OT: Recommendations?

[fahdiz]

Originally posted by Taqwus:
Oh, and perhaps I'm just being loony, but you might want to look at _Settlers of Catan_, which has board, 2-player card, and apparently, computer variants. Sometimes it's good to play in person so you can throttle the other fellow when he takes away your Bishop with a Spy, then immediately launches three Arsonists and toasts your expensive buildings.

Settlers of Catan is one of my wife's and my favorite board games. You people have great taste!

[AStott]

Here's one that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Uplink: http://www.introVersion.co.uk/uplink/

This is a nifty game where you are a hacker. Very interestingly done.

[Kjeld]

I definitely agree with Kohan beeing a little gem. It is the only real time strategy game that "feels" like a turn by turn game. The "company" system and the clear choices to reward thinking vs. micromanagement and click fests was truely refreshing.

The best civ-like is IMHO SMAC. The game itself was a solid and classical (but well done, the whole social engineering system was nifty) civ-clone, but what I really liked in this game was the "storytelling", immersive elements. With all the voice acting and text blurbs for each technologies and buildings, and the text interludes following up the great game manual, there was a nice atmosphere of discovery, I truely felt I was unlocking the secrets of the planet.

Although the game is very, very basic (though strangely addictive) and has nowhere near the depth of even the AoW or HoMM series, I have a soft spot for the Disciples series. The graphics of disciples 2 are gorgeous, and the "dark fantasy" art is really brillant (though I dislike the main map, way too crowded, however the character portraits and combat models are awesome) : again, a very immersive experience, largely due to the art style this time.

[Kel]

Originally posted by Kjeld:

The best civ-like is IMHO SMAC.

SMAC was second only to MoM for 4x games to me. For non 4x strategy, I liked Sacrifice a *lot*, though it had more of a chess like quality.

- Kel

[fahdiz]

Originally posted by Kjeld:
Although the game is very, very basic (though strangely addictive) and has nowhere near the depth of even the AoW or HoMM series, I have a soft spot for the Disciples series. The graphics of disciples 2 are gorgeous, and the "dark fantasy" art is really brillant (though I dislike the main map, way too crowded, however the character portraits and combat models are awesome) : again, a very immersive experience, largely due to the art style this time.

I couldn't agree more. It's fabulous for what it is. I always sort of likened it to a turn-based fighting game more than a strategy game. And the artwork and models are, bar none, the slickest stuff I've seen in a strategy game to date.

[fahdiz]

Originally posted by Kel:

quote:

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Originally posted by Kjeld:

The best civ-like is IMHO SMAC.

SMAC was second only to MoM for 4x games to me. For non 4x strategy, I liked Sacrifice a *lot*, though it had more of a chess like quality.

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Chess-like? Yes, I suppose...if you like playing chess at Ludicrous Speed (TM). Sacrifice is a total gem. Fast paced and VERY fun.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by fahdiz:
Ludicrous Speed (TM)

From arguably the best line in that movie ...