[iOS/MOBILE] Boardgame Adaptations Catch-all

Natus wrote:
cyrax wrote:
athros wrote:

How are things going Cyrax? Need some help?

Sorry, there wasn't a notification on the app! Things are fine though, think I'm grasping the game on a basic level.

Don't help Cyrax, he's doing just fine. If he plays T&E like he plays Ascension, we're all screwed. ;)

Thank you, and damn straight! Sorry 'bout that knife in your back. :0

Boudreaux wrote:

I do really wish that when I take my turns, the game did a move-by-move playthrough of everyone else's turn, so I could keep track of what's going on. I'm finding it fairly difficult coming into each turn with everything changed, and I have to figure out what people are doing based on what I remember from the turn before. Is there a way to do this that I'm just missing?

I agree 100% - I played with others once, and though I really enjoyed the game, there were times where I just wasn't sure what had happened. I do believe there is a way to see the textual moves, but I'm not sure how ( I heard it second hand )

Cragmyre wrote:
Boudreaux wrote:

I do really wish that when I take my turns, the game did a move-by-move playthrough of everyone else's turn, so I could keep track of what's going on. I'm finding it fairly difficult coming into each turn with everything changed, and I have to figure out what people are doing based on what I remember from the turn before. Is there a way to do this that I'm just missing?

I agree 100% - I played with others once, and though I really enjoyed the game, there were times where I just wasn't sure what had happened. I do believe there is a way to see the textual moves, but I'm not sure how ( I heard it second hand )

Menu -> Last Moves

Lists every move taken, inculding the number of committed tiles in wars.

Sorry Natus and Cragmyre, but I'm bowing out of this Titan game. I really feel like I have no sense for the game or what's going on, the asynch play makes everything drag, notifications for my turn sometimes just show up, etc etc. Really not enjoying it right now so I'd rather just quit. Normally I don't do this but I frankly can't see myself playing this game into March.

Dysplastic wrote:

Sorry Natus and Cragmyre, but I'm bowing out of this Titan game. I really feel like I have no sense for the game or what's going on, the asynch play makes everything drag, notifications for my turn sometimes just show up, etc etc. Really not enjoying it right now so I'd rather just quit. Normally I don't do this but I frankly can't see myself playing this game into March.

No problem Dysplastic, I can definitely relate. When I went to my first ( and sadly, only ) Unity Games, I took time to try and learn the game - unfortunately all that I got out of it was time that I could have spent playing other games I'm slowly ( very slowly ) starting to get this, so I'm glad I do have the opportunity to finally attempt to learn this.

Maybe this summer Small World 2 will be released and we can all attempt to play that instead

Hey, we can call the game if Cragmyre wants. I'm sorry it is so confusing, and it IS a long haul, especially when battles erupt. The notification system is not nearly as good as the one for T&E. Maybe the answer is real time play?

As for what is going on in the game, it's all pretty simple...Titan is a streamlined fantasy wargame the same way the new MOBA games are streamlined RTS games. It's all move, recruit, and pounce. But I can see if you're not quite clear on the rules or mechanics how it can be a slog. Dysplastic, it just means we'll have to do some more iOS gaming soon. It's not like we don't have enough to choose from.

Natus wrote:

Hey, we can call the game if Cragmyre wants. I'm sorry it is so confusing, and it IS a long haul, especially when battles erupt. The notification system is not nearly as good as the one for T&E. Maybe the answer is real time play?

As for what is going on in the game, it's all pretty simple...Titan is a streamlined fantasy wargame the same way the new MOBA games are streamlined RTS games. It's all move, recruit, and pounce. But I can see if you're not quite clear on the rules or mechanics how it can be a slog. Dysplastic, it just means we'll have to do some more iOS gaming soon. It's not like we don't have enough to choose from. ;)

Is Titan comparable to Nexus Ops then?

Natus wrote:

Hey, we can call the game if Cragmyre wants. I'm sorry it is so confusing, and it IS a long haul, especially when battles erupt. The notification system is not nearly as good as the one for T&E. Maybe the answer is real time play?

