GrogHeads Forum

Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: Destraex on August 25, 2018, 04:43:33 AM

Title: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on August 25, 2018, 04:43:33 AM
Steel Division 2 article:

https://www.pcgamer.com/steel-division-2-is-a-11-scale-rts-inside-a-massive-turn-based-wargame/

Interesting read. Great to hear phases are still being used and expanded on for the grand campaign. I love that system. What would be really cool though is if you could have more control over what was in your phases. It would be nice for instance to have all your heavy armour in phase A which would mean you miss out on a lot of other gear. If the enemy stopped you, by the time of phase B you would have very little left to stop him. You know. It would cost you cards or points for the later phases b and c or something. I guess the game kinda already has this system in place in sd44 to some extent.

Just had a chance to read the article properly. I love that most things will stay the same as sd44. If the campaign is as good as total war this game will be propelled to top tier. Funny that they say one engagement was 3x3 km map and then proceed to say battle maps are larger.

I like the sound of hills and better insulation but it's sounding more like red dragon. Which may be too much rush a point and not enough frontline for me. Hope the frontline system has been kept. That is my fav bit of sd44.

Bit concerned to see arty specialty coming into play. I hate artillery campers. I hope be counter battery capability without the need for spotting.

I hope when the article says 18 new divisions they mean in addition to the old ones.

I think they probably mean the deck creator.
I also remember them saying deck card art will be more realistic. Which I hope means no more watercolour blurred deck card art and some new crisp real model box cover artwork.

https://www.pcgamer.com/steel-division-2-is-a-11-scale-rts-inside-a-massive-turn-based-wargame/

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JpB4WbSRZmeYwmCMp984AY.jpg)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kewy8Bo7GQ67suR5QMsY8X.jpg)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2HorDyjyWa5ny7PrZFLiPX.jpg)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vYANTJS49D7aAegmpp5UqX.jpg)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AosWKsKiTFa6wqfx67YS9Y.jpg)

(https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tx3B3WMqGdfDfSsRsKqj2c.jpg)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on August 25, 2018, 06:41:15 AM
Wonder if there will be snow covered maps or if we'll see that kind of diversity in a DLC.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on August 25, 2018, 07:48:39 AM
I suspect the 18 divisions, 9 per side, will be new ones, for two simple reasons:

1.) 9 of the divisions must be on the Soviet side. Those weren't in Normandy.

2.) As a general rule, the divisions in Normandy weren't in Kursk Byelorussia or whatever. :-[
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: ComradeP on August 25, 2018, 08:39:53 AM
The Germans would indeed need new divisions for an Operation Bagration campaign, as none of the stock or DLC divisions were in Byelorussia when Bagration was launched.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Apocalypse 31 on August 25, 2018, 09:36:34 AM
I miss RUSE.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on August 25, 2018, 11:58:46 AM
I meant in addition to the new eastern divisions I hope they port the western ones to keep multiplayer in testing


Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Boggit on August 25, 2018, 01:26:48 PM
Quote from: Apocalypse 31 on August 25, 2018, 09:36:34 AM
I miss RUSE.
Fear not!

It's available on Steam as I have it in my Steam library. :)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on August 25, 2018, 01:56:29 PM
...um. No? I think the answer is no.

You may have a Steam shortcut for convenience, and you may have it on the Ubi download service (God help you), but it isn't on Steam.

(I have it on PS3 myself.)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on August 25, 2018, 10:34:58 PM
Really strange that Ruse is not on steam.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on August 26, 2018, 04:16:27 AM
Quote from: Destraex on August 25, 2018, 10:34:58 PM
Really strange that Ruse is not on steam.

I have it on Steam (think I had to install a 'fix' to make it ignore Uplay for single player).  Bought it on Steam when it was just released.
I just checked and it still works.

It looks like you can still get it for Steam on Amazon :

R.U.S.E. [Download]
Steam and Uplay accounts required for game activation and installation
DRM: Steam
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FV5CDK?tag=isthcom0a-20&th=1

But :
https://www.pcgamesn.com/ruse/ruse-has-been-pulled-from-steam-and-its-website-deleted-due-to-licensing-issues
https://steamed.kotaku.com/players-feeling-abandoned-after-strategy-game-ruse-remo-1768050883
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on August 29, 2018, 09:45:52 AM
I like the campaign map. But am unsure about it literally looking like a map. I guess I am used to total war where maps are literally like scrolling over the terrain from the air. But is it meant to show undulation? I see a lot of plateaus like air land battle had but they were really only like levels of a car park. You are on level one or two and never in between essentially.

Looks to me like the air battle is different and separate from the land battle pieces on the campaign map which is good. But how does this fit in with the deck system which includes organic air support for each division?

That hangar view at the start looks bare and drab and the vehicles on their own very low resolution. Is this the vaunted armoury? Just a vehicle 3D view? I thought steel division did that? Or can you compare two divisions vehicles?

Is the campaign wego or traditional turn based? Do units only get to travel on roads? Does the terrain on the campaign map reflect the zoomed in tactical map? Or is each battle basically connected by a road so their is no flanking enemy positions except via road? I don't see any supply columns on th campaign map? Is supply a thing? Will their be horse drawn supply to n the csmps Gun map and will it be capturable?

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on August 29, 2018, 09:49:41 AM
^Jesus, dude. You're a tough sell. I think it looks fantastic and as far as the strategic layer campaign map goes...LOVE IT!
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: GDS_Starfury on August 29, 2018, 10:17:54 AM
(https://media.giphy.com/media/SiUIIdSKuCN1e/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on August 29, 2018, 07:16:04 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on August 29, 2018, 09:49:41 AM
^Jesus, dude. You're a tough sell. I think it looks fantastic and as far as the strategic layer campaign map goes...LOVE IT!

Not at all.
Notwithstanding any unforeseen circumstances I will be a pre-order buyer for this. #1 is probably my favourite game of the last year.
But I had "hoped" to see some improvement on the things i pointed out about the last title when it came out. There were major problems with terrain that was not flat not just because it was not flat, but because the game had no idea about it both when it came to AI and when it came to not being able to depress cannons. You can see in the screenshots that units still seem to shoot straight ahead when on high ground.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: jomni on August 29, 2018, 08:17:44 PM
Excited but wary at the same time. I reinstalled SD44 to give it another chance.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on August 29, 2018, 08:49:01 PM
I, like Star, can hear my loins moistening. But I can tell even now that this game will be beyond my mental capability. Even the older Eugen games were far beyond me. What to do...
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on August 29, 2018, 08:56:13 PM
Quote from: Gusington on August 29, 2018, 08:49:01 PM
What to do...

Practice...
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on August 29, 2018, 09:08:07 PM
Not gonna lie, these Eugen games intimidate me.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Barthheart on August 30, 2018, 05:25:26 AM
They did me too Gus, but I've found SD44 is the easiest to get into. Really looking forward to the strat layer in the new one.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Skoop on August 30, 2018, 10:34:18 AM
+ 1 to added strat layer campaign.  I was hoping they would add the strat layer to SD44, possibly as DLC.  A whole new game on the eastern front.....I take it, even better.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on August 30, 2018, 10:50:19 AM
You were intimidated Bart?

The Eastern Front is one of my main interests so...this looks like the one for me to take the plunge.

Is there a release date?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Barthheart on August 30, 2018, 10:59:32 AM
Quote from: Gusington on August 30, 2018, 10:50:19 AM
You were intimidated Bart?

The Eastern Front is one of my main interests so...this looks like the one for me to take the plunge.

Is there a release date?

Yes I was. I had bought Wargame: AirLand Battle previously and just could not get a handle on how to play well at all.
SD44 was much easier for me mainly for 2 reasons.

1. Bullet time speed. Really great learaning tool to play at that speed and see what's going on with your units in different places on the map. Games take forever to play that way but after a couple at that speed you can move up in speeds. I still mostly play at slow and smome normal speed... thoguh I still drop to bullet time whne I can bring new units on tot he map.

2. I know WWII combat units in a much greater depth thatn I do modern stuff so I know how to use the units better in the game. Also infantry seems to have more staying power in WWII than modern.


Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on August 30, 2018, 12:28:58 PM
Thanks Bart...you posted several similarities to my preferences, including more knowledge/interest in WWII era units. Definitely getting this, for my love of the Eastern Front.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on August 31, 2018, 02:59:29 AM
I think perhaps this might be the game to finally topple the old game, close combat. E just need to know that supply and fuel etc are modelled on the campaign map.

Another article. This one talks about the campaign a little more.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3301468/gaming/steel-division-ii-preview.html
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: jomni on August 31, 2018, 04:47:55 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on August 30, 2018, 10:59:32 AM
Quote from: Gusington on August 30, 2018, 10:50:19 AM
You were intimidated Bart?

The Eastern Front is one of my main interests so...this looks like the one for me to take the plunge.

Is there a release date?

Yes I was. I had bought Wargame: AirLand Battle previously and just could not get a handle on how to play well at all.
SD44 was much easier for me mainly for 2 reasons.

1. Bullet time speed. Really great learaning tool to play at that speed and see what's going on with your units in different places on the map. Games take forever to play that way but after a couple at that speed you can move up in speeds. I still mostly play at slow and smome normal speed... thoguh I still drop to bullet time whne I can bring new units on tot he map.

2. I know WWII combat units in a much greater depth thatn I do modern stuff so I know how to use the units better in the game. Also infantry seems to have more staying power in WWII than modern.

I managed to win the Red Dragon strat campaign but had difficulty with ALB (story campaign).  Maybe that's the key to my enjoyment.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: HoodedHorseJoe on August 31, 2018, 08:41:46 AM
A little late to the party, but just an FYI regarding RUSE...

From what I remember, the license Ubisoft had to use various WW2 hardware and guns in the game expired and they didn't want to renew it, so RUSE had to be withdrawn from sale on Steam.

Has anyone who owns it still tried downloading it to play? I haven't tried so not sure if you can still play it, but you definitely can't buy it anymore unless it's second hand/old retail stock.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on August 31, 2018, 09:04:20 AM
Quote from: WargamerJoe on August 31, 2018, 08:41:46 AM
A little late to the party, but just an FYI regarding RUSE...

From what I remember, the license Ubisoft had to use various WW2 hardware and guns in the game expired and they didn't want to renew it, so RUSE had to be withdrawn from sale on Steam.

Has anyone who owns it still tried downloading it to play? I haven't tried so not sure if you can still play it, but you definitely can't buy it anymore unless it's second hand/old retail stock.

I have it installed and it still plays for me. (didn't try removing and downloading it again)  (could be I installed a 'hack' so it didn't try connecting to uplay because this gave me server issues and I only do singleplayer)

You can still buy it on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Ubisoft-40522R-U-S-E-3-R-U-S-E-Download/dp/B004FV5CDK?th=1) (DRM = steam)


Found this in the Amazon Q & A :

Question: can you still download the game since steam removed it?

Answer: Yes, as soon as you enter the code it will appear in your library and you will be able to download it.

By Trent Klabough on May 1, 2018
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: glen55 on August 31, 2018, 12:22:22 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on August 30, 2018, 10:59:32 AM
Quote from: Gusington on August 30, 2018, 10:50:19 AM
You were intimidated Bart?

The Eastern Front is one of my main interests so...this looks like the one for me to take the plunge.

Is there a release date?

Yes I was. I had bought Wargame: AirLand Battle previously and just could not get a handle on how to play well at all.
SD44 was much easier for me mainly for 2 reasons.

1. Bullet time speed. Really great learaning tool to play at that speed and see what's going on with your units in different places on the map. Games take forever to play that way but after a couple at that speed you can move up in speeds. I still mostly play at slow and smome normal speed... thoguh I still drop to bullet time whne I can bring new units on tot he map.

2. I know WWII combat units in a much greater depth thatn I do modern stuff so I know how to use the units better in the game. Also infantry seems to have more staying power in WWII than modern.

Sadly, it looks like bullet time speed has been done away with.

I played a bunch of it when it was not but haven't played in several months so I booted it back up to re-familiarize myself. Now there's an "active pause" setting (which I couldn't distinguish from actual pause, i.e., I didn't notice time advancing at all) and the next setting is "very slow" which is significantly faster than the old bullet time.

I loved bullet time, too, but between very slow and the ability to give orders while paused, its absence isn't a game-killer. Oddly, I was unable to find any announcement about having gotten rid of it.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Barthheart on August 31, 2018, 12:48:03 PM
Really? Hmmm... I hadn't noticed that last time I played a couple of weeks ago... still active pause is good too. lets you have time to move around and react to what's going on in the game.
I always thought that they would never make an "active Pause" because they said it screwed up the AI somehow....
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on August 31, 2018, 01:32:23 PM
Maybe someone pointed out that if they could bullet-time down to 1:30 while still keeping the AI routines going, they could bullet-time down to 1:3000 -- which would only advance one second of game-time every fifty minutes of real time?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on September 02, 2018, 10:21:17 AM
The map.
(https://cdn.wccftech.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Steel-Division-2-Gamescom-Preview-03-Operation-Bagration.jpg)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on September 02, 2018, 10:28:08 AM
They spelt strength wrong ;P
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on September 02, 2018, 01:32:09 PM
'aircrafts'
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Philippe on September 02, 2018, 02:07:31 PM
But they have a nice headquarters symbol.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: IronX on September 02, 2018, 04:25:47 PM
Those odds are not good. According to the Combat Results Table, the Nazis are gonna lose even if they throw double sixes and add their +2 Wolfenstein modifier.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on September 02, 2018, 05:14:34 PM
Devs are French. So aircrafts it is. :)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on September 03, 2018, 08:43:46 PM
I'm a nitpicker so things like "Strenght" bother me probably more than they should -- as does the fact that the tutorials in SD'44 refer to tanks as "armors" and they *still* haven't corrected the name of the Panzer-ace Michael Wittmann (misspelled "Wittman" in the game...)

That said... SD2 looks *awesome*. I truly cannot wait for this. The operational map looks fantastic and addresses what is really my only complaint about SD'44, the lack of a dynamic campaign.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on September 05, 2018, 04:42:44 AM
Re: The Campaign map
Unread postby [EUG]MadMat ยป Wed 5 Sep 2018 17:15

I can confirm it isn'tn the campaign map.  ;)

It was a contextual map to explain Bagration to journalists at the Gamescom.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on September 14, 2018, 08:37:15 PM
You guys will be happy to know that steel division 2 will feature a slow down mode. So the preview below says;

"One of these choices is to slow down battle. One of the biggest issues I had with Normandy 44 was that things were too fast for me to process and react to, so having the ability to slow everything a bit will be fantastic. "

https://www.windowscentral.com/steel-division-2-pc-preview-eastern-front-we-go-ww2-rts
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: RyanE on September 14, 2018, 08:45:38 PM
Can't you already slow down the Normandy game almost to a pause?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on September 15, 2018, 06:39:19 PM
Yes I think you can. However I do not know if this feature was in the initial release. So it may be new to the reviewers who only play the games they review once.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: jomni on September 15, 2018, 06:55:05 PM
Quote from: RyanE on September 14, 2018, 08:45:38 PM
Can't you already slow down the Normandy game almost to a pause?

Yup.  But I don't play that slow.  I only slow it down a notch.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on December 05, 2018, 07:35:34 AM
Steel Division 2 pre-order trailer and feature list out:

COMMAND YOUR ARMY. FIGHT YOUR BATTLES.
Steel Division 2 pushes the limits of the WW2 RTS experience. Set on the Eastern Front in 1944, this sequel of the critically acclaimed Real-Time Tactical game puts you in charge of your entire army during Operation Bagration, the Soviet offensive against Nazi armies in Bielorussia.

Play as a General in the 1:1-scale turn-based Dynamic Strategic Campaigns, as a Colonel in the epic Real-Time Tactical Battles, as an Weapon Expert in the brand-new Deck Building System.

With more than 600 units, 25 maps, and multiple game modes, Steel Division 2 lets you play as you want and offers hundreds of hours of gameplay in solo, multiplayer and coop.



GAME CONTENT (ALL EDITIONS)
4 Brand new turn-based Dynamic Strategic Campaigns
New setting, the Eastern Front, with the mighty Red Army and Axis powers
Over 600 historically accurate units
18 new divisions
Realistic battlefields spread across 25 different maps
Tons of game modes, offline and online, including co-op and massive 10v10 multiplayer battles
Substantial changes to the Deck building mechanics
New, realistic art direction to deliver a more immersive visual style
Revamped combat offering a more refined tactical experience


https://www.steeldivision2.com/buy/
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on December 05, 2018, 08:00:38 AM
Getting psyched 👍
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Toonces on December 05, 2018, 11:05:48 AM
This should satisfy a great number of Grogs.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Barthheart on December 05, 2018, 11:15:28 AM
 :D
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on December 05, 2018, 11:19:57 AM
Man am I stoked for this! Probably my most anticipated 2019 release at this point.

Almost never preorder- this will be an exception though.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on December 05, 2018, 11:28:27 AM
Yeah...this one is definitely giving me eastern front wood.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on December 05, 2018, 11:51:07 AM
Quote from: Toonces on December 05, 2018, 11:05:48 AM
This should satisfy a great number of Grogs.

Dr. Evil Fingerquotes: "Satisfy"  :2funny:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Skoop on December 05, 2018, 12:10:35 PM
I'll be buying this for sure, though I'm not really excited about it being bagration.  I'd rather it had been Kursk where it was a time when the out come was still undecided.  Gaming bagration is like gaming custers last stand as Custer.

I'm sure eugen will make it nice and balanced for both sides and the strategy layer will be great.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on December 05, 2018, 12:22:00 PM
Quote from: Skoop on December 05, 2018, 12:10:35 PM
I'll be buying this for sure, though I'm not really excited about it being bagration.  I'd rather it had been Kursk where it was a time when the out come was still undecided.  Gaming bagration is like gaming custers last stand as Custer.

I'm sure eugen will make it nice and balanced for both sides and the strategy layer will be great.

This was my initial reaction as well. Not thrilled about Bagration, but the game will still be awesome.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on December 05, 2018, 12:47:16 PM
Good points about Bagration -- I agree it's a somewhat unexpected choice. Kursk seems like it would've been a no-brainer... the last 'clash of the titans' as opposed to Bagration, when the Wehrmacht was already done for (...not that it didn't still take a hell of an effort on the Red Army's part...). 

Kursk seems like an obvious expansion, if the game is going to expand along 'operational' lines ...which I sure hope it will!

I've been playing a lot of Red Thunder of late, not really sure why. That's another game centered on Bagration, of course. But playing it reminds me why Eastern Front is going to be so amazing for SDII... all those open grasslands, perfect tank-fighting terrain, unlike all the bocage mazes in CMx2 Battle for Normandy, where any turn around a corner can mean some pesky squad with a panzerschreck / bazooka just waiting to ambush your beautiful tanks....

Also-- *18* New Divisions ??  Holy cow am I excited for this....
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: jamus34 on December 05, 2018, 01:36:13 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 05, 2018, 11:28:27 AM
Yeah...this one is definitely giving me eastern front wood.

