Alternatives to MC, with bloodlines and tactical combat

[MattLovelace]

Hi everybody! I'm really enjoying Massive Chalice. I like almost everything in the game: the tactical battles(maybe not so balanced), the strategy-management in the reign (even if it's a little bit too restricted and there are too few regions), the bloodline system. Now, it's almost the perfect game to me, but one thing I'm really bothered with is the fact that, as it is, it seems like it is abandoned, and I would really like an active developed game. I love the work of Double Fine, but it's a shame it seems they put effort in a game but, then, they left it as it is. I mean, that completely fine in an adventure game like Broken Age (that I kickstarted) but in such a game tactical refinement and so on is more critical.

Now, I like turn based strategy games (such as Total War franchise), I like story-based games and things as bloodlines based games. Now, I'm also really enjoying the tactical layer in Massive Chalice and I like the way you can get a story out of your heroes (I also get attached to them, and maybe remember some great ones).

I've heard a lot of XCOM and Crusader Kings II and Fire Emblem. Are there any other games that blend simulation-strategy of regions, tactical fight in which you can get attached to characters - or also just families -, and bloodline-breeding like system? A game can also have just some of this charateristics.

I know, maybe I've been a little confused, but I'm really confused in my head.
To summarize, I would like the most similar game to Massive Chalice that is actively developed and will have a lot of care in the future... I don't have that much money and I would like to invest them in a good way!

[Luke]

Not sure there are any other bloodline games. But related game is Thea: The Awakening. It also has a lot of differences (combat is tactical card play). I believe there is a demo now so you could try it out for free. Another possibility might be Fallen Enchantress mixing tactical and strategic. Finally X-Com

[MattLovelace]

Originally posted by Luke:

Not sure there are any other bloodline games. But related game is Thea: The Awakening. It also has a lot of differences (combat is tactical card play). I believe there is a demo now so you could try it out for free. Another possibility might be Fallen Enchantress mixing tactical and strategic. Finally X-Com

Thank you! I already knew about "Thea: The Awakening" and I might try it. Never heard of "Fallen Enchantress", seems interesting too. Steam suggested me "Age Of Wonders III", watching "Fallen Enchantress" store page, and it's quite interesting too!
About XCOM, I'm really intrigued. If I may ask, how much strategy is there, apart from the tactical battles?
And finally, what features of Massive Chalice are absent in XCOM, just to understand well?

[Luke]

XCOM is primarily tactical. You do customize your soldiers and you do make some strategic decisions about where to fight (which countries you support) and some other decision but you should think of it as primarily as tactical. AOWIII too though you do have an overall campaign and cities to manage.
I have not played MC yet but understanding is that it is a simlified X-Com tactically.
I would watch some "let's play" on these games to get a better idea. Good luck.

[MattLovelace]

Originally posted by Luke:

XCOM is primarily tactical. You do customize your soldiers and you do make some strategic decisions about where to fight (which countries you support) and some other decision but you should think of it as primarily as tactical. AOWIII too though you do have an overall campaign and cities to manage.
I have not played MC yet but understanding is that it is a simlified X-Com tactically.
I would watch some "let's play" on these games to get a better idea. Good luck.

Thank you! I also noticed I have already in my library (thanks to past Humble Bundles) and I have Xenonauts, that as far as I've seen is the spiritual successor to original X-Com, even if I have original X-Com too.

[Luke]

I meant the more recent X-Com Enemy Unknown which is a more streamlined update of the original Xcom. I would recommend EU over the original though the original was great in its day.

[Urza]

Hi Matt,

I have a decent amount of time in X-Com: Enemy Unknown, and after beating Massive Chalice, I would highly recommend X-Com: Enemy Unknown if you are looking for a game that is smiliar. The tactical combat is mechanically the same between both games. The strategic combat is also similar.

Base building and management in X-Com: Enemy Unknown is very alike to the kindgom building you do in Massive Chalice. Structures in X-Com: Enemy Unknown have more variety than Massive Chalice, and there are nation bonuses similar to the fringe territory bonuses in Massive Chalice. X-Com: Enemy Unknown employs research, collection of enemy bodies as research requirements, specalized structures to increase research and item loadouts, etc. You can look at the facility and modules here:

http://xcom.wikia.com/wiki/XCOM_headquarters

You also recruit and build-up soldiers with stats and specializations in X-Com: Enemy Unknown with somewhat more variety than the heroes of Massive Chalice. I believe there are 4 classes and 1 late-game sub-class in the original X-Com: Enemy Unknown with one additional class and sub class added in the expac.

http://xcom.wikia.com/wiki/Soldier

Time is critical in both games, and critical decisions are key in both. However, the aging mechanice in Massive Chalice is absent in X-Com: Enemy Unknown, as would be the "bloodline" mechanic. The time-frame in X-Com is dealing with days, if I recall right, not hundreds of years.

Soldiers can die, but only within tactical combat. And, obviously, X-Com: Enemy Unknown is dealing with Sci-Fi Modern era setting as opposed to the Fantasy setting of Massive Chalice.

The most important aspect of X-Com: Enemy Unknown is that it IS in active development. As I've said, it already has and expansion, X-Com: Enemy Within, and a sequel is already due in Feburary. 2k Games also published a less successful spin-off not developed by Firaxis called The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, which was released a few months before the main games expac. Firaxis is developing the major sequel, so people are expecting it to be more up to the standards of Enemy Unknown and Enemy Within. Considering 2K Games intrest in the franchise, there will likely be sequels following XCOM 2.

[MattLovelace]

Originally posted by Urza:

Hi Matt,

I have a decent amount of time in X-Com: Enemy Unknown, and after beating Massive Chalice, I would highly recommend X-Com: Enemy Unknown if you are looking for a game that is smiliar. The tactical combat is mechanically the same between both games. The strategic combat is also similar.

Base building and management in X-Com: Enemy Unknown is very alike to the kindgom building you do in Massive Chalice. Structures in X-Com: Enemy Unknown have more variety than Massive Chalice, and there are nation bonuses similar to the fringe territory bonuses in Massive Chalice. X-Com: Enemy Unknown employs research, collection of enemy bodies as research requirements, specalized structures to increase research and item loadouts, etc. You can look at the facility and modules here:

http://xcom.wikia.com/wiki/XCOM_headquarters

You also recruit and build-up soldiers with stats and specializations in X-Com: Enemy Unknown with somewhat more variety than the heroes of Massive Chalice. I believe there are 4 classes and 1 late-game sub-class in the original X-Com: Enemy Unknown with one additional class and sub class added in the expac.

http://xcom.wikia.com/wiki/Soldier

Time is critical in both games, and critical decisions are key in both. However, the aging mechanice in Massive Chalice is absent in X-Com: Enemy Unknown, as would be the "bloodline" mechanic. The time-frame in X-Com is dealing with days, if I recall right, not hundreds of years.

Soldiers can die, but only within tactical combat. And, obviously, X-Com: Enemy Unknown is dealing with Sci-Fi Modern era setting as opposed to the Fantasy setting of Massive Chalice.

The most important aspect of X-Com: Enemy Unknown is that it IS in active development. As I've said, it already has and expansion, X-Com: Enemy Within, and a sequel is already due in Feburary. 2k Games also published a less successful spin-off not developed by Firaxis called The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, which was released a few months before the main games expac. Firaxis is developing the major sequel, so people are expecting it to be more up to the standards of Enemy Unknown and Enemy Within. Considering 2K Games intrest in the franchise, there will likely be sequels following XCOM 2.

Fantastic! You've been very precise, you explained the differences very well! Thank you very much!