Zeus Master of Olympus and Poseidon Expansion

3 comments

1. 

   Peter Martin Bregman II on February 28, 2010 at 10:44 pm

   The science tab was not as good as the culture tab in Zeus the buildings are way too big. The Chariot Factories again were way to big. They could have combined armories functions with armor and combined them into Blacksmiths that kept horse, made chariots, and armor. They were way to big just Like the laboratories. Both should have been 2X2 or 3X3 but not 4X4 for the benefits they were providing. Universities and Inventories workshops should have been combined into just Universities. In fact, they could have even added the college and drama school features to the universities. Allow the university to support everything like philosophers, inventors, astronomers, scholars, actors, and curators. That way they could have had Libraries instead of bibliotekes and still kept the podiums. They could have kept all Gyms, Podiums, Amphitheaters, Observatories, Laboratories, and Libraries instead of Bibliotekes. They also could have kept the Hippodrome, Museum, and the Stadium. Then the science tab could have been the science and culture tab. Keeping Just like the Masonry Shops should have handled both types of Marble. Refinery should have made both Bronze Bars and Orichalc. Grower’s Lodges should have handled not only olives and grapes but oranges too. In fact, they could have added apples to the game giving Aphrodite apples orchards in front of her temple. Allow the Grower’s Lodges to care for apples too. Making Grower’s Lodges way more efficient. The pyramids were a total joke and took up way to much space for just appeal benefits. They should have given benefits like Sanctuaries did. The fact you have a non-working pyramid Museum, Library, and Observatory also did not make sense. These buildings could have provide exhibits, scholars, and astronomers. The Shrines, Temples, and the Altar could have give some benefits from the deity it was dedicated to. Corrals also were way to big for just meat. They could have combined Corrals to provide both fleece and cheese plus shepherds and dairymen. Then it could have been that big. They could have also combined the farms to grow wheat, onions, and carrots instead of separate farms for each. The water parks could have had features that connected them into canals which would have been so awesome. As far as more landscapes would have been nice like waterfalls and four more predator spawns 2 for bears and 2 for lions. Fisheries could have been combined with Netter Quays making them more efficient and staying 2X2. These are just some of the issues. The fact is they put way too much in for such a small building area plus it was Pumped up with way to much appeal crap filler and not enough substance and a lot of the buildings took up way too much space.

   This summaries the rest of what they should have done. If you played Zenu this will make sense to you. This is why the Poseidon Expansion bombed. Here are my summarized suggestions.

   Minor Shine
   
   Grants you Beast Protectors representing Diety
   
   (Deity Specific)

   God Monster Hero Animal Protector

   Zeus Cyclops Hercules Massive Eagles/Bulls
   
   Poseidon Kraken Theseus Dolphins/Wild Horses
   
   Hades Cerberus Orpheus Massive Bats
   
   Hera Sphinx Eurystheus Massive Peacocks/Cows
   
   Demeter Medusa Hippolyte Lions, Boar
   
   Athena Hydra Odysseus Massive Owls
   
   Artemis Calydonian Boar Atalanta Wolf, Deer, Boar
   
   Apollo Scylla Odysseus Massive Crow
   
   Atlas Chimera Bellerophon Wild Horses
   
   Ares Dragon Cadmus Massive Vultures
   
   Hephaestus Talos Jason Massive Crane
   
   Aphrodite Hector Paris Massive Swan (Water/Air)
   
   Hermes Minotaur Perseus Serpents
   
   Dionysus Maenads Chiron Mountain Goat

   *

   Normal Shrine
   
   Grants you the Deity’s Prayer
   
   (Deity Specific)

   Major Shrine
   
   Grants you Monster Protector
   
   (Deity Specific)

   Altar of Olympus
   
   Increase the affects of all Prayers of All Shrines and Sanctuaries

   Temple of Olympus
   
   Allow each deity and monster protector to be in two places at once increasing all sanctifications and protective patrols

   Pyramid to the Pantheon
   
   Makes your City Immune to God Invasions

   Temple Library (Philosophers, Scholars) 9X9 and 4 high
   
   Increases all Philosophy, Drama, and Learning in City
   
   Second Huge Library
   
   Deity: Apollo, Athena

   Museum Atlantika (Curators)
   
   Increases all Exhibits in City
   
   Second Museum
   
   Deity: Apollo

   Observatory Kosmika (Astronomers)
   
