Forge of Freedom Screenshots

[USSLockwood]

It seems that Manassas, Chancellorsville, and the Wilderness are all wrapped up in one area, Fredericksburg?  That's the problem with area movement, I guess.

[slybelle]

Gil,

First of all, I have to say I'm impressed with your support on the release of this game. I can't remember the last time a company took the time to answer ALL questions and provide glimpses into the upcomign release. It really says a lot about you and your company.

The screenshots look awesome.

Now of course, I have to see if I can pry the most important answer out of you:) Since the graphics appear to be complete and I believe this is around the time you said testing would be complete, any better estimates or firm date on this game being available? My money is just dying to be spent...

[Gil R.]

Slybelle,
Thanks for your comments. In response to your question, I really don't know what the release date will be. The final testing build will go up by Friday, and assuming that nothing ghastly is going on we would hope to be able to deliver to Matrix the final version of the game by the end of next week (or very soon after that). Matrix will probably need 2-3 weeks to prepare everything for release. I'm still hopeful that the game can appear sometime in November (mainly so that my past forecasts will not be proven wrong), but the first week of December is becoming likelier. No matter what, since the only changes that are planned to be made to the game involve one or two minor graphics adjustments plus editing of game text, there's no reason to expect the release date to be pushed way back.

We'll keep everyone posted as we meet our benchmarks

[marecone]

Really very nice. [&o]

[Gil R.]

Some more screenshots.

First, I'm playing the CSA and Kentucky decides to secede and join me. A large Union army besieges Louisville. I build up an army in adjacent Frankfort, and go in and trounce them. But I waited one turn too long -- like McClellan, I should have moved sooner, and suffered because of it -- and even though I drove the enemy from the province they captured Louisville momentarily, and each brigade got a chance at "plundering" (i.e., attempting to destroy some building infrastructure). As you can see from the first screenshot, I lost some pretty major stuff.

[Gil R.]

Next, here's the city screen for Louisville, showing a lot of ruins where there used to be some pretty expensive and useful buildings.

[Gil R.]

On an unrelated note, here's the menu of options for CSA Raiders (the same menu appears for Partisans too).

[Gil R.]

And last (for right now), a shot of what the menu for choosing upgrades look like. Whenever you acquire enough research points in a given area (weaponry, logistics, etc.) you get to choose from a randomly-generated list of four upgrades from that category. This is for logistics.

[helop5]

Gil,
 
These screenshots are only increasing the anticipation--they look great.
 
Question: In the screenshot of the region the forts have flags attached. If we look at Fredricksburg...it has three forts in the region with three Confederate flags. Does that mean that there are brigades in each fort or do the flags just note that the fort belongs to the Confederacy? Also, is one able to station troops in the forts, city, etc. or is it all combined in the region and the troops in the region receive the benefits of the entire region?
 
Thank you in advance.

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: helop5

Gil,

These screenshots are only increasing the anticipation--they look great.

Question: In the screenshot of the region the forts have flags attached. If we look at Fredricksburg...it has three forts in the region with three Confederate flags. Does that mean that there are brigades in each fort or do the flags just note that the fort belongs to the Confederacy? Also, is one able to station troops in the forts, city, etc. or is it all combined in the region and the troops in the region receive the benefits of the entire region?

Thank you in advance.

All forts have flags, even empty ones.

Forts all start off with garrisons, and you can add a certain number of additional brigades, depending on fort size. Cities, too, start with garrisons and can have more troops added. (In fact, this is all recommended!)

[jchastain]

It might help to know that on the strategic map, little green dots = brigades.  Little yellow dots = generals.  So as you look at the flags which represent armies/corps/divisions, the dots tell a story of how big the unit is (though not a complete picture because brigades can be at full strength or depleted and with fog of war on, your scouting check will determine how accurate your count is on enemy units).  By looking at forts and cities, you can also see the green dots showing that they are garrisoned.  A fort or city without a garrison would have no dots.  (You can also see that Gil neglected to attach his generals to his units for these shots as there are no yellow dots :-p)

[Gil R.]

Thanks for pointing out the meaning of green and yellow dots -- I forgot to.

However, I never forget to attach my generals. The screenshot in question is one that Eric made playing the Union, but he wasn't seriously playing -- just trying to show the strategic map. The Union generals are all lined up, waiting to be attached...

[andysomers]

Yeah yeah - SURE Gil...
 
AS

[marecone]

What about saving games. Can you save your game while in battle?
Thanks

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: marecone

What about saving games. Can you save your game while in battle?
Thanks

Yes, it's easily done.

[Gil R.]

Here's another screenshot, this time showing how if one makes an initiative check one gets to choose the type of terrain in which to fight a detailed battle. There are seventeen different terrain types, and each battlefield combines two. Terrain types are assigned to each province to reflect reality, so there are no mountains in Kansas, and lots of swamps in Louisiana, etc.

[Gil R.]

Also, if one is lucky one can use one's cavalry before the battle, as seen in the following screenshot:

[spruce]

Rendezvous means your cavalry will look for all the beautifull girls in the county and have a party ?
 
seems really like general J.E.B. Stuart ... [:)]

[Gil R.]

"Rendezvous" simulates meeting up with another army. The manual description reads: "If successful, there is no daily limit on the number of military groups that can be called as reinforcements."

The menu you see there lists just five options, but the full list of scouting options is larger: surprise attack, raid supplies, avoid battle, screen terrain, feint, rendezvous, flanking maneuver, interior lines, surveillance and cavalry reserve.

[spruce]

hey Gil, where I live "rendesvouz" means having a date ... I was thinking about general Stuart ... [;)]