4X Old World - historical 4X strategy by Civ 4 designer (formerly 10 Crowns)

[Lacrymas]

The DLC is out. I'm gonna hold off on buying it since it's 20 Euro for some reason, but I'm sure it's of high enough quality.

 

[Lacrymas]

I would like to change my statement that I issued above - I don't think this DLC is particularly good or worth it. Not only is it super expensive, but the main attraction seems to be the different/unique leader effects, but they are all over the place balance-wise. There's a leader whose workers refund 2 orders on building completion, which is bonkers broken. Unless there's significant balancing and reiteration, I'm pretty sure this DLC will be seen as borderline bad and/or overpriced as time goes on. I doubt many leaders will be permitted in multiplayer games. The wonders are ok, but not worth 20 Euro just for them. The best thing is that the AI can use the bonkers broken leaders to increase difficulty in single player, but that's it.

Keep in mind I haven't played it yet, this is gleaned from other people's opinions, but I don't think I'm very far from the truth.

 

[Lacrymas]

Finally got around to "finishing" Carthage 4 -

Only a gold victory again and I didn't technically finish it, i.e. I didn't last the full 80 turns, but I knew I wouldn't get the epic victory either way. I'll do them once I feel the itch to do it, especially now that I know what will happen (you basically need to metagame to get epic victories, some of the objectives are crazy kooky). Spoilers for the 4th mission -

You basically fight a war on 3 fronts from the beginning - Hannibal advancing towards Italia from the Alps, the Romans invading the Iberian peninsula and you fighting for supremacy of the sea. You have to be on top of all of these things if you want to finish the epic victory. Outside of that, Rome attacks with a modest force from the south at one point and they turn the Numidians against you when they do it, so the fronts become 5 (you are basically surrounded from all sides at that point). The Numidians are willing to accept a truce if you defeat the small Roman army, though, so it's not that big of a problem. The big problem is sea supremacy and Hannibal's assault of Italia. The game tricks you into thinking you have a big enough force to go fight Rome from the north, but you don't, your troops are clown-tier at that early stage. You absolutely need siege equipment and more troops, so it's better to amass a more sizable army before going through the Alps in the first place, and I bet you'll still have to reinforce. Not only do you need to reinforce, you also turn the Gauls against the Romans when you reach your destination and it's still not enough. The Romans have excellent quality troops which smash your initial forces to a pulp. The last 2 objectives for the epic victory is conquering 3 cities in Italia and taking back 2 of your own cities in Sicily and Sardinia, both of which are harder than they sound. Rome's fleets constantly attack your boats, so it's hard to get troops onto the islands in the first place, so sea supremacy is a must. It's a doozy and definitely a mission with a heavy emphasis on logistics. Training enough troops isn't the problem, it's getting them to the front lines that trips you up.

Overall, I liked the Carthage campaign and recommend it. I'm sad to see how few people actually play scenarios. It doesn't technically surprise me, but it's still weird.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Overall, I liked the Carthage campaign and recommend it. I'm sad to see how few people actually play scenarios. It doesn't technically surprise me, but it's still weird.

I've never really been into scenarios or storylines for strategy games. Sandbox style has always been my preference. I find it interesting to see how much that apparently is mirrored in the tastes of others since most of the gaming industry tends to move in the direction of storylines, etc. (even if a scenario isn't exactly that, it's more similar to it than the normal modes of these types of games.)

 

[mondblut]

Overall, I liked the Carthage campaign and recommend it. I'm sad to see how few people actually play scenarios. It doesn't technically surprise me, but it's still weird.

When I hear "campaign" or "scenario", I reach for the gun.

Open world or nothing.

 

[Lacrymas]

The last patch added 95 new events to the game.

 

[Infinitron]

Coming May 28th:



https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/597180/view/4210376792241547248

 

[Lacrymas]

Cool.

 

[Desiderius]

The definitive historical 4x

Civ Sux pwned

 

[Lacrymas]

Just won the game of the week and I might be overdramatic but I do think Old World is one of the best games ever made. It's like an onion that keeps on giving.

 

[3 others]

Well, it's certainly one of the top 4X games out there at least. Shame that it requires more juice from your rig than a contemporary FPS to run properly.

 

[Lacrymas]

Well, it's certainly one of the top 4X games out there at least. Shame that it requires more juice from your rig than a contemporary FPS to run properly.

It's better now than it was, but yeah. You really start feeling it on turn 100+. It's far from unplayable, though.

 

[Lacrymas]

The new DLC is out -

The royal court is now in session, and the game of power has never been more compelling. Today marks the arrival of
Old World - Behind the Throne, our latest DLC that introduces you to the unseen layers of strategy and manipulation that simmer beneath the surface of regal authority.

Get "Behind the Throne" at a launch discount! Plus, enjoy discounts on Old World and all its DLCs!


Unravel New Dynamics in the Royal Court:
'Behind the Throne' introduces you to the delicate balance of power among new historical figures —advisors, viziers, aristocrats, and courtiers.
Each bringing their unique ambitions and motivations to your empire. Will you navigate these treacherous waters to maintain control over your throne, or will the political undercurrents prove too volatile?