As for what is going on in the game, it's all pretty simple...Titan is a streamlined fantasy wargame the same way the new MOBA games are streamlined RTS games. It's all move, recruit, and pounce. But I can see if you're not quite clear on the rules or mechanics how it can be a slog. Dysplastic, it just means we'll have to do some more iOS gaming soon. It's not like we don't have enough to choose from. ;)

The thing is, I'm relatively clear on the rules and mechanics, I'm just totally lost as to the strategy. Normally I'm happy not understanding the strategy when learning because I can get a sense of it during my first game, especially by observing others. The problem is that this is an asynch game where it can be several days between your turns, so by the time I get back to it I've already lost the sense of what I was trying to do and what others were doing. There's too much breakage in the learning experience. Playing asynch over a long period of time is just a terrible way to learn a game, especially one as deep as Titan.

Plus, I'm not sure I really like the map or movement mechanics, it feels really artificial and too on-rails. The combat mechanics work with the theme, but the map and movement feel far to abstract and a pure design decision that doesn't really serve the theme of the game at all. (See the discussion in the Board Game thread about this).

Dysplastic wrote:
Natus wrote:

Hey, we can call the game if Cragmyre wants. I'm sorry it is so confusing, and it IS a long haul, especially when battles erupt. The notification system is not nearly as good as the one for T&E. Maybe the answer is real time play?

As for what is going on in the game, it's all pretty simple...Titan is a streamlined fantasy wargame the same way the new MOBA games are streamlined RTS games. It's all move, recruit, and pounce. But I can see if you're not quite clear on the rules or mechanics how it can be a slog. Dysplastic, it just means we'll have to do some more iOS gaming soon. It's not like we don't have enough to choose from. ;)

The thing is, I'm relatively clear on the rules and mechanics, I'm just totally lost as to the strategy. Normally I'm happy not understanding the strategy when learning because I can get a sense of it during my first game, especially by observing others. The problem is that this is an asynch game where it can be several days between your turns, so by the time I get back to it I've already lost the sense of what I was trying to do and what others were doing. There's too much breakage in the learning experience. Playing asynch over a long period of time is just a terrible way to learn a game, especially one as deep as Titan.

Plus, I'm not sure I really like the map or movement mechanics, it feels really artificial and too on-rails. The combat mechanics work with the theme, but the map and movement feel far to abstract and a pure design decision that doesn't really serve the theme of the game at all. (See the discussion in the Board Game thread about this).

Haven't checked the Board game discussion, but I respectfully think you are mistaking Titan for another sort of game. It's absolutely buckets o' dice, beer & pretzels. There's no world-building or special theme about it. It's all about racing around that weird map, recruiting a killer army or three, and hunting down your opponent's Titan. That's it. And, if, as my friend in a face-to-face game did, you can have a surprise victory as an opponent's Titan army ambushes you, but you manage to fly your Rangers to his Titan and kill it in the second round of combat, brilliant!

It shouldn't be played by more than four players, and preferably face-to-face, but it is by leaps and bounds a better design than Fantasy Flight (for example) has ever produced, imhhho. And, as SixteenBlue mentioned, Nexus Ops is a similar beer & pretzels game (though far shorter) where you're just having fun and chucking some dice. Titan will never be comparable to TI3 or AGoT or Samurai Swords (Ikusa, now) or Runewars. It's its own special, odd, totally unique design, and I don't blame you for not liking it, but don't expect too much of it.

Cragmyre wrote:

Hmm, wonder if Munchkin would work on the iOS

That would be great; there would actually have to be some sort of consistent rules enforcement!

Natus wrote:

Haven't checked the Board game discussion, but I respectfully think you are mistaking Titan for another sort of game. It's absolutely buckets o' dice, beer & pretzels. There's no world-building or special theme about it. It's all about racing around that weird map, recruiting a killer army or three, and hunting down your opponent's Titan. That's it. And, if, as my friend in a face-to-face game did, you can have a surprise victory as an opponent's Titan army ambushes you, but you manage to fly your Rangers to his Titan and kill it in the second round of combat, brilliant!

It shouldn't be played by more than four players, and preferably face-to-face, but it is by leaps and bounds a better design than Fantasy Flight (for example) has ever produced, imhhho. And, as SixteenBlue mentioned, Nexus Ops is a similar beer & pretzels game (though far shorter) where you're just having fun and chucking some dice. Titan will never be comparable to TI3 or AGoT or Samurai Swords (Ikusa, now) or Runewars. It's its own special, odd, totally unique design, and I don't blame you for not liking it, but don't expect too much of it.

