How does EiA compare to CoG?

[ant1815]

I'm thinking of getting 'Empires in Arms' but I've already got 'Crown of Glory' Has anybody played both of them, and if so how do they compare?

The original board game was one of the few Napoleonic games that I never actually played, and so I've got no idea how this would differ in any great way to CoG.

[Mynok]

It's harder to find similarities than differences. The only similarity I can think of is the use of area movement.

[tgb]

And the time frame. Because of EiA's boaradgame roots, it plays very differently than CoG - much less micro-management and tedious fiddling with the economy. I like it a lot more.

[ecn1]

EIa is immeasurably better...BUT, if you plan on playing the computer alot, probably stick with COG as the AI in EIA is one of the worse possible....the worst human player possible can whip the computer any day with ease

but if you are looking for fun pbem...EIA is totally your game

erik

[ant1815]

Thanks. I do tend to play exclusively against the AI so I might just stick with CoG if the AI in EiA is that bad.

[Mynok]

It will get better. EiA is definitely all about PBEM.

[Grognot]

ORIGINAL: ecn1
EIa is immeasurably better...BUT, if you plan on playing the computer alot, probably stick with COG as the AI in EIA is one of the worse possible....the worst human player possible can whip the computer any day with ease

With some nations, yes. I suspect that playing Prussia or Austria might be slightly tricky, 'tho -- because there's no real negotiating or coordination with the AIs. You can -request- an attack, access, or money, but requests aren't that likely to be granted and risk breaking the alliance. In addition, Austria and Prussian AIs seem to happily DoW each other and the rest of any potential anti-French coalition even while already at war with France, and Spain and GB are not infrequently at war as well.

The same holds true for Turkey, somewhat (France won't subsidize you if you don't ask, and they're not remotely guaranteed to subsidize you even if you do ask, so your economy tends to be bad) but a human Turkey is greatly aided by the passive Russian AI, and the rarity of either Great Britain or Spanish AI to go into North Africa or to eliminate your fleet (unless you go to Gibraltar or Cadiz, which does seem to trigger a response). So while you won't get much $ help as Turkey, you can take take advantage of the GB/Spanish lack of North African adventurousness and take all of North Africa, and later on take on Austria when France, Prussia, and Austria are merrily slaughtering each other. You can also take the Crimea when convenient, since the vast majority of the Russian army tends to sit on St. Petersburg and Finland.

[ecn1]

I have played each nation against just the ai, and I can guarantee you, there is nothing tricky...the computer is so bad at combat I beat 95% of the time...especially as it rarely stacks corps together...when the ai moves them at all...

the ai has this great tendency just to attack you with single corps...you just kill them piecemeal...its pretty pathetic...

I am playing turkey now...had four nations declare on me...none of them bothered attacking me though...sad...

ai never tries to take italy...easy pickings for turkey...same for north africa...turkey is no a monster after 2-3 years..rivals france..no problem....

erik

[AresMars]

This game, by it nature, is not a very good solo VERSUS AI game.....IMHO, this really is a 7 Human Player PBEM system.
 
If you want to play against a computer, there are other games better suited (but not limited to) then this game.
 
IMHO, join the PBEM system and you'll get many more hours of enjoyment (and frustration) out of this game then solo play will ever offer.
 
AresMars

[tgb]

Just a caveat on PBEM: Make sure you are playing with a group that can move faster than 1 month every 10 days

[dodod]

I second ecn's post...It is a bit unusual for a 60+ dollar game to have such a pathetic AI.  As any country you want, you can get unconditional surrenders from all countries in about 4-5 years of play time.  you own about half of europe and africa...and then you just quit the game.
 
In PBEM...the game itself comes through, but at snail pace..an some key features are missing, which will hopefully be rectified...such as dominance of France, kingdoms, etc.
 
hopefully both of these will be fixed.

[twolf03a]

tgb....any suggestions on how to speed up groups?
 
r/
J.D.

[tgb]

I wish I knew