From: sgccstr@citec.oz.au (Shaun Travers)
Subject: Re: Empire of the Middle Ages & Sword and Stars
Organization: CITEC
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 02:10:50 GMT

pckyip@athena.mit.edu (Patrick C Yip) writes:
: Just wonder: how close is Sword & Stars to Empire of the Middle Ages?
: 
: I know Sword & Stars used the system of Empire of the Middle Ages, but
: I am curious about what in S&S is correponding to what in EotMA
: 
: In Sword & Stars, there is an once powerful but later demised galatic
: empire, which I guessed might correspond to Roman Empire, Frank Empire
: or the Holy Roman Empire. There is also a race which works in communism
: and desires in nothing but destroy in S&S, which I think must be the
: Mongols in EotMA. There should be more matching correspondence but I
: don't have the game (I have S&S but not EotMA) with me now.
: 
: Also, there is different ideology in S&S which can produce friction
: when it's ruled by people with different ideology. Is there someting
: like this in EotMA? There is parliamentary and republican ideology
: in S&S, but I don't think such things would happen in the Middle Ages? :)

Empires of the Middle Ages would be my favourite game of all time - I
have played the campaign games several times (it takes about 100
hours) - as well as many senarios.

I do not own it however I do have Sword & Stars and play mostly senarios.

Ideology in S&S corresponds to Language groups in Empires. There are
a number of languages and related languages and unique languages.
However to convert a region to another language, you must colonise
it (in S&S you politically conquer a number of times).

Race in S&S corresponds to Religion in Empires. There are not many
religions and most are Roman Catholic (some of the Poles aren't but
usually become so). To convert a region to another religion involves
religious conquest (like political conquest in S&S).

It is generally easier to do things with your own provinces (
systems) as they are the same religion but either a related or same
language. There are larger collections of same language/religion
than race/ideology.

Empires has about 80 reqions while S&S have about 40. Empires plays
best with 6, S&S with 5. You tend to get more gold (read resources)
in Empires as you have more sectors. Conferation voting is similar
in both but in Empires you get votes on Roman Catholic regions you
own, rather than confereration systems.

A card a often miss that is in Empires is Heresy. This may turn one
of your provinces into a different religion (with the -2 modifier),
and spread (bad stuff). Bit like an outworlder with worse effects. 
If some games we have, a player will allow heresy to spread to one or
two provinces because you get 5 victory points for converting them back!

Regions in Empires are connected (often in strange ways) while in S&S
any adjacent (and systems with Tech Level reach) are available.

S&S tends to be a harder to get anywhere. You feel as though you are 
always up against a brick wall. Just when things are going better - Whack!
and your down. Doesn't happen as often in Empires.

Byzantium in Empires in Orthodox religion and tends to be "in the corner"
- a bit like the Hive in S&S (during the crusades it is fun
to pillage Constantinople - Crusades are a bit like total war).

The Draka are the Mongols (who only turn up during a certain period), 
Lydran? Syndrome is the Bubonic Plague which may not affect anyone if
it can't get to the mainland.

Raiders happen during certain times (Vikings, Saracens) rather than
random events. 

Generally the rules are similar. I find Empires to be a better game but
I do not own it and cannot find a copy (anybody willing to sell me one?
no reasonable offer refused. Please?). Sword and the Stars is a good
standby though.

I never get tired of playing Empires and can go on for hours and pages
but I will stop. Anybody else want to rave about what I consider to
be one of the best games ever produced!

Shaun Travers            / Internet: sgccstr@citecuc.citec.oz.au
Department of Transport  \ Phone: +61-7-834-2304  Fax: +61-7-834-2911
Boundary St, Spring Hill / "I like dolphins. In fact, if dolphins were human
QLD. 4001 Australia.     \ I would be one." - Jason Donovan.