Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Strategy Games Are My Bane
I love RPGs. If that's a secret to anybody reading this, then welcome to the blog!
But as embarrassing as it is to realize how much time has actually passed when I'm playing an enthralling RPG, there is a deadlier poison to me. It is the turn-based strategy game. I seriously have to deliberately eschew these things whenever I want to get something done. Games like Civilization, X-Com, Galactic Civilizations, Master of Orion (well, the first two), Slay, Panzer General Allied Assault, and several other indie and mainstream titles have consumed untold months of my life. I am the poster child for the "just one more turn" self-delusion that afflicts those who play these games.
I've harbored this little feeling of guilt for years about calling myself a true PC gamer, because I never played the Heroes of Might & Magic series. Not even one. I took a step to remedy that over the holidays, picking up Heroes of Might & Magic 3 Complete for peanuts at the sale at GOG.COM.
In case you've dwelt in the same cave I have - HOMM is a strategy game where you control a fantasy kingdom. You recruit heroes - who can advance levels just like an RPG - and troops for them to control. And you go around the world whopping on monstrous independent forces, gathering treasure (resources), artifacts, and hero-boosting powers, and most importantly kicking the butt of your competing kingdoms who are doing the same.
I can't help but think it might have been one of the inspirations for the indie game Empires & Dungeons. Which also sucked me in for quite some time, as simple (and mercifully short-campaigned) as it is.
The combat reminds me a lot of the first Master of Orion game. With the stacks of ships of similar type jockeying around a combat screen.
I haven't played HOMM3 much. I still suck at it. And apparently, I have a problem limiting myself to just playing it for twenty minutes as a reward for completing tasks.
I think I need to code up some kind of game alarm clock that runs in the background that gives a ten minute warning, five minute warning, one minute warning, and then starts bug me to end my game when my time is up. Complete with a snooze button. That'd be cool.
Except I'd hate it.
Labels: strategy games
- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 7:59 AM (Permalink)
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I loved HOMM3. Definitely had problems putting that one down to get to bed at a reasonable hour.
HOMM4 was a big disappointment, but I did get HOMM5 a while back, and that one was considerably better. I never got around to finishing it, though.
HOMM4 was a big disappointment, but I did get HOMM5 a while back, and that one was considerably better. I never got around to finishing it, though.
I can never get into to the HoMM games because I played the Age of Wonders series before it. Same goes for Disciples...other than its gothic artstyle, I really don't see why anyone would play that series over HoMM or AoW2.
The tactical portion in HoMM is so lacking compared to battles in AoW. They even tried to copy AoW in HoMM 4.
The tactical portion in HoMM is so lacking compared to battles in AoW. They even tried to copy AoW in HoMM 4.
# posted by 
: January 06, 2010 10:35 AM
: January 06, 2010 10:35 AM
I need that clock. I would download and install it. And then, I would hate you when my game time would be up (but my wife would love you so much!)
I think I'd buy that alarm clock, I love when games have it. Civilisation 4 had one and I used it a lot but it wasn't annoying enough.
Yes! Turn-based Strategy Games... love them! Jagged Alliance 1 and JA Deadly Games are two of those games that will never get old to me. X-Com 1&2 are great but extremely hard. On the other hand I don't like Real-Time Strategy at all. I've tried it but they're just too hectic, could instead go play an action game in the first place instead!
Yeah, I picked up JA2 during the GOG.COM sale too. Haven't played it yet... maybe while I'm out in Puerto Rico.
Oh, yeah! Civilization II, X-Com: UFO Defense, and the original Master of Orion are probably my three favorite games of all-time.
I play more RPGs - often for hours and hours - but I get tired of them more quickly. I'm just always looking for something new. I'm a lot pickier with strategy games, but when I find one I like, I really like it! I had Civ II on my hard drive for years and years, and those other two strategy games almost as long.
I wasn't crazy about the HoMM games, though. For one thing, I don't really like the cartoony graphics. Just personal preference. But another strategy game I loved was the original Warlords. There were no random maps, but there was still a lot of replay in it. The sequels were OK, but there was something special about the first game.
I play more RPGs - often for hours and hours - but I get tired of them more quickly. I'm just always looking for something new. I'm a lot pickier with strategy games, but when I find one I like, I really like it! I had Civ II on my hard drive for years and years, and those other two strategy games almost as long.
I wasn't crazy about the HoMM games, though. For one thing, I don't really like the cartoony graphics. Just personal preference. But another strategy game I loved was the original Warlords. There were no random maps, but there was still a lot of replay in it. The sequels were OK, but there was something special about the first game.
