I'm curious and poking around the edges, but I every time I dig into some videos and let's plays of it I'm left wondering whether it's just a mess of tons and tons of stuff which is "complex by weight" only, as opposed to actually having some deep and satisfying gameplay- say, a Rule the Waves (which I would argue does have such gameplay, most of the time) vs. something like Caveman 2 Cosmos (a Civ IV mod with almost a thousand techs but that I think is notable just for having so much stuff within it as opposed to the stuff necessarily being compelling). Anyone ever play this at length?
https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=24321.0 (https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=24321.0)
https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=24468.msg668261#msg668261 (https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=24468.msg668261#msg668261)
https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=22993.0 (https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=22993.0)
https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=21415.0 (https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=21415.0)
https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=4912.0 (https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=4912.0)
...among others.
So uh... you're saying I should use teh googlez, huh? :grin:
Quote from: CaptainKoloth on August 08, 2023, 06:48:24 AMSo uh... you're saying I should use teh googlez, huh? :grin:
the search feature around here is actually pretty good!
Aurora is a game I get into periodically and then obsess over for months before taking a break. My cycle usually corresponds to Steve's update schedule. The v2.2 patch has been in the works for almost a year and it has some major new features I've been waiting for, so I haven't really played since the early v2.1 days.
I love Aurora and to answer your question, I do not think it is "complexity by weight". I think the parts fit together in a way that makes for a very rewarding and satisfying strategic experience. It is totally worth the investment in time to learn and explore. In fact, it is so worth it, that I've repeated the process several times. Its so complex that when I put it down for several months, I typically need to relearn much of it when I pick it back up.
IIRC Steve originally wrote Aurora to be a mechanism for him to write stories, rather than as a game. It may have evolved into more of a game over the years. I haven't played it in a long time.
Quote from: Geezer on August 08, 2023, 08:38:01 AMIIRC Steve originally wrote Aurora to be a mechanism for him to write stories, rather than as a game. It may have evolved into more of a game over the years. I haven't played it in a long time.
It hasn't. It is still primarily a role playing tool to assist in fiction. But, it is certainly one helluva tool.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on August 08, 2023, 08:49:34 AMQuote from: Geezer on August 08, 2023, 08:38:01 AMIIRC Steve originally wrote Aurora to be a mechanism for him to write stories, rather than as a game. It may have evolved into more of a game over the years. I haven't played it in a long time.
It hasn't. It is still primarily a role playing tool to assist in fiction. But, it is certainly one helluva tool.
I understand that Tom Clancy did something similar with the
HARPOON board game (although the game was not designed for the purpose of supporting fiction). "Northen Fury H hour" did something similar with
Command Modern Operations, but like
HARPOON, the game existed before the fiction. I've never heard of it being done in the reverse order. Has any fiction actually come out of
Aurora?
Quote from: Tripoli on August 08, 2023, 09:17:17 AMHas any fiction actually come out of Aurora?
A $hitload. There is a whole section for C# fiction in the official forums. As far as anything being published, I can't say, but it wouldn't shock me.
Here are some recent Aurora AARs
Battlestar Galactica Theme: http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=12909.0
Warhammer 40k Theme: http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=12590.0
British Empire in Space in 1890: http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=12714.0
Thanks for posting here Steve! :notworthy:
Quote from: Geezer on August 10, 2023, 09:39:31 AMThanks for posting here Steve! :notworthy:
Same! I'm still trying to decide if the game is "for me" but I am regardless in awe of what you have accomplished singlehandedly with it!
Official site has been down for what feels like several weeks. Hope everything is ok.
Steve, if you're lurking, check in and give an update! :notworthy:
Afaik there's a guy who checks it's up on a regular basis - I was there last week
I've TRIED to play Aurora 4X. Emphasis on tried. I also failed miserably.
Quote from: SpaceGameJunkie on February 18, 2025, 12:09:26 PMI've TRIED to play Aurora 4X. Emphasis on tried. I also failed miserably.
YouTube tutorials are your friend
Quote from: undercovergeek on February 18, 2025, 01:27:06 PMQuote from: SpaceGameJunkie on February 18, 2025, 12:09:26 PMI've TRIED to play Aurora 4X. Emphasis on tried. I also failed miserably.
YouTube tutorials are your friend
Nah, I still cried.
Quote from: SpaceGameJunkie on February 18, 2025, 12:09:26 PMI've TRIED to play Aurora 4X. Emphasis on tried. I also failed miserably.
Aurora is definitely an acquired taste and it is not going to be the 4x game for everyone. That being said, it is singularly unique and there is nothing else out there that comes even close to its complexity. For some, this is what makes it so great...for others, it is what makes it unplayable.
