This or Field and Glory II?

[Nats]

I am stuck on which one to get, I feel like playing a good turn based historical strategy game with a campaign system and good battles but not sure which one to go for? Any thoughts? I do like the look of this games campaign and the English Civil War. And I already have Rome TW 2 which I havent played a lot but I did like Rome TW 1. But then I also have American Civil War 2 still to play properly as well.

What to do??

[Carnifex]

Judging from your comment it sounds like you're more interested in the time period of Pike and Shot. I haven't played Field and Glory II but I think your interest will bring you more enjoyment. Pike and Shot is a great game too.

[Philippe_at_bay]

Pike and Shot and Field of Glory II are essentially the same game.

FOG II uses a different approach to graphics and has one or two minor features that were developed in the course of the game system's evolution, but both use essentially the same game engine (the one that was developed for Battle Academy).

Most of the features that you'll find in FOG II that aren't in Pike and Shot were developed for the Sengoku Jidai games (same period as Pike and Shot but in Asia with spectacularly different graphics that make the game look like a hanging scroll).

If you're used to looking at 16th and 17th century prints you'll understand the graphic conventions that were used in Pike and Shot and prefer them to what goes on in FOG II.

The graphics in FOG II are impressive and of extremely high quality, but are informed by modern table top miniatures games rather than period art.

You should really just make your decision based on which historical period holds more interest for you.

[SnuggleBunny]

Be warned that the focus in both of these excellent games is squarely on tactical battles. The campaign systems in both are pretty bare bones, don't expect anything Total War style. Pike and Shot has a basic map to move armies on, and FoG2 has an event based campaign to move your army through. No base building, no upgrades, role playing, etc. the focus is on combat.

That being said, the battles in both are great. Pike and Shot has scores of user made scenarios covering things like Culloden, Bull Run, Waterloo, Bannockburn, and many English Civil War battles. Because you mentioned the English Civil War, I would say go with Pike and Shot for now - graphically it's not quite as impressive, but it's a setting that gets little love in PC games. Furthermore, Pike and Shot is basically complete - I would be really surprised if it received more than minor updates in the future.

Field of Glory 2, on the other hand, is just beginning, with future DLCs to stretch it into the middle ages, and scenario creators still working on custom battles.

I also have to give a shout out to Pike and Shot's sister game Sengoku Jidai, which covers the same time period (1500-1700) in East Asia.

[Philippe_at_bay]

Campaigns in these games are a bit of a misnomer. They're only 'campaigns' according to digital game marketing conventions, a topical excuse to string a series of battles together. They aren't campaigns in any kind of a military sense.

If you want really want to play an ancient or renaissance campaign, your best bet would be to play one of Matrix's Ageod games, Alea Jacta Est for the Roman period or Thirty Years War or English Civil War for the 17th Century. They focus on everything that happens off the battlefield, and leave battlefield events to those who mistakenly think that battles decide the course of wars.

[Shotgun]

i have both , difficult decision, but both are shallow on actual plot just great battle mechanics

[Shotgun]

Originally posted by Philippe_at_bay:

........ They focus on everything that happens off the battlefield, and leave battlefield events to those who mistakenly think that battles decide the course of wars.

or leave the battles to those who enjoy playing the battles , !!!!

[Nats]

Originally posted by Philippe_at_bay:

If you want really want to play an ancient or renaissance campaign, your best bet would be to play one of Matrix's Ageod games, Alea Jacta Est for the Roman period or Thirty Years War or English Civil War for the 17th Century. They focus on everything that happens off the battlefield, and leave battlefield events to those who mistakenly think that battles decide the course of wars.

The Ageod games are extrmely complex and not something you cna just pick up and play - that is their major downfall afaiac. I do have Civil War II and its just impossible to get into!

So no I am looking for a lighter game that I can pick up and play.

[Pixel]

I recommend watching YouTube videos of gameplay as a way to help make this decision.