Quoting for posterity.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on December 05, 2018, 01:48:18 PM
Eugen had me at Eastern Front.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Toonces on December 05, 2018, 02:19:12 PM
I don't know about you guys, but when I woke up this morning I thought, "You know what the gaming world needs?  Another WW2-themed RTS game!"

So imagine how happy I am to come across this thread today! 
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on December 05, 2018, 02:32:51 PM
Quote from: Toonces on December 05, 2018, 02:19:12 PM
I don't know about you guys, but when I woke up this morning I thought, "You know what the gaming world needs?  Another WW2-themed RTS game!"

So imagine how happy I am to come across this thread today!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/JCCYRzYzJGPzq/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on December 05, 2018, 04:32:28 PM
Is WW2 ridiculously over-represented in PC/video/board gaming, to the detriment of many other historical conflicts of equal interest?

You bet!!!

Will I continue to buy them, contributing to the constant glut of WW2-themed games that drown out other historical conflicts?

You bet!!!
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Father Ted on December 05, 2018, 05:10:57 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 05, 2018, 02:32:51 PM
Quote from: Toonces on December 05, 2018, 02:19:12 PM
I don't know about you guys, but when I woke up this morning I thought, "You know what the gaming world needs?  Another WW2-themed RTS game!"

So imagine how happy I am to come across this thread today!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/JCCYRzYzJGPzq/giphy.gif)

The world DEFINITELY needs more Foghorn Leghorn (and Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Wiley Coyote, and, well, just more Looney Tunes)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on December 05, 2018, 06:07:45 PM
#Leghorn2020
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: acctingman on December 05, 2018, 07:21:03 PM
Will I lose my posting privileges if I admit I have played past the tutorial on Steel Division?  :-"
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on December 05, 2018, 09:13:30 PM
Have or have not?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on December 06, 2018, 12:04:57 AM
From the Russian side it should be a walk over. If this game is done in proper wargame terms there will have to be objectives that mean as the Germans just holding for x period means winning. Close combat 1 was like this iirc. Also Bagration means the most equipment and units. Tiger 2 etc. plus it's a similar time period to Normandy and this gives me hope they will bring the old sd44 divisions in with the new sd2 mechanics. Whatever they are.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: acctingman on December 06, 2018, 12:11:50 AM
Quote from: Gusington on December 05, 2018, 09:13:30 PM
Have or have not?

whoops....have not  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on December 06, 2018, 06:31:54 AM
Some Q and A questions answered by Eugen:
Steel Division 2 Pre-Order: Answers to your questions
Hello everyone, Steel Division 2 is available for Pre-Order since yesterday and we wanted to answer some questions you asked in the forums / reddit / social channels:



Will there be gameplay video / trailer soon?
Yes, we are writing the next Dev Diary right now and we'll publish more in the coming weeks. We'll show gameplay as soon as possible, which means when the interface is fully integrated and functional (we're getting there). We want the game to look beautiful before showing it in action.



When will the pre-order be available on Steam?
Pre-Order should be available on Steam in early 2019. Steam has a pre-purchase policy that only allows pre-orders just before release.

Nevertheless, by pre-ordering on our site, you'll get a Steam key anyway.



When will the game be published? When the Beta will start?
We are aiming for an April release, but we are very cautious and will communicate the official release date when we're sure about it. The Beta should start 6 to 8 weeks prior to release. Again, we'll communicate official date and times as soon as possible.



Are the campaigns only in the History Pass?
Of course not. The main game will feature 4 Dynamic Strategic Campaigns on day one, as well as 25 maps, 600 units, 18 divisions, and a lot of things we haven't announced yet.

The History Pass grants access to the 3 upcoming History Pack DLC, releasing during the year after the game's release, each of them bringin new Campaigns (3 in total), new divisions, historical missions, units, nations, aces and camos.

We will give more details on the History Pass as soon as possible, but you can already check out the Steam page.



Will there be day-one DLC?
Except from the Aces and camos obtained by Pre-Ordering the Game, Signing Up and the ones available in the Commander Deluxe Edition, there will be no day-one DLC. We are focusing on developing the game now, and will start the work on DLC when it's done.



Will the campaigns be available in coop?
As announced before, the Dynamic Strategic Campaigns will be available in Single Player, not in coop. Nevertheless, you will be able to play in coop and multiplayer in the other game modes.



What about the 10 free DLC?
The 10 Free DLC, featuring new maps, divisions, aces and camos, will be released during the year after the game's release, and will be available for everyone, no matter which edition you pick or if you choose to preorder or not.

We wrote a moving love letter about it:



Steel Division 2 couldn't have been developed with the incredible amount of feedbacks we had from our community, and it was important for us, as an indie developer, to reward you with something special.

We know how much you like to expand your gaming experience with awesome new content, and we will be glad to provide you, for free of course, with very cool DLC for the game.

Releasing during the year after Steel Division 2's release, 10 free DLC will be available for everyone who purchase the game*, no matter which edition you pick or if you choose to preorder or not.*

We sincerely hope you guys will enjoy the content we're preparing for you and again, thank you for your support.

The Eugen Team



Where is Wargame 4?
We have answered this one numerous times: we are not working on Wargame at the moment.

A legend says that every time someone spams our comments with this question (and even more if there are insults included), the chances of this to happen are reduced by 17.4%.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Steel_Division/comments/a3ebj1/steel_division_2_preorder_answers_to_your/
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on December 06, 2018, 09:51:08 AM
Thanks for posting. Release date should obviously be June 22.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on December 06, 2018, 10:09:17 AM
Quote from: Gusington on December 06, 2018, 09:51:08 AM
Thanks for posting. Release date should obviously be June 22.

Yeah...the Russians sure did have a sense of humor. Barbarossa and Bagration kicked off on the same day. lol.

But, I'd still prefer the earlier anticipated release of April and with a beta being released 4 to 6 weeks earlier, a February or March early access release isn't out of the question.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Sir Slash on December 06, 2018, 10:10:00 AM
That's Putin's birthday so I'll be out riding my lawn mower shirtless, I don't have a horse.  :hide:  I hope this game is a real winner. It'd be great to have THE perfect WWII East Front game.  :dreamer:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on December 06, 2018, 10:53:40 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on December 06, 2018, 10:09:17 AM
Yeah...the Russians sure did have a sense of humor. Barbarossa and Bagration kicked off on the same day. lol.

Ha! I never put that together. Talk about finding a way to give your enemy an epic middle finger. 
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on December 06, 2018, 02:26:02 PM
Putin's birthday is June 22??
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on December 06, 2018, 03:02:29 PM
Not only that, but if you take some of the characters in his name in some language's alphabet, and multiply their sum by another number, you come out to 666!


>:D
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on December 06, 2018, 03:49:57 PM
'Working mothers can't believe this inexpensive trick!'
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on December 20, 2018, 05:36:08 PM
Not sure that I am onboard with the effective engagement range changes or the special ammunition addition allowing old pzIII tanks to be effective at this late war time. Time will tell. They make it sound like Sherman's with 75mm guns will be penning German armour at over 1km.
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919640/announcements/detail/3419819491438967258
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on January 30, 2019, 05:39:32 PM
April 4th has just been announced as the release date for Steel Division 2. In addition the Eugen have announced that if you own steel division 1 you get a DLC pack which grants 10 of the old SD1 divisions inside of SD2. Something I requested way back and something that appears to be up their with the top requests for SD2. I am very pleased with this. Very much looking forward to Eugens "combat" dev update tomorrow.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1022830/Steel_Division_2__Back_To_War_Pack/
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on January 30, 2019, 06:00:33 PM
Would have preferred a Beta release date...
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on January 30, 2019, 06:58:23 PM
Yeah true. But The release date is good news. It's not too far off.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on January 30, 2019, 07:51:09 PM
So psyched for this. If the game lives up to what's being previewed in the Dev Diaries, it should be amazing. I enjoyed Steel Division a lot, but the operational level Eugen has been describing makes it look like SDII might rival Graviteam Tactics / Tank Warfare, which in my book is very high praise indeed...
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on January 31, 2019, 08:56:48 AM
Yeah me too. I always get excited for Eugen's wargame series.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: acctingman on January 31, 2019, 09:41:43 AM
My apologies for semi hi-jacking this thread (but it's some what related).

I haven't touched SD1 since I bought it. Been too busy with other things. That being said, I really want to start playing SD1 before SD2 comes out. Can anyone recommend a good "how to" let's play video sort of tutorial for SD1?

What little I do remember is that I have to play this game on slow mo....it was way too fast for me otherwise  :uglystupid2:

Thanks
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on January 31, 2019, 11:52:27 AM
https://www.bluesnews.com/s/197133/steel-division-2-in-april

Eugen Systems announces April 4th is the official release date for Steel Division 2, their World War II real-time strategy sequel. The game is now available for pre-purchase on Steam, and that advance commitment offers beta access as well as a 48 hour head-start on the full game when it launches. They also reveal that owners of the original Steel Division: Normandy 44 will also receive a bunch of units from that game in the sequel. A new Back To War Trailer illustrates the news, which follows:

    As a special thanks to Steel Division fans for their longtime support, Steam users who already own Steel Division: Normandy 44 can expect eight exclusive divisions with over 350 extra units from the original title when Steel Division 2 launches later this year. These 350 units will join over 600 brand-new units from the Allies and Axis factions in the sequel for a total of over 950 units in Steel Division 2. There is no need to pre-order Steel Division 2 to take advantage of this exclusive offer.

    In Steel Division 2, fans can look forward to deploying some of the most famous units and divisions from Steel Division: Normandy 44, including the Sherman Jumbo tank from the United States of America, the Churchill IV heavy infantry tank from the United Kingdom, the Spitfire Mk9B tank from Canada, the Sherman M4A2 from France, and many more. For a complete list of divisions and units, please visit the official Steel Division 2 page on Steam.

    In addition, Steel Division: Normandy 44 owners who purchase can also look forward to exclusive new units in Steel Division 2, including:

        Long Tom 155 mm howitzer (US)
        PIAT Scout (UK)
        AEC Matador (CAN)
        Panzer III N (GER)
        Do 217 Bombing plane (GER)
        Fw 58 Recon plane (GER)
        Panzer IV F1 (GER)

    Players who pre-order any edition of Steel Division 2 can also expect guaranteed access to game's Beta phase. Scheduled to start later this year, the Steel Division 2 beta will offer players exclusive access to an early build of the game ahead of its 2019 launch. In addition, players who pre-order the Commander Deluxe Edition, General Deluxe Edition, or Total Conflict Edition will also benefit from 48-hours of early access to the game ahead of the worldwide launch for Steel Division 2.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on January 31, 2019, 11:57:52 AM
Quote from: acctingman on January 31, 2019, 09:41:43 AM
My apologies for semi hi-jacking this thread (but it's some what related).

I haven't touched SD1 since I bought it. Been too busy with other things. That being said, I really want to start playing SD1 before SD2 comes out. Can anyone recommend a good "how to" let's play video sort of tutorial for SD1?

What little I do remember is that I have to play this game on slow mo....it was way too fast for me otherwise  :uglystupid2:

Thanks

Quill18:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs3acGYgI1-uOWt1Yg_lePtMi_HVuPE0f
https://www.wargamer.com/articles/steel-division-normandy-44-beginners-guide/
https://www.strategygamer.com/codex-hub/codex-steel-division/
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: acctingman on January 31, 2019, 12:07:38 PM
Quote from: Pete Dero on January 31, 2019, 11:57:52 AM
Quote from: acctingman on January 31, 2019, 09:41:43 AM
My apologies for semi hi-jacking this thread (but it's some what related).

I haven't touched SD1 since I bought it. Been too busy with other things. That being said, I really want to start playing SD1 before SD2 comes out. Can anyone recommend a good "how to" let's play video sort of tutorial for SD1?

What little I do remember is that I have to play this game on slow mo....it was way too fast for me otherwise  :uglystupid2:

Thanks

Thank you Pete!

Quill18:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs3acGYgI1-uOWt1Yg_lePtMi_HVuPE0f
https://www.wargamer.com/articles/steel-division-normandy-44-beginners-guide/
https://www.strategygamer.com/codex-hub/codex-steel-division/
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Skoop on February 01, 2019, 01:53:42 PM
Preordered, looks like it will be available for beta access early March with release in early April.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: AchillesLastStand on February 01, 2019, 02:13:47 PM
Quote from: Skoop on February 01, 2019, 01:53:42 PM
Preordered, looks like it will be available for beta access early March with release in early April.

This is from the official site.........
"When will the BETA happen?
The BETA will start in early 2019, with an estimated start time around 6 to 8 weeks before the game's release. We will communicate the Steel Division 2 Beta dates on our Facebook page & Twitter account, so stay tuned!"

Which would put it in the next week or 2, not sure which version I am getting but it is a instant purchase for me.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 14, 2019, 05:57:02 PM
Well a few rough edges but overall I like it.
They say units are no longer limited to phases. However phases apply to some units they showed. The IS-152 was limited to later phases if you chose anything above recruit you will draw from the previous sentence that you can once again choose veterancy.
So not limiting units to particular phases does mean you must choose whether to take lesser numbers and probably higher costing units in phase A or save those cards for later phases that enable more to be brought on.
I found it interesting to see that the Russians seem to have picked up a panzerschreck unit for their infantry AT. Something the Russians may definitely have had. I know they had some lend lease Bazookas and PIATS, but they were very rare. They also had special AT flamethrower units at some stage.
Notice the entrenchments available in the last tab.
I also noticed they were using the button "add to battlegroup" rather than division which I would have thought would be the accepted terminology for Steel Division 2.
Command units still seem to be in which especially for the Russians should be very relevant.
I really like that you can choose transport types now as well. A novel way of solving the problem AT guns used to have where their transport for re-deploying them disappeared if it had no weapon. Originally to stop the red dragon and earlier titles transport scout rocket soaker\suicide scout charges.
Whilst I like the unit cards better. They still could have been a little more dramatic for my tastes. They were supposed to be better but what I mainly see is that instead of water colour blurry drama they have gone to basic scetches of faces with hard to see black and white photo backgrounds.
Tank cards are bland but ok. I realise they needed easy to identify.
I really hope these are moddable more easily in the first.
Stats shown are the same as the first game. With a tiny bit more detail and less obscurity.
I like the new ammo types and wonder how they will be controlled in game.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: HoodedHorseJoe on February 15, 2019, 04:45:13 AM
I'm very much looking forward to SD2, but it's really starting to bug me that they keep calling it a 'Deck Builder'.

Only because I play a lot of actual card games, that involve actual decks and actual deck-building. It wouldn't be so bad if there was a legitimate card mechanic, but there isn't - it's just window dressing and presentation and ultimately a bad summary of what the mechanic represents.

Thank you for listening to my unnecessary mini-rant. AMA.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on February 15, 2019, 06:05:56 PM
I'm just glad they ditched the 'comic book' style unit cards from SD in favor of the much better card types from Wargame.

I also love the addition of defensive stuctures. Anything to make the game less rush-y and more methodical is a big plus, imo.

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Moreb on February 16, 2019, 02:11:56 PM
Am I the only one that really disliked SD? When I looked at how much I played it was 5 hours and I bet much of that time was idle. Maybe i'm missing the nuances but, to me, it just seemed like an unrealistic mad rush tower defense with waves of enemies. Much too arcadey for my liking. I never played any of the predecessors so it wasn't clear on how the game played prior to buying it but, now that I have, I think I prefer more of the simulations that other games offer.

But to those that enjoyed the series I understand the anticipation of progress and it's good to see people still like strategy games and that they can be profitable.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 17, 2019, 10:41:23 PM
Moreb I am sure plenty of people do not like steel division here. Because it is less of a pedestrian paced game unless you pause a lot.
However if you want a more stand up defensive battle set points to max and closed combat mode. This starts you close to be enemy like you are fully deployed with all of your phase a troops.
I'd be playing battlefront's combat mission but unlike this game I cannot play with multiple friends coop.
There are also stand alone missions that require you to attack or defend I steel division since you played I am betting.
For the record the game does not seem very tower defence in nature to me unless you are playing ai on medium which can spam units. Steel division is a meeting engagement and played in proper frontlines mode requires both players to attack to win. You have to take the ground to be able to defend it and win.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Moreb on February 17, 2019, 11:57:02 PM
Quote from: Destraex on February 17, 2019, 10:41:23 PM
Moreb I am sure plenty of people do not like steel division here. Because it is less of a pedestrian paced game unless you pause a lot.
However if you want a more stand up defensive battle set points to max and closed combat mode. This starts you close to be enemy like you are fully deployed with all of your phase a troops.
I'd be playing battlefront's combat mission but unlike this game I cannot play with multiple friends coop.
There are also stand alone missions that require you to attack or defend I steel division since you played I am betting.
For the record the game does not seem very tower defence in nature to me unless you are playing ai on medium which can spam units. Steel division is a meeting engagement and played in proper frontlines mode requires both players to attack to win. You have to take the ground to be able to defend it and win.

Well I've reinstalled to see if I was hasty on my impressions. I do need something to play in this period that isn't so heavy so maybe I give it another go.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on February 18, 2019, 04:09:31 AM
Quote from: Destraex on February 17, 2019, 10:41:23 PM
Moreb I am sure plenty of people do not like steel division here. Because it is less of a pedestrian paced game unless you pause a lot.

Posted this a couple of years ago and I still use it today for many RTS games (Company of Heroes, Sudden Strike, ...) and it works with Steel Division. (Single player only)

A small cheat hack that sits outside the game and allows you to adjust the speed to your tastes : http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=12733.msg332074#msg332074

P.S. Use without the automated installer to avoid any malware.

I know Steel Division has speed settings but these don't have a key binding (only bullet time has one), so you have to click with the mouse on the speed bar each time.
This cheat let's you use 5 user defined speed settings with 5 hotkeys.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 18, 2019, 06:31:46 AM
Quote from: Moreb on February 17, 2019, 11:57:02 PM
Quote from: Destraex on February 17, 2019, 10:41:23 PM
Moreb I am sure plenty of people do not like steel division here. Because it is less of a pedestrian paced game unless you pause a lot.
However if you want a more stand up defensive battle set points to max and closed combat mode. This starts you close to be enemy like you are fully deployed with all of your phase a troops.
I'd be playing battlefront's combat mission but unlike this game I cannot play with multiple friends coop.
There are also stand alone missions that require you to attack or defend I steel division since you played I am betting.
For the record the game does not seem very tower defence in nature to me unless you are playing ai on medium which can spam units. Steel division is a meeting engagement and played in proper frontlines mode requires both players to attack to win. You have to take the ground to be able to defend it and win.

Well I've reinstalled to see if I was hasty on my impressions. I do need something to play in this period that isn't so heavy so maybe I give it another go.

