I've been playing EU2 for a week now, and I must say, this is an incredible game. It is listed as a RTS; however, its not a traditional type RTS, well, like AoE2.

Rather than building individual units and grouping them, one purchases x amount of infantry, cavalry, and cannons. As land tech increases, these forces improve. Concerning naval forces, one chooses between warships, galleys, and transports.

There are several campaigns to choose, ranging from the American Dream (Independence) to the Grand Campaign (choosing one of 90+ playable countries) where one manuevers through 400+ years, dealing w/ historical events.

Being able to choose whether you want a decentralized gov't or centralized gov't, and dealing w/ religious tolerance issues in Europe from the 1400s to the 1800s are only two of the many decision-making opportunities in the game. If you're in to warmongering only, the game could be frustrating. Its not like warring in AoE2. Now, I'm a newb at the game, so I may not do a description justice. I can say its a fun and interesting game, very emersive (If that is even a word, I think it is.)

Oh, the game shipped w/ a "load-save crash bug." But, a quick patch by VP fixed the problem. I've had zero crashes since the patch, and no hitches w/ the software during game-play. I'm on an old tray-loading iMac w/ a G3/333 and 512MB RAM, using 10.2.6 OS.

Also, Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008RGQM/macsport/104-3852603-8370300) is selling EU2 on the Mac for $21.99 = ubelievable price for a Mac game, and one that is quite good.

I have a copy too, and it looks very good, but I haven't really started with it yet because I got an early release of the Moo3 patch and I've ben giving that game a workout. It's a good year for Mac strategy gamers. :D :D :D

We have a Mac version of EU2?

Originally posted by gfeier
I have a copy too, and it looks very good, but I haven't really started with it yet because I got an early release of the Moo3 patch and I've ben giving that game a workout. It's a good year for Mac strategy gamers. :D :D :D Aaaaarrrgh! (sp?)

I'm already spending waaaaay too much time on Civ3. Do I need another *two* good strategy games? Well, maybe!

As an oldie with rapidly fading reaction times, I avoid anything "real time" with its game-play optimised for teenagers on speed. So, a couple questions from a Mac-gaming innocent:

- Are these games turn-based like Civ3?
- And can I get the same sort of competitive fast-track learning experience with them that I can with GOTM here?

Originally posted by AlanH

- Are these games turn-based like Civ3?
- And can I get the same sort of competitive fast-track learning experience with them that I can with GOTM here?

EU2 is not a TBS, but w/ a pause command and the ability to slow the game down, it plays like one. Really, its nothing like a twitch-fest. If something happens that I need to think about, I pause the game. The pause freezes time so you can click whatever needs to be changed.

In a war w/ Portugal, where I secured 2/3 mainland Portugal provinces on the Iberian Peninsula, I was forced to take out 3 loans to finance my efforts which helped skyrocket my inflation. I needed a period of peace to fix my economy. My inflation rate is still high, but I no longer owe on loans. Also, my historic explorers have shown up, I'm exploring and settling the new world, still way behind Portugal, but I intend to forcibly annex them in the near future.

I also had an opportunity to reverse history by refusing the Spanish Inquisition, but I didn't. ;) The economic/social benefits were too tempting. I recommend it, and I'm an old-timer myself.

I've not noticed any SGs or GOTM type versions played, but there are democracy games. Check out this EU2 forum (http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=51).

Originally posted by dojoboy
[B]

EU2 is not a TBS, but w/ a pause command and the ability to slow the game down, it plays like one. Really, its nothing like a twitch-fest. If something happens that I need to think about, I pause the game. The pause freezes time so you can click whatever needs to be changed.
Thanks. That sounds my kind of game. I might just give it a try.

Just to chime in, I'm an old timer too. I can't keep up with the click fest games. The Civ and MOO games have been my favorites for a long time. EU2 plays much more like a turn-based than a real time game. You can pause at any time to conduct diplomacy, give orders to armies, etc. The game has event pop-ups that can be programmed to stop the game (so and so has declared war on us). The game speed can be set at anywhere from a hurricane (good for long stretches of accumlating funds to pay of loans or finance construction) to a crawl (good for when your worst enemy attacks you, your alliance crumbles, and the natives in three of your colonies revolt).

I'm on my second grand campaign. The first was as Genoa. The second as the Ottoman empire. Whoops, gotta go. Time to send the cavalry into Byzantium.

As another old-timer, I was sold by the comment on EU2 in this thread. My copy should be arriving in Australia in a few weeks (Try & Byte for any other Aussies viewing this).

Thanx, djb, for the EU forums information. Looks like another nice bunch of folks over there.

I'd still kill for a port of Brian Reynold's 'Rise of Nations', 'tho. (figuratively speaking\writing)

I don't think I'm nearly as old-time as you folk, but, being slow and easily distracted, EU looks like the juice to me. The problem (besides my freelance employment and subsequentlack of expendable capital) is as always the difficulty of obtaining said product in New Zealand.
Sid, you think if Try&Byte service you lovely Australians they'll do us as well? I'll check it out.

feght, I'm sure they'll deliver across the Tasman. The price is a reasonable AUD$54.95 + shipping. I guess you know how to contact them (they're in Sydney).
[For information of members using other currencies, we normally pay AUD$100+ for Mac games here]

Yeah, I checked them out, but their website doesn't list EU2. Guess I'm going to have to talk to some humans ;)
Interestingly, there are very few places that will deliver games to New Zealand, the one comprehensive (if rather badly designed) one is cdromshop.com - the prices are reasonable there as well... it would work out costing about NZ$80 including shipping for EU2 (thats about AU$70 these days?)
And yes, if it ever reached the shelves here, I would expect it to cost $139.

Anyway, thanks for the tip, Sid... I hope there are other Antipodeans watching! :)

Just got my copy of EU2. Very excited! Wish I didn't have so much work to do in the next 10 days :(

-sirromdivad