Mega Update Release for all HPS Ancient Wars Series Titles

[Compass Rose]

HPS just released updates for all five games titles in the Ancient Wars Series.

Ancient Warfare: Alexandrian Wars update v1.06 released
Ancient Warfare: Greek-Persian Wars update v1.05 released
Ancient Warfare: Punic Wars update v1.12 released
Ancient Warfare: Gallic Wars update v1.09 released
Ancient Warfare: Roman Civil Wars update v1.05 released

All of these releases can be found here:
http://www.hpssims.com/Pages/updates/up_Ancient/up_Ancient.asp

[Bison]

Well I was considering another purchase last night.  This is so awesome.

[Nefaro]

Excellent.

[panzerde]

Oh man, great news!  This came out as I was playing Gallic Wars.  Going to go grab these and see what the updates are.

[Toonces]

Is there a medieval equivalent to these games?  Not just HPS, but by anybody?

I have a real hankering to play some turn-based medieval game, but none come to mind.

[panzerde]

Is there a medieval equivalent to these games?  Not just HPS, but by anybody?

I have a real hankering to play some turn-based medieval game, but none come to mind.

The nearest I can think of is probably HPS/Tiller's Musket & Pike: Renaissance which is really quite good.  Most of the early scenarios feature armies that are medieval in organization, with a smattering of early gunpowder weapons.  The scenarios start at about 1495 and cover the next 100 years or so, including a lot of English-Scottish encounters, as well as the Italian Wars and the French Religious Wars.  Also, Tercios.  You can get up to some nice heavy cavalry charges in this game, giving it a nice medieval feel.

Field of Glory is another option, though the combat mechanic isn't nearly as sophisticated.  The Storm of Arrows expansion covers 1300 to 1500, so you can game the Hundred Years War and the War of the Roses with it.  The pseudo-miniatures look nice, though the AI is no great shakes in terms of an opponent.

[Bison]

I really like REN too.  It's a fine game.

[Toonces]

How does Renaissance compare to the Ancient series?  I realize they're different time periods, but just looking at the screenshots the gameplay looks like it might be different as well.

[Bison]

REN is the classic Tiller HPS interface and gameplay, so it plays much differently than the AW series.

[agathosdaimon]

Does Tillers Renaissance game have 3d maps views also and figures - or is it all just the 2d map and icons?

i would like to get this one too eventually. I wonder if it has the Swabian war between Swiss cantons and the German Swabian League in 1499. I have found that war very interesting

[Bison]

It has a 3d view.

[em2nought]

Is there a medieval equivalent to these games? 

http://www.jlssg.com/medieval.html there's a demo in the downloads section

http://www.battlephase.com/cryhavoc/ not quite what you're looking for, but interesting

[panzerde]

How does Renaissance compare to the Ancient series?  I realize they're different time periods, but just looking at the screenshots the gameplay looks like it might be different as well.

The AW series are WEGO, and REN is classic Tiller IGOYOUGO turn-based.  There are a lot of similarities in the core rules, like how unit disruption works, but a number of important differences as well.  Most significantly I find that command control is MUCH more difficult in the AW games than in REN (or any Tiller game), particularly once troops are engaged.  It can be a right bitch to get your cavalry out and reformed after a charge, or pull back a tired infantry unit in the front line.

Unit fatigue is a big deal in the AW games, and everything causes fatigue.  Too much and a unit routs, and routing units tend to take really high casualties.  It seems a lot more important to keep formations together to benefit from positive morale effects because of this...but you can also end up with nasty chain routs.  Command in AW is definitely tough.

[Bison]

I forgot that those who'd like to check out the ancient warfare series can download a tutorial/demo here http://www.hpssims.com/Pages/updates/up_Ancient/up_Ancient.asp

It's the download files under AW COMMON FILES.  There is an .exe that installs 2 scenarios and a pdf file with the AW ruleset.