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Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: steve58 on August 25, 2019, 04:58:14 PM

Title: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: steve58 on August 25, 2019, 04:58:14 PM
Like the SL sez, which one?  When you get an hour or two to sit down and game.  I've got way too many games in my Steam/MG/GG/GMG/etc accts and just bought all of Civ VI (I will play it honest!), but...when the time come to sit down and have some fun, I almost always fire up World of Warships (THAT may change now that subs ARE coming  >:().  Just curious... :-\
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Grim.Reaper on August 25, 2019, 05:16:14 PM
actionpc golf...
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Wburn on August 25, 2019, 05:40:44 PM
Yep, World of Warships is my go to fun game.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Con on August 25, 2019, 05:49:07 PM
Solitaire
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Jarhead0331 on August 25, 2019, 05:58:54 PM
X-Com UFO Defense. The one game to rule them all.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Moreb on August 25, 2019, 06:11:50 PM
Mius Front. It's my favorite game of all time, just above the original CM.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: nelmsm on August 25, 2019, 06:52:36 PM
EUIV. I guess the what if keeps sucking me and I've always got a game in mid-session to jump back into
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: JasonPratt on August 25, 2019, 06:59:26 PM
Heh, I was about to post a new thread to alert anyone interested that both Battle for Middle Earth II: Rise of the Witch King and also Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War: Soulstorm have had their super-mods updated recently (and the basic fan-patch for RotrWK).  :smitten:

That's "Age of the Ring" for BfME2:RotWK, and "Ultimate Apocalypse" for DoW:SS.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Old TImer on August 25, 2019, 07:14:56 PM
Football Manager 20xx
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: SirAndrewD on August 25, 2019, 07:56:15 PM
Whatever the latest version of Civilization is, or Elite Dangerous. 

I also revisit the Total War titles a lot.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Barthheart on August 25, 2019, 07:58:39 PM
Civ VI.... 1400+ hrs and counting..... trying really hard to play other things ... but when tired and just want to play something this gets started..... before that it was Civ V @ 2400+ hrs.... madness really....  :uglystupid2:

Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: WallysWorld on August 25, 2019, 08:00:35 PM
Train Simulator as it's just plain relaxing to play.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Sir Slash on August 25, 2019, 09:52:10 PM
For just plain fun and relaxation, it's still Skyrim for me. I can always find something new to kill or explore, either way I'm happy.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Bardolph on August 25, 2019, 10:51:04 PM
Rocket League, but it isn't always that relaxing lol.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: MetalDog on August 25, 2019, 11:12:59 PM
Civ IV Beyond the Sword.  Although, Field of Glory: Empires has me in its grip right now.  54 hours in 3 weeks.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: AchillesLastStand on August 26, 2019, 12:11:54 AM
Men of War Assault Squad 2, playing multiplayer. Have 1800 hours in game according to Steam, half of that however is probably waiting in the lobby. :DD
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on August 26, 2019, 01:07:30 AM
War Thunder.  Been having a blast with the naval warfare portion lately.  I find zipping around in War Thunder's high speed torpedo boats much more visceral and engaging than lumbering along in the capital ships from World of Warships.

I play realistic battles but most people go arcade.  This was the only video of realistic battles I could find.  The guy's gunnery skills are terrible and his gfx settings aren't maxxed but it gives you an idea of what the gameplay is like.  I prefer realistic because it doesn't put names or highlights over enemy units.  Nor does it auto highlight enemy torpedo tracks.   Most importantly, you have to manually adjust gunnery range and take the motion of both your ship and your target into account when aiming. 





Here's arcade battles.

Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: bayonetbrant on August 26, 2019, 05:44:30 AM
Civ 5
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Anguille on August 26, 2019, 06:50:11 AM
Master of Orion (1993)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on August 26, 2019, 06:54:48 AM
Field of Glory series, Total War series, AssCreed series, and even Age of Empires and Diablo series sometimes.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: jamus34 on August 26, 2019, 08:00:09 AM
Quote from: Anguille on August 26, 2019, 06:50:11 AM
Master of Orion (1993)

+1

Been a while but yes this is my comfort food
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: MengJiao on August 26, 2019, 08:02:02 AM
Quote from: steve58 on August 25, 2019, 04:58:14 PM
Like the SL sez, which one?  When you get an hour or two to sit down and game.  I've got way too many games in my Steam/MG/GG/GMG/etc accts and just bought all of Civ VI (I will play it honest!), but...when the time come to sit down and have some fun, I almost always fire up World of Warships (THAT may change now that subs ARE coming  >:().  Just curious... :-\

  DCS...at least for the last few years.  I just play in the editor more or less so its not very stressful.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Huw the Poo on August 26, 2019, 08:36:21 AM
Well, I can't imagine I'll ever get bored of Tower Unite especially as they keep adding to it all the time (arcade coming soon!).  It's what my gaming group use to warm up before the serious part of the evening.

But a more accurate answer to the question would be Sins of a Solar Empire.  As far as I'm concerned, it's as close to perfection as any space RTS will ever get.  The pacing is just perfect as it's real time but slow, it drips with atmosphere, and it's really configurable.  Any time I'm in a gaming slump I load it up and rediscover my love of gaming all over again.  I love it.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Wolfe1759 on August 26, 2019, 10:49:21 AM
Sins of a Solar Empire for me as well.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Tripoli on August 26, 2019, 12:10:23 PM
Kerbal Space Program.  To get something orbiting, even if you've done it a 100 times, is still fun.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on August 26, 2019, 02:13:51 PM
Whoops.  Wrong thread.  Play War Thunder Naval!
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Huw the Poo on August 26, 2019, 02:15:03 PM
Wrong thread mate.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: W8taminute on August 26, 2019, 03:15:34 PM
CivIII: Conquests will always be my game that I will go back to.  I spent the entire decade of the 2000s playing nothing but this game when it came out.  Just the right balance of 'one more turn' and 'cartoony graphics that don't look gay like today's civ games'.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Steelgrave on August 26, 2019, 03:33:07 PM
Whichever CIV is the latest at the time. Some were better than others, but there's not a one I don't have a thousand hours or more sunk into.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on August 26, 2019, 04:49:53 PM
HA W8...you can't use 'gay' as an adjective!
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: SirAndrewD on August 26, 2019, 04:55:59 PM
Quote from: Gusington on August 26, 2019, 04:49:53 PM
HA W8...you can't use 'gay' as an adjective!

Says the guy that likes to play "AssCreed".
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on August 26, 2019, 04:59:15 PM
I don't use it as an adjective.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: SirAndrewD on August 26, 2019, 05:55:43 PM
Quote from: Gusington on August 26, 2019, 04:59:15 PM
I don't use it as an adjective.

A very asscreedy excuse.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: MrsWargamer on August 26, 2019, 07:22:17 PM
'Gay' used that way, is so 70s schoolyard put down :)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: smittyohio on August 26, 2019, 07:42:26 PM
World of Warcraft....  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: ArizonaTank on August 26, 2019, 07:49:23 PM
Combat Mission Afrika Korps, followed closely by Mount and Blade.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: al_infierno on August 26, 2019, 08:00:48 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on August 25, 2019, 05:58:54 PM
X-Com UFO Defense. The one game to rule them all.

:notworthy:

(You missed out on the hipster points by not referring to it as UFO: Enemy Unknown ;) )
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: SirAndrewD on August 26, 2019, 08:07:32 PM
Quote from: MrsWargamer on August 26, 2019, 07:22:17 PM
'Gay' used that way, is so 70s schoolyard put down :)

Hence why Gus has brought us "Asscreedy"
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: jomni on August 26, 2019, 09:02:34 PM
War Thunder.

