Looking for a good strategy...

[Veho Nex]

Hey guys I'm looking for a good strategy game that doesn't require even a mediocre computer(mine can play RTW on low graphics with up to about 1700 units on the map) before it starts lagging...

Any ways im looking for a good game that will do that since Civ 3 is just becoming repetitive...

[Bijo]

Civ4? :P

I think Civ4 doesn't need so much, though I'm not sure. It's a bit old already anyway. Maybe your computer can run it alrightish.

Another good strategy game I'd recommend is plain old chess on a real board. Find somebody to play against like that, or if it must be on a computer get a copy of Fritz (any version).

[Veho Nex]

I cant it lags to much post middle ages

[econ21]

For some reason, Civ4 is the most demanding game I play on my computer - it threatens to fry my CPU. Worse than Stalker, NWN2, Oblivion etc.

Back on topic, I find it hard to look at other strategy games given the existence of Total War. None can compete with RTR, EB or M2TW as rich historical wargames. I guess you have looked at the "good AI" thread here? There are recommendations for a couple of fairly recent American Civil War games - tactical and strategic - that sound good if you are into wargames. I confess I have not played them, but they do sound good if you want something "hardcore" but without the sound and fury of Total War.

Personally, I can only really recommend older strategy games - you've probably played them or if you have not, you'd might have to look on e-bay or something to get them.

The Civ clone I have enjoyed the most has been Imperialism 2 - it is an old game and has a steep-ish learning curve, but it is not one of these monstrously complicated "realistic" strategy games like Paradox makes. It is more in the Civ style - abstract and simple - but with more of a focus. It has a competitive AI and presents lots of challenges in growing a viable empire.

I've enjoyed several "squad tactics" type strategy games. The best of the bunch is Jagged Alliance 2. This combines superb tactical combat with an engaging strategic layer of the game and fun roleplaying/story elements. X-Com1 still stands out in this genre - apparently Matrix game have done what is essentially a makeover; check out the X-Com thread here for details.

In terms of beer and pretzels wargames, the one that holds up best for me is Panzer General 2. It is very easy to play, but has a wealth of historical flavour and compelling combined arms gameplay. There are some excellent mods for it on the web.

For fantasy strategy games, you could always consider Heroes of Might and Magic III Complete. You get a lot of gameplay there and the AI is pretty decent, even if the nature of the gameplay is rather stylised.

[Geoffrey S]

I'm going to be predictable and say Alpha Centauri. Still playing it after ages, and it's good.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Heres 2

I like Take command






Quote:
Combat feels authentic beyond the basics of ensuring that regiments and commanders remain true to the textbooks. Positioning is crucial. You need to get your artillery into the right position and place your infantry in the ideal spot to both gain a good firing height and an ideal location for an enemy-breaking bayonet charge. This isn't particularly easy. Maps are sprawling affairs (which get the job done nicely despite being pretty dated, with blurry troops and choppy animations) filled with battle-affecting physical features such as forests, roads, walls, and farmhouses


Really neat is how every unit has the correct commnder and every unit has the correct flag that it carries in battle .


Quote:
Battles are much more orderly than you would think, though, largely thanks to immaculate artificial intelligence. Brigade commanders do a solid job of issuing orders in your stead when the shooting starts, so you don't need to concern yourself with micromanagement. Forget to put a brigade into a proper firing line when moving into firing position--which is almost inevitable in larger battles, as you tend to be dealing out orders to at least a half-dozen brigades at any given time--and the commander takes over and does it for you. He also shifts the line into ideal firing position, swings in around to target a new enemy column if the first is dispersed or destroyed, and is quick to order his men to respond if ambushed. Essentially, the urge for self-preservation kicks in smartly whenever you drop the ball. Control freaks might not appreciate this, as it can fairly be said that aspects of the game run on autopilot. But this does add to the authenticity of being involved in a real battle, with real human commanders taking and interpreting your orders.




Needless to say the same goes for the enemy units facing you. These are really tough battles. The AI are no morons.


Quote:
If you're a wargamer with an interest in the Civil War, you will love Take Command: Second Manassas. The only caveat is that the rigorous attention to historical detail makes for such a leisurely pace that casual gamers might be scared away. Then again, the casual crowd isn't apt to be interested in a hardcore Civil War reenactment sim in the first place, so MadMinute's target demographic isn't likely to care.



The thing is you must march your units to their positions for the battle, Using the correct routes and giving the proper marching orders has a lot to do with the out come. Its not just all lined up like in VI. The maps are huge and it takes quite q while to get everything in position. If your not playing the commander in cheif you will reguarly recieve dispatches from your superior officers telling you what to do. You can see the dispatches coming on their horses right thriugh the battle. Its truly an amazing game. I have both Bull Run and Mannassas and love playing them both.

