OK, Strategic Command WWII: War in Europe has been out for a bit. What is the scoop on it? Is it any good? I have severe reservations about it and I have seen little discussion about the combat system or the AI.
Quick edit: I am looking at solitaire play only.
OK. The fact that my post has had so many views with no comments in THIS community is very telling.
Don't own it. Have no plans to purchase it.
I was wondering about this game too. I tried HoI4, but I'm just too impatient or too stupid to understand that game :crazy2:
Well I really enjoyed playing it for 3 weeks solid. There are a couple of annoying bugs that need squashing that were hampered by the AI coder having pneumonia but they're working on the patch. I stopped playing about a week ago to wait for the patch. I don't think it is comparable to the HOI series at all. It is somewhere between HOI and Panzer Corps (if PC was at a strategic level).
Bugs that annoyed me were that occasionally the soviet mobilization that occurs when Germany invades would be missing units; reconquering Iraq does not restore resource(oil) production for UK, and some people occasionally have there capital city lose its 'capital-ness' resulting in a loss of supply throughout the country. However, the developers would personally fix your save file so you could continue! I've never seen that kind of support before.
Yeah I think it's in a kind of limbo state where it's functional, but needs work, and there's not much to say until that work is done. Even my guy is finding article research slow atm.
They're been really nice about things though, so that's something.
Played it solo for a while and had fun with it. Waiting on MP to start a game with a buddy of mine.
It's a good game. I think 2 things I would like is a editor function that can open up a game that is currently being played. The other is the PBEM ++that is suppose to be implemented soon. I do like the hexes instead of the old squares. The color scheme is not that electric neon that the other SC games had when with battlefront. It has given me a lot of hours of play, the AI is pretty good and will give you a challenging game. I think some quirkiness is with the supply points involving cities. But overall the price is right and Matrix will not abandon this game, and keep improving it.
Quote from: solops on February 01, 2017, 12:19:03 AM
OK, Strategic Command WWII: War in Europe has been out for a bit. What is the scoop on it? Is it any good? I have severe reservations about it and I have seen little discussion about the combat system or the AI.
Quick edit: I am looking at solitaire play only.
I'm currently in process of writing an article for it, but RL and health issues have conspired to interfere, so it's about half way done. Graphically it's very pretty and there are several new additions to the rules over and above their last opus of WW1:Breakthrough. If you've played SC before, I don't really think it is all that ground breaking other than the vastly improved graphics, although gameplay is pretty similar to Breakthrough (which also has many more scenarios and a WW2 scenario).
The game is certainly solid single player, although I think that the comparative shortage of scenarios (5/6 IIRC)will put a ceiling on replayability. All the same if you want something that plays fast, and is easy to pick up while having a deeper layer of complexity (within the engine) enough to provide a decent challenge, then I'd certainly consider buying it.
Quote from: Boggit on February 03, 2017, 12:34:57 AM
Quote from: solops on February 01, 2017, 12:19:03 AM
OK, Strategic Command WWII: War in Europe has been out for a bit. What is the scoop on it? Is it any good? I have severe reservations about it and I have seen little discussion about the combat system or the AI.
Quick edit: I am looking at solitaire play only.
I'm currently in process of writing an article for it, but RL and health issues have conspired to interfere, so it's about half way done. Graphically it's very pretty and there are several new additions to the rules over and above their last opus of WW1:Breakthrough. If you've played SC before, I don't really think it is all that ground breaking other than the vastly improved graphics, although gameplay is pretty similar to Breakthrough (which also has many more scenarios and a WW2 scenario).
The game is certainly solid single player, although I think that the comparative shortage of scenarios (5/6 IIRC)will put a ceiling on replayability. All the same if you want something that plays fast, and is easy to pick up while having a deeper layer of complexity (within the engine) enough to provide a decent challenge, then I'd certainly consider buying it.
But why oh why didn't they do something with the naval aspects of the game? It cries out for fleets in one hex rather than a continuation of the old process.
Quote from: Rayfer on February 03, 2017, 07:47:13 AM
Quote from: Boggit on February 03, 2017, 12:34:57 AM
Quote from: solops on February 01, 2017, 12:19:03 AM
OK, Strategic Command WWII: War in Europe has been out for a bit. What is the scoop on it? Is it any good? I have severe reservations about it and I have seen little discussion about the combat system or the AI.
