I love the classics: I will go back to Fallout and XCOM2 all day. But I loved Baldur's, and will do a replay when Patch 8 is out, and I'm probably going to do more FlightSim and stuff when I get the new rig. I say that as if I don't have a job. - ThreadSky

radiofreetom.bsky.social • 92 days ago

I love the classics: I will go back to Fallout and XCOM2 all day. But I loved Baldur's, and will do a replay when Patch 8 is out, and I'm probably going to do more FlightSim and stuff when I get the new rig.
I say that as if I don't have a job.

Reposted from ScienceCow

What games are you currently playing Tom?

Comments

davidwbrown.bsky.social•92 days ago

BG3 and XCOM2 are my favorite games of all time. Have about 800 and 300 hours play on them respectively.

petelewis136.bsky.social•92 days ago

Red Alert was always my achilles heel, couldn't leave it alone.

mcmuppet.bsky.social•92 days ago

Any strategy games you’d recommend?

laurovela.bsky.social•92 days ago

Curious what FlightSims. On the civilian or military side of things? It's spooky how good things look on a modern maxed out rig compared to the old school days of Falcon / MSFS / F-15, etc...

sashotodorov.bsky.social•92 days ago

Have you ever played Ultimate General : Civil War? If you enjoy historical wargaming I think you'd love it, especially due to how legitimately strong its AI is.

surcomplicated.bsky.social•92 days ago

Also worth a big playthrough: Ultimate General: Gettysburg, the game that UG:CW was build on top of and a wonderful and very intense battle simulation, with more precise detail than something on the scale of UG:CW could pull off (although its Gettysburg is also fun).

alexatt.bsky.social•92 days ago

XCOM2 is timeless.

copernicussees.bsky.social•92 days ago

This is something I love about you, Tom.

For flight sims, DCS is a deep rabbit hole I don't recommend to people who have real lives, but it's worth installing just to gawk out on the VR experience. Really great rendering engine.

callthebanners.bsky.social•92 days ago

You might want to look at “Last Train Home” on Steam, it’s about the Czechoslovak Legion traveling to Vladivostok. It’s half tactical on the field, half management with the train and personnel. And you get to shoot lots of Reds.

dcnblues.bsky.social•92 days ago

The Youtube algorithm gods threw me at the old "UFO" series/movies, with the miniatures and the 60's retrofuturist sets and costuming... and I was thinking, this HAS to be what inspired X-COM.

redbaybound.bsky.social•91 days ago

I replay Baldurs every few months. Each time it's different.

theotherjim.bsky.social•92 days ago

What platform are you playing these on?

theotherjim.bsky.social•92 days ago

Never mind. You answered that elsewhere: PC.

efreeman237.bsky.social•92 days ago

Which Fallout is your go (back) to, Tom?

alttag.bsky.social•92 days ago

Really enjoying Fallout: London.

Free replacement mod for FO4. Recommend GOG, which makes install super easy, even if it means buying FO4 again.

efreeman237.bsky.social•92 days ago

Hadn't heard of this for FO4, thanks for the recommendation.

roentgenequivman.bsky.social•92 days ago

Loved xcom apocalypse back in the day

klbuck.bsky.social•92 days ago

I’m currently getting the last few trophies I need for platinum on baldur’s gate 3. Next patch my son and I are going to do a run together.

Did you know Civ 7 comes out in February?

kenwhite.bsky.social•92 days ago

Do you like strategic/tactical?

9lives.bsky.social•92 days ago

you got Tom going!

surcomplicated.bsky.social•92 days ago

On that note, AOW4 is so damn good now.

radiofreetom.bsky.social•92 days ago

Love them, and in fact love Panzer Corps I that I was totally pissed at how bad Slitherine messed up Panzer Corps II.
Same with Grigsby's War in the East, which was amazing in 1990 and unplayable in 2021.

okiefrommuskogee.bsky.social•92 days ago

Perhaps you’ll love the real world Hunger Games Trump will bring us all in his 4th term!

seawarrior.bsky.social•92 days ago

I remember playing “Harpoon 3” many years ago, and I couldn’t bear it. I was a Tomahawk/Harpoon/JOTS-JMCIS tech, and playing the game felt too much like standing watch in CIC. But Panzer Corps? I still love that game. Easy to learn, tough to master.

shivax.bsky.social•92 days ago

Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age might be the Harpoon you always wished for.