I will respectfully disagree, mostly because I don't think "buckets o'dice" and "better design" belong in the same sentence. That being said, I think the Titan example presents an interesting case of how some board game designs don't translate well to iOS, because I was clearly not getting that - I got the impression that it was a very deliberative, tactical game where your troop movements and mustering strategies were crucial. After my experience, I would not describe Titan as a "beer and pretzels" game at all. I mean, not even close.

Dysplastic wrote:
Natus wrote:

Haven't checked the Board game discussion, but I respectfully think you are mistaking Titan for another sort of game. It's absolutely buckets o' dice, beer & pretzels. There's no world-building or special theme about it. It's all about racing around that weird map, recruiting a killer army or three, and hunting down your opponent's Titan. That's it. And, if, as my friend in a face-to-face game did, you can have a surprise victory as an opponent's Titan army ambushes you, but you manage to fly your Rangers to his Titan and kill it in the second round of combat, brilliant!

It shouldn't be played by more than four players, and preferably face-to-face, but it is by leaps and bounds a better design than Fantasy Flight (for example) has ever produced, imhhho. And, as SixteenBlue mentioned, Nexus Ops is a similar beer & pretzels game (though far shorter) where you're just having fun and chucking some dice. Titan will never be comparable to TI3 or AGoT or Samurai Swords (Ikusa, now) or Runewars. It's its own special, odd, totally unique design, and I don't blame you for not liking it, but don't expect too much of it.

I will respectfully disagree, mostly because I don't think "buckets o'dice" and "better design" belong in the same sentence. That being said, I think the Titan example presents an interesting case of how some board game designs don't translate well to iOS, because I was clearly not getting that - I got the impression that it was a very deliberative, tactical game where your troop movements and mustering strategies were crucial. After my experience, I would not describe Titan as a "beer and pretzels" game at all. I mean, not even close.

I agree more your view, Dysplastic. It can be a beer and pretzels game when you're playing a friendly game, but it can (and will) get cutthroat very fast. Usually when the first Titan goes down, in my experience. Then all of those bad musters, crap splits, random moves and inability to know when to concede a battle and why (which is damn near impossible in the iOS version. Supposedly they're going to fix it "soon") become the thing that kills your legions and eventually your Titan since your opponent will have better legions, better musters, and better options to rake you over the coals in a fight.

A bunch of friends and I play face to face (with iPads now - the setup time is so much less) every couple of weeks. I barely play it online, since Conceding is so much of a pain in the ass right now.

athros wrote:
Dysplastic wrote:
Natus wrote:

Haven't checked the Board game discussion, but I respectfully think you are mistaking Titan for another sort of game. It's absolutely buckets o' dice, beer & pretzels. There's no world-building or special theme about it. It's all about racing around that weird map, recruiting a killer army or three, and hunting down your opponent's Titan. That's it. And, if, as my friend in a face-to-face game did, you can have a surprise victory as an opponent's Titan army ambushes you, but you manage to fly your Rangers to his Titan and kill it in the second round of combat, brilliant!

It shouldn't be played by more than four players, and preferably face-to-face, but it is by leaps and bounds a better design than Fantasy Flight (for example) has ever produced, imhhho. And, as SixteenBlue mentioned, Nexus Ops is a similar beer & pretzels game (though far shorter) where you're just having fun and chucking some dice. Titan will never be comparable to TI3 or AGoT or Samurai Swords (Ikusa, now) or Runewars. It's its own special, odd, totally unique design, and I don't blame you for not liking it, but don't expect too much of it.

I will respectfully disagree, mostly because I don't think "buckets o'dice" and "better design" belong in the same sentence. That being said, I think the Titan example presents an interesting case of how some board game designs don't translate well to iOS, because I was clearly not getting that - I got the impression that it was a very deliberative, tactical game where your troop movements and mustering strategies were crucial. After my experience, I would not describe Titan as a "beer and pretzels" game at all. I mean, not even close.

I agree more your view, Dysplastic. It can be a beer and pretzels game when you're playing a friendly game, but it can (and will) get cutthroat very fast. Usually when the first Titan goes down, in my experience. Then all of those bad musters, crap splits, random moves and inability to know when to concede a battle and why (which is damn near impossible in the iOS version. Supposedly they're going to fix it "soon") become the thing that kills your legions and eventually your Titan since your opponent will have better legions, better musters, and better options to rake you over the coals in a fight.

A bunch of friends and I play face to face (with iPads now - the setup time is so much less) every couple of weeks. I barely play it online, since Conceding is so much of a pain in the ass right now.