Quick edit: I am looking at solitaire play only.
I'm currently in process of writing an article for it, but RL and health issues have conspired to interfere, so it's about half way done. Graphically it's very pretty and there are several new additions to the rules over and above their last opus of WW1:Breakthrough. If you've played SC before, I don't really think it is all that ground breaking other than the vastly improved graphics, although gameplay is pretty similar to Breakthrough (which also has many more scenarios and a WW2 scenario).
The game is certainly solid single player, although I think that the comparative shortage of scenarios (5/6 IIRC)will put a ceiling on replayability. All the same if you want something that plays fast, and is easy to pick up while having a deeper layer of complexity (within the engine) enough to provide a decent challenge, then I'd certainly consider buying it.
But why oh why didn't they do something with the naval aspects of the game? It cries out for fleets in one hex rather than a continuation of the old process.
Because the developers seem to have an aversion to having any kind of stacking in the game, which leads to some pretty odd game conventions.
I think the game is fantastic. I've been playing for multiple hours each night since its release. Like others have said, there are a few kinks left to be ironed out(Why the Axis AI won't attack Malta in the Barbarossa campaign). But the balance and myriad of strategic options that a player has is very good.
Here's an example of what I mean. I'm playing the Barbarossa campaign, which begins on June 22, of course. I'm playing as the Allies. In my first game, fighting against Rommel and the Afrika Corps in the desert, I did well and managed to push the Germans all the way back across North Africa until I kicked them out of Tunis. I did send an American task force of Transports loaded with tanks, troops and headquarters units a bit earlier, all escorted by what I thought was a powerful battle group of 2 BBs, 2 CAs, 5 DDs and 1 CV.
Here's where I made a huge mistake. Instead of landing at the NW coast of North Africa as Operation Torch did in the real war, I decided that I would go all the way into the Mediterranean and land near Tripoli in a bold coup-de-main. Haha, very funny. The Italian Navy discovered me before I got to Tripoli, and kicked my ass. All of my transports were sunk, along with the majority of warships. I think one BB and one CA managed to limp back to Gibraltar.
So, I would say that this game is a lot of fun in single-player mode, but it's going to be awesome in multi-player, once that gets added. There are going to be so many sneaky things to attempt to do to your opponent.
If you can live without stacking, it's a great game. :bd:
Hi all
I'd firstly like to say thank you to everyone who voted to place our game second in the Digital Game of the year category, that is great to see! O0
Work on the first patch and Multiplayer is progressing, I can't give any timelines but Hubert is back to health now and we are working hard on it all. I can't wait to have them both rolled out, partly because like many others, I'm also itching to get some Multiplayer games in! :)
Thanks again
Bill
From what I have read there is no stacking, just one unit per hex. And there is no multi-hex combat. So, someone explain to me how this can possibly work. The combined arms concept must be completely absent, unless units are some generic mix of infantry, armor, artillery and AA. And massing forces seems absent as well. Something must be missing from the sources available to me
You can buy many different types of units (including armor, infantry, anti-tank, artillery, AA, and air units) and none of them stack. I don't recall seeing any combined arms units.
The map scale is appropriate for divisions, but most of the units are armies and corps. This results in a surprisingly empty Eastern Front.
A decision was apparently made not to use hand drawn maps. The outline of the coast was drawn by an editing program: the positioning of rivers and mountain ranges is pretty good, but there can be considerable distortions (don't look too closely at Greece, Sicily, and Southern Italy).
In spite of all of this the game can be a lot of fun to play, and has really good flavor chrome. The game attracts a fanatical and loyal fanbase who apparently don't care too much about historicity (apart from complaining about the lack of SS units).
Just to add that the game comes with its own Editor which enables everyone who desires to create their own mods and even design new maps.
It's pretty easy to use and the second half of the User Manual covers using the Editor.
There are already quite a few mods in progress, including a Napoleonic one called The Rise and Fall of an Empire:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tt.asp?forumid=1629
Bill
So, no stacking, no multi-hex combat but units ARE differentiated by type (armor, infantry, etc.). That is totally bonkers. I have no interest in this. Whatever it is, and it may be fun, it is not a historical war game to me.
