The Syndicate

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:30 am**

Hey, Syndicate! This is the thread for Age of Empires (AOE) II.

This is one of my all-time favorite games, but I hadn't played in forever until just yesterday when I spontaneously decided to download AOE II: HD on Steam for $19.99. I hadn't previously just due to lack of time and not wanting to re-purchase a game I bought years ago, but man I am already so glad I did. Totally worth every penny.

Earlier this afternoon I taught Daisy how to play as we tried to avoid worrying about Hurricane Harvey, and it was awesome! Then even better, this evening my brother, Daisy, Quin, and I all played two matches -- one on Islands, then the other on Arena. It was a blast!

So I thought it would be fun to set up a thread here and try to coordinate times for those of us who enjoy this game to play with each other. The more, the merrier too, because this game gets way more interesting with 4-8 than 2-3.

Who's in? Let's do this. Syndicate AOE league. It must happen.

:knight:

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:17 am**

WOLOLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:31 am**

Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:27 am
JaggedJimmyJay wrote:Anyone play old real time strategy games? I have a few older classics on Steam that I still play because I live in the past. It'd be fun to play with y'all if anyone has the games or acquires them. The two I play the most often are Age of Empires 2 (with all of the expansions) and Rise of Nations.

It doesn't have to be competitive (I suck anyway). Co-op versus AI teams is fun too.
This never happened, but we talked about it.

Epignosis wrote:
Metalmarsh89 wrote:I've actually been playing Age of Empires II recently a bit (no joke). I never could figure out how to play online outside of LAN, but I'd love to join someone for a game if there are any takers.
Just last night, we were discussing doing this. Stay tuned.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:10 pm**

I've wanted to play AoE online with real people since I was 12 but never had anyone to do it with.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:19 pm**

I'm rusty as all get out. I used to play online ages (ha) ago.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:24 pm**

Sloonei wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:10 pm I've wanted to play AoE online with real people since I was 12 but never had anyone to do it with.

I know, right? A decade ago my brother and I mostly just played each other and that was it. Did play with other folks a handful of times though over the years and it was fun. It's really great to revisit it.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:19 pm I'm rusty as all get out. I used to play online ages (ha) ago.

Oh, me too. Lol. It's cool. I'm sure all of us are.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:25 pm**

I just dug up my old discs and I'm installing them as I type this.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:26 pm**

Assuming we don't lose power, I should have time to play again tonight and I'm pretty sure my brother is off work today as well and would be up for it. Anyone who is around tonight would be welcome to play!

For the future I'd love to see if we can gather enough interest here and plan AOE nights or whatever. That'd be the bomb.

We need to see if non-Steam users will be able to play Steam users. Unfortunately, I'm skeptical that will be possible. I'm not even sure how non-Steam users can play anyone online; does anyone know if there is any other way to do that?

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:26 pm**

Sloonei wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:25 pm I just dug up my old discs and I'm installing them as I type this.

I have no idea where mine even are. I know they're around somewhere though.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:30 pm**

MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:26 pm Assuming we don't lose power, I should have time to play again tonight and I'm pretty sure my brother is off work today as well and would be up for it. Anyone who is around tonight would be welcome to play!

For the future I'd love to see if we can gather enough interest here and plan AOE nights or whatever. That'd be the bomb.

We need to see if non-Steam users will be able to play Steam users. Unfortunately, I'm skeptical that will be possible. I'm not even sure how non-Steam users can play anyone online; does anyone know if there is any other way to do that?

I doubt the HD version is compatible with the original.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:34 pm**

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:30 pm
MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:26 pm Assuming we don't lose power, I should have time to play again tonight and I'm pretty sure my brother is off work today as well and would be up for it. Anyone who is around tonight would be welcome to play!

For the future I'd love to see if we can gather enough interest here and plan AOE nights or whatever. That'd be the bomb.

We need to see if non-Steam users will be able to play Steam users. Unfortunately, I'm skeptical that will be possible. I'm not even sure how non-Steam users can play anyone online; does anyone know if there is any other way to do that?
I doubt the HD version is compatible with the original.

Yeah, that's my fear as well.