Nice. When you try closer combat mode with max points. Remember that you can deploy your troops unloaded and already out of their vehicles. I think I posted a bunch of tips somewhere.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 18, 2019, 06:34:23 AM
Found them:

Tips for you when playing skirmish vs AI:

a) In skirmish always play conquest not annihilation. So that your aim is to take ground rather than kill the enemy. Set more conquest points if you want the battle to last longer. It can be fun to experiment at the end when you have beaten the enemy enough that they are a little more sparse on the ground. Additionally if you play germans you will get time to bring out those expensive big cats with a long game.

b) Start by putting enemy AI on very easy

c) In phase A for a new player a good starting configuration is to race to the front and put a team of recon, officer infantry and a 6pdr or 57mm AT gun in good firing positions covering most of the field. I usually use 3. Moving them up the main roads using the move fast command.

d) Remember that before you start the battle you can queue up movement commands. Always deploy your units on roads and queue the move fast command to where you want them to end up.

e) Make sure you hold down C to show the distance circle and look at the maximum range of your weapons by selecting the unit and pressing on the guys name in the bottom right. This will bring up his stats page and show you the ranges of various weapons. Remember these are maximum ranges and it is often better to let the enemy close before opening fire.
The distance circle ALSO shows whether a unit can see through cover from the where your cursor is.

f) To let the enemy close press Z on your units. They will hide as indicated by a lightning symbol to indicate they have no power on their unit symbol. When the enemy get too close they will still be seen. When they are seen they may not get the first shot in if they are hiding so be wary of that. This is especially good to do with bazooka teams.

g) Make sure you press U to unload troops if the enemy are firing on them. If the truck gets hit the whole squad dies in a lot of cases.

h) Press the R key or retreat button if your men are pinned (i.e. the red bar is full) and they will retreat for 30 seconds. This is often enough to get them back behind cover. You will have no control of them while they do this.

i) Remember that recon is very very important in this game. You must make sure you have recon in good forward hiding positions relaying enemy movements to your forces. Otherwise they will be firing at you and you will not be able to see them or if you can you will not be able to identify them. Once your scouts are forward and deployed. Press Z to hide them so they do not reveal their position.
Do not worry if they are in enemy territory. Unless they are found they will do fine.

j)Use aircraft bombs especially to suppress the big tank cats the germans have that you cannot kill at range. I have had games where we have had nothing to kill the German Konigstiger with but could suppress it with arty or aircraft all day. Keeping it from engaging and forcing it to retreat constantly.

k) On the unit icons the yellow circled number is the AP power of your main weapon, the lower silver shield number is your frontal armour value. THey are directly related. 8 yellow AP will beat 8 silver shield armour at the weapons maximum range. Additionally for every 100m of closure from max range you gain 1 yellow AP. So a weapon with 800m max range and a default AP of 8 that closed to 700m would have a AP of 9. Thus beating a silver shield of up to 9. Flank when you can as flanks and rear are obviously much less silver shield in value. This can be shown by bringing up the unit diagram.

l) Do not bother trying to destroy enemy aircraft with flak. Only fighters do this effectively. FLAK will only suppress the enemy which is good enough if you can have enough flak to do this before they drop. However enough flak batteries will take down the enemy. Flak combined with fighters is a good combo. Fighters will be able to strafe troops as well. Which is especially useful for pinning AT guns. Half the game is about taking out hidden enemy AT guns.

J) Keep officers near your important units in each sector. Units within the officers circle will be more accurate and have better moral. Which makes the difference often in long range engagements. Keep your officers hidden if you can.

k) Pay special attention to the number of rounds and range your artillery units have as well as the rate of fire. The reload speed for artillery can be a killer. Especially when the first shots are being calculated. By that time the enemy can be gone and your artillery will still fire. Adjusting fire I do not think takes as long but is still not effective at following anything units that are once again stationary.

l) Use your infantry to take and hold ground but keep them in the trees or in cover. Buildings are excellent for this and taking towns with them is great. They are very hard to dislodge from buildings. But retreat them from outer buildings of a town if their are enemy heavy units approaching. Let them fight house to house from the inner buildings rather than getting hit for no reply in the outer buildings. Use your scouts to find weak points in the enemy line and push into them with infantry if they are only lightly defended. This can be an easy way to take ground. Which is the aim of this game... not to sit back and take out enemy units. (unless you play annihilation which I think is pointless).

j) Open topped vehicles can be easy targets for aircraft if you are lucky. Marders are very effective AT weapons but very weak from the top.

k) With regard to aircraft. If you notice the enemy bring on fighters or think the flak is too heavy. Press the retreat button on them rather than lose them. I actually set the game to "do not auto retreat after dropping bombs", so I can have the aircraft hang around and I can use their machine guns to strafe after the bombing run.
Also just before retreating its a good idea to tell the arcraft to swing the way you want to retreat. Because otherwise they can turn towards rather than away from the enemy to turn around and retreat.

l) When using fighters they will attack nearby enemy if you leave them circling on the field.

m) If you see one of your tanks listed as abandoned. You can resupply the crew with a supply truck.

n) Always watch for out of ammo symbols on your units. This may just mean an MG is low on ammo rather than the main gun, it may mean a weapon is just out of HE and therefore will no longer fire on infantry. It may mean an infantry unit is out of AT rocket ammo and
can no longer stave off enemy armour. OR it could mean that a unit has been ammo racked, is strangely alive BUT has literally no ammo for any weapons. Of course it could also mean a unit has simply run out of ammo.

o) After units reach the front, I think it is better to then us the Q command to move. Which is basically a movement command that insists on units stopping and firing upon contact. If you do not want the unit to stop, for instance if it is moving between cover, just use a normal move command. Then of course move fast command just uses roads.

p) SPACE bar will take you to the location of the last message. But I do not use it as it is disorientating.

q) There is a command to stop your unit from AUTO HIDING. I sometimes use it to stop AT guns moving to silly positions so I can manually place them properly.

r) When you unload infantry. watch as they enter cover like trees, buildings or vinyards etc. They will gain different coloured shields which indicate what kind of cover they are in. Learn which cover is best or if something you think of as cover is doing anything at all.

s) Remember that infantry carried in vehicles with NO weapons will dissappear as soon as you unload the troops. This is a big change from previous games and confuses some people. Weaponised vehicles like half tracks stay and you can reload your men onto them. This is especially a big trap for placing AT guns. Because you unload your AT gun to find your position is no good and you have no vehicle to hook back up to to move again. Thus having to push the gun slowly to where you want to go.

t) Remember that weapon ranges in this game are maximum effective range. The men will only open fire to those max effecive ranges. However they may not match exactly to maximum real physically possible ranges in real life. For instance rifle ranges will often only be 300m for something like a garand. This is the effective range of the average soldier but some may say it should be longer. Some tanks can fire 1200m and the usual in this game is max effective of 1000m. Same for AT guns and infantry support guns. So be wary that you may find a wolverine shooting at your mkIV from a little further than you can hit him at. This comes down to playing the game from both sides and knowing what each unit can do.
Often the MG in the unit has the longest range. So be wary as I mentioned above that if you open up at max range it will likely just be your squad automatic weapon firing. Bren, BAR or some such. I think I will try with allied units to let them close because I realised writing this that the allies advantage relies on all soldiers firing. Where the german infantry units often carry one or more of the very effective mg34 or 42 guns.

u) Most maps are flat. It's normandy after all. But some have elevation. Elevation in borked in this game. Their is no way of telling how far your guns can depress or raise to fire up hills and the hills are the same wierd all or nothing sharp inclines wargame do. I do not think they have really developed hill mechanics properly. I don't think their is a fatigue factor. In fact infantry never get tired in this game. But then they are so slow anyways. There is also no fuel limit in this game like their was in previous wargame games. They simplified the resupply mechanic to ammunition and basic field repairs only. If you have a track blown a supply truck can fix it. Same with ammo.

v) Some AT guns especially in phase A DO NOT have HE capability. So will NOT fire at infantry. Just be aware that if they are not firing it may be because of this. Often AT guns that do have HE will only have a limited supply. Some German divisions especially though are flush with infantry guns. Which are excellent with HE. Although they do not seem to be able to fire except in direct fire roles.

w) Mortars in this game are very close range. Therefore they almost have to be on top of the enemy to fire. 1200 or 1600m for instance is normal for the max range of mortars in this game. It's only of the unrealistic things in the game I do not like. but it does give the feel that you have close indirect fire support. Remember that a BAR in this game is 400m range and a .30 cal is 600m where a .50 will fire 800m. A squad mg42 is only 400m as well. But a tripod one is 800m. So I guess mortars will outrange most small arms.

x) Remember paratroopers will not surrender just because they are surrounded where other troops that are will surrender under a little pressure if you get close enough to them. If you get surrounded you can fight your way out, but be careful of the enemy getting too close to you.

y) With each shot taken against the enemy the next will be more accurate. This is a game mechanic that simulates learning the fall of shot and adjusting. So be aware if the enemy has been firing at you for some time he is bound to land a shot soon, not only that but a critical one if he is already hitting you will be more likely over time. The more gold stars your crew has the more accurate and the better moral they will have. I think though if you move your tanks position or tell them to fire at something else you have to start this process again.

z) You must stop you tanks to fire. It's ww2 and a lot of units will either not fire well or not fire on the move at all. Well maybe not at all?

a1) NOTE that units under stress (the red bar) do not fire as well. The more stressed the more likely they are to miss. This is why it is good to move stressed units. It is good to stress incoming aircraft with AA for this reason. You may not force a retreat or kill the AC but you may make it miss.

a2) Some shock units have a high proportion of SMG weapons and almost no longer ranged weapons. There is no point putting them in long range defensive positions. I sometimes do this by mistake and wonder why they are not firing. But close in they just win right away really.

a3) The allies vehicles have a tonne of MGs they can use for AA purposes. The germans have comparatively few organically. Thus the germans always need at least a little AAA. The allies organic AA while not good at least will not let a german aircraft loiter at will.

I hope this helps.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Moreb on February 18, 2019, 07:52:33 PM
Appreciate the tips. I'm going to give it a try and base it on the genre it falls into. I think the thing that really put me off was the phases. It just seems weird that pieces are not used unless the game lasts long enough.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 18, 2019, 10:52:29 PM
Consider it like a civil war meeting engagement where it took hours to get the whole army on the field. Also consider how attacks were often organised by armies into phases anyways or waves. In addition recon and lighter units would often be out front. I am reading about bagration atm and about an opening attack that's. Was arty first to a 6km depth, the. Assault infantry with subs, then kv1s and is2 tanks followed by t34 minerollers followed by t34 flame tanks followed by the first attacks from the actual rifle divisions in the assault. The Russians have separated the waves no doubt so they do not have traffic jams and are not tripping over each other. In normal front lines recon and light units would probe first I reckon.
In some running battles like battle of the bulge did it not sometimes take hours to get the main elements into battle?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 08, 2019, 12:39:28 AM
 Steel Division 2 adds "commanders" on the field that will be higher than leaders in steel division 1. In steel division 2 you use leaders as per sd1 but add a commander unit that then uses a leaders connected by chain mechanic to give even greater veterancy. Break the leader chain and you lose the commander bonus. I like the idea but the micro sounds crazy hectic. So sd2 basically has command posts now. Who knows what other bonuses commanders give. But I'd like to think divisional off map artillery and such to those leaders who are linked with him\her\it.
BTW Devs answered my question on German AT weapons used by the soviets rarity in SD2 decks.

"The Soviets did use German equipment under two conditions:
* they hadn't something similar themselves or through lend-lease.
* they had captured it in large numbers to have enough spare parts or ammos.

Based on this, the Soviets salvaged and used a lot of:
* Panzer III (as T-3), they even built a version of SU-76 on it.
* half-tracks (250 or 251)
* Panzerschreck
* Panzerfaust

Regarding the latter, there was even a standing order in the Soviet army to deliver any captured Panzerfaust to special engineer units which used them "en masse". They even had a name for those troops: Faustniki.

Ingame, you'll find Panzerschreck in some Guards units (ehence the "Gv." before the name), one division has a few T-3 & half-tracks, and Faustninki are a dedicated unit."

https://steamcommunity.com/games/919640/announcements/detail/1800782940955149447
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: HoodedHorseJoe on March 08, 2019, 07:29:13 AM
Just caught up on the recent dev diary myself, noticed someone in the comments mention there could be a potential danger in offering a +2 level bonus in a game that only offers three experience levels to begin with.

Would definitely influence division builds in online MP, a why would you go above level 1 when you can manage leaders and commanders to get everyone to 3 without much effort? Will be a fun mechanic in single-player and co-op, but I wonder how it will impact the PvP environment.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 08, 2019, 01:31:24 PM
I still don't believe that, like in the current game, you can cover much ground with squad leaders that may be connected to the commander anyways. In other words, to concentrate units so heavily near a commander to get ceterancy bonuses is to expose them to artillery and aircraFt and also leave the front bare where you have no squad leaders. It's also going to be a lot of work keeping your blobbed units together. If you attack like you are supposed to you will probably outrun your commanders anyways. Defensively though we will see.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 14, 2019, 06:15:39 PM
Finally some gameplay footage. Release and BETA dates too
Beta Start Date: March 27th ✅
New Release Date: May 2nd ✅
Gameplay Video: Just below ✅
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on March 26, 2019, 10:35:13 AM
Beta keys are released ...

The Steel Division 2 Beta starts Tomorrow at 3PM CET! Check out this link [ https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Steel+Division+2+Beta+-+Phase+1&iso=20190327T15&p1=195 ] for the exact time in your time zone. Players who have pre-ordered the game can now preload the beta and get ready to fight!

https://steamcommunity.com/games/919640/announcements/detail/1812043205767546383
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on March 26, 2019, 07:55:58 PM
It sounds like this Beta is only playable for a few days?  Then they'll open another Beta 'session' in a couple of weeks?  Hmmm...   ???

Game looks fantastic nonetheless. Though not sure I want to pre-order just to be able to play in random, limited intervals between now and the release...

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 27, 2019, 01:48:50 AM
This will be a beta in the real sense of the word I think and is he same format they followed for steel division 1.
So if you just want to play with no issues I would probably stay away. If you want to help or are just mad keen like myself. Then the 48hr time window is worth it.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 01, 2019, 08:34:00 AM
Loved the beta. Looking forward to the next one. Problem is people aren't complaining about somebody of the changes that I think make it much better. Sd2 will Ben much more like wargame with a lot of old feature brought back and new ones added.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on April 01, 2019, 09:32:56 AM
I enjoyed it too, but thought it was a very stupid decision to end the first phase on Friday...you know, before the weekend.  :idiot2:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 01, 2019, 01:06:57 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 01, 2019, 09:32:56 AM
I enjoyed it too, but thought it was a very stupid decision to end the first phase on Friday...you know, before the weekend.  :idiot2:

Yeah, that was kinda weird.  I actually missed playing it almost entirely because of that.  I wasn't paying attention and was going to dig into it over the weekend.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 01, 2019, 04:09:38 PM
Yeah I agree. I had a couple of mates who missed it or even who did not read and were annoyed they could not just come back and play it 56hrs later. But to eugen this really is a beta and not a pr excersize it seems. They are focused on polishing and debugging rather than the customer at this stage.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 01, 2019, 04:14:13 PM
Quote from: Destraex on April 01, 2019, 04:09:38 PM
Yeah I agree. I had a couple of mates who missed it or even who did not read and were annoyed they could not just come back and play it 56hrs later. But to eugen this really is a beta and not a pr excersize it seems. They are focused on polishing and debugging rather than the customer at this stage.

Fair enough.  I admit I wasn't going to play with it for bug reporting.  However, I still think they could've had better results with that by having the Beta over the weekend.  Even if I was going to stress and bug test heavily, I had more time to do it then.

I'm lucky enough to have an unconventional work schedule and get to pick my days off, but I still concentrate all my hours on the weekdays because that's when my clients are in their offices.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on April 02, 2019, 12:14:24 PM
Players who have pre-ordered the game will be able to play the Steel Division 2 Beta from next Thursday and for the whole weekend, and try awesome new Divisions on new Maps, as well as a brand-new, unannounced 5-Player Coop mode!

https://steamcommunity.com/games/919640/announcements/detail/1733230845855233748
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 02, 2019, 03:00:33 PM
Quote from: Pete Dero on April 02, 2019, 12:14:24 PM
Players who have pre-ordered the game will be able to play the Steel Division 2 Beta from next Thursday and for the whole weekend, and try awesome new Divisions on new Maps, as well as a brand-new, unannounced 5-Player Coop mode!

https://steamcommunity.com/games/919640/announcements/detail/1733230845855233748

Good deal.  My need for an Eastern Front fix has been so strong I've considered getting the early access for IL2 Tank Crew.

This should put me off that for at least a little longer.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on April 02, 2019, 03:53:27 PM
Quote from: SirAndrewD on April 02, 2019, 03:00:33 PM

Good deal.  My need for an Eastern Front fix has been so strong I've considered getting the early access for IL2 Tank Crew.

This should put me off that for at least a little longer.

If you have VR, I would tell you to buy Tank Crew immediately.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 02, 2019, 04:09:23 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 02, 2019, 03:53:27 PM

If you have VR, I would tell you to buy Tank Crew immediately.

I don't. 

I've been holding off to see what the single player will look like. 
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on April 02, 2019, 04:21:01 PM
Quote from: SirAndrewD on April 02, 2019, 04:09:23 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 02, 2019, 03:53:27 PM

If you have VR, I would tell you to buy Tank Crew immediately.

I don't. 

I've been holding off to see what the single player will look like.

I only play it single player. Its a good tank sim, as is, but in VR...it is exceptional.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 02, 2019, 05:13:54 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 02, 2019, 04:21:01 PM


I only play it single player. Its a good tank sim, as is, but in VR...it is exceptional.

Fine, twist my arm.  I guess I'm finally getting this one too. 

Good thing I've had a good month of commission.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on April 03, 2019, 08:33:40 AM
Game slut.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: FlickJax on April 03, 2019, 09:10:52 AM
Quote from: Gusington on April 03, 2019, 08:33:40 AM
Game slut.

Um isn't that all of us either now or at some other stage in our games addicted lives :)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Rayfer on April 03, 2019, 09:34:05 AM
Quote from: FlickJax on April 03, 2019, 09:10:52 AM
Quote from: Gusington on April 03, 2019, 08:33:40 AM
Game slut.

Um isn't that all of us either now or at some other stage in our games addicted lives :)

LOL...yes!  :o
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 03, 2019, 11:43:53 AM
Quote from: Gusington on April 03, 2019, 08:33:40 AM
Game slut.

You know you like it.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: jamus34 on April 03, 2019, 12:27:58 PM
I would have to do a hard drill down on my games vs scotch budget over the years. I think games still wins but scotch is quickly rising.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on April 03, 2019, 12:41:48 PM
Quote from: jamus34 on April 03, 2019, 12:27:58 PM
I would have to do a hard drill down on my games vs scotch budget over the years. I think games still wins but scotch is quickly rising.

