Just finished my first game

[PJL1973]

I lost of course, but this was as Sparta. Game over in 92 turns, but it was a fun campaign, in the sense that I wanted to be restricted and not have too much freedom. Sounds weird, and yet it worked (I had played a previous game as the Arvneni but it was too expansive, too much to do;) So I went for something more restrictive, and Greece was just the right area for this. By limiting myself to a crowded area it helped me focus on just one province and just one area to learn or to expand. And by doing that I learned in detail how one province worked, how it linked to the greater scheme of things to the whole nation. Truly a great learning experience to an excellent game. Wasn't going to get this, but DasTactics preview game as the Arvneni sold me on this. Not a fan of the era, but I really got into his gameplay stuff and was a great primer for getting me interested in the game. Which I duly bought on the day of release.

Suffice to say, this is one of the best strategy games I've played for years, and I'm an Aegeod veteran, having played their games since their first American Civil War game. This is, without doubt, one of the best, if not the best Roman-era strategy game around.

[MoLAoS]

100%. The absolutely unique attempt at simulating factors which prevented blobbing puts this game in the #1 spot for the last 10 years. Even if its a bit board game like at least they actually attempted it which other games don't do.

[springel]

I started with a few starts as Cheruscii, where the whole economy of the nation could be understood. But I couldn't survive the aggression of all my neighbours.

So I waited for the first patch, and then wanted to start with a stable powerful nation instead, and I chose Ptolemy.

However, with so many regions, trying to get the detailed picture of this gigantic economy proved to be an overwhelming experience. Just too many choices to make. Meanwhile I am being distracted by FoG2 battles, which I discovered through this game and which I love.

It is almost the opposite experience from Empires, where you start on a long, long journey through the ages, weeks of real time, while a FoG2 battle can be concluded in an hour or so.

[MoLAoS]

I started with a few starts as Cheruscii, where the whole economy of the nation could be understood. But I couldn't survive the aggression of all my neighbours.

So I waited for the first patch, and then wanted to start with a stable powerful nation instead, and I chose Ptolemy.

However, with so many regions, trying to get the detailed picture of this gigantic economy proved to be an overwhelming experience. Just too many choices to make. Meanwhile I am being distracted by FoG2 battles, which I discovered through this game and which I love.

It is almost the opposite experience from Empires, where you start on a long, long journey through the ages, weeks of real time, while a FoG2 battle can be concluded in an hour or so.

I've been playing the FoGE battle resolution recently as a commitment to back up my claims about the lack of difficulty on higher levels. I'm kinda into it now cause the turns just fly by. Compared to FoG2 where even when I'm being a bit seat of the pants conquering Italy as Rome takes a full day of play over 15 turns.