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Is it playable yet???

 
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Is it playable yet??? - 2/10/2011 7:56:54 PM   
Tanan Fujiwara

 

Posts: 23
Joined: 10/24/2006
Status: offline 		Well that's basically it... is it playable yet???

I bought the game when it came out and I was badly burnt...

After several updates I stopped even hoping for the game to improve in any way; the AI was a joke wich couldn't even undertake the simplest decisions, the multiplayer was ridden with bugs, and the game had very little to do with the original boardgame, actually calling it Empires in Arms was a discrace... A piety, because it is one of the best games about the Napoleonic era that I have ever played.

I must say that Matrix has really shown a lot of effort and support in trying to get this game into something playable, so before installing the game again and risking a new deception, I would like to now what degree of playability are we talking about:

Have all the multiplayer issues been solved? In my group we weren't able to finish even one of the many games we started because of this...

Is the A.I. still a joke? And I would like no crap on this one, will it pose somekind of a challenge to a player of Empires in Arms?

Is it still reduced to the 1805 scenario with some Empires in Harms rules?

Have all the Empires in Arms rules been implemented?

Thank you in advance to all who awnser!!!!
Post #: 1
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/10/2011 8:38:00 PM   
pzgndr

 

Posts: 3170
Joined: 3/18/2004
From: Maryland
Status: offline 		Welcome back. A lot has improved but a lot still remains to be done. I'll respond based on the upcoming v1.08.05 hotfix patch (with lots of stuff fixed!) that should be posted soon.

1) Multiplayer issues have mostly all been fixed. The bugs are resolved, diplomacy is simultaneous, and a new admin menu will allow the host to fix minor issues themselves. This should free up Marshall's time to work on more game improvements, including planned TCP/IP capability at some future date.

2) AI has not changed but should get some attention with the next v1.09 patch. Stay tuned. AI improvements and enhancements are likely to be an iterative process, so expect some continual effort beyond v1.09.

3) The 1805 scenario has not changed but Marshall still plans to work on a classic map and campaign after the AI improvements.

4) The rules have not changed much at all; ie still same mix of EiA and EiH rules. Probably not the answer you want to hear, but still. When Marshall implements the classic map/campaign, that may be a good time to implement some additional game options for classic rules too.

This has been a painfully slow process, admittedly, but Marshall has been a real trooper continuing to work on the game. Please consider taking a fresh look at the game with the v1.08.05 hotfix and help provide constructive suggestions for moving forward?

< Message edited by pzgndr -- 2/10/2011 8:40:13 PM >

(in reply to Tanan Fujiwara)
Post #: 2
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/10/2011 11:06:12 PM   
Yearworld


Posts: 201
Joined: 9/21/2009
Status: offline 		I agree with everything pzgndr says.

1) I think most of the earlier bugs have been fixed. I am playing 9 games and none has ever been stopped by a bug. When 1.08.05 is up and running I think the host should be able to fix almost all bugs that cause major problems before.

2) AI is still easily beatable. I think EIA has always been and will always remain a game to be played with 7 human opponents either in person or PBEM. The AI can help you learn the game but the rich playing experience of EIA comes from playing against a full 7 players. You can find players to play against by posting on the Matrix EIA forums.

3) There is a Classic 1805 game scenario created by one of the players. This has most of the rules of original EIA (only heavy ships, original corps sizes and etc.) The map however, remains the EIH map.

4) Agree with everything pzgndr says here.

I played the boardgame of EIA often and playing EIANW on the computer is a little different but still fun for boardgame EIA players in my opinion. EIA is a complex game to port over to computer so we must all be patient and help give constructive feedback to perfect the comptuer version. however, I think the game is certainly playable and fun now that the bugs have mostly been fixed.

Yearworld

(in reply to pzgndr)
Post #: 3
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/11/2011 2:38:18 AM   
Dancing Bear

 

Posts: 1003
Joined: 2/21/2008
Status: offline 		Not much to add here. The largest differences between the board game and this version are 1) the map and minors, 2) being unable to bypass depots, and 3) loaning corps instead of combined movement.

For 1, there is a classic map and scenario being worked on, but you can come pretty close with one of the player made scenarios.
For 2, this does change the flavour of the game, and needs to be fixed to allow for classic play.
For 3, there are a couple of outstanding issues in the naval phase that pop up in rare circumstances. They are already high on the list of things to fix. Otherwise you get used to it, and it adds its own element to the game.

There are some other things, but they don't effect play as much as you might think. A couple of house rules fix many of them. Standing orders could be improved with a trivial battles setting, and an overwhelming numbers rule would make the game more fluid.

It is now a game worth playing. A thousand times better than it was when it was first released.

I strongly recommend reading the new version of the manual and the tutorial that is being developed. Experienced board game players assume they know it all, but there are a lot of features to this game where you need a refresher.