If you drink enough whiskey you will not remember you spend money on the game !

I got my game on Gamesplanet at 20% off.  Today you can still get it there at 15% off, but it is only available in Europe.

https://fr.gamesplanet.com/game/steel-division-2-steam-key--3886-1
https://uk.gamesplanet.com/game/steel-division-2-steam-key--3886-1?ref=itad


This is an official store and the key gives you beta access :

If you have pre-ordered Steel Division 2 on Steam, a new game, called "Steel Division 2 - Beta" has now appeared on your account. If you have pre-purchased the game through our online shop[www.steeldivision2.com], on Humble Bundle[www.humblebundle.com] or Gameplanet[fr.gamesplanet.com], your key has been sent by email and/or is available in your humble/gamesplanet account.
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919640/announcements/detail/1812043205770409072
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 03, 2019, 01:49:14 PM
Quote from: Pete Dero on April 03, 2019, 12:41:48 PM

If you drink enough whiskey you will not remember you spend money on the game !


It's equal parts disturbing and amusing how much I relate to this sentence.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on April 03, 2019, 05:30:00 PM
Yes 'game slut' was aimed at everyone, including myself.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 03, 2019, 05:52:20 PM
Quote from: Gusington on April 03, 2019, 05:30:00 PM
Yes 'game slut' was aimed at everyone, including myself.

We don't want to hear any more about your dongle
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Sir Slash on April 03, 2019, 06:30:54 PM
I was a slut before I was a game slut.  :hug:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: FlickJax on April 04, 2019, 03:42:49 AM
My wife says I am a slag ;)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: acctingman on April 04, 2019, 09:33:24 AM
I just started playing the first game...by the time I'm ready to play this one I'll get it cheap!  O0

Eagerly awaiting all your reviews though.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on April 17, 2019, 01:03:19 PM
One last delay for the game release

First things first, we need to delay one last time the release of Steel Division 2. The definitive release date will be on June 20th for the Standard Edition & on June 18th for the Digital Deluxe Editions.

More (and better) beta playtime


Consequently, you will be able to play the game longer before release. Way longer. The initial plan was to make 5 48-hour phases before release. After the first phase, we heard your requests and made a 4-day Beta Phase 2. As you know, Phase 3 will start on Thursday, April 18th and will be 5 days long, until Tuesday, April 23rd.

From May 29th the Beta will be playable non-stop until release on June 20th. It will get updated during this 3-week period and we're preparing very cool content for you guys.

https://steamcommunity.com/games/919640/announcements/detail/1643160751039854123
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on April 17, 2019, 02:34:46 PM
^Boooooooo!
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 17, 2019, 02:39:14 PM
Blah to the delay, but I guess if it makes it better so be it. 

I'll say, I had a heck of a good time with the last beta.  There needed to be a few minor balance passes, but it's a lot better than SD44 even in its current state.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on April 17, 2019, 02:55:43 PM
I'm not so much annoyed by the delay, but the break in the beta is what irritates. Why do it in phases? Just let it run.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on April 17, 2019, 04:38:12 PM
Apparently they're phasing it because they're releasing different divisions for each phase so they can do a full balance pass on them.

I agree though, they can do that and still keep it playable.  It'd be better for bug reporting if they did (though I will say I found the build to be incredibly stable).
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Grim.Reaper on April 17, 2019, 04:49:51 PM
I guess if they let the beta run continuously, wouldn't that be just early access then:)

I didn't get much of a chance to try it during the first beta, so hopefully can sneak some time in one of these phases...
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on April 18, 2019, 07:31:57 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on April 17, 2019, 02:55:43 PM
I'm not so much annoyed by the delay, but the break in the beta is what irritates. Why do it in phases? Just let it run.

Agree.

...although this lastest delay does annoy me too.  >:(
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: GeneralHawk on May 21, 2019, 11:25:51 AM
Dynamic Campaign video below - This looks fantastic!

https://www.pcgamer.com/steel-division-2-shows-off-its-11-dynamic-campaign/
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on May 27, 2019, 09:54:37 AM
NON STOP BETA IS HERE in 2 DAYS!! Hellz yeah. Looking forward to this. But worried I will burn out on it before the grand campaign is available. Still a little bummed that proper mountains or terrain undulation that looks natural and map modding do not seem to be in. It's better than before though in terms of mountain modelling. The combat is at such long ranges as well, that it makes those close hedge rows of normandy seem like heaven in terms of variety of combat situations. This is such a grand scale. See if you can micro your ammo types!



https://store.steampowered.com/news/?appids=1036860




The Steel Division 2 Beta will start on Wednesday, May 29th at 3PM CEST for the players who pre-ordered the game, and will be playable Non-Stop until the game's release on June 20th!

Play with all the Divisions and Units
As the news' title reads, all the Divisions & Units of the game will be playable throughout the beta. This means 18 Divisions, 9 in each camp, and more than 600 units! Obviously, you will have access to the Deck Builder, and will be able to play in Skirmish in solo, multiplayer and coop up to 5v5 players.

Here's the complete content:

18 Divisions
2nd Guards Tank Corps
29th Tank Corps
3rd Guards Mechanized Corps
Manoeuver Group "Tyurin"
Manoeuver Group "Bezugly"
9th Guards Cavalry Division
26th Guards Rifle Division
44th Guards Rifle Division
184th Guards Rifle Division
5. Panzerdivision
20. Panzerdivision
78. Sturmdivision
28. Jรคgerdivision
14. Infanterie-Division
Gruppe Harteneck
Kรถruck 559
1. Lovas Hadosztรกly
12. Tartalรฉkos Hadosztรกly

5 Maps
Orsha North
Vitebsk East
Tsell
Lyakhavichy
Autobahn zur Hรถlle

4 Game Modes
Conquest
Closer Combat
Breakthrough
5-Player Online Coop

The Beta will be updated with awesome content until the game's release.

(https://store.steampowered.com/news/?appids=1036860)
(https://store.steampowered.com/news/?appids=1036860)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Skoop on May 27, 2019, 11:41:22 AM
I haven't played the beta more than just casually for the reason of not burning out before the campaign.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: AchillesLastStand on May 27, 2019, 10:05:16 PM
Quote from: Destraex on May 27, 2019, 09:54:37 AM
NON STOP BETA IS HERE in 2 DAYS!! Hellz yeah. Looking forward to this. But worried I will burn out on it before the grand campaign is available. Still a little bummed that proper mountains or terrain undulation that looks natural and map modding do not seem to be in. It's better than before though in terms of mountain modelling. The combat is at such long ranges as well, that it makes those close hedge rows of normandy seem like heaven in terms of variety of combat situations. This is such a grand scale. See if you can micro your ammo types!



https://store.steampowered.com/news/?appids=1036860




The Steel Division 2 Beta will start on Wednesday, May 29th at 3PM CEST for the players who pre-ordered the game, and will be playable Non-Stop until the game's release on June 20th!

Play with all the Divisions and Units
As the news' title reads, all the Divisions & Units of the game will be playable throughout the beta. This means 18 Divisions, 9 in each camp, and more than 600 units! Obviously, you will have access to the Deck Builder, and will be able to play in Skirmish in solo, multiplayer and coop up to 5v5 players.

Here's the complete content:

18 Divisions
2nd Guards Tank Corps
29th Tank Corps
3rd Guards Mechanized Corps
Manoeuver Group "Tyurin"
Manoeuver Group "Bezugly"
9th Guards Cavalry Division
26th Guards Rifle Division
44th Guards Rifle Division
184th Guards Rifle Division
5. Panzerdivision
20. Panzerdivision
78. Sturmdivision
28. Jรคgerdivision
14. Infanterie-Division
Gruppe Harteneck
Kรถruck 559
1. Lovas Hadosztรกly
12. Tartalรฉkos Hadosztรกly

5 Maps
Orsha North
Vitebsk East
Tsell
Lyakhavichy
Autobahn zur Hรถlle

4 Game Modes
Conquest
Closer Combat
Breakthrough
5-Player Online Coop

The Beta will be updated with awesome content until the game's release.

(https://store.steampowered.com/news/?appids=1036860)
(https://store.steampowered.com/news/?appids=1036860)

Wait, sure hope that more maps are added and there are much more than 5 maps.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on May 27, 2019, 10:09:35 PM
There will be 25 tactical maps in total for the grand campaign iirc.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: trek on May 29, 2019, 09:22:47 AM
They released SD2 early (originally not supposed to be until 3pm today) I'm playing a solo skirmish right now!
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on May 29, 2019, 09:48:48 AM
Quote from: trek on May 29, 2019, 09:22:47 AM
They released SD2 early (originally not supposed to be until 3pm today) I'm playing a solo skirmish right now!

3 PM CEST (and it is almost 5PM CEST over here).
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: GeneralHawk on May 29, 2019, 12:00:09 PM
Yea I am waiting for the campaign as well.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on May 29, 2019, 09:20:17 PM
I'm disappointed with the choice of German divisions. They all seem to be rear guard, rear echelon and/or reserve level troops, save for one or two experienced divisions, but even those seem to have glaring weaknesses...this may be historically accurate, but its part of the reason why I think Bagration was a bad choice for the focus of the game. The Germans were woefully outnumbered, out-gunned and under strength.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on May 30, 2019, 04:11:12 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on May 29, 2019, 09:20:17 PM
I'm disappointed with the choice of German divisions. They all seem to be rear guard, rear echelon and/or reserve level troops, save for one or two experienced divisions, but even those seem to have glaring weaknesses...this may be historically accurate, but its part of the reason why I think Bagration was a bad choice for the focus of the game. The Germans were woefully outnumbered, out-gunned and under strength.

Maybe this could help with the limited options (in full release version) :

Back to War pack

Play with the most powerful Units & Divisions from Normandy in Steel Division 2! Completely free for Steel Division: Normandy 44 owners, this Pack features:

    4 additional Nations: USA, Canada, United Kingdom & France
    8 Divisions, 4 from each side, playable in solo, coop and multiplayer real-time skirmish
    350+ units from the first game
    Exclusive never-seen-before units
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: trek on May 30, 2019, 06:51:42 AM
Agreed on the setting of Bagration for SD2 as a negative. I guess I'll be playing a lot of skirmish with the divisions inherited from SDN44 in this one like I still do with SDN44. I DO smell future paid DLC coming with let's speculate: Kharkov, Kursk etc. I think the devs will mine this one for all it's got. I can also see more content for the first one like Battle of the Bulge, etc. although it probably will be a new standalone game. Sales for this one will probably surpass the first game and I see a long life for this series. No other publisher in my opinion has anything quite like this series to compete with it as far as features and gameplay. I love Combat Mission and Graviteam games as well, but Eugen seems to be on the cutting edge of this type of game.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: mbar on May 30, 2019, 08:08:55 AM
SD2 is published by Eugen Systems again instead of Paradox. In the past Wargame titles Eugen has supported their games with free and paid DLC.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on May 30, 2019, 09:11:36 AM
In guess this is why both sides have not only A. But B and C class divisions. I just dont know what exactly why b and c class divisions would be used in a competitive skirmish gsme unless a specific strategy is planned.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on May 30, 2019, 09:23:03 AM
According to this its just their offensive rating.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: acctingman on May 30, 2019, 12:06:57 PM
An observation from a guy new to this series (just started on the original a month ago) is that this new game looks better  :smitten: and I really need to learn how to scroll in and out with the camera angles/views because it adds so much to the visuals of the game.

Looking forward to the reviews here
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on June 05, 2019, 06:13:23 PM
Here comes a few of the Western Front sides to Steel Division 2 for D-Day's anniversary. Good stuff Eugen. You listened to the people. I hope they add more than just the four divisions we get for the western front and keep moving divisions over from the original game. The western front maps would also be nice.  Then their would be no reason to go back to steel division 1 at all.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: IICptMillerII on June 05, 2019, 07:31:05 PM
I finally got around to picking up the beta this past weekend, though I haven't had a lot of time to play it. A buddy and me have played some skirmishes against the AI, but I haven't tried multiplayer yet. Though with that said I am enjoying what I'm seeing so far.

I'm a huge fan of Wargame: European Escalation and Wargame: Airland Battle. I got them both in beta and I think W:ALB is the game I have the most amount of hours in on Steam. I wasn't a fan of Wargame: Red Dragon for a number of reasons, but I liked the direction they were going in with Steel Division Normandy (even if I would have preferred them staying in the Cold War era).

I think what I'll end up having the most fun with in SD2 is the strategic campaign, which from what I've heard will be coop.

Right now my only real issue with the gameplay is how hard it is to manage things when you're zoomed out. I don't like how the unit scale is individual as opposed to platoon in the Wargame titles, and for me it is very hard to see what units are shooting at what when zoomed out. Most of this is just me having to unlearn Wargame and relearn the similar but new system in SD, though I do wish that tracers were easier to see from a distance.

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on May 29, 2019, 09:20:17 PM
I'm disappointed with the choice of German divisions. They all seem to be rear guard, rear echelon and/or reserve level troops, save for one or two experienced divisions, but even those seem to have glaring weaknesses...this may be historically accurate, but its part of the reason why I think Bagration was a bad choice for the focus of the game. The Germans were woefully outnumbered, out-gunned and under strength.

Completely agree. This is one of the main reasons I was hesitant to get SD2. The Germans are at such a massive disadvantage across the board. From the little I've played, it doesn't feel too dire playing as the Germans, though I still think that Bagration was probably not the right period to go with. On the other hand, Eugen likely felt that they had to do late war Eastern Front as that is likely the most marketable. People want their late war heavy tanks and other "uber" toys to play with. If they went with a game based around Kursk, the Germans would only have access to a small handful of Tigers and Panthers. Plus, the German units were already made for SD Normandy, so doing the same time period on the Eastern Front likely cut their work load in half. All that said, I still would have preferred a SD Kursk instead, but I understand why they thought that might not have been feasible.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: AchillesLastStand on June 06, 2019, 02:59:20 AM
Played a bit in the beta a bit and the Back to War pack plus 4 new maps is getting patched in tomorrow.
One thing that is baffling me is why Eugen decided to give tanks{all} a universal range of 2000m. Been playing mostly against AI and the Soviet side does seem a bit OP atm. Just tonight I had a Valentine and a T-70 take out a Panther/Tiger which is a load of #*&%.  Back to the range subject there are variances in the stats such as penetration/damage/suppress/blast/accuracy to make up for the universal range of 2000, still is confusing as to why they did this. Not sure out of laziness or some other reason/s. In real life no way would a T70 or T34 stand a chance against a Tiger/Panther/Nashorn.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: FlickJax on June 06, 2019, 03:02:12 AM
Quote from: AchillesLastStand on June 06, 2019, 02:59:20 AM
Played a bit in the beta a bit and the Back to War pack plus 4 new maps is getting patched in tomorrow.
One thing that is baffling me is why Eugen decided to give tanks{all} a universal range of 2000m. Been playing mostly against AI and the Soviet side does seem a bit OP atm. Just tonight I had a Valentine and a T-70 take out a Panther/Tiger which is a load of #*&%.  Back to the range subject there are variances in the stats such as penetration/damage/suppress/blast/accuracy to make up for the universal range of 2000, still is confusing as to why they did this. Not sure out of laziness or some other reason/s. In real life no way would a T70 or T34 stand a chance against a Tiger/Panther/Nashorn.

Don't like the sound of this :(
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on June 06, 2019, 05:32:38 AM
Just because you can fire out to 2km does not mean you can hit let alone penetrate at those ranges. That is the trick. If a valentine took out a panther i would expect it to be at very short range. Check out the is2 tanks accuracy. Its actually very bad at hitting anything at most ranges. I doubt a Valentine could take out a Panther even at point blank frontally. But it's possible I reckon from the side.

All I have to say is that even at rifles will pen panthers in real life through the sides iirc. That is the reason for the side skirts.

How did the Panther die? Did it get penetrated or did they bail out? Wondering if spalling was the issue.

From memory in SD44, for every 100m you added 1 AP point of penetration. For SD2 I will have to look it up.
Also in SD44 their were only really two tank ranges. If I recall the common one was 1000m and the uncommon range on something like a panther was 1200m. I was a bit confused when I saw 2000m as the standard tank range in SD2, but unlike normandy the open areas are huge and I guess most tanks could fire 2000m, hell most machine guns could with the correct sites. The only problem being optical ability.



You would have to mod steel division if you wanted combat mission like stats. But in general it's very good for the kind of game it is.

It will go something like this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Steel_Division/comments/6ak9j9/veterancy_and_accuracy_calculations_explained/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Steel_Division/comments/6bjnnn/math_division_normandy_44penetration_bounce_and/
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: AchillesLastStand on June 06, 2019, 12:25:53 PM
The panther was penned, wasn't paying to close attention as was watching somewhere else at the time.
Another thing being discussed is how tank killers are pretty much worthless due to their poor recon abilities, if they don't get off the 1st shot which often times happen they are dead meat. I don't see Eugen changing the 2000 range thingy but some balancing is needed.

Some of the new stuff added today looks good, especially that last new map on the list is massive. Nice sized urban areas.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: AchillesLastStand on June 06, 2019, 12:42:03 PM
Quote from: FlickJax on June 06, 2019, 03:02:12 AM
Quote from: AchillesLastStand on June 06, 2019, 02:59:20 AM
Played a bit in the beta a bit and the Back to War pack plus 4 new maps is getting patched in tomorrow.
One thing that is baffling me is why Eugen decided to give tanks{all} a universal range of 2000m. Been playing mostly against AI and the Soviet side does seem a bit OP atm. Just tonight I had a Valentine and a T-70 take out a Panther/Tiger which is a load of #*&%.  Back to the range subject there are variances in the stats such as penetration/damage/suppress/blast/accuracy to make up for the universal range of 2000, still is confusing as to why they did this. Not sure out of laziness or some other reason/s. In real life no way would a T70 or T34 stand a chance against a Tiger/Panther/Nashorn.

Don't like the sound of this :(

Don't get me wrong I have had fun, don't think this is a deal breaker but does takes a lil getting used to.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on June 06, 2019, 06:09:44 PM
Quote from: AchillesLastStand on June 06, 2019, 12:25:53 PM
The panther was penned, wasn't paying to close attention as was watching somewhere else at the time.
Another thing being discussed is how tank killers are pretty much worthless due to their poor recon abilities, if they don't get off the 1st shot which often times happen they are dead meat. I don't see Eugen changing the 2000 range thingy but some balancing is needed.

Some of the new stuff added today looks good, especially that last new map on the list is massive. Nice sized urban areas.
Interesting that tank killers should have poor spotting. I did not particulary notice in sd44 as i always used recon units anyways. Game uses borg spotting which is unfortunate.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Skoop on June 18, 2019, 08:14:45 PM
Downloading, finally get to check out the SP campaign.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on June 18, 2019, 08:58:11 PM
Quote from: Skoop on June 18, 2019, 08:14:45 PM
Downloading, finally get to check out the SP campaign.