Still EA, so I wouldn't vouch for it or anything, but it looks promising.

seawarrior.bsky.social•92 days ago

Yeah, it just came out on Steam a couple weeks ago, I think. I’m gonna get it it, but I want to give them time to release a patch or two to fix any major bugs before I do. One bitten, twice shy!

nfljunky.bsky.social•92 days ago

Do you get into Grand Strategy like Hearts of Iron or Crusader Kings?

cdncurmudgeon.bsky.social•74 days ago

I've long been interested in Grigsby's WITE. I played the paper game back in the '80s (along with hundreds of other wargames). I have played many digital wargames since, but the micromanagement level in WITE seemed extreme, so I passed. Still, maybe when it's on sale... why is WITE1 better than 2?

radiofreetom.bsky.social•74 days ago

Honestly, because you need three months of reading manuals to figure out how to play the new one

kenwhite.bsky.social•92 days ago

I’ve been enjoying Wartales, which has you managing a mercenary band.

heyskid.bsky.social•92 days ago

I think both y’all might really enjoy Battle Brothers

kenwhite.bsky.social•92 days ago

I did. Played it for a long time.

heyskid.bsky.social•92 days ago

I figured it would be up your alley. Right up there with XCom for emergent storytelling. Really hope Menace comes out at some point

ldrberi.bsky.social•92 days ago

It has Tom Nichols managing a mercenary band?

Does he get a cricket bat?

(Super nerdy I know.)

tim-dunn-defunct.bsky.social•92 days ago

Do your drummers keep dying as well?

benctc.bsky.social•92 days ago

Wartales is pretty great.

clbb.bsky.social•92 days ago

My first thought. Could absolutely be convinced to play this game, TBH.

louisbarmstrong.bsky.social•91 days ago

Wartales was fun. Have you guys tried WARNO?

bododenden.bsky.social•92 days ago

I've been loving that game, and am really tempted to buy the Tavern DLC - but then I'd be spending time down the pub even when I'm at home...

epilardus.bsky.social•92 days ago

Yes! I’m having a great time with Wartales as well.

oldhoundderby.bsky.social•92 days ago

This is going to be my next game now that I’ve finished Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader after close to 200 hours (buggy when it launched, but in a good place now, with more DLC still to come).

stonermetal666.bsky.social•92 days ago

I’ve been thinking about getting this once I am no longer obsessed with BG3. Glad to hear it’s good.

oldhoundderby.bsky.social•92 days ago

It has been my favourite CRPG experience to date. Even after sinking in so many hours, I felt a little sad it was over.

Owlcat makes brilliant games. Their big issue is quality control at release. I pre-ordered to support the company, but planned on playing 8 months out so that would be sorted out.

stevereddog.bsky.social•92 days ago

Looks interesting. I've added it to my Christmas wish list.

egoode.bsky.social•92 days ago

Oh Shit it's on Switch?! Time to open my wallet... again...

peternolan.bsky.social•92 days ago

Have you played any naval war simulation that you would recommend? Are these used in professional education?

wolfpacfive.bsky.social•92 days ago

Ever happen to play the 90s game PTO II?

dethveggie.bsky.social•91 days ago

I loved Hearts of Iron III, but for some reason I just can't get into Hearts of Iron IV.

npacer.bsky.social•92 days ago

I’m in the market to be in the market for a new rig - how you going about that?

mmeed.bsky.social•92 days ago

I played Grigsby's War in Russia on an Apple IIc in the late 1980's and wondered aloud, "What won't they think of next?"

therealneiby.bsky.social•92 days ago

By any chance did you play Harpoon Classic or Harpoon 2 back in the day? I spent a ridiculous amount of time with Harpoon 2.

