Traviowned

Ok, I'm a bit torn.

On one hand, Travian isn't very fun or engaging. It's teeming with jackasses and 13 year olds... and 13 year old jackasses. And it practically annoys you to the point of exhaustion.

On the other hand, I can't really seem to stop compulsively checking any of my three villiages.

Here's the catch with Travian. You play it so slowly. While the game keeps you at an arms length, you hunger to play it more. In reality, you're only taking an important turn every 24 hours or so. The rest is humdrum waiting around for resources to pool or armies to return.

Travian is similar to Civilization, without all those pesky graphics. The game takes a few weeks to really get a handle on, which definitely adds to the addictive nature. You're in your own little world for a week or so until other players are added to the mix. Then you might find your little town being pilliaged regularly by the hamlet of 'Batman Rulez!!1' which is one sqaure over.

I dare you to create a town and not care about it's welfare.