I'm working on a mod that simulates a world war with Stalin attacking the west in 1946. A few screen shots.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aKPMBnGM5srIN-t6qQw-drddsuZ5tx_q5sZ85H4sC3W0xbwF4ToKxUfR5ejdgQHoeYafxGmT8GOF80MH7WegTme0U75ygQ4uE3nfD-qillbVEOaVcGqniTNr-qcjYcGuCQvsLi-vOZkhuQe9s1gX4rQco1ZbBl5WwYC85U8MxcXl7QkECFbHBd8N8D7iOQhzCWfDRRMMLB4pkG46Ny4j-cFM7I19PHELF5HmF_LlBYXv7gzBN60uFesQiQdkh20ZMZHjB65xa-XprI7n_gp_MoWAqwTCNnkZfBC5pI0SotJjKv8vu5yK0Lzfhf1vdiUAikLfRJSW2w0AK9xv4pFwX5hhvUdU4QrkSWe78uDsvM6Wi_Y4DP6aHqxck91JUjdc9jtJ-1W2j6BiLKwpjaNLR-0wdgYUdMDc3r3a-2mq_Tt7gApU80BvP3dSVe4OQpvLctlpMX91kcrzyqOWD91JNwIEHOS1jHNwvw0Msc9_jxOXjWh6gQbGNsUCh22wxBwFQ8JJrOqxtfXnG3Ft03dJHI9YuEOngk4N6QkUfelRtgRQYG-_9FdEgeFZoPZTMgM2HXmAErKsZNbyhHJKqAit3cTW-mmDZJwfug1rosixl3bG0C28Ixdj=w1179-h624-no)
The West is holding on the Pyrenees Line.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PDcY9C_2vmhyn2-bEY9ewSjiSQh5IEFy6DDJJKjm3Cfo76P2XCUNhNA-rq04oWNhZABqiv3_pdY_mwT48rA9KvZDnYDNsndhVPrOn9Da8nB9IJRNeaT-E4eOsdooorG75zZoeEvxN_bG0zsi_UMq6M-ydqePV4UMVxrymVm9KgJt2XTpSK9EavSpBxqqYfkLeoCS-GudTU93efflNh3SouDduUQzt28eqfncNkgHGaqiGOLCzYHQe8Ma-V_ZdRT20O8C0ZPmcu79CHSMVLK8bf3ylBdz5tc3EuBFUkrKogjqqaiMkOisksS13dU3_xvigyLKoduVoxmTkpkZdUZSDCIDDdJKe0GBSkbSQLzz2q_BqHY6Wa8QTfWXqu0goQIOaa1SNkV3gvyWTT72J0O89-76N2vWcPnMxSb_PHmZ3XJxj1mdV7QTX4p9T8ajt0Vq8zlmSuXz9z6_IcHZBlM0zT0xUsJKrVPnKST__Fa1VUVGqiYJ9eMkcNk93Rh7e485t6DicnBrZIcH0rHEDnZMwoho71lp0F22PX-aIA-UYdVvq7SwANvO9MX2j0g246RyaaeiXUJLgbuZaivFfoCpDkPg33KOkz3nAOPwkedwu0HoXoQU5xiX=w1183-h575-no)
One of the growing number of graphic mods.
hairog....the screenshots are showing up for me, can't open them?
Rat potty! I accidentally bought this game instead of Tigers on the Prowl with my 15 year discount coupon.(face palm). I guess I'll trot it out when I want to play something like Stratego.
How embarrassing.
Quote from: solops on February 14, 2017, 11:20:19 AM
Rat potty! I accidentally bought this game instead of Tigers on the Prowl with my 15 year discount coupon.(face palm). I guess I'll trot it out when I want to play something like Stratego.
How embarrassing.
I don't understand why you're crapping on this game so hard. It never pretended to be WitE. It's fun for what it is. Nobody is putting a gun to your head to play it.
And they'd better not try!
Rat potty?
Quote from: bbmike on February 14, 2017, 08:39:08 PM
Rat potty?
Yes, strong language, I know. I apologize.
Quote from: solops on February 14, 2017, 11:20:19 AM
Rat potty! I accidentally bought this game instead of Tigers on the Prowl with my 15 year discount coupon.(face palm). I guess I'll trot it out when I want to play something like Stratego.
