| 10 MAY 2009 at 2:59pm |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6694
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Unfortunately, I've been away from the strategy genre for quite a few years. The RTS format has completely taken over and frankly, I always preferred turn-based games. More recently I've become much more interested in RPGs of all kinds - and along with adventures (also of all kinds), they leave little time for other types of games.
Some of the newer RTS titles do look amazing though and at some point, I will get back into them. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy building vast empires and commanding your troops to victory, Traveler.
Cheers, Terry
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| 10 MAY 2009 at 4:33pm |
| Deleted User | There is actually quite a lot of turn-based stuff still floating around, Terry, maybe just not as prolific as before. When I have the time, I plan to do a post listing fairly recent ones.
I hope you enjoy building vast empires and commanding your troops to victory, Traveler.
Thank you Terry! Believe me, I will! [smiley=evil.gif]
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| 10 MAY 2009 at 6:08pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | I'm a big fan of turnbased strategy. I have always had a soft spot for games where you can build your own vast empire (be it on a planet like Civilization or alpha centauri) or in space (like master of orion or stars!).
I don't really know if any good TBS or TBS-like games have been released recently, but i can not recommend the europa universalis series (including Crusader kings, hearts of iron and the fantastic Victoria an empire under the sun) enough.
Majesty 2 will most likely be released soon (http://www.majesty2.com/ . The first one was really fun, and I have no doubt that paradox will be able to create a game that is at least as enjoyable. If you enjoyed games like dungeon keeper, this one should suit you.
If anyone enjoys complex management type strategy games then dwarf fortress might suit you:
http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/
(and for those who don't enjoy ascii graphics, this might be of interest: http://dwarf.lendemaindeveille.com/index.php/List_of_user_graphics_sets ). It's a complex game, so don't give up if your first handful of forts colapses/is sacked by goblins/gets invaded by cats (cats are a real threat to any forts health).
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| 10 MAY 2009 at 6:22pm |
| Deleted User | Cats, eh? : Sounds a bit like the rats and sanitation problems in the Stronghold series.....
Ah, I wondered why Majesty was suddenly coming out and being promoted so much again - thanks for the link for M2. I wonder if a new Europa Universalis is in the works as well? - since there's a new compilation floating around?
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| 10 MAY 2009 at 7:23pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | As far as i know, there is no new EU planed, but paradox is working on hearts of iron 3.
Cats are not actually meant to be a problem in Dwarf fortress, but they breed really fast and dwarfs has a tendency of getting atatched to their furry friends. When a mean goblin/kobold/elephant/crazed dwarf decides to kill a cat the cats owner has a tendency of getting depressed/crazed/crazy or manic. While cats deal with vermin, they will also give their masters "gifts", which in turn will make other dwarfs depressed/crazed/manic. The game can not be described with words, it has to be experienced. Also, check this out: http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/Boatmurdered/intro.html
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| 10 MAY 2009 at 7:46pm |
| Deleted User | Hehe, Dwarf Fortress is not exactly eye candy, but it sure sounds interesting! [smiley=laughing.gif]
Majesty 2, on the other hand, certainly seems purty, especially compared to the first one, which has aged somewhat. Apparently they used a new engine and the works.
Here are some shots from M2:
[IMG]http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn305/jeniho/83598ad4.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn305/jeniho/dd0b5e55.jpg[/IMG]
Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim blends the excitement of kingdom building simulation with the depth of a role-playing game. The game includes one single-player campaign, 10 multiplayer missions, 16 maps, and multiplayer modes for two or four players.
[IMG]http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn305/jeniho/3eb83eba.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn305/jeniho/4ed95e7b.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn305/jeniho/d816dabb.jpg[/IMG]
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| 12 MAY 2009 at 9:53pm |
| Deleted User | The new Disciples, Disciples 3, that is in the making, sure looks pretty http://disciples3.ru/
I just hope hardcore fans won't be upset about the new aspects of gameplay. Interview with devs
I never got "into" the series much so I'm quite looking forward to Disciples III: Renaissance .
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| 13 MAY 2009 at 2:22pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Disciples 2 was an interesting game (not played 1), although tough i found that it's reliance on leveling up units it a bit tedious, and it was really annoying if your powerful units died in battle. I wonder if they will do something about that, or if it was a popular feature.
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| 16 MAY 2009 at 3:07pm |
| Deleted User | Um.. - has anybody experienced any crashes with Europa Universalis? I went through the tutorial no problems, but after I'd played the game proper for about 20 minutes, I experienced a sudden black screen (panicky moments, thinking my GPU had gone) and then a crash to desktop. I was using XP, and my system specs far exceeds the minimum. oes this game possibly experience probs with multicore processors?
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| 16 SEP 2009 at 9:17am |
| Deleted User | Hm, since I had posted in this thread last is when I had made my purchase of Disciples 2 Gold, probably played a bit more of Europa Universalis 2, and made the purchase of Europa Universalis 3 Complete; which I have unfortunately not gotten around to playing yet.
