No identity, only sandbox

[Snemelc]

I was unsure about this game and its core mechanics, but ultimately it is not for me.
What I like at games (especially strategy games) is the thematic depth.
Sadly, my fears about this game became true.

This game seems to not have even an ounce of that. Every race/ culture/ faction is nothing more than a soulless doll, that is the same and easily interchangable. So they dont feel nearly as deep or memorable than the worked out/ stereotypical versions.

For understanding, I compare it from now on with characters, because they function, regarding theamtic depth, the same.
The factions in AOW4 look like a blank slate, the player can fill however he likes, but characters like this ("cough" "cough" Bella "cough" "cough") are always feeling flat and uninteresting, because they lack any significant, identifying character traits. Imagination does not fix this, because it needs anchor points to work, and a blank slate does not give any. In comparison, fledged out characters may seem boring, because they are "predictable", but they are more well defined and their actions are comprehensive.

Another thing I deeply miss are the fluff texts, each unit had in previous games. These give the units, and therefore also the race, more depth. The missing of these increases the flatness of the factions furthermore.

At the end I want to point out, that there are more or less two methods to create depth in a game: Either it is wide (many possibilities, but they are way too similar) or it is deep (not many possibilities, but they feel fundamentally different). AOW was, regarding races, always deep, but this game chooses to be wide. Combined with the fact, that I have problems, motivating myself to play again after a session, this shallowness will probably end in me playing half a round, only to play the next time in 5 years.

[Klutch]

OP in summary:

Man this looks like a lot of fun, but it goes against my morales

[bshock]

Ok. Thanks for letting us know?

[Jimib4158]

yeah it gets bland after a certain number of turns IMO, its missing something to not be just another cookie-cutter 4X, nothing better about this one then the 100's others

im hoping the DLC's will add something radically different

everyone gushing over it is so impressed with the units, doesnt do it for me, at least to call it a great game, at best its an ok game to me. Im not sure what i wanted to see, but more in the realm of game concepts

[Harris]

OP wanted Witcher 3, but got Skyrim instead.

[jonoliveira12]

Originally posted by Klutch:

OP in summary:

Man this looks like a lot of fun, but it goes against my morales

Not what the OP said at all.

[Yhvh10]

Originally posted by Snemelc:

This game seems to not have even an ounce of that. Every race/ culture/ faction is nothing more than a soulless doll, that is the same and easily interchangable. So they dont feel nearly as deep or memorable than the worked out/ stereotypical versions.

Gamers: "I want more customization options! I want to be able to modify and change my race to be what I want!"

Also Gamers: "How dare you give me the freedom to customize! I want everything to be stereotypical and set in stone!"

[Demiurge]

Originally posted by jonoliveira12:

Originally posted by Klutch:

OP in summary:

Man this looks like a lot of fun, but it goes against my morales

Not what the OP said at all.

doesn't matter, it was dumb anyway

[The Doctor]

I wouldn't agree that the OP is dumb but it sounds like they are looking for a game like Endless Legend where all the factions are unique and play entirely differently. This game doesn't have factions that are THAT distinct. Very few do and they're not common fantasy races at all either but a part of the Endless lore. But even with factions as distinctly different as EL's, it's possible to play each faction exactly the same way if you're not inclined to play according to their own style. (It's certainly not optimal to do so in the early game but once you reach a certain point later in the game, the differences no longer matter.)

This is a game that fits my creative role player style very well. I make my own factions and leaders and I play them the way I think they would behave. That's how I identify with my own creations - I made them to be a certain way and I play them that way. I've got a lot of possibilities to work with here.

The lack of flavour text for units is quite a common complaint and one I sympathise with. While that boat has probably already sailed, it's not impossible some text could be added alter down the road as I'm sure they see the appeal for us. For me, I'd welcome the ability to write such text myself for my own leaders and their units as I tend to make my fantasy races the way I like them to be and not based on the common fantasy traits. I like evil elves for example - I don't particulalrly like Tolkien-like elves. They're just too goody two shoes for my taste. Even as a child, I thought elves were beautiful but scary.

[Pek]

Man, some of these replies... lol.

I feel the same way, OP. The "customize everything" approach that they took with this game just doesn't work anywhere near as well as it does in other games like Stellaris, imo. It just feels so... shallow in comparison. I wanted to like this game, but as it is I doubt I'll ever put more than 30 hours into it, let alone 300 like I did in AoW 3.

[New Shoes]

'in conclusion, because the game does not intrinsically give Orcs a +10% damage bonus, the lore sucks and is basically Twilight'

[David McMurdo]

Imagination fixes this.

[Blackheart]

Not all strategy games can and should be the same. Some people prefer this approach of total customization and freedom and others don't.
Some can't stand sandbox (my friend) and some could spend thousand of hours in sandbox games. Some can't stand turn based, while others can't stand real time battles.
As for what's deep.... well, I can't compare to previous titles, because this is my first AoW game, but many say skyrim is deep and best rpg, so.... :D

[WindyCityShooter]

Jester farming?

[Deo]

totally agreed, AoW was half dead when Planetfall released with all the innovations, now it seems dead completely.
I mean, surely it will have its funs, who love more casual experience, but for those who expected some depth it is lost

[Malaficus Shaikan]

Originally posted by Deo:

totally agreed, AoW was half dead when Planetfall released with all the innovations, now it seems dead completely.
I mean, surely it will have its funs, who love more casual experience, but for those who expected some depth it is lost

Correct.