For today's post I'd like to tell you about an online game that has completely taken over my life - Evony. One day I was innocently minding my own business, stopping by one of my regular entertainment news websites, when I saw an ad in a side column. The ad was impossible not to notice because of the ample amount of cleavage spilling out of the beautiful woman's loose, open top. My curiosity having been sparked, I clicked on the link, hoping perhaps to see more of the comely lass.

Here's the picture to show you what I mean. See if you can resist clicking on it.

The ad was for Evony, an online real time medieval strategy came where players build their cities and armies, earning prestige and gaining in rank. Though there was no more of the buxom lady in the ad to be seen, I decided to give the game a try and I am glad I did.

I have always been a big fan of strategy games. I love the Civilization series. Evony is like that, crossed with Simcity, Rome and other city building games. While the graphics aren't as cutting edge as the latest PC releases, Evony has the distinct advantage of being free.

The game concept is fairly straight forward - you amass resources with which you can build buildings and armies. You can also research technologies in the academy. Developments you make in the sciences at one academy are shared by all your cities, provided that city contains an academy of the appropriate level. You can attain medals, along with additional resources, by conquering nearby valleys or NPC cities scattered about. The medals allow your player to advance and build more cities. You can also join alliances and go to war with other players. By attacking other players, you can not only prestige and resources, but also honor. Provided you win, that is. ;-)

Evony is highly addictive. I play in the morning before I go to work and the evenings when I get home. I play all weekend. Since the game world is in real time, events continue even while you aren't logged on. Your armies, structures and defenses will continue to build. Your armies, if you've sent them out, will continue to march. Other players can attack you.

While I'm playing, I chat with my alliance mates about effective strategies for finding more medals and building city defenses. If you don't have the patience to farm for medals and resources, you can purchase for money items from Evony that will let you move up more quickly through the game. Special offers are regular posted to increase the value of any money that a player decides to invest in the game.

Evony has been a lot of fun to play. I just started my fourth city. With each city I get more efficient in terms of what structures I need to prioritize. In addition to the chat window where you can talk with your alliance mates, there is an e-mail system to communicate with neighbors who may not be in your alliance. Anyone can start an alliance in Evony and there are a lot to chose from. I recommend joining one that has members nearby to your city so that you can support each other, either with troops or gifts or resources, in times of war.

Evony is a great game and I highly recommend you try it out. If you do and want any tips, I'm on server 25, my lord name is Validus and I'm part of the Shannara alliance.