Empires in Arms query

agathosdaimon · June 25, 2013, 05:46:21 AM

Actually something else i think i like with this game are the turn phases - for me there is always so much to do in a turn in some grand strategy games, that i am overwhelmed and end up forgetting to do things but with the phases well i can put my attention on each thing in turn - ie naval, land, diplomacy, economics etc. perhaps i am wrong to like this aspect, well not so much as like but rather that i don't mind this design. I feel the game is worthwhile so far.

Nefaro · June 25, 2013, 10:07:46 AM

So what's up with the reports of it being unfinished and bug-ridden that I've seen?

If it were a split crowd, it'd be one thing, but there seems to be a lot of disappointment with the game's status.

JudgeDredd · June 25, 2013, 10:23:16 AM

To be fair agathosdaimon has only just got the game and some complaints seem to be about how certain things could be done better - something he may discover as he goes through the game.

However, alot of the complaints I saw were from people who did not like how it differed from the boardgame - and even then I think it's was two boardgames morphed and both boardgame fans had their hardcore views on each - therefore magnifying the issues.

I'm not saying it plays well. For a start I'm pretty sure I only "heard" of one group of people finishing a campaign - partly because of patches (which I guess they might have stayed away from) and also because of the PBEM system and the fact the phases simply prolonged the PBEM process.

I'm not entirely sure it is inherently "broke"...I get the impression alot of people think alot of things can be done better or differently.

Nefaro · June 25, 2013, 10:40:12 AM

Thanks for the thoughts JD.

Toonces · June 25, 2013, 08:38:23 PM

Yeah, it's hard to determine if it's broke, or if the boardgame fanboys are just disappointed.

Anyway, yet again I think I'm going to take a pass. I'm not going to play it any time soon, so I'm going to hold out for Xmas sale I think.

agathosdaimon · June 25, 2013, 08:39:42 PM

When i get some time to play it further among everything else, i will give some further thoughts. It should be known that i am somewhat merciful in my review of some war games that have been deemed bad by the community - i like to give them all a go - i even have attempted to give the woeful rts napoleon's battles that comes free with the squad assault a go, and also the napoleon game adapted from the 2003 miniseries - its like a poor mans cossacks2 crossed with risk - its bad but still better than many mobile app games today.
Anyhow thats off topic, i say the deal is worthwhile if you are like me and just enjoy all the games out there set in the napoleonic era

agathosdaimon · June 26, 2013, 11:38:19 AM

well just a small update - i have played about another 2 hours of Empires in Arms and i find it quite good so far.

The 1.08 update has made a big difference too and reading both the relatively concise murats tutorial and the in game help, i have figured out now how to use my counters and also more with diplomacy. There are now 2 scenario campaigns to play also - the grand 1805-1815 and the 1812 russian campaign.

Currently it is october 1805 and despite my initial plans to go to war against austria, Prussia has started attacking my conquered territories so i have declared war on Prussia now and Brunswicks army has attacked me in Hanover and though despite my pursuit attempt has successfully withdrawn.

I am finding this all quite playable at the present and so i must wonder that perhaps with the newest patch the game is perhaps alot better than all those old reviews floating around suggest.

I dont understand all the rules yet, but i am finding it no more difficult than say Lords of The Realm 1.

My opinion so far stands - get the game while its on sale, it seems worth it so far!

Hudson · June 26, 2013, 08:09:55 PM

Stay away its terrible

agathosdaimon · June 27, 2013, 08:29:02 AM

well i must disagree as it still seems to be playing as well as any grand strategy game

and its review at wargamer
http://www.wargamer.com/article/2505/pc-game-review-empires-in-arms?page=8

may be helpful to some.

what i am finding helpful in playing the game, is just in reading through the logs of what the other countries do in their phases and if i hav emissed something critical there is a message that comes up before i can end the turn so i am actually enjoying this and am not hindered by the game design - i take though if anyone attempted to play it in its initial release state it would have been frustrating with all its bugs then.

Empires in Arms query

Hudson