How embarrassing.
I have to ask, how does one "accidentally" buy a game:)
That is really too embarrassing to go into. Let's just say that involves distraction, multi-tasking, indecision, distraction and incompetence.
Well while we're down this road (are we??) - what are some suggestions for a good great WW2 ETO PC game? Personally, I'd love it if WiF had an AI or if somebody were to redo Third Reich PC properly. I'd like to see something at the corps level that promotes good use of breakthrough and pocketing. I don't want to see "health" bars or a "10" on every unit. Naval doesn't have to be highly detailed but nor should it be overly abstracted. Air units should be vital assets and not just used to throw in to a battle for a simple modifier. I don't want to micro-manage every single replacement nor do I want to build factories and select what it makes. I also don't want the AI to do everything for me so that I'm basically the "click and move" guy. I'd *love* to see combat reports with as much or as little detail as I need. Being able to create or play multiple scenarios is important as well. Hell, I just described TOAW3 I think.
Quote from: GJK on February 14, 2017, 10:07:57 PM
Well while we're down this road (are we??) - what are some suggestions for a good great WW2 ETO PC game? Personally, I'd love it if WiF had an AI or if somebody were to redo Third Reich PC properly. I'd like to see something at the corps level that promotes good use of breakthrough and pocketing. I don't want to see "health" bars or a "10" on every unit. Naval doesn't have to be highly detailed but nor should it be overly abstracted. Air units should be vital assets and not just used to throw in to a battle for a simple modifier. I don't want to micro-manage every single replacement nor do I want to build factories and select what it makes. I also don't want the AI to do everything for me so that I'm basically the "click and move" guy. I'd *love* to see combat reports with as much or as little detail as I need. Being able to create or play multiple scenarios is important as well. Hell, I just described TOAW3 I think.
GG's War in the West?
Quote from: GJK on February 14, 2017, 10:07:57 PM
Well while we're down this road (are we??) - what are some suggestions for a good great WW2 ETO PC game? Personally, I'd love it if WiF had an AI or if somebody were to redo Third Reich PC properly. I'd like to see something at the corps level that promotes good use of breakthrough and pocketing. I don't want to see "health" bars or a "10" on every unit. Naval doesn't have to be highly detailed but nor should it be overly abstracted. Air units should be vital assets and not just used to throw in to a battle for a simple modifier. I don't want to micro-manage every single replacement nor do I want to build factories and select what it makes. I also don't want the AI to do everything for me so that I'm basically the "click and move" guy. I'd *love* to see combat reports with as much or as little detail as I need. Being able to create or play multiple scenarios is important as well. Hell, I just described TOAW3 I think.
My favourite right now is Schwerpunkt Games World War II Europe.
http://schwerpunktgames.com/misc/games/world-war-ii-europe-1939-1945/
All the detail you described.... but... there's always a but... it's still being worked on by Ron Dockal. The entire ETO campaign game is not yet complete. There are a lot of scenarios though and some are quite large. Poland, France 40, North Africa 1940-1943, East Front Blitzkrieg 41. More scenarios coming including the entire theatre.
It's a one man show so progress is slow. The interface is a little quirky at first but the game play is great.
I did a review for here a while ago... here it is... on something called the Front Page (?)... http://grogheads.com/?p=7117
I thought of GG "War in the" series and I think they'd fit the bill for each of the fronts but we're talking about something that covers all of the ETO/Med.
I like Ron's work - I remember enjoying his AGW game many years ago and I felt like it could be *the* computer game that actually simulates a boardgame. My only "gripe" is not a gripe but a preference and that is I wish that he would make a version of it that was army/corps level...that would be a dream. Being at division level just becomes too much of a chore for me moving 100's of units every turn. Ron - if you're monitoring - make an ETO/Med game at the corps level and I'll sing your praises all over the internet!
One game that I do enjoy but alas, it has no AI is Decision games Computer WWII. I think that has a slick interface where you see the CRT and the die roller going up and down the column until it finally rests on the die roll. You then see the modifiers that were applied and the final results- very well done. It's a big game too but there's not a 1000 units to mess with and it goes quickly even when playing solitaire. Add an AI to this and I'll sing its praises as well.