Any Age of Wonders 3 Experts?

Boggit · June 15, 2016, 09:48:25 PM

I've been playing this for a bit now, but keep getting hammered from about turn 95-130 with Halfling armies that seem to spawn really super tough tier 4 armies. These tier 4 troops are manageable in small numbers but the AI seems to be spamming them, and your whole strategy just end ups being a race to build tier 4 units. My Orc empire which was doing so well has crumbled and burned (as did my Draconian one) to this approach by the AI.

So has anyone played this, had the same issue and still won?

bob48 · June 16, 2016, 06:45:40 AM

I've played it a lot, and I have the same issue with it. Race to highest tier units seems to be what its all about, which is a great pity, because otherwise. its a very pretty game.

Gusington · June 16, 2016, 08:35:50 AM

Yeah it's a very common complaint. Don't remember if I have ever won a campaign.

Rayfer · June 16, 2016, 08:44:16 AM

Quote from: bob48 on June 16, 2016, 06:45:40 AM
I've played it a lot, and I have the same issue with it. Race to highest tier units seems to be what its all about, which is a great pity, because otherwise. its a very pretty game.

+1 This a fun series with lots of excellent aspects, but it always seemed to me that in all of their games the AI cheated by spamming large numbers of high level armies and much quicker than I could ever make them.

Huw the Poo · June 16, 2016, 08:51:08 AM

This is one of the reasons I was bitterly disappointed with AoW3. I doubt I'll ever go back to it. :/

Greybriar · June 16, 2016, 10:27:54 AM

Quote from: bob48 on June 16, 2016, 06:45:40 AM
I've played it a lot, and I have the same issue with it. Race to highest tier units seems to be what its all about....

+1 That was the reason I quit playing Age of Wonders III. Very disappointing. :(

Boggit · June 16, 2016, 02:55:40 PM

Thanks guys. That doesn't bode well then.

If it is such a turn off for players - and it seems a common issue, I wonder why the devs haven't created an update to fix it, make it optional, or at least tone down the tier4 production? Sad, as it is a very attractive game otherwise. :(

Silent Disapproval Robot · June 16, 2016, 03:04:03 PM

Seems to me it got worse with the DLC rather than better. I won a few campaigns with the base game. I tried the halfling campaign a half dozen times or more once that DLC came out and got spanked pretty badly every time.

bob48 · June 16, 2016, 03:07:08 PM

I think what would have been a much better solution is to have given any type of unit the ability to 'train' up to higher tiers, rather than limit it to just one specific unit type. This is one reason why I keep going back to Warlock II as it handles unit development in a far better way.

Huw the Poo · June 16, 2016, 03:13:53 PM

No pumpkins in AoW3 either, eh Bob? :D

bbmike · June 16, 2016, 03:17:16 PM

Wow, I'm surprised at all of the negative comments. I haven't played AoW3 in quite a while but most of what I read elsewhere is very positive. It's 75% off at GoG right now, certain worth it at that price.

Silent Disapproval Robot · June 16, 2016, 03:21:11 PM

I still like it. I just can't win a scripted campaign to save my life.

bob48 · June 16, 2016, 03:39:34 PM

Quote from: Huw the Poo on June 16, 2016, 03:13:53 PM
No pumpkins in AoW3 either, eh Bob? :D

Which is an even bigger issue :-))

bob48 · June 16, 2016, 03:41:01 PM

Quote from: bbmike on June 16, 2016, 03:17:16 PM
Wow, I'm surprised at all of the negative comments. I haven't played AoW3 in quite a while but most of what I read elsewhere is very positive. It's 75% off at GoG right now, certain worth it at that price.

Oh yes, its not a bad game by any means, and worth buying in a sale. I have found it more fun to play with a random map etc.

Greybriar · June 16, 2016, 04:17:08 PM

GOG is selling the Age of Wonders III: Deluxe Edition for 75% off, or $8.79 U.S. which is a lot cheaper than the $44.99 I paid two years ago.