Hello, again, everyone...
I have a little feedback that I would like to share. I have, in the last couple days, played three games of AoE/RoR.
The Pros:
1. Graphics - I still like them a lot. Except for some weak unit graphics, and the water, the rest of the game still looks pretty good... especially for a four-year-old-game.
2. The Civs - They have a lot of mystery to them, because I haven't played or looked at a chart in so long. I have very little idea of what anything does. This is a good thing... it's like playing a brand new game.
3. The Early Game - Often, I am lost when starting in the Stone Age. No food in sight, only trees. This allows for a good amount of suspension of disbelief... I feel like a Stone Age man looking for food.
4. Prevalence of Hunting - This is a very cool aspect of the game. I had three numbered and assigned hunting parties out getting lion, and elephant, and gazelle. This was a ton of fun.
The Cons: (I'm afraid this list is a lot longer. I truly am sorry.)
1. Interface Issues: There are numerous issues I have, so I will list them as subpoints. I know that I am spoiled by AoK in many of these, but they are tough to live without once you are used to having them.
A. Idle Villager Button - Small issue. Thank god there's a hot key for it, but I still miss it on the screen.
B. Group Info Area - God, I hate not knowing how many troops are left in a group, and what their state of health is, just by looking at the box. You don't know if you have one or 30 troops, healthy or dying, without going to them on the board. Aargh.
C. Food Sources on Mini-map - OK, I admit that I am spoiled, but I like the little green smudges on the map where there's fish and/or game. I'm not talking about "Explored" either... regular default setting.
D. Gathering Points - The lack of these forces me to build even more buildings than I do in AoK, as all offensives force me to build barracks and stables and etc. right where the battle is.
2. AI - In the first game I played, the computer AI built 7 villagers, a storage pit, and a granary. That's it. Not a real fun game.
3. Map Placement - In the third game I played, I was placed in a hole surrounded by trees. Completely surrounded. I had 3 berry bushes, no stone, no gold, no hunting. It took me 15 real minutes, with the game on "fast", to chop through to where I could get more food. Needless to say, I lost to the computer opponent who had hoplites waiting for me as I built my 25th villager.
4. Population Limit - 50? Ugh.
All-in-all, not the magical experience I was hoping for. I enjoyed the units, and that feeling of really being a brand new civilization, but I felt like I was fighting with everything else.
I don't know... should I keep trying?
From the briny depths of the Great Lakes comes... Clan Chowder!
Anxiously awaiting the Age of Mythology board game...