For the Glory

Gameplay

For the Glory is in real time, which flows continuously during gameplay, rather than taking place in turns. The player is able to pause the game, speed up, or slow down time at her or his whim. Unlike most real-time strategy games, the focus is not on military management. Instead, as with other grand strategy titles, the player manages their chosen nation juggling the nation's economy, military, political alliances, scientific development, exploration and colonization, religious affairs, and internal stability.

A major aspect of For the Glory is managing domestic policies. Every ten in-games years, and through events, the player can use sliders to determine domestic policies, which impact the game. Balancing the nation's budget and keeping a lid on inflation is another primary objective. Money is used for multiple things including funding the military, trade, and research. The player can invest funds in their country's stability as well, and stability affects just about every aspect of a nation's performance. Instability is usually the result of in-game actions, such as declaring war on a neighboring country without a casus belli, and it can also be influenced by events. Low stability means land and naval forces stand a greater chance of losing battles; the frequency of internal rebellions rises; diplomatic actions are less successful; and the founding and expansion of colonies are more likely to fail.

Foreign policy and interaction with computer-controlled nations is another sizable facet in For the Glory. AI nations work to maintain the balance of power. If a player tries to conquer territory quickly, his or her international reputation will tarnish, AI nations are more likely to form alliances against the player. Besides brute force there are other methods to nation-building. Through diplomacy, it's possible to vassalize or annex other countries. Aggressive actions still negatively impact country's' reputation, but less than taking territory by force. Also, a casus belli makes the war seem less threatening, reducing the impact on reputation. Casus belli can come through events or religious differences, but the player can also use diplomacy to create one. The player can influence their neighbors as well, with the effectiveness of diplomatic actions determined by the ruler's diplomacy skill.

Battles take place in real time, but the player doesn't have significant control over them. Conflicts between armies are resolved and if the invader wins they besiege the province's garrison. Once the player starves out the garrison, the player controls the province. However, occupation does not equal ownership in For the Glory. Instead, the enemy must agree to cede the territory in a peace treaty, and the likelihood that they'll agree to terms is determined by how much territory the player controls and how well their units fared in battle.

Development

For the Glory was created by Crystal Empire Games, development studio created in June 2008 after the announcement of the Europa Engine Licensing Program by Paradox Interactive. Crystal Empire Games draws upon talent from around the world with many team members having been active in the Paradox Interactive community for years, contributing mods and tools dedicated to the company’s games.

The interface, graphics, and tool tips were improved and modernized when compared to its Europa Universalis II starting point. The number of resolutions supported was increased as well.

A number of new For the Glory features now impact performance in battle, including terrain and weather. These elements now also impact losses from attrition. Weather still affects naval attrition, but the player's fleets now automatically sail to the nearest friendly port when in danger of sinking. The AI now concentrates its forces, making combat against nonplayer nations more difficult.

For the Glory features thousands of new events, both random and historical, the majority of which are country-specific. This is the result of years of intense research, design and post-playtest development from the collegial "AGCEEP" (Alternative Grand Campaign - Event Exchange Program) modification team from the Europa Universalis II fora.

Being born from the demands and creativity of the EUII mod community, For the Glory is predictably modification friendly.

Reception

For the Glory received mixed reviews. Reviewers highlighted its historical immersion, improved graphics and interfaces, and plethora of historical events as major draws for fans of the series. Conversely, they cited the crash-prone multiplayer, some tedious management aspects, and annoying sound effects as drawbacks. It was called, "an improvement from EU II..." and "...more than a mega-patch but less than a new game...".

Despite the supremely disappointing multiplayer experience, For the Glory manages to greatly improve upon Europa Universalis II. The visual improvements, better tooltips, helpful reminder icons, and thousands of new events make For the Glory superior to its venerable ancestor. Needless to say, fans of EUII should pick it up immediately, and Renaissance- and Napoleonic-era aficionados are in for a treat. However, given the availability of Europa Universalis III and its expansions, you may prefer to skip For the Glory in favor of the more stable and aesthetically pleasing experience. If you love the flavor of historical and alt-history events, For the Glory is the Europa Universalis may well be the game for you.