Armchair Dragoons Forums

Wargaming => Pre-Gunpowder => Topic started by: bayonetbrant on May 10, 2019, 04:21:56 PM

Title: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 10, 2019, 04:21:56 PM
What's your favorite pre-gunpowder-era wargame?  What is it you like so much about it?

What's your least favorite that you've played, and what is it you can't stand about it?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Bison on May 12, 2019, 10:45:26 AM
Well C&C ancients is a lot of fun (still hate the damned dice GMT decided to use).
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Sir Slash on May 13, 2019, 11:40:32 AM
Got to be Rome Total War. Loved the slower pace, the many factions with their very different units and buildings, the battles were great and the siege battles were superb. The Barbarian Invasion add-on was just as good.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: mirth on May 13, 2019, 11:54:14 AM
There are pre-gunpowder-era games?!
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bbmike on May 13, 2019, 12:20:05 PM
There are pre-gunpowder-era games?!

They mostly involve meeples.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: mirth on May 13, 2019, 12:21:53 PM
There are pre-gunpowder-era games?!

They mostly involve meeples.

And Zombies no doubt
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bbmike on May 13, 2019, 12:23:32 PM
(https://www.meeplesource.com/prodimages/NewCharacters/Zombie1a.jpg)
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: mirth on May 13, 2019, 12:29:03 PM
 :ROFL:
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Sir Slash on May 13, 2019, 07:35:42 PM
Do Lasers count as, 'pre gunpowder'?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: mirth on May 13, 2019, 07:49:04 PM
Do Lasers count as, 'pre gunpowder'?

In the Planet of the Apes timeline they do.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Staggerwing on May 13, 2019, 08:13:16 PM
Weren't there 'flintlock lasers' (no gunpowder) in some old fantasy comic, way back?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: mirth on May 13, 2019, 08:15:15 PM
You're thinking of that Star Trek episode
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Staggerwing on May 13, 2019, 08:18:14 PM
No, this was some kind of vaguely Conan/Barsoom/Cryptozoic thing from the 70's or maybe 80's.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: mirth on May 13, 2019, 08:43:03 PM
This thread suddenly got interesting
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Staggerwing on May 13, 2019, 09:01:31 PM
I'm going on a very vague recollection.  :(

Hopefully someone else's memory will be jogged. I tried googling 'flintlock laser' but all I get is a crap load of Fortnite hits.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bbmike on May 14, 2019, 06:21:20 AM
Flintlock Laser would be a good title for an RPG.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bayonetbrant on May 14, 2019, 06:32:03 AM
Flintlock Laser would be a good title for an RPG.


Wasn't that just Space: 1889?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bbmike on May 14, 2019, 06:47:18 AM
Yes! I think that's also the one where a black powder explosion sends the moon out of Earth's orbit.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: besilarius on May 14, 2019, 07:11:30 AM
Maybe some variant on Gamma World that was in the Dragon magazine?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Sir Slash on May 14, 2019, 11:03:08 AM
When I was little, I always wanted one of those bows with poison arrows like Turok used to kill giant dinosaurs with one, and only one, arrow to the neck. The guy NEVER missed either.  :D
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Bison on May 26, 2019, 07:38:34 AM
I lost an entire summer to Turok years ago.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: BanzaiCat on May 26, 2019, 02:57:06 PM
Does Agricola count?  ;D
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bbmike on May 26, 2019, 05:04:21 PM
Only the zombie version.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: BanzaiCat on May 26, 2019, 05:38:10 PM
 :waiting:
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: ojsdad on December 25, 2019, 06:43:55 PM
Ok, I got $70 in Steam gift cards.  I'm leaning toward TW:R,ome along with TW: Warhammer 1 & 2.  For the TW:Rome, what DLC expands the game?  I'm not looking at pretty new graphics, but allows for expanded game play.  I'm mostly interested in playing as Britain. 

Or, should I just get Field of Glory II?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Martok on December 25, 2019, 09:37:09 PM
Ok, I got $70 in Steam gift cards.  I'm leaning toward TW:R,ome along with TW: Warhammer 1 & 2.  For the TW:Rome, what DLC expands the game?  I'm not looking at pretty new graphics, but allows for expanded game play.  I'm mostly interested in playing as Britain. 

Or, should I just get Field of Glory II?

Well if you hadn't mentioned being primarily interested in Britain, I'd have recommended the Rise of the Republic DLC for Rome II. 

Maybe give Thrones of Britannia a try instead?  I know it's not everyone's favorite TW game, but it's in a much better state than at release.  I find it captures the period pretty well IMO, including the battles (a lot of shieldwall-on-shieldwall action).  Just my two cents. 


Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: panzerde on December 25, 2019, 09:39:22 PM
Ok, I got $70 in Steam gift cards.  I'm leaning toward TW:R,ome along with TW: Warhammer 1 & 2.  For the TW:Rome, what DLC expands the game?  I'm not looking at pretty new graphics, but allows for expanded game play.  I'm mostly interested in playing as Britain. 

Or, should I just get Field of Glory II?


Depends on what you're after. If you want empire building, a campaign, and tactical battles that look great but are really rock, paper, scissors, get the TW stuff. I played a fair amount of TW:Warhammer and it works pretty well when I'm in the mood for fantasy battles with large scale war magic. I bounced off TW: Rome pretty hard. What's acceptable to me in a fantasy setting just isn't in terms of a historical setting, and the units in TW:Rome just don't allow you to really employ them the way an ancient general would.


