Need some wargaming advice...

[Arith]

Hi guys. I am new to the forum and kind of a novice to serious wargames in general. I play Combat Mission regularly, sending out 5-10 PBEM turns a day and have been doing so for almost a year now but i am looking for something a bit different. The only other serious wargames i have played were the Talonsoft series of wargames ( i think they were the battleground series and the World at War series) and Operation Crusader, which is the first wargame i remember playing. I have only played wargames pertaining to WWII land warfare and one Civil War game (Gettysburg by Talonsoft) and i am looking for something a bit different. I am trying to find something that will spark my interest like Combat Mission did. I just purchased Uncommon Valor, based on some reviews and posts ive read on the Band of Brothers Combat Mission Forum and i hope i like it but i am also looking for others. Can you guys point me in the right direction here? I need something i get me interested in Wargaming again. I have only tried tactical wargames and have never tried anything larger, but i am open minded. Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

[Les_the_Sarge_9_1]

Well logically I am going to make a plug for the in development game Combat Leader from the Matrix people. But check out Steel Panthers while you wait (hey a fully developed game and its free eh).

I will say that Talonsoft's Operational Art of War (volume 1 or 2) is a great game to look into. But it's hardly a new product, you might have to prowl places like
http://www.cdaccess.com/index.htm
to find a means to purchase it.

Actually most of the games I have liked are Talonsoft originating designs. You might be able to scare up a copy of Europe In Flames (a compilation product of the East Front and West Front titles).

I was also impressed with the V for Victory series.

For that matter, you can find quite the stash of older games that we all wish we had had a chance when we were looking to play a wargame at CD Access (I am assuming they are not unique, but its the only location I know of currently).

It all depends on what you want in a wargame of course.

My opinions all tend to lean towards the turn based variety.

For decent input on RTS (real time strategy) or FPS (first person shooters) games, you will need input from others on the site that are competent commentators on those styles of gaming experience.

I won't comment on the other games here on the site as I am really not informed about their qualities.

[VictorH]

Great to have another Wargamer join the Band of Brothers. First try out the 2 free games Matrix has available for download - War in Russia and Gary Grigsby's War in the Pacific.

Then there are some good games by HPS Simulations, they have a website.

As the Sarge said, the V for Victory Games were good as are Talonsoft's BattleGround Series - but Talonsoft is the Devil so watch out.

Also take a trip to Adanac Studios and help out Frank Hunter who has a free Civil War game (American Civil War) and a really good Napoleonic Game for a really good price. Talonsoft stuck it to Mr. Hunter by the way.

Then there are some other good games Europa Universalis 1 & II and Civ II & III.

[nelmsm1]

If you are interested in playing the Talonsoft Battleground games PBEM then check out the American Civil War Game Club;
http://www.wargame.ch/wc/acw/ACWmainpage.htm

or the Napoleonic War Game Club if you are interested in that period.
http://www.wargame.ch/wc/nwc/Napann1.htm

[Fred98]

You can also download the free game - The Ardennes Offensive.

This game is great. It is hex based and turn based yet it feels different to any other game.

It has a unique style.

It can be downloaded free here:

www.ssg.com.au

There are lots of players playing it and they meet at another forum:

http://www.theblitz.org/message_boards/list.php?f=3

And BTW Matrix are to publish the sequel - Korsun Pocket. I am really looking forward to that.