Grognard Wargamer Thread!

TheWombat · 2013-09-17T13:48:45.000Z

tgb123:

Matrix just released Ageod’s ACW II. Anyone get it yet? The first was good, but the fiddly-ness of trying to create divisions and corps ruined the fun for me, and I’d like to know if that’s changed.

I actually bought it, though I’m not usually a day-one Matrix buyer (I will be for Command: Modern Naval Operations though next week–that game is pure lust). I loved the first one, and this one is pretty much better in nearly every respect. It’s still a bit fiddly, I think, in the area you’re asking about. Some of the confusion comes from the fact that early on, the game won’t let you create corps and divisions sometimes, and that’s not clearly conveyed, so you spend time fiddling about without realizing you simply can’t do that yet. Once you have that ability, though, it does seem somewhat less annoying; in the tutorial, it was easy enough. It’s still the same basic game system, though, so don’t expect radical changes. It’s just cleaned up and benefits from all the patches to the first one, as well as a cleaner UI.

tgb123 · 2013-09-17T14:04:41.000Z

Good enough for me, thanks.

tgb123 · 2013-09-17T17:57:14.000Z

I only played the first tutorial but I’m liking it better already. Having the interface and text scale is a boon to these aging eyes.

Rod_Humble · 2013-09-19T11:34:57.000Z

I figure here maybe better than the bargain thread. Anyway Revolution Under Siege (Russian Civil War game) is $11 right now.

http://www.desura.com/games/revolution-under-siege

TheRock · 2013-09-20T16:20:12.000Z

TheWombat:

(I will be for Command: Modern Naval Operations though next week–that game is pure lust).

I just put together a new computer. My last part will be a decent vid card (GTX 760) and that will be here on Monday so Tuesday when Command comes out will be the first test with my new system. Cant wait to try that game!

TheWombat · 2013-09-20T16:58:01.000Z

TheRock:

I just put together a new computer. My last part will be a decent vid card (GTX 760) and that will be here on Monday so Tuesday when Command comes out will be the first test with my new system. Cant wait to try that game!

I’ve been following it pretty closely, and the stuff they are doing seems to be amazing. The AARs and their blogs show a game that is everything that Harpoon should have been. Now, I’m sure the reality will be less rose-colored, but it sure seems like it will be a solid game at least, if not more.

JeffL · 2013-09-20T17:41:08.000Z

Can you set up your own scenarios easily, with some fog of war even though you set them up?

I remember, many years ago, SimCan had a naval simulation, Gray Skies, Gray Seas. I was able to mod it myself such that I could choose which units would be on the side of the enemy, with a probability of inclusion, so I never knew exactly what I would be facing. One of my favorites was playing as two Los Angeles class subs trying to sneak into a Soviet CV task force and take out the sub. However, due to the probability of inclusion, I never knew for sure the composition of the CV task force, and could be surprised by, say, a destroyer. It was great, tense fun for such a simple Apple ][ game.

I’d love a sim that let me do something that simple (the reverse scenario was also tense, trying to protect a CV task force against unknown sub forces.)

TheWombat · 2013-09-20T17:55:15.000Z

JeffL:

Can you set up your own scenarios easily, with some fog of war even though you set them up?

I remember, many years ago, SimCan had a naval simulation, Gray Skies, Gray Seas. I was able to mod it myself such that I could choose which units would be on the side of the enemy, with a probability of inclusion, so I never knew exactly what I would be facing. One of my favorites was playing as two Los Angeles class subs trying to sneak into a Soviet CV task force and take out the sub. However, due to the probability of inclusion, I never knew for sure the composition of the CV task force, and could be surprised by, say, a destroyer. It was great, tense fun for such a simple Apple ][ game.

I’d love a sim that let me do something that simple (the reverse scenario was also tense, trying to protect a CV task force against unknown sub forces.)

I don’t know, but that’s a good question. They do have the ability to do scenarios where you land special forces or marines, though, and it even has a rudimentary land combat resolution capability; they have an AAR showing that that involves Ospreys and AH-1s and stuff too. The ELINT/ECM modeling seems sexy.

Canuck · 2013-09-21T05:07:21.000Z

I had no idea ACW2 was even in the works. Shows how little attention I pay to Matrix these days and AGEOD as well after their latest catastrophe.
Also, I read Panzer Campaigns being released for Android as Panzer Korps being released for Android and now I’m sad.

tgb123 · 2013-09-21T08:13:38.000Z

Canuck:

I had no idea ACW2 was even in the works. Shows how little attention I pay to Matrix these days and AGEOD as well after their latest catastrophe.