I remember a few years back trying to reboot up my CD copies of AOE II but I could never get it to actually connect online anymore since Microsoft stopped supporting it.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:37 pm**

My oldies don't seem to be working. I've installed the game, but when I try to run it (or the expansion), it fails to open. I may just get the HD version anyway.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:39 pm**

Sloonei wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 2:37 pm My oldies don't seem to be working. I've installed the game, but when I try to run it (or the expansion), it fails to open. I may just get the HD version anyway.

Oh, it could be that they aren't even supported to run anymore on current operating systems.

You should.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 3:02 pm**

Steam is preparing to launch Age of Empires II: HD Edition.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 4:21 pm**

Playing a Standard game to shake off the rust now. The AI moves so fast, I have to scroll and click stuff and it's holding me back!

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 4:23 pm**

I'm rolling with the Teutons against the Britons and Celts on Hard.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:05 pm**

Anyone able to play tonight, say starting around 8:30PM Eastern?

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:14 pm**

MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:05 pm Anyone able to play tonight, say starting around 8:30PM Eastern?

How do you go about it on Steam? I've never done anything multiplayer on there.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:27 pm**

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:14 pm
MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:05 pm Anyone able to play tonight, say starting around 8:30PM Eastern?
How do you go about it on Steam? I've never done anything multiplayer on there.

Once you have the game installed, just boot it up via Steam, then in the AOE II home screen go to Multiplayer >> Lobby Browser , then search for MovingPictures07's game (I'll create one), and click the "Join" button. Then you'll be in the game and you can select your civilization.

We can meet up in Discord and then head for the game at once if that's preferable. I'll be sure to hop into Discord ahead of time.

Be aware that the first time you boot up the game, you may encounter a weird glitch. If you get stuck in the pre-game "Validating Subscriptions" screen and it takes longer than 10 seconds to load, just ctrl+alt+delete and reboot up the game. Not sure why that occurs, but Daisy, Quin, and I all had that problem the first time we booted the game up, but never since.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:29 pm**

MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:05 pm Anyone able to play tonight, say starting around 8:30PM Eastern?

So far we've got maybe my brother, myself, Epi, and Sloonei, right?

[mention]Quin[/mention]
[mention]JaggedJimmyJay[/mention]
[mention]Marmot[/mention]

I'm sure Daisy will play as well once she gets off work, hence why I made the time after she finishes (8:00PM).

Anyone else interested?

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:34 pm**

[mention]Boomslang[/mention] and [mention]nijuukyugou[/mention] were both into the idea but they didn't have a computer good enough to run it.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:37 pm**

[mention]A Person[/mention] too.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:38 pm**

Good call, thanks Quin.

We can have as many as 8 people in the game (I'm pretty sure it's 8 anyway), so bring it!

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:42 pm**

MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:27 pm
Epignosis wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:14 pm
MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:05 pm Anyone able to play tonight, say starting around 8:30PM Eastern?
How do you go about it on Steam? I've never done anything multiplayer on there.
Once you have the game installed, just boot it up via Steam, then in the AOE II home screen go to Multiplayer >> Lobby Browser , then search for MovingPictures07's game (I'll create one), and click the "Join" button. Then you'll be in the game and you can select your civilization.

We can meet up in Discord and then head for the game at once if that's preferable. I'll be sure to hop into Discord ahead of time.

Be aware that the first time you boot up the game, you may encounter a weird glitch. If you get stuck in the pre-game "Validating Subscriptions" screen and it takes longer than 10 seconds to load, just ctrl+alt+delete and reboot up the game. Not sure why that occurs, but Daisy, Quin, and I all had that problem the first time we booted the game up, but never since.

Nope- Control + C. No need to reboot.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:42 pm**

And damn I suck anymore.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:57 pm**

Quin wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:37 pm @A Person too.

Yes I would not be able to run it on this computer even if i owned it

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:59 pm**

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:42 pm
MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:27 pm
Epignosis wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:14 pm
MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:05 pm Anyone able to play tonight, say starting around 8:30PM Eastern?
How do you go about it on Steam? I've never done anything multiplayer on there.
Once you have the game installed, just boot it up via Steam, then in the AOE II home screen go to Multiplayer >> Lobby Browser , then search for MovingPictures07's game (I'll create one), and click the "Join" button. Then you'll be in the game and you can select your civilization.