The campaign looks delicious. Unfortunately, won't be able to try it until tomorrow night.  :-[
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 19, 2019, 03:37:11 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on June 18, 2019, 08:58:11 PM

The campaign looks delicious. Unfortunately, won't be able to try it until tomorrow night.  :-[

Nay, it's scrumptious.  Delectable even.  A true feast!

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on June 19, 2019, 04:31:51 PM
Quote from: SirAndrewD on June 19, 2019, 03:37:11 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on June 18, 2019, 08:58:11 PM

The campaign looks delicious. Unfortunately, won't be able to try it until tomorrow night.  :-[

Nay, it's scrumptious.  Delectable even.  A true feast!

Sounds like its a smorgasbord of eastern front warfare. Can't wait to dig in. 
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 19, 2019, 06:00:33 PM
Well, I took off a little bite (ok, ending the food puns).   I really liked how it played out thus far.  The campaign map has a lot going on and I'm liking the system of mixing AI and human control for friendlies.  Had a feel like an easier to understand version of the Graviteam games.  I'll give it a bit more play later.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 20, 2019, 07:36:13 PM
Second opinion is really really great. 

Really, I didn't expect the campaign map to be so...crunchy.   It's rules deep and I love the movement point system and shifting front line.

You have considerations to make on support, air coverage, maintaining lines of supply ect.   Encirclement matters and so far it seems like the AI does a good job of managing its front and not doing anything idiotic.

I'll be honest, I didn't quite know what i was doing on my first try and got my butt handed to me.  The tactical battles work a little differently in how deployments are handled than in the skirmish mode, so I totally botched my first go. 

What I love is that the campaign forces you to drop the metagame of the skirmish, which I felt sometimes relied too heavily on deck building and not enough on just working with what you have in the field.  The combat phase system is preserved, but their translation of it to the Campaign tactical system is elegant, having certain formations given a phase rating based on their nature and speed of reaching the front.   

I almost liken it to the phase system in Operational Art of War, but with a tighter focus and tactical fighting. 

I'm going to really dig into this one tonight and try to spread Stalin's love all over the Fascist invaders of the Rodina.  I figure trying with the side with the all the advantages will give me a touch of a handicap, although the Germans do get to dig in and fight with fortifications. 

Lots of potential in this one.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Skoop on June 20, 2019, 10:09:47 PM
^ I agree, campaign is really fun.  You have to pay attention to which battlegroups you have positioned on the map and leaving enough points to support each other in the opponents turn.  The phase system plays a role in when you can commit reserves. 

I was having a hard time at the beginning trying to control everything and was getting worked by the AI.  I finally set it up so that every battle I have at least 2 battlegroups attacking in the A phase or 3 BGs if possible and delegated the other 2 BGs to the AI. 


Once I did that, it was far more enjoyable.


There's some crafty maneuvering on the strategy map that allows you to set up some great lopsided battles.  You can envelope and isolate units like the tip of a spearhead then go in to the tactical battle and annihilate them.   
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 20, 2019, 10:32:37 PM
^Exactly, this is really the beauty of what this game does right. 

As I say, it reminds me of planning a battle in Operational Art of War IV, and that's nuts that it's that deep in a "RTS".

Getting down the art of planning how the phases are going to work in an assault is key, and I haven't 100% done it yet. 

Also the idea, again one that Art of War did well, of understanding movement vs Tempo, is key.   You can move and set up a good attack, but delay it a turn to get the best results, but, will it cost you the precious time to achieve the objective?

I really expected a Risk style bare bones system here.  The Wargame series didn't really set me up to expect a ton more.   

Instead, they'v really leveled up their game and made something very deep and worse the price of admission. 

I can honestly see this system having a ton of crossover potential for a lot of 20th Century warfare.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Skoop on June 21, 2019, 12:02:51 AM
It would be awesome if the devs added the ability to play the campaign in coop.  The mechanic is already there, when your setting up the tactical battle and deciding which battle groups you control and which ones assigned to the AI.  Instead of assigning to AI you could assign them to other human players.  That would truly make it a masterpiece.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: mbar on June 21, 2019, 08:25:40 AM
No tutorial other than diving right in it seems. I guess '44 was the tutorial.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: acctingman on June 21, 2019, 08:43:36 AM
I read somewhere that SD2 has a "difficulty" slider in the campaign game. Can someone who's playing it confirm this? I'm still struggling with SD1 and I know there isn't one there and while I'm getting better, I lose more than I win  :P
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: glen55 on June 21, 2019, 10:23:43 AM
Quote from: mbar on June 21, 2019, 08:25:40 AM
No tutorial other than diving right in it seems. I guess '44 was the tutorial.

Which leaves us with no way of dealing with the campaign map other than reading the damn manual.

Sigh. I thought we were in the post-manual phase of history.

LATER: OK, now I read the manual and it is awful and gives me no clue about how to handle the campaign map because it mostly describes orders of battle and units and does not spend much if any time on how to play the game with those units. I tried diddling around on the campaign map and I am not smart enough to figure it out easily, so I am in the "waiting for an explanatory Youtube" phase with this game.

Maybe I'll try a skirmish, which I should be able to handle having played a fair bit of SD 44.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Skoop on June 21, 2019, 04:05:04 PM
I just tinkered with the campaign by playing and restarting and messing around.  The I played one of the least complex scenarios which is the last one to the end.  The UI tooltips help as well.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 21, 2019, 04:15:22 PM
Quote from: glen55 on June 21, 2019, 10:23:43 AM
I am in the "waiting for an explanatory Youtube" phase with this game.   


Your wait was over before it began.  ;)

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: glen55 on June 21, 2019, 06:04:20 PM
Quote from: SirAndrewD on June 21, 2019, 04:15:22 PM
Quote from: glen55 on June 21, 2019, 10:23:43 AM
I am in the "waiting for an explanatory Youtube" phase with this game.   


Your wait was over before it began.  ;)



Oh good, that one's a lot more enlightening than the first one I watched. Thanks.

It seems that moving your units around is really not that difficult, but a lot of the practical details of what kind of battles you get when you do this or that is going to take some experimentation to get the hang of. If the hang can be gotten by such as me, that is. . . .
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 21, 2019, 11:03:22 PM
Quote from: glen55 on June 21, 2019, 06:04:20 PM

Oh good, that one's a lot more enlightening than the first one I watched. Thanks.

It seems that moving your units around is really not that difficult, but a lot of the practical details of what kind of battles you get when you do this or that is going to take some experimentation to get the hang of. If the hang can be gotten by such as me, that is. . . .

Glad to help. 

Yeah, I found that one covered everything pretty well.  Tinkering for me has covered the other bases. 

I'm a long way from mastering it though.  It's going to take a lot of trial and error.   For me that's a good thing.  I prefer having to learn and get the hang of it to just jumping in and things being too easy..
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: acctingman on June 21, 2019, 11:46:31 PM
Can anyone tell me if there is a difficulty slider in the campaign mode? I read that in the Steam forums, but I'd like to check with you here that have the game to get a legit answer  O0
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 22, 2019, 12:00:46 AM
Quote from: acctingman on June 21, 2019, 11:46:31 PM
Can anyone tell me if there is a difficulty slider in the campaign mode? I read that in the Steam forums, but I'd like to check with you here that have the game to get a legit answer  O0

Go ask Google you reprobate.   

Sorry, now that the Steam experience is out of the way..

There's no slider, no.  You can set the AI difficulty when you start the campaign but I haven't seen any way to change it once it's going.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 23, 2019, 03:55:38 PM
A quick few tips from playing this weekend...

Firstly, when on the attack, it's sometimes wise to set up before going in.  You might want to trade time for punch by pushing units up to the front line so you have multiple options in Phase A, rather than sending units in piecemeal having them come in multiple phases. 

Next, don't forget to use your artillery on the campaign map to bombard.  You can remove a unit's action points and use bombers to interdict movement to make a carefully planned attack easier.   

Don't press armor and artillery too far forward.   The AI can and will attack exposed Armor when you don't have Infantry that can come in and support it in Phase A.  You want to be careful to always have yourself in position to engage with combined arms. 

Finally, there is no APPARENT save feature for Campaign tactical battles.  However, the quick save of F5 works in a campaign battle.  You can then go to load and rename the save something else if you want multiple saves.   Battles in this game can last a very long while, especially with the pause feature.   If you're old and not a bachelor like myself, you might need to walk away for a minute or thirty here or there.   I found this to be a godsend.   So far I haven't seen anyone talking about this one, so I'm worried it's an oversight they might close.

I've confirmed the F5 save and reload will work fine and the campaign will continue without issue.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Barthheart on June 23, 2019, 06:26:07 PM
Quote from: SirAndrewD on June 23, 2019, 03:55:38 PM
A quick few tips from playing this weekend...

Firstly, when on the attack, it's sometimes wise to set up before going in.  You might want to trade time for punch by pushing units up to the front line so you have multiple options in Phase A, rather than sending units in piecemeal having them come in multiple phases. 

Next, don't forget to use your artillery on the campaign map to bombard.  You can remove a unit's action points and use bombers to interdict movement to make a carefully planned attack easier.   

Don't press armor and artillery too far forward.   The AI can and will attack exposed Armor when you don't have Infantry that can come in and support it in Phase A.  You want to be careful to always have yourself in position to engage with combined arms. 

Finally, there is no APPARENT save feature for Campaign tactical battles.  However, the quick save of F5 works in a campaign battle.  You can then go to load and rename the save something else if you want multiple saves.   Battles in this game can last a very long while, especially with the pause feature.   If you're old and not a bachelor like myself, you might need to walk away for a minute or thirty here or there.   I found this to be a godsend.   So far I haven't seen anyone talking about this one, so I'm worried it's an oversight they might close.

I've confirmed the F5 save and reload will work fine and the campaign will continue without issue.

These are great tips, especially the F5 save! Thanks for posting. Now I gotta scrap up the pesos to buy it.... :-"
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on June 25, 2019, 08:52:07 AM
Bought yesterday. Had to do chores (and finish an AAR video on another game, now up), so haven't played yet.

Bought the edition with the extra campaigns coming (not the extra aesthetic bling). Since I already own lots of SD1, Steam automatically grants me the DLC porting over 8 of the divisions from that game (4 German, 1 each from the western allies).
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on June 25, 2019, 10:30:17 AM
wargamer.com review.
How is wargamer.com regarded these days by the by?

https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/steel-division-2/
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on June 25, 2019, 10:59:48 AM
^They are not regarded, because if you are a Grog, you hang out here.

That being said, I think Wargamer Joe has done a fantastic job with their main page and content and he is a nice guy too.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: acctingman on June 25, 2019, 11:14:23 AM
Reading that review.....there is a "auto-resolve" mode? This mode fights the battles while you sit and watch? That's an odd feature, but kinda neat.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on June 25, 2019, 11:17:46 AM
Quote from: acctingman on June 25, 2019, 11:14:23 AM
Reading that review.....there is a "auto-resolve" mode? This mode fights the battles while you sit and watch? That's an odd feature, but kinda neat.

I don't think you sit and watch. It just shows a shirt animation and calculates the results broken down by phase. Sort of like how auto-resolve works in Total War. There is another resolution mode
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: HoodedHorseJoe on June 25, 2019, 11:21:40 AM
Those Wargamer.com guys sound well rubbish, amirite?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on June 25, 2019, 11:26:33 AM
Quote from: WargamerJoe on June 25, 2019, 11:21:40 AM
Those Wargamer.com guys sound well rubbish, amirite?

...and since he is always hanging out in our forums, he is a Grog too!
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 25, 2019, 12:23:30 PM
Quote from: WargamerJoe on June 25, 2019, 11:21:40 AM
Those Wargamer.com guys sound well rubbish, amirite?

At least they have a front page.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on June 25, 2019, 12:33:32 PM
Who needs a front page when you have forums this girthie and muscular?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 25, 2019, 08:22:17 PM
Quote from: Gusington on June 25, 2019, 12:33:32 PM
Who needs a front page when you have forums this girthie and muscular?

Speaking of Loist Moins.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on June 26, 2019, 12:25:56 PM
Quote from: Destraex on June 25, 2019, 10:30:17 AM
wargamer.com review.
How is wargamer.com regarded these days by the by?

https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/steel-division-2/

I thought that review was dang good, and would have sold me on the game if I hadn't bought it already. ;)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Queeg on June 28, 2019, 04:17:09 PM
Another well-done review here:  https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/06/28/the-flare-path-likes-steel-division-ii/
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on June 28, 2019, 04:51:54 PM
The reviews are pretty bang on. 

The more I play this game the more impressed I am with it.

I really feel like we've got the next Close Combat on our hands.   I really hope they keep developing this game and expand it into more theaters and scenarios.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: fran on June 29, 2019, 03:23:57 AM
Hi, how buggy is it at the moment?

Did you buy the base game only, or one of the bundles. If so which one? From the recall the bundles allow you access to the planned DLC?

Thanks
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on June 29, 2019, 06:51:51 PM
Been playing naval action as it is now released. So cannot tell you about the campaign being buggy. I played one battle and had no crashes. It's very time consuming setting up defences as the Germans. But I won on medium in the first battle. Without the tank destroyer unit that came in in phase B though. I would have been cooked.

As for the bundle. I have the top one I think. Plus the back to war pack if you own the first one which gives you western divisions for skirmish, as well as the newsletter sign up ace.

Personally I do not think you need to worry much about some of the content. Because it's just skins and music. Also the aces are really just flavour, their stats are not any better than the base units in the game. But they are elite base units. Generally going by SD44, they just replace existing elite cards. I like them though as I associate them well with stats and find them easy to track on the field.

Note that the special content as far as I know (and I may be wrong) just affects skirmish mode. Not campaign mode.


So looking at the below. The commander pack seems unnecessary. It just has visual goodies and bibs and bobs that are outside of the game itself.
(https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/steam/apps/919640/extras/Steel_Division_2_Content_04_Total-Conflict_Edition_616.jpg?t=1561046089)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: GDS_Starfury on July 10, 2019, 01:11:40 PM
so where's everyone at with this game?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on July 10, 2019, 01:17:49 PM
i prefer it to SD 44, bbut for some reason do not play it as much. I've had a lot of distractions lately...
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: glen55 on July 10, 2019, 02:42:37 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on July 10, 2019, 01:11:40 PM
so where's everyone at with this game?

I have enjoyed it quite a bit. It's great that the battles now have persistent results that translate into the campaign layer that you go back to every battle. I am personally having a little trouble getting the campaign layer to deliver the battles I want, but I tend to think that might be more on me than on the game system. The battles are quite similar to SD Normandy, and that's a good thing: they're very playable while still being fairly detailed and realistic.

The campaign layer is actually a separate game, and some people play it and just auto-resolve all the battles. It's actually pretty intriguing once you get a basic grasp on it (which can be a little tricky, given its fairly unique nature and the lack of a tutorial).

HOWEVER--I'm wondering how much replayability it has. Yes, there are a lot of different battle maps, and a bunch of different divisions with different types of battalions, so there is plenty of variation in terms of using different units and fighting on different terrain. There are also attack, defend and meeting engagements, but all that means is how much of the map you hold at the beginning and whether you get to place things like bunkers and trenches.

But every single battle is on the same-sized map, and they all start with you having 20 points worth of units (infantry squad = 1 point; tank/artillery piece = 3 points) and adding 3 or 5 points per minute coming on at one of your entry points on the edge of the map until the battle is over. I've done maybe 10 battles and they're starting to feel a little generic already. That hasn't killed the fun yet, but it's starting to blunt it.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on July 16, 2019, 05:47:21 PM
I'm so distracted with all the new shiny things that I haven't gotten to this yet.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Barthheart on July 16, 2019, 06:48:56 PM
Haven't even bought it yet...  :hide:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Rayfer on July 17, 2019, 06:58:33 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on July 16, 2019, 06:48:56 PM
Haven't even bought it yet...  :hide:

And in today's gaming world I'll wait until the Winter holiday sales and get it with a hefty discount.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: MengJiao on August 22, 2019, 03:49:57 PM
Quote from: Rayfer on July 17, 2019, 06:58:33 AM
Quote from: Barthheart on July 16, 2019, 06:48:56 PM
Haven't even bought it yet...  :hide:

And in today's gaming world I'll wait until the Winter holiday sales and get it with a hefty discount.

It's 33% off with a DCL on Steam at the moment
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on October 18, 2019, 04:03:35 AM
Well now that the addon is out I have Das Wiking and Herman Goring setup for a little coop with some mates. The Polish Divisions don't look anywhere near as enticing. One has German Tigers and other captured kit though.

The campaign tutorials also look like they will be worth doing before I continue my campaign games.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 15, 2020, 10:39:55 PM
ok. I am starting a campaign in this game finally. Why now? Because I finally went and experimented with the save system to ensure I can save anytime anywhere in the campaign. You would think it would be easy right? Think again. Unless you are in your turn in the correct screen, not in a battle results screen or anything, you cannot use the normal save. You have to use the quick save via the keyboard shortcut F5. Next time you press F5 your save will be written over. This means if you are playing three campaigns or want to save before exiting because you are interrupted during a tactical battle your single quicksave file keeps getting written over. Not ideal, because you cannot go back if real life intervenes or you forget your one quicksave slot was used for another campaign. That just got wiped.

So what you do is:
1. Press F5 anytime you want to quicksave or save a game.
2. Exit to the main menu and go to your saved campaign games
3. Their is a rename button at the bottom right of the saved campaigns game screen. Find it.
4. Highlight your quicksave save, called quicksave, in the list
5. Press rename and rename the save to a name of your choosing
6. Use the save to load back into the game
7. Pressing quicksave again the next time you want to save will create a new quicksave file in the list called quicksave

See it's simple. Why could Eugen not just add a shortcut for real saves in game or let us press ESC and have the option to save game in that area? Because the conventional "save game" is greyed out a lot of the time. However the quicksave shortcut F5 works anywhere anytime.

The other day I set a tactical battle up. Took me 30 minutes to place all my defensive structures (trenches, barbed wire, bunkers etc), then I needed to go. This would have been useful knowledge then.

Posting here in case it helps others.

One question for those that may know. What do the reserves in brackets do in phase C? The tutorial says that numbers in brackets in the reserves column for a unit can arrive in subsequent phases. But I have seen brackets in the last phase. Phase C. This is really something to be worked out.

(https://i.imgur.com/s9oC8wV.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/kqRGF3q.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/S0AJKk9.png)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Barthheart on February 16, 2020, 06:49:50 AM
Thanks for the save tip.

I really should fire this game up since I bought at the X-mas sale.....




(Why can I not use the smileys any more?!? I'm using Edge and never had any trouble before the Crash of 2020. In fact it seems I can't use any of the formatting stuff either... try to italics this line)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 17, 2020, 07:03:52 AM
You should. It's a great game.

