Tactical War based strategy games. Suggestions?

[DerekTheGeek]

Hello All,

I have been playing Civilization since "Civilizations III" and really like the game series quite a bit. I find I really enjoy the game the most when waging war. Not to say that I don't enjoy the other aspects of the game, but I find I really get hooked on planning both attacks on other nations and defense of my own interests. Can anyone suggest another turn based strategy game (PC based) that is of the same or similar caliber to CIV 4 but focuses more on war and wartime strategy as opposed to the "big picture" of Civilizations?

Basically what I am looking for is a game that focuses entirely on the planning, strategy, and implementation of war on a tactial scale. I have not yet looked at Civ 4 mods that might address this, so please if you have any suggestions, pass them along. I have in the past looked at "The Operational Art of War", but I found that it may have been "too" large an arena for me.

I really want to stay with a turn based game as I like the ability to take as much time as I need to plan a strategy or plan a move. Most RTS games are too much of a “Click-Fest” for my taste.

Any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks for your time.

- DTG

P.S. Also, if there are any suggestions for websites that cover/review such games, please pass them along.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

What you need is a GBA or DS and one of the Advance War games.

I've also heard good things about "Naked War" on the PC (it's free as well, get it from here http://www.naked-war.com/download.php , but I think you can only play random people with the free version EDIT: No, you can only play games that someone else challenges you to, or something. It is played over email)

 

[Emperor2]

Well, Imperial glory has a civilization-like grand stratagy part, which focuses almost entirly on Warfare. And there is also a RTS part of it too. Its okay, a good game. Nothing huge, but still okay.

And I don't know much about it, but check out the "Total War" games. I know Med II has a grand stragegy part, but I don't know anything beyond that.

 

[AThousandYoung]

The Battle for Wesnoth is a good free tactical game with a fantasy theme. It has it's flaws, but it's free...

 

[bonafide11]

Any game that isn't Civilization isn't worth playing

 

[The Flame]

Any game that isn't Civilization isn't worth playing

I almost agree - but not quite

 

[LordRahl]

The Battle for Wesnoth is a good free tactical game with a fantasy theme. It has it's flaws, but it's free...

I absolutely second the recommendation for The Battle for Wesnoth - I have discovered it myself just last week, and haven't touched civilization since. I was also looking for something that just focuses on turn based war, and that game delivers in that department. And it's totally free - you can get it here:

http://www.wesnoth.org/

and here's the trailer:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EIt69vznegs

 

[Vael]

The Panzer General series of games is quite similar to Civ except it's focused on the military side of WW2, as opposed to the vast scope of Civ. It's also turn-based.

 

[sabo]

I just Discovered Total War - Rome, which is an excellent game that combines strategic planning and tactical battles, and the battles are very realistic. There even was a spot on the history channel about it and Medevil War. They explained what pains the software company went through to make the game as realistic as it is. Weapon's strength, unit experience, formations, tactical manuevers are all taken into account.

Vael: are their new Panzer General games out there? I haven't seen one for 10 years. They're good, but the realism leaves much to be desired.

 

[cybrxkhan]

with Total War, there are some historical inaccuracies, like Egyptian pharaohs coexisting with Romans, but who cares when you feel like your really leading an army with real tacticical decisions?

 

[FriendoftheDork]

with Total War, there are some historical inaccuracies, like Egyptian pharaohs coexisting with Romans, but who cares when you feel like your really leading an army with real tacticical decisions?

Which you can easily avoid by playing Mods such as Rome Total Realism and Terrae Expugnendae (the latter my favourite), and SPQR.

The Total War Series has been my favourite for some time, Especially Shogun, Medieval 1, and Rome. Medieval 2 didn't really do the trick for me for some reason.

The differences between the first 2 games and the latter 2 games is that the first two games has provinces only, and the entire province is where the battle is fought, units are produced, buildings are built etc.

The last two games there are cities where you build and train in (like in civ) and open area where you can move around in detail, and fight where you want. And there are no workers, only cities can be improved (by building roads, marketplaces, better farms etc.).

The battles themselves are vastly different from civ - here you enter a 3d map where you control each unit yourself (if you wish) and have to use tactics to win most battles). Units also have paper/rocks/scissors effect, such as spearmen generally beats cavalry, archers beats spearmen, and cavalry beats archers (but it depends on power of the units and how they are used - longbowmen can surely waste heavy knights used correctly, and cheap spearmen charged from behind by cataphracts will rout almost instantly).

This series is probably my favourite after civ series.

I suggest starting with either Medieval 1 or Rome.

 

[Vael]

Vael: are their new Panzer General games out there? I haven't seen one for 10 years. They're good, but the realism leaves much to be desired.

The OP never said anything about realism. He also mentioned he didn't like RTS.

There's been up to Panzer General 3, although the game is better the earlier you go. 2 looked great and was still pretty good, but didn't have the epic scope that the first one had.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_General

 

[ABigCivFan]

The Panzer General series of games is quite similar to Civ except it's focused on the military side of WW2, as opposed to the vast scope of Civ. It's also turn-based.

Panzer General II is the one you want. Superb turn-based tactical strategy War game.

 

[Breunor]

Derek,

There are dozens and dozens of 'real' turn based Wargames. By 'real', I mean they try to emulate the realism of the board wargames. As a rule, these are turn based.