We can meet up in Discord and then head for the game at once if that's preferable. I'll be sure to hop into Discord ahead of time.

Be aware that the first time you boot up the game, you may encounter a weird glitch. If you get stuck in the pre-game "Validating Subscriptions" screen and it takes longer than 10 seconds to load, just ctrl+alt+delete and reboot up the game. Not sure why that occurs, but Daisy, Quin, and I all had that problem the first time we booted the game up, but never since.
Nope- Control + C. No need to reboot.

Oh, good to know.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 7:16 pm**

MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:29 pm
MovingPictures07 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 6:05 pm Anyone able to play tonight, say starting around 8:30PM Eastern?
So far we've got maybe my brother, myself, Epi, and Sloonei, right?

@Quin
@JaggedJimmyJay
@Marmot

I'm sure Daisy will play as well once she gets off work, hence why I made the time after she finishes (8:00PM).

Anyone else interested?

u kno it.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 7:31 pm**

I'm going to watch a show, and then be back in time for 8:30pm EST.

With any luck, I'll probably be drunk, so that will be fun.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:18 pm**

Epignosis wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 7:31 pm I'm going to watch a show, and then be back in time for 8:30pm EST.

With any luck, I'll probably be drunk, so that will be fun.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:19 pm**

Alright, I'm headed to Discord and AOE now. See you folks there!

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:22 pm**

I'm settling in and grabbing snacks. Are we just using the Syndicate Discord?

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:22 pm**

I gotta use the bathroom.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:24 pm**

Sloonei wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 8:22 pm I'm settling in and grabbing snacks. Are we just using the Syndicate Discord?

Sure!

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:38 pm**

If I ever happen to be available and have the time when y'all are playing, deal me in. That's assuming my version will be compatible though -- I have all four expansions.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:38 pm**

It's not like I have been playing this game all year or anything, don't mind me.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:03 pm**

JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:38 pm If I ever happen to be available and have the time when y'all are playing, deal me in. That's assuming my version will be compatible though -- I have all four expansions.

So do I, and I play fine.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:28 pm**

Sorry I wasn't up for it tonight guys. Migraine was killing me when I came home and now I have the sim. Next time I will play so you have someone who can bring up the rear.

Posted: **Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:31 pm**

Of course, maybe it's better I'm not playing. Last time I accidentally had my settings wrong and sank poor Quin's boats when we were supposed to be allies. D'oh!

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:39 am**

Spacedaisy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:31 pm Of course, maybe it's better I'm not playing. Last time I accidentally had my settings wrong and sank poor Quin's boats when we were supposed to be allies. D'oh!

We just played two games, MP's brother joined us for the second. It was the most intense game we've done so far. With more people it'd get even more ridiculous. Hopefully both you and 3J can play next time.

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:41 am**

It was down to the final two: Myself and Quin. We hurled our navies at each other to test their respective strengths. I just managed to sink his ships with a few of my own to spare. We were preparing for the next wave, packing our armies into transport ships and restocking the fleets. Doomsday was nigh... And then my laptop crashed.

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:49 am**

Not soon enough.

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:52 am**

I couldn't just let you have that island. Or that other island. Or your main island.

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:55 am**

Sloonei wrote: ↑Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:52 am I couldn't just let you have that island. Or that other island. Or your main island.

You mean the one that looked like Miley Cyrus' leg?

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:57 am**

That match was insane!!

Sloonei's laptop crashed and he wanted to see the scores, and I wanted to save them anyway for posterity, so without further ado:

Spoiler: show

Thanks for playing, everyone! It was an absolute blast.

Can't wait to get another match going sometime soon.

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:58 am**

52 points.

I won by 52 points.

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 1:00 am**

What the hell was I doing?

Pissing, probably.

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 1:00 am**

don't mind me, just wrecking all the buildings.

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 1:01 am**

I want to know how Brother got 272,000 food units.

Posted: **Sun Aug 27, 2017 1:04 am**

probably an armada of fishing ships.

The Syndicate

Age of Empires II

Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II

Re: Age of Empires II