Why Nap Campaigns over Empires in Arms?

[Adam Parker]

Ok. Someone sell me on the virtues of this game. What makes it different to AACW/BoA other than the era that I should want it on my PC?

How are the battles? What's the feel of maneuver like? Is the lack of a European campaign limiting? What are the things people most enjoy in it?

I'm itching to download something soon

[Paul Roberts]

I've no time for a big reply, but here's something: the "lack of a campaign" is true enough on the resources and recruitment side, but it shouldn't lead you to think that the scenarios are small. The Peninsular War scenario, for instance, has more turns than the whole Civil War in AACW!

[redaman]

adam,
I will answer at another level. the title of the game contains campaigns, and as such the game at this first stage concentrates on campaign (the spanish is also assigned the nam campaign even it is 6 year long!).
anyway, I doubt that the Pc version of Empire in arms goes to this LEVEL of DETAILS. In NCP you have the indivisual subunits (which compose divisions and brigades) which are battalions/regiments/batteries level. This is huge.
If you are a real Napoleonic fan, you will be eager to have units differentiation... and you will get it. And this is include different uniforms (if they don't go down to the level of the button's color of course).
For leaders you will have an individual portrait for each corps commander and also each divisionnal general that could be promoted to corps general.
The engine now is evoluate and manages big pitched battles as well as attritionnal spanish guerrillas war aspects.
You can download the demo to get a more direct feeling about what I said.

Cheers and enjoy !

[Le Tondu]

On another level, EiApc is not made by AGEod.

Then we can't forget that EiApc isn't WE-GO (simultaneous movement).

Napoleon's Campaigns is just plain better, IMO.

[dinsdale]

Even if it were not for complete differences in scale, and type of game which means NC is not a competitor to EiA, I would personally be more confident in the work of AGEOD given their proven track record compared with a part time solo developer originally scheduled to release in 2002.

[Adam Parker]

Good points all and I had no idea the Spanish Scenario was so big!

And yes, I do have my concerns about EiA delivering on the goods.

I must just get my arms around the BoA/AACW/Nap style of play. All being well I can dedicate this weekend to truly absorbing the rules/system and then join the Nap Campaign ride

Thank you again,
Adam.

[Ashbery76]

It seems EIA has a retard A.I from the AAR's.

[Sol Invictus]

I don't think either game would substitute for the other since they are completely different types of gameplay. I will almost certainly buy EIA, but will wait for some feedback. I view EIA solely as a pbem game because I really don't expect the AI to be able to offer any challenge. I really can't imagine why anyone would want to play EIA solo, other than to learn the rules and get some practice in. It would be like playing Diplomacy against a computer AI.

[Hobbes]

I don't think either game would substitute for the other since they are completely different types of gameplay. I will almost certainly buy EIA, but will wait for some feedback. I view EIA solely as a pbem game because I really don't expect the AI to be able to offer any challenge. I really can't imagine why anyone would want to play EIA solo, other than to learn the rules and get some practice in. It would be like playing Diplomacy against a computer AI.

My thoughts exactly!

[Adam Parker]

I view EIA solely as a pbem game because I really don't expect the AI to be able to offer any challenge... It would be like playing Diplomacy against a computer AI.

To be fair PC EiA isn't out yet but in all honesty I really fear it won't be able to pull multi-AI diplomacy off.

No other game yet has.

[Hobbes]

Even if it were to be at least adequate, stabbing an AI ally in the back is just not as much fun as betraying a human player!

[dinsdale]

Even if it were to be at least adequate, stabbing an AI ally in the back is just not as much fun as betraying a human player!

True, though the chances of me ever playing EiA against humans again is close to impossible. I can't imagine buying the computer version just for PBEM.

Same with Zucker's games, but NC comes pretty close to matching that experience, even against the AI.

I would love EiA to be good, but I have absolutely no confidence in the game and would need to see considerable feedback and timely patches before giving money away on what may be a coaster.

[Hobbes]

True, though the chances of me ever playing EiA against humans again is close to impossible. I can't imagine buying the computer version just for PBEM.

Same with Zucker's games, but NC comes pretty close to matching that experience, even against the AI.

I would love EiA to be good, but I have absolutely no confidence in the game and would need to see considerable feedback and timely patches before giving money away on what may be a coaster.

I will certainly be trying it PBEM but wonder how many people would drop out of a game that lasts such a long time with so many players. I'll give it a go and I have some PBEM players I trust to last the course but I don't have high hopes.