It's almost the only thing I play. Except for FOG 2 modding. I have lost the desire to buy new games.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on August 26, 2019, 09:30:58 PM
 :-[
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: W8taminute on August 26, 2019, 10:02:52 PM
Quote from: MrsWargamer on August 26, 2019, 07:22:17 PM
'Gay' used that way, is so 70s schoolyard put down :)

Thank you MrsWargamer for recognizing my old school ways.  We never used that term as an attack on someones lifestyle, just as a put down as you mention.   O0
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: SirAndrewD on August 26, 2019, 11:25:23 PM
Quote from: W8taminute on August 26, 2019, 10:02:52 PM
Thank you MrsWargamer for recognizing my old school ways.  We never used that term as an attack on someones lifestyle, just as a put down as you mention.   O0

As Gus would say, it was an Asscreedy move.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: FlickJax on August 27, 2019, 06:06:23 AM
Was Football Manager, Then it was World of Warcraft, then it was World of Tanks now it is Marvel Puzzle quest and slay the spire....

Throughout has been odd spells on both Civ, Panzer Corps and Whichever Total War i fancy.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: stolypin on August 27, 2019, 08:51:28 AM
Been playing Steel Panthers (now Shrapnel's SPWW2 and SPMBT) on and off for nearly a quarter century.  Haven't played it much in 2019 but have my eye on a cool Quang Tri ARVN attack scenario that I noticed for the first time in SPMBT.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on August 27, 2019, 09:11:16 AM
You are all gay, in the best possible way.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: steve58 on August 27, 2019, 09:23:55 AM
Lots of different games and types of games.  We are a diverse bunch... :)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Sir Slash on August 27, 2019, 09:58:48 AM
Except for Bacon right? We all agree Bacon should be King?  :notworthy:
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: W8taminute on August 27, 2019, 10:29:42 AM
Quote from: Gusington on August 27, 2019, 09:11:16 AM
You are all gay, in the best possible way.

We love you too bro!   :)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: GroggyGrognard on August 27, 2019, 10:41:06 AM
For me, at the moment, it's a few games.

World of Warships
TOAW IV
Combat Command
Path of Exile
Tetris Effect


Groggy
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Jarhead0331 on August 27, 2019, 01:23:14 PM
Quote from: jamus34 on August 26, 2019, 08:00:09 AM
Quote from: Anguille on August 26, 2019, 06:50:11 AM
Master of Orion (1993)

+1

Been a while but yes this is my comfort food

I'll raise you 2 and say MOO3. A modded version will always be on my hard drive.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Dammit Carl! on August 27, 2019, 03:33:37 PM
Of the games that live on my hard drive, the World of ... titles have been a constant since I got hooked on the bastards back in 2012.  Warthunder is another similar game that I've spent tons of time on and will revisit once I get my WoT fix over with - I waffle between the two as interests wax and wane.

RO2/RS and the other Tripwire title, Killing Floor are some that I've got a couple hundred hours in as well and they never leave the hard drive either.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Yskonyn on August 27, 2019, 04:57:18 PM
CIV
Elite Dangerous
DCS: World
Battlefield series
Combat Mission
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: bobarossa on August 27, 2019, 07:32:49 PM
 Imperialism II has been on my computer since it came out 20 years ago. Play it at least once a year.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Toonces on August 27, 2019, 08:59:56 PM
The Total War games are a pretty solid bet for me.  I'd say M2TW is likely my "go-to" although I haven't played it in donkeys. 

Crusader Kings 2 is another solid one.  For as much time as I've invested, I still have no real idea of how to play it well. 

We're talking low hundreds of hours for any of these games, though.  You guys logging thousands of hours in games?   :notworthy:
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: MetalDog on August 27, 2019, 10:27:01 PM
I can't document it, but, I have more than 10k hours in on Civ IV BtS.  Might even be 20.  I can verify 1802 hrs on Steam, but, that's really a drop in the bucket.  And I still can't win consistently, or at all really, on Prince.  Still play the shit out of it though.  M2TW is awesome.  CK2, too.  By four four.  Of the three, I can only beat TW.  CK2 is a lot of fun to play, but I have no idea what I am doing either.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Anguille on August 28, 2019, 01:01:29 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on August 27, 2019, 01:23:14 PM
Quote from: jamus34 on August 26, 2019, 08:00:09 AM
Quote from: Anguille on August 26, 2019, 06:50:11 AM
Master of Orion (1993)

