Multiplayer games for an oddball gamer?

[Phaethom]

I'm a PC gamer looking to get into a competitive (or cooperative!) multiplayer game. Suggestions?

Must be:
- Broken into games/segments that take 1 hour or less, since I can?t always find a bigger block of time
Must not be:
- A shooter. I don?t enjoy them!

I prefer games of thinking and strategy rather than reactions and skill shots. I have enjoyed some RTSs in the past, but here?s the complication: I barely ever like combat in games. I know, combat (of some form) is a centerpiece in most games. But I always like the other elements more. I really like Civilization and 4X games because of the other aspects besides combat?if there was a game where I can play an economy-building or support role while someone else does the fighting, it would be a pleasant surprise!

That being said, I will do combat if required. It?s just not my favorite thing. I?ve tried a MOBA (Smite) and was quite bad at it. So I?m not optimistic about one of those.
Are there any relatively quick multiplayer games you?ve enjoyed?

 

[Nix33]

I'd recommend March of War. Its a turn-based, f2p strategy available on Steam. I played it a little, but since I'm an idiot when it comes to strategy, I didn't fare all to well. One match takes about half an hour. But it does focus on combat and not world-building.

Stronghold Kingdoms maybe? I don't know. The specifications you've given here point towards a genre of multiplayer game that has been (nearly) dead for a while now. Come to think of it, has it ever been truly alive? Second of all, how can an MMO that is focused on strategy last one hour or less? One average multiplayer match of Civilization can last upwards of four hours.

I don't know. This is very specific, and one would think that with such specific requirements, you'd be able to find your fit quite easily.

 

[Gankytim]

Any game with a frequent autosave feature?

 

[Pink Gregory]

I prefer games of thinking and strategy rather than reactions and skill shots. I have enjoyed some RTSs in the past, but here?s the complication: I barely ever like combat in games. I know, combat (of some form) is a centerpiece in most games. But I always like the other elements more. I really like Civilization and 4X games because of the other aspects besides combat?if there was a game where I can play an economy-building or support role while someone else does the fighting, it would be a pleasant surprise!

The only thing I can think of is just an RTS in which allied players share a pool of resources (which I don't think exist), or can easily trade resources.

I guess Stronghold is a contender, build up a strong economy (one of the only RTSes I know to have such extensive economy gameplay and gift gold to an ally in return for protection; but I don't actually remember if you can do that.

I 'unno, I can't think of any 4x or turn based games in which combat can be completely omitted for economy (xTerminate is one of the Xs)

I think you're unlikely to find a short playtime multiplayer economy game, unfortunately.