Strategy and Wargaming News – August 16th – Sins of a Solar Empire 2, Ultimate General: British Campaign, Gates of Hell: Airborne

Strategy and Wargaming News – August 16th – Sins of a Solar Empire 2, Ultimate General: British Campaign, Gates of Hell: Airborne

As a seasoned strategy game enthusiast with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that Field of Glory: Kingdoms has truly captured my attention. Coming from a long lineage of Crusader Kings 2 veterans, I can attest to the fact that this game’s traits and mechanics are far more engaging and consequential.


As someone who has lived through the uncertainties of political turmoil, pandemics, and global conflicts, I find myself yearning for a brief respite from the real-world chaos. In light of recent events – the sudden escalation of tensions between Ukraine and Russia, the looming threat of monkeypox, and the ongoing US elections – it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. However, I believe that finding solace in the strategy and wargaming genres of gaming can offer a welcome escape, even if just for a little while. After all, who doesn’t enjoy the thrill of outsmarting opponents or leading armies to victory? So, let me encourage you not only to immerse yourself in these games but also to explore page 2 for some fresh and exciting titles.

Sins of a Solar Empire 2

The beloved real-time strategy game, Sins of a Solar Empire, has now released its sequel, shedding the beta tag on the Epic Games Store on August 15th. Known as Sins of a Solar Empire 2, it continues the legacy of its predecessor while enhancing its already engaging foundation. In this game, you’ll assume command over one of six playable factions within a dynamic galaxy, requiring you to manage your empire, lead your space marines into combat, construct and maintain your fleet, and negotiate diplomatic missions. This title has been warmly welcomed by its dedicated fanbase, boasting an impressive 88% positive rating on Steam.

The game has native mod support and it’s currently 20% off its full price, costing $39.99 | 39,19€ | £33.59.

Ultimate General: American Revolution British Campaign

Strategy and Wargaming News – August 16th – Sins of a Solar Empire 2, Ultimate General: British Campaign, Gates of Hell: Airborne

Players who have already embraced Ultimate General: American Revolution can now preview the initial phase of the forthcoming British campaign. To do this, simply input the code “unstablebranch” into the “Betas” section within the game’s settings, and you’ll be granted access to the experimental branch of the game.

Age of Mythology: Retold Release Date

Among my all-time favorite games, Age of Mythology holds a special place, like an old friend I revisit annually for a few missions and to enjoy one of the best game soundtracks ever produced (yippee!). Reading some comments about poor performance on Steam was somewhat disheartening, but the feedback from those who participated in the closed betas has been overwhelmingly positive.

Age of Mythology: Retold comes out on September 4th and will cost $29.99 | 29,99€ | £22.49.

Call To Arms – Gates of Hell: Airborne

Strategy and Wargaming News – August 16th – Sins of a Solar Empire 2, Ultimate General: British Campaign, Gates of Hell: Airborne

2024’s top real-time strategy game has unveiled plenty of information about its forthcoming DLC, titled “Gates of Hell: Airborne.” This expansion will immerse you in the aerial combat of World War II, as you assume the role of soldiers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. You’ll be parachuting into battles across France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany, engaging in fierce fights to advance through these nations.

The makers of Call to Arms are assuring players a fresh experience in the single-player scenarios, as they will be more intricate, dramatic, and filled with intense action. This upcoming DLC includes 12 single-player missions, 7 newly designed vehicles, and an abundance of 100 new assets.

Although no pricing or release date has been disclosed yet, if this upcoming DLC maintains the same high-quality standards as previous releases, then “Call to Arms – Gates of Hell” is expected to solidify its place even more as one of the top World War 2 games focusing on the Western Front.

Band of Crusaders Is An Interesting Supernatural Game

As a long-time fan of strategy games and someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the dark and mysterious world of medieval Europe, I find myself intrigued by this captivating game called Band of Crusaders. The game’s ominous themes and terrifying monstrosities have caught my attention this week, reminding me of my own fascination with the supernatural and the struggles of the Middle Ages.

In my downtime between battles, I’m deep in the trenches, managing my team, forging bonds, and strategizing our next move. Resource collection and distribution is key, as is upgrading my squad members to ensure we’re battle-ready at all times. The ever-changing map keeps me on my toes, much like games such as Wartales and Battle Brothers.

While there’s currently no foreseeable release date, I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for this one.

With our swords put away, let’s discuss the governance aspect of Field of Glory: Kingdoms. I find many appealing elements so far, although I’m still exploring. The game offers interconnected economic, social, political, and religious systems that become easier to navigate once you get familiar with the user interface. In essence, these systems cooperate and influence each other in a well-balanced manner.

When it comes to the economic and social aspects within the game, many of your choices will be made through the city management interface. This game offers an engaging system where players can relocate their citizens and assign them various jobs such as farming, infrastructure development (or production), and trading. This system is somewhat similar to how you manage your population in games like Civilization. It’s important to note that this system is quite game-like and doesn’t aim for authenticity or realism. However, it provides opportunities for optimization with each turn, allowing players to easily adjust their workforce to tackle new challenges as they arise. As your population expands, new citizen groups will become available for you to allocate accordingly. Although it may lack organic elements, it adds a fun and engaging aspect to the gameplay.