+1

Been a while but yes this is my comfort food

I'll raise you 2 and say MOO3. A modded version will always be on my hard drive.
True. MOO3 is a great game but requires more dedication as it takes much longer to finish.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Skoop on August 28, 2019, 07:21:37 PM
DCS
IL2 BOX
Prepar3d
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: MOS:96B2P on September 01, 2019, 10:44:51 AM
Civilization IV Beyond The Sword and Combat Mission.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: FarAway Sooner on September 01, 2019, 03:47:00 PM
I don't have as much time as some of you blokes, but the game that I find myself returning over and over is Eador.  In particular, Eador: Genesis, Beyond the Horizon, is a heavily modded version of the original (not the crappy sequel that got released on Steam and is still buggy today) that just keeps drawing me back.  I'd guess I've plowed 500 hours into that game and I still haven't made it to Tier 3 monsters in my own army (there are 4 Tiers in the game).
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Pete Dero on September 01, 2019, 04:08:58 PM
I don't have a fallback game but I often end up on Twitch or Youtube watching another play a game I should be playing.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: JasonPratt on September 01, 2019, 04:49:16 PM
Booted up Empire Earth 1 (with the Age of Conquest expansion) again today. Made my eyes cross, lol! Still a great game.

(Note that if you get the GoG version, I've heard it's better NOT to install it with GoG Galaxy. But if you do, like me, be sure to set both the main EEGold and EEAoC executables to Windows 7 compatibility. And don't worry if the game boots up in 480. What matters is that the game can play in 1080, once it gets going; the menus are lower res.)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on September 02, 2019, 12:47:31 PM
I hated EE with the fire of 1000 suns.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: GJK on September 02, 2019, 08:34:16 PM
Quote from: JasonPratt on September 01, 2019, 04:49:16 PM
Booted up Empire Earth 1 (with the Age of Conquest expansion) again today. Made my eyes cross, lol! Still a great game.

(Note that if you get the GoG version, I've heard it's better NOT to install it with GoG Galaxy. But if you do, like me, be sure to set both the main EEGold and EEAoC executables to Windows 7 compatibility. And don't worry if the game boots up in 480. What matters is that the game can play in 1080, once it gets going; the menus are lower res.)


Loved Empire Earth I - that was the go to LAN game between me and my son.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: GJK on September 02, 2019, 08:44:03 PM
1. Duke Nukem 3D (with Hi-Rez Pack)
2. Played some HPS Sims' "Midway" today
3. CMx1 (Combat Mission original editions)
4. A variety of games via VASSAL


Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Martok on September 09, 2019, 03:12:10 PM
Stellaris (v2.13) has had me in its iron grip for a long time now.  It's not the game's "best" version (that will always be 1.9), but it is the one that I've consistently played the most. 


I also feel compelled to include the following games as honorable mentions... 

Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes
Distant Worlds: Universe
Rome II: Total War
Thrones of Britannia: Total War

Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Anguille on September 10, 2019, 05:02:26 PM
Quote from: Martok on September 09, 2019, 03:12:10 PM
Stellaris (v2.13) has had me in its iron grip for a long time now.  It's not the game's "best" version (that will always be 1.9), but it is the one that I've consistently played the most. 


I also feel compelled to include the following games as honorable mentions... 

Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes
Distant Worlds: Universe
Rome II: Total War
Thrones of Britannia: Total War
Wait....where is Birth of the Federation?
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Martok on September 10, 2019, 11:17:28 PM
Quote from: Anguille on September 10, 2019, 05:02:26 PM
Wait....where is Birth of the Federation?
I still return to that one as well, but admittedly not as much as I used to, and definitely less than the other games I listed.  I still fire up BOTF from time to time, and I can enjoy for it a while, but I inevitably feel like it's missing something.  :-\ 

The game will always remain on my hard drive, but I confess it's finally lost some of its luster in my eyes.  In terms of mechanics, features, and AI, I realized the majority of newer 4x/grand-strategy titles are simply better products -- not all of them, of course, but enough to keep me satisfied...and to be worthy of occupying (even my) limited gaming time. 


