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Sophokles

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  13. Great new game to play while waiting for 0AD

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Sophokles

    I'm sorry for bumping this thread. Maybe this is better left dead.

    So anyway, I got Grand Ages: Rome by Kalypso Media. It's a German studio that's coming out with Tropico 3 this October. The game is a unique city-builder/RTT hybrid. I think it has similarities to Caesar, the Roman city-builder equivalent of Zeus:Master of Olympus . It's forgettable, but worth doing a review.

    Pros

    • Good, non-intensive graphics in a fully 3D world
    • Interesting storyline. Set in the fall of the Roman Republic, you pick a gens. You start out with one mission in which you help a family member in exile. Then you get requests from more well-known clients. Marcus Crassus helps you build up Genoa. Cicero shows you the Georgics and wants you to build a farming town. In the east, you fight Mithradates with a relative who soon gets bumped. Eventually, your friend Gaius Julius dies and you must choose between the optimates and the populares. Your patrons become the Second Triumvirate and Cleopatra. There's a free build, but the highlight here is the campaign.
    • Slighly non-linear. You do them in order, but you usually have 4 or 5 missions available at a time.
    • Realistic choice of units. No fictional uints like Arcani or Praetorian Cavalry. :)

    Cons

    • Awkward city building. It's great, but it feels like the only purpose of building a city is for battle (in combat missions). Still, it's much better than RTS's.
    • Special powers? I like how in R:TW the traits and abilites were more subtle. It has a weird 'only in video games' feel that is hard to describe.
    • Dead. Even though this is a sequel(to Impirivum Romanvm), there is no player base or news to speak of. Go to the website and you'll see what I mean.

    Bottom line: Would I buy it again? (n) If you are a hard core gamer or ultra-interested in this time period, go ahead. The only reason I am saying that is because i would go for a more popular game first.

    So before you reply, answer these questions for me if you will :ok:

    1. Does anyone here remember Zeus: Master of Olympus?

    2. Hey, is anyone here old enough to remember when it was in a heyday? Did it even have a heyday?

    3. Does anyone here own GA:R and would add something?

  16. Combat system

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I like Rome: Total War because there is both a campaign and a battle mode, very distinct from each other. I usually avoid RTS's because it feels like the only point of building a city is for making troops. In RTW, the cities are much more realistic (happiness, food, plague, etc.)

  18. Campaign Mode?

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Sophokles

    Are they all truly equal? Think about it. I'm afraid there isn't enough material for the Iberians. I'm surprised they're even being included. Fate favored Rome and Hellas in terms of epicness. For that reason, it would be a gross distortion of history to make all the campaigns the same size.

    BTW, don't include anything about the Guns of Navarone in the game. Just an obscure joke.

  20. Campaign Mode?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    This thread got me thinking: if the menu of campaigns was that of food, what would it look like?

    Appetizer: Minoan(Greek) A little village building tutorial.

    Now something to get you going:

    Starter: Siege of Carthage(Roman) Short and quick

    Time for heavier stuff:

    Entree: Trojan War(Greek) Long, mythic, epic

    Entree: Golden Age of Athens(Greek) Short but grand

    Entree: Dream of Xerxes(Persian) Medium in length. Of course, defeat is inevitable. ;):P

    And now we come to our highlight:

    Main course: Roman Republic(Rome) Epic, long, decision-based, and grand with a capital Γ

    A clincher:

    4th course: Gallic Wars(Celt) Kind of short but action-packed.

    And finally, a sweet dessert:

    Dessert: The Guns of Navarone(Greek) What do you think? :P:P;):)

    How about a digestif?

    Digestif: Defense of Spain(Iberian) Medium in length, light, Roman pwnage(of course)

  24. About The Hellenic Factions

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I agree. Hastati used their pila more than the principes.

    Speaking of pila, will there be friendly fire in the game? Cause in most RTS games, arrows and such cause damage even if they don't actually land on the target. For that reason, I hate it when the lightest, fastest cavalry get hit by catapults EVEN WHEN THEY CLEARLY OUTRUN THEM.

    Of course, friendly fire or out-running artillery are characteristics of RTT and not RTS games. In real life, however, I am sure that quite a few unlucky velites were killed by impatient hastati.

    Postscriptum: Are there even velites in the game? Because I can't imagine armored principes as skirmishers.

  25. About The Hellenic Factions

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Pardon my brother. ;) He has not yet read the FAQ, forum, or comments. He's doing all of that now.

    So anyway, how much strength is given to tactics and to the counter system? For example: A hoplite can take on an equite 1v1, but not when charging up a hill. Or how about fanatics destroying tirarii behind their line but not in front?

    I can't wait to see the result. It looks like you guys had the insight that RTS+tactics=realistic combat.

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