For a Pike and Shot: Campaigns ECW campaign let’s play see:

https://youtu.be/otDLjDEWbro

For FoG2 and P&S more generally including historical battle scenarios look at these YouTube channels: Agrippa Maxentius, DasTactic, Paradogs Gamer, and Iratespartan13

Also this is a very good post battle video AAR on a Rome versus Seleucid multiplayer match:

https://youtu.be/3uSlTKYj3oI

For a guide to FoG 2 game mechanics see:

http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=477&t=81192

[Mile pro Libertate]

Originally posted by SnuggleBunny:

Be warned that the focus in both of these excellent games is squarely on tactical battles. The campaign systems in both are pretty bare bones, don't expect anything Total War style. Pike and Shot has a basic map to move armies on, and FoG2 has an event based campaign to move your army through. No base building, no upgrades, role playing, etc. the focus is on combat.

That being said, the battles in both are great. Pike and Shot has scores of user made scenarios covering things like Culloden, Bull Run, Waterloo, Bannockburn, and many English Civil War battles. Because you mentioned the English Civil War, I would say go with Pike and Shot for now - graphically it's not quite as impressive, but it's a setting that gets little love in PC games. Furthermore, Pike and Shot is basically complete - I would be really surprised if it received more than minor updates in the future.

Field of Glory 2, on the other hand, is just beginning, with future DLCs to stretch it into the middle ages, and scenario creators still working on custom battles.

I also have to give a shout out to Pike and Shot's sister game Sengoku Jidai, which covers the same time period (1500-1700) in East Asia.

That's cool, I didn't know FoG2 would go into the Medieval era eventually : )

[Nats]

I went with FoG2 in the end but I am interested in P&S as well for Banockburn and Cullodon etc as I have been to both of those battlefields myself! But I like the graphics of FoG better - the gameplay looks really good and I do like ancient warfare as well. Might have to thinka bout P&S in the future is the price comes downa bit more - annoyed that I missed the sale really as could have got both! But thats life.

[Fnord]

Originally posted by Nats:

The Ageod games are extrmely complex and not something you cna just pick up and play - that is their major downfall afaiac. I do have Civil War II and its just impossible to get into!

So no I am looking for a lighter game that I can pick up and play.

I think the biggest problem with the AGEOD games is not their complexity, but rather how user-unfriendly they are. They're not really more complex than something by say Paradox, but they're far harder to get into That's something I wish they would work on, becuase they're good apart from that pretty major issue (that and the engine could use a major update, it's slower than it should be)

[Pixel]

My biggest issue with AGEOD campaigns is not so much the complexity but the slow turn resolution of the engine combined with the fact that so few of the games have medium sized scenarios. It is always grand campaign or bust.

[Nats]

I would love Ageod games to improve their GUI and add tooltips etc so that you dont need to study a manual/tutorials every time you want to play them. You are absoluytely right that would make them far more enjoyable. I would love to get into their American Civil War game but just cant be bothered to relearn it.

[Pixel]

Hey Nats. Looks like Pike and Shot: Campaigns is on sale at Fanatical for the next 4 days. 51% off (so $19.59) and they also have a extra 10% off Spring coupon code currently.

Note this is for the steam key version only. Since, you have to buy directly from Slitherine/Matrix to get a standalone installer as well.

https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/pike-and-shot-campaigns

Thought you might be interested.

[Nats]

Originally posted by Pixel:

Hey Nats. Looks like Pike and Shot: Campaigns is on sale at Fanatical for the next 4 days. 51% off (so $19.59) and they also have a extra 10% off Spring coupon code currently.

Note this is for the steam key version only. Since, you have to buy directly from Slitherine/Matrix to get a standalone installer as well.

https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/pike-and-shot-campaigns

Thought you might be interested.

I might have well been but I recently got both dlc for Fields of Glory 2 recently which didnt impress my wife much and today just got Surviving Mars as well so I had to buy her a new coat for that. So I cant afford another game yet. Besides got a lot more fun on FoG yet and am going for the tournament as well so need to get in some experience. But thanks very much for letting me know I will probably get it at some point in the future!