That being said, if Birth of the Federation 2 is ever developed/released, I'll be happier than a clam in mud.  ;) 
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Anguille on September 11, 2019, 03:21:12 AM
Quote from: Martok on September 10, 2019, 11:17:28 PM
Quote from: Anguille on September 10, 2019, 05:02:26 PM
Wait....where is Birth of the Federation?
I still return to that one as well, but admittedly not as much as I used to, and definitely less than the other games I listed.  I still fire up BOTF from time to time, and I can enjoy for it a while, but I inevitably feel like it's missing something.  :-\ 

The game will always remain on my hard drive, but I confess it's finally lost some of its luster in my eyes.  In terms of mechanics, features, and AI, I realized the majority of newer 4x/grand-strategy titles are simply better products -- not all of them, of course, but enough to keep me satisfied...and to be worthy of occupying (even my) limited gaming time. 


That being said, if Birth of the Federation 2 is ever developed/released, I'll be happier than a clam in mud.  ;)
I must admit, i haven't played it for some time either. Still waiting for a worthy successor though. Many good games but none that gives me the chills i had with BotF.  A Birth of the Federation 2 would be the best.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Barthheart on September 11, 2019, 05:22:51 AM
The Star Trek mod for Stellaris is a pretty close game to BotF. It really is worth a look if you haven't tried it.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Anguille on September 11, 2019, 06:28:07 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on September 11, 2019, 05:22:51 AM
The Star Trek mod for Stellaris is a pretty close game to BotF. It really is worth a look if you haven't tried it.
It's on my list of things to try. Unfortunately, i think Stellaris isn't a good game and i have to force myself to play it.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Martok on September 11, 2019, 05:57:54 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on September 11, 2019, 05:22:51 AM
The Star Trek mod for Stellaris is a pretty close game to BotF. It really is worth a look if you haven't tried it.
I actually do have the New Horizons mod installed (happily there's still a 2.13-compatible version), and have begun a United Earth campaign.  I just haven't gotten very far into it yet. 



Quote from: Anguille on September 11, 2019, 06:28:07 AM
Unfortunately, i think Stellaris isn't a good game and i have to force myself to play it.
I'll always wonder if you'd have enjoyed Stellaris pre-2.xx.  Probably not still, but I at least think the odds would have been better. 


It's a pity Martin replaced Henrik as game director, as I think the latter would've taken Stellaris in a different, better direction.  (No forced star lanes, for one thing!) 
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: JasonPratt on September 12, 2019, 11:22:11 AM
I worked back up to attempting the current version (recently updated and sub-patched) of Ultimate Apocalypse for Dawn of War: Soulstorm, and the past two nights I've been trying to figure out how to survive my first chosen match: I'm playing Tau (and trying to avoid using walls and turrets since they aren't supposed to have turrets), on a 3v3 deep rectangle map, right hand side. To my left are AI allies Space Marines (middle) and Necrons (left). Against us left to right are Chaos SM, Chaos Daemons, and Dark Eldar (across from me directly).

I have spent two nights now trying to figure out a build order that would let me win, or even come close to winning. My two AI mates do not seem to be pulling their weight that much; the Chaos teams swarm us down one lane or the other, then down all the lanes, and it's over. So I can't just blame it on the AI, because the other side is doing great. Also, the other side clearly varies its strategies from round to round. Moreover, far from getting confused and going into a deadloop where nothing happens, I've had the Marines send a whole swarm of builders over to help me out on more than one occasion! (I've got the extra AI processing loops turned on.)

Last night after a good three hours of bashing my head against the wall, and wondering if I had set the parameters too weirdly, I suddenly remembered: the mod's main designer has long said to be careful about playing the game on "normal" because for this mod "normal" = "hard", and "easy" = "normal", just in how things are balanced out. The mod started out defaulting to "easy", but I set it to "normal" because I forgot this warning.