What catastrophe? Pride of Nations? Because Alea Jasta Est came out after, and that is a good, solid game.

spelk · 2013-09-21T15:52:46.000Z

Ron Dockal from Schwerpunkt wargames wanted somewhere to host his screenshots of his latest wargame in development, World War II Europe, so I stuck them up on my sugarfreegamer blog - if you want to view them. Without trying to inadvertently self-promote, I’ll link direct to the screenies below (I hope thats ok):

Canuck · 2013-09-21T16:54:44.000Z

tgb123:

What catastrophe? Pride of Nations? Because Alea Jasta Est came out after, and that is a good, solid game.

See? That shows how much I don’t care now! I’ve missed two complete games! I just wish PON had been awesome.

TheWombat · 2013-09-21T18:27:04.000Z

spelk:

Ron Dockal from Schwerpunkt wargames wanted somewhere to host his screenshots of his latest wargame in development, World War II Europe, so I stuck them up on my sugarfreegamer blog - if you want to view them. Without trying to inadvertently self-promote, I’ll link direct to the screenies below (I hope thats ok):

http://sugarfreegamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/France_1940_High_Level.jpg
http://sugarfreegamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/France_1940_Mid_Level.jpg
http://sugarfreegamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/France_1940_Low_Level.jpg

Cool, thanks. It looks relatively decent. I mean, these games have never been cutting edge, graphically, but at least the maps here look nice. The counters are pretty standard stuff, which isn’t necessarily bad. What’s the ETA on this, and is it going to be sold just from the developer’s website?

Syzygy · 2013-09-22T00:40:23.000Z

My long-awaited COIN games were finally delivered but I won’t talk about those here as COIN has it’s own thread. What I didn’t expect is that when they finally came I’d be splitting my wargaming time with another game – Empire of the Sun.

I was long aware of EotS but never tried it, mostly because of two things, it’s been out of print since about 2008, and the initial glimpse at the cover design made me uncomfortable with (incorrectly) perceived racial overtones. But at some point I read that the cover was a comic-booky reinterpretation of an actual wartime poster in Japan. Then the more I read about the game the more interested I became.

It’s a card-driven game but it uses an unusual operational model that takes some getting used to. There’s a 25(!) part Vassal tutorial that a guy on BGG concocted based on his learning experience, and while it took many hours to go through it was a nice experience. I’m now trying to convince some of my coworkers to play it, but many of them are ultra-intimidated.

JoshL · 2013-09-23T10:10:40.000Z

Well Battles in Normandy/Battles in Italy are finally on sale at Matrix. $20 for a nine-year-old game is still a bit ludicrous, but, well, less ludicrous than $40.

I liked Korsun Pocket, although I never got too deeply into it (never played the full campaign game more than a few turns in). Does anybody want to recommend Normandy or Italy as being worth picking up? Or recommend one over the other?

vyshka · 2013-09-23T10:49:19.000Z

Command finally releases tomorrow. Anyone else planning on diving in?

TheWombat · 2013-09-23T12:09:45.000Z

vyshka:

Command finally releases tomorrow. Anyone else planning on diving in?

As soon as it is up, yeah. Been waiting for a game like this for, well, since Harpoon.

TheWombat · 2013-09-23T12:10:52.000Z

JoshL:

Well Battles in Normandy/Battles in Italy are finally on sale at Matrix. $20 for a nine-year-old game is still a bit ludicrous, but, well, less ludicrous than $40.

I liked Korsun Pocket, although I never got too deeply into it (never played the full campaign game more than a few turns in). Does anybody want to recommend Normandy or Italy as being worth picking up? Or recommend one over the other?

Italy is pretty good, and I think there are or used to be some other scenarios available from modders. Normandy I don’t recall as much, though I have it too. My problem with all of the SSG stuff is that it looks awful (to me) on a 24" widescreen display.

tmastern · 2013-09-23T12:53:24.000Z

vyshka:

Command finally releases tomorrow. Anyone else planning on diving in?

Count me in.

Rod_Humble · 2013-09-23T12:56:23.000Z

Syzygy:

My long-awaited COIN games were finally delivered but I won’t talk about those here as COIN has it’s own thread. What I didn’t expect is that when they finally came I’d be splitting my wargaming time with another game – Empire of the Sun.

I was long aware of EotS but never tried it, mostly because of two things, it’s been out of print since about 2008, and the initial glimpse at the cover design made me uncomfortable with (incorrectly) perceived racial overtones. But at some point I read that the cover was a comic-booky reinterpretation of an actual wartime poster in Japan. Then the more I read about the game the more interested I became.

It’s a card-driven game but it uses an unusual operational model that takes some getting used to. There’s a 25(!) part Vassal tutorial that a guy on BGG concocted based on his learning experience, and while it took many hours to go through it was a nice experience. I’m now trying to convince some of my coworkers to play it, but many of them are ultra-intimidated.

I have been kinda learning the rules ready to solo it as some point. Also juddens tutorial. I am intimidated by it :)