Page 1 of 1

Why is real time recommended

Posted: 28 August 2025, 13:05
by Kuijpie
Hi all,

I just started playing this game online. I mostly play turn based games and I feel like this game works really well as a turn-based game. Any particular reason why GBA says it is recommended to play real-time? I mean I can see it will work well real-time as it is quite a quick game, but I see no reason for the recommendation - it works very well turn based as well.

Re: Why is real time recommended

Posted: 31 August 2025, 12:09
by ColShaw
I think you hit the nail on the head; RFTG is a pretty quick game, so many players, myself included, like to be able to knock off a game in 5-10 minutes. I feel like extending it over hours or days kind of kills the momentum of the game for me. But I agree, there's nothing wrong with playing it turn-based if that's more your thing. :)

Re: Why is real time recommended

Posted: 31 August 2025, 20:36
by FrankJones
ColShaw wrote: 31 August 2025, 12:09 I think you hit the nail on the head; RFTG is a pretty quick game, so many players, myself included, like to be able to knock off a game in 5-10 minutes. I feel like extending it over hours or days kind of kills the momentum of the game for me. But I agree, there's nothing wrong with playing it turn-based if that's more your thing. :)
This. The game takes 10 minutes. I'd rather play it real-time than have to wait possibly hours or more between turns and try to remember what I was planning to do.

Re: Why is real time recommended

Posted: 01 September 2025, 23:16
by W0lle
Turn-based works very well, you even find players willing to play the game in one go or maybe over 2-3 sessions. I play 4 moves a day and usually games finish the same day they start.

Especially as a new players the timer is a huge constraint. Makes it virtually impossible to calculate cards, VPs, plan 2-4 turns ahead, find a strategy that works well against the opponent's board etc. Decision making can take a lot of time in key turns, especially with prestige actions, takeovers and all that stuff from expansions. I would consider myself an experienced player by now and still haven't automated all the decisions to confidently be able to play real-time.

Re: Why is real time recommended

Posted: 02 September 2025, 00:48
by FrankJones
W0lle wrote: 01 September 2025, 23:16 Turn-based works very well, you even find players willing to play the game in one go or maybe over 2-3 sessions. I play 4 moves a day and usually games finish the same day they start.

Especially as a new players the timer is a huge constraint. Makes it virtually impossible to calculate cards, VPs, plan 2-4 turns ahead, find a strategy that works well against the opponent's board etc. Decision making can take a lot of time in key turns, especially with prestige actions, takeovers and all that stuff from expansions. I would consider myself an experienced player by now and still haven't automated all the decisions to confidently be able to play real-time.
Those are good points - I play without goals and without takeovers and without Brink of War (so, no Prestige). And with mostly having memorized Base + rebel versus imperium and gathering Storm (the important cards, at least), I find the real-time speed satisfactory. Though, I do set it to the slowest speed.

That being said, most of my games I play turn-based. I like having time to find the optimal move, and maybe I would not be so stagnant with my RFTG Elo if I switched to turn-based.