Schwerpunkt Games - World War II Europe 1939-1945

[RangerJoe]

WITP-AE is a clickfest monster. It could use some improvements that will never happen.

[demyansk]

I have the Russo-German war game but never really played it. Just a little too clunky.

[Freigeist83]

Just found an interview with Ron:

http://grogheads.com/interviews/8116

"I would like to encourage the wargamers to put ideas out on the forum. We listen closely."

Does not sound like he is not approachable...

[budd]

He hasn't posted in the forum since march as far as I can tell. The UI being overly clicky, and the slow map scrolling usually keep me from playing for very long.

[Lobster]

In the last release scrolling is improved. East/West just put the cursor to the map edge and it scrolls smoothly. Using the arrow keys it moves about 8 hexes each time you hit the key. Maybe if your computer is a bit aged it might not be as smooth, can't say. North/south I use the arrow keys because it's still too hard to hit the 'sweet spot' for scrolling. But even using the arrow keys it's much improved over what it used to be like. Moves about four hexes each time you hit the key. Again, maybe an older machine will make it slower, don't know.

Clicking on the mini map moves you to wherever you click for long distances.

Trying to register on the forum can make you crazy. If you make a mistake it doesn't bother to tell you where the mistake was made. It simply puts you back at the beginning of the registration process.

[budd]

Yes, it was marginally improved with an update, it's still painful. My computer's not to old, it's a gaming laptop. I use the arrow keys to move around, to fiddly to use the edge scrolling. I'll click the arrows on the mini map also. Zooming is also delayed. Basically the whole UI could use optimization. I've thought about getting the middle east game but how the UI functions keeps me from buying. I like the map, counters, and there is a whole lot of content for your dollars but damn, getting around in the game isn't....it's strongest feature[:D]

[Simulacra53]

Curiosity killed the cat...

[:D]

[jmlima]

ORIGINAL: Simulacra53

In light of the competition is it worth USD 49,-?

AI?

Yes.

The AI is pretty much like most wargames, good in some things, appalling in others.

[zakblood]

i like the look and feel of the game and as always would be interested in the Arnhem part, but got far too many games atm unplayed, but once finished i'd buy it

[Freigeist83]

Had a closer look at the manual and the scenarios are pretty well researched with short designer notes and detailed literature references.
A really unique collection of scenarios that you will probably not find in other games and based on scale and number of counters appear quite playable.

The menu design follows the phases of the game. And those phases and mechanisms are quiet sophisticated, but logical.
I think most of the criticism of the interface / menu stems from the fact that the reviewers have not fully grasped the game cycle.

However, there appears to be a little performance issue: clicking a button lets your mouse cursor spin for a second; scrolling the map is not really smooth
and is better done via the keyboard's number pad, which could surely be fixed.

Overall, it has a strong board game feeling and the graphics hit a sweet spot for me. Will do more testing next weekend when I have more time.

I think with more community involvement and some code refactoring to improve performance, this game has IMO the potential to replace TOAW.

[76mm]

So what's the deal with editors? I won't buy this game until/unless there is a full editor, but IIRC the dev said he would release the editor after all of the scenarios have been released?

[Freigeist83]

According to the manual, it currently only has a text file based method to create and edit scenarios.

[sPzAbt653]

Yes, a Text File for each scenario that contains specifics for that scenario. Each one is 2.5mb, otherwise I would post one of mine here as an example [I 'created' a few scenarios, or rather 'my versions' of scenarios]. These types of files are sometimes a pain because if you make a mistake, the scenario is unplayable. Alternatively, a game such as TOAW will generally let you play with a mistake!

In addition to everything else, earlier versions of this game had Quantitative Supply, but for the newer version it was eliminated. To me this was one of the steps backward and a huge one. Quantitative Supply, for those not familiar, is the V4V type supply system where by you get what supply you are assigned, and you only get so much. All other games give all units everything, or something similar, so not a good model of Logistics.

An example of another step backwards from earlier versions, how Advance After Combat is handled. Used to be that all units eligible to advance were highlighted in blue, you click on a unit to advance. With the new version, after combat you get the pop-up seen below. Because of these you can't tell if the defender retreated or was eliminated, what the terrain under the units is, what units are in an attacking stack, and no matter where you move them they pop back to cover the combat area. The pop-ups cycle thru each unit that attacked one by one. It's really annoying, the old way was so much better.

[76mm]

Are the file plain text or something like XML?

[Simulacra53]

Right now, I think the majority who say the UI is bad are being kind...

[:D]

[Zovs]

No expert but I looked in what I think is a scenario folder and they are all xml files, plus graphics and stuff.

[Zovs]

Scratch that! The actually scenarios are text files.

[Zovs]

But WOW, you need to have a Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, a small Doctorate in Decoding Someones Brain and Codifying with Analysis to decipher what the heck the text file even means...

This is only a snippet and I have no idea how you would edit this to make something working...

Code: Select all

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 +WWE_Scenario_94_Build_File_
 +80_characters
 Axis_Player_Name Der_Fuhrer_Adolf_Hitler
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 +80_characters
 Allied_Player_Name Iosef_Stalin
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 +40_characters
 Scenario_Name 94._Breakthrough_to_the_Baltic
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 +Six_lines_per_turn,_120_variables_per_turn,_318_turns
 1Expected_Points 80 89 123 10 0
 1Axis_Maxes      10 15 10 0 0
 1Allied_Maxes    10 5 20 0 0
 1Country_PM_M    0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 1Country_PM_N    0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 1Spare           0 0 0 0 0
 2Expected_Points 75 94 133 20 0
 2Axis_Maxes      10 15 10 0 0
 2Allied_Maxes    10 5 20 0 0
 2Country_PM_M    0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 2Country_PM_N    0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 2Spare           0 0 0 0 0
 3Expected_Points 70 99 143 30 0
 

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Code: Select all

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 +unit244
 Side_Nationality_ID_Type_Size_Cmder  None None ___ None None _________________________ _________________________ _________________________
 AF_DF_MF_TEM                         0 0 0 0
 CombatLosses_CReserve_SReserve_TBD   0 0 0 0
 Current_XY_Coordinates               0 0
 Entry#_Exit#                         0 0
 Reserved_TBD_SSGds_TBD               0 0 0 0
 OnMap_DEF_HQ                         n n n
 HQUnit                               0
 Number                               244
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

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Code: Select all

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 +unit244
 Side_Nationality_ID_Type_Size_Cmder  None None ___ None None _________________________ _________________________ _________________________
 AF_DF_MF_TEM                         0 0 0 0
 CombatLosses_CReserve_SReserve_TBD   0 0 0 0
 Current_XY_Coordinates               0 0
 Entry#_Exit#                         0 0
 Reserved_TBD_SSGds_TBD               0 0 0 0
 OnMap_DEF_HQ                         n n n
 HQUnit                               0
 Number                               244
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 

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Code: Select all

 city	0	0	0	0	0	0	_________________________
 city	0	0	0	0	0	8192	_________________________
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 +Counter_RGB_values_light_medium_dark_40_counters
 Counter0_light 188 188 188
 Counter0_medium 155 155 155
 Counter0_dark 70 70 66
 Counter1_light 215 215 215
 Counter1_medium 195 195 195
 
 

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: Zovs

Scratch that! The actually scenarios are text files.

OT: Your inbox if full. [;)]

[sPzAbt653]

you need to have a Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, a small Doctorate in Decoding Someones Brain and Codifying with Analysis to decipher what the heck the text file even means...

Not true! I am an idiot and I can do it!

[The secret decoder document comes with the manual]