Hi guys,

I am an old fan of Rise of Nations, but i lost my disks some time ago.

Then yesterday i got an email notification from Steam that one of the games on my wishlist was released!

So i got Rise of Nations extended edition on Steam.

I tried one of the new campaigns but i hate the ways they have tried to make the game more interesting from the original version. For me, it just makes the game horrendously annoying instead.

I thought the original campaign will still be good, but no, same thing there too!

My question is, how do i get it to play the original version? If that is possible? Or where can i get the original version?

Hello. I don't think you can access the original version through the extended edition. There is also no digital version of the original game, so your only option is to find a physical version of the game.

No, tell me about it.

Here is an example of an 'annoying' change....

First mission Alexander campaign... 3 enemy cavalry barracks spawn over the other side of the map, then while i am busy fighting the main enemy their cavalry run around and kill all my peasants.

So i send my army down and destroy two of the barracks.

Then the third barracks starts spawning cavalry like 2 every second! of course my army is decimated and cannot destroy the barracks.

Exit campaign.

I thought perhaps the old conqueror the world campaign will still be good.

I start as Bantu

First mission, i have a tiny little piss ant army, no city, i am supposed to fight an advanced enemy?? Of course i am wiped out in a few seconds.

Exit campaign.

Where is my original version???? please? lol

Something just occurred to me.... i started with a difficulty level of 'tough' then tried 'moderate'....

If i put the difficulty on the easiest possible baby level, i wonder will that make the game playable?

Or perhaps i can get cheat codes and use them to deal with these new annoying anomalies, and then play the rest of the mission as normal?

I really wish GOG could get Rise of Nations. Right now it has over 4,700 votes!

Rise of legends would be even better.

Read the manual??

goodness, i have a severe amount of hours with this game,,, i used to play the conquer the world campaign on high difficulty over and over just to see the least number of turns i can win with different races. I was even building my own maps and scenarios.

I suppose i should explain, i am more of a strategy player than an RTS player. I do not like games such as Starcraft and warcraft 3 because i find those games difficult to control which just frustrates and annoys me, so the whole experience is just horrible, and now i feel the same with this new version of RON.

I like the original version of RON because i can control how things play out, and i like to be in control. I have Rise of Legends.

I played it for a while but lost interest because i found it a bit too 'annoying' similar to starcraft, warcraft3 and this new version of RON

Agreed. The Steampunk setting fits the game much better.

There are some RTS i do like, and it is interesting...

I like Total annihilation and total annihilation kingdoms, but not supreme commander.

I like warcraft 1, but none of the rest.

I like Age of empires 1 but none of the rest

So there is a clear pattern.... the more dynamic the environment where there are multiple disturbances going on in different locations disturbing me from what i want to do, the less i enjoy the game.

Older games where i can control where the action takes place, that is what i seem to really enjoy.

It is contrary to what most people like i guess?

Original RON is also quite a dynamic game, but for me, it is manageable, so i really enjoy it, but the new version, no way!

Oh I'm just teasing you a bit about that differences in difficulty level usually is in the manual.

Turns out I'm as you regarding RTS games. That's why I like Sins of a Solar Empire, Kohan and so on.
That's why it's strange I feel the exact opposite as you. I played Rise of Legends first, loved it and jumped on the chance of playing Rise of Nations new HD version. Unfortunately I found that game to be as you described compared to RoL. Too annoying as in too fast, cluttered, clickfesty, rushy and so on.
I haven't played the original RoN so could it possible be that you and I would like RoN - RoL - RoN HD in that order? Or rather I would.
I really like how streamlined it is. It rarely feels like I have to click because having fast clicking as a "feature". And the steampunk mixed with technomagic is a great setting as you said. :)
Also I love having units to command in RTS games. Much more fun than single soldiers or vehicles.

Interesting reply, thanks.

Too be honest, i cannot even remember exactly how ROL lost my interest. I think it was something to do with taking territories - i hit a brick wall in every direction and eventually just gave up.

In RON (original), there is always a way to prize a strong territory out of the enemies hands with a defensive and siege mentality going into battle, and that is what i love.

I tried RON new again last night. In the solo quick battle, i found some nice options that made the game playable....
You can ban combat until information age!!! this option is priceless,,,, PRICELESS!

I was actually able to win a game, and enjoy it!!!

The game is much more resilient against my onslaught than original RON, way more! yes.... and if you leave the population limit on 200 it is very hard to take cities,,, even with instant unit build and huge resources backing me up!

I discovered the way to take cities though, it is still very hard of course, but the trick is that you need forces moving in constantly from two separate directions... that is what does it.

Edit: And that is on moderate difficulty!!! So they have really turned RON into a beast,,, it is not a game for people like us, it is made for warcraft and starcraft tournament players to enjoy.

I've almost exclusively played the steampunk faction in RoL and for them trade is key. Keep pumping out those trade ships at the start and send them to the nearest sites and cities. At the same time build up your military and technology. Trade income helps with this. When sites and cities start to join use the joined forces for defence and start expanding aggressively with your built forces. Usually this means I go kinda slow in the beginning but when I start to expand aggressively it's a steamroller. :)

Very interesting read!
I heard loads of good stuff about RoN and was irritated that I missed it when it was available and playable. Then I got RoL and then wanted even more to try RoN. So when I played the HD version I got very disappointed and didn't know why. Thought it was because I did something wrong. Now I know differently. :)