darthspudius: I haven't played Rome 2 yet but I thoroughly enjoyed the old games and Shogun 2.

Matruchus: Rome 2 is a totally different gameplay expirience to older games. Its just pales in comparison to older total war games or Shogun 2. Basically that game is all about the battles and the empire part has been basically erased and replaced with complicated gameplay. The only positive thing is that its getting a steamos/linux version soon.

Sachys: Yes:

1: Empire and Napoleon are pretty dull combat wise, but have an improved diplomacy system (among some other things)
2: Start MTW2 as England - they're pretty good all rounders and will be able to field some really good mercenary units for crusades etc. They will also be able to teach you the importance of spears / cavalry / bows in the game (from varying angles).
3: Early on invade wales - you can leave Scotland for a bit, but not too long as they have a habit of storming York with ridiculous levels of troops (ironic that I'm posting this) - if you want to leave them and go diplomatic with them for a while, change York into a castle instead of a town (should have been a castle to begin with really, historically).
4: Produce a bunch of diplomats and send them onto the European mainland. As theres a FOW, you might want to reference a map and send one or more in the vague directions of Russia, Italy (and make sure you leave at least one next to Rome to appease the Poop... er... Pope!), Another beyond Italy and two down through France, Spain and North Africa.
5: As England, make sure you beef up the seafaring potential gradually (later you can go to the Americas).
6: Regarding the poopularity with the Pope - all factions are vying for power at all times, they WILL betray you. its a good idea to keep giginv gifts of map data to the pope (hence the diplomats travelling all over), and getting high enough on his radar you can launch an early crusade against (most likely) Milan - just the other side of france, lots of money, gets you a seat near the pope and some great crusade mercenray nutters in the area.
7: get low enough with the pope, you'll get excommuncated and might get a crusade against you.
8: on the campaign map (which is more civilisation-like), do NOT focus all your attention on one area - you might lose more than you think.

...I think thats what you should know without spoilers / ruining the game.

Edit: dammit... might have to reinstall now...

Elmofongo: Alright now I am fully getting into the campaign.

Playing as England because they are the most balanced.

So anyway I noticed on the map there are these "things" that look like blankets, straw, goblets of wine, etc.

I realize that I can collect them but for some reason I don't know how. I assume I have to use the Merchent agent to "pick it up" but for some reason the action is not working or even appearing?

Also in the playthrough of having settlements automated if there is no governer running it, How do you "make" governers to occupy a controled settlement?

Finally basically the goal of the game is to to have all of Europe under the English flag? Alliances be damned?

Sachys: or you could just pay attention to the tutorial hints - maybe look at a guide

Elmofongo: Alright now I am fully getting into the campaign.

Playing as England because they are the most balanced.

So anyway I noticed on the map there are these "things" that look like blankets, straw, goblets of wine, etc.

I realize that I can collect them but for some reason I don't know how. I assume I have to use the Merchent agent to "pick it up" but for some reason the action is not working or even appearing?

Also in the playthrough of having settlements automated if there is no governer running it, How do you "make" governers to occupy a controled settlement?

Finally basically the goal of the game is to to have all of Europe under the English flag? Alliances be damned?

Zoltan999: Those are trade resources. Been a while, but if I remember correctly if you first click on one of your merchants, and then hover the cursor over a resource, it will show how many florins per turn your merchant will earn (from trading that resource and generating income back to your capital, by placing him directly on that resource and leaving him there). The higher your merchant's finance rating, the more florins per turn he will earn. Having trading rights with the faction the resource resides in will also increase the florins, and the farther away a resource is from your capital also increases the income. I think gold and silk were generally the most valuable commodities/resources. Also, as your merchant sits on a resource, he will also gain higher attributes to his finance rating over time, thus increasing the income again

Zoltan999: Governors to run your settlements can basically be any of your generals....check their stats to be sure their attributes enhance the city/castle, rather then hurt it. To have him become a "governor", just move a general into said city, voila, he automatically becomes governor...if more than one are in the city, the game will pick the best one to govern.

Zoltan999: The worst part is trying not to piss off the Pope too much, which is practically impossible, while attacking and conquering Christian factions. Ahhh, but that's one of the many things that makes the game fun and challenging :)

Elmofongo: Well I have done it. All of Britannia:

Scotland
Wales
Ireland.

All under English control. And this is the Vanilla game mind you not the britannian expansion.

Now i just gotta wait until all my heirs come of age so I can have proper leaders in each settlement. Because early game you have such few princes.

Can Princess be rule settlements?

Zoltan999: Great job! No, princesses can't rule settlements, but they can marry someone who can, and by marrying them, she will also increase their stats. It is also possible to have her marry a general from another faction, and steal them away to join your own faction as her husband (will also increase his stats) if she has high enough charisma.

Elmofongo: How long can a faction figure last? William the Conquer lasted in his late 50s.

Zoltan999: Yeah, that's about it, as best I can recall...they generally croak somewhere in their 50's. There might be mods to change that, but I never used one for that.

Zoltan999: The worst part is trying not to piss off the Pope too much, which is practically impossible, while attacking and conquering Christian factions. Ahhh, but that's one of the many things that makes the game fun and challenging :)