Mark Slater
United Kingdom
Newport
Newport, South Wales
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If you have a lower end laptop, then Shogun: Total War or Medieval: Total War (not 2) will run better, again, set the battles to auto-resolve.
Battle Isle was my favorite turn based wargame for ages!
Also, there was the History line 1914-1918 game which used the Battle Isle system, but set in WW1, I only played on the Amiga, but I think it was available on the PC.
Birth of the Federation not yet mentioned, but uses the same engine as Master of Orion series, but Star Trek Themed.
Edit:
Just found this http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/357/1830+Railroads+%2526+R... which is based on 1830: Railways & Robber Barons
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Ben Jackson
Australia
Boronia
Victoria
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Great idea for a post!
I have just been playing a new game Conilization (Sid Myers)
http://www.firaxis.com/games/game_detail.php?gameid=21
It is a pretty good turn based system, and uses the Civ 4 engine, but is quite different.
Its set in exploring the new workd and then decalaring independance.
There is a destinct lack of decent turn based stuff out there recently, and I keep my eye out for new releases.
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You shouldn't play the new Colonization. It has a lot of bugs and is unbalanced. The whole game makes no frickin' sense. The more cities you build the harder the game will become. The AI is a joke. The whole economy system makes no sense. The bigger your production the bigger your problem. Really, this game is a joke.
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Tony Ackroyd
United Kingdom
Brighton
E Sussex
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I'm going to be running a poll competition for video strategy games, feel free to nominate games here:
Best Strategy Video Games - Nominations Thread
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Harlekin wrote: You shouldn't play the new Colonization. It has a lot of bugs and is unbalanced. The whole game makes no frickin' sense. The more cities you build the harder the game will become. The AI is a joke. The whole economy system makes no sense. The bigger your production the bigger your problem. Really, this game is a joke.
Have you got the patch? It seems to smooth stuff out somewhat.
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Alex Daniel
United States
Unspecified
Unspecified
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I'm a hard-core CIV fan myself. Civ IV is my favorite, with Colonization right behind. And I've gotta agree, the remake of Colonization is a colossal disappointment. Even with the patch, this game is a mess. More liberty bells = greater homeland army to fight against. Then what's the point of going for those production bonuses? Natives propose alliance = native town is completely obliterated. Then what's the point of being nice to them?
I was really down about this game. Colonization was awesome, Civ IV was awesome. A new Colonization in the Civ IV format? I was pumped up for it! Then we get this rubbish of a game.
I still have confidence, however, that Civ V will rule mightily from an iron throne atop the jagged peaks of Mt. Awesome.
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Fraser
Australia
Melbourne
Yep that was 12 Power Grid maps back to back over two days. Worth doing, but possibly not in such a concentrated burst.
Ooh yes, now a little to the left - my nose is itchy. No, no the other left! Now what colour is 12 supporter badge going to be I wonder?
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Food wrote: I'm a hard-core CIV fan myself. Civ IV is my favorite, with Colonization right behind. And I've gotta agree, the remake of Colonization is a colossal disappointment. Even with the patch, this game is a mess. More liberty bells = greater homeland army to fight against. I only found the patch a couple of weeks ago. I have found the European army is tiny with the patch compared to what it was without.
I tried building a monster empire before declaring independence both with and without the patch, i.e. upto 20 or so cities or whatever was required to fill up about 3/4s of the map. Pre patch I was looking at a European army of close to 1000, post patch it was under 100. A very big difference!
With a defensive build, i.e. only one coastal city on the East Coast I could beat them off, although it took a while 
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Eric Phillips
United States
Fort Wayne
Indiana
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I missed Master of Magic back when it would have wowed me. When I downloaded it a few years ago from an abandonware site and tried it out, I couldn't even figure out what the map graphics were supposed to denote. After all the HoMM I've played (particularly 2 and 3), I think it's too late to go back.
The Civ series is a perennial favorite with me. Civ 4 with expansions is the current pinnacle of the 4x genre, hands down. For 4x in space, Master of Orion II is still my favorite, though I haven't tried the expansions for Galactic Civilization 2.
A few have mentioned Disciples 2. I had a lot of fun with the missions, but when those are done the standalone maps aren't nearly as interesting to me--the opposite of how it is with the HoMM games--and so longevity has suffered. Also, I can't imagine that Disciples would work very well against another human player, because so much depends on attacking instead of being attacked. It seems it would lead to very cautious, agonizingly drawn-out play.
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Clint Metric
United States
Austin
Texas
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Europa Universalis II or III!
