New to AGEOD titles, sales on Steam, which should I get?

[Oddible]

I have Civil War II and Revolution Under Siege on my wishlist on Steam and a bunch are on sale this weekend. As a newcomer to AGEOD titles (tho a long time strategy, tactics and grand strategy gamer) which should I get as an introduction that will well represent this developer?

[loki100]

Hard to advise, I really like both.

Rev Under Siege is complex, there is a lot going on in terms of political events and raising and forming armies is a challenge. It is a great simulation of the conflict and really deeply immersing - especially multiplayer. But unless that is your primary interest I wouldn't make it my first AGEOD game. In addition to the AGE-style of gameplay there is a lot else to get your head around.

CW2 has some similar issues - there are politics, you raise and organise your armies etc but its a bit easier to visualise the 'front' and that helps orientate you - also there are more (and better) shorter scenarios. In RuS the concept of a front line is meaningless, especially as both sides have partisan problems as well as having to deal with the organised armies of their main enemy.

If you are just getting into AGEOD, simply from a game play perspective some of their older titles like Alea Jacta Est, Wars in America or Rise of Prussia are more streamlined. Of course if the ancient era or the 18C leave you uninterested then that will have no attractions. But the underlying game system is the same across the majority of their games so learning how it works in a simpler game can be a worthwhile investment of time.

[vaalen]

I would suggest Wars In America. It is a great collection of scenarios, both large and small. It has been patched and enhanced to the point that it is just about free of bugs. It is, I think the best game for learning the basic system, which is used in all the games. The Ageod system is unique, and very deep. While it is easy to use, it is very challenging to master, and the AI can be utterly brutal, especially when you are unfamiliar with what it likes to do. Weather, terrain, and lack of supply can literally destroy your forces, though you can learn ways to deal with them. There is a vast variety of troop types, many with special abilities, and an incredible variety of leaders, with a huge variety of traits. And all of these things are based on history, not fantasy.

The other games add more complex systems, which I find enjoyable, but I would not pick them as the best place to start. The AJE,series is very well done and uses the basic system, but the circumstances of the campaigns can make it very difficult to keep your forces supplied, unless you really understand the logistics system, I would not start with it, but I highly recommend them once you have the basics down.

I own every Ageod game, and enjoyed every one of them. I have been playing them a lot for over nine years, and I never tire of them.

[Cardinal Ape]

I'd recommend Wars in America too (Ain't nobody more street than Big G; stone faced with a grill of sheep teeth..) Sadly, its not on Steam. Looks like its currently on sale in the ageod store for $7.50, though.

[bkosar19]

As an intro to Ageod?

As others have already stated, Ala Jacta Est and/or Wars in America are probably the best introductory games. They both feature lots of scenarios with relatively low unit density. Plus, there are some terrific "step-by-step" introductory AARs for those two games on this site and others that were specifically written for newer players.

The large Ageod games like To End All Wars and Civil War II can be overwhelming to the new player. (See, angry Steam reviews/comments by know-it-all Paradox gamers who are furious to discover that they may actually have to read the manual and/or take to their time to learn how the game works before they can be successful at it.)

RUS isn't a bad intro game. It also has some small/short scenarios that can give the new player a way to learn the game. Plus, it also has some excellently written AARs which explain the game's mechanics. However, most of its scenarios are pretty big which can be very overwhelming if you're not sure how things work.

Civil War 2 is ok as an intro game, but its main selling point are its monster campaign scenarios. It does have some smaller scenarios, but those aren't particularly interesting. However, there are entire video series on youtube explaining how the game works. So, if you've got the patience to learn then there is a lot of stuff out there to teach you.

One game I would definitely skip, though. is Wars of Napoleon which even Ageod has pretty much admitted is a failed design. Too ambitious for the aging engine.

Ageod games are an acquired taste. If you do take the leap then my advice is to go SLOW. Take your time while playing. Read all the log messages. Maybe even jot down some notes as you play. (Dorky as it maybe, I didn't really start understanding how a lot stuff worked until I started writing down the results of battles and events while playing. And there is still stuff that I struggle to understand. Despite years of experience playing these games supply can still be inexplicable.)

I remember when I first got into these games with the original Birth of America I'd make a lot of hasty moves because it seemed so simplistic and then quickly hit the end turn button. That resulted in a lot of confusion and frustration. It wasn't until I slowed down and took my time thinking about what I wanted to accomplish that things started to "click."