PBEM support?

[wworld7]

ORIGINAL: FM WarB

I visited SPi's HQ in NYC back in the day; ahh the fine aroma of stale pizza, cigarettes and various beverages in their playtesting room!

I preferred DNO/Unentscheiden to their WitE, though.

This brings back memories. I visted SPI a couple of times back in the day.

[Shupov]

This brings back memories. I visted SPI a couple of times back in the day.

I never visited SPI but I still have quite a few of their Strategy and Tactics magazines complete with games. What a great magazine!

[elmo3]

I had some of the firstl S&T issues including #1 but lost them over the years. I can't bring myself to check and see what they would sell for today. [:(]

[karonagames]

Meanwhile, getting back on topic: @ Shupov. At the moment you get to see summary combat reports for all combats that took place in the previous turn. There is no replay of movement at the moment - it is on the "wish" list, nor is there a "blow by blow" by equipment type report, and I don't think this is on the wish list, as a level 10 combat report can take over an hour to run - just for one combat!

[The SNAFU]

Just one players opinion but I think it's very important that a replay of the movement and combat is shown for each side. Having after action reports is also important but seeing how the completed turn played out gives each player perspective on how the turn went and what to do next.

[elmo3]

There is no movement replay but you can review all battles that took place in your opponenets turn.

[sabre1]

WAAAAA, I want my replay. Ok I feel better now.

I'm in the SNAFU camp.

[karonagames]

I think TOAW's replay feature has spoilt us. Are there any other games that have that level of turn review?

[The SNAFU]

I have mostly HPS PzC and American Civil War games. They all show a replay of the opponents turn. I guess I just assumed WITE PBEM would do the same. I cant imagine finding a Panzer Corp 60 km's in my rear and have no idea where it came from or more importantly how it got there.

This I must say is the first thing about the game that truely concerns me.

[karonagames]

I know AGEOD added a replay to their civil war game several months after release, and as I said, it is on the wish list, but I doubt it will be in by launch.

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: The SNAFU

.. I cant imagine finding a Panzer Corp 60 km's in my rear and have no idea where it came from or more importantly how it got there...

Why? I'm sure that happened many times during the war especially on the Eastern Front. And what difference does it make where it came from or how it got there? It's there and you have to deal with it. And if it fought it's way there you will see that by looking at the battle reports. If it moved there unmolested then you shold not see that anyway due to fog of war.

Not trying to argue with you. Just pointing out that most games give players way too much information, so not seeing a replay of exactly where every unit moved and what it did every turn is much more realistic IMHO.

[The SNAFU]

Well, if I wanted to read about what happened I might chose a book...

I too am not interesting in arguing but we may be able to agree there is a pant load of reading to be done already in this game given all the data provided.

With respect to a replay it should only show you what you should be allowed to see given FOW considerations and as such there is still a great deal that is not answered by the replay. All I'm saying is not seeing a replay of the opponents turn in a PBEM game is not typical in my experience and I dont like the idea. Ok!

[karonagames]

Would I prefer to a a replay of my opponent's turn ? Yes. Is my enjoyment of the game totally ruined by not having a replay of the turn? No.

[Shupov]

Meanwhile, getting back on topic: @ Shupov. At the moment you get to see summary combat reports for all combats that took place in the previous turn. There is no replay of movement at the moment - it is on the "wish" list, nor is there a "blow by blow" by equipment type report, and I don't think this is on the wish list, as a level 10 combat report can take over an hour to run - just for one combat!

Do the summary combat reports identify the units that attacked? In WiR they don't and the defender can't tell who they were attacked by or from what direction. If only one of two adjacent units attack the defender can't tell which unit did and which one didn't. He also can't tell if I was attacked by Panthers or Pz-III's.

Again this seems a bit unfair if not unrealistic. I'm not asking for a replay, just better reports than WiR.

[Joel Billings]

When you mouse over a battle site on the map, you get the window that appears in the center of the screen in the attached screenshot. When you click on the battle site on the map, the combat window pops up at the top of the screen and you can see the full details of the battle. In the battle below, the 13th Tank Corps reacted into the battle from Reserve (R), but the Soviet forces were no match for the Germans in this battle (June 1942).

In addition to the battle sites, you can look at a screen that provides details on all battles, and clicking on an entry will take you to that hex on the map and open the combat window for the battle.


FYI, the combat window has been undergoing some changes lately and is still subject to further change.

[Shupov]

Thanks Joel! Would you consider putting the tank quantities and models alongside the aircraft? I think everyone wants to see their Tigers and T-34's in action!!

Are the "Ground Losses" and "Air Losses" reports also available for each battle in PBEM? That report shows the Battle losses for each equipment type.

The combination of those two reports would provide all the information a PBEM'er could want. [:)]

[ComradeP]

As you can see in BigAnorak's AAR, the Battles tab in the Commander's Report shows you which battles took place, for both sides it seems as BigAnorak could also see Soviet attacks: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=2531419

An automatic calculator would be useful in that screen, one that counts the losses of selected battles.

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: Shupov

...

Are the "Ground Losses" and "Air Losses" reports also available for each battle in PBEM? That report shows the Battle losses for each equipment type.

...

Not sure what you are asking? That report is for one battle. Each battle has it's own report that you can see by mousing over the battle icon. If more than one attack happens in a hex it will show as 1 of N at the top instead of 1 of 1 and you will see all the results from that hex.

[Shupov]

Not sure what you are asking? That report is for one battle. Each battle has it's own report that you can see by mousing over the battle icon. If more than one attack happens in a hex it will show as 1 of N at the top instead of 1 of 1 and you will see all the results from that hex.

I'll try to rephrase my question. When I am playing PBEM and I receive a turn from my opponent will it contain the following information for each battle:

Number of squads, tanks and planes and their types attacking and defending
Number of squads, tanks and planes and their types lost

It would be nice if the information were in a table like the example below:

[elmo3]

No. You will see the same information for each battle as is shown in the screenshot Joel posted above whether it's PBEM or play vs the AI. So while you see aircraft that participated by type, the losses are grouped as fighters, bombers, and utility. You see the ground units that fought with losses grouped as men, artillery, and afv's.