I enjoy Grand Strategy games and City-Builder games - what should I expect here?

[Ellye]

I've noticed that many of the negative reviews of this game seem... confused. Like they expected this to be a traditional base-building RTS or something else that this game isn't supposed to be.

So I guess I'll ask here to get a more direct answer for my situation.

I enjoy games like:

• Europa Universalis, Crusader Kings, Victoria - Paradox's Grand Strategy games in general.
  
• Total War games, and my favorite part of them is the strategic map, not the real-time combat.
  
• 4X games like Civilization and many similar others.
  
• City-building games like Grand Ages: Rome, Anno series, Tropico series, The Settlers series, etc.

I think it also might worth nothing that I did not enjoyed Rise of Venice too much - I got bored with it rather quickly. I haven't played the Patrician or Port Royale games, though.

What should I expect from this?

[anchoress]

I guess you get the best impression by watching some videos. Some people still compare it with other games and this is not helping in my opinion. For example, quill18 did a pre-release coverage and there are some people streaming the actual game on twitch. Also the publisher has released some videos. My guess is: take a look at some of them, maybe for 20-30 minutes, and you will get an idea of what to expect.

[Barge]

This game really is not like anything on the market. I too play similar games to you, and I really enjoy this game. But be warned, there is a heavy emphasis on trade (you will see that through research), however I very much enjoy the trade aspect.

[Ellye]

Thanks, I'll check some videos.

[Doomwarrior]

If you like the games you listed, this game in its current form is NOT for you. Its a super simplistic tradesimulation on a MASSIVE map with nothing to do other than figuring out how to trade. Everything else like warfare and diplomacy are pointless since you dont need more than 4-6 cities to have a perfect setup for unlimited growth within those few cities.

[[{******---Dead4Life---******}]]

If you enjoy building games, I would suggest you get this one. Yes to build your empire you will need to trade a lot. But you can buld armies and conquer the world. Also it is huge. I would say go get it.

[Barge]

Originally posted by Doomwarrior:

If you like the games you listed, this game in its current form is NOT for you. Its a super simplistic tradesimulation on a MASSIVE map with nothing to do other than figuring out how to trade. Everything else like warfare and diplomacy are pointless since you dont need more than 4-6 cities to have a perfect setup for unlimited growth within those few cities.

I suppose you have not played more than 3 hours into a game? As this is not the game at all.

It is a thinking mans game. Just because it is not for you, does not mean that it is bad for everyone.

[[{******---Dead4Life---******}]]

Originally posted by BattleSarge:

Originally posted by Doomwarrior:

If you like the games you listed, this game in its current form is NOT for you. Its a super simplistic tradesimulation on a MASSIVE map with nothing to do other than figuring out how to trade. Everything else like warfare and diplomacy are pointless since you dont need more than 4-6 cities to have a perfect setup for unlimited growth within those few cities.

I suppose you have not played more than 3 hours into a game? As this is not the game at all.

It is a thinking mans game. Just because it is not for you, does not mean that it is bad for everyone.

True. His statment is toatly false.

[TSE Imperator]

You'll probably enjoy it. Game starts off as a trade simulator but gets deeper as you grow more powerful.

People keep complaining about the cost of maintaining a military - these people have no clue how small European armies were at this time because no one could afford large standing armies in the dark ages.

[[{******---Dead4Life---******}]]

Originally posted by Spirit:

You'll probably enjoy it. Game starts off as a trade simulator but gets deeper as you grow more powerful.

People keep complaining about the cost of maintaining a military - these people have no clue how small European armies were at this time because no one could afford large standing armies in the dark ages.

Yeah. And you can also build huge armies if your emipre is ritch. All a matter of economy here. I think that aspect alone is great.

[WIbigdog]

Originally posted by Doomwarrior:

If you like the games you listed, this game in its current form is NOT for you. Its a super simplistic tradesimulation on a MASSIVE map with nothing to do other than figuring out how to trade. Everything else like warfare and diplomacy are pointless since you dont need more than 4-6 cities to have a perfect setup for unlimited growth within those few cities.

And this is why you have no idea what you're doing because you haven't fully explored the game. If you play an open game on normal and just sit at 4-6 cities you will be crushed by the enemy competitors. 4-6 cities will not get you a large army, maybe 10 units of swordsman at best. It's not just about growing you cities, it's about expanding as quickly as possible in territory to rank up, which requires smart trading, wise spending of money in diplomacy, and a firm hand in military if need be. This 4-6 city crap everyone keeps spewing seems to be only people who have played through about half of the campaign.