Ancient Games
Moderator: maddog986
- jkBluesman
- Posts: 797
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:48 pm
Ancient Games
There are not that many ancient games out there, some Roman wargames but even less games covering Greek history. Would you be interested in a game dealing with the Peloponnesian War or do you know one that is out there? If not which other period from the ancient world would interest you?
"War is the field of chance."
Carl von Clausewitz
Carl von Clausewitz
RE: Ancient Games
HPS has a game called Punic Wars, that's about all I know of.
Regards,
Grell
Regards,
Grell
- IainMcNeil
- Posts: 2784
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 10:01 am
- Location: London
- Contact:
RE: Ancient Games
What about Spartan
It has a Peloponnesian War scenario.

Iain McNeil
Director
Matrix Games
Director
Matrix Games
RE: Ancient Games
Hi Iain,
You're absolutely right I completely forgot about your games (I have Spartan, Chariots at War and Legion) all are excellent games.
How could I have forgotten that! [:)]
Regards,
Grell
You're absolutely right I completely forgot about your games (I have Spartan, Chariots at War and Legion) all are excellent games.
How could I have forgotten that! [:)]
Regards,
Grell
RE: Ancient Games
Unfortunately, most Ancient Games tend to be "Empire" building games. I'm not interested in growing crops and training troops!!! There was one called "The Great Battles" series, I think. I can't remember who made it/them???
Tony
RE: Ancient Games
ORIGINAL: Treale
Unfortunately, most Ancient Games tend to be "Empire" building games. I'm not interested in growing crops and training troops!!! There was one called "The Great Battles" series, I think. I can't remember who made it/them???
I remember those games, in fact I own them, but they are so old now that I'd never play them again.
Regards,
Grell
RE: Ancient Games
I guess then, that truly makes them ancient games...[:D]ORIGINAL: Grell
ORIGINAL: Treale
Unfortunately, most Ancient Games tend to be "Empire" building games. I'm not interested in growing crops and training troops!!! There was one called "The Great Battles" series, I think. I can't remember who made it/them???
I remember those games, in fact I own them, but they are so old now that I'd never play them again.
Regards,
Grell
-
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:17 am
RE: Ancient Games
The Great Battles series came straight from the GMT games of the same name. They are all excellent and if you get the Caesar one or the compilation it has an editor also. There are tons of scenarios on the web for the series. I do believe you need the editor to play the user made scenarios but I could be wrong on that.
I was able to play them on XP with no problem. I haven't tried as of yet to see if they run on Vista. Te Punic Wars from HPS is also good, as long as you add the patches. Without them it is slow as molasses. The 3d artwork isn't that much better than the Great Battles games. But, the game play is very good and has an ancient feel to it. Another great game, at least for it's time was Ancient Battles circa 1989. It had all the armies and troops from early Egypt to I believe 500AD. You could do any fantasy matchup you wanted. I always wished that someone would revamp it and release it.
I was able to play them on XP with no problem. I haven't tried as of yet to see if they run on Vista. Te Punic Wars from HPS is also good, as long as you add the patches. Without them it is slow as molasses. The 3d artwork isn't that much better than the Great Battles games. But, the game play is very good and has an ancient feel to it. Another great game, at least for it's time was Ancient Battles circa 1989. It had all the armies and troops from early Egypt to I believe 500AD. You could do any fantasy matchup you wanted. I always wished that someone would revamp it and release it.
Windows 7 home premium 64
Intel quad core I7
16 gig
AMD R9 200 series
Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!
Intel quad core I7
16 gig
AMD R9 200 series
Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!
RE: Ancient Games
I own the entire Great Battles series, and a gamer did make a mod that allows you to play the game without the CD. I still have "Caesar" on my PC. However, this mod won't work unless you already own the game, so don't ask me for it, OK? [;)]
Yes, it is "ancient", but it's still fun to revisit now and again. The accent on leadership, unit cohesion and the ability to move legions (group move, group attack etc) is a big help in the larger battles (Munda, for example).
The campaign aspect is weak, but it's a good beer & pretzels game. Here's a screenshot (close-up view):

Yes, it is "ancient", but it's still fun to revisit now and again. The accent on leadership, unit cohesion and the ability to move legions (group move, group attack etc) is a big help in the larger battles (Munda, for example).
The campaign aspect is weak, but it's a good beer & pretzels game. Here's a screenshot (close-up view):

- Attachments
-
- UO0004.jpg (192.29 KiB) Viewed 584 times

RE: Ancient Games
Lol I bought the series the entire series of the Great Battles series for $4 bucks a couple of years ago and still have not played them. I might have to break them out and try them on XP. I had heard they didn't work on XP and now someone says they do. Must be another one of those works for me not for you type games we keep getting an abundance of each year now. 

