The Dark Age

Well this is actually one of the first turned based games I have played on the net.

At first I was a puzzled on how to play the games. I joined a few games but nothing seemed to happen. It takes some time before a game starts. It either has to be filled up with players or the creator of the game needs to start it. Well when I got my first games going I thought it was a bit slow. You just make one move per day or so. But then other games started and I suddenly had a bunch of games I had to watch. It was a stressful start, but I did manage to find a good combination between daily, 48 hour, 72 hour, weekly and monthly games to play so that I had something to do in the weekdays and a bit more in the weekends.

This game has got me absolutly addicted. After a while I noticed a few guys that where in almost all my games. We where all just as hooked on the game and since we played so many games together we started a Aevum Obscurum (usaly just shortend AO) clan.

This game is addictive in that way. Its the people who play the game that make the game. This game ain't about graphics or sound. Its just plain good old strategy and a lot of politics. The diplomacy buttons in the game might just have 3 choices (Ally, NAP, and CF) but it runs much deeper than that. When you play this game you can clearly see the different playing styles people have in this game. Some you like and some you don't. Some are heartless liers, some try to stay as neutral as possible and some are helpful saints. And there you have the game. What do you consider the right or best for you to get to the top. Will you sacrifice some points to help out somebody in need, will you try to stay neutral in major battles and get the leftovers or will you use any means necesary to get to the top.

I mentioned clans and the game has a own clan managment button. As a free playing member you can join any clan (if they accept you) and as a full member you can make your own clan. Clan fights are quite common. Clans make some games locked and clans meet there to have a good fight. Some times ordinary games turn out to be clanfights between several different clans and is usaly most fun, but might be a bummer for some mains (the clan everybody gets into when joining) caught in the middle. Therefore most clans have agreed on not to go into any ordinary game with more than 2 - 3 members. That way you have some support but everybody has a good chanse at the game and its not determend from the start.

Beeing in a clan is not a must to be successful in the game. Being in a clan can sometimes tie you up on who you can attack and being a lone wolf with the possibility to change your friends and enemies can quite often be the way to go.

There is addition to maps to play all the time, as anybody can make them. The most used is the old original europe map and its different scenoaries tho.

As I mentioned before also is that the players make this game. This is true in many ways. The game has a great forum and community. The game developer is most intrested in hearing about what can be done to make the game even better. So there are often polls on new suggestions on the gameplay and improvments. If most people are in favor of a change, that is usaly implemented, if possible.

Well a good quote for the game is "Easy to learn, difficult to master". So if you like playing "risk" with your friends, making secret alliances and plans to take over the world, I would urge everybody to give this game a try.