12-27-2004, 04:42 PM
Personally, I just picked up Spellforce: Gold Edition (comes with Breath of Winter expansion pack). RPG/RTS mix done right, with story and interesting flavorful decisions. The difficulty varies greatly depending on your choice of open-ended character builds, so long as you do not spread yourself too thin trying to be everything, you'll do fine. I tricked a bunch of trolls I was their idol god :) Lovely atmopshere, music and graphics. Soothing singing and voice acted dialogue everywhere.
I am also in love with Guild Wars. I do have misgivings, but there are so many things done right! Maybe I will not like it so much when it launches--however so many normal actions which become problematic are virtually non-issues in GW. Item drops? No contest. Items preassigned to different people. No kill stealing either. No camping against other people for the same monster. So many team play aspects are done right! It could use improvement, but was very playable as of last beta event.
Changes will happen though. Whether Arena.net will cave in to unbalancing demands, or change the nature of the game when players grow and act out of original design--well. We'll see. I just hope it doesn't become another "grind" game to squeeze out money per time. That would be totally against GW's nature so far.
Have you tried Cyberlore's Majesty: A Fantasy Kingdom sim? Definitely a must-have in my mind. Just the right amount of chaos against plans and counterstrategy for magic to happen. Inspired pandemonium really. Both interesting and balanced, by cluttering itself with nutty heroes who level per swing depending on how strong their enemy is. Dragon raiding your town? Grab a handful of rangers fresh off the turnip truck. Sure, most of them will die without help, but those that live against the dragon will be veterans! If they live. If you want elves though, you'll have to live with their gambling casinos cluttering up your base and drawing away taxable revenue. Brothels too! These elves demand their pampered lifestyle. Although, such brothels makes for interesting times when a nude barbarian, old wizard codger always losing his spellbook, lost-boy were-bear shapeshifter and priestess necrophile all get together in the same brothel.
Before I forget to mention, in Majesty you don't get direct control over your heroes. Nope, they're all replete with personalities of their own. Zealous, Greedy, City-dwelling, retiring, or just plain war-crazy, they're all willing to make a buck if your bountiy is high enough.
In fact, I think I'll go play it again. . . after spellforce.
I am also in love with Guild Wars. I do have misgivings, but there are so many things done right! Maybe I will not like it so much when it launches--however so many normal actions which become problematic are virtually non-issues in GW. Item drops? No contest. Items preassigned to different people. No kill stealing either. No camping against other people for the same monster. So many team play aspects are done right! It could use improvement, but was very playable as of last beta event.
Changes will happen though. Whether Arena.net will cave in to unbalancing demands, or change the nature of the game when players grow and act out of original design--well. We'll see. I just hope it doesn't become another "grind" game to squeeze out money per time. That would be totally against GW's nature so far.
Have you tried Cyberlore's Majesty: A Fantasy Kingdom sim? Definitely a must-have in my mind. Just the right amount of chaos against plans and counterstrategy for magic to happen. Inspired pandemonium really. Both interesting and balanced, by cluttering itself with nutty heroes who level per swing depending on how strong their enemy is. Dragon raiding your town? Grab a handful of rangers fresh off the turnip truck. Sure, most of them will die without help, but those that live against the dragon will be veterans! If they live. If you want elves though, you'll have to live with their gambling casinos cluttering up your base and drawing away taxable revenue. Brothels too! These elves demand their pampered lifestyle. Although, such brothels makes for interesting times when a nude barbarian, old wizard codger always losing his spellbook, lost-boy were-bear shapeshifter and priestess necrophile all get together in the same brothel.
Before I forget to mention, in Majesty you don't get direct control over your heroes. Nope, they're all replete with personalities of their own. Zealous, Greedy, City-dwelling, retiring, or just plain war-crazy, they're all willing to make a buck if your bountiy is high enough.
In fact, I think I'll go play it again. . . after spellforce.