   Increases all Astronomy in City
   
   Massive Observatory
   
   Deity: Apollo

   Modest Pyramid
   
   Modestly increases
   
   All Diplomatic Reputations Gains
   
   All Filled Good, Drachmas, and Military Requests to other cities by you
   
   Amount received from trade

   Pyramid
   
   Increases
   
   All Diplomatic Reputations Gains
   
   All Filled Good, Drachmas, and Military Requests to other cities by you
   
   Amount received from trade

   Great Pyramid
   
   Greatly increases
   
   All Diplomatic Reputations Gains
   
   All Filled Good, Drachmas, and Military Requests to other cities by you
   
   Amount received from trade

   Majestic Pyramid
   
   Massively increases
   
   All Diplomatic Reputations Gains
   
   All Filled Good, Drachmas, and Military Requests to other cities by you
   
   Amount received from trade

   Small Monument to the Sky
   
   Modestly increases
   
   City’s Overall Appeal
   
   All City’s Food, Fleece, Horse, Olives, and Grape Production
   
   All Athletic, Competitors, and Chariot Races winnings & benefits in City
   
   Increases all the chance of winning of all Pan-Hellenistic

   Monument to the Sky
   
   Greatly increases
   
   City’s Overall Appeal
   
   All City’s Food, Fleece, Horse, Olives, and Grape Production
   
   All Athletic, Competitors, and Chariot Races winnings & benefits in City
   
   Increases all the chance of winning of all Pan-Hellenistic

   Grand Monument to the Sky
   
   Massively increases
   
   City’s Overall Appeal
   
   All City’s Food, Fleece, Horse, Olives, and Grape Production
   
   All Athletic, Competitors, and Chariot Races winnings & benefits in City
   
   Increases all the chance of winning of all Pan-Hellenistic

   Science and Culture

   Athletics
   
   Gyms (Produces Athletes, Competitors) Unlimited 3X3
   
   Deity: Apollo

   Learning and Philosophy
   
   Podiums (Philosophers, Scholars) 2X2
   
   Deity: Apollo

   Amphitheater Unlimited (Performers) 5X5
   
   Deity: Apollo, Dionysus

   Research and Discovery
   
   Observatory Unlimited and One Special One (Astronomers) 5X5
   
   Deity: Apollo

   Laboratory Unlimited (Inventors) 3×3
   
   Deity: Apollo

   Special
   
   University and One Special One 4×8
   
   Deity: Apollo, Athena

   Produces
   
   Philosophers
   
   Performers
   
   Scholars
   
   Curators
   
   Astronomers
   
   Inventors
   
   Library (Philosophers, Scholars) 4X4
   
   Deity: Apollo, Athena

   Museum (Curators) 6X6
   
   Deity: Apollo

   Hippodromes 1 (Chariot Racers)
   
   Deity: Apollo, Poseidon

   Stadium 1 (Competitors) 4X8
   
   Deity: Apollo

   Food

   Give Aphrodite a single row of 8 Apple Trees and one Fountain at he back of her temple.
   
   Have Hermes Sanctify Corral’s Cheese Production

   Allow Grapes to count towards food without being stored in Granary. Allow Grapes that are stored warehouses to be taken to Agoras for food.

