Strategy games, but not as a way of life

[Smeagol]

I have been a huge fan of turn-based strategy games for years and years, but at this stage of my life I have a minimal amount of time to invest in them. I love the Civ games, Alpha Centauri, Master of Orion games, and countless others.

What games out there now offer a rewarding turn-based strategy gaming experience without taking up huge chunks of one's life?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Nostromo]

Good question. I have the same problem: Civ games are too time consuming. Maybe the scenarios in Civ 3: Conquests could do the trick?

[child of Thor]

hmm.....why dont you limit yourself to 20 turns or a few hrs per evening/session? That way you can still play all the best tbs games?

i cant think of many(well any!) tbs games that are very short in the main game..........

[vmxa1]

Disciples II

[Nostromo]

Originally posted by child of Thor
hmm.....why dont you limit yourself to 20 turns or a few hrs per evening/session? That way you can still play all the best tbs games?

It's a good idea... if you can control yourself. I always end up saying: I'll play one more turn...

[Dis]

nothing can stop the one more turn syndrome

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by vmxa1
Disciples II

I haven't play this one, but the original was really bad.

[DrSpike]

Yeah I'd still play the better games, just play them less. Sure discipline can be a problem, but it's still the lesser of two evils.

[Smeagol]

Yeah, the one more turn thing is my problem as well.

I just downloaded the Disciples II demo, so I'll see how I like that. However, I also downloaded the Civ 3 demo, and it's sorta like coming home. Going to be tough not purchasing that, but maybe I can find some way to control my playing time (or my wife will have to help me with that.)

Thanks for the help.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Dissident
nothing can stop the one more turn syndrome

Civ 3 did.

[Dis]

well I did have that for civ3 for a while.

The thing about me and civ3 is even though I'm bored of it. If I do start up a game, I will keep playing until about 2 or 3 in the morning irregardless.

But if I don't finish the game that day, I'll never finish it. I have several unfinished games. It was like that near the end of civ2 as well. It's hard to restart play after I take a break. I just can't get back into it. But while I'm playing, I rarely can stop.

Although I aslo admit I have not played civ3 like I have civ2. I have stayed up until morning light playing civ2.

That's why I kind of liked Civ3: conquests. They were short. I didn't have to worry about starting a game, and not finishing it. I really don't like civ games that take over 1 day to play anymore.

[Nostromo]

Originally posted by Dissident

But if I don't finish the game that day, I'll never finish it. I have several unfinished games. It was like that near the end of civ2 as well. It's hard to restart play after I take a break. I just can't get back into it. But while I'm playing, I rarely can stop.

The same here.

That's why I kind of liked Civ3: conquests. They were short. I didn't have to worry about starting a game, and not finishing it. I really don't like civ games that take over 1 day to play anymore.

I didn't buy Conquests yet. I'm not even sure I will. I'm sorta bored with Civ right now. I'm not sure if it's Civ3's fault, or if I'm tired of Civ games in general. I played Civ2 and SMAC to death. Would you recommend C3C to a jaded civer? Are the scenarios different, refreshing ? Or is it the same gameplay, but with a shorter time span?

[Jac de Molay]

Re: Strategy games, but not as a way of life

Originally posted by Smeagol

What games out there now offer a rewarding turn-based strategy gaming experience without taking up huge chunks of one's life?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Think old school. 16 pieces. 64 black and white squares. Object: surround and/or capture opponent's king

[Smeagol]

Yeah, I considered the board game sort of route, but I was thinking something like Stratego or Axis & Allies, and did not go quite so far into the past as Chess!

As for Conquests, I've never really gotten into those preset scenario type of games (not coincidentally I tried Disciples II today and did not like it).

[Dis]

I ended up just playing civ3 again . Tiny map with accelerated production. 6 hours and 9 minutes. Now that's a good time for a game. Not too long, not too short. Although the cheating ai still pisses me off to no avail.