User avatar
Kev_uk
Colonel
Posts: 348
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: South Wales, UK.

How is it? Worth Purchasing now?

Sat Mar 26, 2016 4:09 pm

Hey folks,
I remember hankering after a full Napoleonic campaign game when Ageod released Campaigns of Napoleon, which I felt was very limited, despite its atmosphere and gorgeous map - sadly was not that good a game though. So, only reading one review (over at the wargamer) and browsing the forums, (Tim Stone over at Rock Paper Shotgun kinda just dismissed the game which I thought a bit off-putting), I am eager to purchase. A few caveats however; how is the AI in the full campaign? Is it all over playing as Napoleon after a few years when you manage to steamroll Austria, Prussia and Russia? I have mixed feelings that the game can handle a full nine years of conflict well enough to be a challenge. I hope I am wrong; is it manageable? With such a large map I imagine turns must take a long time - something I have no issue with, but still must not be frustrating; is there Industry in the game, or just recruiting more units? What economic options are there etc.

Seriously interested in purchasing (I will probably do so anyway, most threads I have read seem kinda positive, apart from usual bugs etc which I know from past Ageod experience will get patched), but I thought I might post this just to get some feedback.

Thanks
Kev

User avatar
Kev_uk
Colonel
Posts: 348
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: South Wales, UK.

Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:07 pm

This - coming from a weekly article from Rock Paper Shotgun by Tim Stone - really stopped me from purchasing WoN when it was first released, as I usually like that journalist. No other review was forthcoming. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/12/11/the-flare-path-danube-speedboats/

User avatar
Durk
Posts: 2934
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:36 am
Location: Wyoming

Sat Mar 26, 2016 8:38 pm

I primarily play pbem or versus myself, rarely versus AI. It may be that if you only want to play versus AI 'Victory or Glory' might be a more enjoyable title. Wars of Napoleon is very rich. In my brief glance at the article you linked to it seems to me the author has a preference for a game format which is not amenable to the AGEOD style of play.
WON is really an ideal seven player game as the diplomatic interface is part of the enjoyment/engagement of the game. The game itself met all the promise I resonated to in your initial post. It is the grand scale game I had hoped for with Campaigns of Napoleon. So one recommendation is to think about joining a pbem game.
I do enjoy playing solo where I manage all sides. If this is not too schizophrenic for you, making plans for each nation and then executing the game is a grand delight. The real war is between Britain and France. So one of France's challenges in what you see as nine long years with nobody to beat up might be instead a chance to practice diplomacy to gain allies against Britain; see if you can take and hold Moscow; and hold Spain against the insurgency. There really is a lot which goes on after the initial years.
This game uses a similar economic structure to CW2. Regions produce goods, recruits are raised and horses must be found - and where is the money coming from to pay for all this? Taxes, requisitions and plunder, perhaps. As well, attention to naval affairs is needed. France seeks to sneak runners through the British blockade as well as develop regions for better economic production. So lots of planning, which also means a lot of directions you can take your economy.
Turns are pretty quick as you are mostly focused upon armies and corps and fleets, but with each game turn being one week the game itself is a time commitment.

User avatar
Kev_uk
Colonel
Posts: 348
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: South Wales, UK.

Sat Mar 26, 2016 9:44 pm

Awesome selling point, esp. with the blockade runners. I know I will buy it, however it is nice to get positive feedback too. Never played an AGEOD game PBEM before (I have played a lot of their titles apart from the recent ones inc.CW2), but will keep that in mind. Oh, Victory or Glory, yes looked at that too, more simpler perhaps. But I like AGEODs games.

coach3play4
Private
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:56 pm

Sun Mar 27, 2016 2:50 am

I've enjoyed the game. They have put in many beta patches that have solved some ai problems so I've restarted often. I enjoy the ai. I've invaded Ireland several times and the air does a good job against my efforts. Spain is very hard to beat and I have not gotten far enough to invade Russia. PS the runners you mentioned have a very minor role.

Thoronir
Conscript
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2015 6:17 pm

Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:45 am

Come on Give us the game on steam already! A lot of people including myself are waiting on that to buy it.

User avatar
Pocus
Posts: 25673
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:37 am
Location: Lyon (France)

Tue Mar 29, 2016 8:54 am

It will be released on Steam sometime after the current public beta patch is official. But if you buy at Ageod, you'll get a Steam redeem key. And buying at Ageod is showing support for our site and forum :)

As for the AI, it has improved but is not to the level of a human. Perhaps having some kind of mega script rebuilding its army (spending resources doing that, obviously) after a peace would be a good idea after all.
Image


Hofstadter's Law: "It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's law."

User avatar
Kev_uk
Colonel
Posts: 348
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: South Wales, UK.

Tue Mar 29, 2016 11:39 am

I did purchase it - Matrix had an Easter Sale, sorry Pocus :(
Mega Script - get to it then!
Game is good - great period music, nice map, lovely unit counters - AI so far seems respectable. No crashes, but have only played the three shorter scenarios - have yet to plunge into the GC - looks daunting!

Oh, an idea for DLC - The Revolutionary Wars - gotta be done.

RebelYell
General of the Army
Posts: 608
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:40 pm

Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:22 am

Pocus wrote:It will be released on Steam sometime after the current public beta patch is official. But if you buy at Ageod, you'll get a Steam redeem key. And buying at Ageod is showing support for our site and forum :)

As for the AI, it has improved but is not to the level of a human. Perhaps having some kind of mega script rebuilding its army (spending resources doing that, obviously) after a peace would be a good idea after all.


I got it from Matrix as your shop was being updated, I hope you dont mind. ;)

User avatar
Kev_uk
Colonel
Posts: 348
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:43 pm
Location: South Wales, UK.

Wed Apr 13, 2016 1:25 pm

Kev_uk wrote:I did purchase it - Matrix had an Easter Sale, sorry Pocus :(
Mega Script - get to it then!
Game is good - great period music, nice map, lovely unit counters - AI so far seems respectable. No crashes, but have only played the three shorter scenarios - have yet to plunge into the GC - looks daunting!

Oh, an idea for DLC - The Revolutionary Wars - gotta be done.


Can I take back the No crashes statement... :/

Return to “Wars of Napoleon”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests