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Author Topic: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)  (Read 11069 times)

Stworca

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Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« on: April 25, 2011, 07:29:18 am »

Hello!

I've found some spare time, thus i want to follow my primal instincts and play some sandbox strategy games! I could play the ones i have, but new toys always make me drool! Bay 12, please aid me in finding some good, new tittles!
Few things though :

Length :
- Space Empires 4 i own, love, and want to have babies with it! A few hundred solar systems to manage? Dozens of fleets? Exactly what i want!
- Civilisation series : No. The games are too short. I like making very long term plans.
Graphics :
- As long as it's not ASCII, i'm game. I'm sorry, but i'm unable to play an ASCII game for too long. I keep missing some important things, even though they're happening right in front of my eyes.
Complexity :
- As far as it goes! If there is only one I WIN strategy = No. If there is a dozen = YES!
Real time or turn based? :
- Turn based, eventually pausable real time. The only RTS i play is Stronghold.
Paradox games? :
- Have them all, love HoI 2 and victoria.

Hit me! All suggestions appreciated.

Regards
« Last Edit: April 25, 2011, 07:38:37 am by Stworca »
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kulik

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Acid

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2011, 07:54:42 am »

Aurora
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=47678.0

In my eyes, Aurora is the F.A.T.A.L of 4x games: it's too unnecessary complex. I wouldn't recommend it, unless you're a masochist...
I would have suggested Master of Magic, but if Civ seems too short for you... I don't really know...
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Hugehead

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nuker w

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2011, 08:14:39 am »

Aurora
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=47678.0

In my eyes, Aurora is the F.A.T.A.L of 4x games: it's too unnecessary complex. I wouldn't recommend it, unless you're a masochist...
I would have suggested Master of Magic, but if Civ seems too short for you... I don't really know...

Comparing anything to F.A.T.A.L, is... Well.... Cruel. So very cruel.
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Soulwynd

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2011, 10:36:46 am »

Why? FATAL is the best RPG ever made.
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freeformschooler

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2011, 10:42:25 am »

Why? FATAL is the best RPG ever made.

It's so great that attempting to discuss it here in any seriousness would probably be breaking the rules :D
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NewsMuffin

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2011, 11:02:46 am »

Aurora
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=47678.0

In my eyes, Aurora is the F.A.T.A.L of 4x games: it's too unnecessary complex. I wouldn't recommend it, unless you're a masochist...
I would have suggested Master of Magic, but if Civ seems too short for you... I don't really know...
That's... not why people didn't like FATAL.

Stworca, have you played the X-COM games? They aren't exactly sandbox, but they are pretty close to it. And they're hard, if that matters.
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Majestic7

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2011, 11:30:59 am »

Sword of the Stars.

Civ 4 with Fall From Heaven 2 total conversion mod, with epic or marathon speed.

Distant Worlds.

Armageddon Empires (not really sandbox, but fun fun fun indy).

Dominions 3, mother of all fantasy strategy games and the best PBEM game ever (remember to use Conceptual Balance Mod).

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Earthquake Damage

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2011, 11:42:23 am »

That's... not why people didn't like FATAL.

I once read a fantastic (and scathing...  oh so scathing) review of FATAL.  I think it might be this one.  This page has links to several others.
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Majestic7

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2011, 11:43:42 am »

You've never known love before you've been loved by a greasy unicorn and just like that, you've never known roleplaying before you've player FATAL... but this isn't thread about it, is it?
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Sean Mirrsen

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2011, 12:04:10 pm »

If "a few hundred solar systems to manage" and "dozens of fleets" are your cup of tea, look no further than Lost Empire: Immortals.

My favorite map:
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Majestic7

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2011, 12:17:48 pm »

I thought Lost Empires was released buggy as hell, practically unfinished and then promptly abandoned. Some guy did a huge mod that patched many problems, but not all.
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Astral

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2011, 12:30:51 pm »

Alpha Centauri, if you have the patience for it. (Yes, I realize it's in the same vein as Civilization, but the customization that is possible with units, strategies, etc is fairly big for a 10+ year old game)

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Stworca

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Re: Sandbox strategies? (non DF)
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2011, 12:46:22 pm »

In the order the comments were placed :

@ aurora : I am aware that this game exists, but i could not find a decent "how to" yet that would explain the game to me. I like knowing -something- before even starting. For Dwarf Fortress the LP of captain duck did the trick.
Aurora is a last resort.

@ Acid : Masters of Magic was awesome! (so was Civ 2) But it's an afternoon adventure, not a week strugle  ;)

@ NewsMuffin : I have tried X-Com series, yes. Before someone suggests them : I also played Jagged Alliance and Silent Storm. All of them very nice games, but i'm not looking for that genre this time.
Sword of the Stars.
Civ 4 with Fall From Heaven 2 total conversion mod, with epic or marathon speed.
Distant Worlds.
Armageddon Empires (not really sandbox, but fun fun fun indy).
Dominions 3, mother of all fantasy strategy games and the best PBEM game ever (remember to use Conceptual Balance Mod).


I do have Dominions 3. The only AI i've seen that was WORSE than this of Dominions 3, was from Polish version of Space Empires 5. This was because the translators have screwed it, and there was no working AI at all.
I'll see what Distant Worlds are and Swords of the Stars.

@ Sean Mirrsen, Majestic 7

Is it true? We're talking here about Morrowind-like bugs, that you could easily fix yourself, or Daggerfall bugs that were like eating cooked broccoli when there's a pizza calling your name?

@ Astral : AC was fun too, but from what i remember it's the fastest of "Civ" games. Two dozen turns and the map is colonized!

So right now i'll be reading some more about DW, SotS, LE and perhaps even Aurora.. Keep 'em coming.
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