What was the most challenging TBS game you've played?

[GeezerGamer]

For me it's the Civ series.

I've never won a game. (I've come close occasionally)

After a while, I was able to win at all other TBS games that I've played.

 

[Diamondeye]

... You've never won a game? Sheez... What diff do you play? Are you having trouble concentrating for long hours?
I probably think the hardest TBS I've played was... hmm... Frankly, I don't know! Not civ at least.

 

[GeezerGamer]

... Are you having trouble concentrating for long hours?

There's really no need to be insulting. I have a life and my playing time is limited, which may be part of the issue.

 

[Captain Carnage]

Where can I download a life?

On topic: I would say Steel Panthers

 

[cairo140]

There's really no need to be insulting. I have a life and my playing time is limited, which may be part of the issue.

Geezer, I would encourage you to try out a lower difficulty level. Unlike some other TBS games, Civilization has a wide variety of handicap sets which make it suitable for anyone at any level.

Welcome to the Civ community, and I hope you get as immersed into this awesome game as many of the other folks here have.

However, please stray away from trying to belittle others with the "I have a life" argument. Most gamers have heard it a million times, and many individuals who say it tend not to be too "lively" themselves. Besides, this isn't a machismo battle; never in my life have I encountered an argument which evokes the line come to a rational conclusion.

 

[Diamondeye]

... Abd I am not insulting you, I am trying to help you to grow better. That's what these forums are about.

 

[GenocideBringer]

There's really no need to be insulting. I have a life and my playing time is limited, which may be part of the issue.

I don't think he was trying to be insulting...there are people who try to concentrate and learn Civ, but have issues with it.


If you can't win on, say, Settler difficulty level, then it seems to me like you are missing some critical aspect of the gameplay.

 

[GeezerGamer]

However, please stray away from trying to belittle others with the "I have a life" argument. Most gamers have heard it a million times, and many individuals who say it tend not to be too "lively" themselves. Besides, this isn't a machismo battle; never in my life have I encountered an argument which evokes the line come to a rational conclusion.

I re-read the post, and I think the tone of his response was fairly evident. Perhaps it's a generational thing, but I would never reply to someone in such a manner.

Relative to other boards I vist, this one seems to have a higher percentage of "shoot off the mouth" types.

My "I have a life" statement was in regard to my lack of time available for non-leisurely persuits. It had nothing to do with machismo.

 

[MrPopov]

well I am under 25 and had to google TBS game to know what TBS stood for. Where does that put me in the generational thing of forum responses?

To reply I have won plenty of games on all versions of civ (from civ 1 to BTS) on noble. However I rarely ever finish a game before I start a new one

I do think, however that CIV is the hardest Turn Based Strategy game I have every played

 

[King Flevance]

Gal Civ 2, I haven't beat a game on it yet.... mostly because I find it hard to stay out of the shipyard.

But also because I do find the AI challenging at it. I am still an uber noob at it. I can't think of any other TBS games I found hard that I didn't later end up being able to beat it 3/4 of the time.

Well, unless we are including Chess. Sometimes I clean house there, and sometimes people get me on the ropes early and beat the snot out of me. but vs. a computer, its pretty hard sometimes.

 

[slightlymarxist]

Since many TBS games like CIV and Alpha Centauri comes with difficulty levels, it's pretty hard to answer which game is the most challenging. But yeah, the Civilization series is probably the most challenging.

Honorable mention to Imperialism II. I found that one pretty hard actually. But it's probably because I didn't learn to play it properly.

 

[Diamondeye]

... You could consider Shogun: Total War as well... it's hardcore, and it's a TBS, although with featured battles (like the other TW games).

@Mrpopov:
I am nearly 17 years old and TBS is already a part of my normal used language ooops - guess I spend too much time in here.

@GeezerGamer:
I was clearly not trying to insult you - the I'd have been more direct. Anyway, please don't flame each other over my little post - as I said, it was clearly ment as a helping note.

Diamondeye

 

[GeezerGamer]

Two of you mentioned Alpha Centauri and Galactic civilization 2. I have beaten both of those games on the higher difficultly settings.

A win in Civilization (all versions) continues to elude me.

 

[Good Omens]

The hardest that I've had any experience with was Dominions 3. I only played the demo for a bit, but the sheer number of options and strategies is overwhelming. Check illwinter.com.

As to games that I've played for a meaningful amount of time, Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic can be punishingly difficult. I've also heard that the Combat Mission games are very rough, but I've never tried them.

 

[GenocideBringer]

A win in Civilization (all versions) continues to elude me.

1) Difficulty?

2) Post a save game.

 

[Gregthor]

HeroQuest on Amiga, or Moonstone.

 

[KMadCandy]

civ (versions 2-4) are the only ones i've tried, so my answer is civ4. challenge is good. if i knew i'd win every single time, i'd get bored. sometimes tho i am in the mood for an "easy, i'm going to coast through this one" game and i like that option too. hooray for flexibility!

I've never won a game. (I've come close occasionally)

After a while, I was able to win at all other TBS games that I've played.

to the OP, it's a game, and you're playing it for your fun and yourself only. whether it's the excitement/anticipation/suspense of coming close or whatever it is, if your current difficulty and the "oh, almost"s are giving you fun, then keep at that and ignore the comments from those who want to change your style. style is personal and you get to pick yours. my #1 rule is and always has been that you should play games to have fun, after all everybody has limited free time to play. you get to decide your fun .

 

[King Flevance]

Two of you mentioned Alpha Centauri and Galactic civilization 2. I have beaten both of those games on the higher difficultly settings.

A win in Civilization (all versions) continues to elude me.

Gal CIv 2 has me fizzled. I play on huge galaxies with maximum AIs, the lowest I will set the AI is 1/2 bright and 1/2 intelligent. SO difficulty rating is around challenging-tough+. The AI ticks me off on it though from some of its cheats more than CIv 4 though. If I turn on 'fog' it only turns it on for me which is annoying, so they can see all the anamolies (goody huts) from the get go and autopilot to each one, one after another.

Everyone says not to build early warships but I find myself having to go to war very early on in that game alot. I usually do ok in the war but its the economical side with population and such that always drags me down. BUt as I said before my worst downfall is I can never stay out of the shipyard. If I could keep my butt out of there long enough to play through a game without going in, I would probably learn something.

 

[Elros]

X-Com, anyone? Until you get the hang of it, it tends to go:

-Step off ship
-Get frazzled by something in the dark
-Step off ship
-Get frazzled by something in the dark
etc..

One hit kills make things rather tricky...

 

[King Flevance]

oh yeah X-com.

Playing on expert was a pain in the ass. It's like, "Hey, its day 4, here are some mutons. All you get is AP rounds. Have fun." I usually just played advanced.