In this society, both religious leaders (clergymen) and high-ranking nobles have specific functions. The clergymen primarily focus on educating people and spreading their faith within the community. On the other hand, the nobles are often involved in military training or expanding their influence. If necessary, they may also engage in trading activities, which is a historically accurate depiction of their roles.

Strategy and Wargaming News – August 16th – Sins of a Solar Empire 2, Ultimate General: British Campaign, Gates of Hell: Airborne

In the Middle Ages, religion held great influence over society and an individual’s position within it. Field of Glory: Kingdoms acknowledges this reality by integrating religion into its gameplay mechanics in a way that feels authentic. Capture cities and regions where your religious influence is minimal, and you may find yourself grappling with heretics undermining your power, rebellions occurring, and uprisings taking place. Although the game features a Holy War mechanic (representing Crusades and Jihad), I haven’t had the chance to explore it yet.

In your court, you’ll find loyal nobles ready to lend a hand in governing your kingdom, much like commanders with their armies. You can delegate governors to different regions to lighten the burden of local administration. Luckily, these nobles can be quite competent, and choosing the right ones for the right tasks will help solve many issues over the next few years or decades, a relatively short period in medieval terms. This system of appointing governors is beneficial as it allows specific regions to focus on producing resources like wealth or food without constant optimization, as you can instruct your governor to prioritize your preferences.

These noblemen may initially appear faithful to you, but push them too far or grant them excessive power, and they could transform your supportive allies into adversaries. This exact scenario unfolded with Guaspar de Castro, a renowned figure of the Reconquista. To manage this situation, you can either restrict their power or keep them content through other means. However, if these tactics fail, a covert action might become necessary.

Strategy and Wargaming News – August 16th – Sins of a Solar Empire 2, Ultimate General: British Campaign, Gates of Hell: Airborne

In this strategy game, a key method you’ll utilize for managing your realms will be through the use of “strategic options,” which function much like cards in other games. You’ll receive these strategic options at random intervals throughout the gameplay, offering choices such as assassination attempts, army recruitment, surprise attacks, aid in religious conversion, and creation of siege equipment. While this system adds a degree of unpredictability to the game, some players might find it less authentic while focusing on the military aspects.

I think the dynasty system already offers enough replayability, even if it’s a rather basic system. When managing your kingdom you’ll have to account for your ruler’s strengths and weaknesses. These can be rather significant. My current ruler, Álvaro, is considered to be an excellent administrator, giving him the ability to pay 30% for court favours, and increasing his chances in positive decision-making. On the other hand, Álvaro is not a great military leader and reduces the army’s manpower by a significant 10%. I enjoy these consequential traits a lot more since they force you to take them into account when playing the game. I remember that in Crusader Kings 2, the traits were so inconsequential that I cannot remember a single one of those apart from the immortal one (yes, immortality is a thing in Crusader Kings 2).

Although Field of Glory’s management side is quite simplified compared to its closest rival, I don’t find this a significant issue. In truth, Field of Glory: Kingdoms carves out a unique space within a specific genre. What sets it apart is that it offers an experience similar to Crusader Kings but without the need to remember extensive family trees or closely monitor every vassal. Instead, it emphasizes the military aspects of the medieval era, making it more appealing to me.

In summary, I’ve had a fantastic time diving into this game! The tutorial is well-structured and can be completed in approximately 30 minutes, covering the fundamentals of city management, population control, army building, and combat strategies. The user interface is sleek and intuitive, with minimal nested menus, making navigation a breeze. Tooltips are also helpful, providing explanations for various aspects like traits, decisions, production levels, economic fluctuations, and more. Graphically, it might not be the most visually stunning game out there, but it’s functional and doesn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the experience.

Final Score: 8/10

As a gamer myself, let me say that Field of Glory: Kingdoms truly stands out. Its mechanics are meticulously designed, offering an authentic experience of medieval warfare. Couple this with the captivating kingdom management aspect, where you juggle economy, social upheaval, and even courtly intrigue, and it’s easy to see why this game sets itself apart from others. The “one more turn” factor was so compelling during my holiday week that I found myself lost in its world for hours on end.

However, I think that Field of Glory: Kingdoms needs to thicken up a bit more on content, and campaign types, as that is what’s going to provide players with a mix of interesting and engaging challenges. Hopefully, the development team will launch DLCs exploring the late and early medieval periods, and bring with them very specific period mechanics, for example: in the early medieval periods there could be a large focus on population management and the repopulation of certain areas of Europe. As for the late medieval period, the focus should be on warfare, and maybe allow for more flexibility in the way you equip your armies, introduce battle formations, and maybe start to tip some toes around the naval exploration of the Atlantic, and of North and Equatorial Africa. Of course, a 100-year way campaign would also be fantastic.

To put it in my own words as an enthusiast, I can’t help but express that if you share my passion for the intricacies of medieval history and strategy games, Field of Glory: Kingdoms should undoubtedly be on your radar. Moreover, while you’re immersed in this captivating world, remember to also grab Field of Glory 2: Medieval – a standalone game that not only complements the first but is also a fantastic purchase in its own right.

Pros:

  1. A grand-strategy medieval game focusing on warfare;
  2. Good kingdom management mechanics that are easy to understand and interact with;
  3. Integration with Field of Glory 2: Medieval, one of the best medieval games of all time.

Cons:

  1. Superfluous dynasty management mechanics;
  2. Average graphics fail to impress;
  3. Convoluted process of exporting battles and import results.

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2024-08-16 17:43