The Shrine

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2 ... 716&ref=nf

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What sort of game is it? Is it a conquest game like Tribal Wars? I remember playing Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it was a total Tribal Wars ripoff, and wasn't as good as either that or Travian... More like a re-skinned Evony online (which sucks). I am, however, interested in these sorts of games =)

It is like the Utopia Kingdoms we all wasted three weeks or more of our lives on, only it doesn't suck and make you feel utterly terrible, in fact it is revitalizing every aspect and energy of my life right now when I play it.

In fact it is quite literally the best game I have played in years (as far as casual games go), and coming from someone who has preferred console cash-up-front games to item-buy-model casual online games that is akin to saying I might have just found God.

Here's a piece of artwork from in-game that shows how high-quality the production values are...



And the author's DeviantArt page. http://genzoman.deviantart.com/art/Cast ... -144314037

The art is pretty much ALL THAT GOOD. I am so inspired by it I can't tell you, it's gotten me rendering in 3D again.

They also have a "Generals" concept that works similarly to systems in games like Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and a "Favor Point" system where you can either buy points or earn them at play, eventually giving you the chance to buy better items and/or take gambles on Magic-card-like "Treasure Chests" that have tiered drops and rarity just like Magic and CCGs do.

The art above is the General I got with the single Alpha Treasure Chest roll that I had with the 20 Favor Points they give you - I got REALLY lucky, it's only a 5% chance of getting her tier, she's called an Epic. It's more or less the equivalent of pulling a Black Lotus in your first Alpha pack of Magic cards, I think (minus the insane monetary value of the Lotus, but who knows if these people might introduce a market system for this stuff someday - I think that would be a great idea), because she starts out at 20Attack/20Def while most other Generals start out in the 1-2 range for each. (There are other Epics as strong as she is, however.)

I mean, I'm stunned. I hate pay-to-play and I hate "buy the better items" even more, but I like this game so much I have bought five bucks worth of Points I've only used to send Flowers to people and a phone card from their partners that I never even got the Favor Points from - and I don't care. I started the Gullwing Alliance on Facebook, which as far as I can tell may already be the most powerful organized guild on there after three days.

This also, not coincidentally, means that if you sign up and join the Gullwings you will be able to advance so ridiculously you'll think you actually spent money on this game. I can make it happen for you people. Just say the word.

The game name is Castle Age, by the way. The Gullwing Alliance is just my Guild, but you can get to Castle Age from there if you have a Facebook account.

And don't you DARE "too big to fit" that image on me this time, Sine. I'll edit this page to add downsizing tags to the image if you want later, but it's such a pain in the ass.

My new profile pic is one of the preliminary proposed Gullwing guild badges.

Also, your army isn't completely fucking wiped out the second somebody more powerful than you invades you, like in UK. I don't think you lose soldiers, in fact. This actually makes the game really good, and you have to try it.

I'm playing now. I'm a sucker for Facebook games

likes this last comment.

Did you add me?

I requested you as a friend, but you haven't accepted yet.

You sure? I don't see any requests.

Ha, oh Mental. You go balls to the wall with your heart hanging out in every game and personal venture you do. Its inspiring, really! I just hope someone in your guild doesnt rub you wrong or some bigger kingdom doesnt start picking on you because your world always comes crashing down with the weight of a flight 93 when things turn south.

Flip, lay off. I have apologized from here around the bend trying to figure out why you have a bug up your butt about me. I'm trying to stay positive, so is my Guild, and I'm sorry if you don't think I should ever be trusted with powers of responsibility again.

I might also mention that you can't do a thing about it, so why are you causing trouble?

In point of fact, also, some dude started ramraiding my co-founder's young daughter in-game over and over, and in exchange, the Gullwings blew him out of the water and got him to join us instead. ;P We've gotten more than five hundred members in half a week or so.

I'll call you for a shoulder if I need to start crying at any point.

im not trying to rip on you and i dont dislike you at all. I'm actually complimenting you, in a way, and watching your back. Because you def have an all in or nothing personality trait. I like your passion for things, but now it doesnt surprise me why shit hits the wall so hard when things go badly, is all. I havent seen you this excited in a while, so i'm hoping you dont go off the deep end when it inevitably ends.

You can cry on my shoulder.

"so i'm hoping you dont go off the deep end when it inevitably ends."

If it ends, it ends. Given that so far it's been about five days and 500 people have joined up so far, I'll let you know when I start worrying.

On the other hand, thank you for not dogging on me too much, I suppose.

Hm... I think I made a mistake.

I'm not sure how many soldiers one loses in battle. I don't think it's all of them, but there might be attrition...I'll have to see about that.

In the meantime, this game still rules forever.

What's stopping someone from just having a bunch of the Epic generals and own your face?