Matrix Games Forums

Hello,

I'm interested in a Napoleonic-era Grand Strategy game, and have been perusing the product descriptions of "Empires in Arms" and "Crown of Glory - Emperors Edition". I've searched for existing discussion threads that compare the two, but what few there are seem to be very old.

I was wondering if anyone on this forum had experience with both games, and would care to compare them. Points of interest for me would be (in no particular order):

1. AI quality
2. User Interface (as long as it's not terrible or poorly planned, that's good enough for me)
3. Bugginess
4. Game play. (Does one have to use artificial, "gamey" tactics, or does it play more like what happened historically?)
5. FUN!

Here's what I've picked up from the forums and reviews (what few there). Please correct me if I have the wrong impression of anything:

- EIA's AI is not that good.
- Both games still have issues. "Crown of Glory" may be patched "sometime this year", but it hasn't been touched since 2009.
- "Crown of Glory" has a steep learning curve.
- EIA documentation expects you to be familiar with the old board game. (which I am not.)

Thanks,
Stilicho

Well, COG offers multiplayer support for up to eight players and an innovative system for monthly strategic turns and 20-minute tactical turns. Both games have a steep learning curve. The thing that turned me off about COG was the micromanagement of multiple resources required for production, too much micromanagement of units and leaders, and research (huh?). Some players live for this kind of detail and micromanagement; I don't care for it. I mean, I don't want to worry about where my lumber comes from for ship building or where to buy horses for my cavalry. EiA by comparison has relatively simple game mechanics (really!) and allows players to focus more on actually playing the game. There may be others here who play both COG and EiA and could offer another perspective.

EIA documentation expects you to be familiar with the old board game. (which I am not.)

The updated game manual for v1.08 now has player notes and a couple of strategy articles specifically to help newbies get up to speed. Players of the old board game didn't know how to play it until they started playing it. Now you can read the documentation and learn from others' experiences. I was not familiar with the board game either before I got into this Matrix PC version.

Im afraid Pzgndr is right its ok , but the micromanagement is a turn of for me, big learning curve always for Diplomatic and Strtegic military games. but the trick is you must operate both games as if you are a real head of state

There is a patch in development for COG:EE, but WCS has been focused on getting Conflict of Heroes out the door, plus they are working on Brother against Brother.