My battle campaign tonight, only lost a few units, but still not good for the campaign in general, need those units:
Funnily enough my artillery regiment 105mm guns proved fairly inneffective at doing anything but suppressing the enemy mortars. They did not seem to be able to kill them.
(https://i.imgur.com/ml5Ad8b.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/6RX7cE6.png)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 17, 2020, 07:28:24 AM
Looks like you had quite the numerical superiority in that battle.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 17, 2020, 07:43:59 AM
They had 3 rifle regiments. I took 1 grenadier regiment, 1 artillery regiment which was mainly artillery pieces and observers and an air recon regt... which only had about 10 planes in it. THose aircraft were mainly recon bf\me109s which were very lightly armed.
I assume they had a lot more men than I did? How can you tell I outnumbered them?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 17, 2020, 08:14:41 AM
I assumed you were playing as the Soviets.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 17, 2020, 08:54:11 AM
I get you now. No I was playing the germans and was able to use trenches, barbed wire, at emplacements etc to shore up my lines against the attacking hordes. So even outnumbered it was not too hard. Especially since the enemy had no aircraft to support them this time.
Each turn represents a half day. As I have used both my aircraft regiments this turn. Not sure I will get them back in the afternoons turn. I can stop an enemy unit from moving by using a campaign map bombard feature with either artillery or aircraft as well. I have learned. But then they are not available for tactical battle use. Its rather like using them either at the strategic or tactical command level. That and using my recon squadron at the strategic level, which I havr not tried yet. Not tried using points to bring on teenforcmenets yet either.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on February 17, 2020, 10:03:09 AM
'Slutsk.'
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 17, 2020, 05:33:51 PM
A devs reply to the question of replenishing units in campaign mode. So every unit I destroy in tactical battles aint coming back.

"No, there is no way to replenish battalions.
The Soviet had a tradition of never replenishing units during combat operations: they would waste a brigade completely before pulling its remanants out and then rest & refit them.
As for the Germans, they usually did, but from the start of Bagration, their supply chain was broken or bypassed by the Soviets very quickly, and battalions usually liveed (and often died) by themselves.

Ingame, a battalion shouldn't be left with nothing: it is considered spent and destroyed when down to under 30% or 25% of its original strength."
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 17, 2020, 05:36:31 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 17, 2020, 10:03:09 AM
'Slutsk.'

How did I know that it would be you with that take away from the entire post?  :clap:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on February 17, 2020, 08:24:41 PM
Because?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 17, 2020, 08:29:24 PM
Quote from: Gusington on February 17, 2020, 08:24:41 PM
Because?

Because you're very whore-ish.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on February 17, 2020, 08:48:18 PM
Pfft...'ish'
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 18, 2020, 06:35:50 AM
The slaughter continues. In this, the 3rd battle of the first campaign turn. The Russian's are still taking their turn, they went first. I am still yet to have a turn. I must face the onslaught with no manoever. Like a man stuck in quicksand.
This time I have no air support but they do. I do however have 4 20 mike mike AA guns. In two separate units of two I deploy them and they fight hard. Eventually I lose one to a "plane train" of sturmoviks. That is when I start losing men. I have in phase B, a regiment of Marder tanks. But do not bring them on as enemy tanks are not seen and they are open topped. Perfect targets for the enemy aircraft.

(https://i.imgur.com/ogds98c.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/XoWKzD3.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/K7g4dsu.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/cpAjMol.png)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 19, 2020, 06:00:54 PM
This turn attacked on the same ground as last turn. Missing two AA guns really badly in this match. I now have one left out of the original four. You need pairs of two to stop an aircraft before it drops on you. Tried to get my stuka's to intercept the Russian bombers in this match but they were too fast and after the AA guns started dropping, the only thing that could save me was the timer.
I notice that the end of match stats don't seem to mention the AA guns I lost and on the other side show 2 aircraft lost for the enemy but then only shows 1 icon. Are we talking points worth of aircraft in one instance and actual units in the other statistic?

(https://i.imgur.com/UYhQGRd.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/UmJmcoX.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/Pf9tIn6.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/1dYATyF.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/7f4RhwB.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/7itcC37.png)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: LoganismyHERO on February 20, 2020, 09:34:15 AM
I read that you could almost "sim" this game. Is that true? I know that sounds odd to most war gamers, but sometimes I'd like to just sit back and watch the game unfold before my eyes and if things go bad, blame the AI  ;D
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: al_infierno on February 20, 2020, 12:47:03 PM
Quote from: LoganismyHERO on February 20, 2020, 09:34:15 AM
I read that you could almost "sim" this game. Is that true? I know that sounds odd to most war gamers, but sometimes I'd like to just sit back and watch the game unfold before my eyes and if things go bad, blame the AI  ;D

I'm probably not the best person to listen to since I'm not a fan of the series, but I found it to be super micro-heavy.  If you sit back and watch things unfold, your units will just sit around and do nothing.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Pete Dero on February 20, 2020, 01:24:18 PM
Quote from: LoganismyHERO on February 20, 2020, 09:34:15 AM
I read that you could almost "sim" this game. Is that true? I know that sounds odd to most war gamers, but sometimes I'd like to just sit back and watch the game unfold before my eyes and if things go bad, blame the AI  ;D

Maybe you are referring to the auto or semi-auto resolve feature in the campaign that allows you skip the RTS battles.  (explained in this video after min. 15)

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: LoganismyHERO on February 20, 2020, 04:40:20 PM
Thanks Pete. I really like this feature. Think I'll pick this game up when it's on sale.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: steve58 on February 20, 2020, 05:14:19 PM
^ FYI:  it is on "sale" over at Fanatical (https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/platinum-collection-build-your-own-bundle) as part of a Pick 3 for $9.99 deal.

:-[ Oops, wrong game.  Steel Division Normandy 44 is the one that is part of the 3 for $10. 
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 20, 2020, 10:48:02 PM
I believe if you want you can let the ai play your tactical battles but will have to try it myself to be sure. Before you load into a tactical battle (instead of choosing autoresolve) you can choose which of the three battalions are controlled by the ai. The default is leaving two playa le by the ai and co trolling one yourself. However I dont see any reason why you could not allocate all to the ai if you just want to watch?

Additionally even if you are forced to co trol at least one of the three battalions you have a tonne of automated commands for grouped or single units that got added recently. In will see when I get home if I can get a run down on how they  work.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 21, 2020, 03:40:34 AM
OK I tested it in the campaign. You can defo just let the AI play for you while you watch the tactical battles if you want.

(https://i.imgur.com/sRFLzAE.png)

If you do feel like playing yourself just make it really slow and slave some larger formations to orders like the below: These are new:
(https://i.imgur.com/tADrIZC.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/wGiI2Zd.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/yOHYvdB.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/HlMH9LA.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/hw1DylU.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/WEE2p9m.png)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: LoganismyHERO on February 21, 2020, 09:46:51 AM
Thanks Destraex  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 10, 2020, 05:02:02 AM
We almost had an italian front instead of an Eastern Front SD2:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/919640/discussions/0/2147595624109797718/?ctp=2

"Italy had been considered as the new theater when we started planning SD2.
I had drafted army lists for possible divisions. It could have been fun indeed, especially from the number of different nations on the Allies' side: US, British, Canadian, Indian, Free French & French Colonial, Polish & New-Zealander divisions ... and let's not forget my all-time favorite Allied division: the South-African Armored Division! :)
But although Italy would offer plethora of new infantry units on both sides, vehicles wouldn't have been as numerous.

We went for Soviet Union for several reasons:
* well, no WW2 game can be whome without Soviet Union ... :)
* aside from lend-lease vehicle, a whole array of new vehicles, planes & infantry.
* Italian mountainous terrain would have been difficult to represent ... and maybe restrict the maps too much."
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on April 10, 2020, 02:36:54 PM
SD3: IT-A-LY!!  O0

Just work on that terrain.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: al_infierno on April 10, 2020, 09:23:16 PM
An Italian expansion actually sounds promising.  My biggest issue with SD2 was that they went all-out on the "massive maps, waves of units" approach.  Scaling back the opposite way and making a game that uses cozier maps and fewer units would draw me back into the series.  It's a shame that won't be coming to fruition.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: hellfish6 on April 11, 2020, 05:46:18 AM
I regularly play 2v2 skirmishes on maps designed for 1v1 because otherwise you have way too much ground to cover with far too few forces.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 13, 2020, 05:30:42 PM
Hellfish I do the same. But it's realistic to have massive spacing between units.

When I asked about units rushing ahead:
"You can click another unit and it will do a follow command."

When I asked about the AI being easier:
"It has nothing to do with the UI pathfind changes.
Some times ago, AI levels were taken down one step: Normal level was given the previous Easy settings, Hard was given Normal settings, ...
So, if you want the same AI as before, just raise the difficulty level one step.

This was done after too many players complained about, and unrecommanded the game based on, "cheating AI".
Yet the Normal AI never cheated, never had a single advantage (income, vision, hit or damage bonus, ...) over a human player, aside from a CPU's ability to managed more actions at once. But some couldn't cope with the idea that their military genius wasn't up to a standard AI.
Hence we came to the conclusion that the Normal AI was too hard for the casual player, and lowered the difficulty levels one step down."
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: hellfish6 on April 13, 2020, 08:13:27 PM
My one and only serious problem with the Eugen games isn't the AI being too dumb or too clever, it's the AI knowing where all of my units are at all times. I play one skirmish every day or so and there has never been a game - in SD2, SD44 or any of the Wargame series where I did NOT see the AI drive right up to one of my nearly invisible scouts and kill it. Or target my infantry reinforcements or artillery far behind the lines before they've even unloaded from their trucks.

I realize a huge number of games out there of all types - RTS, turn based, even FPS - don't 'hide' player units from the AI, but the way the SD/WG series blatantly takes advantage of it really stinks. I keep buying and playing these games and I enjoy them most of the time, but this one issue is like having a pebble in my shoe that I can't get rid of that severely hampers the entire experience for me.

It actually rankled me enough this weekend that I went back and installed one of the Combat Missions again... only to remember why I finally uninstalled that. I think I'm stuck with Eugen now, pebble and all, for my WW2 tactical gaming.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 14, 2020, 05:51:22 AM
I have to say, it does feel like that a lot of the time. But I don't think I have noticed the AI home in on any of my units very obviously. I mean take a right hook off a road and go flying towards a hidden infantry recon unit with a tank that could not possibly see them.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: hellfish6 on April 14, 2020, 06:30:20 AM
That's actually exactly what happens sometimes - a lone tank will drive up to my two-man recon team (with no AT weapons of their own). The tank will drive right up on my guys, open fire at 5m and kill them quickly.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on June 06, 2020, 03:41:20 AM
Well the Allies DLC is out as a tribute to D-Day. But it's $18 here in AUD... for six divisions from SD1. Needless to say I pulled the trigger.
I am a sucker for this game. It's a great balance of wargame and RTS.

I have been watching the $350 competitive play offs and been enjoying it like a game of football.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on June 07, 2020, 09:53:58 AM
Just a general heads-up --

SD2 is on sale now on Steam for a cool $15.99.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/919640/Steel_Division_2/ (https://store.steampowered.com/app/919640/Steel_Division_2/)

Looks like this is a short-term 'daily deal,' so if you've been on the fence, this is a good time to pick it up.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Father Ted on June 07, 2020, 04:29:56 PM
I almost went for this, but managed to see sense in time.  I've played a bit of Airland Battle and bought and refunded SD1.  For me this is just one of those games where the promotional screenshots have little relevance to the actual gameplay I've experienced.  That shot in Destraex' last post of infantry rushing across a road looks intense and exciting, yet I'd never see that when playing - they'd just be an icon.  Likewise, detailed models of AFVs pictured firing over a valley would not feature in my playing experience.

I realise that such things are present in the game, but I know they're just wasted on me when I try to play it.  The scenery and models are stunning - they're just not relevant to the gameplay.  This game would work just as well with a 2D representation.  In fact I'd probably play the game presented that way because then I wouldn't be feeling guilty that I was ignoring all the tremendous graphics.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on June 07, 2020, 04:56:25 PM
I definitely know what you're talking about, Father Ted. I'm almost always zoomed all the way out when actually playing. Still, there is one feature that's worth considering, which is the auto-record feature. You can watch any of your battles after the fact 'cinematically' this way -- you can get rid of the UI as well if I'm not mistaken.

Anyway, the thing that keeps me glued to SD2 is the tremendous campaigns. I love these, and many are equally interesting played from either the German or Soviet side. A lot of replayability here.

For the past year, I've found myself playing SD2 at the expense of most other games. I think it really hits the sweet spot between arcady WW2 RTS (Company of Heroes) and grindy, very time consuming games like Graviteam Tactics Mius Front.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: hellfish6 on June 07, 2020, 07:01:25 PM
I'm almost ashamed to admit this, but the SD series has eclipsed Combat Mission for me. I don't say that lightly - I was in on the old CM tech demo/alpha thing back in the late 90s and I've poured thousands of hours into it over the year. I have all the titles (even the Afghanistan one) and the series holds a close place dear to my heart.

However, the CM of today is still a lot like the CM of old. It hasn't changed much, and it's stale for me. That, and the replayability is surprisingly low. I spent most of my CM experience playing quick battles. However, in CMFB, the last title I played before finally uninstalling all of them, the QB experience is pretty awful. In the vast majority of games I play, i pick my own forces and let everything else be randomized, I always seem to end up fighting an opponent (almost always the Germans) who instead of bringing a combined arms force, always seems to buy a Wespe battery and one Stug. Almost every single time.

That, and the lack of interesting and suitably large maps has, over time, caused me to lost interest. Yeah, CM looks okay, but it doesn't have nearly the replayability that the SD series has. And even for all of SD's many (many) faults, it gives me a more enjoyable and re-playable experience. And I can easily squeeze it into my schedule, and good skirmishes can be over in half an hour - or an hour if I prefer.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: al_infierno on June 07, 2020, 07:40:01 PM
I know what you mean Hellfish.  I keep wanting to give this series a shot for the exact reasons you described.  Maybe I'll go blow some money on DLC to justify spending time with the game again.  ;D
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on June 07, 2020, 08:20:34 PM
So you're all saying that this is a steal at the 15.00 price?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: sandman2575 on June 07, 2020, 08:47:05 PM
Very definitely, Gus. I pretty much only play the Single Player campaigns, and I absolutely love this game.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on June 08, 2020, 09:21:56 AM
*runs frantically to Steam*
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on June 25, 2020, 11:51:12 PM
$15 on steam atm for you Americans. A steal in my book. I usually recommend against stealing. So don't get it!  :knuppel2:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on July 04, 2020, 03:23:17 AM

Interview with DEVS on upcoming future of SD2, VulcanHD 1hr Youtube Video Camera


This was really good. Check out Madmat's expression, We are exasperating him. Sorry mate. :)
Good to put a name to the face Matthieu. Great interview Vulcan

Key points so far:
* No new maps for the Romanian front campaigns - maps in future though which will make me happy

* Possible new western DLC in future - this would make me very happy

* Possible expansion to another theatre in SD2 - this would make me very happy

* A focus on new player accessability some time in the future before any more free weekends are possible if they happen at all. Happy with this if NO STEP BACKWARDS is taken in terms of game complexity and realism.

* Map editor is in the works but probably a long way off if it gets finished at all. 6 months or more. This more than anything else has me excited because it means people will have endless replayability.

* Recon rework in future - Again I hope they do not over do it and make it like normal units have blind men in them and reckon can see through trees.

* The HP bar for units may come back in future. They believe SD2 is based too much in randomness for kills. - Not sure if I like this as games then become less about a story and more about mechanical perfectness. In short the game could become like starcraft. Where formulas rule along with clicks rather than tactics and strategy. Where if you do 1+1+2 the outcome will always be 4. This could be a step backwards for me, but would of course encourage the competitive spreadsheet boys.

* APCR and sub\rifle\mg range order priority may be added.

* A stat choice to show closer penetration or max range penetration on unit cards.

* Smart orders will be developed further

* The urban map being shown off will not be a city with dense tall buildings, it's more suburban than city. Which may come further down the track... this would be a test bed.

* Competitive community seasons may be put in game as official game seasons stucture.

* Community run servers may be coming at some point

* 10 v 10 may come to smaller maps

* Steel Division 2 will be around a long time before any #3 is considered. No SD3 for at least another year or much longer.. perhaps even 3yrs or more.

* Save campaign game in enemy turn may be added

* Smoke Rounds may be added. However they are limited to number of weapons per unit. This could mean imho that they do so unrealistically. I.e. Tanks that can fit smoke get it, where tanks that historically had smoke rounds may not get it. This is a slippery slope in my opinion.

* Weapon stat calcs may be published but only when they finalise all the changes they want to include finalise.

* Wargame4 not ruled out for the future but they are more excited for SD2 at the moment.

* Coop Army general is on the way.

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: hellfish6 on July 04, 2020, 05:59:47 AM
I still really enjoy this game. I've not been as absorbed in the operational campaigns as I expected to be (the mechanics of it still kind of baffle me) but I spend about an hour a day doing skirmishes. I love the fact that I can fight the Brits with my Soviet tank corps if I want to.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on July 04, 2020, 08:48:21 AM
Yeah. I used to be a stickler for only doing axis vs allies... I still don't like it. But competitively it's kind of interesting.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 28, 2021, 05:06:33 PM

Pixelated Apollo doing a steel division 2 cast. Hope this brings more players to Steel Division 2. The game certainly deserves them in my opinion.
This guy is hilarious. He literally has zero idea what he is doing or what any of the units do. Very entertaining to watch. Most things I have seen him call so far have been patently wrong. He has a set of balls doing commentary like this  O0
I wonder if he was paid as it's one of the more hilarious things I have seen on youtube.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on February 28, 2021, 05:35:47 PM
I really like his game. Much more than the first WWII title, Normandy 44. I love the look. It's very dark and just oozes eastern front. One problem I have though is the sheer size of some of the maps and operations. Just too overwhelming to play solo. It's  what keeps me away from the army general battles. They are just too big and daunting. But a skirmish on a small or medium map...awesome.

I'd love to see them do North Africa or the Pacific..
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Apocalypse 31 on February 28, 2021, 07:31:56 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on February 28, 2021, 05:35:47 PM
I'd love to see them do North Africa or the Pacific..

Now we're talking.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: fabius on March 03, 2021, 07:10:23 AM
The overwhelming thing for me too.
Not the operations map. I love that. Not even playing the battles.
I just fire up the game, come to pre battle troop placement and shut down again.

Can anyone say the auto troop placement is any good ?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on March 03, 2021, 07:31:06 AM
Quote from: fabius on March 03, 2021, 07:10:23 AM
The overwhelming thing for me too.
Not the operations map. I love that. Not even playing the battles.
I just fire up the game, come to pre battle troop placement and shut down again.

Can anyone say the auto troop placement is any good ?