We've been doing some strategy chatter in another thread, http://justadventure.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1223979791/213#213 , and I've been wondering if we shouldn't perhaps move the discussion here.
For any strategy lovers who might want to look up WW2 recommendations, there is also another thread about that setting, here.
Anyway, to continue the recommendations for Shany - have you ever tried any of the Spellforce games, Shany? Spellforce 2 is purtyer than SF1, but you can get all of the Spellforce games included in Spellforce Universe, for the price of a single game. [smiley=cool.gif]
It's a mixture of RPG goodness mixed with RTS goodness mixed with pretty graphics goodness, in a fantasy setting, and you can play campaign, skirmish or freestyle.. Goodness all round. 8-)
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| 17 SEP 2009 at 1:50pm |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2548
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | a noble thread for a noble ambition. Rule the world? Ah, well, that is one goal, how about RULE the Galaxy? All of Creation? heheh just kidding.
Seriously or somewhat more so, anyway, ys, strategy and tactics and the grand vision is one of the things that computers do far better than humans when it comes to creating a setting for such games and adventures. These noble machines that work so hard for us are able to make vast numbers of cacluations at lightening speed and entertain and challenge us in so many ways. I learned recently from a source in the Biz(computer game devel) that some of the new engines in devleopment now can handle many thousands of independently AI directed NPCs, fully realized and actionable on HUGE worlds that boggle the mind of the mere humans among us.
sadly i lack the brain adjustment to enjoy the minutae of resource management, grand detail vision and such things. I always play chess like a mad Ninja, lighteing moves across the board, on the spur of the moment leaps, i have an inbred revultsion to thinking ahead and worrying about and thinking thru all the ramifications of this current move on the umpeenth move of the future.
I DO love however, the spectacle, the grand clash of forces, (Homeworld, Homeworld II and Cataclyism, Indpendence War I and II, Rome, Pacific General, Risk, Civilization I - IV and a gazillion mods and maps) mighty fleets of ships advancing in warlike array (Jutland and Distant Guns from Storm Eagle, Great Battles at Sea, Shells of Fury, Aces of the Deep Commanders Edition, Fighitng Steel,) the vast array of forts, camps, armies, and legions at home or on the march (Caesar I - IV, Imperial Romanum, Rome: Total War, The Fall of Rome, . So i am loving the current generations of such games yet get bored with them and see the flaws all too soon. I go back to the older games such as Caesar II, or enjoy the detail and the wonders of some of the military sims like Silent Hunter IV vastly modded in amazing ways, the Combat Flight Sims (CFS 1-3 again vastly modded including MAW, ETO, PTO and BOB and the amazing OFF On Flanders Fields WWI mod that is equal to a complete new game, the Star Wars Series including X Wing, Tie Fighter, XWA all now updated for modern computers by community projects, the pirate games series which include strategy and resource managment like Port Royal and Pirates of the Burning Sea, the Wing Commander Privateer and Privateer II model that has been copied ad infinitum with games like Freelancer, Dark Star, and many more) for the history and spectacle and the seaborn games of strategy and tactics (Silent Hunter I-IV, V to be released soon, and many more). The modern tiny world games ....well they are truly beautiful and amazingly detailed, i studied the Guild II games recently and was amazed at the detail they have induced in those, and see it in many others...including many mentioned here.
so i celebrate the noble ambitions expressed here and admire the vastly superior minds of you all who can stay the course. I will remain happily in awe of the spectacle and the beauties of the worlds created and cheer you on.
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3D Worlds and Game Developers
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| 17 SEP 2009 at 2:26pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1477
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | I played the demo of Majesty 2 and loved it. The game is available on steam in a few hours and I'm just debating to myself on rather if I have the money to buy and cover other expenses.
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| 17 SEP 2009 at 2:37pm |
| Deleted User | Nice post, Crisger! You've mentioned a few there that I hardly even knew about, much less have come to own or to play.
An acquantance of mine had accidentally left one of those Silent Hunter games at my place, and I've been wondering what they're like - are they a sort of submarine sim, where you get to command a single sub, or is it on a grander scale, and are they fun? :
Originally Posted By Stiler (17 SEP 2009 2:26pm)
I played the demo of Majesty 2 and loved it. The game is available on steam in a few hours and I'm just debating to myself on rather if I have the money to buy and cover other expenses.
Oooh! Please give us some feedback if you do decide to get it, Stiler.. - I didn't know the game was this close to release already, or perhaps time is flying faster than I can keep up with it...
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| 17 SEP 2009 at 2:53pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Oh darn, why do they have to release Majesty 2 now? I just spent 750sek on a board game (~$100, or ~€75), and my diet consists of far too much noodles & apples. *ponders if it's worth buying Majesty 2 or wait*
Well, i'm downloading the demo right now. It's not too large, only about 650mb, so it should be down in about 4min. I'll tell you what I think about it once I have played it a bit.
