I was bewildered by the response to this thread: http://rtw.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=11,9041,,10 so i have decided to respond to it myself with a full post since it has been archived.
Multiplayer is still very alive and there are still players out and about in the lobbies. There are currently 2 ways to play multiplayer online. Gameranger and Steam. Gameranger requires the CD copy (ver 1.5) while steam requires the steam copy (ver 1.5.1) to work.
Biscuits total war has uploaded a helpful video on how to install and use the gameranger copy. Here is the link: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ngw_t7Yu4k&list=PLEqdZgbYhWgwejY3vPSrF_npVXw_ES3Jv&index=3)
To get the steam copy you must have steam and installed and buy the game off steam OR redeem a copy through steam by clicking "add a product on steam" at the bottom left of the main window, selecting "Activate a product on steam" and entering your CD key. This way, you can redeem a steam copy even if you only have a CD copy and play on steam servers. Steam automatically installs ver 1.5.1 for you.
Differences between GR and Steam lobbies:
You cannot see who is available to play in GR as it uses the GR lobby UI rather than the game lobby UI. Steam is more straightforward to use, as the UI is exactly the same as the original but there are various minor bugs that plague the lobby and games tend to lag (very slightly) more. You will also tend to find better cwb players on GR but better 31K communities on steam. Most older clans (GoTW, HoS, CoH, etc) use GR , but newer 31K clans (HEAVEN, BH, etc) tend to use steam. I think Chinese clans/players tend to use GR for the better connection, but I am unsure of this.
Multiplayer is still very alive and there are still players out and about in the lobbies. There are currently 2 ways to play multiplayer online. Gameranger and Steam. Gameranger requires the CD copy (ver 1.5) while steam requires the steam copy (ver 1.5.1) to work.
Biscuits total war has uploaded a helpful video on how to install and use the gameranger copy. Here is the link: (
To get the steam copy you must have steam and installed and buy the game off steam OR redeem a copy through steam by clicking "add a product on steam" at the bottom left of the main window, selecting "Activate a product on steam" and entering your CD key. This way, you can redeem a steam copy even if you only have a CD copy and play on steam servers. Steam automatically installs ver 1.5.1 for you.
Differences between GR and Steam lobbies:
You cannot see who is available to play in GR as it uses the GR lobby UI rather than the game lobby UI. Steam is more straightforward to use, as the UI is exactly the same as the original but there are various minor bugs that plague the lobby and games tend to lag (very slightly) more. You will also tend to find better cwb players on GR but better 31K communities on steam. Most older clans (GoTW, HoS, CoH, etc) use GR , but newer 31K clans (HEAVEN, BH, etc) tend to use steam. I think Chinese clans/players tend to use GR for the better connection, but I am unsure of this.