Hopefully my administrative pushups will result in a better match tonight, when I set it back to "easy = normal".  ^-^ (In short, only a skilled human team should be trying to fight the AI on "normal", or possibly a 1v1 match.)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Ian C on September 12, 2019, 03:59:22 PM
Sid Meier's Pirates!
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on September 12, 2019, 05:41:39 PM
^For the dancing minigame?
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: bbmike on September 12, 2019, 05:53:08 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on September 11, 2019, 05:22:51 AM
The Star Trek mod for Stellaris is a pretty close game to BotF. It really is worth a look if you haven't tried it.

It's not turn-based.  L:-)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: JasonPratt on September 13, 2019, 08:08:05 AM
Well, "easy" turned out as recommended! -- actually "normal" for UltApoc!

It wasn't a walkover: I still needed three or four tries with different strategies to figure out how to most efficiently proceed. One thing I keep forgetting is that UltApoc treats stealthed units much more reasonably than vanilla! All units now detect stealth within a 2 meter radius; some are just better at it than others.

This means my favorite tactic, of loading up on cheap plasma-shooting spam who are inherently invisible from the beginning, the Tau scouts, doesn't work as well in Apoc as in vanilla, especially against fast-moving and/or strong melee teams. Like, for example, all three pure chaos teams! (Or the Orks, for that matter.)

Then there's the problem that the Tau have nearly the worst morale in the game, and unlike the Imperial Guard (which has the worst morale) there aren't many ways to improve their morale! Which means when they go up against teams that eat morale, like for example all of Chaos, they're at even more of a disadvantage. True, the Tau have a lot of nice vehicles which don't even have a morale component at all; but the good vehicles take real time to get out. On top of that, I'm using the rule where broken squads immediately try to retreat to the nearest strategic point, which is usually helpful for their survival (especially when I'm playing Tau in this situation), but which means it's easy for my advances to turn into routes back to relative safety, which makes group management difficult.

So how did I eventually win (even on easy)?

Step 1: I punted to my second favorite Tau tactic, and invested heavily in Kroot. They can handle melee a lot better than the squishy shooters, and while they lack all the nice upgrades they also don't cost as much in upgrades.

Step 2: I accepted that for a while, the best I was going to be able to do was to create a harassment force which would tuck tail and run fairly quickly.

Step 3: I picked up a critical location asap before my allies got to it. This would be important later for Titan productions.

Step 4: As soon as I got a nice strike force available, I surged ahead to get a relic point, while it was still fairly easy to capture it. I then capped and upgraded it, with some turrets added nearby -- I didn't want to use turrets because the Tau aren't supposed to have turrets (other than their mobile small mecha walkers), but I finally decided we're in Apocalypse now, the Tau would adjust to the situation. This protected my turrets and also gave my harassment force somewhere to retreat back to.

Step 5: I made sure the kroot puppies (at least) ate up as much as possible, as well as the other kroot. I think this version of the game tracks the hit-point upgrade individually per squad, whereas I'm used to the upgrade from feeding on dead bodies to affect all kroot globally and upon building new squads. This didn't help direct morale attacks but I think I ended the match with the same 8 kroot squads I built in the beginning!

Step 6: I took the ethereal as my first commander, since he gives some morale and hp bonuses globally and I could tuck him safely in the far backfield. (He can also spawn a free squad of elite shooters, and keep doing that slowly all game, so he gave me a little more defensive punch at the relic.)

Step 7: Whenever possible, I focused on teching up to getting a Titan out. I had two small titans out by game end, and never lost either one.

Step 8: I tried to remember to buy all relevant upgrades asap.

Step 9: Near the relic, I built a vehicle beacon, and started spamming in artillery shooters. These helped my harassment advances, and eventually they teamed up with my Titan (eventually two small Titans) to start the final pushes.