Key Features to Explore:

• 350+ New Events:
  Engage in scenarios brimming with court politics, intrigue, and the personal ambitions of those closest to you.
• Notable Historical Figures:
  From Alcibiades, the cunning Athenian statesman, to Avicenna, the revered Persian philosopher, each character will challenge your governance in unique ways.

Innovative Projects and Improvements:

• Estates and Opulence:
  Establish estates that showcase your kingdom’s splendor and undertake the Opulence project to increase your influence and victory points.
• Slums:
  These new areas accelerate population growth but come with the increased risk of rebellion.

New Gameplay Mechanics:

• Rising Stars:
  Watch as non-leader characters become either your most valued assets or your fiercest adversaries as they gain influence within your realm.
• The Grand Vizier:
  Outsource city management to Viziers. But be cautious, as their growing power might inspire them to look towards your throne.
• Political Eras:
  Adapt your strategy through times of civil war, grand reforms, and decadence, each bringing significant challenges to your leadership.
• Stress & Revelry:
  Manage the ruler’s stress through various activities. The choices you make here can strengthen or weaken your grip on power.

To the Community
History is filled with incredible figures and the stories they've lived. Thanks to your continued support of Old World and your passion for history, we can continue combining our love for history with our passion for making games.

As you explore the new challenges in 'Old World: Behind the Throne,' please take a moment to leave us a review on Steam. Your insights are invaluable and guide our continuous improvement.

Now, enjoy your plotting!
~Mohawk Studios

It has a 10% launch discount, but if you already have everything else it's 30ish% as a bundle "completion bonus". It's also at the very reasonable price point of 10 Euro, not the 20 Euro debacle like last time.

It adds 350+ events to the game, for those who were clamoring for more of them. Outside of adding other gameplay elements that is.

 

[POOPERSCOOPER]

Would this game be good for someone who is new to 4x? I tried Civ6 but the cartoony stuff really turns me off.

 

[Lacrymas]

Would this game be good for someone who is new to 4x? I tried Civ6 but the cartoony stuff really turns me off.

OW is pretty complex, so I wouldn't recommend it for total newbies. I'd start with the Age of Wonders series maybe, or Civ 5 in a pinch. Gladius is also great, but heavily combat-focused.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

Would this game be good for someone who is new to 4x? I tried Civ6 but the cartoony stuff really turns me off.

Old World is ultimately too limited and repetitive to compare with the classics of the genre. If you have somehow really never played 4x strategy games before, then you can start with Civilization I and/or II, followed by Master of Orion and Alpha Centauri. No reason to waste time with Old World, recent entries in the Civilization series, and so forth.

 

[Lacrymas]

Would this game be good for someone who is new to 4x? I tried Civ6 but the cartoony stuff really turns me off.

Old World is ultimately too limited and repetitive to compare with the classics of the genre. If you have somehow really never played 4x strategy games before, then you can start with Civilization I and/or II, followed by Master of Orion and Alpha Centauri. No reason to waste time with Old World, recent entries in the Civilization series, and so forth.

How is it limited and repetitive?

 

[Monolith]

Just won the game of the week and I might be overdramatic but I do think Old World is one of the best games ever made. It's like an onion that keeps on giving.

Can you elaborate? I have not managed to finish a game, got bored once I started to steamroll all over my neighbours. Should I play on really high difficulty..? Have played it right afte release, so if it got better in the meantime, I will give it another go.

 

[Lacrymas]

Just won the game of the week and I might be overdramatic but I do think Old World is one of the best games ever made. It's like an onion that keeps on giving.

Can you elaborate? I have not managed to finish a game, got bored once I started to steamroll all over my neighbours. Should I play on really high difficulty..? Have played it right afte release, so if it got better in the meantime, I will give it another go.

Steamrolling your opponents in the endgame is par for the course in 4X games in general, your objective as a designer is to prolong getting to that stage for as long as possible. But yeah, I wouldn't play it on anything easier than the Glorious.

 

[cvv]

Steamrolling your opponents in the endgame is par for the course in 4X games in general, your objective as a designer is to prolong getting to that stage for as long as possible. But yeah, I wouldn't play it on anything easier than the Glorious.

Haven't played Old World yet but in all the other 4X games higher difficulties don't make endgame harder, just the early to mid-game. Once the ball gets rolling, it just rolls no matter the difficulty.

 

[Monolith]

In a way, yeah. Some games can keep up the challenge though. I felt that Warhammer 40.000: Gladius – Relics of War managed that well, at least during the first playthroughs.

Will give Old World anothe try on Glorious.

 

[Lacrymas]

Number of opponents also matters a lot in OW. One other nation doesn't present much of a challenge even on the Great. I always play sandbox maps in 4X games with at least 2 other opponents, sometimes in a team with each other (in Gladius f.e.).

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

In Civ as the amount of units grows, the AI gets worse at handling 1UPT combat. So even on extreme difficulties you basically just have to survive until endgame and then you can run circles around it.

 

[Lacrymas]

After having played a bit with the new DLC, I'm going to say it's pretty good. Most of the events it adds are a net negative (for your ruler) from what I've experienced, which curbs your snowballing a lot. There's a looooot happening in a typical game of OW and everything needs your attention now, but you just don't have the orders necessary to do everything and this DLC makes sure you don't have them for quite a while.

 

[The Brazilian Slaughter]

This game seems interesting, what's the KKK on it?