[Sol Invictus]

I'm in the same boat. I fear it will be very difficult to maintain a game with seven players over the long haul. I absolutely have no wish to play the game solo.

[Adlertag]

I'm in the same boat. I fear it will be very difficult to maintain a game with seven players over the long haul. I absolutely have no wish to play the game solo.

So to say it basically, the game will be unplayable because of the time to run it to the end in a PBEM and is also unplayable because of a poor AI in solo...
Hey Doctor, what is the remedy ?

[Sol Invictus]

I hope I'm wrong because I would like to enjoy playing it, but she may need to be put down. leure: I will certainly wait for some feedback before I buy, but I am sure I will eventually break down and buy it regardless. I'm such a an easy sell.

[Le Tondu]

...........Hey Doctor, what is the remedy ?

There is only one cure and it is Napoleon's Campaigns.

[Sol Invictus]

It's good for what ails ya.

[Hobbes]

So to say it basically, the game will be unplayable because of the time to run it to the end in a PBEM and is also unplayable because of a poor AI in solo...
Hey Doctor, what is the remedy ?

The thing is I'm sure a few PBEM's will last the course and if the game is as good as it looks and you happen to be one of the participants in such a game you will probably be in for a great ride.

I think the game will be a gamble, if the interface is good and the AI is fair it will be a good start. I would like to hold off buying it but I know I won't. Christmas is coming and I need some presents.

[Sol Invictus]

Yeah, I just know as soon as I start reading the forum that I will be forced to buy it. I does have the potential to be great fun, if you have a solid group of players.

[Adam Parker]

There is only one cure and it is Napoleon's Campaigns.

I just bought it

Congratulations AGEOD

[Adlertag]

I hope I'm wrong because I would like to enjoy playing it, but she may need to be put down. leure: I will certainly wait for some feedback before I buy, but I am sure I will eventually break down and buy it regardless. I'm such a an easy sell.

I agree, I will wait also for some feedback but after thinking of this so long awaited game , I realize that the more I'm waiting for it ( since 2003 nearly), the more I'm generally disappointed...

[Sol Invictus]

I re-read the "How to play each power" thread last night and I am very confident that I will eventually buy the game. I plan to re-read the rules today. I will still wait for some feedback since I am confident that there will be some bugs that need squashing before a proper game can commence. I still have a great amount of hope for the email game but I don't have much confidence in the solo aspect, other than to learn the rules and get a feel for the flow. There is just no way that an AI can maneuver through such a Machiavellian game.

[Beren]

EiA is a superb boardgame... it will always be for me "the mother of the boardgames" . I spent Hours and hours with my friends discussing about diplomacy...

NC and EiA are very different games, so they shouldn´t be compared. One focus on military campaigns (NC) and the other on a grand strategy theater... they are as the moon and the sun... Once NC have the diplomacy extension you could compare both, until then.... i will try to find 6 more players to play EiA .

[Pocus]

EiA is IGO-UGO, so, even if I don't doubt the game will be very enjoyable in PBEM, you are better find serious opponents, because you won't play more than one turn a week at best.

[DON]

I intend to buy EIA the moment it is released. With Napoleon's Campaigns and EIA, this is shaping up to be a true Grognard's Christmas!

[Sol Invictus]

There are already some discussions on the Matrix forums about certain vital rules that didn't get coded into the game but are planned for later updates. This is what I expected, so I am in no rush to download tomorrow, but will almost certainly buy the physical copy when it is available. As Pocus indicated, I am still concerned about the viability of such a long game's sustainability. I guess the worst that can happen is I might waste $50.

[Adlertag]

There are already some discussions on the Matrix forums about certain vital rules that didn't get coded into the game but are planned for later updates.
.

Dose it mean that after 4 years of development, the game is still missing some core rules ?!
It is indecent to sell a game in that condition !

[Sol Invictus]

I haven't seen a reasonable explaination on why a few key rules were left out other than that they were hard to code. I imagine that after such a torturous developement and with Christmas coming up, Matrix decided to release what they had and add the few finishing touches in a patch. I will be very wary about buying this game, but alas, I probably will eventually.

[Big Muddy]

Dose it mean that after 4 years of development, the game is still missing some core rules ?!
It is indecent to sell a game in that condition !

After four years I'm sure fans can't wait to get their hands on it, I know, after four years what's a little more time. Besides computer gaming now days is get it out, fix it as we go. Nothing wrong with that I suppose, as long as the company supports it's products.

I never heard of EiA before, checked out the site and it seems interesting enough, but I have no plans to purchase it or NC.