Retroactively going back to previous games?

[Llyranor]

Hi,

I impulse bought KP/ATD/BiN/BiI/BF all together back when Matrix had a sale. Unfortunately, they seemed pretty daunting all at once, and being busy with other stuff, I haven't really gotten to playing them in the past months.

Now, it seems that Kharkov is pretty approachable, what with the printed manual and tutorial. Now, let's say I get into Kharkov, learn the game mechanics and get into the game. What if I later on decide to get back into the previous games, what changes can I expect? Is the gameplay similar enough?

I understand that the scale of KP/BiN/BiI is different from BF (divisions vs battalions or something?). How much does this impact gameplay? Are there other things I should be wary of if I play the games backwards?

Also, isn't AtD being remade an add-on for this? Aren't the scales different?

Cheers!

[emcgman]

Actually, this is what I have gotten to doing lately. I've had KP/DNPR, BIN, Battlefront for about 9 mnths now. Being a long time Chess player, I have really had to adjust my thinking about strategy to `get' what's going on in these games.

Playing Kharkov has definitely helped me understand the whole SSG concept. After playing some Kharkov, I actually went back and won my first scenario of an alternative KP battle. Then, I had another go at Kharkov and finally won a game with the Soviets against normal Axis AI.

Kharkov is the most refined, so you'll be a little spoiled once you play it, but the other systems have some differences in scale and the way artillery is handled so it ends up being some enjoyable variety. The systems are very similar, but you'll want to review the manuals to identify the fine points. Nothing to be wary of, though, IMO. In other words, if anything, it helps your play to scope the variations between the games.

Battlefront was 1km hexes. Kharkov is approx is 4km/hex. I don't get hung up on the scale differences, mainly the planning and strategizing is similar. Battlefront, you could direct fire from 2 hexes away because of the scale.

They'll be releasing the Kharkov expansion with ATD sometime soon, no date yet, though.

[JudgeDredd]

I don't have the others, but if "part II" comes out for a game, I generally never go back...I just find myself sulking at the enhancements missed in the previous versions.

My opinion is it's a bad idea to go back in a particular games cycle...if I were in your shoes, I'd start from KP and work through. You never know, by the time you get to Kharkov, it might be cheaper!

[Llyranor]

Hmm, maybe I'll wait a bit and see what their plans are after ATD. If they port their other games as add-ons too, problem solved for me!

Thanks.

[JMass]

ORIGINAL: Llyranor
If they port their other games as add-ons too, problem solved for me!

The same for me!
[&o] [;)]

[SS Hauptsturmfuhrer]

What does ATD mean?

[emcgman]

`Across The Dnepr', was the expansion pak for the original Korsun Pocket. Soon to be released as an enhanced expansion scenario for the new Kharkov game.

[SS Hauptsturmfuhrer]

Thanks for the info emcgman.