Rock, Paper, Shotgun

I was talking to someone about Crusader Kings II last weekend and about twenty minutes into a hand-waving sermon about how brilliant it is, I realised I’d described it as a turn-based strategy game. It isn’t turn-based, of course, but I spend so much time pausing and pondering that I’ve managed to convince myself that it is. The I started thinking – what was the best turn-based strategy game of the year? XCOM is tactical, I didn’t warm to Fallen Enchantress and Warlock was solid but unspectacular. Have I forgotten something? Eador looks like it might have learned a trick or two from Age of Wonders and even though it won’t be out for Christmas, beta signups have begun. Here’s a new video.

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On the cold floor, a summoning circle has been drawn and, around it, several Paradox employees sway, their forms disguised by wizard’s robes. A susurration builds to a roar, like the scratching of the pebbles at Dover Beach, the air trembles, twisting into new intangible forms, and then a demo version of Warlock: Master of the Arcane appears. Unnatural, I know, but it’s just the way things are done in that neck of the woods. Bet you didn’t know that Crusader Kings II was actually built by a blacksmith, hammering away in his forge? Fact. The Warlock demo can be found on Steam and it includes the tutorial, a preset map, two enemy mages and one to play as. The full game allows customisation of both mages and maps. My thoughts on the beta are here and we’ll have more on the game as the May 8th launch approaches.

When people decide to give their games massive names, do they not realise how difficult it is for me to make puns about them? There’s no way I can fit Kings Bounty: Warriors Of The North and any kind of wordplay onto a single line, it simply cannot be done. I should be consulted in naming committees. Henceforth, I’m going to refer to this next in the commendably daft RPG-strategy series as King’s Bounty: Northlands, or KB: Nordic Edition. That’s what it seems to be anyway, with a new hero called Olaf who is the son of the “Northling King”. I’m guessing it’s another expansion-type thing rather than a full sequel, but there will be all new locations, units and skills, as well as valkyrie companions who are described as “gorgeous”. Perhaps that’s one of them in the screenshot above. Gorgeous, is she? You decide. It’s out Spring 2012.

The highly anticipated (by me) Might and Magic Heroes VI is out October 11th and, look here, a new trailer has emerged. I was hoping it’d show some detail about the blood and tears reputation system, which might shake up the turn-based gathering and killing, but instead it’s mostly earnest humanoids spouting gubbins like: “You have served your emperor and your dragon.” I’m going to refer to it as HOMM VI, in keeping with tradition, since the new topsy-turvy title shortens to MAMH. HOMM is a happy if somewhat placid noise, resplendently conjuring mountaintop monasteries and lotus-drenched pools by which archers train in the midday sun. MAMH is how certain northern tribes refer to their mothers. Watch this and decide which is more fitting.

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Avadon is Jeff Vogel’s latest RPG; a roaring saga of dark politics and glorious face furniture. It’ll give you hours and hours of questing… but will it show you a good time as you slay giant spiders and screw with the fate of nations? Well, let’s see Wot I Think…

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While people are waiting for Petroglyph’s forthcoming MMORTS, End Of Nations (recognisable by there being sea there), there’s a whole other strategy game from the same developer that was released today. It’s Guardians Of Galaxia, a turn-based card game-cum board game strategy, the likes of which makes me feel a bit nervous. And it looks properly bonkers. And as Kieron pointed out last month, it’s a board game too! And it features fighting elephants.

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You know what I love? Turn-based strategy games! I can’t get enough of them. Ohnowait, I’ve confused me with someone else. But I’m extremely assured by people both taller and wiser than me that others like them a lot. And it will be with no small clamour of excitement that they hear the news that the team behind Neptune’s Pride, Iron Helmet, have announced their new game. It’s called Blight Of The Immortals, and you can expect many more informed details from everyone else who works for this site when they see what a job I’ve made of it.

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The Croatian space strategy is out this week, based on the Elite-styled open-ended space game, SpaceForce: Rogue Universe. I remember SpaceForce being visually pleasing but rather broken on its release in 2007, so I hope the same is only half true of its strategic spin-off. SpaceForce Captains allows you to construct a funky looking space station and employ up to 120 different space captains in your quest for a power. It’s like playing the original game from the perspective of one of the mission-vendors, or something.
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