spudicus75.bsky.social•92 days ago

My all time favorite game on SNES was "Liberty or Death" from KOEI. I'd do some sketchy things in order to have that in my collection.

antagonisteqc.bsky.social•92 days ago

You should try Warno: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1611600/WARNO/

The "combat mission" series is also very good:
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/21942/Combat_Mission_Collection/

cincinatus49.bsky.social•92 days ago

Highly recommend, "the last train home" based on the true story of the Czech legionaires who were stranded in Russia post WWI. Game combines real-time strategy with survival resource management, in unique historical setting as you battle your way through Civil War Russia

earlgreyparty.bsky.social•92 days ago

Loved V for Victory and TacOps back in the day. Also Carriers at War & Clash of Steel.

nwtrkwrkshp.bsky.social•92 days ago

Remember the old Jane’s flight sims? So great.

cliff-booth24.bsky.social•91 days ago

Were you a Command and Conquer player back in the day?

igary.bsky.social•92 days ago

I’ve got a signed copy of the Panzer General SSI strategy guide from way back in the day. Remember playing with my brother and the game crashing when we hit a 16-bit integer overflow error.

seawarrior.bsky.social•92 days ago

That original Panzer General was a real revelation for me. I’d played tons of board games and just didn’t know anything about PC war gaming, and that was my intro to the hobby. Great game.

igary.bsky.social•92 days ago

My brother was like 13 when he wrote a program on the Apple ][ to run the calculations when we were playing the board game. It even had an intro splash screen of a Tiger tank firing a round. Great memories.

wombative.bsky.social•92 days ago

ever tried any of the Total War series? Warhammer and Rome 2 are especially good.

geob42.bsky.social•92 days ago

Really wish I had access to something that would play that kind of games

senorgreygoose.bsky.social•92 days ago

Ever try the old Avalon Hill board games such as Napoleon or Russian Campaign?

minnesorta.bsky.social•92 days ago

Frogger?

lteft.bsky.social•92 days ago

I only do Myst and Riven. I’m old.

starris.bsky.social•92 days ago

Have you tried Outer Wilds? It's different from the other sorts of games you listed, but it felt very Star Trek-y to me, in a way you might like

nicofoley.bsky.social•92 days ago

Have you tried any of the Paradox series? Ck3? Eu4? HoI4?

justodude.bsky.social•92 days ago

I’m a Metal Gear, Devil May Cry, Arkham, Bioshock man myself. Mostly Metal Gear. I don’t play a lot of games, I play a few games intensely. I need to do Fallout, I know, just haven’t had the gaming bug in me lately

lycenae.bsky.social•91 days ago

One thing I did this year in gaming was to “go small.” I got a SteamDeck OLED and most of my PC games work on it. My fam was complaining I spent too much time in the office on the big screen, so the deck works really well to keep the peace. Game saves transfer between the platforms. 😀👍

jscram3254.bsky.social•92 days ago

Love XCOM2. Did you get the expansion?

ckinnard82.bsky.social•92 days ago

XCOM 2, as in Terror from the Deep or XCOM 2 from 10ish years ago? Both are awesome but for different reasons

dhibbard.bsky.social•92 days ago

Likely means the newer one, true TFTD fans use that acronym instead of 2. 😆

thebegonis.bsky.social•92 days ago

Never interrogate Lobsterman Commander, lol

theokayest.bsky.social•92 days ago

At least not till after interrogating the navigator.

proficiency.bsky.social•92 days ago

Which fallout?

twidget.wtf•92 days ago

Personally I’m giving Stalker 2 a try hoping it will carry me over until Fallout 5 is released or they add something interesting to Fallout 76.

lepane.bsky.social•92 days ago

Which Fallout? 3, New Vegas, 4, 76?

billburke.ie•92 days ago

Have you tried Crusader Kings 3?

radiofreetom.bsky.social•92 days ago

Working on it, thanks to @prchovanec.bsky.social

sciencecow.bsky.social•92 days ago

I haven't played Baldur's in a LONG time. That's a solid game.

drunemeton.bsky.social•92 days ago

The Patch 8 news is amazing: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940/view/4461474037375172735

The fact that 14 months after release they’re still free is stupendous!

