# SDMB RTS/4X gaming? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 27, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-rts-4x-gaming/579891 "2011-04-27T13:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-rts-4x-gaming/579891/1 "2011-04-27T13:53:08Z")
So I just picked up Sword of the Stars Complete Collection. It still rules (even if I still suck at 4X games where I can’t really talk to the other players). I also picked up Supreme Commander Forged Alliance from a discount rack, and I’m slowly getting better at it. However, no one on my Steam friends list is a strategy gamer. Any interest here in getting some games going of the less-popular RTS or strategy games? I have no interest in Civilization at the moment, or in the Command&Conquer/Starcraft II kids, but I’d LOVE to get some regular games of Dawn of War I or the two abovementioned. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-rts-4x-gaming/579891/2 "2011-04-27T14:35:00Z")
I love SotS, though A) I’ve never played it multiplayer - many turnbased 4x games get a bit tedious there, but SotS does have turn time limits, which might help and B) I didn’t buy it through Steam, so I don’t know if I can play with your Steam version. x.x ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-rts-4x-gaming/579891/3 "2011-04-27T14:47:38Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > I love SotS, though A) I’ve never played it multiplayer - many turnbased 4x games get a bit tedious there, but SotS does have turn time limits, which might help and B) I didn’t buy it through Steam, so I don’t know if I can play with your Steam version. x.x My understanding is that the Steam version uses GameSpy matchmaking under the hood, same as many third-party games not originally released on Steam (and some that are, but don’t get me started on Borderlands). The one time I played it multiplayer was a local match where we could make fun of each other in realtime for taking too long. =P I’d be interested in trying to get a game up with turn time limits set to something reasonable–frankly, most of my turns are under 20 seconds unless I have to make a research decision or a war decision. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-rts-4x-gaming/579891/4 "2011-04-27T16:37:10Z")
Turns can run to a few minutes for me, especially if I have a big empire to manage and lots of ships to build and/or revise. Still, it shouldn’t be a serious issue. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-rts-4x-gaming/579891/5 "2011-04-27T19:07:18Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > Turns can run to a few minutes for me, especially if I have a big empire to manage and lots of ships to build and/or revise. Still, it shouldn’t be a serious issue. Perhaps a 5min turn limit? When would you have a few hours free for seeing what could happen with this? I have to schedule in advance due to infant.