\

Wait wait wait....how are these things:

It can be a beer and pretzels game when you're playing a friendly game, but it can (and will) get cutthroat very fast.

mutually exclusive? You don't play Titan to farm goods, trade beans, or grow pets. You play Titan to BE cutthroat. Have we lost beer & pretzel games in this day and age?

I think what he means is that "beer and pretzels" games usually involve as much as an entire page of rules, and can still be played four or five beers into the evening. No serious thought needed...

Robear wrote:

I think what he means is that "beer and pretzels" games usually involve as much as an entire page of rules, and can still be played four or five beers into the evening. No serious thought needed...

Wiz War!!!! In more ways than one

Absolutely! I have like 3 versions of that game.

Roundup on upcoming iOS conversions that were shown at New York Toy Fair.

Very excited to hear Galaxy Trucker is getting a conversion!

That is awesome. The way they're handling Wits and Wagers sounds pretty cool too.

shoptroll wrote:

Roundup on upcoming iOS conversions that were shown at New York Toy Fair.

Very excited to hear Galaxy Trucker is getting a conversion!

I'm looking forward to ALHAMBRA and the updated version of KINGDOM BUILDER. I would have been more excited about the supposed FORMULA D app if RACER FEUD wasn't already filling that niche.

Cragmyre wrote:

Wiz War!!!! In more ways than one :drink:

Man I hate that game. It's terrible for 2 players. Might hold up better for 4 or with modified decks (fewer counter spells, or get rid of them entirely) but its just a game of brilliant strategy followed by "No, f*ck you"

I'd love to have my money back for this one.

Wiz War with 4 players is fun filler.

rabbit wrote:

Wiz War with 4 players is fun filler.

We used to play 4 player Death Match

Neuroshima Hex, probably my best game ever: Here's a the end of a 4-player game, me vs all Hard AIs. I'm Steel Police (light blue). This is right before the last turn, and dark green plants have already bit the dust. Never took damage, dominated the board the whole time!

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/aibf7QM.jpg)

Michael wrote:

Neuroshima Hex, probably my best game ever: Here's a the end of a 4-player game, me vs all Hard AIs. I'm Steel Police (light blue). This is right before the last turn, and dark green plants have already bit the dust. Never took damage, dominated the board the whole time!

Umm...that's New York. Steel Police are deep purple

athros wrote:
Michael wrote:

Neuroshima Hex, probably my best game ever: Here's a the end of a 4-player game, me vs all Hard AIs. I'm Steel Police (light blue). This is right before the last turn, and dark green plants have already bit the dust. Never took damage, dominated the board the whole time!

Umm...that's New York. Steel Police are deep purple

I was wondering because Light Blue is not doing well.

SixteenBlue wrote:
athros wrote:
Michael wrote:

Neuroshima Hex, probably my best game ever: Here's a the end of a 4-player game, me vs all Hard AIs. I'm Steel Police (light blue). This is right before the last turn, and dark green plants have already bit the dust. Never took damage, dominated the board the whole time!

Umm...that's New York. Steel Police are deep purple

I was wondering because Light Blue is not doing well.

The greyer blue is New York, the brighter blue is Borgo, the yellow is Hegemony

Just an opinion for anyone considering an ipad Mini, it's not that good for games... Everything feels cramped and smaller to the point of being unreadable.

Mex wrote:

Just an opinion for anyone considering an ipad Mini, it's not that good for games... Everything feels cramped and smaller to the point of being unreadable.

The combo of not Retina and 2/3rds the size already turned me off. For whatever reason, I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't think the regular iPad is "just right".

athros wrote:
Michael wrote:

Neuroshima Hex, probably my best game ever: Here's a the end of a 4-player game, me vs all Hard AIs. I'm Steel Police (light blue). This is right before the last turn, and dark green plants have already bit the dust. Never took damage, dominated the board the whole time!

Umm...that's New York. Steel Police are deep purple

Oops. The point is that it was a good game! Hard to keep track of the names, I just mentally refer to them by colors.

McIrishJihad wrote:
Mex wrote:

Just an opinion for anyone considering an ipad Mini, it's not that good for games... Everything feels cramped and smaller to the point of being unreadable.

The combo of not Retina and 2/3rds the size already turned me off. For whatever reason, I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't think the regular iPad is "just right".

Yeah, don't get me wrong I really like the lighter weight, and a lot of things are just great(reading where you can adjust the text size). But if games are an important part of your purchase decision, I'd think twice before getting a mini...