PURPOSE
1. Locate download links.
2. Estimate patching time requirements.
3. Your patch experience: post your successful (or unsuccessful) install experiences; it might help others (be sure to state your basic system specs; see example).
4. Summary of Reported patch issues, bugs, comments.

1. USEFUL LINKS:
DOWNLOAD Patch 1.3, 1.5, 1.6
README for Patch 1.5/1.6
export_descr_buildings.txt - (Only for Patch 1.5 & 1.6!) this file must be placed in the RTW Data directory (e.g., c:\Program Files\Rome - Total War\data).
Here is Patch 1.2
Manually uninstall RTW
Desktop Install RTW 1.0
Install multiple versions of RTW in one drive.

2. TASK ACCOMPLISHMENT APPROXIMATIONS:

TASK                       :  TIME (Typical)
==========================    ==============================================
Auto-uninstall RTW         :  about 3 minutes.
Manually uninstall RTW     :  over 1 hour.
CD-based RTW 1.0 install   :  about 20 minutes.
Desktop Install RTW 1.0    :  about 10 minutes (after 3 CD contents copied).
Install Patch 1.3          :  less than 30 seconds.
Install Patch 1.5          :  less than 5 seconds.
Install Epona Roman Fix    :  about 30 seconds (locate DATA directory).

3. YOUR PATCH EXPERIENCES:

Make a post in this thread describing how your patch went. Include basic system info, like CPU, RAM, Graphic Card (GPU), Operating System (OS)+Service Pack (SP), what RTW(s) versions you installed, and comments.

Example of report format:

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2600+
GRAPHIC CARD: nVidia MX400 integrated, 128MB RAM
OS: Windows XP, SP2, all critical updates applied.
INSTALLED RTW PATCHES+MODS: Installed 1.3 and 1.5 + All Factions Mod
COMMENTS: Patched successfully to 1.3, then patched successfully to 1.5. Tested good for all campaigns. Successfully loaded and played 1.2 saves, but 1.3 saves were not tested. Scipii now behave normally in Sicily.......

4. SUMMARY OF REPORTED ISSUES, BUGS, COMMENTS:

PATCH 1.5 ISSUES:
* - If you install Patch 1.5 over 1.2, Patch 1.5 seems to partly uninstall some stuff and then make a mess. I was not able to do a successful auto uninstall as a result, and had to do the manual uninstall procedure.
* - It seems that Naked Fanatics are still recruitable as Gaul.

PATCH 1.6 ISSUES:
? - It seems that Naked Fanatics are still recruitable as Gaul.
? - Have only tested on Goths and Franks, if you are in the Red with your cash and use the horde button then sack the city you just left you get 2Billion Denarii but only if your in the red. [**could this be a dev cheat code? Is it repeatable?]
** All factions, not only Romans, can upgrade to an Awesome Temple or Pantheon temple_of_horse (Epona).

KEY:
? - Can more people check this out & post?
* - Pretty solid evidence.
** - Confirmed by more than one person.

Note: README for CA Patch 1.5 and Patch 1.6 moved here (post#5) to reduce clutter.

EDIT: Added link for Patch 1.2.

EDIT: (30Dec2005) A (relatively minor) bug affecting only Patches 1.5 & 1.6 is now officially corrected in an "ADDITIONAL ROME CAMPAIGN FIX FOR PATCHES 1.5/1.6". CA intended for only Romans to upgrade a temple_of_horse past level 3, and says "Only Romans are now able to build an Awesome Temple or a Pantheon of Epona". In an unprecedented move for RTW, they provide a single-file fix:export_descr_buildings.txt - this file must be placed in the Rome data directory. Example path: c:\Program Files\Rome - Total War\data.

EDIT: (01Jan2006) Add:
Some people are having troubles with different versions of RTW/BI, and replaying/continuing savegames, like here. Based on known or published information, here is a summary matrix. If anyone has experiences other than this, post and explain so we can investigate/update/correct.

      Matrix of RTW Campaign Savegame Compatibility
                    (revision 1.0)
      1.0   1.1   1.2   1.3   1.4   1.5   1.6
1.0   YES   YES   YES    NO    NO   YES   YES
1.1   YES   YES   YES    NO    NO   YES   YES
1.2   YES   YES   YES    NO    NO   YES   YES
1.3    NO    NO    NO   YES   YES   YES   YES
1.4    NO    NO    NO   YES   YES   YES   YES
1.5    NO    NO    NO    NO    NO   YES   YES
1.6    NO    NO    NO    NO    NO   YES   YES

Notes:
1. The savegame is in the vertical column, on the left .
2. The version you want to play your savegame in is read across.
3. The way to read it is to ask, "Can my savegame saved in patch Y load/play with patch X?".

For instance:
- "Can my Patch 1.2 savegame be loaded & played in a Patch 1.3 version of RTW?" (No, it cannot)
- "I saved a game with original RTW (1.0); can it be played in a Patch 1.5 version of RTW?" (Yes, it can)
- "I saved RTW campaign game with BI (1.6); can it be played in a Patch 1.2 version of RTW?" (No, it cannot)

[This message has been edited by Wartrain (edited 01-01-2006 @ 07:42 AM).]