^ Boxquote for War in the West / War in the East 2 :cool:
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on February 17, 2025, 10:16:19 PMOfficial site has been down for what feels like several weeks. Hope everything is ok.
Steve, if you're lurking, check in and give an update! :notworthy:
The forums are run by Erik Luken, who has put a lot of work in over the years. There has been a problem in recent weeks, but I believe it should be resolved soon.
You can still access the forum in the meantime using the internet archive, although its read-only:
https://web.archive.org/web/20250202181720/http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php
If anyone wants an overview of the gameplay, my last campaign AAR was the longest so far. It's an alternate history where the Imperial Japanese Navy conquers the world and heads into space in 1960 :) Also on the internet archive and on the forums once they are back up.
https://web.archive.org/web/20241117221459/http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13595.0
(you will need to copy-paste the links rather than clicking on them)
Quote from: Steve Walmsley on February 21, 2025, 07:16:39 AMQuote from: Jarhead0331 on February 17, 2025, 10:16:19 PMOfficial site has been down for what feels like several weeks. Hope everything is ok.
Steve, if you're lurking, check in and give an update! :notworthy:
The forums are run by Erik Luken, who has put a lot of work in over the years. There has been a problem in recent weeks, but I believe it should be resolved soon.
You can still access the forum in the meantime using the internet archive, although its read-only:
https://web.archive.org/web/20250202181720/http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php
If anyone wants an overview of the gameplay, my last campaign AAR was the longest so far. It's an alternate history where the Imperial Japanese Navy conquers the world and heads into space in 1960 :) Also on the internet archive and on the forums once they are back up.
https://web.archive.org/web/20241117221459/http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13595.0
(you will need to copy-paste the links rather than clicking on them)
Thanks, Steve. Please let Erik know to reach out if he ever needs help. Our forums run on the same software (SMF) and I've become somewhat of an amateur expert with respect to common issues and hosting.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on February 21, 2025, 08:14:28 AMThanks, Steve. Please let Erik know to reach out if he ever needs help. Our forums run on the same software (SMF) and I've become somewhat of an amateur expert with respect to common issues and hosting.
Thanks, I will let him know.
2.6.0 dropped yesterday...a huge amount of changes.
https://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13463.0 (https://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13463.0)
Quote from: undercovergeek on February 18, 2025, 01:27:06 PMQuote from: SpaceGameJunkie on February 18, 2025, 12:09:26 PMI've TRIED to play Aurora 4X. Emphasis on tried. I also failed miserably.
YouTube tutorials are your friend
Ain't nobody got time for that.
If anyone wants an idea of gameplay, here is a recent AAR with the Imperial Japanese Navy going into space.
https://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13595.0
This is WH40k themed.
https://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13790.0
Quote from: Steve Walmsley on September 08, 2025, 09:01:24 AMIf anyone wants an idea of gameplay, here is a recent AAR with the Imperial Japanese Navy going into space.
https://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13595.0
This is WH40k themed.
https://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13790.0
Is the IJN one 2.5 Steve?
Asking to see if I could use the IJN one to assist starting a 2.6 game
The fleet/ship orders menu seems to have changed. Still trying to get comfortable with the new layout and system for setting standing orders with modifying conditions.
Quote from: undercovergeek on September 08, 2025, 11:22:39 AMQuote from: Steve Walmsley on September 08, 2025, 09:01:24 AMIf anyone wants an idea of gameplay, here is a recent AAR with the Imperial Japanese Navy going into space.
https://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13595.0
This is WH40k themed.
https://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=13790.0
Is the IJN one 2.5 Steve?
Asking to see if I could use the IJN one to assist starting a 2.6 game
It's partway between the v2.5.1. release and the v2.6 release. I used it as a test campaign, but its still a very good example of how the game plays.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on August 08, 2023, 08:25:18 AMQuote from: CaptainKoloth on August 08, 2023, 06:48:24 AMSo uh... you're saying I should use teh googlez, huh? :grin:
the search feature around here is actually pretty good!
Aurora is a game I get into periodically and then obsess over for months before taking a break. My cycle usually corresponds to Steve's update schedule. The v2.2 patch has been in the works for almost a year and it has some major new features I've been waiting for, so I haven't really played since the early v2.1 days.
I love Aurora and to answer your question, I do not think it is "complexity by weight". I think the parts fit together in a way that makes for a very rewarding and satisfying strategic experience. It is totally worth the investment in time to learn and explore. In fact, it is so worth it, that I've repeated the process several times. Its so complex that when I put it down for several months, I typically need to relearn much of it when I pick it back up.
+1
Steep learning curve. UI takes effort. Really good game, though.