HOMM3 is tons of fun, especially when you figure out what's going on. Another classic is Master of Magic. Admittedly, it has a lot of problems, but the core gameplay is definitely good enough to make up for it.
# posted by : January 06, 2010 8:36 PM
: January 06, 2010 8:36 PM
You heard that Stardock (of Galactic Civilizations 2 fame...) is making a game heavily inspired by Master of Magic, haven't you? It's called "Elemental: War of Magic" (previously codenamed "Not-MoM") - and I guess if you pre-order you can play the beta now. Release is "soon."
Dude, you want Eufloria. Seriously. It scratches the 4X itch but can be played casually.
You have your planets, your resources to exploit (trees), your ARMY of DEATH SEEDLING, your tactics, and some surprisingly deep logistical planning is required on the harder levels.
Oh, also all of the levels are procedurally generated.
You have your planets, your resources to exploit (trees), your ARMY of DEATH SEEDLING, your tactics, and some surprisingly deep logistical planning is required on the harder levels.
Oh, also all of the levels are procedurally generated.
'You heard that Stardock (of Galactic Civilizations 2 fame...) is making a game heavily inspired by Master of Magic, haven't you? It's called "Elemental: War of Magic" (previously codenamed "Not-MoM") - and I guess if you pre-order you can play the beta now. Release is "soon."'
I can't say I was a big fan of Galactic Civilizations 2. I played it for a couple hours, but it just felt soulless.
I have heard of Elemental, but the combat style has me a bit worried. I much prefer the standard turn-based, but it sounds like its going to be more like real-time with pause. Maybe it will work, maybe not, but I consider that type of combat a strike against it.
I can't say I was a big fan of Galactic Civilizations 2. I played it for a couple hours, but it just felt soulless.
I have heard of Elemental, but the combat style has me a bit worried. I much prefer the standard turn-based, but it sounds like its going to be more like real-time with pause. Maybe it will work, maybe not, but I consider that type of combat a strike against it.
# posted by : January 07, 2010 9:17 AM
: January 07, 2010 9:17 AM
I can't speak to the initial release of GalCiv 2 - I deliberately avoided the purchase because I knew what it would do to my free time. So I bought it with the first expansion, and only played it with that and the Twilight of the Arnor expansion.
And especially after ToA, I don't know I could go back to just playing the previous versions. I close my eyes and STILL see the nastiest, most contested areas of space in my last mega knock-down, drag-out game - and that was months ago.
So I'm a big fan. I still *kinda* miss the tactical combat of MOO1 and MOO2 (and the more interesting weaponry that allowed for), but the depth and AI of Gal Civ 2 (+ expansions) really more than made up for it with me.
(For a great write-up, check out this playthrough of a huge game...)
And especially after ToA, I don't know I could go back to just playing the previous versions. I close my eyes and STILL see the nastiest, most contested areas of space in my last mega knock-down, drag-out game - and that was months ago.
So I'm a big fan. I still *kinda* miss the tactical combat of MOO1 and MOO2 (and the more interesting weaponry that allowed for), but the depth and AI of Gal Civ 2 (+ expansions) really more than made up for it with me.
(For a great write-up, check out this playthrough of a huge game...)
Just a quick shout - If you like HOMM, you should definitely try the new King's Bounty game. The original is the main inspiration for the HOMM games, but the new ones has an even more addictive gameplay. It is superb, balancing turn-based units, magic, and "rage" which is like mana but goes up in a fight. Very, very satisfying, with really strange/funny dialogue...
I would highly recommend Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic for a modern version of HOMM. http://www.ageofwonders.com/
# posted by : January 08, 2010 4:47 AM
: January 08, 2010 4:47 AM
WorkRave will do the alarm thing but it can also completely lock you out of any input to your computer after the alarm goes off, for however many minutes it takes for you to decide to actually get up and do something.
Turn based strategy games rock. I'm currently playing the first expansion for HOMM5. Very pretty, seems like decent strategy, but it gets somewhat repetitive, possibly because the tactics aren't that great.
MOO3 was the worst game I ever payed full price for, though.
My main strategy on HOMM3 was to get a hero with earth and air mastery, so you could bounce around with town portal and dimension door.
MOO3 was the worst game I ever payed full price for, though.
My main strategy on HOMM3 was to get a hero with earth and air mastery, so you could bounce around with town portal and dimension door.
@owlish: Trespasser was the worst I ever had the displeasure of purchasing. But MOO3 is high on the list - perhaps #2. I actually suffered through playing it... I think three times. The second time was because I figured I maybe just didn't understand it the first time (those games usually take a full playthrough just to figure out how to play). The third time --- I don't think I finished a third game; I was just trying to disprove to myself that they butchered the series, and I couldn't do it. It really did suck that bad.
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