# So I've discovered Travian. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 30, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778 "2011-12-30T00:44:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778/1 "2011-12-30T00:44:35Z")
I found an old SDMB topic about it that was made about a year and a half ago, but I figured I’d make a new topic about it. Apparently there’s a SDMB alliance on server 7, although I’m on the us6 one. Anyone else on that one? And the more important question: Does anyone mind making an account on that one so I can have some possible SDMB friends to rule the kingdom with and have an alliance group made? : p Just started playing today and already I’m deeply hooked. I can easily see this game taking up a lot of my time now. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778/2 "2011-12-30T01:43:18Z")
I was briefly into it for a while, but seriously, it’s a major time muncher. You need a group of lots of people (or a few VERY VERY dedicated people), in different time zones so that you can farm around the clock. It’s… not casual friendly. I personally wouldn’t touch it again. Ergh. Time sink if I ever saw one. ---
**Author:** ![dorsk188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f05b48/32.png) [@dorsk188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorsk188)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778/3 "2012-01-02T10:18:32Z")
I’ve sworn off browser-based games. Travian and Greepolis, I think it was called. Wait till you get into the inevitable pissing contest with the 12 year-old seven squares over… Worst case scenario: You get targeted by some asshole with a lot of powerful friends who continually destroy your army with constant raids, steal your resources, and tear down your buildings. Best case scenario: You get to be the asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778/4 "2012-01-02T19:27:15Z")
It was fun a few years ago (I think the thread you mention is when we got a few dozen of us together. Didn’t win that game, but got to play kingmaker). However, it is a serious time sink. I remember setting my alarm for halfway through the night just to check on my cities, send out armies, etc. Fun, but never again. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778/5 "2012-01-02T20:17:46Z")
Massive time sink but we made a good run a it. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778/6 "2012-01-03T08:05:30Z")
Tribal Wars is better than Travian, but suffers all the same problems. Basically, the game is not what it appears to be. You need dedication, reliable co-players or sitters, and scripts and tools that the game doesn’t provide or even hint at being required. If you are not aware of your situation 24 hours a day, you can only survive by luck. The concept sounds fun, but the actual game is not. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778/7 "2012-01-03T18:01:09Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Apparently there’s a SDMB alliance on server 7, although I’m on the us6 one. Anyone else on that one? Past tense. There was a SDMB alliance on us7. I think most SDMB players (from the SDMB boards) took a break after that one. > [@Captain\_C](#): > > It was fun a few years ago (I think the thread you mention is when we got a few dozen of us together. Didn’t win that game, but got to play kingmaker). We took a solid second place, not just playing kingmaker. Gemini took a very solid first place and there was nothing we could do to change that. I allied with some ex-Gemini in Imperium for a while, and they clearly indicated we took second. There was some questioning about “Where did you guys come from and where did you go?” I had a blast on us7, but I’m generally not interested in another browser game. I didn’t set my alarm for a midnight checkup of my account, and it showed. My forces were a fraction of Captain C and others’. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778/8 "2012-01-03T18:24:28Z")
I was an early part of the alliance that eventually came in second. It was loads of fun at first, but I quickly discovered that playing at an acceptable level consumed way too much of my time, so I handed my account over to someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-discovered-travian/607778/9 "2012-01-03T18:48:58Z")
You might try Ikariam instead. It’s less rapacious - you cannot lose cities, for example - and less demanding of time. And less demanding of money. A gentler game, if you will. I’ve been playing for over 3 years. Click [here](http://s9.en.ikariam.com/reg.php?fh=e61f338e14db3fa346bbe97e9facbc59) if you feel like trying it out. You’ll start on the same island as my capital.