Your favourite thing on KoH?

[elvain]

hi, eventhough there are no polls I'd like to ask this question.

What do you think is the most unique concept of KoH that should be deepened?
How should possible KoH2 look like?

as for me there are 2 major things I liked on KoH

1) combination of 3 aspects of strategy games which are usualy dominant in other games, but no game yet satisfied me in way they were ballanced
a) relatively deep and wide diplomacy
b) relatively good economy - kingdom management and kingdom building
c) relatively good warfare - if you want, you can lead your armies to a battle

but the second is IMO much more important:
2) KoH was the first game I know where military power is just a tool for other type of victory.
I mean, in all other medieval strategy games I have played, you build your economy, use trade and diplomacy just in order to build the strongest army, control more territory and you win once there is no enemy left.

I opened this thread not to open another discussion about posible way for KoH2, I just would like to see what is we - KoH hardcore fans - find the best part of KoH (and why)

[Frankoman]

It is tough to say what I like, for I like a combination of things that are natural in the game.

One thing I really love is the Political map. It is one of my favorite things in the game, and something that really tips the scale and making Knights of Honor better then Medieval 2 Total War (in my book).

Then the combat. It isn't as complicated as Medieval 2, but it is still fun and simple things like flanking and cavalry vs infantry still act realistically in scaring enemies. Graphics are not what makes a game.

The Simple complexity makes the game easily playable but tough enough to keep you occupied doing many things at once without being overwhelmed. The game is beautiful at taking your time. Unlike in Medieval 2, you are in Real Time, so you have to worry about invasions, building, and trade while doing Diplomacy. One thing I like is the Instant stuff, however, like one Game Review said, you can Declare war on someone, build a building in all your castles, recruit a lot of troops, become someones ally, and take money from someone in the time it takes for a General to walk from Strathiscyde (Scottish Lower lands [sp?]) to Highlands (Scottish Upper lands). Though how could that change?

Some people hate the limits on how many Armies you can have, and have to balance armies with Merchants, clerics, spies, land lords and builders. I actually like that. In Medieval 2, you can gather about 50 full armies, lead by nobody, and send them all against one guy and attack him with 100000 troops against his 500. In Knights of Honor, the best combination is to have only 5 armies really early and 3 armies when you are strong. People aren't used to this, so they struggle to deal with it. But I feel it is part of the challenge.

There are a lot of things... It is hard to say, other then this is a great game!

[Mephistopheles]

Back in 2003 when I joined the Sunflowers forum I stayed because of the setting and the graphics. I suspected that in this game it's propably not about shiny graphics, but athmosphere.

Now, gameplay-wise, I like most that I can apply a lot of real-world-sense to the game. A flanked army has a lower morale, the nearby king raises morale, decreasing taxes can make rebels drop their arms, etc.
However, the biggest flaw is that by applying real-world-sense to the game I very often run into things that I'd like to do by that aren't supported by the game.

[poster]

Depth, depth, depth and
MORE depth. :P

cant get enough of it, and if u ask me i believe the game should be much deeper. Couple that with a historical scenario and u got me. besides, like pointed above... koh has many more "realistic" medieval things on the chart(with some things that really AREN'T, sadly). i believe the greater the realism(appropriate to medieval times) and the greater the depth of the game its self, the more player-fans will it have. :)

oh, and aside from what everyone seems to think about this game, i quite like the AI. the ai is, you could say, kinda realistic(for the most part). the problem is u mr. 21st century lad wanting to -not totally overwhelm, a foolish ruler of a medieval time... 1000 years is a long period in the evolution of thought.
not like they are smart now-a-days anyways... :P

Edit: also the level of strategy required for the game. In koh ur not just going for the next thing, like the next wonder u must get, or the top unit u must make, and max so u can win... in koh ur always working with strategy, diplomacy, and focusing on the moment, while keeping your mind in your future accomplishments, so its more realistic and more life-like. You can, mostly, always lose/win. but maybe that goes in the "Depth" part. :)

[Wolfitz]

My favourite aspect of KOH, I must say, would be the Knights system, which is infallibly unique to Knights of Honour; having a court with Knights, and employing them in various employments, and actions; I know that Crusader Kings has this aspect, but KOH is more interactive.
The other favourite aspect of KOH for me would be the atmosphere, meaning the music, the graphics, and the general look, and feel of the game; it is incredibly appealing for the eye, and it trully brings a player into the times of old.
Finally, one aspect which is rather solemn, but still quite unique to KOH would be the pillaging of villages, monasteries, and farming communitites; I always believed that games lacked in that aspect of where pillaging the countryside was possible, since military campaigns in that period encompassed pillaging to be vital for resupply and loot.
I just hope, if ever KOH 2 would come to pass, that game becomes more interactive, more detailed, and more true to the time period it represents.

[Battlehawk]

1) What i really love about the game is that the game really give the feeling that you are leading a small court of a medieval state. With thing like the employent courtmembers, dynastic struggles, treason, ransom, marriage, love it!

2) I also totally love one part of the graphics in this game which are the maps, i have never seen maps implemented better! As a kid i loved to spend hours and hours looking at maps the older the better. And these maps give me some of that feeling :).

3) It also has a very decent and interesting economical system.

4) And i like the strategic side of the game, how armies move on the map and the options you are given there. Which also exposes a big weakness in that the AI doesn't exploit those options. But hey, in general taking on a bigger enemy and winning doesn't really spoil my day so that even may be a positive point!

[Xuca]

Well, among other things, I really liked the variety of countries one can play in this game and the fact that there aren't any grayed out areas on the map which don't belong to anyone. I also like the real-time and the way armies are moved across the map and the way the provinces are conquered.

[tomilis]

I like the lack of depth.

No tech, no micromanagement (even though I do enjoy micromanagement), simple goals, no other complications.

Makes for a focused, easy to play, and enjoyable game.

Although I would like if there ever is a KoH 2 a more in-depth game (much more so).

[IWM]

Err... There are techs, or KA... Micromanagement can be done, but it is hard to do. Goals are simple, yeah. But players can make it complex also (see the AArs, they have some custom objective)...

PS: There was someone who said (I think in one of the threads in Gameplay) that KoH is more complex than MTW... But I forget who.

[tomilis]

KoH complicated? yeah, right... How do you really micromanage in the true sense of the word? Of course you can complicate the objective of the game, but it still isn't that complicated at all.

M:TW complicated? yeah, right...

How are Kingdom Advantages tech?

[IWM]

Well, like tech...
And KoH is pretty complicated too. My cousin can't play it goodly!

[tomilis]

Well, like tech...
And KoH is pretty complicated too. My cousin can't play it goodly!

How old is he? eight?

[elvain]

I think that Kingdom advantages are some kind of technologies.. or could be understood this way.

Anyway, do you really find KoH complicated? I also like it's simplicity, but for me it lacks depth and complexity (understand it as complexity of the game mechanisms=wiser and more rational AI)

[Wolfitz]

In reply to Elvain's question is the game complicated? I find it not to be complicated at all; naturally, like all games, there is a learning curve, which mind you for this game is not a big one. But once a player learns the intricacies of the game it does not become complicated anymore; it does lack in detail, at least imo. Where the game lacks in detail is in diplomacy and the economy; those are broad areas, but nonetheless need more detail...