Poll: RTS? Explain

[asam92]

I can appreciated people who enjoy playing RTS games (Real Time Strategy eg Starcraft) but I personally don't understand the mechanics behind why people enjoy clicking around on a menu making buildings and then sitting back and watching there creations either dominate or be destroyed.
Can someone explain the dynamics and the appeal of what makes these games good?
Note: This isn't a hate thread everyone has their opinions, simply an understanding.
Might aswell add a poll as well.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Back when the term I generally used was 'god game'. The appeal is literally that.

You are God.

I love controlling and making strategies and feeling superior. Not with only one character you control online like in FPSs. But with vast armies of men at my disposal.

And the in-depth thought and planning it requires to become supreme ruler of the world / the universe. It's mentally stimulating and rewarding.

But then again that's just me.

 

[The Procrastinated End]

Well the appeal is that of being a strategist (regardless of the lack of strategy in some) and being able to tell the mindless drones to do whatever you want.
If you win there's the bonus of being able to think that your smarter then the other guy.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Well, I imagine it's the joy of making a bunch of tiny people do whatever you say, no matter what. Like a god.

And then there's the whole strategic aspect...

 

[Paulie92]

I dunno I can't really explain it, but it's less about watching your creations dominate than it is about pulling off a badarse plan or that moment when you realise you've got them on the run/you've just manage to save a near defeat.

It's like in any first person game when you fight a boss fight it's a duel between two people that is difficult and intense. except instead of swinging your sword you "swing your space marines"

I don't know if my incoherent ramblings helped but that's the best I can do

 

[Vhite]

Sometimes people like to manage things and be leaders instead of just soldiers. If you are able to set up and manage trade routes in ANNO 1701 its really satisfing knowing that your brain still works and in multiplayer RTS games like Starcraft its all about competition, that game is almost like chess at higher skill levels.

 

[Eggsnham]

I've always liked the idea of having control of entire armies.

Legions of men willing to die for my glory...

[HEADING=3]My own personal army! THE POWER![/HEADING]

 

[MikhailGH]

Um ok lemme try and explain why I like em, old time rts fan

I take my fun out of rts games from two aspects mostly: solving the puzzle as to how to destroy my enemy with the limited resources at hand (usually what you get in single player), and the hectic and fast paced reacting and countering of tactics of your enemy (usually what you get in multiplayer).
Except in some cases, its the building of the bases themselves, its almost like a neat simcity game with explosions. And you get to fire cannons later as an award. Oh and sometimes, its just the feeling of sheer supremacy, when your ultra huge tanks with those neat twin plasma coils devastate the enemy army... Yeah...

 

[open trap]

Like others before me have stated, you have your own fucking army, to blow up stuff with, you can go, see, and conquer all you want without the horrors of eventual defeat and having to comit suicide at the request of your Fuher

 

[The Amazing Tea Alligator]

The trick is to play an RTS where it's not build orders but tactics. Like Men of Wear:
- You care about units (at least a little bit moreso than say Starcraft or CnC)
- Combat is different each time (it isn't numbers vs numbers (dmg vs hp) but rather a whole bunch of factors like what weapon the unit is using (each guy has an inventory), cover (not CoH cover but REAL MANNLY cover) as well as other factors like bullet penetration, where the bullet deflects etc.)
- Capture Point (or whatever it's called) is the best mode ever. It works okay in CoH, but it really shines in Men of War. I can't describe it, but it makes turtling undoable (unless if you have all the points, but in that case you need a better opponent), makes all the combat happen at a specific point (as opposed to unorganised chaos) while retaining many different areas of attack and defense, and keeps battles not too short yet not too long (provided that you use the standard settings)

Standardized Men of War recommendation here:
Buy Men of War.

 

[Zanaxal]

In multiplayer there is definitively satisfaction in knowing you outwitted the other players abilities.

When you manage to thwart his every attempt to attack and harass and he just gets annhilated in the end.

It is a very intense experience of it's own.

Granted that alot of people don't play rts's well enough these days to be interrested to play them online.

Luck for me most of my friends are also Rts players, they also really enjoy multiplayer of the game and just beating opponents is challenging and interresting to keep playing.

It's kind of like chess just minus all the boring and wait time.

 

[asam92]

So i guess, you are god instead of being the mindless drone sent in to die for your country.
Makes sense to some people, I can understand from some peoples perspective why it is fun, but I guess everyone has their own tastes.

 

[Daveman]

You might as well ask why people enjoy FPS games or other action orientated games. It's just clicking on different things. People enjoy the mechanics, strategy and challenge of them.

 

[ninja555]

Crushing the Allies with hordes of mighty German tanks never loses it's charm.

 

[asam92]

You might as well ask why people enjoy FPS games or other action orientated games. It's just clicking on different things. People enjoy the mechanics, strategy and challenge of them.

True, but thats cuz I enjoy FPS myself so I know why people like to play, probably the same reason I do.

 

[Worgen]

I love rts but Im not really sure why, I guess its just cool to have an over view of the battle field and to be able to manage squads and building at the same time... or something, I guess its more like, I always enjoyed simcity but kinda got bored with only city building, with an rts you get a lil simcity mixed with some combat.... or something, Im not sure how good that example is since 2 of my faves dont even have city building, dow 2 and world in conflict. Well I know part of it is getting a fuller battle experience, like in fps games you might find a tank or something and drive it for a bit then its back on foot, generally vehicle and on foot gameplay is kept separate and you only really see vehicles as bosses or in the background instead of having them be a big part of whatever war your currently fighting, like they would be in real life

 

[-Samurai-]

I've always enjoyed playing other people(usually friends because they don't play for the crappy rush win.).

We gather, build, recruit, then wage war.

It's a combination of tactics and strategy. Flanking enemies, positioning units, matching the correct units against your opponent(using archers to kill swordsmen before they get to your front line), and setting traps and making secret plans. All the while, your enemy is doing the same thing.

I find it to be as exciting and fun as a good game of chess(my favorite game of all time). I love being forced to think strategically. Striking offensively while defending and counter-attacking at the same time. Sometimes sacrificing for the good of the rest of the people remaining.

 

[MikhailGH]

You might as well ask why people enjoy FPS games or other action orientated games. It's just clicking on different things. People enjoy the mechanics, strategy and challenge of them.

Haha, to the point! Could not have been said simpler

 

[Motiv_]

As a very rabid RTS player, I say the main appeal to me is that for the most part, the game is about you outsmarting your enemy, about spotting or predicting his movements and countering them. I can't really play games with high sensitivity, so usually when I play FPS games I get rolled by some kiddo with a random "What the fuck" twitch shot.

tl;dr, When I lose in an RTS, it's because I got outsmarted.

When I lose in an FPS, it's because I'm not quick enough on the draw.

 

[TriggerHappyAngel]

well, it's fun because it's Real Time Strategy, you have to actually think about and plan your moves, and that's what does it for me

(and it's not just RTS; Turn Based Strategy and Trading Card Games are also genres that i really enjoy because it involves the use of strategy)