Actually, yes. Origins weekend is usually the same weekend as the annual Columbus Pride Parade, so on Saturday, if you want a parking space that’s any closer than the airport, you need to get here early – and that means 0730 for me, with Bayonet Jr in tow. It also means, that since our first ‘thing’ today (family photo with the Grogs!) isn’t until 0900, there’s time to write.
What’s been going on? If you follow us on either Twitter or Facebook, you’ve had the chance to see plenty of live video and updates from the show. Those are giving a look at what’s happening, but only superficially. Here’s the detail of what’s going on.
The Dwarf of the Desert delivers dangerous deeds and derring-do ~
Lloyd Sabin, 11 June 2018
Sometimes you got it, sometimes you just don’t.
I chose to play as Nabatea because the idea of armored camel cataphracts charging through the desert really tickled my pickle
The Total War series is one of my favorites and has been since Shogun was released all those years ago. Fast forward to 2018 and I could not wait to play a faction from the Rome 2 Emperor’s Edition DLC – the Desert Kingdoms. There are four to choose from, including the Kush and Nabatea (think modern Horn of Africa and Saudi Arabia).
In doing some basic research on each, I chose to play as Nabatea because the idea of armored camel cataphracts charging through the desert really tickled my pickle. The campaign was rated as ‘Hard’ however, and even though that typically scares me off, I took my chances. Taking the plunge, I charged in to Nabatea circa 272 BC, and was psyched to get my first camel cataphract unit. It would be glorious.
Or it would be one of the more ignominious defeats in my TW history. I have had some lightning fast victories, mind you…I won as the Egyptians in the Medieval 2 TW Crusades campaign in under 25 turns! But this Nabatea playthrough was going to be the opposite of that.
All that said, I feel compelled to tell you that Rome 2, some 17 patches and many years after release, plays, runs and looks fantastic now. It really is a totally new game from the earlier versions. If you were frightened away by the nightmarish launch, it is worth it’s price now and goes on sale every so often.
Beware though that ‘hard’ means what it says here…there’s no messing around. So, let my ignominy be a lesson for you.
‘I am Nabatea.’ And I can’t wait for my first unit of shiny camel cataphracts. It’s going to be great.
On the eve of our FIFTH time running the GrogHeads Central Command at Origins, we need to make sure everyone knows where to find us, since we’re still not labeled as “GrogHeads” in the site book
We’re pretty sure the big blue block behind us is the CABS Board Room, but we can’t independently confirm that.
So, come find us at the “War Gamers” area. Yeah, we know. We tried to get them to label it right.
