OT: Shadow Empire?

[Jorge_Stanbury]

has anybody tried "Shadow Empire" from Matrix Games?

looks interesting, with big logistics in place

[CaptBeefheart]

Yes. I'm still in early days, but it seems like a great game.

Cheers,
CB

[Ian R]

What is it - WITP in space or something?

[Platoonist]

ORIGINAL: Ian R

What is it - WITP in space or something?

The game comes across like a blend of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, and Crusader Kings 2. You expand out your territory, negotiate with minor and major factions. You have to deal with random events and politics that change your staff and general's attitudes towards you and each other. You also need to build up your economy and supply networks throughout your zones. Sort of like Civilization in space as a rough analogy.

The graphics aren't the latest and greatest, but the game is all about its systems and how they correspond with each other

[Ian R]

Played Civilization to death (back on DOS version).

Unfortunately like all things with "AI" routines, eventually you learn to break it:

1. Be Mongols, build chariots, explore/conquer entire planet except for one city.

2. Isolate that city so it can't grow.

3. Rapidly progress to capitalism.

4. Economic growth without warfare.

5. Build space ship.

I also had some fun with Colonization.

Is this one a bit smarter than that?

[Platoonist]

ORIGINAL: Ian R

Played Civilization to death (back on DOS version).



Is this one a bit smarter than that?

It certainly seems a lot denser. Like Capt Beefheart said, it's early days yet, but it looks like there is a lot of replayability due to the method of how all the starting content is generated. Everything from the planet you are struggling for to the weapons, tanks, equipment, alien flora/fauna, enemies is spawned different for every game. Planets themselves can vary from molten hell worlds with rivers and lakes of lava to frozen planetoids without any free water to low-gravity alien jungles full of deadly monsters and more.

Yeah sure, the graphics are still in the 1990s, but they'll be modded inevitably.

[Ian R]

Might have to give it a try.

[CaptBeefheart]

I think it'll be less than WITP-AE in terms of effort and campaign length, although there's an interesting thread on logistics in the game's sub-forum.

I'm still in beginner mode. I played a few turns before realizing I couldn't even send replacements to my infantry without creating some industrial points. Time to read the manual. [;)]

Cheers,
CB

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I checked the manual and found it interesting in terms of the deep level of logistics required (similar but probably not at the level of WITPAE). I like games with realistic logistics, and that is something that games like the Paradox brands or Civilization typically lacks

[Cheesesteak]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

I checked the manual and found it interesting in terms of the deep level of logistics required (similar but probably not at the level of WITPAE). I like games with realistic logistics, and that is something that games like the Paradox brands or Civilization typically lacks

What, you mean the Austria-to-Orthodox-to-Catholic switching and abuse in EU4 doesn't count as logistics? [:D]

[mind_messing]

It has grabbed my interest - however, I think I'll hold off for a short while and see how it pans out

[RangerJoe]

How does it compare to Masters of Orion 2 for playability?

I have played Civilization up to Civ III, but not EU4 or Crusader Kings.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I just bought it yesterday, so if you give me a week or so, I can comment

some early thoughts:

the game interface is very similar to "Decisive Campaigns" games; it is obvious that the game expanded from there.

it is turn based

you start as the leader of a small city state in some post apocalyptic, war desolated, AI generated planet; there are other city states and your goal is to subjugate them all

you raise different kinds of "LCUs" (imagine a Mad Max's era army units); based on your resources, manpower and tech level, you use them to explore and expand your territory, sooner than later you will get in contact with hostile aliens, raiders, or other AI city states units

it is a hex based wargame sandbox; and highlight the word "war" as the main driver; there is diplomacy, economy, tech, trade, but these look to be on a back seat

once you move farther away from your territory, you will start to have supply issues, hence you will also need to build roads, railroads, truck stations

There are also some role playing elements in the sense that there are factions in your city state and you will have to make decisions every turn. Those decisions will impact the level of support of the different factions

So I don't see it too similar to the Paradox games or Master of Orion; I would say that the most similar game I have even played is "Decisive Campaigns: Blitzkrieg", but in a very sandbox mode; without historical starting units, in a random generated map, and with a more development on things like the tech tree, buildings, economy management and decisions

[mind_messing]

Took the plunge. Love it.

[geofflambert]

Just what I need, another time vampire of a game.

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Just what I need, another time vampire of a game.

Speaking of which, what is the lifespan of a Gorn? If you guys are anything like the tortoise, and factoring in added size, it's gotta be high triple digits in years, maybe even into the K range? In lifespan terms, you're practically a vampire.

[fcooke]

Crikey - I think I only have maybe 20 years left. Gorns I think have something like 300....

[AFlint]

DasTactic on YouTube has a lot of videos and tutorials if you want to see it in action.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: fcooke

Crikey - I think I only have maybe 20 years left. Gorns I think have something like 300....

That's 300 Gorn years - kinda like the Mayan calendar that ran out in 2012. [:D]

[fcooke]

That was a funny one. Now I keep hoping to wake up and had a really bad nightmare with this whole thing. What's the next 'end of the world assertion'?

On the positive side we are on the flight path to Newark and traffic has picked up. For whatever that is worth.