Well Done

[Graymane]

I just want to give a shout out to what I think is a really well-done game. This is my favorite time period in a genre that has been really dominated by a couple of other game titles/companies that I also play for far too many years. I have to say that parts of this game are really amazing from a concept standpoint.

1. Empire Size. The tradeoff between the age of your empire, decadence, loyalty, population and the like is really well-done. Better than I've seen in other games. It really makes the tempo of expansion something to seriously consider. You can't just gobble up the entire map.
2. Region/Province Mechanics. Once again, well-done. It is quite easy to manage the allocation of your people restricted down to 4 areas with a bit of interplay between slaves and citizens. I love the mechanic of not being able to pick what you want to build but need to wait for it to show up or you go with something else and just make do. Region sharing resources is great, halving decadence is great, etc.
3. Trade. I love this trade system. The split between bonus and needed goods as well as production really makes for a mini-game. Not being able to pick trade routes and partners does reduce what I normally consider micromanagement, so I appreciate that. I can influence what gets traded by what I build and what choices I make in decisions. That is enough for this level of detail.
4. Empire Progression/Regression. What a well-done system with the tokens. Getting to the top of the mountain and staying there is challenging.
5. Combat system. Very well-done. I generally play in the tactical or operational space, but this is a very good implementation where the armies moving about and fighting, while important, isn't all about min/maxing or even all that important. My first few games I really worried over combats and exporting my battles to get the most of it, but recently, I just tried to figure out the state of the in-game engine and live with it. I focus more on the economy and just being able to out produce who I am fighting.
6. Combat system again. The interplay with the engine (especially the pursuit phase) along with terrain makes smaller nations and will smaller armies quite viable. You've really hit that sweet spot of making those differing empires sizes co-exist.
7. Overall "hanging together". This game is well-designed. All the parts fit. They make sense in relation to each other. It doesn't feel like something has been left out so the company can go fill it again later with some DLC.

[brdxman]

second this!
well said.

[Pocus]

Thanks, much appreciated! And if you do own also a Steam key for Empires, leave a positive review there, it will help.

And now, you probably have seen the DLC live stream, right?