*edit* Alright, now I have played the game. The tutorial was as expected short and easy. The other quest was a simple "see how long you can survive" kind of quest, where harder and harder monsters will swarm your kingdom. I survived until the bearmen arrived. It was fun, although I much prefer levels with a real goal rather than levels where you simply have to survive. Still too early to tell if this game is better than the first one.
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| 17 SEP 2009 at 7:10pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1477
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Yeah I assume the main game/other missions are different. That just seemed to be a mission they'd use for a demo to get people to keep playing to see how long they could hold out.
The first tiem I played it I was like "holy crap." Had like 5 dragon things, two giants, and rats attacking everyone and all I could pump out were a few rangers and a couple of warriors.
The game is only 34.90 on gogamer (comes out to around 37 and change with the cheap shipping). Though I think I'll probably just cave and get it on steam for instant satisfaction instead.
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| 17 SEP 2009 at 7:38pm |
| Deleted User | Drat! That's rather expensive-ish. I've already ordered Risen and Dragon Age, neither of which are exactly cheap, and add a few AG's etc, that I'd already pre-ordered or bought, and my budget for games is stretched pretty tightly for the month...
Ugh, I knew a glut of games were coming towards the end of the year, but I didn't think it would start so soon already. We'll see how long I can last before I cave in - will also get the demo at least this week sometime.
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| 17 SEP 2009 at 9:34pm |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2548
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | which Silent Hunter is it Traveler? i will share details a bit later dl a bunch of stuff currently.
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| 18 SEP 2009 at 10:22am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By CrisGer (17 SEP 2009 9:34pm)
which Silent Hunter is it Traveler? i will share details a bit later dl a bunch of stuff currently.
Chris, don't worry, -thanks- I checked out your link in the WWII thread.
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| 19 SEP 2009 at 2:39am |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1477
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Well I bit and bought Majesty 2 on steam and I'm having a great time with it.
I never played the first one so this type of RTS is new to me and certainly different from your generic rts formula that I grew a bit tired of (IE Age of Empires/C&C types).
I like to simply watch my little heroes run around and go off to adventure or to watch them and laugh as they run toward a den I set up an attack symbol on and three bears/wolves attack and they run away with their arms flailing about or in the case of one hilarious time when a ranger said " I think I left a fire burning, better go check."
I've just played the first 3 missions or so (after the tutorial one).
I really enjoy the Voice work too, the role of the advisor who narrates each mission and things reminds me of Sean Connery with his scottish accent.
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| 19 SEP 2009 at 8:41am |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | I also bought it (darn, more noodles for me).
I have played trough a handful of missions, and this is what I think about it, compared to the original (note that I have not played trough the entire game, so some of these might change later on):
The good:
-Better graphics & sound
-The game has a stronger story
-New flag types adds some interesting strategies
-Monsters spawns in packs from most lairs, not only sewers & mission related lairs, which makes for more interesting combat
-Wizards don't die as soon as something glares at them, which makes leveling up your wizards less of a chore.
-Forming parties makes for another interesting strategic elements, and works well with the theme of the game.
-The voice acting is good (the advisor is most likely the same voice actor as in the first game) and the writing is for also nice.
The bad:
-The game has lost a bit of it's charm moving from 2d to 3d
-Most heroes feels a lot more generic. Rogues are not such cowards, rangers are more likely to fight, clerics are much more capable fighters, elves don't fill your kingdom with lounges & gambling dens and so on and so forth.
-Boss monsters can take a lot of damage, which means that boss fights simply takes too long.
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| 19 SEP 2009 at 10:05am |
| Deleted User | For now, I think I'll just unpack my Majesty 1 from it's box (never really got to play it), and since you guys are really peaking my interest here, I guess I'll just go download that demo.
The demo will decide wether it's going to be noodles for me as well....
Btw, did you people see that East India Company is out as well? I stopped following news about it when Lighthouse Interactive went down, I didn't even know Paradox had picked it up, so I was surprised to see it on a store shelf yesterday!
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| 22 SEP 2009 at 8:45am |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | I think I have managed to come to a conclusion: Majesty 2 is not as good as the first one. The lack of hero personality and the loss of some of the charm is really what makes it a worse game than the first one. It is harder tough, which is nice (apart from two of the northern expansion levels, the first majesty was never very hard, unless you got really unlucky with the random level generation). Still, i'm really enjoying majesty 2, and I don't regret getting it.
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| 22 SEP 2009 at 8:56pm |
| Deleted User | That's not good news re Majesty 2. :-/ I decided not to dld the demo after all, and just rather get the game in a week or so, but now I'm suddenly vaccilating again...
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| 22 SEP 2009 at 8:59pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Company of Heroes. Egads I love that game. So satisfying bombarding targets or having your sniper sneak across the landscape identifying enemy positions.
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