For instance, Matrix Games has a whole slew of them:

http://www.matrixgames.com/

HPS Games also has dozens, here it is:

http://www.hpssims.com/

This is the tip of the iceberg.

But if you want a CIV based game devoted to warfare, you may want to pick up a copy of perhaps one of the most controversial games of all time, Master of Magic. It was a game made to play Civ in a fantasy realm, but it is almost all devoted to warfare pretty quickly. It is MUCH more complicated than Civ. Many people think it is the best game of all time, but it has SO MANY BUGS that the game is debated endlessly on 'all-time; lists. For a CIV game with tough strategy, get it! Now, try to make it work on your computer......

Another old DOS gem is the classic X-Com. There is hardly a top 10 list which doesn't list this on it. ti is a tactical game with a neat twist, a true classic.

I also rjoin my posting brethren and recommend the Total War series. Its very good. I much prefer Civ, my son prefers Total War.

Breunor

 

[DerekTheGeek]

Wow.. a lot of good replies. These forums sure are active, which is nice!

I apologize for not being more specific, but in a ways I am glad I wasn't, because it opened up the suggestions to other games I have never known about.

I guess what I am looking for is a turn based game that offers the same modern militaristic strategy as Civ4 without the other aspects present in Civ, such as Culture, City Building, and Tile Improvement. Don't get me wrong, I think these are awesome parts to Civ4, it's just that I would also like the option to play a game that is just military strategy.

As mentioned by "Breunor", there are a lot of games to be found at "Matrix Games" and "HPS Games". Quite a lot of them actually. However, it is disappointing that they do not offer a trial/demo version. I hate to plonk down $$ for a game that I have not had the chance of trying yet. With so many choices, a demo really is the only way to find out if a game fits your specific requirements.

For those interested here is a list of some "modern military" titles that I have scrounged up after my original post. More a "Check these out" list that I have compiled.

1. Point of Attack 2
2. BCT Commander
3. Modern Air Power - War Over Vietnam

I have tried the "Total War" series and I agree they are indeed awesome. If I could find something similar in scope and strategy but with "modern warfare" (tanks, helos, mech infantry, etc ...), I think I would have found my holy grail .

Thanks again all!

- DTG

P.S. I know that "Total War" is an RTS game and not turn based, but it is such an awesome game as far as strategy goes that it almost feels like a turn based game to me. In my humble opinion, turn based games lend themselves so much better to multi-player gaming as most people I know just can't afford to dedicate themselves to a 6 hour long marathon gaming session. With Turn based games and options such as "Play By Email", games can take place over weeks, months, or even years.

 

[cybrxkhan]

that Master of Magic thing looks awesome... if only they made something like it now... we don't even need thousands of troops like in Total War... even a hundred each would be nice.

 

[AThousandYoung]

You might want to look at AGE Games as well. For example:

http://www.agegames.com/mw/

It's a Play By E-Mail multiplayer strategic wargame with simultaneous turns. This one's medieval; there's a Japanese medieval one, a Napoleonic one, a fantasy one, etc...

 

[kell_the_kyuss]

Yeah Masters of Magic was the bomb back in the day.

I have the original cd around here someplace but yeah that game is buuuuuuuggggggyyyy on XP.

 

[norse]

The Heroes of Might And Magic series is awesome. Currently they are version V. It is a fantasy game, but it is great fun and graphics sing.

Another is the Perfect General II. It is older but is sure is fun. Let us know what you pick up, I am curious!

 

[FriendoftheDork]

Wow.. a lot of good replies. These forums sure are active, which is nice!

I apologize for not being more specific, but in a ways I am glad I wasn't, because it opened up the suggestions to other games I have never known about.

I guess what I am looking for is a turn based game that offers the same modern militaristic strategy as Civ4 without the other aspects present in Civ, such as Culture, City Building, and Tile Improvement. Don't get me wrong, I think these are awesome parts to Civ4, it's just that I would also like the option to play a game that is just military strategy.

As mentioned by "Breunor", there are a lot of games to be found at "Matrix Games" and "HPS Games". Quite a lot of them actually. However, it is disappointing that they do not offer a trial/demo version. I hate to plonk down $$ for a game that I have not had the chance of trying yet. With so many choices, a demo really is the only way to find out if a game fits your specific requirements.

For those interested here is a list of some "modern military" titles that I have scrounged up after my original post. More a "Check these out" list that I have compiled.

1. Point of Attack 2
2. BCT Commander
3. Modern Air Power - War Over Vietnam

I have tried the "Total War" series and I agree they are indeed awesome. If I could find something similar in scope and strategy but with "modern warfare" (tanks, helos, mech infantry, etc ...), I think I would have found my holy grail .

Thanks again all!

- DTG

P.S. I know that "Total War" is an RTS game and not turn based, but it is such an awesome game as far as strategy goes that it almost feels like a turn based game to me. In my humble opinion, turn based games lend themselves so much better to multi-player gaming as most people I know just can't afford to dedicate themselves to a 6 hour long marathon gaming session. With Turn based games and options such as "Play By Email", games can take place over weeks, months, or even years.

There is an online version of the Axis and Allies boardgame. It can be played by email also, and is mostly multiplayer. That's modern warfare at least, even though little or no animation.