34 votes

Generals.io: a simple yet very cool online real time strategy game

20 comments

  1. [5]
    skybrian
    Link
    Is there an exaplanation somewhere about what this game is about and how to play?

    Is there an exaplanation somewhere about what this game is about and how to play?

    6 votes
    1. [4]
      joelthelion
      Link Parent
      The best explanation I can think of is that it is a real-time version of Risk. You start with some armies in your capital ("general"). You can invade territories and cities, which give you...

      The best explanation I can think of is that it is a real-time version of Risk. You start with some armies in your capital ("general"). You can invade territories and cities, which give you additional armies regularly. With these, you can attack other countries. If you take someone's general, you instantly take over their entire country and armies.

      It's super easy to pick up, but the best strategies aren't obvious at all. And playing well isn't easy.

      4 votes
      1. [3]
        bugsmith
        Link Parent
        Any tips for playing well?

        Any tips for playing well?

        2 votes
        1. ackables
          Link Parent
          I would try finding some people playing it on YouTube as they are usually pretty good. Ultimately you find the strategies that work for you by trial and error. I had a similar journey with...

          I would try finding some people playing it on YouTube as they are usually pretty good. Ultimately you find the strategies that work for you by trial and error.

          I had a similar journey with territorial.io and the YouTube + trial and error got me to a decent level.

        2. polarays
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          there's actually a official wiki linked from the main page! I found this 1v1 guide and it has some strategies that might help! Edit: Turns out williams_482 already gave the link to the same wiki,...

          there's actually a official wiki linked from the main page! I found this 1v1 guide and it has some strategies that might help!

          Edit: Turns out williams_482 already gave the link to the same wiki, thats mb on not reading all the replies first lol 😅 they had good advice in their reply too!

  2. [3]
    joelthelion
    (edited )
    Link
    This was already posted 8 (!) years ago, but I'm posting it again because I find it amazing that the game is still around after all these years, and it's still as cool as it was back then....

    This was already posted 8 (!) years ago, but I'm posting it again because I find it amazing that the game is still around after all these years, and it's still as cool as it was back then.

    Original post: https://tildes.net/~games/8gs/generals_io_a_cool_little_online_real_time_strategy_game

    4 votes
  3. ep1032
    Link
    This is wonderful. I think this is going to replace openfront for me as my goto casual game. I've become rather addicted to this today, thank you!

    This is wonderful. I think this is going to replace openfront for me as my goto casual game. I've become rather addicted to this today, thank you!

    3 votes
  4. [4]
    Bauke
    Link
    I gave this a shot yesterday evening but kept getting kicked out of games for being AFK, even though I was making moves? Anyone else having this problem?

    I gave this a shot yesterday evening but kept getting kicked out of games for being AFK, even though I was making moves? Anyone else having this problem?

    2 votes
    1. [3]
      joelthelion
      Link Parent
      You need to actually move armies for your moves to count. Did you make sure your moves were working? I've had this problem when playing in the "big team" setting. Sometimes one of your teammates...

      You need to actually move armies for your moves to count. Did you make sure your moves were working? I've had this problem when playing in the "big team" setting. Sometimes one of your teammates steals your armies and then you're not moving anything anymore.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        Bauke
        Link Parent
        I think maybe it's a mobile issue. On desktop I don't get kicked but mobile no matter what I do it kicks me out.

        I think maybe it's a mobile issue. On desktop I don't get kicked but mobile no matter what I do it kicks me out.

        1 vote
        1. joelthelion
          Link Parent
          I see. Honestly, I don't think the game is really playable on mobile anyway. The best is to play almost exclusively with the keyboard, in my opinion.

          I see. Honestly, I don't think the game is really playable on mobile anyway. The best is to play almost exclusively with the keyboard, in my opinion.

          1 vote
  5. json
    Link
    Oh shit, it's an EmpireAttack clone. My friends and I used to do all nighters on the multiday teamed games about 15 years ago 😄

    Oh shit, it's an EmpireAttack clone.

    My friends and I used to do all nighters on the multiday teamed games about 15 years ago 😄

    1 vote
  6. SUD0
    Link
    Oh man, this brings back some memories. I have no clue how I learned about this game, but I played this a lot when working at a desk job at my university in undergrad back around 2017-ish....

    Oh man, this brings back some memories. I have no clue how I learned about this game, but I played this a lot when working at a desk job at my university in undergrad back around 2017-ish. Completely forgot this guy existed. Fun game!

    1 vote
  7. [2]
    itdepends
    Link
    I like the concept but in all 5 games I explore as much as I can with my small army and have to wait to amass enough forces to capture the nearest city. At that point someone rolls up on me with a...

    I like the concept but in all 5 games I explore as much as I can with my small army and have to wait to amass enough forces to capture the nearest city. At that point someone rolls up on me with a much stronger army and steamrolls me.

    Any beginner tips?

    1 vote
    1. williams_482
      Link Parent
      I found this wiki page to be very helpful, although it's clearly incomplete. Are you continuing to expand while you wait for enough troops to capture a city? Many reasonably successful players...
      • Exemplary

      I found this wiki page to be very helpful, although it's clearly incomplete.

      Are you continuing to expand while you wait for enough troops to capture a city? Many reasonably successful players seem to expand as much as possible in the first two rounds, then use the fresh troops generated in border regions to continue expanding outwards while the general/core regions build up enough troops to capture a nearby city, if a sheltered one is available.

      Never capture a city where your opponent can see it, unless you are supremely confident you can hold it. Good players will jump at the chance to steal a city for themselves once you've knocked down the defenses for them.

      I've found one of the important things is to recognize if capturing cities is a good idea in the first place. A good player will pay attention to the scoreboard and see that you captured a city because your army will decrease by 40 or so, and if they aren't busy capturing cities themselves, they'll be inclined to attack you immediately after while you are temporarily weakened.

      I'm still working on the correct way about this, but I'm settling on something like this: you haven't met your opponent yet take cities as fast as possible until you make contact, and continue taking them as long as you'll still have an army strong enough to deal with 50ish enemy troops. If you met them in the first round forget about cities for the moment, and expect an attack (but continue expanding on the borders!). If they don't attack you and their army size drops below yours, they probably took a city or two and you should either take some cities yourself, or attack them as soon as possible with the largest army you can throw together.

      Most games fall somewhere in the middle, and I find myself making a judgement call on how aggressive I think this opponent is likely to be and thus how aggressive I should be about taking a city or constructing a defensive/counterattack stack. That judgement call is often wrong, so this is an area where my own game needs work.

      4 votes
  8. carrotflowerr
    Link
    seems cool. reminds me of openfront.io. just wish the bot server worked i cant get into a game :/

    seems cool. reminds me of openfront.io. just wish the bot server worked i cant get into a game :/

  9. [2]
    crulife
    Link
    Can somebody explain what happened here https://generals.io/replays/GXSXMb5xC?t=218 to the 99-sized army at the bottom row?

    Can somebody explain what happened here https://generals.io/replays/GXSXMb5xC?t=218 to the 99-sized army at the bottom row?

    1. creesch
      Link Parent
      Not just that army. Looks like cities are also halved and other big armies as well. Dunno if it is the replay, always happens when someone is conquered or if it is just the end of game thing. It...

      Not just that army. Looks like cities are also halved and other big armies as well. Dunno if it is the replay, always happens when someone is conquered or if it is just the end of game thing.

      It is a wonky game anyway and I am not convinced that half of the people playing are human either. It is strangely addictive though.