   Grower Lodges
   
   Deities: Hera, Demeter, Athena, Aphrodite, Dionysus
   
   Grapes: Dionysus, Demeter
   
   Olives: Athena, Demeter
   
   Oranges: Hera, Demeter
   
   Apples: Aphrodite, Demeter

   Farms
   
   Deity: Demeter
   
   Wheat: Demeter
   
   Onions: Demeter
   
   Carrots: Demeter

   Corrals
   
   Deity: Hera, Hermes, Athena
   
   Shepard & Herders
   
   Sheep: Fleece: Athena
   
   Goats: Cheese: Hermes
   
   Cattle: Meat: Hera

   Fishery
   
   Deity: Poseidon, Aphrodite
   
   Requires: Wood
   
   Fisherman & Netters
   
   Urchin: Poseidon, Aphrodite
   
   Fish: Poseidon, Aphrodite

   Hunter’s Lodge
   
   Hunters
   
   Deity: Artemis
   
   Meat

   Trade

   All Travel Speed: Hermes
   
   Water Travel Speed: Poseidon

   Agora
   
   Deity: Hermes

   Trading Post
   
   Deity: Hermes

   Pier
   
   Deity: Poseidon, Hermes

   Civic

   Tax Office
   
   Deity: Hades

   Infirmary
   
   Deity: Apollo

   Maintenance Office
   
   Deity: Hephaestus, Atlas

   Fountain
   
   Deity: Poseidon, Aphrodite

   Homes

   Homes
   
   Deity: Hera, Aphrodite

   Industry

   Refineries
   
   Deity: Hades, Atlas
   
   Orichalc: Atlas
   
   Bronze: Hades

   Mints
   
   Deity: Hades
   
   Drachmas

   Masonry Shop
   
   Deity: Atlas
   
   Black Marble
   
   Marble

   Lumber Mill
   
   Deity: Atlas
   
   Wood

   Blacksmith
   
   Deity: Hephaestus
   
   Requires: Wood, Bronze, Orichalc
   
   Armor
   
   Chariots

   Artisan’s Guild & Studio
   
   Deity: Hephaestus, Atlas
   
   Requires: Bronze
   
   Sculpture: Hephaestus
   
   Construction: Atlas

   Olive Press
   
   Deity: Athena
   
   Requires: Olives

   Winery
   
   Deity: Dionysus
   
   Requires: Grapes

   Military

   Tower
   
   Deity: Aries
   
   Requires: Orichalc, Armor

   Trireme / Frigates Wharf
   
   Deity: Poseidon
   
   Requires: Wood, Orichalc, Armor

   Horse Ranch
   
   Deity: Poseidon
   
   Requires: Wheat

   Gatehouse
   
   Deity: Ares

   Walls
   
   Deity: Ares

   Watchtower
   
   Deity: Ares

   Appeal

   Elite Houses require access to Fish Ponds, Water Parks, or Baths

   Stone Garden 2X2
   
   Shell Circle 3X3

   Sculpture Pond 3X3
   
   Requires: 3 Sculpture

   Lighthouse 3X3
   
   You can only have one
   
   Requires: 3X1 Shoreline, 3X2 Cleared Land
   
   Requires: 20 Marble, 20 Black Marble, 10 Orichalc, 20 Wood
   
   Cannot be within 10 squares Monster Spawn or Wolf Spawn

   Prevents Ships from sinking, being beached, and going ashore
   
   Keeps All Enemy Monsters and wolves 10 Squares away

   Corner Sculpture
   
   Requires: Avenue, Boulevard, or Cleared Land
   
   Requires: 1 Sculpture
   
   1×1

   Corner Statue
   
   Requires: Avenue, Boulevard, or Cleared Land
   
   Requires: 8 Marble, 2 Wood
   
   1×1

   Landscapes
   
   Waterfalls
   
   Requires: Cliff

   2 Bear Spawn

   2 Lion Spawn

   Also allow animal spawns to be placed on both Forest and Shrubs.
   

2. 

   Karen Hall on March 1, 2010 at 1:38 am

   My daughter and I are addicted. Best city building game I have ever used. Easy and not over detailed, takes plenty of planning so you have to play the game multiple times to get it right. ALways a challenge no matter how many time you play it. Once you play you are hooked. DOnt bother with Pharaoh, its the same game, different graphics. I find the other city building games too detailed or stress too much war/battling. This would have been a great game in 7th grade to to learn all the mythology. They need a NOrse version!

3. 

   Devon on March 1, 2010 at 4:09 am

   This is an old game, so don’t expect if to do your laundry and it may not even run on Vista without some minor adjustments. It’s definitely the easiest and cheesiest of the Impressions/Sierra offerings, but I’m not sorry I bought it. Make sure you get the Poseidon Expansion version which has additional missions, because the Zeus-only original will be over way too quickly. Ran great for me on an XP system with no tweaking needed.

   I found Zeus/Poseidon when I finally, after over ten years of playing Pharaoh off and on, got a little bored. This game fits the bill, even though it’s a little campy and showing its age. Since I don’t like “doom-style” 3-D engine graphics, the newer historical city building games from other authors don’t work for me. (The rotation effects of the 3-D make my head spin and as an accountant type, I like neat flat columns and rows on my workspace.) This game plays just like Pharaoh and Caesar3, but with clearer and more detailed buildings.

   If you have played Caesar3 or Pharaoh you’ll be pleased to know they finally did away with the employee-seeking citizen. Job vacancies are filled from an available pool, so you can finally build stable housing blocks cut off from industry that basically run themselves. Warfare is VERY basic, watered-down, and not required by most of the scenarios. I don’t like shoot-em-ups anyway, so that’s a plus. An improvement? over Pharaoh and Caesar, Zeus introduces an autopilot military so you don’t have to do anything when you’re attacked – your “generals” will handle all tactical decisions. This is somewhat poorly implemented though, and wreaks havoc with your workforce since the game uses a “citizen army.” I preferred to handle the military myself, but if you really don’t like having to do any battles and just want to watch it unfold, the option is there.

   The first thing I noticed was how BIG everything is. The buildings are bigger and pretty to look at. Real advances are the map-wide labor pool, as well as now, culture, religion and other housing services are based on actual coverage of walkers passing housing, instead of an arbitrary population covered per building placed. Nothing frustrated me more about Pharaoh and Caesar than taking a beautiful stable city and plunking down useless extra schools, libraries, and temples just to meet the goals. Zeus is a pretty relaxing city building experience and you can focus on building pretty cities and maximizing resources and trade. The pseudo mythology is fun too, and some of it is even pretty close to history/myth.

   If you like the format of the Sierra/Impressions city building games, you’ll like this. When you get bored – and if you do any amount of city building gaming you will pretty quickly – make sure to get Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom, the final installment in the Sierra/Impressions series. Emperor adds a new twist of feng shui in building placement to the familiar interface and further fine tunes to a granular level, the controls over production, distribution, and walkers.

   Happy building!