[$corp]

I am looking for a good real time strategy game set in the medieval times. ie. swords, magic, archers, etc.

I don't like anything that takes too long to play. Each game should last maybe 30 minutes to an hour.

I've already done Warcraft 3 and got bored of that.

Anyone know of such a game?

[Delaware]

Originally Posted by Scorponok

I am looking for a good real time strategy game set in the medieval times. ie. swords, magic, archers, etc.

I don't like anything that takes too long to play. Each game should last maybe 30 minutes to an hour.

I've already done Warcraft 3 and got bored of that.

Anyone know of such a game?

Age of Empires, Age of Kings, that whole series. While not exactly RTS, I'd also recommend the Total War series, although campaigns are turn based and can last for weeks, individual battles are real time.

[$corp]

Originally Posted by Dual II

Age of Empires, Age of Kings, that whole series. While not exactly RTS, I'd also recommend the Total War series, although campaigns are turn based and can last for weeks, individual battles are real time.

Age of Empires seems to have guns and modern weapons in there. I was looking for something more...medieval.

[Robotech Master]

Age Of Mythology?

or you could try the Warlords: Battlecry games...

[Dan Leach]

Total war.
Turn based camaign but the best real-time strategic battles there is.

[Ancalagon]

Lords of the Realm 2

[Baba]

Crusader kings which used Europa Universalis Engine which has dynastic managemnet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusade...8video_game%29

Awards

* Strategy Gaming Online Editor's Choice award
* Game Vortex Top Pick award

[$corp]

Originally Posted by Dan Leach

Total war.
Turn based camaign but the best real-time strategic battles there is.

Is this called Rome: Total War? Or am I thinking of something else?

[Delaware]

Originally Posted by Scorponok

Is this called Rome: Total War? Or am I thinking of something else?

Rome: TW is one game in the series, there's also Shogun, Medieval, Medieval II, and Empire. Though outside of the time period you specified, Rome (and its expansion) is my favourite of the group, although I may be a bit biased. M2 includes primitive gunpowder weapons towards the end of the game, dunno if that's a game breaker for you. ETW, the newest game, is all about 18th century musket combat and should be avoided.

[Chaos Descending]

Originally Posted by Scorponok

Age of Empires seems to have guns and modern weapons in there. I was looking for something more...medieval.

Age of Empires II does NOT. Age of Empires 3 does.

Maybe you were thinking of Empire Earth.

[$corp]

I think I am going to check out Age of Mythology. Hopefully I can find it in a store here. And if I can't, I have it downloaded already.

[Chaos Descending]

Age of Mythology sucks, IMHO.

Age of Empires II is much better.

[Baba]

Crusader Kings is fun.

[Powaqqatsi]

Originally Posted by Scorponok

Is this called Rome: Total War? Or am I thinking of something else?

Total War is a series of games:

Shogun: Total War
Medieval: Total War
Rome: Total War
Medieval II: Total War
Empire: Total War

M2TW is amazing. By the end of the game, there are guns. However, they are rudimentary and don't dominate the gameplay like they do in AoE, they are mainly there for lowering enemies morale/scaring them. The cannons are the best seige weapons but those are for destroying buildings, they aren't so hot at destroying troops.

I thought Rome was good but I liked both Medieval and Medieval 2 better personally.

The total war series is more like a realistic type sim than many RTS games, but at the same time they've made sure to put fun over realism when it counts.

Important to note that these games has two aspects: one is a RISK-like map where you arrange armies, and you build improvements for your territories and manage your resources.

The other aspect is the actual battles. When two armies on the map meet each other to fight, you can "simulate" them if you are in a hurry, and the computer will just look at the two armies and decide an outcome (slightly
randomized but generally predictable).

Or you actually fight manually, in which case you will be playing the "real time" part of the RTS. These are fairly large scale battles with hundreds of troops, organized into units. You control them as units, rather than individual troops.

So, for example you might have a unit of 60 archers, you can't make them split up or act individually, but you can put them in formations and tell the unit where to go. You can also lump them into larger formations with other units. Things like weather, terrain, and fatigue effect the fighting abilities of your troops.

You also don't have 100% control: there is a concept of morale, and troops who get too scared will rout and flee from the field of battle. A lot of the strategy that comes into the game is about getting enemy troops to flee. Another situation where you don't have perfect control is that some unit types are very impetuous and rarely will charge without orders if enemies are near by (this can be cancelled manually however, if you notice it soon enough).

[Quas]

Originally Posted by Chaos Descending

Age of Empires II does NOT. Age of Empires 3 does.

In AoE2 some cultures can get hand cannons (not very effective), bombard cannon (about like a trebuchet but more mobile) and some kind of bombard ship (kick ass). It's not a huge part of the game though.

[Chaos Descending]

Originally Posted by Quas

In AoE2 some cultures can get hand cannons (not very effective), bombard cannon (about like a trebuchet but more mobile) and some kind of bombard ship (kick ass). It's not a huge part of the game though.

Yeah, but I would hardly call any of that stuff "modern".

[$corp]

Well, I tried out Age of Mythology. And though good for a few hours, I am now bored again. It was fun making a 5 headed Hydra though.

[Baba]

Crusader Kings is a dynasty management game from folks who made you europa universalis. No fucking drm crap in a paradox game.

[Rincewiend]

Stronghold 2 Deluxe?!?

Stronghold 2