Step 10: Along the way to Titans, I had to build an Ion Cannon anyway, and that was fun.  :D

The enemy AI eventually decided it needed to focus totally on me, which gave my (somewhat lackadaisical) allies opportunities to advance, which at least crippled enemy economies. Once my first Titan arrived to turn the tide and save my defense, the enemy didn't quite give up but from that point I was able to push steadily forward for the win.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Apocalypse 31 on September 21, 2019, 01:02:56 PM
Still actively playing Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour (no mods)

Good RTS mechanics with asymmetrical factions. Lots of games claim to be spiritual successor, but few have gotten there.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: al_infierno on September 21, 2019, 02:19:04 PM
Quote from: Apocalypse 31 on September 21, 2019, 01:02:56 PM
Still actively playing Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour (no mods)

Good RTS mechanics with asymmetrical factions. Lots of games claim to be spiritual successor, but few have gotten there.

Man, this game is a relic.  I remember back when it came out, being in awe when I figured out you could unload troops from helicopters directly onto rooftops.   :dreamer:
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Elvis on September 24, 2019, 08:23:42 AM
Forgive me for posting after only having read the first page but it sparked a question........

Anyone know why my aging brain seems to remember that when Civ VI came out the reaction on this forum was "meh....it's ok"? I never even considered it after the initial reactions I saw. But 3 1/2 people on the first page mentioned it as a game they go back to! I am no Civ expert, despite hundreds of hours (not thousands as some have) having played earlier versions, but I never noticed a huge difference in the different game versions that came out. Never enough where I thought "this Civ V is SO much better than Civ IV". But Civ and Dragon Age are my go to games if I just want to step away from Combat Mission for a bit and now you guys have me thinking i should get Civ VI.

Anyway....I just added to my Wishlist so if it goes on sale I'll get an email....If i haven't gotten it before then.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Yskonyn on September 24, 2019, 08:31:34 AM
Solid choice IMO
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on September 24, 2019, 12:05:08 PM
Dragon Age - I need to play some Inquisition for a bit. Been playing Elder Scroll Online for the last couple of days and it's not really doing it for me.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: al_infierno on September 24, 2019, 02:09:12 PM
Quote from: Elvis on September 24, 2019, 08:23:42 AM
Forgive me for posting after only having read the first page but it sparked a question........

Anyone know why my aging brain seems to remember that when Civ VI came out the reaction on this forum was "meh....it's ok"? I never even considered it after the initial reactions I saw. But 3 1/2 people on the first page mentioned it as a game they go back to! I am no Civ expert, despite hundreds of hours (not thousands as some have) having played earlier versions, but I never noticed a huge difference in the different game versions that came out. Never enough where I thought "this Civ V is SO much better than Civ IV". But Civ and Dragon Age are my go to games if I just want to step away from Combat Mission for a bit and now you guys have me thinking i should get Civ VI.

Anyway....I just added to my Wishlist so if it goes on sale I'll get an email....If i haven't gotten it before then.

Civ seems to be one of those series where the vanilla release is pretty meh, but the expansions end up adding enough layers or changing things that were wonky to the point that it eventually becomes a proper successor to the previous game.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: MiguelHQ on September 25, 2019, 03:10:39 AM
EU IV for me, I've spent hundreds of hour in the EU collection from I to IV.
And Ageod Birth of America its also a game I always come back to.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Sir Slash on September 25, 2019, 10:35:43 AM
I like BoA too considering it's age now. The Weather Effects can be dramatic.  :hide:
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Ian C on September 26, 2019, 08:57:11 AM
Quote from: Gusington on September 12, 2019, 05:41:39 PM
^For the dancing minigame?

Heck no, that's the one part of the game I hate, but it is hilarious when you mess up during it.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: ArizonaTank on September 26, 2019, 09:24:34 AM
Quote from: Elvis on September 24, 2019, 08:23:42 AM
...and now you guys have me thinking i should get Civ VI.

Civ VI is my favorite of the lot. I say go for it.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Anguille on September 26, 2019, 09:37:26 AM
Quote from: Ian C on September 26, 2019, 08:57:11 AM
Quote from: Gusington on September 12, 2019, 05:41:39 PM
^For the dancing minigame?

Heck no, that's the one part of the game I hate, but it is hilarious when you mess up during it.