Yeah...same issue pretty much. I max out at managing three to four potential points of contact or avenues of ingress on any given map. Any more than this and the game becomes more stressful than enjoyable for me.  Some of the maps have nine to twelve, plus, potential points of contact. It's just impossible for me to maintain defensive and offensive operations across such a wide front. Yes, I could pause or slow things down, but it still seems more like work than play to me.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: fabius on March 03, 2021, 01:40:27 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 03, 2021, 07:31:06 AM

Yeah...same issue pretty much. I max out at managing three to four potential points of contact or avenues of ingress on any given map. Any more than this and the game becomes more stressful than enjoyable for me.  Some of the maps have nine to twelve, plus, potential points of contact. It's just impossible for me to maintain defensive and offensive operations across such a wide front. Yes, I could pause or slow things down, but it still seems more like work than play to me.

Yeah yeah, the 3 or 4 points of contact is a decent max point!

I am not knocking SD2, it looks gorgeous, has the true operational level that makes the outcome of tactical battles worthwhile and engaging for me. (oh CM why did you leave that path  :'(
But just too much work especial as the welcome 3D element means busy click work checking fields of view.

I reckon some of the issue is with me. I like to see all the action going on and be very involved. So keep getting the idea to try it with a more Command Ops2 level head on. Don't concern myself with min maxing, just mostly give higher level group orders and pretend/ role play it as being more commander. See how that plays out.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 04, 2021, 03:34:43 AM
Perhaps you boys should play 10v10. Because you end up cramped into a small area in those games. Another suggestion would be to put AI in with you on a small map... heck even have a friend coop with you on a small map. That takes your area of responsibility down by half.

Here is what some of our coop games end up like. You see those order lines. That's my area of responsibility before we start. We have approx 2 bridges each to cover and 3-4 flags to protect each. The mini map shows you where the other two I am playing with in this game are covering. I am the blue on the left and they are the green dots on the right.
(https://i.imgur.com/RncFUqc.png)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 04, 2021, 04:16:05 AM
BTW guys. Here is a mod that pretty much changes everything about steel division 2, a complete overhaul. I want to play it but have not got around to it because I believe it now requires every DLC to load? Where before they did not include any divisions but the base games so that everybody could play. I believe it was all or nothing. So this means I would not be able to play the mod with friends.
It may however provide what you guys need? Because it focuses on more realism. Perhaps it makes things even slower?

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: hellfish6 on March 04, 2021, 04:39:35 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on March 03, 2021, 07:31:06 AM
Quote from: fabius on March 03, 2021, 07:10:23 AM
The overwhelming thing for me too.
Not the operations map. I love that. Not even playing the battles.
I just fire up the game, come to pre battle troop placement and shut down again.

Can anyone say the auto troop placement is any good ?

Yeah...same issue pretty much. I max out at managing three to four potential points of contact or avenues of ingress on any given map. Any more than this and the game becomes more stressful than enjoyable for me.  Some of the maps have nine to twelve, plus, potential points of contact. It's just impossible for me to maintain defensive and offensive operations across such a wide front. Yes, I could pause or slow things down, but it still seems more like work than play to me.

I routinely play skirmishes vs the AI. Typically 2 vs 3 on a small map. It gives me half of the map to work with, which I find more manageable, and 2 vs 3 is usually enough of a challenge for me with a well-balanced unit. It also depends on who I'm fighting - if it's me as Germany, I almost always give the Allies and edge (with no maintenance issues, Panthers are amazing). If I'm playing Allies vs Germany, I might go 3 vs 2.

There's a lot of customization available to suit your playing taste, which is why I think I still play SD2 several times a week and why I prefer it to the CM series.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 04, 2021, 05:25:35 AM
Hellfish, a shame you are not in my timezone. What difficulty do you play the AI on?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 04, 2021, 05:28:18 AM
Just noticed in the video at 31:30 or so the reviewer says the first thing to notice is that vehicle speeds are a lot slower. It seems the mod slows the game down significantly.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: hellfish6 on March 04, 2021, 06:30:35 AM
Quote from: Destraex on March 04, 2021, 05:25:35 AM
Hellfish, a shame you are not in my timezone. What difficulty do you play the AI on?

I play whatever the default is. Medium, I think?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 04, 2021, 05:07:24 PM
Yeah medium is the default. Which is a shame because medium is the old easy setting. Hard is the actual setting that the AI is best on and has no help with. However Eugen bumped medium to be called hard because people had trouble beating it, even though it had no advantages. Settings higher than hard get buffs of course. Therefore we always play on hard here.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: fabius on March 05, 2021, 05:33:49 AM
Quote from: hellfish6 on March 04, 2021, 04:39:35 AM

I routinely play skirmishes vs the AI. Typically 2 vs 3 on a small map. It gives me half of the map to work with, which I find more manageable, and 2 vs 3 is usually enough of a challenge for me with a well-balanced unit. It also depends on who I'm fighting - if it's me as Germany, I almost always give the Allies and edge (with no maintenance issues, Panthers are amazing). If I'm playing Allies vs Germany, I might go 3 vs 2.

There's a lot of customization available to suit your playing taste, which is why I think I still play SD2 several times a week and why I prefer it to the CM series.

Thanks hellfish6 and @Destraex

I initially kind of dismissed your suggestions, just because I'm mostly SP, and the draw for me is the Operational layer. But was thinking that the whole tactical and operational link is pretty unique in the level of detail in the Operational layer too. So shifted to thinking you guys are onto something. Play a few small skirmishes to learn the new group commands, reboot the muscle memory for the others and that'll give another go at a campaign a better chance.

Cheers !
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: demjansk1942 on March 05, 2021, 05:47:26 AM
Great looking game but just to much for me to manage, feels like work when I play it.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 05, 2021, 05:45:01 PM
Quote from: fabius on March 05, 2021, 05:33:49 AM
Quote from: hellfish6 on March 04, 2021, 04:39:35 AM

I routinely play skirmishes vs the AI. Typically 2 vs 3 on a small map. It gives me half of the map to work with, which I find more manageable, and 2 vs 3 is usually enough of a challenge for me with a well-balanced unit. It also depends on who I'm fighting - if it's me as Germany, I almost always give the Allies and edge (with no maintenance issues, Panthers are amazing). If I'm playing Allies vs Germany, I might go 3 vs 2.

There's a lot of customization available to suit your playing taste, which is why I think I still play SD2 several times a week and why I prefer it to the CM series.

Thanks hellfish6 and @Destraex

I initially kind of dismissed your suggestions, just because I'm mostly SP, and the draw for me is the Operational layer. But was thinking that the whole tactical and operational link is pretty unique in the level of detail in the Operational layer too. So shifted to thinking you guys are onto something. Play a few small skirmishes to learn the new group commands, reboot the muscle memory for the others and that'll give another go at a campaign a better chance.

Cheers !
Yeah that could work. Breakthrough mode in skirmish is especially good training for the campaign as it is an attacker vs defender scenario mode where the defender gets to drop defences like trenches, gun emplacements etc. I find in breakthrough mode that setup takes an awfully long time. I played with a friend the other night that is a bit of a perfectionist. I looked at the replay afterwards and realised we were literally waiting over 30 minutes for him to finish setting up. In single player you can save the game at any time with CTRL-S (quicksave) if I recall. So you do not have to finish it in one setting.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: fabius on March 06, 2021, 04:03:32 PM
Quote from: Destraex on March 05, 2021, 05:45:01 PM

Yeah that could work. Breakthrough mode in skirmish is especially good training for the campaign as it is an attacker vs defender scenario mode where the defender gets to drop defences like trenches, gun emplacements etc. I find in breakthrough mode that setup takes an awfully long time. I played with a friend the other night that is a bit of a perfectionist. I looked at the replay afterwards and realised we were literally waiting over 30 minutes for him to finish setting up. In single player you can save the game at any time with CTRL-S (quicksave) if I recall. So you do not have to finish it in one setting.

Big thanks for reminding me about the save game issue!!!
Just giving it a whirl now with more of a commander's head on rather than a micro (well I will at least try ) 

Quick save is F5 though. Then drop to saves and rename  O0
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: solops on March 06, 2021, 04:52:05 PM
So Steel Division 2 is a good game? How is it different from Graviteam Tactics' Mius Front? A lot of these games look a lot alike and I cannot tell from their Steam pages what the pros, cons and big differences are. The "fun" factor is really hard to figure from game-to-game.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 06, 2021, 05:55:40 PM
Quote from: fabius on March 06, 2021, 04:03:32 PM
Quote from: Destraex on March 05, 2021, 05:45:01 PM

Yeah that could work. Breakthrough mode in skirmish is especially good training for the campaign as it is an attacker vs defender scenario mode where the defender gets to drop defences like trenches, gun emplacements etc. I find in breakthrough mode that setup takes an awfully long time. I played with a friend the other night that is a bit of a perfectionist. I looked at the replay afterwards and realised we were literally waiting over 30 minutes for him to finish setting up. In single player you can save the game at any time with CTRL-S (quicksave) if I recall. So you do not have to finish it in one setting.

Big thanks for reminding me about the save game issue!!!
Just giving it a whirl now with more of a commander's head on rather than a micro (well I will at least try ) 

Quick save is F5 though. Then drop to saves and rename  O0
Yes of course. F5. I have not used it for over a year. I just remember being frustrated by the campaign not letting me save until I figured that out.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 06, 2021, 06:37:01 PM
Quote from: solops on March 06, 2021, 04:52:05 PM
So Steel Division 2 is a good game? How is it different from Graviteam Tactics' Mius Front? A lot of these games look a lot alike and I cannot tell from their Steam pages what the pros, cons and big differences are. The "fun" factor is really hard to figure from game-to-game.

                                 Graviteam tactics         Steel Division 2
Multiplayer                         NO                           up to max 10v10 or vs AI, coop scenarios. I think coop campaign is coming?
LOS tools                          YES                              YES
Formations                    Complex                       no or Basic
OOB                              Realistic                       Abstracted, chosen by player but based on what that unit had in general at the time
LOS                               Realistic?                     BORG site. If any unit can see it then others from that side can see it. Scouts are important
Command system           Realistic?                     Abstracted through the use of leader and commander radio nets
Moral                             Realistic?                     Abstracted but exactly reproducible. Men will surrender if overrun while stressed. Stress leads to leads to innacurate and slow return fire and too much stress
                                                                       leads to complete suppression and then a forced retreat for a period of time.
Map Textures                  horrible                       excellent
Elevation                        slopes                         plateaus
Infantry animation          clunky                         clunky
queue orders                     yes                            yes
realistic ranges                 yes?                            yes but balanced. Infantry weapons especially are rationalised as effective ranges.
realistic armour model       yes?                            abstracted by 12 hitpoints (most tanks beneath an armour model that must be penetrated. Critical or recoverable damage like gunner knocked out or
                                                                          transmission
                                                                          damage can also happen. Some shells to less damage than others. Lucky shots will one shot the vehicle. Distance is a huge factor. Chance of hitting and
                                                                          then chance of penetration is shown by a tool. The tool can be set to show chance based on frontal armour only (armour in mm which is abstracted to
                                                                          include any sloping) or dynamic which shows chance based on the vehicle facing and other considerations.
battle time phases             NO                               yes - has phase A B and C which allow the player to bring on the units he has chosen for each time phase. Which is about 10 minutes each phase iirc.
                                                                          Once in phase C the game continues until the game mode victory conditions are met. Which usually involves holding more flags than the other player.
deployment phase            yes                                yes
deploy after start              no?                               yes - points are gained at a rate the player chose from the options in each phase per minute to spend on bringing in more units throughout the game. A
                                                                          meeting engagement is simulated in this way in which constant re-enforcements are brought in. There is a game option which allows you to initially deploy
                                                                          massive forces however. But this definitely is a game of chess in this regard. You bring on units to counter your enemy exactly as in real life, only this
                                                                          happens somewhat faster in sd2 with the division you haves available assets.
Deck creation                  no                                 yes. The player must choose from available units in the division he has chosens main menu to create his own customised battlegroup to take for a game.
                                                                          The deck system reminds me of creating premade close combat unit choices
Artillery                          yes?                              on-map and off-map artillery. Artillery does have a minimum range but most do not have max ranges.
Aircraft                           yes?                              yes. Aircraft and anti-aricraft play are crucial
Replays                           yes?                              yes. Replays of every game are autosaved for later viewing
Orders                            yes                                yes. There are a lot of group orders that make it easy to give the ai control of a given task. Special orders like efficient shot stop units from firing at ranges
                                                                           they cannot be effective at etc. Orders can be linked in sequence
Speed                            slow                                reasonable but half speed and slower iirc are possible. SD2 is not as fast as a normal RTS but is probably equivalent because of the schere size of the
                                                                            forces you are commanding on a large map
map scale                      huge                               huge
trenches                        yes                                 yes but only as the defender in some game modes like the campaign or breakthrough skirmish mode
barbed wire                    yes?                                   yes but only as the defender in some game modes like the campaign or breakthrough skirmish mode
emplacements               yes?                                  yes but only as the defender in some game modes like the campaign or breakthrough skirmish mode
mines                           yes?                                  NO
blow bridges                   ?                                     NO - this was not done by design in order that multiplayer games did not turn into destroy the bridge affairs. Shame
River Crossings              yes?                                  Yes - amphibious vehicles and infantry may cross rivers. Unfortunately infantry just hold their rifles over their heads to simulate they are crossing, I
                                                                            guess we just have to pretend they all have those russian rubber inner tubes.
weather                          ?                                     NO - in previous games like red dragon in this series tanks would detrack in mud. I don't think I have ever seen that happen in SD2. It's always a good
                                                                            day for flying in sd2.
Night ops                        ?                                     NO - I don't think so. I remember they were a thing in european escalation. But not sure SD2 has any of this? Perhaps in the campaign?
Cover system                  yes                                  yes
Recon                             yes                                  yes - It is extremely important to have recon units hiding, identifying enemy units and reporting back. Tanks are very bad at this and will often not see
                                                                            infantry right next to them.
Ammo count                   yes                                  yes - supply trucks can be vital especially for artillery. Supply is limited and can be exhausted. Unfortunately units do not pickup enemy weapons like in
                                                                            close combat. Ammo is a hugely limiting factor for units like the is2.
building entry                  yes?                                 yes. Buildings are only one story high but a city map is being worked on which may have taller buildings
Destructible environment  ??                                    Yes - artillery destroys buildings and forest cover as do other explosive weapons. Terrain however does not deform other than superficial cratering
off road on road speed       ?                                     Yes - Vehicles are much faster on roads. Some vehicles are relatively slow on roads but faster than other vehicles off road
Healing                             ?                                      NO - men do not heal or get replenished
Repair                              ?                                      Yes. Supply trucks in game can consume some of their supply repairing vehicles. fixing stuck guns, optics fixes, track repair, even recrewing a decrewed
                                                                               vehicle. However destroyed vehicles cannot be repaired. Just damaged ones. Repairing takes time and doing it under fire I do not think is possible. The
                                                                               unit must not be under fire iirc. Maybe it is based on stress levels? Something to look into. But I do know if a unit is firing (maybe even reloading) it
                                                                              cannot be repaired whilst
                                                                              doing that
Paratrooper drops              ?                                      NO - paratroopers are in game but never come out of aircraft
Mount\dismount                 ?                                     Yes - Trucks dissappear on dismounting due to empty truck scout spam in previous series titles that would soak up AT missiles etc. However if the
                                                                               transport has a weapon it will not dissappear and the infantry can remount the vehicle
Towing                                ?                                   Yes - (trucks with no weapon still disappear on dropping a towed weapon) - any vehicle with a tow bar can tow a towed weapon such as a AT gun or
                                                                               artillery
                                                                                piece.

I have probably missed  a tonne and must confess I have really only paddled in red star 2 . I don't know graviteam stuff well at all. I looked at James Allens video to refresh my memory. It's always the map textures at a distance and camera controls that make me cringe when it comes to games like graviteam tactics or combat mission. They spoil the immersion and make things hard to see. Steel Division 2 on the other hand is crystal clear and the icons work well to tell you what is happening with a given unit. SD2 also has easy and fast zooming to any situation in a flash.

In Scenarios and the campaign often you deploy everything you have in the deployment phase in SD2. But in skirmish you generally get 500-700 points (a tank might be worth 50 points) to use in the deployment phase and then 100 points per minute every subsequent minute. I assume in graviteams games you just get what you are given and reinforcements arrive when they did historically rather than being specifically called for back to HQ?

                         
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on March 06, 2021, 07:41:17 PM
Graviteam games still have a better overmap relation between the strategy campaign and the battles being generated. I seem to recall this affects when units arrive, also? -- if you've told x-units to head toward a sector where a battle is being fought, they'll arrive from the proper direction according to speed and terrain etc.?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Hofstadter on March 09, 2021, 12:35:40 AM
Graviteam is slower than SD2 and is aggressively russian.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 25, 2021, 08:24:45 AM
Burning Baltics releases April 29th with 8 new divisions including Estonians for the Allies and  Lithuanians for the Axis.

In addition absolutely huge gameplay changes to tank combat - max ranges are no longer homogenous at 2000m. They are different depending on calibre. Shell types also have different ranges, APCR and HEAT rounds will generally always have lower max ranges than standard AP\HE rounds. Penetration drop off in mm have been changed as well and accuracy being inversely proportional to range. Lower max ranged guns have higher accuracy.

Efficient shot is also changed so that you can choose per unit or globally at what percentage to hit you want a gun opening up and potentially revealing itself or just not wasting ammo.

This is going to essentially bring the game closer and make it faster with a lot more one shot kills at short range. However it will also make assaults more feasible as well as more dangerous as people will not as easily be able to cover vast expanses of terrain. It's basically going to take more units to cover the same ground defensively.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919640?emclan=103582791463085333&emgid=2986423397426480871
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on March 25, 2021, 09:46:04 AM
Oooo! -- are those updates going to affect all the game? (Surely not only Burning Baltics?)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on March 25, 2021, 03:58:14 PM
Yes. The gameplay changes will affect the whole game.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 22, 2021, 06:17:37 PM
New Steel Division 2 DLC is out soon (29 April). Some jets, 100mm AT guns, a napalm rocket HT and Prinz Eugen off map through a float plane. 8 Divisions. When this DLC comes out there should be huge tank range changes that will make a lot of the units more effective. The whole game and the way it is played is going to change.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Boggit on April 22, 2021, 08:33:36 PM
Quote from: Destraex on March 25, 2021, 03:58:14 PM
Yes. The gameplay changes will affect the whole game.
A definite improvement then. I will consider getting some more DLC now.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 23, 2021, 06:22:47 AM
Best off to wait and see what the patch does. Should be very interesting.

BTW here comes the Italian Theatre as well as a coop campaign map!

"Following in the footsteps of the successful Tribute to D-Day and with the keen interest shown by the community for the Italian theater's divisions, we are working on an entirely new expansion: Tribute to the Liberation of Italy.

The Italian campaign is an unsung theater of operations during World War II, easily overlooked, and we wanted to shine the spotlight on a host of new divisions and units who fought in Italy during the summer of 1944. Tribute to the Liberation of Italy will feature troops from nine different nationalities, including four new ones, plus plenty of new units. These nations will have their own flag and voice acting, although some will be featured as minor partners in multinational battlegroups.

