ALEA JACTA EST

[Jarhead0331]

Downloaded, patched up, and ready to go....but in my usual position with Ageod games....intimidated and no idea where to begin:)  The tutorial was short and really covered the basics only.  Might actually have to read the manual.

Check out these tutorial vids...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5s-jLI_VX0&playnext=1&list=PL942DAFAC3BBD13E1&feature=results_video

[Grim.Reaper]

Downloaded, patched up, and ready to go....but in my usual position with Ageod games....intimidated and no idea where to begin:)  The tutorial was short and really covered the basics only.  Might actually have to read the manual.

Check out these tutorial vids...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5s-jLI_VX0&playnext=1&list=PL942DAFAC3BBD13E1&feature=results_video

Cool...thanks ...I really want this to be the game I actually finish:)

[Bison]

Just installed the patch.  I'm pretty stoked to play the game, but I'm too exhausted tonight to do anything more than process a few turns.  There will be some quality time devoted to it this weekend.

[mikeck]

Well, i played around for a few hours and i like it. I will say though that in a lot of ways this game seems to have a lot in common with PoN. Not the bad stuff like turn times, but other stuff. Seems there is a lot of provence improvements like merchants, roads, walls, etc. Also, many of the decisions have to do with raising morale. This is different from the AGE games i am used to like Rise of Prussia and Wars in America. In those, all decisions were about raising troops, building artillery, etc. Basically, the game seems to be less about operational combat (although there is plenty) and more about maintaing moral, recruitment and loyalty.

I have to say that, as with most AGEOD games, its really hard to figure out what you are supposed to do. I mean, the objectives are clear, but where to attack, when you might get reinforcements, when a certain enemy will attack you, etc is unclear. Of course, once you play awile, through trial and error, you figure it out and dont feel so lost.

One example is the Spartaacus revolt. For three turns i just kept hitting next turn because i had no army absent some urban troops. Will an army appear? Do i have to recruit an army? Stuff like that caan only be figured out by playing. It is definitly more complex than any other AGEOD game except PoN.

If this is your first AGEOD game, i can only recommend that you just play through a scenario and plan on losing. Then start again knowing that you will need alot more troops, more morale or whatever. I am a bit overwhelmed myself the same way i was with PoN.

Of course the quality and gameplay is solid.

[Nefaro]

I definitely like the Decisions, too.  They work similar to the way Colonial Decisions worked in PON but these are, as Mikeck mentioned, related to national morale, loyalty, and some pacification/requisition by force.    These decisions give the game a bit more complexity, sure, but it also gives the player more options on how to manipulate the people in certain locales towards their favor without necessarily having to base troops there for long periods, along with some extra economic and building options.

My first game is 'Year of the Four Emperors' and each of the three playable factions in it has a unique strategic picture at start and these few extra decisions you'll need to ponder, along with a fair dose of (random?) events and diplomatic decisions unfolding as you go, has me very impressed. 

[CptHowdy]

liking it so far. my first game will go down as a defeat! i need to rtfm though. i have a large stack that can get somewhere in under a month and another smaller stack that takes triple the time. not sure what im missing!

[Kushan]

liking it so far. my first game will go down as a defeat! i need to rtfm though. i have a large stack that can get somewhere in under a month and another smaller stack that takes triple the time. not sure what im missing!

Does your smaller stack have a command penalty? It would be a blinking red/white number on the far right side of the army view. I think that part of the penealty is that armies move slower. I have not read the manual or done the tutorials yet so don't quote me on that.

I jumped right into  The Marius vs Sulla scenario. I find that jumping right in and losing a few games is the best way to go with AGEOD games. Its a a lot better then reading the wall of text that make up their tutorials. So far I have about retaken Greece as Sulla. Getting my A** handed to me in Italy though. Can't do much about that at the moment though. Hopefully I can send Sulla's army back and leave my other army to hold Greece and hopefully begin to retake Asia Minor. Loving the game so far. I have to say that the map looks absolutely beautiful.

[jomni]

Hmm Similarities to PoN.  Interesting.
But can anyone confirm if the interface is now seamless instead of an obvious country management layer slapped over the classic AGE engine?
Also is the documentation now sufficient to cover all aspects of the country management part?
This two things are what ruied PoN for me.

[Jarhead0331]

liking it so far. my first game will go down as a defeat! i need to rtfm though. i have a large stack that can get somewhere in under a month and another smaller stack that takes triple the time. not sure what im missing!

Yeah, as Kushan said, sounds like a command penalty.  Some leaders also have a "fast mover" skill, so one of your stacks may actually be receiving a bonus.

[mikeck]

Jomni, the similarities to PoN involved territorial choices for improvements and such....that's about it. Everythinh else mechanically is like traditional AGEOD games. The UI is standard AGEOD and certainly fits the scope of the game.

[Tuna]

Jomni, the similarities to PoN involved territorial choices for improvements and such....that's about it. Everythinh else mechanically is like traditional AGEOD games. The UI is standard AGEOD and certainly fits the scope of the game.

I was torn between this and Napoleon, but now I'm leaning more to this game. I like the idea of 'improvments' without PON wait times!

[Bison]

I think I'm going to make a copy of the manual at Kinkos or something.  I love my BIA and AACW paper manuals. 

Just played through the tutorial scenario and plan on tackling one of the bigger ones later this weekend.  This is going to be a good one.

[Gusington]

How is the first tutorial? Wall of text - like mentioned above?

[Grim.Reaper]

How is the first tutorial? Wall of text - like mentioned above?

I personally did not find it very useful, pretty basic stuff.

[Bison]

Its the standard Ageod tutorial.  How to move, basic grouping, basic army commands.  The manual is pretty in depth and explains alot of what the tutorial skipped over.  Ultimately Mikeck said it best.  Play the game and learn little by little the engine and how the game plays out.  As you play Ageod games if you stick with them, the mechanics begin to "click" into place.