NationStates Jolt Archive

Inspired by the best video game thread.

Battle for Wesnoth is a turn-based tactical game I found free online. It currently more or less ties with Age of Empires 3 as my favorite game. I personally marvel both at the willingness of a group of individuals to invest so much time in a game and charge nothing for it, and also by the level of quality a group of amatures managed to acheive. So, has anyone else played this game? I figured their must be at least a few on these forums.

I prefer WinSPMBT, but it is a good game.

Does your preference work on Macs? If so, I may have to check it out.

As for Wesnoth, its remarkable in that it is one of the more challenging games I've played. The AI is very good at keeping you on your feet(for an AI, anyways), and the gameplay is such that you have to plan your actions in advance. The Campaings often have nasty surprises scripted in them, like ambushes or sudden reinforcements as well.

Does your preference work on Macs? If so, I may have to check it out.
Sadly no.

Inspired by the best video game thread.

Battle for Wesnoth is a turn-based tactical game I found free online. It currently more or less ties with Age of Empires 3 as my favorite game. I personally marvel both at the willingness of a group of individuals to invest so much time in a game and charge nothing for it, and also by the level of quality a group of amatures managed to acheive. So, has anyone else played this game? I figured their must be at least a few on these forums.

It's one of the best FOSS games out there, that's certain. Quite a different emphasis to AoE in places, but I broadly prefer it.

Ascendancy is still my favourite strategic game, though. Such an awesome piece of work.

From my experience playing it some years ago it's a fun game (at least the multiplayer aspect. I didn't really enjoy the single-player campaigns).

Ascendancy is still my favourite strategic game, though. Such an awesome piece of work.
Shame about the bugs and AI, mind.

Shame about the bugs and AI, mind.

Aye, it's not perfect by a long way. But the research and combat are both light years ahead of their time. Along with the amount of tweakability there is on things like the ships.

Blech. I found battle for Wesnoth to be rather lacking in every possible respect.

Blech. I found battle for Wesnoth to be rather lacking in every possible respect.

Would you mind clarifying why? If its a graphics thing, I can't really blame you, though personally I don't mind poor graphics.

From my experience playing it some years ago it's a fun game (at least the multiplayer aspect. I didn't really enjoy the single-player campaigns).

For me it seems the campaings tend to either have a good story or good artwork, and not always both.

Though their are a lot of new campaigns I think that have been added in the last few years.

I'd figure they'd add some things in a few years. I also heard they buffed the undead side a bit in some way, though I haven't checked how. I don't really feel like playing it right now.

Inspired by the best video game thread.

Battle for Wesnoth is a turn-based tactical game I found free online. It currently more or less ties with Age of Empires 3 as my favorite game. I personally marvel both at the willingness of a group of individuals to invest so much time in a game and charge nothing for it, and also by the level of quality a group of amatures managed to acheive. So, has anyone else played this game? I figured their must be at least a few on these forums.


Yeah its a good game, not as addictive as Ragnorok, but good anyway.

Dominions III, nuff said.

Shame about the bugs and AI, mind.

I just goggled it and apperantly there is an AI patch.

I'd figure they'd add some things in a few years. I also heard they buffed the undead side a bit in some way, though I haven't checked how. I don't really feel like playing it right now.

Undead are quite formidable, though I rarely play them. But their are lots of new campaings, and entire new eras with new factions. You should give it another try some time.

I just goggled it and apperantly there is an AI patch.
Even then it's sub-Civ II AI :(

Would you mind clarifying why? If its a graphics thing, I can't really blame you, though personally I don't mind poor graphics.

I play roguelikes. Graphics are not a problem. I didn't like the combat system, the movement system, how some units were ridiculously overpowered, the lack of upgrades and research, I could go on and on.

I play roguelikes. Graphics are not a problem. I didn't like the combat system, the movement system, how some units were ridiculously overpowered, the lack of upgrades and research, I could go on and on.
You ever play Ground Control? (the first one, not the shite second one which was nothing like the original)

Had no upgrades or research, and a very small and fixed number of units per battle. Superb game.

*edits*

Also, how is the movement system in BoW fundamentally different from that in most other TBS games?

You ever play Ground Control? (the first one, not the shite second one which was nothing like the original)

Had no upgrades or research, and a very small and fixed number of units per battle. Superb game.

*edits*

Also, how is the movement system in BoW fundamentally different from that in most other TBS games?

The Hex-based movement. I have no idea why, but it annoys me. And no, I've never played ground control. Care to provide a link?

The Hex-based movement. I have no idea why, but it annoys me.
That's basically the standard model for TBS games :confused:
And no, I've never played ground control. Care to provide a link?
Not really, it's pretty easy to find. They're giving it away free nowadays, check FilePlanet and the like.

That's basically the standard model for TBS games :confused:

Strange, I'm used to a square based system.

Not really, it's pretty easy to find. They're giving it away free nowadays, check FilePlanet and the like.
Will do.

Strange, I'm used to a square based system.

Hex is better, in that it allows you to move in 6 directions from any spot instead of just 4.

I play roguelikes. Graphics are not a problem. I didn't like the combat system, the movement system, how some units were ridiculously overpowered, the lack of upgrades and research, I could go on and on.

I will agree to the overpowered bit, perhaps. But a magical monster or mage should be very powerful.

Hex is better, in that it allows you to move in 6 directions from any spot instead of just 4.
Octagonal would be best but also extremely difficult to properly implement :p

I will agree to the overpowered bit, perhaps. But a magical monster or mage should be very powerful.

Tell that to my level twenty Knight.:D

Tell that to my level twenty Knight.:D

their's no such thing;). And knights suck against certain units. I think pikes are a good bet.

their's no such thing;). And knights suck against certain units. I think pikes are a good bet.
Quite. First-strike, piercing weapons vs. charging units = oh noes damage.

Quite. First-strike, piercing weapons vs. charging units = oh noes damage.

Or gang up several archers/ranged units on em.

their's no such thing;). And knights suck against certain units. I think pikes are a good bet.

Then you aren't playing the right games.;)

their's no such thing;). And knights suck against certain units. I think pikes are a good bet.

There's.

Actually, I've tended to find that Wesnoth, especially the main eras, has a fairly good "Rock-paper-scissors" type balance to it. Sure, it may seem that (for example) Dark Adepts are awesome, but when your opponent brings in something like Shock Troopers, they die very rapidly to it.

There are powerful units, but often the price and the advancement system help balance it out quite well.

Then you aren't playing the right games.;)
Eh yes... supposed level 20 units = fun and not just a massive attritional battle of mega tedium?

Regarding Knights, one of my favorite things to do in wesnoth is to send knights up against walking corpses. The undead will spawn about 20 of these useless things, and about 6 to 10 may die in a single turn as they futilely try to bring down a single knight:D. And grand knights are a complete slaughter. Of course, only the ai would be dumb enough to send corpses against knights, and only in a scripted senario, but its so badass to see one knight plowing through an army.:)