Is EB 1.2 the most sophisticated turn based computer strategy wargame to this date?

[Geticus]

Granted this question is very subjective, and there are a few things about EB that drive me nuts, like cavalry charges failing against enemies that are running away but not yet routing, and troop tracking in barbarian cities during siege battles. But that said, I don't have any games that I think would hold interest against EB nowadays, due to the wealth of cultural content, and strategic/tactical sophistication and general replayability of EB. The amount of history and culture imbued into this game makes it rank extremely high in my estimation. Just recently, for example I totally revised my combined arms system, totally removed archers from my armies and refocused on light cavalry skirmishing and rapid encirclement, with oblique gaesatae flank attacks, to try and get the fastest chainroutes possible. The range of tactical possibilities and development strategies in this game, varying from faction to faction, have to make it rank as one of the most sophisticated turn based wargames to this date. Are there any turn based games that compare favorably with EB for overall depth/sophistication/replayability? Is EB 1.2 the ultimate wargamer's turn-based strategy game to this date?

[jabarto]

EU3 is better on all three fronts, but it's not turn based. Civilization is more replayable, but it's not really a war game. So honestly, I don't really know of many other games that do what EB does, though it's certainly an incredibly high quality game and is probably near or at the top of the heap.

[antisocialmunky]

Master of Orion 3 was the most complex thing I've ever played... except it wasn't really a game... or fun... or playable...

In Antarian Galaxy, turn based game plays you!

[Geticus]

Master of Orion 3 was the most complex thing I've ever played... except it wasn't really a game... or fun... or playable...

In Antarian Galaxy, turn based game plays you!

I was wondering about that one, I played MOO1 a lot back in the day, Klackons FTW. I didn't play MOO2 much but I know some consider it the best of its genre. But I think the tactical system of the early MOO games was a lot simpler than EB.

[Randal]

He's not referring to tactical battles, but to the economy and the running of the empire.

The economy in MOO3 is so complicated no human can handle it without AI assistance. Or monk-level patience and time-commitment.

[Apázlinemjó]

I think EU3 with the expansions is more complex, but as Jabarto said it's not turn-based. If we are talking about turn-based wargames, well you'll laugh at me, but I think Heroes 3 and 5 with the expansions are quite good too.

[antisocialmunky]

I was wondering about that one, I played MOO1 a lot back in the day, Klackons FTW. I didn't play MOO2 much but I know some consider it the best of its genre. But I think the tactical system of the early MOO games was a lot simpler than EB.

Playing MoO3 is like filling out your tax forms.