(in reply to Tanan Fujiwara)
Post #: 4
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/11/2011 3:17:22 AM   
borner


Posts: 1485
Joined: 3/20/2005
From: Houston TX
Status: offline 		Simply put, yes it is.

I will freely admit I was one of the people being the most critical of the game when it came out, but am glad I stayed around. Yes, there are still bugs. Some of which are very fustrating, but they are far less common than before. Plus, an editor is available to allow the host to fix some things, and a better one is said to coming soon.

Marshall has put a lot of work into trying to get things fixed, and I would encourage you to come back. Understand it is still not a completely finished product yet, but far, far better that were it all started.

(in reply to Dancing Bear)
Post #: 5
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/11/2011 11:51:07 AM   
Skanvak

 

Posts: 577
Joined: 4/3/2005
Status: offline 		Personnally, I still think that implementing the inactive pmayer rules will help having a non 7 players game. We are 3 friends so we would like to play with the AI or be able to limit the area or have scenarios.

The map is not a problem, I got used to it quickly.

On rules : only the surrender rules that is not implemented correctly is a problem.


_____________________________


Best regards

Skanvak

(in reply to borner)
Post #: 6
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/11/2011 3:54:27 PM   
Cunctator

 

Posts: 181
Joined: 3/26/2004
From: Italy
Status: offline 		Is it playable or not?
It is a difficult question.
If you mean games completely bug-free (do they exist?) the answer is: NO it is not playable.
If you think about the literally thousands of bugs that continously found a solution, thanks to the relentless Marshall's effort, the answer is: mmmmhhh it is MUCH MORE playable than before.
One of the most annoying thing is that every new patch, while it resolves many problems, is infested by one or two new nasty bugs.
So the cycle seems endless.
Often you have to find gentlemen's agreements to avoid to remain halted.
Trying to tell the truth, I suspect that if you are a great fan of Eia (like me) you will continue on playing, otherwise it's better to look elsewhere.

C.


_____________________________

- Scutum Romae -
"Gladius et Scutum Romae" appellabantur. Hannibal se recepit, Marcellus expugnavit Syracusas, Cunctator Capuam. Postremo Quintus Fabius Maximus expugnavit Tarentum.

(in reply to Skanvak)
Post #: 7
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/11/2011 4:42:38 PM   
NeverMan

 

Posts: 1722
Joined: 2/24/2004
Status: offline 		AI will always be a joke, if you are looking for a game to play against the computer than you should go find a tactical game, EiA is not. Strategy based games will always be difficult for AI until new AI research comes about, particularly games where events that occur can frequently change the strategy and there are many many divergences.

(in reply to Cunctator)
Post #: 8
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/12/2011 1:29:02 AM   
gazfun


Posts: 1046
Joined: 7/1/2004
From: Australia
Status: offline 		Isnt it incredable how negative people in this world can come together in the one thread. Guys! to sum it up there is no perfect world out there so start getting over it, and move on! and make the best of what you have been given or do something else.

quote:

Have all the multiplayer issues been solved? In my group we weren't able to finish even one of the many games we started because of this...

Ive known 2 game that have finished, and 2 games that are half way through finished after going for 3 years.............we've been having a lot of fun with it actually!

For anyone who is viewing this forum for the first time, the originator of this thread is in the minority by the way!

< Message edited by gazfun -- 2/12/2011 1:31:52 AM >

_____________________________


(in reply to NeverMan)
Post #: 9
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/12/2011 2:31:28 AM   
BoerWar


Posts: 506
Joined: 6/12/2004
From: Arlington, VA
Status: offline 		You were duped, duped I tell you!

The features were published for years before this game ever came out. I know because I was a lurker here for years awaiting release. It is a 28 year old board game title that has been updated. You don't get your own personal version unless you buy the rights and program it yourself.

Personally I enjoy the game. If you aren't aware that other scenarios have been published then you aren't trying very hard. Perhaps if you hit that big green "back one page" button and then click on mods and scenarios.

The AI is weak, this is true of every strategy game I've played that doesn't allow the computer to cheat on builds. The more fluid the game, the weaker the AI.

Load it up, play it vs. another human and provide some worthwhile feedback.

(in reply to Tanan Fujiwara)
Post #: 10
RE: Is it playable yet??? - 2/13/2011 12:06:38 PM   
Dancing Bear

 

Posts: 1003
Joined: 2/21/2008
Status: offline 		Neverman! How the heck are you? Where have you been?

quote:

ORIGINAL: NeverMan

AI will always be a joke, if you are looking for a game to play against the computer than you should go find a tactical game, EiA is not. Strategy based games will always be difficult for AI until new AI research comes about, particularly games where events that occur can frequently change the strategy and there are many many divergences.


If I did not say this earlier, yes, the game is playable. You'll be able to play against other players, finish a game, and have fun.

(in reply to NeverMan)
Post #: 11
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