Forge stands the test of time

[39battalion]

I have been playing both FOF and AACW recently and whilst both are very good games I have come to the conclusion that I prefer Forge.

I find Forge to be more immersive and I really like the level of historical detail. I also like the fact the Generals can be wounded or killed more readily than in AACW which makes it more interesting and historically accurate. The battles in AACW are not very involving whereas Forge provides the option of detailed combat.

However the map in AACW is great. I particularly like the fact that there are many provinces. This opens up strategic maneuver possibilities which makes the movement phase very interesting.This is one area where I think Forge could be improved. More provinces would make it more challenging and interesting. The lack of provinces is particularly noticeable in the area between Richmond and Washington where much of the fighting takes place.

So my requests for any future development or expansion would be :

1. Do not dumb it down or make it simpler. Keep the detail, depth and complexity.

2. Introduce more provinces

Congratulations to the developers for designing such a great and deep game which, although no longer new, continues to deliver.

[moose1999]

Couldn't have said it better myself.
I agree completely.

[GShock]

Amen.

[Tanaka]

Agreed. My only dislike of forge is so little room for maneuver strategy with so few provinces...

[Johnus]

Ditto. Forge has indeed stood the test of time.

I don't, however, really feel the need to simulate or allow more maneuver. Lee's (and Jackson's in the Valley) fancy footwork and maneuver were really grand tactical (somewhere in between the detailed combat and main map maneuvering in the game). They are simulated by having large reinforcments march to the sound of the guns in the game.

I am hard pressed to think of any sweeping strategic maneuvers of significance in the Civil War. The march to the sea took place against weak ressistance (in my last Forge game I recreated same in the end game). Most of the maneuver in the actual war resulted in battles at the preditable choke points (as oppossed to surprise).

[madflava13]

I just bought the game two days ago - I love it, but the first few turns are a pain to set up... Too many generals, containers, etc to move around. I started as the CSA and have just about gotten the on-map units organized. That's the only draw back. Once I get that done, I'm looking forward to cranking her up and really getting after the Union.

[haruntaiwan]

That's half the fun! 

[wargamerjack]

Never expected Forge of Freedom to be that fun to play and has been zapping my playing time now

Nearly pass this game as I bought the AGEOD  ACW earlier

Salute !!!

[ericbabe]

Thanks for the kind words everybody.

One of the ideas we had for an expansion or sequel would be to use the engine to do the Virginia/Maryland theater as a map by itself, though with many more provinces, and with turns representing just a few days -- more of an operational scale map.  We'd have military units and upgrades just come from an abstract reinforcement table, so players wouldn't be managing the national economy.

[siRkid]

ORIGINAL: ericbabe

Thanks for the kind words everybody.

One of the ideas we had for an expansion or sequel would be to use the engine to do the Virginia/Maryland theater as a map by itself, though with many more provinces, and with turns representing just a few days -- more of an operational scale map.  We'd have military units and upgrades just come from an abstract reinforcement table, so players wouldn't be managing the national economy.

Thats a good idea.

[delusan]

Really like the idea of a Virginia/Maryland theatre expansion!

[BodyBag]

Hi all!

If you make the Virginia/Maryland expansion and skips managing the national economy, then the focus will shift to the detailed combat in the game.
That will require a major graphic upgrade of the units and map in the detailed combat, - right now its very primitive and looks like something made more than 10 years ago. But as a player you can live with it because the rest of the game is so good.

I like FoF, but if the expansion becomes more tactical than grand-strategy, and you just re-use the very basic graphics in the detailed combat, I would not buy it.

I realize you don't have the same ressources as Sega or Ubisoft, but as most people spend a lot of time doing detailed combat, you should really make this part of the game look better and more attractive, which will also enhance the functionality.

Cheers,

[gunny3013]

FoF consumes most of my gaming time these days and I find it exciting to anticipate a PBEM turn arriving!
WELL DONE!
 
P.S. If I could fix one thing it would to be to allow an option for auto (Movement) reinforcements to move by rail.
 
Thank you again,
Joey