Alternative History Simulator

[Frobe77]

What alternative history games does AH play?

So far I have Hearts of Iron III (with the 1.4 patch) and it is so beautiful, so beautiful.
Start as ANY nation in the world from 1936 to 1944, play until 1948. There are three factions instead of 2, Axis, Allies, and Comminterm, allowing any US and Soviet hostilities. Very in depth diplomacy allowing annexation through politics (Anschluss). Espionage capabilities are also very in depth. This brings me to the meat of the game, the war!
You are presented with a large map of the world, showing date, time, weather, infrastructure of the land, terrain, and political borders, all of which play a role in combat. The world is also represent by many small provinces and cities which are the units of movement. You can create your own brigades and divisions based on current technology and industrial capability. Air-forces and navies also exist. Combat is much more complicated than just attacking based on numbers, the organization, strength, morale and man made terrains such as forts and AA guns play a role. You an also attack using nuclear weapons (once your technology permits it), logistical bombing, strategic bombing, ground attacks, air superiority and convoy raiding.
All in al this game is do in depth and fun that it allows for all of those questions lingering in the back of ones mind like a successful operation sealion, or a Soviet preemptive attack against Germany while they invaded Western Europe, or if the US never enters the war.
I fully recommend this game to all WW2 interested AH members and even WW1 (there is a mod) interested members.

Plan on getting a computer to support Napoleon Total War which I hope will be just as interesting.

[Rebel]

HoI3 Semper Fi is much better with the DiDay's ICE Mod. New units (SS Panzer, Guards, Assault Guns, ect) rebalanced stats, improved AI, hundreds of new events and decisions, and now a totally re done map. Seriously, if you have the Semper Fi expansion and want it even more improved than you should insall that Mod.

[Polish Eagle]

I have Hearts of Iron III, but it crashes my computer and I can't figure out how to get the game up and running anyway.

I play Medieval II: Total War.

[Admiral Matt]

Crusader Kings is a glorious creature, if properly patched.

I like to play each ruler in a completely different way depending on his traits and stats, it's less "effective" than meta-gaming, but makes the whole experience remarkably real. Like all Paradox games it is vulnerable to meta-gaming, but uniquely it has strong stabilizing factors: For every time I've seen united kingdoms of France and England or Germany and Italy, I've seen two occasions where such bloated creatures collapse to revolt or are divided between sons. Vassals can and do seize the thrones of their overlords. Countries can and do periodically fragment into duchies and counties. But on a scale of generations game mechanics tend to recreate geographically reasonable states.

Ironically, since it's theoretically the focus of the game, crusading is the one major failing of CK. The Baltics are often gobbled up far too quickly (though the player is the major guilty party here). Crusades against Muslim powers are appropriately difficult, but the game lacks a good mechanism for making realistic peace with them or preventing silly counter-invasion.

Also the Mongols don't seem to work historically - they should be vassalizing 2/3 of their defeated opponents.

Still though, there's nothing quite like maneuvering yourself to the Byzantine throne or proclaiming the kingdom of Ireland over a pile of poisoned relatives, then throwing it all away (because that's what the king's idiot son would do) to start again from scratch....

[Wolfpaw]

I found this little gem the other night while doing some research. It's a WWI game. Very fun.

[Campbell1004]

Originally Posted by Wolfpaw

I found this little gem the other night while doing some research. It's a WWI game. Very fun.

Very good game. There's a ww2 version out nowadays and the creator is saying he might do an American Civil War version.

Unrelated note a Danish friend of mine bought Napoleon Total War and said it was both good and bad.

Good because his troops actually started freezing and dying when they weren't fed and they would lose soldiers every day they lost a battle or weren't doing something.

Bad because it was only 6 years or something.

[KCammy]

Have any of you played Hex Empire? It's not AH, but if you liked 1917 you'll like Hex Empire.

[Barry Bull]

Nobody mentioned SR2020?

[KCammy]

Originally Posted by Barry Bull

Nobody mentioned SR2020?

S'not that good a game.

[Laqueesha]

Civilization series. 'Nuff said.

[imperialaquila]

Originally Posted by Frobe77

Plan on getting a computer to support Napoleon Total War which I hope will be just as interesting.

Napoleon: Total War is a glorified expansion pack packaged and priced as a real game. Get Medieval II or Empire, if you like the Total War series.

Also, you should try other Paradox games, like Victoria II and EUIII.

[Nietzsche]

Originally Posted by imperialaquila

Napoleon: Total War is a glorified expansion pack packaged and priced as a real game. Get Medieval II or Empire, if you like the Total War series.

Also, you should try other Paradox games, like Victoria II and EUIII.

Atleast in Napoleon Total War, Artillery isn't pipsqueak and completely useless...

[Shackel]

Originally Posted by KCammy

S'not that good a game.

If you don't know how to play it.

[Meepy]

I'd definitely suggest really any Paradox game, but Victoria I in particular.

I've played Vicky II many times but have yet to warm up to it like I did the old game.

[Shackel]

EU3.

With the latest expansion, it goes from 1399-1821, has every country in those times, and has a huge expanse of things you can do.