Tinman
05-29-2008, 01:59 PM
Travian is a browser-based MMOG, or "massively multiplayer online game." It plays very well on the iPhone. The game draws roughly from classical antiquity and particularly from the Roman Empire to create a predominantly militaristic real-time strategy.
The game is 100% free to play. But you can use real money to buy game "gold" that can be used to enhance game-play. Whether to use gold or not is your choice, but it is certainly not required (and you are given some free gold with every new account). Don't use any gold till you know what to do with it, especially your free gold!
You must choose one of three "tribes," out of four in the game. The fourth tribe, the Natars, are a game-controlled tribe that are released at the end of the game. The end goal of the game is to defeat those Natars, and to create a world wonder so civilizations that follow will remember you. But well before the end-game there are a lot of "mini goals" that you will, hopefully, enjoy attaining (reaching 100 population, raiding your first village, etc.).
Each of the three tribes has their own strengths and weaknesses, but in a nutshell they are as follows:
Teutons: Primarily an offensive tribe. You can start building an army quickly as a Teuton. Teutons can also steal some resources that would otherwise be protected by "crannies" (you build those to protect your resources). As time goes on Teutonic troops are no match for equal numbers of, say, Roman troops. But if you want to get going in the game quickly, Teutons are the way to go.
Gauls: Primarily a defensive tribe. Gauls get extra space in their crannies, and they have the unique ability to "trap" attacking troops. That said plenty of people play offensively as Gauls.
Romans: Roughly split between offense and defense. Lots of new players start out as Romans. But Roman troops are expensive, so it might take awhile to get going. But once you get going your troops will pack a mighty punch.
When you setup your account and choose to be one of the above tribes, you cannot change it. So decide wisely.
You start out with an empty village, and must grow it and nurture it to the point of building an army, producing resources, and eventually founding--or conquering--other villages. There are raids, attacks, non-aggression pacts, and lots of communication with other players. The pace is slow at first, but don't let that fool you. Once you are sucked into the game you might find yourself checking in on your village (later, villages) all of the time (think: reaching for your iPhone off of the nightstand in the middle of the night).
It can be very addictive.
It is also very-much a game of cooperation. In that vein the game supports "alliances," which are a fundamental aspect of the game. An iPhone-centric alliance has a distinct strategic advantage since we can play the game almost anywhere, anytime.
Indy Jones started an iPhone alliance on server1 earlier this year (the server starting now is server4). That alliance did amazingly well, and it has merged with an even bigger alliance so that it should be a formidable opponent, ready for the end-game. Still, we didn't get started on that server till a month or two after the game began, and by now it's not really appropriate for new players.
But a new game is about to begin on a different server. If anyone is interested in starting fresh on a new server, a new game is about to begin on server 4:
http://s4.travian.com (http://s4.travian.com/)
Game starts on 5/30/08, but registration is open NOW. I've already registered as Tinman. If enough EIC people join we can have a good start on the new server. And we will have started right at the beginning of the game. (We didn't really get into the game previously until it was well under way.) If you join, please specifiy that you want to join in the Southwest!
To recap, if you want to play:
1.) Register right now at http://s4.travian.com (http://s4.travian.com/). Try to use your EIC name, as it gets confusing if you don't.
2.) Make sure you choose to have your village located in the southwest. If you don't do this you will be VERY FAR from the rest of the alliance. Get this right!
3.) Choose a tribe. I play as a Roman, but feel free to choose one that you like.
Once the game starts you want to "build" wisely. Don't go out and build stuff willy-nilly, as you will likely waste precious resources. If you don't know what to build, ask. This is crucial in the beginning. If this thread isn't updated with building tips by the time you get started, start out by building up a few resource fields (wood, clay, iron, and crop).
If there is enough interest, and commitment, I will build an embassy and start an alliance for EIC. You will then be able to join that alliance. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let's see if anyone is interested (we have several already).
Anyone else interested?
--
Mike
The game is 100% free to play. But you can use real money to buy game "gold" that can be used to enhance game-play. Whether to use gold or not is your choice, but it is certainly not required (and you are given some free gold with every new account). Don't use any gold till you know what to do with it, especially your free gold!
You must choose one of three "tribes," out of four in the game. The fourth tribe, the Natars, are a game-controlled tribe that are released at the end of the game. The end goal of the game is to defeat those Natars, and to create a world wonder so civilizations that follow will remember you. But well before the end-game there are a lot of "mini goals" that you will, hopefully, enjoy attaining (reaching 100 population, raiding your first village, etc.).
Each of the three tribes has their own strengths and weaknesses, but in a nutshell they are as follows:
Teutons: Primarily an offensive tribe. You can start building an army quickly as a Teuton. Teutons can also steal some resources that would otherwise be protected by "crannies" (you build those to protect your resources). As time goes on Teutonic troops are no match for equal numbers of, say, Roman troops. But if you want to get going in the game quickly, Teutons are the way to go.
Gauls: Primarily a defensive tribe. Gauls get extra space in their crannies, and they have the unique ability to "trap" attacking troops. That said plenty of people play offensively as Gauls.
Romans: Roughly split between offense and defense. Lots of new players start out as Romans. But Roman troops are expensive, so it might take awhile to get going. But once you get going your troops will pack a mighty punch.
When you setup your account and choose to be one of the above tribes, you cannot change it. So decide wisely.
You start out with an empty village, and must grow it and nurture it to the point of building an army, producing resources, and eventually founding--or conquering--other villages. There are raids, attacks, non-aggression pacts, and lots of communication with other players. The pace is slow at first, but don't let that fool you. Once you are sucked into the game you might find yourself checking in on your village (later, villages) all of the time (think: reaching for your iPhone off of the nightstand in the middle of the night).
It can be very addictive.
It is also very-much a game of cooperation. In that vein the game supports "alliances," which are a fundamental aspect of the game. An iPhone-centric alliance has a distinct strategic advantage since we can play the game almost anywhere, anytime.
Indy Jones started an iPhone alliance on server1 earlier this year (the server starting now is server4). That alliance did amazingly well, and it has merged with an even bigger alliance so that it should be a formidable opponent, ready for the end-game. Still, we didn't get started on that server till a month or two after the game began, and by now it's not really appropriate for new players.
But a new game is about to begin on a different server. If anyone is interested in starting fresh on a new server, a new game is about to begin on server 4:
http://s4.travian.com (http://s4.travian.com/)
Game starts on 5/30/08, but registration is open NOW. I've already registered as Tinman. If enough EIC people join we can have a good start on the new server. And we will have started right at the beginning of the game. (We didn't really get into the game previously until it was well under way.) If you join, please specifiy that you want to join in the Southwest!
To recap, if you want to play:
1.) Register right now at http://s4.travian.com (http://s4.travian.com/). Try to use your EIC name, as it gets confusing if you don't.
2.) Make sure you choose to have your village located in the southwest. If you don't do this you will be VERY FAR from the rest of the alliance. Get this right!
3.) Choose a tribe. I play as a Roman, but feel free to choose one that you like.
Once the game starts you want to "build" wisely. Don't go out and build stuff willy-nilly, as you will likely waste precious resources. If you don't know what to build, ask. This is crucial in the beginning. If this thread isn't updated with building tips by the time you get started, start out by building up a few resource fields (wood, clay, iron, and crop).
If there is enough interest, and commitment, I will build an embassy and start an alliance for EIC. You will then be able to join that alliance. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let's see if anyone is interested (we have several already).
Anyone else interested?
--
Mike