[Avicenna]

Strategy and no graphics?

Paradox wins hands down. Though instead of frying your computer it'll fry your brains...

[Martok]

I'll make like Geoffrey S and repeat myself:

If you like space strategy titles, then I know of none finer than Galactic Civilizations 2. You get a lot of game for $30.00; and in fact, most retail stores now sell the Gold Edition (which includes the Dark Avatar expansion pack) for $40.00. The game doesn't have insanely high hardware requirements at all -- anyone who can play RTW on their machine will have no problem running GalCiv2.

[Lord Winter]

I personly like Paradox even thou it can tiring at time. If you interested in WWII strategy you cant beat Hearts of Iron Two.

[doc_bean]

I'll make like Geoffrey S and repeat myself:

If you like space strategy titles, then I know of none finer than Galactic Civilizations 2. You get a lot of game for $30.00; and in fact, most retail stores now sell the Gold Edition (which includes the Dark Avatar expansion pack) for $40.00. The game doesn't have insanely high hardware requirements at all -- anyone who can play RTW on their machine will have no problem running GalCiv2.

My old machione stuttered with the GalCiv2 demo, but ran Rome just fine, it's a pretty demanding game it would seem.

Now if they would only release the gold edition in Europe....

[King Kurt]

I'm going to be predictable and say Alpha Centauri. Still playing it after ages, and it's good.

That goes for me as well - SMAC is a long term favourite with only MTW topping it for me. Loads of different paths to take - you can even go for a non aggressive route of money or teching up. A little quirk that is nice is the ability to name the leader of your faction yourself. I once played a wonderful game with the Spartans - a militaristic faction - with a leader called Brenda the Terrible - now that's a game

[edyzmedieval]

Europa Universalis III.

Nuff said.

[TinCow]

Here's another vote for Heroes of Might and Magic III Complete. You should be able to get it very cheaply and the expansion campaigns (the Complete edition is the original game, plus two expansions) have a pretty high difficulty level.

[Zenicetus]

My old machione stuttered with the GalCiv2 demo, but ran Rome just fine, it's a pretty demanding game it would seem.

Was that an early demo? I don't see many complaints about needing high-end machines on the GalCiv2 forums. The current code is pretty tight. There are two things that may slow the game down on lower-end machines -- playing on the largest map size, and using custom ship designs with an insane number of modules (high polygon count). That's easy enough to avoid... just stick with the default ships, or don't go too nuts with your custom ship designs. Avoiding the largest maps isn't that big a drawback (IMO). I find the small to medium maps more challenging.

GalCiv2 doesn't have tactical space combat (battles are auto-resolved), but it's the best pure strategy game I've played in the last few years. Be sure to get it with the expansion pack. It's still fun without it, but the expansion adds new factions and more individualized ship designs for each faction.

[Fragony]

Sacrifice

Hands down the most atmospheric and just flat out coolest strategy game ever made. Was sadly overlooked because it made even nuclair powered supercomputers cough up blood at the time, should run just fine now.

[Veho Nex]

Guys I wanna thank you for your post i went out and got a few games that were mentioned.(take command, EUIII, Alpha Centari, and Hearts of Iron 2) Spent 69.72$ on all of them EUIII was only 20$ at game store. Well anyways i cleaned my gaming closet out(Just a box with old games), and i found some games that weren't mentioned and i thought i'd throw my two cents in for this:

1. Space Empires V or SE:V
2. Age of Wonders
3. Civ 1(Can't beat the OG)
4. Stronghold
5. And last but not least(one of my favorite games though not entirely strategy)
Exile I, II, III

[Lorenzo_H]

I am actually looking for a good multiplayer RTS at the moment. I never thought I would need to ask (thought I could find one on my own, but niet comrade) here are the criteria:

1. That it is not AoE3 because I already have/had it (getting a new copy my old one smashed).
2. That it is not too immersed in futuristic crap.
3. That it is a reasonably good game, with medium to high end requirements and pretty graphics.
4. That it is good to play multiplayer with.
5. That it is RTS (real time strategy; I have pretty much all the turn based strategy worth getting).

[econ21]

How about Dawn of War? Let's check off your criteria:

1. That it is not AoE3 because I already have/had it (getting a new copy my old one smashed).

DoW is not AoE3. Check.

2. That it is not too immersed in futuristic crap.

Well, DoW is futuristic so this one's dodgy. It is not excrement though.

3. That it is a reasonably good game, with medium to high end requirements and pretty graphics.

DoW has great graphics. Very characterful death animations - make M2TWs look bland. It is a reasonably good game - basically an RTS but focussing on the combat. A fairly good rock-paper-scissors dynamic. Strikes a good balance between avoiding rushing or turtling being game winning strategies. Good faction variety.