We'll detail more about the upcoming new battlegroups, we are doing our utmost to make the new Tribute to the Liberation of Italy battlegroups exciting, realistic, and accurate Steel Division 2 formations."

I do hope we get to the Desert from Italy.... it's not much further down ... but it is back in time.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919640/view/3037091429807761343
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 24, 2021, 09:04:30 PM
Here is the breakdown of the new gun ranges. Bit concerned about the Panther being out ranged by the 88mm and above class. Remember at least one Russian division has what they call Tygers (captured Tiger 1 tanks). I guess the Tiger I 88mm will be less accurate than the Panther's 75mm though.

We have spread AP rounds from our myriad of tank and anti-tank guns, ranging from 20mm to 152mm, across six different max range settings.

750m: <30mm
1000m: 30-45mm
1250m: 45-47mm
1500m: 50-75mm
1750m: "long" 75 / 75-85mm
2000m: 88-122mm (plus ISU-152)


As everyone knows: wherever there are rules, there are exceptions. Outstanding guns in their caliber category may be moved up, such as the US "long" 37mm compared to the punny German 37mm. Likewise, others keep their max range at 2000m, including the 17-pdr (76,2mm), Kwk 42 (Panther) and Resita 75mm. On the other hand, short-barreled or low-velocity guns (such as howitzers' AP rounds) might be moved a step down.

APCR and HEAT rounds usually have a shorter range than their corresponding AP counterparts, although, once again, there are a few exceptions with certain APCR rounds.

Penetration drop-off has been adjusted for each range set to give more realistic results, and the more a gun has lost in range (compared to the current "vanilla" setting) the more accuracy it will gain. Guns reduced in range will have their chance to hit improved. i.e. those reduced to 1000m will have their accuracy increased by an average of 10-15%, for instance.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 25, 2021, 03:19:50 AM
A very well spoken overview of Steel Division 2. This guy explains a 10 v 10 and the mechanics a little better than most.
EDIT: Ok "enemy flak trying to bomb us" and sentences like that just remind me of the current crop of students turning out of universities. Perhaps they are just all fatigued by modern society and constant screen time.  :pullhair:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: stolypin on April 28, 2021, 04:53:35 PM
Been on the fence about this title for many months.  Really close to pulling the trigger.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: demjansk1942 on April 28, 2021, 05:00:01 PM
I have steel division 2 but still don't like clicking too much
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on April 28, 2021, 10:43:40 PM
Do you use a lot of pausing to give orders and group orders then?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: stolypin on May 01, 2021, 08:55:33 PM
Looks like Steam has a major sale on SD2 this weekend.  I'm finally going to pull the trigger.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on May 02, 2021, 03:16:59 AM
I shall be waiting for your appraisal stolypin.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on June 10, 2021, 03:47:24 AM
stolypin. Stand to attention and report!  ;D

Where is this map editor estimated to be ready 6 months ago?

14:06 here.... map editor was mentioned as 6 months away at the time of the interview and is mentioned as being in a recent Q&A



https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919640?updates=true&emclan=103582791463085333&emgid=2497758102857697440
"A map editor is indeed in the works, but this piece of software is a big undertaking for us. We are getting it ready, but it advances slowly, so an estimated time of arrival might be in six months or so."
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on June 11, 2021, 05:39:33 AM
Also where are the urban maps

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919640/view/2191508256543127357
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on October 29, 2021, 08:03:03 AM
On sale for $13 where I am on steam atm. A steal. Must be like $7 in the USA.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Karri on October 29, 2021, 10:29:58 AM
Quote from: demjansk1942 on April 28, 2021, 05:00:01 PM
I have steel division 2 but still don't like clicking too much

Same, I find the pace too fast. Everything goes in flames way too fast.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Rayfer on October 29, 2021, 11:32:50 AM
Quote from: Karri on October 29, 2021, 10:29:58 AM
Quote from: demjansk1942 on April 28, 2021, 05:00:01 PM
I have steel division 2 but still don't like clicking too much

Same, I find the pace too fast. Everything goes in flames way too fast.

I don't own nor have I played SD2, but I did put a lot of time into the first.  If I remember correctly you could slow down the action to a snails-pace, about as close to stopping without actually being stopped.  Is this not so in SD2 or am I remembering wrong?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: glen55 on October 29, 2021, 02:30:31 PM
You can't slow SD2 down like the bullet time in the original.

I found that, once my troops were spotted within mortar range, I had to be constantly pausing to fire once--twice if I felt lucky--and then move with each of my mortars to have a chance to win the mortar duel. Otherwise I just got slaughtered.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on October 29, 2021, 02:37:09 PM
You can pause the game completely and still give orders or slow the speed down to .33 time. With these temporal tools, I'm not sure why anyone would get overwhelmed. That being said, it is not turn-based, so I understand that RTS is not for everyone.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on October 29, 2021, 07:08:51 PM
I am making a list to compare SD44 to SD2. Here is what I have so far. Help anyone?
Can anybody think of anything I have missed in this list of SD2 improvements over the previous SD44 game?

Sd2 has over sd44

* Commander unit

* Artillery spotter

* The ability to choose how many points you want per tick (minute) in each phase. A, B and C.

* Corrected shot mechanic - a flat bonus in conjunction with any radio equipped unit

* Efficient shot for setting chance based engagement ranges so your guns do not fire too early revealing themselves or stop and fire before they have a good chance of a kill so they keep going to close the gap.

* Army general strategic map and campaign - including vs mode

* Counterbattery order for artillery

* Show all paths and therefore orders currently given button. WOW this makes a huge difference. You can choose to see all paths all the time or none and those paths show the orders you have given in different colours.

* Sieze ground order for ground combat units

* Hold Position command that gives units freedom to defend find good defensive positions within a circle of defence

* Quick Hunt order which is a use roads until contact and then continue to use roads to destination after contact resolved order

* Choose from a pool of vehicles to carry specific cards of troops into battle in.

* In division armoury to compare all nations units side by side.

* Smoke and artillery rounds in a line orders (SHIFT click smoke in a line)

* Defensive fire order for artillery which is basically artillery overwatch on a specific area

* Defender/attacker game mode which allows defensive structured to be placed by the defender before battle.

* Closer combat game mode which starts sides almost within range of each other

* Autostrike order type for aircraft which demands the aircraft automatically return to the field and attack after refuelling and rearm repair off the map

* Ability to give orders to units before you bring them on during a running game.

* Deck system has changed from sd44 so that you can now select the veterancy you want in a card and what phase you want them in.

* Deck system was also changed to allow almost any unit to be chosen for any phase. I think in SD44 this was locked.

* Maps that have better terrain mapping and a much improved terrain line of sight tool.

* Before you right click on an enemy unit to attack ot you get a chance to kill that now also in simple language tells you "hard, easy" and such as well for those not so familiar with ww2 kit. This is done through choice of three different methods you can set the unit comparitor tool to take into account. Static, OFF and Dynamic - the last taking into account moral, facing and other such things.

* Fanatical trait - no surrender - can be suppressed but will not surrender

* Military Police\Commisars - no surrenders for surrounding units

* Raider trait - suffer no penalties when surrounded or behind enemy lines

* Ability to give an initial command to a unit before it comes on the field to unload somewhere or such.

* A huge amount of detail in the stats information pages compared to the first game

Errmm the eastern front as a theatre plus some of the sd44 divisions brought over in dlc.


About the bullet time. P pauses the game, p is listed as the shortcut key for "bullet time" in game, but it's just pause as far as I could tell when I tested it just then. No time limit on it.
(https://i.imgur.com/VfYeR0A.png)

(https://i.imgur.com/1lUhU7x.png)
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on October 29, 2021, 07:38:54 PM
Nice list, but I think you reversed it...don't you mean SD2 has over SD44?
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on October 29, 2021, 07:39:42 PM
Damn; you are right Jarhead. Will fix.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on October 29, 2021, 07:52:00 PM
just added some more
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Skoop on November 01, 2021, 01:37:52 PM
The most epic feature of SD2 is the ability to coop the army general campaign battles.  You have 3 battle groups every battle, so you and 2 friends can go against the AI.  It's alot of fun, and you don't get overwhelmed.  The micromanaging is enjoyable when your just doing one battlegroup and your buddies do the other 2.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: demjansk1942 on November 01, 2021, 06:06:05 PM
I can't get through the first scenario in the campaign, I play too slow, I wish this was a wego game
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on November 02, 2021, 09:15:18 AM
Pause it or slow it down. Those are both options.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Karri on November 02, 2021, 12:44:29 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on October 29, 2021, 02:37:09 PM
You can pause the game completely and still give orders or slow the speed down to .33 time. With these temporal tools, I'm not sure why anyone would get overwhelmed. That being said, it is not turn-based, so I understand that RTS is not for everyone.

I meant more along the lines that engagements are just brutal slaughter fests, with units wiped out in the blink of an eye.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on November 02, 2021, 03:47:23 PM
Quote from: Karri on November 02, 2021, 12:44:29 PM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on October 29, 2021, 02:37:09 PM
You can pause the game completely and still give orders or slow the speed down to .33 time. With these temporal tools, I'm not sure why anyone would get overwhelmed. That being said, it is not turn-based, so I understand that RTS is not for everyone.

I meant more along the lines that engagements are just brutal slaughter fests, with units wiped out in the blink of an eye.

Hmmmmm....ok. I don't feel that at all in this game. I think it is important to use the terrain to play to the strengths of your units. I'm primarily a defensive player that takes a methodical approach to seizing and holding ground. I take high ground with my long range armor and anti-tank units, seize towns and villages with infantry equipped with anti-tank weaponry and use a mixed bag of aviation and artillery to support forward pushes. I don't move my forward line of resistance until I am comfortable that my rear echelon can hold the line and that the most likely points of contact on the map are secured and covered. Most maps have major road junctions or bridges that are obvious points of ingress. I make taking and holding these zones priority.

Now, Theatre of War...there is a game that chews up units in the blink of an eye.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on November 08, 2021, 08:48:16 AM
Big news for Steel Division 2

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two new free Reinforcement Packs for Steel Division 2 will be made available soon, one of them being the Kostritza map. The other new Reinforcement Pack will contain two new divisions, hand-picked from the Nemesis DLC options that never made it. These will feature new units (but no new models). We will reveal soon which divisions they will be.
Both of these Reinforcement Packs will be delivered before the release of Tribute to the Liberation of Italy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
But the day is edging closer that we can reveal it. Fair to say that this secret project has taken a fair bit of our attention as well.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919640/view/3063004884078655449
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on December 07, 2021, 09:35:24 AM
Military History Visualised and VulcanHD do SD2 collaboration stream on youtube

Two of my favourite channels streaming SD2 together. I have not watched it yet, so it has me wondering why MHV would do this? I know Eugen have a big secret project in the works though... but this probably has nothing to do with it.

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 03, 2022, 05:42:37 AM
Well the Tribute to italy DLC is out for Steel Division 2. One of a few DLC to come still for SD2.
Fairly expensive but 8 sides in total.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 18, 2022, 07:12:52 PM
Another Steel Division 2 content creator that started up recently. Not too bad at all. Really enjoying his videos.

I am always mystified when people say "get good" though. Good is not something you can go and physically or tangibly pick up and carry.
Become good is what I would have said, as this indicates personal improvement in this case on a mental level. Note, I did not say learnings, which is another kettle of fish I do not understand and is now popular. A verb that is being used as a noun. I would say "we have learnt or we learned". Alternatively "we hope to learn" or "take away lessons". Because Lessons can be actual physical things. Learning is the construction or creation of that lesson.

Another one I encountered recently was "lived experience". What experience is not lived?

Another thing I constantly hear is people in one sentence about one thing refering to said thing as both plural and singular.
"The Tanks all had a engine" instead of "The Tanks all had engines".

Why are we re-inventing the wheel? I am not perfect or even good at writing or language as is in evidence here on this forum, but from what I see, all of these problems are just products of a world that must accept everything as being correct and not offering up any correction. "Because evil".

Sorry to rant. The title just "triggered" me. lol. Maybe I need a lesson. But I am betting people just think correction and learning is bad. I had hoped the internet would lead to "good" standards for better worldwide communication. Honestly I guess am just being petty and should slap myself in the face.

I don't know about there, but here we have journalists with very little command of language writing and speaking on the radio. Often news reports which should be perfect are stumbled over by those that read them out because they are simply poorly produced and edited. People just seem to be making things, perhaps up because they are poorly trained and cannot be corrected for, I assume, fear of reprecussion.

Language changes and evolves (or devolves), but I hate it when it changes for what I think is a less clear and precise form. To me that can only be bad when we need to talk to each other in detail. Modern language seems to me to be heading in a more simplified direction. What is most scary is that if I listen to it enough in an apathetic way, I find myself copying it! I must be weak minded... Have a nice day.  :timeout:

Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2022, 07:56:31 PM
The phrase 'git good' is all the rage with kids who game, slang/lingo.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on February 18, 2022, 08:02:55 PM
True. Usually when I hear people use it as an exagerrated phrase like your talking about people almost use it in a derogatory fashion to exagerrate the target persons simplified state of being. I am not talking about that kind of usage. I would not aim to denigrate somebody for improper use of language. I do not aim to hurt anybody that is simply trying their best to communicate. Rather my own sanity as an old fart these days prefers that my brain does not get rewired permanently by non-sensical language.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Gusington on February 18, 2022, 09:44:47 PM
^Oh I know. There are words and phrases that set me off every time. Usually 'marketing' type speak or teenaged girl talk. 'Seriously?' is one.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Father Ted on February 19, 2022, 05:03:59 AM
Quote from: Gusington on February 18, 2022, 07:56:31 PM
The phrase 'git good' is all the rage with kids who game, slang/lingo.

I think I'm of an age where what I think is "all the rage with kids" was actually popular five years ago :'(. 

Language does evolve though.  Take our little niche.  "Hex" is properly a word meaning to put a spell on someone, but people in these parts accept it to  mean "hexagon".  We understand that a "beer and pretzels game" doesn't involve flicking salty snacks into beverages.  And so on.  Even the name of this forum is a made-up word.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on October 13, 2022, 12:05:43 AM
Another few SD2 DLCs coming.
One is the Hungarians fighting the Romanians after the Romanians changed to the allied side or as they did it. It's called Blood Feud in Transylvania and seems to have a strategic campaign map. A new tactical map which looks pretty lush as well.

Another is the siege of Dunkirk which focuses on the late war siege with Czech troops being centre stage among other allied units and a Jagdpanther

I have every DLC for SD2 that has come out. Now with WARNO on the way I am sure I will get these eventually but not sure if I will get them on release.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919640/view/3294970615033241189
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on October 13, 2022, 02:58:26 AM
Not a huge fan of these dlcs that focus on the smaller nations like the Czechs and Hungarians. I'm a completionist and will get them eventually, but I wish they would focus their time and energy on something else, like Fall Weiss, or something.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on October 13, 2022, 07:21:00 AM
While I would certainly prefer Fall Weiss or something early-war like that, I appreciate them taking the time to fill out very niche battles that aren't usually gamed. Especially when doing so allows them to create new art and stats for kit to use in skirmishes or mp.  O0
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on October 15, 2022, 06:36:37 AM
I also don't mind the focus on niche or little known parts of ww2.
Eugen unfortunately have a policy with their games of not expanding beyond the original year and scope of games they make at the moment.
They have been fairly careful to keep any expansion DLC to the Bagration timeframe.
Part of the reason for this is that they say that especially when it comes to maps and textures that the game would explode in size. That is why they will not bring the SD44 maps over to SD2.
THe Elephant in the room of course is that this also correlates to the company not blowing all of it's possible content in one shot.

If we see another ww2 game from them it might be Fall Weiss, but that will not be for a very long time I would say. They are a small team and one that has seen their fair share of staffing issues in recent years. By that I mean I don't see them capable of running more than one project at a time while having a smaller team maintaining their current game. With WARNO on the rise and SD2 being maintained I think that WARNO will be the full teams focus for some time. In two or three years time we may see another game announced. If it is Fall Weiss that would be good, but it will be a full price ticket item with little room for DLC unit expansion given the early year it will be set in. Also consider the limitations in unit variety. Personally I would love a game like that.

What I wish is that they would make their games like combat mission. Keep upgrading the engine for a price and plug them all into each other so the multiplayer community does not suffer.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Geezer on August 30, 2023, 10:42:34 AM
The base game is on sale for $9.99 on Steam.  Seems like a good deal to me unless you guys think otherwise.  I didn't read all 21 pages of this thread.   :embarrassed:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Jarhead0331 on August 30, 2023, 11:26:26 AM
Quote from: Geezer on August 30, 2023, 10:42:34 AMThe base game is on sale for $9.99 on Steam.  Seems like a good deal to me unless you guys think otherwise.  I didn't read all 21 pages of this thread.   :embarrassed:

No brainer.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Geezer on August 30, 2023, 11:35:01 AM
OK, thanks.  That's what I figured.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on August 30, 2023, 01:38:46 PM
I would very highly reccomend that anyone getting Steel Division 2 look at also getting the DLC required for the Red Storm '44 Mod while on sale as well. 

I generally was meh on Steel Division until I installed Red Storm, and afterwards it's become one of my favorites in its genre. 

It makes it a much different game, more realistic and in my opinion better game. 

Although be warned the latest DLC broke Red Storm '44 and it will take some time to update due to its complexity.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on August 30, 2023, 01:55:19 PM
Hm, will need to look into Steel Fury 2 then!

Though I don't think that's Steel Division 2...? (Update: fixed above.)

Relatedly, I caught up on SD2's DLC during the Steam strategy sale this week.

I think I've played maybe 2 hours of SD2 total, but y'know, it's the principle of the thing.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: SirAndrewD on August 30, 2023, 02:02:44 PM
Quote from: JasonPratt on August 30, 2023, 01:55:19 PMHm, will need to look into Steel Fury 2 then!

Though I don't think that's Steel Division 2...?

Relatedly, I caught up on SD2's DLC during the Steam strategy sale this week.

I think I've played maybe 2 hours of SD2 total, but y'know, it's the principle of the thing.

I meant Steel Division. 

I have almost as many brain farts as real ones since I exist in a constant state of mild hangover.

Steel Fury is another game of course.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: JasonPratt on August 30, 2023, 02:48:13 PM
{nodding} in West TN, we call that "allergies".  :martini:
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Destraex on August 30, 2023, 11:47:26 PM
I need to go back and have a look at SD2 now the new trait system has been introduced. Just a tad hard though without any new maps. I really wish their was a random map generator.
Title: Re: Steel Division 2 Brings Single Player Strategic map campaign similar to totalwar
Post by: Geezer on August 31, 2023, 08:31:02 AM
Picked up the base game which should keep me occupied for a while.  Are there any "must have" DLC's while they are on sale?  Thanks.