I guess not truly turn based, but you can have it pause for EVERY SINGLE ACTION if you really wanted it to. If you're into a more realistic historical setting Paradox has really tried to put a comprehensive global history together for that series. And unlike the board game, the computer can take care of all those numbers, be it counters, die rolls, etc.
Personally I put it above Civ, but that could just make me a black sheep 
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Jan Ozimek
Denmark
Aalborg
Must resist M:tG. Boardgames are my methadone :)
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squash wrote: I recently stumbled upon the PC version of Axis and Allies (which was released in 1998) for less than $10, and decided it might be fun to try a turn-based strategy PC game which would replicate my most enjoyable board gaming experiences. I installed it a couple of days ago on my 1-year old computer, but nothing seems to be working right. After the intro, the main menu screen comes up, but it has only images and no text. Randomly clicking on various parts of the screen brings up different options, such as a tutorial (which seems to start at a different, random location each time), the game set-up, etc. Even when I try to jump into the game, when I click on a unit to move it, the cursor disappears until I click again and either the unit moves to the new surprise location or the screen tells me I can't move there.  The game didn't come with a manual of instructions (just the CD and a slip of paper with brief installation instructions), so I was all the more disappointed that I couldn't get the tutorial to work. Also, ever since a technician came in to fix a CD tray that was jammed open, we have had no sound whatsoever.  I'm not sure if this would affect game play or not. Anyhow, I'm a complete idiot when it comes to computers, so I'm just posting this here in the hopes that someone might be able to offer some helpful advice. Or maybe someone can recommend a PC game that is similar to Axis and Allies that I could get to work on my computer. I'm mainly looking for something that would be easy to learn and quick to pick up (I don't have the patience to learn a game such as Civilization in my limited spare/alone time), and that would be reminiscient of my large games of conquest (such as Attack! Deluxe Expansion, Conquest of the Empire, etc., although I'm also partial to medieval - historical, not fantasy - themes). THanks for any advice that will be offered!
Regarding Axis & Allies, I recommend that you look for the TripleA game. It's Java based, so it works on new and old computers. You can get all sorts of scenarios, based on the A&A rules. Finding the scenarios that replicate "Original" A&A games is a bit more tricky, but it's doable. If you can't make it work, send me a PM.
http://triplea.sourceforge.net/
The AI is not great, but it wasn't great in the old CD-com bases A&A either. You can play online in realtime or PBeM.
If you wan't a game that is VERY historical and sort of feels like Attack! (Actually more like Napoleon in Europe) then you should look for Europa Universalis III. It's a simulation of world history in the period 1400 - 1800. It has regions similar to the above mentioned board games. Detailed with historical units, rulers, & events.
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Eric Phillips
United States
Fort Wayne
Indiana
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I've played a little EU3. I was impressed by the scope and feel of the game, but there is also a lot of nitpicky detail stuff that the player has to see to himself--particularly the suppression of revolts and pirates--that got annoying even when I didn't have a huge empire. I also ran into strange unforeseen rules that messed me up from time to time, like suddenly finding my merchants at a big disadvantage for competing in European Centers of Trade just because I had conquered a CoT in Africa, or being allied with two nations but not having an honorable face-saving way to decline when one of them declared war on the other and insisted I join in.
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Dave Nellis
United States
Denver
Colorado
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Fortuna wrote: I missed Master of Magic back when it would have wowed me. When I downloaded it a few years ago from an abandonware site and tried it out, I couldn't even figure out what the map graphics were supposed to denote. After all the HoMM I've played (particularly 2 and 3), I think it's too late to go back.
Really Master of Magic is just a re-theme of Civ, with a tactical combat aspect added. You research spells instead of tech. If you like Civ, give MoM another chance you'll probably like it.
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Dirk DeWester
United States
Columbia Heights
Minnesota
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Should I go straight to Dominions 3 or play 2 first?
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Jakto Hi'tidi
United States
oklahoma city
Oklahoma
Utinni!
Utinni!
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Wesnoth. It's a community developed freeware. It's better than many or most similar games I"ve payed for!
It has campaign modes, single battles, network play, scenario and campaign designers, frequent map, campaign, and version updates, etc.
www.wesnoth.org. I can't quit playing it.
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Adam Clausing
United States
West Chicago
Illinois
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I'm a big fan of Heroes of Might and Magic... the 3rd is the best.
Kings Bounty is a classic as well. It's been recently updated.
Age of Magic 1 and 2 are absolutely fantastic.
Disciples II Gold can be bought at Target for $10 and is another great game.