WE/I WANT 1:1 or something even 1:2 death animations in the KOIOS PANZER COMMAND SERIES don't forget Erik!
and Floating Paratroopers We grew up with Minor, Marginal and Decisive victories why rock the boat with Marginal, Decisive and Legendary?

RE: Ancient Games
Well, ravinhood, I use XP, and the game runs fine on my system. Not sure if the Caesar mod has anything to do with it. Perhaps it does.

RE: Ancient Games
I've got the HPS Punic Wars, Tin Soldiers Series, all of the Slitherine games and Great Battle Collectors Edition installed on the 'evil' OS - Vista and they work like a charm. I don't have the No CD mod however, sure wish I knew where it could be found... (hint, hint) [8|]
There's a simple answer to every complex question - and it's wrong.
-Umberto Eco
-Umberto Eco
-
- Posts: 563
- Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2002 2:46 am
- Location: Goldsboro, North Carolina
-
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:17 am
RE: Ancient Games
I wouldn't call Great battles a beer and pretzel game. As far as I know it is the same system that GMT used in the boardgame Great battles, just the computer takes care of all the manual aspects instead of you doing it. The GMT games won many awards, when they were first introduced. With ancient games once you are setup for battle the way you hopefully want to be, there's not much else to do, except fire and forget. Besides rallying troops and using your reserves, in ancient warfare there was not to much else for a commander to do. So great battles and Punic wars are pretty true to life.
It's a love them or leave them situation. You either enjoy ancient warfare with it's command control or you don't like being a passive participant in the battles. Invariably in ancient warfare the strategic or more so the operational aspect of warfare was king. You maneuvered your army to get the best advantage before the battles even started. Strangely alot like Napoleon's art of war, have your enemy beaten even before you come to grips. I realize that all generals want to do this. The maneuvering to battle in ancient wars was much like the 16th and 17th century warfare. Which is where Napoleon thought you had to study to learn the art of war.
It's a love them or leave them situation. You either enjoy ancient warfare with it's command control or you don't like being a passive participant in the battles. Invariably in ancient warfare the strategic or more so the operational aspect of warfare was king. You maneuvered your army to get the best advantage before the battles even started. Strangely alot like Napoleon's art of war, have your enemy beaten even before you come to grips. I realize that all generals want to do this. The maneuvering to battle in ancient wars was much like the 16th and 17th century warfare. Which is where Napoleon thought you had to study to learn the art of war.
Windows 7 home premium 64
Intel quad core I7
16 gig
AMD R9 200 series
Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!
Intel quad core I7
16 gig
AMD R9 200 series
Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!
RE: Ancient Games
ORIGINAL: Kevin E. Duguay
Still like RTW, great game!
ROFLMAO HAHAHAHA <snicker, snortal cough




WE/I WANT 1:1 or something even 1:2 death animations in the KOIOS PANZER COMMAND SERIES don't forget Erik!
and Floating Paratroopers We grew up with Minor, Marginal and Decisive victories why rock the boat with Marginal, Decisive and Legendary?

- jkBluesman
- Posts: 797
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:48 pm
RE: Ancient Games
These Great Battles sound like good tactical games (I might even have had a Civil War game from the series), but what about strategical ancient games?
"War is the field of chance."
Carl von Clausewitz
Carl von Clausewitz
RE: Ancient Games
ORIGINAL: jkBluesman
If not which other period from the ancient world would interest you?
I've wanted to see a 'Battles of the Bible' game since I read Herzog and Gichon's book on the subject. Failing that I await further installments in the HPS ancients series (if there are any) with interest. Alexander would be good.
RE: Ancient Games
I've wanted to see a 'Battles of the Bible' game
Yeah me too always wanted to play Samson and beat down 1000 philistines with the jawbone of an as$.

WE/I WANT 1:1 or something even 1:2 death animations in the KOIOS PANZER COMMAND SERIES don't forget Erik!
and Floating Paratroopers We grew up with Minor, Marginal and Decisive victories why rock the boat with Marginal, Decisive and Legendary?

-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2006 7:01 pm
-
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:17 am
RE: Ancient Games
Just so you know Cuthbo matrix and Most of the forum users take a very dim view of abandonware. I'm not going to go down that road again, but I suggest you edit your post and remove the link.
Windows 7 home premium 64
Intel quad core I7
16 gig
AMD R9 200 series
Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!
Intel quad core I7
16 gig
AMD R9 200 series
Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!