cdbeck
Posts: 1374
Joined: 8/16/2005 From: Indiana Status: offline
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FredK, Not sure about Ravinhood, but I can tell you a bit about EU:3. I think it is very good, better than EU:2 for many different reasons. That being said, some people criticize it because the developers decided to remove many historical events from the game, making it much more an alt-history game rather than a directly historical one like EU:2 or Hearts of Iron 2. Some historical things happen, like the beginning of protestantism, the formation of certain states like the United Kingdom, Italy, or Spain, but they do not happen according to date, rather according to data. The protestant reformation can just as easily happen in an Italian city-state as Germany if the conditions are right (need certain decentralization setting on slider, innovation setting on slider, and a theologian in your court). I like the new changes (I do miss some of the historical events, like the War of the Roses, Treaty of Torsedillas, but all in all the game is very interactive and gives you more customization and dynamic power than the predecessor. Still, I have to admit that the EU series is one of my favorites of all time (perhaps over Civilization). Your best bet is to go download the Demo for EU:3. Many things have changed in the patches (not as easy to explore and colonize) but I think the game is excellent! AFAIK, HistWar and CM:SF are not yet released. Both look very promising and will be on my radar. CM:SF looks like a masterpiece, modern combat is very underdone in the wargaming field. I love Napoleonic stuff, although I found Cossacks to be too irritating to be useful. I just bought BF and I have to say, it really seems great. I only own KP of the original DB series, and I am finding BF to be right up my alley. I have only yet played Allies Saipan scenerio against the suggested AI, but I ended it with a Draw. What I really like is that I actually had a chance to sit down and finish a scenario in a few hours of play (Saipan is about 17 turns). Granted, I didn't win and I was just sort of experimenting, so my "real" game will last longer, but the battle was dynamic and fun. Market Garden looks great too, and I am really looking forward to sinking into that one. The Gazala AAR on the forum makes it seem appealing, but I hear the AI can be the weakest there. It is well worth the money if you like the DB series. In fact, if Carriers at War doesn't come out by the time I have learned and experienced BF, I will probably invest in BiI and work my way backward. Hope this helps. If you had to make me chose between COTA, BF, and EU:3, it would be a very hard choice. All are fun and all are rewarding. It really depends on what strikes your mood now and if you want Pausable Real Time or IGOUGO. Best of luck, let us know what you pick. Maybe we can do a PBEM together, and you can introduce me to the great world of wargames with a human opponent. Son of Montfort
< Message edited by Son_of_Montfort -- 3/6/2007 9:45:30 AM >
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"Neca eos omnes. Deus suos agnoscet!" (Kill them all. God will know his own.) -- Arnaud-Armaury, the Albigensian Crusade
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