I have recently started playing TC again on the Zone. I decided to accept there is no replacement to AoE/RoR and just play TC with no expectations. I just want to learn all of the civs/strats/Zone players so I can be a better Empire Earth player. (Long story but I wanna be one of the best EE players when it comes out)
When I gave Kings and TC chances over the past year or so I compared every feature, unit, graphic, and strategy to AoE/RoR and came away very disappointed. I played some Rookie Kings players and thought little of Kingers and their stupid game.
Recently I have played with some good players of TC and came away with some of the same feelings I had when I just started playing AoE on the Zone. I have been outboomed by 30-50 villagers by 20:00 into the game. We are talking I have 60-70 villagers and think I am doing good only to find other players with 120! This reminds me of the old days when I would get crushed in AoE and the map would be revealed and I would look in horror.
I also used to think that Kings/TC games were all long and boring. I have been killed in the Feudal and Castle Age a few times in the past few days.
What I really wish is all players could go into one game. AoE gets 800, RoR gets 600, Kings 2,000 and TC 5,000. That is 8,000-9,000 people always on the Zone playing an AoE series game. I guess I just get caught up in the "Where do I rate with all of these gamers?"
I will never leave the AoE/RoR community. I guess it is like my "first love" of online gaming that I will always be loyal to.