I'd also recommend Worms Armageddon or Worms World Party. Make sure it isn't the 3D game. The 2D versions are MUCH better in my opinion. They have crazy weapons on this... concrete donkey, banana bomb and the holy hand grenade. Similar to Scorched Earth, but on crack!
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Eric Phillips
United States
Fort Wayne
Indiana
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Shatner wrote: Really Master of Magic is just a re-theme of Civ, with a tactical combat aspect added. You research spells instead of tech. If you like Civ, give MoM another chance you'll probably like it.
Well, I don't think Civ I would hold my attention much these days. Not after playing Civ II, III, and IV and finding them each better than the one before.
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Tiger Wiccan
United States
Florida
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Wesnoth, as mentioned above, is an awesome game, and it's completely amazing that it's free. Another amazingly free game is called Vantage Master Online. The title makes it sound like one of those free MMO's, but it's really a Japanese turn based monster summoning game translated into English and the word "Online" tacked onto it.
http://www.falcom.co.jp/vantage/index_e.html
Also, not free (although you can download a demo), but also awesome is the recently released Solium Infernum. It has diplomatic and combat systems that are well woven together, and the randomly generated map and wide variety of randomly appearing units and items that you aquire within the game make each game different. It also has a strong eurogame influence, as there are MANY different actions you can take in the game, but you can only do a few actions (called "orders" in the game) each turn.
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ketchupgun
Canada
Toronto
Ontario
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may I suggest a GBA emulator and playing Advance Wars. And while your at it, Final Fantasy Tactics.
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Pete Lane
United States
Saint Paul
Minnesota
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Final Fantasy Tactics is just wonderful. One game that flew under everyone's radar when it came out was Hostile Waters: Anteus Rising. It is a squad based futuristic 3d combat game, and was respected by many critics. Hair pulling battles, interesting enough storyline, and easy to learn game play. My main complaint is the AI, which when you're running 9 different units in a strategic attack and find out one can't climb a hill so well... YIKES! Otherwise, some of the best "HOLY CRAP" battles I've ever encountered.
Why it didn't do so well? No multiplayer, which was starting to be the big hype at the time of its release. Basically got burried in an avalanche of games that were fun to LAN instead. This is one of my all time favorite PC games, and I easily dust it off once every couple of years to play it again. Easily found for under $10 in most places. I think I payed $5 for mine.
http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/hostilewatersan...
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Tom Scutt
United Kingdom
Matlock
Derbyshire
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Apologies if someone's already mentioned this, but if you haven't played Oasis you really should give it a try:
http://www.oasisgame.com/
(it's not related to the boardgame of the same name)
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Eric Phillips
United States
Fort Wayne
Indiana
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A few people have mentioned Battle for Wesnoth. I did enjoy the main campaign, but once that's done, there doesn't seem to be anything else nearly as interesting to play.
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T Guiles
United States
Walled Lake
Michigan
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Master of Magic - possibly the best turn-based computer game ever. Look for its spiritual successor, Elemental - War of Magic, coming soon enough.
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Paul Doherty
United States
McKinney
Texas
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Any of the Jagged Alliance series of games are excellent turn-based tactical games.
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Joel Mayeski
United States
Hershey
Pennsylvania
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I have to throw in my 2 cents here!
Space Empires IV - To mirror what others have said, this is one of my all time favorites that sucks me in every time. Its all about building fleets and controlling star systems while researching and upgrading tech. I'd love to try this against human opponents some time (it has an amazing width and breath of tech available WELL worth getting). (the graphics are cool too, you can even download a demo here: http://www.malfador.com/se4.html) Ok, I'm done preaching!
Conflict - A Middle East simulation from 1997. Of all things crazy it predicted the assassination of the Israeli Prime Minster, and your charged with running the country. Mostly political negotations with neighboring countries (you know who they are), along with building a military force, possibly trying to gain nuclear weapons, etc. Lots of fun - I'd like to find a version for a newer computer.
Omega - A fun game along the line of Rogue. Just something I wasted, oh, 1 month of time playing (if added up - i.e. 750 hours I'm sure).
Light Speed - Is another old game, but ahead of it's time. Its just a fun game where you are exploring a new galaxy and meeting new races and upgrading your ship and fighting those you choose not to befriend.
Oh, how I miss my days of computer gaming  but in the end I'm mostly trade it for bored gaming, so its ok, right? 
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Michael Christenson
United States
Vancouver
Washington
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jmellby wrote: DocStryder wrote: Dominions 2 or 3 by Shrapnel Games I will second Dominions 2/3, at least, until I can get Master of Magic running on Vista.
I miss that game so much!
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Posted Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:17 am
