To all of those who want to protect their precious strategy..
How much strategy can you really have in a game where you fight against AI?
Also, as hint has also already said, it was completely surreal that you could attack a city and that the defender had no idea what hit them.
You attack their town. Where they are. How on earth could they not see what they're defending against?
At least now it makes sense and puts some realism in the game. Ofcourse realism isn't the biggest priority in this game, but it sure does make sense that you're able to revise why you won or lost.
As said before, not every single battle in history was settled by black ops. Sneaking into a town, defeating the opposing force stealthily and getting out.
Again, it makes sense that you can see what the heck hit your own town.
As for game mechanics;
Yes, in some cases it does make it more difficult to win battles, IF the people you are attacking actually take the trouble to take measures against their continued loss-streak.
I for one will not take the trouble to set up specific defenses against my neighbourhood PvPers. Why would I waste space, resources, population and happiness to block 1 attacker?
Nearly everyone has a different army, so how would you even defend against all of them specifically?
I doubt this is about the replay. It's about worrying that you now actually have to be alert and adept like a real war, instead of relying on a single 'best' army.
Yes, some of you have several armies, but I'm sure those are selective VS different opponents. So the statement still stands.
As for 'copying tactics', as was pointed out before, anyone who really wants to get into PvP will figure out the most efficient way to battle anyway.
Also, what are the odds that you will have the exact same map as the person you're trying to 'copy'? The map is a huge factor in how a strategy is played, and it's a huge variable.
In the end, I think this discussion is just about how you now have to actually work for your medals and adept your defenses for (finally) some counter attacks.
In other words, like any MMORPG, when things get harder, people complain instead of seeing the challenge and they complain when it's easy and boring.
- L