14-01-2004 07:57									#1
	New Game Selection Advice Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

I need help... seriously. I am ashamed to say it, but CIV has bored me once again. I have loved every CIV game since CIVII (never plaved the first one), and now I am at ends on what to buy next.

To help with suggestions here are some of what I have liked (besides civ):

- Master of Magic; but since I can't get it to work on my OS I am screwed.
- Total Annilation
- Command and Conquer (bored of it too, liked it more for MP play)
- Sim City (also bored of it), didn't like any other Sim game or Tycoon game
- Privateer and another game I forget the name of that had you as an old frigate and set up trade lanes, up grade boats, etc.
- Ceaser, all of them
- Master of Orion 2, I bought the 3rd one expecting it to fill the void, but it sucks.
- Master of Might and Magic, but better as MP


That's about it. I would like a single player game with lots of micromanagement and a good "feel"... I like the games to have lots of play time so that you can't start the same but compose the game yourself differently.

If there are any suggestions, please reply.

Thanks.

	14-01-2004 09:07									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Adequate replacements for Master of Magic would be Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Complete and Age of Wonders Shadow Magic

C&C Generals is ok - though I think I preferred Red Alert 2

Freelancer is somewhat similar to Privateer but is fairly short

Galactic Civilizations is ok , but doesn't surpass MOO2

If you like lots of micromanagement, the Paradox games (Europa Universalis 2, or the more recent Victoria) have plenty of that

	14-01-2004 09:20									#3
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

get RA2 + yuri for cheap $$$

or get warcraft3 + frozen throne.

	14-01-2004 10:28									#4
	Got spare money?

Freelancer is nice. Lots of mods for it, and there's online play that let's you cruise the whole sector and play with or against other players.

Age of Wonders is nice also.

	14-01-2004 16:52									#5
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

If you go RTS another vote for Frozen Throne. But from your choices I think you might like different TBS games like Warlords4 and Age of Wonders 2.

	14-01-2004 22:16									#6
	Support Apolyton

Thanks

I have several of the Heroes of Might and Magic, use to play hot seat all the time, I should load it up again.

Age of Wonders and Warlords were recommended to me by my bro-in-law, so I guess I really should check those out.

	14-01-2004 22:18									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

If you liked the HoMM series those TBS games I suggested are definitely worth checking out.

	14-01-2004 22:42									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

I just went and read reviews and checked out screen shots of Age of Wonders 2, Warlords 4, and Victoria... They all look great, problem I have now is what to get first!!!

Thanks again.

	14-01-2004 22:47									#9
	Increase Your PM Length

The total war games are good. Medieval total war has more complex strategies than the original 'Shogun'. Rome total war is due out in 2004 and the concept is awesome.

Although it's RTS, I liked WC3.

	14-01-2004 22:50									#10
	Put an end to popups!

As can be seen, I use to like RTS games, but now I have responsibilities that take me away from the computer at random times, so TBS works better. Since saying "one more turn" is more of a standard than "one more frag."

	14-01-2004 22:52									#11
	Increase Your PM Length

Regarding Age of Wonders 2:

There is Age of Wonders 2: The Wizard's Throne
and its successor / Expansion Shadow Magic (it is standalone so it doesn't need AOW2: Wizards Throne though)

Wizard's Throne is fairly cheap now, however, Shadow Magic adds many features , including a good random map generator.

I don't have Wizard's Throne, only Shadow Magic, but ZargonX has both and he told me that once you have Shadow Magic, its extra features made Wizard's Throne not necessary anymore.

	14-01-2004 22:54									#12
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Yes Shadow Magic is definitely the way to go if you are buying new. AOW was easy, and they compensated by making AOW2 a pig. AOW2: SM is the Goldilocksian happy medium.

	14-01-2004 22:56									#13
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: ZargonX has both and he told me that once you have Shadow Magic, its extra features made Wizard's Throne not necessary anymore.

Thanks for clearing that. I saw both, and got that it was "stand alone" but didn't know if was "the same yet different" in an inclusive way.

	14-01-2004 22:59									#14
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

I'll second AoW: Shadow Magic.

	14-01-2004 22:59									#15
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Total war is turn-based.

	14-01-2004 23:03									#16
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by SpencerH Total war is turn-based.

The turnbased (strategic) part of the game is pretty crappy, though. It's the realtime (tactical combat) that makes it.

Anyways, I'd wait untill Rome: Total War. That must be almost done by now... I should check on it's progress.

	14-01-2004 23:18									#17
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

I'm finding that MTW to have much more strategic depth than Shogun TW. I'm on my fourth campaign and each has been different. It's kinda like EU2 in that you can add the depth by the choices you make.

	14-01-2004 23:19									#18
	Remove this text

I really like the Total War series.........Rome TW should be great.

	14-01-2004 23:21									#19
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Total War looks intimidating What's with the cards?

	14-01-2004 23:53									#20
	Increase Your PM Length

Cards?

	15-01-2004 00:04									#21
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

If you're talking about the bottom of the screen, those aren't cards, that's your different units' status.

	15-01-2004 00:36									#22
	Re: New Game Selection Advice Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: - Master of Magic

If you liked Master of Magic you might like Dominions II, one of the few games that comes close in complexity. You can find the demo at Shrapnel Games .

EDIT: Now that I think about it your probably better of trying the Dominions I demo first if you're interested, since the other demo dosn't have a manual. The Dominions I demo can be found here .

	15-01-2004 02:14									#23
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

Thanks Quantum, that game looks awesome I'll give it a shot.

I just ran out and bought Age of Wonders:SM, looks fun. The only thing I think it might be lacking is lack of complexity in initial character generation. One thing I liked about MoM was the many ways you could start out the game, just by allocating points. Still, this game looks promising, I'll give it a shot this evening.

	15-01-2004 02:49									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Is the only way to get Dominions II to order it? From what I am seeing it is hard to find.

	15-01-2004 03:34									#25
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I just skipped the demo and ordered the game...

If it sucks I am going to put quantum on ignore

	15-01-2004 04:17									#26
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

played dominions 2 some

decent concept and application, but has some ballancing issues

Jon Miller

	15-01-2004 08:38									#27
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Japher I just skipped the demo and ordered the game...

In that case be sure to check out the FAQs on the shrapnel games forums after you read the manual. They can really help the high learning curve.

	15-01-2004 21:52									#28
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

I like games with a high learning curve

I check out the faqs, I also saw a patch...

I played Age of Wonders last night. Didn't have a lot of time to play, but I got through the first few tutorials. My first impressions is that while it appears to be alot like Heroes of Might and Magic, there is a lot more there that can be done... That it allows you to use your imagination... I think I will have fun with this game

	16-01-2004 04:57									#29
	Increase the size of your Attachments

By the way, just picked up a February 2004 issue of PC Gamer and they have the 60MB demo of Dominions 2 on it (along with Deus Ex 2, Uru Beyond Myst and Silent Storm Demos).