posted
THe title of this thread made me think of an awesome saying I read-
Dipomacy-the art of saying "nice doggy" untill you can find a rock.
THis has no bearing on anything the title really just made me think of it. I am an avid fan of coolquotescollection.com
Posts: 832 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Also the art of drawing your target into a false position by pretending to be aiming for someone else.
romanylass, Europa Universalis II is the best strategy game ever made. You take control of a nation in 1419 (or 1492, 1550, 1630, or 1776 if you prefer the other scenarios) and, through infrastructure building, trade, missionaries, exploration, colonisation, diplomacy, and of course war, try to build yourself into a Great Power in 1819. In spite of the name, you can play any nation, up to and including the Xhosa, Zulu, and Indian tribes - the Aztecs have been known to beat back the Spaniards when under human control - though this is not recommended for newbies. You get historical events and leaders; you can strive to be elected Holy Roman Emperor, force other nations to become your vassals, watch Gustavus Adolphus and Marlborough lead your armies, enforce (or not) the Edict of Nantes, struggle against the Reformation - or convert yourself, and try to spread the Protestant faith. It's almost totally moddable, starting with writing your own events and leaders (feel your favourite historical character has been neglected? Put him right in!) up to changing the entire initial setup, even the map! There are player mods covering everything from the barbarian invasions to the modern day.
Restore Byzantium to its former glory - or play the Turks and unite Europe for Islam. Enforce the Union of Kalmar - or play Sweden or Norway to rewrite it on your own terms, and then contest with Poland and Russia for control of the Baltic. Smash the French in the Hundred Years' War and enforce England's claim to the French throne; or throw the godons into the Channel, and go history one better by annexing Kent. Any of the twenty German princedoms can drem of bettering Austria's power and reuniting the Holy Roman Empire. Why shouldn't the Knights of Rhodes restore the Latin Kingdoms at the height of their power, and go on to conquer the Middle East? (Because it's not easy for a one-province Catolic minor with French and Italian culture to conquer the Mamelukes and Ottomans, and then rule Moslem provinces with Arab culture, that's why. Nevertheless it has been done. In Hoc Signo Vinces!) Before you try that, though, better see how the master does it in World Conquest For Dummies. Or if you prefer a more peaceful game, watch Tibet spread its philosophy and meditation in It came from the Mountains.
There is a strong multiplayer community and some very helpful forum people. Buy it here.Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
Thanks, KoM! I don't game, but my husband and oldest son do and have been playing Rome:Total War for months now. This sounds right up their alley.
Posts: 2711 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Well, three years ago my machine was able to handle any came being produced, so I should be okay.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
It isn't even that strenuous, for a game that came out 3 years ago. Graphically expecially.
It's a good game. I bought the the first and second one... KoM, when did they allow the map to be changed? I hadn't heard that. Also, I'm excited that Diplomacy is being redone by these guys!
A caveat: there are a ton of patches out there; they developers are very cool, and respond to the playerbase very well. That has, however, caused many of the things in the instruction book (which is notoriously simplistic) to be no longer applicable, or even flat out wrong. the EUII boards are a great resource, and rather civilized, for a gaming board.
posted
Map changes are kind of semi-official; somebody with more time than sense figured out how to hack the game files, and Johan very kindly changed the exe so that areas could be added, and not just moved around. Sometime last year, I believe. It's not a user-friendly system, like the scenario files, though. Also, there's some question of whether the game is really balanced for a fifty-province Poland, thirty-province England, and so on. Too much income, apparently, and of course the AI gets confused. You can check it out in the scenarios and modifications subforum.
The developers are indeed very cool; there's a Little-known facts about Johan on their forums. As you can see, the players are quite devoted. Ia! Ia! Johan fthagn!
Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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