BOR or AJE?

Alea Jacta Est is a series of Ancient Strategy Games using the renowned and proven AGE engine. The first in the series is Alea Jacta Est, which features the Roman Civil Wars. Other games in the series are Birth of Rome and Parthian Wars. The latest entry, Hannibal: Terror of Rome, highlights the Second Punic War.
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jnpoint
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BOR or AJE?

Post by jnpoint »

Now there are two games, and they seem to be very similar, but which to choose?
I think I like both, but I will not buy two similar games. So does anyone have an advice?
I like long games with many turns, but I also like games spanning over vast geographical areas.
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jnpoint
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RE: BOR or AJE?

Post by jnpoint »

and do you know if they only produce DLC for AJE or for BOR as well?
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hjc
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RE: BOR or AJE?

Post by hjc »

I have AJE but not BOR yet. After having AJE for only a week (the demo a little longer) I'm very happy with it. They've had more time to iron out some bugs in the AJE scenarios, whereas there has just been a quickfix released for BOR and I'm not sure how many bugs remain in it.
Given that you are interested in wider campaigns perhaps AJE is the better choice because of the Civil War scenario. In one I played I marched Caesar all the way through the east to Antiochia, then right down through Syria and Judea to Alexandria. It felt like he had done a world tour. Meanwhile another army went west through Spain, jumped by ship to Numidia and marched to Utica near Carthage. I did plan on linking them up with Caesar, but - er, Caesar got trapped and nearly annihilated.

BOR has the much longer first Punic War weighing in at 284 turns, but the theatre of operations is nowhere near as large as in the Civil War which is 'only' 121 turns.

I don't know about DLC for BOR but I don't see why not.

I don't think you'll regret AJE, it looks simple but it's deep and the AI is quite competent if tweaked up.
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TulliusDetritus
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RE: BOR or AJE?

Post by TulliusDetritus »

I guess it depends on your own personal taste [:)]

To me the really interesting conflicts (and I am talking about history) were the wars of the old Roman Republic, grosso modo until the end of the II Punic War, defeat of Hannibal that is.

BoR covers part of this interesting period. I guess a next expansion will cover the II Punic War, etc.

AJE covers a period in which Rome is already a Mega-Power [8D] I prefer the golden age, when Rome was in fact on the brink of defeat.

So it depends.

Just for the record, so far BoR is fabulous! I am really enjoying the game. And oh, the Consuls are changed EACH year, as it should be!! [8D]
"Hitler is a horrible sexual degenerate, a dangerous fool" - Mussolini, circa 1934
Rosseau
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RE: BOR or AJE?

Post by Rosseau »

If your period of historical interest is not an issue, I would go with AJE and the inexpensive Cantabrian Wars add-on first.
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jnpoint
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RE: BOR or AJE?

Post by jnpoint »

thanks for the advices. I think I'll try Birth of Rome - first.
What's holding me back right now is that the demo has crashed several times now. Are those games stable?
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jnpoint
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RE: BOR or AJE?

Post by jnpoint »

ORIGINAL: rosseau

If your period of historical interest is not an issue, I would go with AJE and the inexpensive Cantabrian Wars add-on first.

Thanks for your help - but that add-on is 'only online' - so only multiplayer? I prefer to fight the AI.
vonRocko
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RE: BOR or AJE?

Post by vonRocko »

ORIGINAL: jnpoint

thanks for the advices. I think I'll try Birth of Rome - first.
What's holding me back right now is that the demo has crashed several times now. Are those games stable?

It must be the demo because the game is very stable.
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TulliusDetritus
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RE: BOR or AJE?

Post by TulliusDetritus »

ORIGINAL: jnpoint

thanks for the advices. I think I'll try Birth of Rome - first.
What's holding me back right now is that the demo has crashed several times now. Are those games stable?

So far I haven't had any problem at all with both AJE and BoR. Yes, really stable: I'm using W7 and a standard laptop [:)]

Cheers
"Hitler is a horrible sexual degenerate, a dangerous fool" - Mussolini, circa 1934
vonRocko
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RE: BOR or AJE?

Post by vonRocko »

ORIGINAL: jnpoint

ORIGINAL: rosseau

If your period of historical interest is not an issue, I would go with AJE and the inexpensive Cantabrian Wars add-on first.

Thanks for your help - but that add-on is 'only online' - so only multiplayer? I prefer to fight the AI.

That means online download only. It has an ai for single play.[;)]
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