The fact that Larian is up for another award (customer service IIRC) is not surprising in the least

They’ve set the AAA Game bar so high it’s ridiculous! 💙

tameszu.bsky.social•92 days ago

I had no idea you were a gamer! I guess it makes sense you have a lean toward tactical games ✨🤩

binary-hex.bsky.social•92 days ago

Have you ever played UBoat? It's pretty much Das Boot the video game- naval tactics, crew management, and usually fleeting victories followed by a watery grave. 10/10.

capybarathunder.bsky.social•91 days ago

Have you tried a lesser known gem called Super Mario?

ozymandiasesq.bsky.social•92 days ago

Baulders gate 2 is best game ever. PS5 has it. My 12 year old deemed it boring, but what does he know?

malcolmkmcgowan.bsky.social•91 days ago

Fallout as in the original? I tried that recently and found the game mechanics made it almost unplayable.

timack.bsky.social•91 days ago

I played the first one maybe 10 years ago. Well, the first act. And yeah, UI and mechanics are a lot nicer now

stillgood.bsky.social•92 days ago

Have you tried DCS? It is a lot of fun but the learning curve is insane!

comchia.bsky.social•92 days ago

I grew up playing a ton of X-Com: UFO Defense, found it to be spooky, especially with the soundtrack. The bad ending was Threads-level depressing, but the good ending just as joyous.

And I still love classic milsims from MicroProse, Spectrum Holobyte, Dynamix, etc... I wanna write my own someday.

danst3.bsky.social•91 days ago

Tom, have you tried the Wasteland series? Sort of the predecessor to Fallout.

Also, with your choice of strategy games, I'm surprised you weren't part of the B.U. Simulation Society (board games club) back in the day, of which I was a do-nothing VP.

chahliejones.bsky.social•91 days ago

have you got foot pedals & yoke/stick controls for the flightsim? i bought mine 6 years ago and the prices today are 3x

voodooragedds.bsky.social•92 days ago

I’ve been on a Civilization 6 kick lately. Been playing that series off and on since high school. So addicting.

chicagoray.bsky.social•92 days ago

Have you ever played board games like Axis and Allies?

fpoons.bsky.social•92 days ago

If you’re a fan of X-COM, I highly recommend Jagged Alliance 3. Same mix of isometric turn-based squad-level tactics mixed with high-level strategy. Not just more of the same, a triumph in its own right.

radiofreetom.bsky.social•92 days ago

It's...okay. JA2 is still the shit.

fpoons.bsky.social•92 days ago

Yeah, there's nothing like bombing around Arulco in an ice cream truck filled with oddball mercs. I really enjoyed both - hard to split out the nostalgia factor for JA2 when comparing the two.

rooster-mi.bsky.social•92 days ago

The original Fighter Ace was the best and cannot be surpassed.

Very simple but a ton of fun.

Just needed a "fast" connection and a Sidewinder joystick.

dolan58.bsky.social•91 days ago

I always liked Tom’s social media presence but his Bluesky game is A+. My favorite follow, by far.

bubbawny69.bsky.social•92 days ago

we have similar game interests. was thinking of bg3 replay. xcom games were awesome. thinking of lamplighters league. tactical.

crary.bsky.social•92 days ago

Let me throw in a pitch for the Owlcat games: Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, and Rogue Trader. The first two are fantasy games very much in the mold of Baldur's Gate 1 and 2. An absolute dream if you like fiddling with the numbers and builds of characters.

randywinch.com•92 days ago

WotR is so crunchy. Loved playing it!

angryjedi.bsky.social•92 days ago

Which fallout? I finally beat 4 and Im enjoying 76 right now

radiofreetom.bsky.social•92 days ago

I won't play 76

alttag.bsky.social•92 days ago

Concur. While FO:76 better than it was when it came out, it has all of the flaws of MMO and none of the benefits of single player.

