Questions regarding LA, CoM, GBoR and GBM

[Aleksandr]

Hi!

I am considering to buy either Legion Arena, Cult of Mithra, Great Battles of Rome or Great Battles Medieval, but I'd appreciate some help from you. Could you answer me a few questions (or send me a link if those things are already answered in some kind of FAQs or on any forum), please?

1) CoM is just an add-on to LA? What exactly it offers? I know of the additional minicampaign and I expect some bugs to be patched.
2) I've read of some user made mods (even campaigns). These work in LA and/or CoM?
3) At first I thought that GBoR is some kind of LA remake, but I see that it uses slightly improved graphics and that there are far more campaigns included. Does GBoR have anything common with LA? I mean: not in terms of game system or engine, but is it somehow linked to the original LA, e.g. are there the initial campaigns of LA? Or is it totally new game that has nothing in common with original LA? If such is a case, than I need both LA and GBoR, true?
4) How much time does it take to finish those games? I know that it can differ extremely (due to tactics, skills, luck and difficulty), but some overall judgment would be helpful. Do GBoR and GBM offer at least the same playing time as LA?
5) What kind of order would you prefer? I'd like to have a nice box and an original CDs, otoh it takes a time to get the stuff and one pays additional gold for postal service. You yourself - would you buy a boxed game, or would you rather recommend a DD?

Thanks in advance, I hope that I do not vex you much. Pardon for my english as I am not a native speaker.

Aleksandr

[IainMcNeil]

1) CoM is just an add-on to LA? What exactly it offers? I know of the additional minicampaign and I expect some bugs to be patched.
>>> It is an add on - see the product page for details

2) I've read of some user made mods (even campaigns). These work in LA and/or CoM?
>>> They work with LA - COM should not effect it unless the mod requires thigns from CoM.

3) At first I thought that GBoR is some kind of LA remake, but I see that it uses slightly improved graphics and that there are far more campaigns included. Does GBoR have anything common with LA? I mean: not in terms of game system or engine, but is it somehow linked to the original LA, e.g. are there the initial campaigns of LA? Or is it totally new game that has nothing in common with original LA? If such is a case, than I need both LA and GBoR, true?
>>> There are some differences but a lot of GBoR is based on LA so not much point ibn getting both.

4) How much time does it take to finish those games? I know that it can differ extremely (due to tactics, skills, luck and difficulty), but some overall judgment would be helpful. Do GBoR and GBM offer at least the same playing time as LA?
>>> Quite a long time, depends how good you are!

5) What kind of order would you prefer? I'd like to have a nice box and an original CDs, otoh it takes a time to get the stuff and one pays additional gold for postal service. You yourself - would you buy a boxed game, or would you rather recommend a DD?
>>> GBoR & LA come in a nice box, but GBoR is the better of the two. GBM is the best game in my opinion but no box is available yet.

[Aleksandr]

1) CoM is just an add-on to LA? What exactly it offers? I know of the additional minicampaign and I expect some bugs to be patched.
>>> It is an add on - see the product page for details
>>>>>> OK, I'll take a closer look.


2) I've read of some user made mods (even campaigns). These work in LA and/or CoM?
>>> They work with LA - COM should not effect it unless the mod requires thigns from CoM.
>>>>>> Good to know that!


3) At first I thought that GBoR is some kind of LA remake, but I see that it uses slightly improved graphics and that there are far more campaigns included. Does GBoR have anything common with LA? I mean: not in terms of game system or engine, but is it somehow linked to the original LA, e.g. are there the initial campaigns of LA? Or is it totally new game that has nothing in common with original LA? If such is a case, than I need both LA and GBoR, true?
>>> There are some differences but a lot of GBoR is based on LA so not much point ibn getting both.
>>>>>> In this case I'll prefer GBoR, namely if it brings additional stuff when compared to LA.


4) How much time does it take to finish those games? I know that it can differ extremely (due to tactics, skills, luck and difficulty), but some overall judgment would be helpful. Do GBoR and GBM offer at least the same playing time as LA?
>>> Quite a long time, depends how good you are!
>>>>>> Hehe, good enough answer!


5) What kind of order would you prefer? I'd like to have a nice box and an original CDs, otoh it takes a time to get the stuff and one pays additional gold for postal service. You yourself - would you buy a boxed game, or would you rather recommend a DD?
>>> GBoR & LA come in a nice box, but GBoR is the better of the two. GBM is the best game in my opinion but no box is available yet.
>>>>>> Well in this case I definitely choose GBoR out of the two. And I also try GBM (which I realised is available only as a DD, but then I have mysteriously forgotten this fact.)

Thanks for replies!