Need some help with video games Re: Apex Legends, Europa Universalis, MTG.

[svosavvy]

Hi All,

This will probably be a weird little thread.  I gave up video games in 2001 as I had a 30 acre property to maintain and we were beginning our family.  That being said I began playing Apex Legends a year and a half ago as a way to connect with my 17 yr old son.  I got this idea from my brother in law who uses games to connect with his children who have started their lives hours away from him.  I honestly think it is brilliant. 

Apex legends is fun, but, I am getting bored with a game where you basically just try to kill as many people as you can in an ADD frenzy.  I play the game strategically optimizing for wins and high placements where most folks just try to drop in and get a few kills.  This has led to many randoms telling me I am the worst teammate ever. 

My favorite game in 2001 was medieval total war.  I love turn based nation building strategy games where being a joystick legend is not an issue.  Played a lot of final fantasy in the 90's.  I am having difficulty finding pure strategy games that actually have a following (probably a sign of this generation).  I am courting the idea of Europa Universalis, but, I am not sure.  My son and I enjoy chess together, although, I have to say it gets boring. 

I want a game that my son who thinks strategically like me would be engaged in.  He is young and naturally FPS games are in his wheelhouse.  I want to take it to the next level.  We play boardgames like Empire Builder, Catan and all its variants, and Al Hambra.  Also, as a side note my wife loves strategic board games and I would love to get her in the mix.  She won't play Apex with us as she finds it a little too much.  My son is also a big MTG player.  I played a lot of MTG in the late 90's.  I have to say I don't enjoy modern MTG it just seems like special ability inflation. 

In my grand dreams I would find a game online that my wife, my son, and myself would just love to play together when he has free time. He will be at college next year (all of his choices are hours and states away).  I guess that is it, just looking for a little help.  Thanks.

[reeshau]

Crusader Kings III.

You might also like Silica, which is a hybrid RTS and FPS game.  You can choose to play it in different modes, which may appeal to your family members' different preferences.

[svosavvy]

Ok, that is cool I was actually looking at that one.  The company Paradox Interactive also makes that one.  Thanks

[Cawl]

You could try 40K Darktide. It is a Left for Dead clone but still enjoyable.

If you guys want to manage a factory, there is Factorio. Also Satisfactory.

Lethal Company looks fun.

[neo von retorch]

Given that he likes MTG, maybe Gloomhaven for PC? As a board game, it's overwhelming. So many moving parts, physical pieces, cards, having to run the NPCs, etc. As a PC game, it's more fun. I'd describe it as a cooperative card selection RPG. Each scenario is a tactical game - hexes. You select from your cards to move and act - single and area attacks and heals, buffs, etc. Deal with environmental issues like landscape, obstacles, traps, etc.

This isn't exactly in the vein you were looking for, so if it's not for you, I get it. But give it a look at least!

[sixwings]

Hi All,

This will probably be a weird little thread.  I gave up video games in 2001 as I had a 30 acre property to maintain and we were beginning our family.  That being said I began playing Apex Legends a year and a half ago as a way to connect with my 17 yr old son.  I got this idea from my brother in law who uses games to connect with his children who have started their lives hours away from him.  I honestly think it is brilliant. 

Apex legends is fun, but, I am getting bored with a game where you basically just try to kill as many people as you can in an ADD frenzy.  I play the game strategically optimizing for wins and high placements where most folks just try to drop in and get a few kills.  This has led to many randoms telling me I am the worst teammate ever. 

My favorite game in 2001 was medieval total war.  I love turn based nation building strategy games where being a joystick legend is not an issue.  Played a lot of final fantasy in the 90's.  I am having difficulty finding pure strategy games that actually have a following (probably a sign of this generation).  I am courting the idea of Europa Universalis, but, I am not sure.  My son and I enjoy chess together, although, I have to say it gets boring. 

