Investigating further for a purchase

[vils]

Hi,

I am a total noob as for civil war (other than classic books n' movies) but i purchased Sid's Gettysburg back in the stoneage and really enjoyed it, so this game looks very interesting. Ive waited for a CW game to my taste for years, but those few released have never really suited my taste.

I wish i could play a demo or such, really want to know how the battles are handled, graphically and soundwise, turnwise etc. Perhaps Matrixgames could do a short movieclip of it or thats to much to ask. Also i wonder how this 'researching better equipment' thingie is handled, it kindow gives me the creeps thinking of all those RTS games flooding gameindustry for years.

I would be grateful for any comments on this

ps. im not cheap, just poor as a bastard

[Missouri_Rebel]

Hi vils and welcome. Noticed your desire of some feedback and thought I might be able to help. What has to be the best proof of the quality and fun concerning games is longevity, and FoF certainly has that. I bought the game when it came out around Thanksgiving and have not stopped playing it since. That, my friend is longevity. Also, what has started out as a well rounded game has gotten even better with the few patches WCS has issued during the time. Solid product and tons of fun, imo.

The game is most certainly not RTS. Every aspect is turn based. From the movement and strategy portion, to the detailed battles.

I wouldn't know where to start with describing all the areas that this game covers. It can be a very deep game. Noticed I said can. That is because the player is given a huge host of options that can be turned off or to be handled by the computer.  This allows the player to focus on such basic details like movement and combat all the way up to managing the whole war effort.  Choose to influence whatever parts of the war that you want and nothing more (or less if you so choose.) Which gets back to the longevity. Worth every penny.

My suggestion would be to read some of the posts here and definately check out some of the AAR's. D17 has a very good one with a lot of flavor as do some others. Feel free to ask some specific questions. There are many helpful people here that know a lot more than I do.

[jchastain]

If you are interested in the Tactical Battles that are a part of this game, I don't think you can find a better source than Hard Sarge's AAR's.  He has a command over the battlefield like no other.  It is a little dated, but here's a link as an example...
 
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1286095

[Rexor]

I think this is one of the finest, most balanced, most realistic historical wargames that I've ever played. When I start playing games like this, I start looking for things I don't like, and with FoF I've found only one: supply, which I think is handled a little bit too simplistically for a game of this depth. But that's it. Everything else about the game, from the big-picture strategic decisions to the nail-biting (and, I think, believable) tactical fights, is intelligently rendered and multi-layered. Another minor thing is the interface, which can seem a bit clunky at times. But all the other assets of the game make up for it. Definitely worth the price.

[olperfessor]

Short of money? This game will keep you so busy that the krona-per-hour cost will be tiny. All the hours you spend with this game is time NOT spending money out on the town, on trivialities like food and beer.

[cesteman]

speaking of Hard Sarge, I haven't seen him around in awhile. Hope everything is ok with him.

[jchastain]

Recently, I think he's been hard at work on GG's Eagle Day.  Drop by that board and I think you'll get a chance to see his latest labor of love.

[Yogi the Great]

Well worth the purchase - good and getting better.  They are also serious about listening to all the "gripes" we do have and then fixing them and putting out patches. 
 
Sids Gettysburg of couse is a different animal, real time and all.  But if you have interest in the civil war on the full scale, this is the way to go.

[decaturkev]

I have been palying this game since it was released.  I find it one of the most enjoyable games I have seen in a long time, especially for War between the States historical interest.

[ravinhood]

ORIGINAL: Missouri_Rebel

Hi vils and welcome. Noticed your desire of some feedback and thought I might be able to help. What has to be the best proof of the quality and fun concerning games is longevity, and FoF certainly has that. I bought the game when it came out around Thanksgiving and have not stopped playing it since. That, my friend is longevity. Also, what has started out as a well rounded game has gotten even better with the few patches WCS has issued during the time. Solid product and tons of fun, imo.

The game is most certainly not RTS. Every aspect is turn based. From the movement and strategy portion, to the detailed battles.

I wouldn't know where to start with describing all the areas that this game covers. It can be a very deep game. Noticed I said can. That is because the player is given a huge host of options that can be turned off or to be handled by the computer.  This allows the player to focus on such basic details like movement and combat all the way up to managing the whole war effort.  Choose to influence whatever parts of the war that you want and nothing more (or less if you so choose.) Which gets back to the longevity. Worth every penny.

My suggestion would be to read some of the posts here and definately check out some of the AAR's. D17 has a very good one with a lot of flavor as do some others. Feel free to ask some specific questions. There are many helpful people here that know a lot more than I do.

I would concur with this post. "LONGEVITY" and "CHALLENGE" are the number one ingredients in choosing a game to buy and/or play. This one has it all and so many options you'll always have something new to try out well almost always. lol Compared to the AGEOD game this game gives you two games in one. A great strategy game and a decent tactical game. All are turn based so you have all the time in the world to decide on your moves. The AGEOD game is "pretty" but, that's about where it ends. Oh it will give you a game or two of entertainment, but, it will play so samey that you'd tire of it long before you would ever tire of Forge of Freedom and all its options. Forge of Freedom allows for "whatif's" and "could have beens". It doesn't force you to play so historically that the union is going to always win and I really hate games that force that upon a player myself. I do prefer whatif's for the most part, but, that's not to say a game shouldn't have both and that is what Forge of Freedom offers is both ways to play.

I would suggest getting Crown of Glory also. Based in the Napoleonic era and just as entertaining and challenging if not moreso than this one. And buy their next game as well so they will have the money to make my ancients game soon. hehe

[General Quarters]

I find FOF engrossing and I play only on the strategic level, not the tactical games. It has very high replayability value. Another benefit is that most of the features are optional, so you can play at the highly simplified basic level to learn the game, then move to intermediate which adds some complexity, and then the advanced game which includes all options. But you can also pick and choose which options you like, and essentially construct your own game. Hard to go wrong.

[LarryP]

I bought this game the day it was available. I played it until the beginning of summer and stopped to play other games. I loaded FOF up yesterday for the heck of it. Just checking out the games I have not played in ages, and I was amazed at the atmosphere this game has! I have played AGEOD's AACW lots, but this game has the atmosphere of that era. That impressed me. Few games can boast that quality. The graphics, sound and music, and just overall THIS game has an atmosphere of Civil War! [X(]

Besides, it plays excellent too! [;)] [:D]

[hgilmer]

    I just finished my first game and I really like it.  It is not an RTS game.  It has some things you may consider to be RTS qualities, but the actual fighting makes you feel like, no, it isn't an RTS game.