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Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 10:40:53 AM

Title: Help finding a game
Post by: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 10:40:53 AM
I'm looking for recommendation of a game that has some complex diplomacy and espionage. Preferably a 4x or some type of empire building game. I  looking for something similar to "Distant Worlds" model of espionage....obviously besides DW
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: republic on June 23, 2013, 11:08:48 AM
Crusader Kings II is the first thing that comes to mind, but you may already have that.
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: Kushan on June 23, 2013, 11:16:05 AM
I don't know of any 4x game that's done espionage good. DW is probably the most useful espionage system I've seen.

Another game to look at would be Vicky 2.
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: reapagan on June 23, 2013, 12:28:26 PM
Birth of the Federation is a 4x that handles espionage at the strategic level. Damned Tal Shiar and Obsidian order seemed quite effective as I recall. Basically stealing research, sabotaging your projects, destroying your ships, and giving credits to your enemies to use against you was how it worked. I think giving orders for doing your own espionage was rather vague and consisted more of giving resources to bolster effectiveness.
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 12:45:18 PM
Yeah, I have CK2. Espionage is basically just assassinations basically. Have not tried Birth of a federation. I'm in the mood for a civ/eu style empire builder but I want some in depth espionage like DW. Oh well
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: Darkspire on June 23, 2013, 01:06:02 PM
Quote from: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 10:40:53 AM
I'm looking for recommendation of a game that has some complex diplomacy and espionage. Preferably a 4x or some type of empire building game. I  looking for something similar to "Distant Worlds" model of espionage....obviously besides DW

Imperium Galactica II: Alliances or Galactic Civilizations are the two IMHO best 4x (space) espionage and diplomacy models that I have played about with, if the IGII espionage and the GC diplomacy could be merged into DW I would be a very happy camper.

Darkspire
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: GJK on June 23, 2013, 01:07:01 PM
Blood Bowl!!!

Sorry, I'm on a Blood Bowl kick as of late.  :)
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: bbmike on June 23, 2013, 02:35:02 PM
For me it would be Alpha Centauri with the Alien Crossfire expansion. Both at GoG.com right now!
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 03:30:01 PM
Not a bad idea..can't remember, did AC have deep espionage? In remember having spies but not what you could do with them
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 03:58:22 PM
Does SMAC from GOG work on windows 7? I keep seeing threads about peoe having to add lines of code or change compatibility modes, etc
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: bbmike on June 23, 2013, 04:27:17 PM
Yeah, it works. Changing the config.ini file is easy and we can help you with that! Also, there's an unofficial patch  (http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?action=downloads;cat=2)that corrects a lot of bugs in the original game and it's still being updated.
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 06:28:43 PM
Ok. I am going to grab it. How do I edit the file?
Also, can I run it at any resolution or  I stuck with 1999 resolutions?
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: GDS_Starfury on June 23, 2013, 06:38:30 PM
Quote from: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 10:40:53 AM
I'm looking for recommendation of a game that has some complex diplomacy and espionage. Preferably a 4x or some type of empire building game.

IIRC these are called women.
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: bbmike on June 23, 2013, 07:11:54 PM
Quote from: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 06:28:43 PM
Ok. I am going to grab it. How do I edit the file?
Also, can I run it at any resolution or  I stuck with 1999 resolutions?
Go to your Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri directory and open Alpha Centauri.ini. Set DirectDraw=0 and the game should run at your current screen resolution. Make sure you put it above the [PREFERENCES] line.
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: Gusington on June 23, 2013, 07:47:03 PM
In the Shogun 2 thread we've been talking about how fun the agents are to use for assassination, spying and general skullduggery. Not sure if you have S2 already though.
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 07:55:51 PM
Yes I do Gus, thank you. While I like the agents, they are somewhat limited to telling me the size of an army, opening gates and assassination. Kind of wanted a game where I could really get involved with diplomacy and spies and such. I'm giving SMAC a try as I can't really remember much about it
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: Martok on June 23, 2013, 09:06:17 PM
Quote from: reapagan on June 23, 2013, 12:28:26 PM
Birth of the Federation is a 4x that handles espionage at the strategic level. Damned Tal Shiar and Obsidian order seemed quite effective as I recall. Basically stealing research, sabotaging your projects, destroying your ships, and giving credits to your enemies to use against you was how it worked. I think giving orders for doing your own espionage was rather vague and consisted more of giving resources to bolster effectiveness.
Welcome to Grogheads, reapagan! 



Although I now enjoy newer ones like Distant Worlds and Armada 2526, Birth of the Federation has long been my favorite 4x title, one that I recommend to anyone who likes both Star Trek and strategy games. 

However, from what mikeck has said, I don't think BOTF's espionage & diplomacy system has anywhere near the depth he's looking for.  It's enjoyable for other reasons, but the game's intel system is pretty simplistic. 

Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 09:27:10 PM
Distant worlds has the best espionage system I think. Stealing tech, sabotaging ships, blowing up bases, deep cover, stealing operations maps, assassination, etc. oh we'll. so many 4x's give short shrift to the diplomacy part
Title: Re: Help finding a game
Post by: Nefaro on June 23, 2013, 10:51:56 PM
Quote from: mikeck on June 23, 2013, 03:58:22 PM
Does SMAC from GOG work on windows 7? I keep seeing threads about peoe having to add lines of code or change compatibility modes, etc

I had no problem running the GOG version on my ultrabook.  Didn't need to modify anything at all.  But perhaps I was one of the lucky ones?