I almost always mess up during it.... L:-)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Sir Slash on September 26, 2019, 10:56:06 AM
Drinking ALWAYS helps my dancing, digital or otherwise.  <:-)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on September 26, 2019, 01:35:59 PM
Hate it or not, the dancing minigame was pretty novel - and difficult 😎
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: W8taminute on September 26, 2019, 02:35:23 PM
Wait, there's a dancing minigame in Civ 6 now?
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: MC on September 26, 2019, 02:44:55 PM
Quote from: W8taminute on September 26, 2019, 02:35:23 PM
Wait, there's a dancing minigame in Civ 6 now?

Yes, but unfortunately the AI has two left feet. Fix the AI!

Actually, that reference is to Sid Meier's Pirates!   :)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on September 26, 2019, 05:44:39 PM
The dancing minigame I do with Civ VI is toy with buying it every time there is a discount and then changing my mind at the last second.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: al_infierno on September 26, 2019, 06:19:26 PM
Quote from: Gusington on September 26, 2019, 05:44:39 PM
The dancing minigame I do with Civ VI is toy with buying it every time there is a discount and then changing my mind at the last second.

:2funny:
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on September 26, 2019, 09:09:28 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: gabeeg on September 28, 2019, 01:55:15 PM
Hands down...not even close is OOTP (Out of the Park Baseball to the uninitiated).
I have had one game world going since OOTP 12/13 and I think I am currently in the year 2056 (but it may be at an end as am getting crashes with this DB and restoring from backup did not fix it).  May start the new game at the turn of the century.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: DennisS on September 28, 2019, 08:28:47 PM
Quote from: gabeeg on September 28, 2019, 01:55:15 PM
Hands down...not even close is OOTP (Out of the Park Baseball to the uninitiated).
I have had one game world going since OOTP 12/13 and I think I am currently in the year 2056 (but it may be at an end as am getting crashes with this DB and restoring from backup did not fix it).  May start the new game at the turn of the century.

I have purchase almost every version of this game since 2002.

If you want to read a fun dynasty of mine, search for "Robert J. (Bubba) Jones." Last check, I had 30 thousand views.   :)
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Huw the Poo on September 29, 2019, 03:17:22 AM
I have at least one version of OOTP, but not knowing a thing about baseball, I have absolutely no idea how to play it.  Shame really, it looks great.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: jamus34 on September 29, 2019, 09:43:52 AM
Quote from: Huw the Poo on September 29, 2019, 03:17:22 AM
I have at least one version of OOTP, but not knowing a thing about baseball, I have absolutely no idea how to play it.  Shame really, it looks great.

You hit a round ball with a cylindrical stick and run around a square.

J/k but in all honesty the OOTP series is probably a perfect representation of the game today. It is all analytics and tendencies. When to start this player, when to replace that pitcher, etc.

I actually like the series but it's more because I am an analytics geek. I haven't watched an MLB game in probably a decade though.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Gusington on September 29, 2019, 02:19:54 PM
NERDS...nerds never change.

Thank God.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: Huw the Poo on September 29, 2019, 02:30:06 PM
Quote from: jamus34 on September 29, 2019, 09:43:52 AM
I actually like the series but it's more because I am an analytics geek.

I kind of am too, and I generally scratch that itch playing Grand Prix Racing Online (http://gpro.se).  I'm sure I'd enjoy OOTP if I could get into it, but to the uninitiated it's absolutely overwhelming.  I don't even know where to begin.
Title: Re: What's that one game you always go back to?
Post by: ArizonaTank on September 29, 2019, 03:41:54 PM
Quote from: gabeeg on September 28, 2019, 01:55:15 PM
Hands down...not even close is OOTP (Out of the Park Baseball to the uninitiated).
I have had one game world going since OOTP 12/13 and I think I am currently in the year 2056 (but it may be at an end as am getting crashes with this DB and restoring from backup did not fix it).  May start the new game at the turn of the century.

I love OOTP baseball for the historical game options.  For example, replaying the 1906 World Series. Chicago vs. Chicago. Or playing the 1927 season and watching the Yankees run over everyone else.