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Thread: Real Time Strategy? Probably not.

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  1. #1

    Default Real Time Strategy? Probably not.

    It has come to my attention that various contingents of this community have taken to referring to Evony as a Real Time Strategy game, or RTS.

    Based on discussion with various prominent experts in the field, I have come to the conclusion that Evony is not, in fact, a real time strategy game, as classically defined. While superficially, Evony meets many requirements of the RTS genre, its structure follows the path of a Role Playing Game more closely, with elements of RTS and construction management thrown in.

    An RTS game is principally defined as:

    1) Not turn based
    2) Use of acquired resources to build an army, controlled indirectly, to wage war with other players
    3) Technology tree
    4) Use of units to control areas of the map

    Now, we can see that Evony does meet the above requirements. However, the following deviations from a standard RTS also exist:

    First of all, units are controlled only through a text based interface, with battle mechanics being controlled by an overly simple mathematical expression. The actual tactics of battle are not present in traditional terms, i.e., flanking, garrisoning structures, etc. The actual strategy of winning a battle is reduced to overwhelming numbers and repeated assaults. Furthermore, specific numbers of troops are always capable of achieving a certain result, such as conquering a valley or plundering an NPC. This deviates from games such as StarCraft or Command and Conquer in which the geometric arrangement and commands given to various battle units can significantly affect the outcome of a battle.

    In terms of time, a "game" of Evony lasts indefinitely. Players come and go, and there is no fixed starting point, other than the initiation of a new server.

    There are no victory conditions. Players cannot be annihilated due to the inherent nature of the game, and there are no preset conditions defined to be a "victory."

    The "strategy" of the game is largely predefined. Build a city to contain a fairly standard ratio of buildings and units. Farm NPCs with ballistae to feed an army. Conquer or build more cities. Attack players using waves of several hundred thousand archers.

    There are, of course, some variations to this, but its basically all the same.

    Thus, having concluded that Evony is not Real Time Strategy, we proceed to compare the gameplay mechanics to that of a Role Playing Game, such as World of Warcraft.

    The game is broken into quests. Quests are a fundamental part of any RPG, and as such are a major component of Evony. RPGs have characters, which through the accomplishment of various conditions can increase in level; in Evony this is represented through Title and Rank.

    RPGs have characters who's level increases by the performance of tasks, such as battles. This is true of heroes in Evony. The players Title and Rank also increase. Medals can be obtained by battle, and therefore Title increases by the number of battles one has waged.

    The resource gathering in RTS games is largely automated, while in Evony, farming is necessary. Farms do produce food automatically, but it is largely understood that to maintain a large enough army to defend and conquer others, farming must be utilized. Since battle increases Prestige, Experience, and Honor, it can be said that in order to level up, farming is necessary. It is possible, although not efficient, to increase Prestige and rank without doing any farming related activities, although this method is neither efficient or in line with the mechanics of the game.

    Characters and games which persist for months on end are more in line with an RPG than a RTS game.

    The purchase and sale of items which increase a players' performance in one or more game dimensions are traditionally associated with RPGs, not RTS games.

    Therefore, one is lead to the inescapable conclusion that Evony is an RPG, rather than an RTS game.

  2. #2
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    Actually, I play a LOT of RTS, and this is actually truer to strategic level gaming than most of what is sold on the market normally. It is a purely strategic game rather than the strategic-tactical level that most games play on. You can read Liddell Hart to get a better grasp of what I mean.
    Death walks my path before me...

  3. #3

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    I've always stated that Evony has no real "strategy". Battle mechanics involve little more than a mathematical algorithm to determine outcome. About the only "strategy" involved in trying to figure out if your opponent is online or not.

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by TentPig View Post
    About the only "strategy" involved in trying to figure out if your opponent is online or not.
    ^^ The sad truth. Only the online survive.

    +rep for you, friend.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lazzzzzzzzalicious! View Post
    i started to read this and agree with everything rota says. if people just listened to him the forums would be a better place.
    Quote Originally Posted by Dawnseeker View Post
    Rota is correct.

    I don't even understand the question.

  5. #5

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    Acid,

    I see what you mean about not incorporating low-level tactical play, but the overall game lacks any sort of battle or construction strategy. The overarching theme is on acquisition of resources through farming-like behavior, which is overall uncharacteristic of a strategy game.

  6. #6
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    Its still logistics and logistics is strategy. Strategy is never hard.
    Death walks my path before me...

  7. #7

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    its very rpg almost step-you-through-rpg when put into the terms you outlined. Although i'd argue that this is even a RPG GAME as mucha s its an RPG SIM. If there's no way to win and no way to lose and constructive character building and display is the only objectives, then its a SIM not a game. So its an RPS.

    Or perhaps a top 40 GRIND competition. between no-lifers and bot-writers.
    Last edited by xIcemanx; 12-21-2009 at 10:33 PM.

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