My impressions

[JudgeDredd]

Still on the tutorials. Up to Lesson 5.

They're tough going for a n00b to the system without pictures tbh.

Alot of the terminology is strange to be..steps...shifts...the combat results table and tarrain effects etc are going to take some getting used to. Boardgamers will be familiar with them, but I'm not.

It's tough going, but I've learned alot in the first 4 lessons...there are 8.

One thing that does strike me is the lack of popups. I mean, you can right click on just about everything to get info, but really...buttons shouldn't need to be right clicked to get a tooltip...and the grid system...a simple roll over of the mouse should provide you with the grid ref shown on screen...although, tbh, grid references probably wouldn't be used in game...but again, there use in the lessons makes the lessons difficult because they continually refer to x unit in grid...so you have to right click grids to see where it is...

But I'm nit picking there...

On the plus side, working out what units to put forward in combat is made very easy, giving you excellent indications of odds and loss potential...maybe too easy...but no...all it really does is help remove your need to remember all the modifiers and having to keep referencing the CRT and terrain tables...so I'd say they've got that bit spot on.

I suppose some people might say you've got your monies worth just playing the tutorials (not me though [:'(] ).

In the tutorials, you get an intro to the AOs and I really like that idea. I like the idea that units are tied until an objective is met. It's made even better by having different AO setups and the MV which I have to come across as of yet.

Supply is great...in depth but simple to understand and view. Command and combat shift if within command...bridge laying, destroying and repairing...mines...fortifications...detachments to slow the enemy...I have to say, it's got it all.

I've yet to get into the game yet, but I'm pleased to say so far that I have already given this more time than I ever did Korsun Pocket (which I may have been unfairly harsh on).

Looking forward to getting my teeth into the campaign proper...I'm still thinking though, moreso now, that 16 turns is just so little...by "moreso now" I mean I'm so looking forward to the game proper that I'm concerned it'll all be over too quick.

I'll let ya know. It's 12:30 here...I'm off to bed...the wife's grunting and groaning letting me know she doesn't appreciate me tapping my keyboard at this time of the morning [8|]

[Toby42]

Ok then, back to the football game (Baylor vs UCONN).. I'm sure that you will wring this puppy out pretty good!!

[Noakesy]

Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself JD. Not wishing to detract from that, but I would like to know how you can improve the music on the system. I always turn it off, but some historical background music on there would be great (when I first bought Battleground Ardennes a million years ago I loved the German/Yank music at the beginning). I guess the other link that's been posted is some vintage tuetonic voices, but how do I get that onto the game (assuming I can)?

Thanks

[JudgeDredd]

Noaksey

I just downloaded the music from the link provided, unzipped the soviet ones into a Soviet Music folder and the German ones into a German Music folder, then whatever side I'm playing (e.g. Soviets) I select all the music files in the Soviet Music folder and hit <RETURN>...this loads them all into Media player and just cycles round them...then it simply plays even when I'm in the game.

It takes a little tweaking to get the music level right, so that it's not drowning out combat sounds in the game, but once you know the level (@ve got media player on 30 volume) it sounds great and just loops round.

Sounds brilliant.

You may not want all those songs...I downloaded all the German and Soviet ones and listened to them and removing the ones I didn't want to hear in my game...I ended up with about a dozen each.

[Waffenamt]

I went through the tutorial and am now going back for extra review after getting soundly thrashed as the Germans in the amazing Soltsy scenario by Ian. Luckily I didn't jump right into Kharkov, since that would have been seriously humbling and I'd still be spitting out pieces of crow or whatever else got handed to me on a platter&nbsp;[:)]&nbsp;&nbsp;Learning by ones' mistakes really reinforces the learning experience. I'll take one more crack at Soltsy before&nbsp;digging for&nbsp;the mother lode!
&nbsp;
Regards

[JudgeDredd]

Nick

Where is this Soltsy scenario you speak of??

[Noakesy]

It's on the SSG run5 forum. Ian's done a fantastic Prokhorovka scenario (for battlefront) and I THINK he's done a bit of a tester with Soltsy. [:)]

[Toby42]

John Schettler did the Prokhorovka scenario for Battlefront and Ian did the Soltsy scenario for Kharkov !!!

[JudgeDredd]

Bugger...Just played the Soltsy scenario. Was going quite well...but on Turn 11, I had a dug in unit on the West flank and as I sent the play going for the German AI, it made a few attacks here and there, but when it got to the dug in unit in the West, two German unsighted units simply moved north and south of it continuousl...had to quite out the game.

I think it was in the bag though.

[e_barkmann]

Hi Treale

actually Ian did both of these below, John did the Stalingrad scenario for Battlefront.

http://www.ssg.com.au/?page=scenarios

I'll get Ian's Soltsy battle up on the scenario download page soon, that'll make it easier to find. I am quite enoying this little scenario and would agree with Nick as it being a great introduction to the Kharkov system.

cheers

ORIGINAL: Treale

John Schettler did the Prokhorovka scenario for Battlefront and Ian did the Soltsy scenario for Kharkov !!!

[Toby42]

ORIGINAL: Chris Merchant


Hi Treale

actually Ian did both of these below, John did the Stalingrad scenario for Battlefront.

http://www.ssg.com.au/?page=scenarios

I'll get Ian's Soltsy battle up on the scenario download page soon, that'll make it easier to find. I am quite enoying this little scenario and would agree with Nick as it being a great introduction to the Kharkov system.

cheers

ORIGINAL: Treale

John Schettler did the Prokhorovka scenario for Battlefront and Ian did the Soltsy scenario for Kharkov !!!

Yep, you are right. I get confused easily! I have to remember to take my Meds regularly [8|]

[JudgeDredd]

Yeah, it's a great little scenario from what I gathered last night...I prefer the SSG maps and icons though.

Was enjoying it up until the bug I encoubtered.