Talonsoft has finally released the Age of Sail II patch. Not only does it fix a lot of bugs, it adds a new campaign to the game as well. Click here to find out what the patch does, as well as to download it.

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Brian Rubin
brian@ga-sim.com
Simulations Network Manager
GA-Sim

Brian,

I saw some rather harsh reports on version 1.0. In your opinion is this a patch that has Age of Sails II turn the corner to be a good simulation?

Thanks for the info.






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Ken "KC23" Cook
Contributing Editor,
SimHQ.com
KC23@SimHQ.com
BoB Strategy Guide

It must be somewhat good(Guessing). I haven't seen it at EB yet. Either they are sold out of it or haven't received it yet. Their web site says it was released already, but I have yet to see it on the shelf. I would like to get another gamers perspective on it. I have Sea Dogs right now and it is a pretty fun game. AOS2 I can imagine is similar, but in a RTS sort of way.

Let us know how AOS2 pans out.

--Softball

I can't say as of yet, KC23, because I have yet to receive my copy of AOS 2. Fortunately, Talonsoft is rabid in supporting their products, so I'm hoping this update is the first of many.

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Brian Rubin
brian@ga-sim.com
Simulations Network Manager
GA-Sim

SimHead,

Still waiting for mine as well and it has been a while. I did get Sea Dogs and got the 1.05 patch (sorry, can't give it out yet still in beta)and it seems to run extremely well. Pretty much a RPG, but with a pretty fair combat simulation thrown in. Very addictive. First pirate type game I have ever own and I do think it is interesting.





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Ken "KC23" Cook
Contributing Editor,
SimHQ.com
KC23@SimHQ.com
BoB Strategy Guide

Hey there, KC23, I've heard that Sea Dogs (once patched, of course) is a great game. Being a big fan of the age of sail, it sounds like a game I can sink my teeth into. I hear it gives you a ton of freedom, and that the battles you can engage in look stunning. Maybe I'll start looking for a cheap copy somewhere.

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Brian Rubin
brian@ga-sim.com
Simulations Network Manager
GA-Sim

It's funny, AOS 2 plopped onto my desk just as I was writing that last post. I immediately applied the patch, then tried a campaign scenario. Despite the horrid manual (cough pamphlet cough) and sketchy in-game help, I started to get the hang of the interface, and am finding it quite intuitive. The game, so far, is a lot of fun, and I can't wait to sink my teeth into the rest of what it has to offer.

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Brian Rubin
brian@ga-sim.com
Simulations Network Manager
GA-Sim

Brian,

The big AI bug that was noted was apparently you could tact behind an enemy ship back and forth and continually get a snap shot (sorry, flight sim nut at heart) while the enemy AI would just react at you going back and forth and never be able to bring his broadside guns around. Making it easy to kill any ship one on one regardless of how much you are out gunned. This is what worries me. I hope it got fixed with the patch.

Sea Dogs is one of those games that makes you feel a little silly playing because of the Role Playing aspect, but it is really quite good. Pretty open ended and fantastic support so far as evidenced by their 5th patch in a short period of time. It is extremely open ended in that you can go anywhere and do anything. You can change your allegiance at will as long as you haven't taken over any Forts (at least this is what I've read, haven't played enough yet myself).

The sea battles are outstanding due to the reasonable AI, incredible sea scape and the best weather effects of any sim I've ever seen (closest being F18). The ships do not have any sea men that you can see during the 3D action and that hurts the immersion some, but the other factors make up for it IMHO.

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Ken "KC23" Cook
Contributing Editor,
SimHQ.com
KC23@SimHQ.com
BoB Strategy Guide

[This message has been edited by KC23 - SimHQ (edited February 08, 2001).]

As "Sea Dogs" is currently sold out here (they only got 10 copies of the English version) I got me "Age of Sail II" and can only tell you - hands off. even with the patch applied it is unplayable. Just see what's going on in the Talonsoft forum...



http://www.talonsoft.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Age+of+Sail+II&number=1

Stan

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'Tis but a scratch. Your arm's off!!! No it isn't.
Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left. Yes I have. Look! Just a flesh wound.

Stan's Stuff
EAW RNZAF Squadrons HQ
No.486 (NZ) Squadron
No.14 (Virtual) Squadron, RNZAF (Currently inactive, update in progress)

Stan,

Well its already OTW, so I'll soon find out for myself. Looks like a love hate relationship with many people on that board. Doesn't seem like the game likes Voodoo 3 cards much. I have a V5 5500, so I wonder how it will go?

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Ken "KC23" Cook
Contributing Editor,
SimHQ.com
KC23@SimHQ.com
BoB Strategy Guide
BoB Mods & Downloads
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