can’t effect other stats or people (after studying) would have definitive trade offs) other than that we agree. Your review is the best one and gently nudged me along to get it. Take care man. Good luck I’ll be watching

[@IIIJG52]

Im not going to get this. 3K in general was something i was extermely hyped for, but it just cant hold me like Warhammer can.

[@itskana5822]

I want to see mor planet zoo not this :c planet zoo is mo cool🥶 do mo planet zoo i would luv it 🇮🇳 am i a boy or a girl? Nobody knows 😋

[@SmashingSnow]

Why does it matter which gender you are?

[@itskana5822]

SmashingSnow it does not im just asking if he will guess it right

[@SmashingSnow]

@@itskana5822 Ah okay. Let's see if PartyElite will answer