Join us as we trawl through cool news from the world of 4X and strategy.
This is not your usual news bulletin (we have plenty of that elsewhere!), more just talking about things that caught our eye.
Today is Sunday January 4th. There has been some, ahem, interesting news in the real world this week.
But, the world keeps turning, and we keep gaming
So, about those games. I have been playing a lot of Knights of Honor 2 (thanks to Ricky’s recommendation on the podcast) , and it has really got it’s hooks in me. It is hard to explain exactly why, because it is a fairly simple game after all. Cassus Belli does not feature as prominently as it did in real life, or in Crusader kings 3, removing a fair bit of the tension, but I think the thing I like most is the resource system, and how interlocked everything is. BTW, KoH2 is on sale, go get it!
The strategic and tactical systems meshing also got me thinking. We have many games with the 2 aspects separate (Age of Wonders 4, Elemental, Endless Legend 2 etc) examples in the table below
| Strategic system | Tactical system | Example game |
| turn based strategic | turn based tactical | Age of Wonders, Endless series (a curious blend) |
| turn based strategic | real time battles | Total War series |
| real time strategic | real time battles | Knights of Honor 1 and 2 |
| turn based strategic | real time battles but hands off | Dominions, Songs of Silence |
I have a feeling that other that turn based both layers is the most popular format. If so, why? Is it easier to manage, design for, or is it a holdover from Civ, and before that from board games/physical wargames?
KoH2 also has a rudimentary supplies system, to simulate logistics, which got me thinking, why do so few games have proper logistics systems? Is it simply too boring? Hard to code? I am aware that wargames often simulate this, but I am really asking about general strategy and 4X games.
Hegemony apparently has a good working model, whereas Rome 2 really does not.
Also, where does Ultimate General: Civil War fit into this? Would a (fantasy of course!) grand strategy game with such a system be any fun?
AS an aside, Crusader Kings 3 and Total War Attila have had a baby. One day, we will do a podcast on mods that are better/bigger etc than their original games, and this will surely be on the list.
Talking about Total War, I still have concerns over how they are going to force their engine into depicting the frankly silly/ over the top/ crazy battles of Warhammer 40,000.
On the discord, this quote got my attention:
Your thoughts?
So, what games are you playing this week?
I am playing KoH2, Absolum (which continues to beat me down, frustrating!), Terra Invicta (well, I have booted it up – this is definitely not a game to rush into), AoW4 single and multiplayer (ongoing pbem organised by Doubt), Rome 2 (fully modded, great combat).
Enjoy, and keep exploring!
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Also known as BBB in many places, Andy is well known for his love of strategy games of all types, especially the Age of Wonders series.