I want a game that my son who thinks strategically like me would be engaged in.  He is young and naturally FPS games are in his wheelhouse.  I want to take it to the next level.  We play boardgames like Empire Builder, Catan and all its variants, and Al Hambra.  Also, as a side note my wife loves strategic board games and I would love to get her in the mix.  She won't play Apex with us as she finds it a little too much.  My son is also a big MTG player.  I played a lot of MTG in the late 90's.  I have to say I don't enjoy modern MTG it just seems like special ability inflation. 

In my grand dreams I would find a game online that my wife, my son, and myself would just love to play together when he has free time. He will be at college next year (all of his choices are hours and states away).  I guess that is it, just looking for a little help.  Thanks.

The total war series is still very alive, and Medeival 2 Total War is still very active with a lot of mods for it that make it better, (stainless steel, third age total war if you like LOTR). You could look into picking one of those.

My brother and I play Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition, it's very very active, getting constant DLCs from Microsoft, the pro scene is growing, it's might be the biggest RTS right now. My brother and I play it on friday nights together as he lives far away, we like to build castles and hold out against the waves of AI forces.

You could also get axis and allies, it's a board game that is also available on steam.

[LennStar]

My favorite game in 2001 was medieval total war.  I love turn based nation building strategy games where being a joystick legend is not an issue.  Played a lot of final fantasy in the 90's.  I am having difficulty finding pure strategy games that actually have a following (probably a sign of this generation).  I am courting the idea of Europa Universalis, but, I am not sure.  My son and I enjoy chess together, although, I have to say it gets boring. 

I am a single player at heart, so not sure how much help I can be.

Total War series has a lot of newer titles, so maybe one of them? I mean there is a Medieval Total War II for example - though you probably already mean that, not sure when it was out ;)

If you are into villages builders, "Medieval Dynasty" has a MP option now. No strategy though, but I would gues good for bonding. Unfortunately SP only is "Songs of Syx", an indie perl.

The Paradox game most are into is Stellaris, though I heard it's not that stable in MP (at least 2 years ago). As the name suggests, SciFi Grand Strategy.

And for anyone that plays chess, I always try to proselytising them to Go/Weichi/Baduk! Go is way better! More strategy, less confusion!

If "Battlemechs" say anything to you, there is a wonderful turn-based (though it's mostly intended as a SP campaign game, you can play MP fights) strategy game "Battletech".

If you like to build your own spaceships with lots of weapons on them (not much strategy though), there is Avorion.

"Shieldwall" is funny little game (though slighly comic-blood bloody) too and I would be surprised if not MP. No strategy, only nasty tactics though. 

Master of Magic has also gotten a remake (and the old one out-of-the-box patched steam version for a few bucks). If you somehow don't know this game even you are an old "turn based nation building strategy games" person: This is basically Civilization with Magic. Enchanting! I actually can't say how good the remake is, the votes are not that good. (The same company also failed at Alpha Centauri remake, but did others well.)

For FPS - if you have fun with medieval settings, there is no avoiding Mount & Blade II Bannerlord. You can also build your own kingdom, but that is SP campaign only Out of the boy that is: there is a co-op mod. Can't say anything about it, except that people seem to be very happy: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Bannerlord+online+is+mindblowing

Generally you can also have a look at "Hooded Horse" publisher. "Old World" is similar to Civ. The rest might not be in your primary target, but all the games seem to be in their own special niche and doing that one very good. I certainly have them on my watch list.

[LD_TAndK]

Starcraft II is free to play on Steam so it'd be low commitment to try it out. It's a real time strategy game, so it could be a little more thinky for you, but still plenty of action like a FPS for your kid

[neo von retorch]

We are big StarCraft fans. I also like Northgard. It's an intimate feeling RTS. You only build maybe two dozen villagers and one dozen warriors. A bit more about resources than combat, but there are multiple paths to victory. So each can focus on what they like.

[rocketpj]

Check out Board Game Arena, you can play tons of games live or by turns.