jonnygato.bsky.social•91 days ago

Bought pre-release and didn't install until Dec 23. Played with Daughter 2 for a while then she moved on to other games. But '76 clicked with me.You can interact with other real players or not as you choose. But there are real humans there.
Fallout 4 feels lonely now knowing I'm the only one alive.

angryjedi.bsky.social•91 days ago

I like having the choice of talking to people or not. Its fun seeing other people's camps and doing some events but I also like doing the missions alone. It's better than I thought it would be

angryjedi.bsky.social•91 days ago

It's not perfect, lots of flaws, but I've enjoyed it so far. I really haven't seen many other players and the ones I have come across have been very cool. The best part is Preston isn't bugging me about doing the same missions over and over and over

lynmw.bsky.social•92 days ago

so based

byaussy.bsky.social•92 days ago

XCOM 2. Such a classic great.

edmlawyersteve.bsky.social•92 days ago

X-Com 2 was exactly the same as X-Com 1, but with the setting lazily changed (and weapons, aliens, etc. lazily reskinned), and the game made vastly longer—by making it more repetitive rather than adding any new content. Am I wrong about this?

jpflecha.bsky.social•92 days ago

Yes you are: The setting (resistance fighters in a world taken over by aliens) was great and fresh, modding tools, wicked DLC... I felt it really refined the formula!

edmlawyersteve.bsky.social•92 days ago

I think we’re talking about different games—to me, X-Com 2 refers to this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-COM:_Terror_from_the_Deep

I might be too old for this conversation, despite being markedly younger than Tom.

edmlawyersteve.bsky.social•92 days ago

Anyway, *that* X-Com 2 was the laziest sequel I’ve ever seen for anything, in any medium.

jpflecha.bsky.social•92 days ago

Ah, that explains it, you're talking about Terror From The Deep. And you're right about it!

ghostcatloki.bsky.social•92 days ago

Have you tried Stellaris, Tom?

northernwatcher.bsky.social•92 days ago

I stopped playing Baldurs Gate3 because I suck at turn based combat. I’m looking for a way to change the setting but can’t find it

buzzgrambo.bsky.social•92 days ago

Rainbow Six Siege

hlyndyn.bsky.social•92 days ago

I just hope that I live long enough to play the next Elder Scrolls. Le sigh.

hugodias.bsky.social•92 days ago

Do you light turn base tactics?

They just released Metal Slug Tactics

also

Marvel Midnight Suns
Wasteland 3
Hard West
Mutant Year Zero
King Arthur: Knights Tale
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Expeditions: Rome

Commandos Like:
Shadow Tactics
Shadow Gambit
Desperados 3
Sumerian Six
63 Days
Partisans 1941

alttag.bsky.social•92 days ago

Had a great deal of fun with Midnight Suns.

this-is-joel.bsky.social•92 days ago

Wait! You have palatable views and are cool too?

thebegonis.bsky.social•92 days ago

If you are referring to modern Fallout and XCOM, I hope you've tried Wasteland 3.

coffeemumbler.bsky.social•92 days ago

FO3 is great. Loved the music.

radiofreetom.bsky.social•92 days ago

Of course, and I even interviewed Brian Fargo

klbuck.bsky.social•92 days ago

That’s really cool. It’s a great game.

dexfarkin.bsky.social•92 days ago

Fallout London is worth the time.

rbarchibald.bsky.social•91 days ago

Difficulty level way too high.

dexfarkin.bsky.social•91 days ago

Early on, yes. But it evens out significantly around level 15-20 and other than a few elements (the fricking lamprey swarms) swings back the other way with the right weapon builds to being almost two easy. I used one pistol for the entire second half because it was all I needed.

musk-sticks.bsky.social•92 days ago

Not easy to find a spare $22,000 when you're retired.

sandornaut.bsky.social•92 days ago

A bit different from the games you mentioned, but I can highly recommend Satisfactory.

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