"Empire 4th Edition- How does it compare to other editions" Topic

Found a complete set of these rules. Wondering what the positives/negatives are versus the other editions. Thanks….

You still need a bottle of aspirin at the end of play!

Does it weigh more than Empire III?

Still no DeathStar rules.

adaptoid,
Hopefully some of the regular players will chime in instead of the typical rabble, and give more specifics.
I unfortunately been away from it for some time so can only give a very general overview.
I do remember IV being shot lived because of those additions as it attempted to add to what III started. It required V to fix those issues. Since you are new to these- I would:
A) find some one who knows the two and can highlight the change from III to IV for you so you can make a decision whether to use those additions or attempt them after much play at III or just ignore…
or
B) seek a copy of III and only play that.
III is the easiest and thus maybe most enjoyable, especially to start with.

I am currently trying to digest LOG II and R&E. A learning curve is an unfortunate reality with these types of rules so be warned.
I am really seriously looking to go back to III. I did have the most enjoyable games…

Good Luck!
MG

Having cut my teeth on 3 I would suggest putting 4 back in its box and burying it like Jumanji, so future generations can be tortured by its complete crapness. I don't know how they took a product that worked and was a lot of fun and managed to create a monster that didn't work I don't know.
In 4 most of the words belonged to Bowden and Getz but somehow the dick who had taken it over managed to screw everything around.
Of the three versions 3 is by far away my favourite because just reading it changed my wargaming life completely.
5 added some useful stuff which but not significantly so to really improve things by the extra cost of a new set of rules.
Use 3 add a few refinements of your own as you see fit and have fun.
4 is the work of the Devil.

loved three…put a stake in 4 and buried it at a crossroads..lost my copy of three in a house fire and cant get one now..

I'm a huge Empire fan and still play it today. But, IV was a rushed attempt (pressured by the publishers) to plug some holes in III that rules rapists were exploiting. So I can't really endorse it.

III was quite enjoyable though you needed either gentlemen or a series of understandings to prevent the "it doesn't *say* I can't do xyz". My current group prefers V, which is really just called Empire. YMMV.

Thanks to all for the info.I will let this edition collect dust.

FWIW when I played III we could get through a turn "real time" with a Corps per player. That and the aspirin

Having played Empire III frequently and Empire IV only a few times before V came out, I find Empire V,(as 21eRegt above rightly points out, "Empire"), fits the bill for me and the guys that game with me. Although we may frequently be found with a beer or a shot of Bushmills in our hands, none of us as ever expressed the need for any other form of medication. Thanks, JOhn Miller

anyone who wants to get rid of a copy of empire three PM me

Hi

IV was well…………. didn't see much point to it.

Play III if you can get a copy of it or V again if you can find a copy.

There are rumours that an Empire 7 may appear in 2022/3. Its said to allow for multi Corps, Corps/Divisional, and even smaller battles/skirmishes. So………………

I have only ever played III, no idea of anything after, looking forward to VII, mostly for smaller battles.

Same here 14Bore. If I could find a copy of III I would go back to it and forget V.

Surely there is someone out there that could re-publish it.