oiyyyyyy

what's up?
I haven't been here in a while

I see you have been off saving the pandas.

With success, I trust?

Welcome back!

I don't even remember what we were talking about when I set that...

Things seem to have slowed to a crawl.

But it's still good to be back

So Koei Tecmo's Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence just recently came out in "the west" on Steam, PS4 and PS3. Picked it up on release and have been playing in a fair bit and damn if it isn't addictive, currently playing as the Oda and Nobuhide in the Rise of Nobunaga scenario. An interesting fusion of turn-based and real-time phases on the campaign map, with real-time battles, that illustrates how Creative Assembly could inject RTwP (Real-Time with Pause) elements into Total War's campaign map.

This video can probably explain the game better than I can at the moment since I am still learning the ins and outs of it:

i saw that on Steam. I saw the videos so its a Shogun building sim with elements of Total war combat?

I saw no metacritic score so how is it Scipii?

Unfortunately it seems the recent multi-platform releases of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Mad Max have preoccupied a lot of the games media's time. So once enough scored reviews come in to satisfy Metacritic's rules it should receive a Metacritic score but the Steam reviews are largely positive for a good reason -- Rock, Paper, Shotgun finally have a PC review out.

Describing it as a Sengoku Jidai (Shogun building) sim with elements of Total War combat is probably a good layman's summary. Reading the RPS review I guess it wasn't quite as much Rob Zacny's cup of tea as it has been mine and others. So far I have sunk 57 very enjoyable hours into the game since it's release, according to my Steam statistics, while also keeping up with the different campaigns of some Twitch streamers.

Many of the decisions you make could be considered basic, however, the way it all ties together means that simple decisions can have complex reactions. For example, covertly sowing discontent in the heart of a key enemy general, who has wavering loyalty due to feeling neglected by his Daimyo, and arranging for he and his troops to not fight if in a battle against you is a simple action that can have wide-reaching consequences.

Even on Normal difficulty I have found the AI rather competent so far during my one on-going campaign as the Oda. The AI makes use of and takes advantage of the very same gameplay system you are using to further your own goals, allies will respond to requests for assistance at a specific location, the AI knows how to use diplomacy to secure its flanks to try and avoid multi-front wars, AI clans will play the same covert tricks on you as you do to it (got to watch that loyalty), if clans sense a weakness they will react, etc.

The Hojo clan could have crushed me under vastly superior numbers if not for a well timed marriage alliance between a Hojo maiden and one of my retainers, valid until either character's death, arranged before I vanquished the powerful Imagawa clans. During my campaign the Hojo have become a scary powerhouse able to levy over 250,000 troops even after the Nagao clan established a large Anti-Hojo Coalition against them to try and reduce their power. Meanwhile, westwards the Shimazu clan are conquering their way up Kyushu to become the second strongest power in Japan and push towards the Shogunate.

I like that you can experience a cinematic, narrative experience following the historical events and quests that happen or forge your own path in classic Total War style. The number of scenarios available means you can relive or change a number of different historical events beyond Oda Nobunaga's life story, such as the clashes between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin.

I have been playing it on the PC, experienced very few bugs and it runs smooth as so far, so I can't speak for the western PS4 and PS3 releases but from what I have heard and read they too are technically sound. There is still so much I could talk about, such as the character-driven gameplay, but I'll stop here for now and see if anyone has any more questions.

[This message has been edited by Scipii (edited 09-08-2015 @ 02:46 AM).]

A new Prime Minister for Australia, thank God.

Time to celebrate! Who knew Australian politics and the Sengoku Jidai could have so many similarities.

I know right. But we need some more stability in terms of upper leadership. It is sad when the last Prime Minister to serve a full term was John Howard.

If this were a game of Europa Universalis 4 our Stability rating would be close to zero currently, heh.

In other news, there's a Total War Humble Bundle and part of the bundle is two Osprey books (Alesia 52 BC, the Final Struggle for Gaul & Roman Soldier vs Germanic Warrior), think it is time I broke out the dosh and secured myself some very cheap reading material. Might wait and see what other stuff they add to the Humble Bundle first though since it still has a while to run and a very ominous mention of 'More Games Coming Soon'. I presume the MTW and STW collections are the newer Steam versions, so you can currently pick yourself up the first two Total War games and their expansions plus the other content for a pretty decent eight dollars (USD?).

I hereby declare a definitivee end to the 12 days of Silence.

I am not dead, thus no mourning necessary. I was simply lamed by a defective ankle.

When 1300 years old you reach as agile you will not be, eh?

Glad to see you're still with us, Terikel. How's your recovery going?

I can now walk. That is an improvement.

Tomorrow I shall try to convey my horseless carriage to my place of employment. Who knows what damage the peons have done in my absence.

Uh-oh. Let's hope the place is still standing...

It is still standing, though my wishes were not respected.

Hell is being paid whilst we converse.

Oh boy. Who ever in their right mind would have a 1300 year old viking as a boss could expect hell anyway.

So, in an effort to distract from Ukraine Putin is now in Syria. Thoughts?

I find it interesting that the Russians are willing to help bomb the bad guys, then use that to bomb the moderate opposition instead of the morons massacreing old-style whoever they conquer.

[This message has been edited by Terikel Grayhair (edited 10-13-2015 @ 07:15 AM).]

I must have missed out on a lot.

Hey Hannibal! hows it going? long time no see. It appears you may have..

Hey AE, I'm fine thanks. How about you guys? I see forum activity isn't doing that good these days, I guess everyone needs a bit of time off occasionally.

Pretty decent. I have mostly been inactive due to hectic university situation. Essays on top of essays, but we all know how it is..

Wish if we could get the forum going again, I miss how it used to be a couple of years ago.

I check in from time to time, but I've just been swamped with work especially recently since I work in retail and being in season because of the holidays at least doubles the workload at my store. Any free time I do get is taken up by real life obligations and what little writing I can squeeze in.

I know the feeling. Add to the above that my internet connection comes and goes, and you have a very intermitten seraph.

I do pop by everytime I get everything working. And sometimes it stays together long enough to post a reply!

Welcome back, Hannibal. Glad to see you are still around!

I also am drowning in work.