4. That it is good to play multiplayer with.

DoW shines in MP. I enjoy playing it coop with my son against allied AI. The AI is much better when it gangs up on you - solo with no alliances can be a snooze.

5. That it is RTS (real time strategy; I have pretty much all the turn based strategy worth getting).

DoW is an RTS, sadly.

If the futuristic thing is a sticking point for you, try Company of Heroes. Same thing, but set in WW2 not 40,000 AD.

[Fragony]

Sacrifice

Kindly allow me to repeat myself.

[Lorenzo_H]

How about Dawn of War? Let's check off your criteria:



DoW is not AoE3. Check.



Well, DoW is futuristic so this one's dodgy. It is not excrement though.



DoW has great graphics. Very characterful death animations - make M2TWs look bland. It is a reasonably good game - basically an RTS but focussing on the combat. A fairly good rock-paper-scissors dynamic. Strikes a good balance between avoiding rushing or turtling being game winning strategies. Good faction variety.



DoW shines in MP. I enjoy playing it coop with my son against allied AI. The AI is much better when it gangs up on you - solo with no alliances can be a snooze.



DoW is an RTS, sadly.

If the futuristic thing is a sticking point for you, try Company of Heroes. Same thing, but set in WW2 not 40,000 AD.

Will have a look at it. Thanks.

Update: Dawn of War seems slightly on the futuristic side. There's nothing wrong with the genre, I just can't get myself to play it yet. Company of Heroes looks like it fits the bill, I actually hadn't thought of it. I might well get it; me and my bro need some new rts games to play over LAN this summer.

Kindly allow me to repeat myself.

Ok. I will look at that too.

[x-dANGEr]

C&C games? (Might not be so much strategy.. But still!)

[Lorenzo_H]

C&C games? (Might not be so much strategy.. But still!)

Yeah the new C&C faintly arouses my interest. To date I have owned all the C&C strategy games. I might give it a try some time in the future, but I'm not quite prepared to pay 30 quid for it yet.

Hey - what about Panzers phase 1 and phase 2. It's quite cheap on Amazon. So is Company of Heroes though. I shall have to make up my mind.

[Veho Nex]

Panzers phase 1 and 2 are ok but not perfect it's basically just fights and the way the units fight is kinda like axis and allies(new version) if any one has played that

[The_Mark]

The TA Spring project. A good MP RTS, and it's free. Something akin to Supreme Commander what with both being Total Annihilation remakes. Checking against Lorenzo's criteria:

1. That it is not AoE3 because I already have/had it (getting a new copy my old one smashed).

Check.

2. That it is not too immersed in futuristic crap.

Futuristic, yes, but has quite a lot elements from modern warfare. There are lasers and energy weapons and cloaking, but I mostly prefer using the traditional array of bombs, missiles, rockets and big cannons. Mostly, it feels good and immersive, even somewhat plausible. And you'll be routinely using fixed artillery pieces on the scale of the WW2 German Gustav Gun.

3. That it is a reasonably good game, with medium to high end requirements and pretty graphics.

It is at least a reasonably good game. Graphics might not be the best on the market but they work well.

4. That it is good to play multiplayer with.

Yes. The current version is MP-only, and good at it.

5. That it is RTS (real time strategy; I have pretty much all the turn based strategy worth getting).

Yes.

[Dunhill]

It may depend on what type of genre you like.

I'd suggest the AGEOD's recent games Birth Of America and AGEOD's American Civil War are very good strategy games that don't tax your graphics card too much. They can use quite a bit of CPU when processing turns (but that is variable by the player too). These games very good strategic games.

With regard to Take Command 2nd Manassas I'd say that it can be a bit graphics and RAM heavy if you want to play at high resolution however, you can chose to use lower resolution and as the units are 2D sprites on a 3D map it is about as taxing on graphics cards as RTW I'd say. However, it is a tactical game, not a strategic game, if you understand that it is more like a Civil war battlefield simulation. You are making tactical decisions, no strategic planning is involved at all.

I'd also suggest the Paradox games mentioned EU3 and Hearts of Iron, two rather similar games in terms of gameplay.

I've heard good things about Galactic Civilizations. From what I've seen about it online it also have a very good AI and seems to have good gameplay.

May I suggest the following strategy wargamer sites.

http://jaguarusf.blogspot.com/

http://www.wargamer.com

Alternatively go visit the wargame developers websites.

Cheers,

[Lehesu]

Act of War is a solid RTS. Much more solid than C&C Generals, despite maintaining the same theme.

[Lorenzo_H]

Act of War is a solid RTS. Much more solid than C&C Generals, despite maintaining the same theme.

Got it, but it is too simple and repetitive for my liking.