Edit: When I posted this in the tavern, I did not realize that there was a dedicated new game forum, so sorry if this post sounds like I just fell off the turnip truck. Actually I guess I did.
Just thought I would mention it to those who might be interested in a bit different type of Medieval war-game.
The original Lords of the Realm is usually listed in just about every top 50 or 100 PC games lists of all times. This new version takes the game into full 3D.
This is not a recommendation or anything, since I just got the game, and have barely played through the tutorial and a couple of single battles.
Like MTW, the game has both a strategic level and a tactical battle level. The big difference here is that in LOTR the strategical level is also in real time and not turn based like MTW. Also, while you are at the tactical battle level, the clock is still ticking at the strategical level. This means that if there are multiple battles going on, you may have to let the A.I. handle most, if not all of them.
While this reduction of total control may be more true to life, it still takes some getting used to. At times you are torn between just what to give your attention to.
Also, you really have less control over the make up of your armies or what units will be trained. Your vassals have various traits and characteristics that determine the type of troops they will hire or train once you assign them to a parcel of land. Troop types may also be determined by the province. If in wales--you get Welsh longbowmen. You can pick and hire mercenaries, so you have some control in that aspect. I think all seige equipment crews are mercenary, which may also be more true to life
You can play as the Irish, the English, the French, and the Germans, and the game also has muliplay at both the strategic and tactical levels. There are also about 10 or 12 single player historical battles--Stamford bridge, Agincourt, Crecy, and so on
The graphics are nothing to write home about but they are OK. All of the art and graphics are stylized to look more like a Disney animated feature than a representation of real life.
As usual, at only 30 pages, the manual barely touches on how to play the game. There is a 40 page PDF version the disk, but it is hardly any better. The tutorial mainly concentrates on troop control and tactics during battle, so it is also not of much use when it comes to the overall strategic game play.
The bottom line is that the learning curve on this game seems pretty steep in lieu of adequate documentation. I would have gladly paid $10 more for a decent manual, but then one might have said the same of MTW. Like many I graduated from months of playing Shogun, so MTW just seemed easy for me to pick up, but thinking back Shogun was pretty daunting at first.
Every time I start the first campaign in LTOR 3, which is supposed to be easy, I am totally lost and don't have a clue what to do next. There are little pawns marching all over the strategic map and messages about alliances, wars , and excommunications being displayed constantly. The controls also don't seem very intuitive to me, but then I keep trying to compare them to the Total war system.
I'm going to stick with it, and will report back, but even if I decide it ultimately sucks, at only $20, I'm didn't get burned too bad.
Cheers
P.S. No online gaming site has reviewed this game as of Sunday. It may just be that like me they can't even figure out how to play the damn thing yet--LOL
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a nice copy of LOTR3
Originally Posted by [b
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