Warlords: Strategic Conquest

For someone who's into games like Crusader Kings 2 (the third sucks), this gem scratches that itch for medieval management sims in IF format.

>>>>>>>>Plot<<<<<<<<
I've rereading the last review I made here, and realized I screwed up on giving a bit too much info on the plot, so this summary will be very brief. The player is transported in the world of the historical Ancient China, whose ruling dynasty collapsed and the empire got fractured in smaller "fiefdoms" ruled by small-fry overlords (again😂). Seriously, what was wrong with these people? They changed dynasties like we do governments today, only involving a little decades-long civil wars😅 Anyway... the goal for the player is to unite the empire again under their banner.

>>>>>>Writing<<<<<<
Can't complain about the writing. It was concise and to the point, while managing to keep the player engaged. The main character, which the player gets to pick as their "avatar", are all interesting, and I loved how we got to read their backstory, but my favorite was the Southern merchant's. It tug to my heartstrings for personal reasons after all. I thought we'd at least get to read a heartwarming dialogue between him and his mother after becoming an emperor😭 She had such a hard life after all😭

What I'll complain about, is the length of a playthough which definitely doesn't feel like a 6/8 (and I've played ninjapitka's stories). The pacing is way too fast and the ending too abrupt. After the last choice, reading to the last sentence and being presented with the "End game", I was like: HUH?! That's it????? Well, that was anticlimactic.

Rating 7/8

>>>>>>Branching and Game Mechanics<<<<<<
There is quite a fair amount of branching for a game this size, with three main routes (MC's you get to pick (snaky intelligent merchant, psycho bloodthirsty general and silver-tounged noble diplomat), each with their own separate branches.

As for game mechanics, well, don't expect anything crazy fancy, but you'll be entertained nonetheless. Essentially, there is a system of strategic choices the player has to make in order to make the best use of the budget they have at hand. They may seem simple, but it will take a few tries for the average IF reader to get the right combination in order to bring their enemies to their (MCs) knees and unite the empire again. But that's just part of the fun when playing a story with strategic territorial management.

Rating 6/8

Overall it was a fine little piece to read. I'd recommend it to fellow management sim and war history nerds.

The strategy and logic behind each choice was very well-written and kept the story moving at an engaging pace throughout all three characters' storylines. I actually found myself having to pause and mull it over as I tried to figure out the ramifications of each choice. This is very much a game that is more enjoyable if you slow down and think rather than simply guess and hit 'back' if you're wrong. The ending feels more legitimately rewarding that way.

On the flip side, while the three characters were very unique and all three routes had very unique gameplay, I felt that the characters were a bit lacking in personality. They felt more like a series of strategic decisions rather than living, breathing people. Which was fine, considering that this was a strategy game, but I felt that the lack of strong characterization made the game less immersive than it otherwise would have been.

Still, absolutely fantastic job. This game really captures the feeling of Ancient China and its complex interplay of war and politics! Definitely worth a look.

too short

YES YES YES

Hard and puzzling, but interesting and having lots of background stories!

Thank you for such experience. The game isn't overcomplicated, although is pretty balanced and forces to make well-thought decisions. You can't really win through pure economy.

I united China. I did it. I am China's president and will claim my prize of real life China!

that was awsome

I died at the end of my first run, as General Toleron, LOL. It was good, or at least decent. Not great, but certainly not bad, either. It really makes you take a hot minute or a hot second and THINK about the choices you make and what sort of impact they'll have on your infrastructure as a warlord. Nice.

It was incredible!!!