I recommend a separate boot session that launches the required OS.
I personally maintain bootable partitions for several obsolete OS versions - MSDOS 6.22 (FAT16/2GB max), Win98SE (FAT32), WinXP Pro (NTFS5) - a bit of a minor pain to configure it right, but now running obsolete software/games is simple.
Anyhow -
A removable (floppy or CDROM or even USB) drive can boot MSDOS. A fixed drive (or partition) can boot MSDOS or Windows.
You can also try DOSBox, it works sometimes. Some of your ancient games might have been recompiled and re-released (or just patched) to run on Windows (XCOM Gold, for example, meant to run on Windows while original DOS XCOM would never work right).
IPX, SPX, Netbeui are largely obsolete (and not very secure) - they come with Win9x/NT/XP and there are ways to force them to install in modern Windows versions.
If the modem is recognized by Windows then you can use HyperTerminal to dial out. The game should take over from there once connected.
Unfortunately I don't know which versions of Windows you have. Or what your particular hardware is (particularly your audio, CDROM, network, modem, mouse/input devices - which all need to be initialized at DOS startup). Or all the quirks of all the games you want to play. There are too many variables that can only be worked out by someone sitting in front of your computer. You might have to read and research or just get a nerd to figure it out for you. You don't want to have a computer shop do this (unless the nerd is one of your buddies). You definitely don't want those ****s at Geek Squad to attempt this.
lol, btw - MoO1 has multiplayer?
Well, I'm using my infamous 300PL -- which means windows 98SE (I don't see why you'd need to know all of my hardware though: I can run all of the games, I just
need help with the networking via modem or IPX). I have a whole bunch of 98 computers I'm planning to use for multiplayer.
I generally don't like using DOS by itself, or restart in MS DOS mode: as a child I've always had bad luck with them. Some things never change... Goblins 2 was running rather sluggish, try it in restart in MS DOS mode, great it runs fast, but then hangs at the main screen. ctrl alt delete is your friend (to those who know, it forcefully restarts the computer: in windows you have to hit it twice: doesn't work in modern windows which pisses me off, cause then you have to crash potentially making bad sectors on HDDs).
I also have my thinkcentre which is XP: but I don't use it for DOS games.
No DOSBox is a very horrid thing. It's slow as trash. I can't do everything I want. Well, I better not rant about it here.
I've debated with people at Geek Squad (the guy there didn't know what a "gateway" was, which is a modem & router in one...). They will not help at all, because, I just want to know a few steps on getting modems or IPX running for my games. That's all.
Master of Orion does have multiplayer: I'm surprised you never commented about me saying Master of Magic having multiplayer, you had to download a special patch for it, whereas the Orion one did support it natively (I'm sure). IF not, then HotU has lied.
Oh, speaking of which, Master of Magic was stolen to create "Age of Wonders" (the title of which seems to be stolen from Age of Empires), and Chris Sawyer stole the ideas from "Theme Park" for his rollercoaster tycoon series. He did a pretty good job at it though. That's one ripoff I can say something positive about.
Age of Wonders I find is a little "bloaty," especially shadow magic. When you cake too much into a game, it can become unenjoyable.