If you want a reasonably accurate portrayal of ancient tactical warfare, FoGII scratches that itch. I have some beefs with the rules but the core mechanics are generally sound. You have to understand them, though - the game is fairly merciless if you don't learn about things like Points of Advantage and Cohesion Tests. Once you do, you can do things like read a Roman or Byzantine military manual and apply the tactics and they work. There's a campaign engine, but it's really just a battle generator, and nothing like the empire building of TW. You can, of course, use FOGII to resolve battles from FoGE, if FoGE is your cup of tea.


FoGII multiplayer is via the Slitherine PBEM++ system, which is in no way PBEM, and while easy, adds a lot of lag into two-player gaming. If you want to have some fun, poke Cyrano about PBEM++. Just be sure to move out of range.

Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Cyrano on December 26, 2019, 12:06:01 AM
Ok, I got $70 in Steam gift cards.  I'm leaning toward TW:R,ome along with TW: Warhammer 1 & 2.  For the TW:Rome, what DLC expands the game?  I'm not looking at pretty new graphics, but allows for expanded game play.  I'm mostly interested in playing as Britain. 

Or, should I just get Field of Glory II?


Depends on what you're after. If you want empire building, a campaign, and tactical battles that look great but are really rock, paper, scissors, get the TW stuff. I played a fair amount of TW:Warhammer and it works pretty well when I'm in the mood for fantasy battles with large scale war magic. I bounced off TW: Rome pretty hard. What's acceptable to me in a fantasy setting just isn't in terms of a historical setting, and the units in TW:Rome just don't allow you to really employ them the way an ancient general would.


If you want a reasonably accurate portrayal of ancient tactical warfare, FoGII scratches that itch. I have some beefs with the rules but the core mechanics are generally sound. You have to understand them, though - the game is fairly merciless if you don't learn about things like Points of Advantage and Cohesion Tests. Once you do, you can do things like read a Roman or Byzantine military manual and apply the tactics and they work. There's a campaign engine, but it's really just a battle generator, and nothing like the empire building of TW. You can, of course, use FOGII to resolve battles from FoGE, if FoGE is your cup of tea.


FoGII multiplayer is via the Slitherine PBEM++ system, which is in no way PBEM, and while easy, adds a lot of lag into two-player gaming. If you want to have some fun, poke Cyrano about PBEM++. Just be sure to move out of range.

Mother...it is mother...it is CHRISTMAS.  DO NOT DO THIS.

I must post to the boards and remind RBS he promised to fix his...GAME...

Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Cyrano on December 26, 2019, 12:05:35 PM
There.

Posted.

I was polite.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: ojsdad on December 26, 2019, 12:25:27 PM
There.

Posted.

I was polite.

Ah, staying in the Christmas spirit.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: ojsdad on December 27, 2019, 05:57:43 PM
I did the only logical thing.  Since I received $70 in gift cards for Steam, I purchased both TW: WH 1 & 2, base games, and FoG II, with all of the DLC.  Also picked up the Dome DLC for Surviving Mars. 
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bob48 on December 27, 2019, 06:33:23 PM
That little lot should keep you busy.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: ojsdad on December 27, 2019, 08:39:40 PM
Something like 54gb to download the 2 tw games.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bob48 on December 28, 2019, 06:43:13 AM
Easy. 100mb fibre-optic cable :-)
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Cyrano on December 29, 2019, 10:58:16 PM
Sweet fancy Margaret...with Steram's Remote Play option, I can play FoG2 live with Velker.

It's a red-hot, heat-seeking blast and this REALLY kindles my rage about not having a proper live MP component.

Peering over his shoulder while he rolls melees and taunting each other when things go sideways is pure, dead brilliant.

This is a gaming thoroughbred that remains HOBBLED.  HOBBLED I say.

Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Cyrano on December 30, 2019, 02:01:33 PM
Who played Cannae LIVE.

WHO??

ME, that's who.

*spikes football*

Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Undercovergeek on December 30, 2019, 02:59:13 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/Ak83fBx.jpg)

Castille spearmen on the march backed up by 2000 men of Aragon - the new Atilla mod works!!
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bob48 on December 30, 2019, 03:10:47 PM
Ha! That looks good.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Martok on January 02, 2020, 03:13:50 PM
Nice screenshot, geek!  How well does the mod play overall? 



I did the only logical thing.  Since I received $70 in gift cards for Steam, I purchased both TW: WH 1 & 2, base games, and FoG II, with all of the DLC.  Also picked up the Dome DLC for Surviving Mars.

Excellent choices.  :bigthumb: 

Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 02, 2020, 03:17:08 PM
Surviving Mars looks like it would be a lot of fun.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: mirth on January 02, 2020, 03:23:30 PM
Surviving Mars looks like it would be a lot of fun.

You don't own it?!   :o
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: BanzaiCat on January 02, 2020, 03:35:31 PM
I know, right?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Undercovergeek on January 02, 2020, 10:30:15 PM
Nice screenshot, geek!  How well does the mod play overall?

Excellent, I must admit to playing a lot more wood elves than Spaniards but so far so good
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bob48 on January 03, 2020, 06:58:04 AM
Spanish Wood Elves?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: ojsdad on January 03, 2020, 07:39:14 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/Ak83fBx.jpg)

Castille spearmen on the march backed up by 2000 men of Aragon - the new Atilla mod works!!

What game is that?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bob48 on January 03, 2020, 07:44:11 AM
The the Attila mod for one of the TW games, innit?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Undercovergeek on January 03, 2020, 09:17:07 PM
It’s the 1212AD mod for Attila

Spanish Wood Elves?

El-bow?
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: bob48 on January 04, 2020, 02:06:22 PM
 :ROFL:

Which later became the Sancho Panzer Division.
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Staggerwing on January 04, 2020, 03:00:39 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: Pre-Gunpowder Games
Post by: Undercovergeek on January 04, 2020, 09:25:02 PM
:ROFL:

Which later became the Sancho Panzer Division.

 :applause: