Page 1 of 2
1
2
LastLast
  1. #1

    Why are 4x RTS so hard to get into?

    I mean, the genre appeals to me, but when I buy one of these 4x games, they're so complicated to learn that it just puts a bad taste in my mouth. I want to play the game and have fun, not be overwhelmed and get headaches trying to figure out how to do stuff.

    In other words, what are some good 4x games that even an idiot can understand and have fun with.

  2. #2
    Titan Yunru's Avatar
    10+ Year Old Account
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    The Continent of Orsterra
    Posts
    12,392
    Stardrive is simple enogh to understand...its nothing special tho.
    Don't sweat the details!!!

  3. #3
    Deleted
    Pretty much every 4x game on the lowest diffculty. A specific game? Probably civ5 or the heroes of might and magic series.

  4. #4
    Dreadlord Joathen's Avatar
    10+ Year Old Account
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    South Florida, USA
    Posts
    906
    Sins of a Solar Empire is pretty basic, if you decide to check it out their standalone Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion has the content from all the previous iterations.

  5. #5
    Over 9000! zealo's Avatar
    10+ Year Old Account
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    9,509
    Civ5 on low difficulty setting would probably be a good entry point that is not too complicated.

  6. #6
    Deleted
    Quote Originally Posted by Joathen View Post
    Sins of a Solar Empire is pretty basic
    Yeah, try Sins of a Solar Empire. It has a grand scale, but the gameplay is pretty quick to learn, just like normal RTSs. I did the tutorial myself and I knew how to play the game from there.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by zealo View Post
    Civ5 on low difficulty setting would probably be a good entry point that is not too complicated.
    I already own Civ 5. Good game. =)

  8. #8
    Sins is easy to learn, but still retains massive depth and challenge. Should start there.

  9. #9
    Deleted
    Grand Strategy games often has a hard time introducing new players to the game, simply due to their immense complexity.

    One of the best ways to get into those games is to look up tutorials on youtube, and watch those for an hour or two, in order to get an understanding of the game. Then start the game, and if possible choose an easy starting point. Afterwards whenever there's something you don't remember or understands what does, alt-tab out and google it.

    For Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Universalis 4 I've found that youtuber Arumba has some pretty good videos, both having some for general introduction, and some explaining different ingame-concepts.

    Some people might not like the idea of spending a few hours learning how to play a game, but compared to the rediculous number of hours of entertainment you can get from these games, it's not really that bad to spend a few learning how to play

  10. #10
    Warchief Nazrark's Avatar
    10+ Year Old Account
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Winnipeg, Canada
    Posts
    2,248
    Id start with Sins: Rebellion. There is a very active mod community for it as well. Plus it can be relatively easy to learn. But when you attempt to play the insane AI. Things get down right ugly. Other than that, Civ 5 is great as well. GalCiv2 is getting more complex and 3 really cleaned up the ui. But it is in Alpha and costs 100 dollars. But that includes all future expansions for the game. So easily worth it. We have Endless Space. And to round out the insane planning of Crusadet Kings 2 or EU4. Like, when starting a game. Sitting with the game paused for about an hour seeing how to set up your current children and then planning for future children. It is extremely rewarding to beat the scenario.

    The major obstacle for most people trying to play these types of games. Is time and the ability to plan 4-5 moves ahead of what you are doing. There really isn't a quick gratification for the games. Even with Sins. If you are winning, the AI will ally and gang up on you. They will also give the pirates missions to attack your planets without you being the roaming target. Watching the AI band together to fight you off is awesome. With a 400-500 ship fleet engaging 1200 ships. There is no way you can come out a victor without losing your entire fleet.

    Currently using the Galactic Empire mod. I've been attacked by over 40 cap ships and they carved a nice hole in my empire before I stopped their advance.

  11. #11
    Deleted
    Well most of 4X games were TB, don't know the recent games, but it seems weird to make them RT. I guess it's just mistake on your part and you meant strategies in general, not limited to real-time ones.

    If they are difficult to get into it's probably interface/feature bloat fault. Old Civilization (the very first one) was very easy to get into, very simple and yet deep enough to be entertaining.

  12. #12
    Because they don't lend themselves to ease of use by their nature. No worries though, if the 4x genre ever gets big enough I'm sure it'll be streamlined and murdered like any other.

  13. #13
    Deleted
    Quote Originally Posted by AFK-Champion View Post
    Well most of 4X games were TB, don't know the recent games, but it seems weird to make them RT. I guess it's just mistake on your part and you meant strategies in general, not limited to real-time ones.
    Yeah, I think the OP is misusing genre names. RTS and 4X are two completely different genres.

  14. #14
    Mmmm, Civ isn't all that complex but it does take a few playthroughs to really understand it. IIRC my first playthrough was a total disaster.

    Quote Originally Posted by Siffi View Post
    Pretty much every 4x game on the lowest diffculty. A specific game? Probably civ5 or the heroes of might and magic series.
    I don't think HoMM is 4x.
    Quote Originally Posted by Tojara View Post
    Look Batman really isn't an accurate source by any means
    Quote Originally Posted by Hooked View Post
    It is a fact, not just something I made up.

  15. #15
    Deleted
    Quote Originally Posted by Mormolyce View Post
    I don't think HoMM is 4x.
    Umm... Why wouldn't it be 4X? What do you think it is, then?

  16. #16
    the genre is hard to get into but you need to play a few games to get the idea, last 4x i played was distant worlds which allows you to set near the whole game on automated while letting you wean into what you want to do most be that combat or diplomacy. the drawing point to a 4x is that a lot of them have depth which sets it apart from the regular rts.

    i'm still waiting for someone to do a good 4x maybe combine the depth of something like distant worlds with the custom ship building of either star ruler or star drive. both games i thought were quite fun but lacking in the depth department.

    i don't think there is an easy way to get into 4x without the trial and error, you could start with something like sins of a solar empire which is imo hybrid rts/4x or C&C in space with a tech tree.

  17. #17
    Herald of the Titans Darksoldierr's Avatar
    15+ Year Old Account
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Hungary
    Posts
    2,860
    What is a 4x genre?
    Time is on our side
    Brutal Gladiator Enhancement Shaman *rawr*

  18. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Darksoldierr View Post
    What is a 4x genre?
    eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate
    Modern gaming apologist: I once tasted diarrhea so shit is fine.

    "People who alter or destroy works of art and our cultural heritage for profit or as an excercise of power, are barbarians" - George Lucas 1988

  19. #19
    Stood in the Fire ArMeD_SuRvIvOr's Avatar
    10+ Year Old Account
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Argentina
    Posts
    463
    The Total War series are quite simplistic... especially the latest Rome: Total War 2. Shogun 2 and Medieval 2 and Rome 1 are slightly more complex, but still easy to get into.

    Start with those?
    Really sucks if they start to limit their vision for an expansion just to get the next one out faster.
    BLOOD DPS. Never forget. Still campaigning to get you back, babe.

  20. #20
    Dreadlord
    10+ Year Old Account
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Monroe, OREGON
    Posts
    986
    Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion is fantastic.

    I recently got both a Star Wars mod and a Star Trek Mod. Both mods make the game extremely enjoyable again

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •