So, you bought all the Ageod games yet never could quite figure the system out?

-budd- · October 01, 2015, 07:16:46 PM

Exactly my problem, the games look like fun but i never end up having any. I'll have to get around to watching this sooner or later. AGEOD games model some interesting periods and era's, so hopefully this will help me have fun with the games, 'ive always looked pretty closely at RUS. Thanks for the link.

Slick Wilhelm · October 01, 2015, 07:19:04 PM

Quote from: Toonces on October 01, 2015, 07:05:06 PM
Is CW2 that much better than CW1? I've hardly even touched CW1 and don't want to upgrade just for the sake of upgrading.

Also don't know if I can watch 30 hours of videos...that's a hella lot of video watching.

On the other hand, I have at least three AGEOD games going unplayed ATM so... ::)

As I said, Toonces, it doesn't take the full 60 episode series to learn. I started playing for real after about episode 10. And each episode thereafter just expands the education. Not to be missed!

YMMV, of course. But after years of trying and failing, Spink's videos have shown me the light.

Slick Wilhelm · October 01, 2015, 08:25:40 PM

I won my first serious scenario, "Sibley's West scenario", as the Union. I won a minor victory on points. Considering that I didn't understand supply completely when I started it, I did very well.

Slick Wilhelm · October 01, 2015, 08:32:57 PM

I recommend that scenario as a first, as it involves fewer units, but involves a lot of supply work. Supply is notoriously bad in the west, so doing this scenario first makes you understand how important it truly is. One thing I learned is that you don't need depots every region, but about 3-5 regions. It made a huge difference in the supply and ammo available to my units.

spelk · October 02, 2015, 02:37:01 AM

Quote from: Toonces on October 01, 2015, 07:05:06 PM
Is CW2 that much better than CW1? I've hardly even touched CW1 and don't want to upgrade just for the sake of upgrading.

Also don't know if I can watch 30 hours of videos...that's a hella lot of video watching.

On the other hand, I have at least three AGEOD games going unplayed ATM so... ::)

I know this is blowing my own trumpet, and posting an old link, but I did as-in-depth-as-I-could AAR/explanation of ACW1 shortest scenario Bloody Shiloh yonks ago. I took time out and I studied the game so I could grok it, and get something out of it, and hopefully other AGEOD games. Its a 10 parter, but shouldn't take that long to read. Not 10 hours or 30 hours of video watching. Whilst it might not get you totally up to speed with ACW2, it might serve as a beginners primer to AGEOD and their eccentricities...

http://sugarfreegamer.com/aar/ageods-american-civil-war/

I try to explain the key elements of the game, and my own decisions in the process... so hopefully it might help someone.

W8taminute · October 02, 2015, 05:52:17 AM

Thanks for sharing. Paradox and AGEOD make great games but they are sure hard to get into. Videos like the one in the first post go a long way to help. Gotta love YouTube. O0

JasonPratt · October 02, 2015, 05:58:00 AM

"So, you bought all the Ageod games yet never could quite get around to even playing them slightly long enough to begin barely attempting to figure the system out? "

Yes. :-[

(Except for WW1Gold, which doesn't count as it isn't really an AGE game.)

undercovergeek · October 02, 2015, 06:26:02 AM

darent watch in case it all comes together and it leaves me with a whole gaming range to buy

MengJiao · October 02, 2015, 09:29:25 AM

Quote from: mirth on October 01, 2015, 12:32:29 PM
Quote from: Slick Wilhelm on October 01, 2015, 12:28:12 PM
60-part "Learn how to play Ageod Civil War 2" video series

:o

I generally have more fun playing games that I don't quite understand -- but not AGEOD so much. ACW2 was an extremely weird and wonderful experience for me and I generally like AGEOD games okay -- Rise of Prussian and RUS seem to be a lot better than any of the others, though, maybe because I actually do understand them. Espana 1936 was kind of horrible and since 30-years war has the same designer it seems -- I'm skipping it.

sandman2575 · October 02, 2015, 10:19:23 AM

Thoughts on TEAW, anyone?

smittyohio · October 02, 2015, 10:29:08 AM

I've been trying to get into Alea Jacta Est for ages... it's not so much the mechanics that get me, but paralysis on what to do from a strategy standpoint.

MengJiao · October 02, 2015, 10:42:36 AM

Quote from: sandman2575 on October 02, 2015, 10:19:23 AM
Thoughts on TEAW, anyone?

Rather bad in much the same way ACW2 is pretty bad, as single player anyway. Not nearly as bad as Espana 1936, though.

sandman2575 · October 02, 2015, 10:46:18 AM

Do you mean in terms of AI, or just overall game mechanics not convincingly modeling WW1 (or ACW) warfare?

MengJiao · October 02, 2015, 12:15:45 PM

Quote from: sandman2575 on October 02, 2015, 10:46:18 AM
Do you mean in terms of AI, or just overall game mechanics not convincingly modeling WW1 (or ACW) warfare?

I think the AGEOD mechanics and AI and very often the scenario scripting combine to make a strange mess. The strange mess
situation does not work well for ACW or WWI. It does do much better in terms of a convincing Russian Civil war or a Prussian rampage or
two. I'm not sure what went wrong with Espana 1936, but I suspect (as with ACW2 and TEAW) excessive tinkering with the system
to get more historical results actually tends to generate situations where the scripting is not congruent with what's happening in the game.

Slick Wilhelm · October 29, 2015, 09:43:37 AM

Just a little update. After slogging through 43 episodes, I've got an excellent grasp of the game system. I'm really impressed with the engine, and with all the complexity. There's a lot to think about each turn. In a way, I'd say it's a little like WitP, yet not nearing as daunting. The replay value should be huge, too, as there are so many ways to play and so many strategies to try.

Has the lightbulb popped on for anyone else besides me?