Marathon vs. Epic

[bioelectricclam]

Uh, I can't remember...what's the difference?

 

[Polobo]

I believe that except for unit production everything in marathon is twice as expensive at epic (3x normal). Units only cost twice normal, which I think is the same for epic but have never played epic, only marathon.

 

[Rvil Plum]

Time passes slower, but the geographical distances on the map stay the same. Epic has a max of 750 turns, and Marathon 1,500.

You therefore have more turns in which to move your units around the map on marathon. The slower pace also gives you time to benefit from buildings or units you might skip when playing at a faster speed, (Castles, Musketts, etc).

There are a buch of other differrences, so the best way to find out is just to play a game at marthon and see what you think for yourself.

Regards - Mr P

 

[Siaphi94]

Marathon seems way too long. I always played on normal, but I thought that was a little short, so I think I'll play on epic next time.

 

[hecubus]

Marathon seems way too long. I always played on normal, but I thought that was a little short, so I think I'll play on epic next time.

Marathon is a huge slog for a full game, for sure, I personally like Epic's balance the most. I've enjoyed starting some games in a later era on Marathon, though, and playing around with all the modern war machines.

 

[magichj]

I used to play on Epic constantly and just finished my first marathon game. If you can get over the idea that you will have to set your cities to producing research, commerce, etc from time to time I must say it is a far better experience. You will seldom have a time where you go into a war with a tech lead only to find that your opponent just teched the couter-unit to your SOD. The games do take FOREVER, but it is a much more enjoyable experience at the same time.

 

[Polobo]

If you can get over the idea that you will have to set your cities to producing research, commerce, etc from time to time I must say it is a far better experience.

What specifically about marathon makes you say you'll need to build research/wealth? I find that between buildings, spies/workers/missionaries and military units there is almost always something worth building. I would build science/wealth for the same reasons on marathon as I would at any other speed (speed up teching OR get out of 100% gold deficits.)

 

[Aristos]

What specifically about marathon makes you say you'll need to build research/wealth? I find that between buildings, spies/workers/missionaries and military units there is almost always something worth building. I would build science/wealth for the same reasons on marathon as I would at any other speed (speed up teching OR get out of 100% gold deficits.)

play Marathon on high levels (Monarch+), and you'll see for yourself.

 

[Polobo]

Play prince marathon currently haven't built research/gold in my current game and am competing with the top couple in techs and am 2nd in score (distant second to Justinian who has 4 vassals, and significant leads in tech/power/land and people. I waiting for Panzers to cut him back down to size and then either continue domination or switch over to space with a huge production advantage.

What part of the game are you building research?

Can you at least give a general reason (or example) where marathon specifically, and not the difficulty or other non-speed specific situation is, causing it?

 

[TriPp]

Marathon really doesnt seem that long to me. Normal seems really short though.

On marathon i atleast feel like im playing the game and not just teching(and hitting enter) teching(hitting enter some more) teching(blah blah).. You get to play with everything.

 

[TriPp]

Play prince marathon currently haven't built research/gold in my current game and am competing with the top couple in techs and am 2nd in score (distant second to Justinian who has 4 vassals, and significant leads in tech/power/land and people. I waiting for Panzers to cut him back down to size and then either continue domination or switch over to space with a huge production advantage.

What part of the game are you building research?

Can you at least give a general reason (or example) where marathon specifically, and not the difficulty or other non-speed specific situation is, causing it?

It might be because you have built all the necessary buildings in your cities and have to wait for a tech to continue building anything worthwhile. This is more common on marathon where the tech and build speed have the biggest gap.

I play Prince marathon also. I find the most common reason to build research is simply when theres nothing betetr to build. I dont want anymore units bekuz it will cost me to much and/or i simply dont need them. For buildings i may need another tech to build anything worthwhile...so i build research and get there faster.

On higher levels id imagine you would need to at times just to keep up.

 

[AfterShafter]

play Marathon on high levels (Monarch+), and you'll see for yourself.

I play Marathon on Emperor and, while it's not the case that I never build wealth, I very rarely find it's necessary.

 

[krille]

Polobo, he did say higher levels. You should aim for at least emperor (edit: he said monarch himself, so w/e). Tech will be slow. Maintaining large armies is very costly too (so you may not want to build those extra units, even though you can). And sometimes building wealth is better than getting a barracks in your science city, or a library in your production city.

 

[Onagan]

First i tougth that Marathon was way too long. But I started playing because Normal wasn't good for me. After a couple of stupid losses, I got used to it, and i love it.

 

[djvandrake]

I like Marathon the best too. Playing a prince game now on a huge map and it's the most involved affair of intrigue, move and counter move. The slower speed gives you more time to actually use your units and plan decisive strikes against your opponents.

 

[UnlockPotential]

Can't stand Marathon unless I plan to invade mt neighbours in the longest time possible. Epic is better balanced to me.

 

[Nestorius]

What I like about Marathon is that you could get into a long protracted war using units little used in the faster speeds. Your French Musketeers could turn the tide of the battle. Building choices are also more important and micromanagement of city tiles and specialists is a huge part of the game.

 

[Dida]

Marathon is great for warmongering sneak attack. It takes the same number of turns to push your modern armor up to his capital, but it takes your enemy a lot longer to put together a force for counterattack.

 

[magichj]

What specifically about marathon makes you say you'll need to build research/wealth? I find that between buildings, spies/workers/missionaries and military units there is almost always something worth building. I would build science/wealth for the same reasons on marathon as I would at any other speed (speed up teching OR get out of 100% gold deficits.)

For me, my economy tanks in Marathon because of early unit production. I end up with the choice of building another unit and paying for it, or building research until another tech pops buildings. Probably just that I suck .


Its always early game where I end up building research. I don't typically research techs that provide early buildings. I build my Monument (when needed) I build Baracks, my capital builds Wonders... but after I build a few defenders my economy starts to slide into the negatives at 50% research. In Epic/Normal speed the techs come quick enough for me that I don't get to the point where I'm force to build extra units that weigh down my economy.

 

[lordqarlyn]

Uh, I can't remember...what's the difference?

I like marathon games, they seem to be more "epic" than epic games. I do get impatient with the longer build times though!