Making up My Mind

[Rhizy]

Trying to decide if this is the game that will tide me over until War in the East is released. Basically I'm after a solid WW II operational/strat game that plays well for PBEM games. I'm something of a newbie when it comes to PBEM so hoping this is something that will ease me into the challenge coming of War in the East. Also as I understand it an Eastern Front version of Decisive Campaigns is possible in the future as well?

What do you think, this is a worthwhile game to pull the trigger on?

[Spechtmeise]

Read through the threads here on this forum and you will notice that most comments are in praise of Decisive Campaigns. This game engine has the potential to go the long distance.
I think your question is rhetorical. I detect in your wording the subliminal wish to own and play this game.
So, go for it.

[Rhizy]

You're probably right Stratocruiser, definitely trying to convince myself , and think I'm close to buying. How are you finding it for PBEM?

[Spechtmeise]

I haven't played by email yet. I assume it's the usual play-send-receive-save-play procedure. Maybe Vic could enlighten us.

[rjh1971]

I haven't played this one yet by email, but have played many others and in all of them (except Guns of August, this one one turn is divided in phases) you make your turn send it and wait for your opponents turn, as simple as that. Not playing the AI but a human opponent makes the game far more interesting and open to new strategies each time.

[Duck Doc]

Can't tell you about PBEM. However this is as solid an operational treatment of the early battles as I have played. I have not played a lot because my time is limited but what I like about it is the Blitzkrieg feel to it. As the German you don't just overrun units & keep on trucking. You are liable to get bogged down. The defenders can hold & slow you down a lot. It takes careful planning. I was amazed to learn many years ago that the Red Baron ran up his numbers by pouncing on wounded birds & that Blitzkrieg did not involve a lot of slugging it out by the panzers. They relied on their speed & terror or shock value. In other words they won by going where the enemy wasn't. Not very manly but there it is. This game does a good job depicting this method of warfare. It also does not rely on a lot of grognard-style odds-figuring in order to win. You can pretty much move things as you wish & let it happen. The numbers are there but they don't dictate the play. It is a very fun game. And the AI rocks!

I would urge you to plunge. Besides it is likely to be longer than you think before that magnum opus or the Holy Grail of Wargaming, WitE is released.

[WilliePete]

ORIGINAL: Rhizzy

Trying to decide if this is the game that will tide me over until War in the East is released. Basically I'm after a solid WW II operational/strat game that plays well for PBEM games. I'm something of a newbie when it comes to PBEM so hoping this is something that will ease me into the challenge coming of War in the East. Also as I understand it an Eastern Front version of Decisive Campaigns is possible in the future as well?

What do you think, this is a worthwhile game to pull the trigger on?

Look at it this way, if you decide not get this game and wait for for War in the East, then you will have nothing to play for months maybe another year till WITE comes out...

[Toby42]

My advice is to "Run", don't walk to grab your credit card and do the buy!!!

[htuna]

Definitely a good buy, go for it!.. Majority of posts about this game are positive, that should tell you something!

[bairdlander2]

Its well worth the price $40 for digital dowload.I agree also with what another poster said regarding blitzkreig.Sure,I can have my armour units go far,but the ai cuts off their supply,blows bridges so they spend more ap to cross and hinders my movement constantly.If you liked board wargames from the 80's or early pc wargames this is for you.

[Lrfss]

So what is the complexity rating of this game BTW, looked for it and didn't see it anywhere for some reason...? I'm hardcore, like as in WitP-AE. Will I find this at least reasonably challenging and will it keep my interest up for more than a month or two? On a scale from #1 to #10 I would assume WitP-AE is a 10 on difficulty and learning curve and say Risk is a #1 (LOL) so where might this game fall? If my 11 yo son can play it fine, however this next purchase is for me...LOL!

Thanks in advance!

Lrfss

[Barthheart]

Complexity to play - 6
Complexity of game - about 7
Depth - 8

[hank]

after playing for a week or two, I'd concur with Barthheart on his numbers but then I tend to play like Dale described previously. (IOWs I don't do much number crunching, I just push divisions/regiments around and have fun ... and this game is great fun)

I think it would be great fun seeing how other hex based WWII games rate under the Complexity to Play / Complexity of game / Depth ... measuring sticks. Games like HPS, SSG, TOAW, and others I may have forgotten. DC:TBFWTP is a wonderful mix of these factors.

[Keunert]

i'd rate it somewhere around ssg decisive battles, not hard to learn but a lot to master. in this aspect it's close to advanced tactics. (playing barthheart after some harley lessons teached me how much teaching would still be necessary to come close to Barthheart's skills). and what makes this one a bit more complex is it's historical accuracy: i guess you'll master the campaigns a lot better if you know the ennemie's setup and the historical tasks of your corps.

[Lrfss]

ORIGINAL: Barthheart

Complexity to play - 6
Complexity of game - about 7
Depth - 8

Thanks for the ratings! I couldn't wait however and DL'd it last night with blood shot eye's, read through the manual (skimmed) hit the tutorial before I passed out...lol! Gonna have to give it a scenerio and then hit the campaign today. Looks pretty good so far and nice eye candy even when looking through blood shot eyeballs[X(] If the depth/historical aspects are an 8 in particular and the other two are as stated this should be a hit...

Thanks!

Lrfss

[NefariousKoel]

It's less difficult than TOAW and the Decisive Battles Series by a little bit.  Pretty straightforward for the old-timers.

[Ken7]

I just bought this game the other day and I find it very interesting. Maybe one day someone will program a "Squad Leader" type of computer game for windows 7.

[Rhizy]

Thanks for the advice and comments. I've made the plunge and am downloading the game now. Hopefully will get some time to play this weekend. Once I'm up to speed with it I'll be looking for a few email games. So I look froward to seeing some of you on the field of battle

[bairdlander2]

ORIGINAL: Ken7

Maybe one day someone will program a "Squad Leader" type of computer game for windows 7.

Its already out its called the close combat series.But I think you meant counters.I would prefer if close combat had a counter option.

[Rhizy]

OK, played around with it a little (Netherlands scenario), to figure out mechanics and interface etc. Very straightforward and play flows well.

But just an observation on AI. In my first run through, playing as Dutch against German AI, I thought I would just observe how the German AI attacked and how quickly it could get a win; so I didn't move a Dutch unit at all throughout the game. Just left them in place and kept hitting end turn. Well the Dutch managed to eek out a win! OK it was close and they were about to surrender based on morale, but they did get the win..... This was only one play through doing this so might be an aberration. I'm assuming most of the wins as Germans in this one will be from forcing the surrender based on morale rather than getting the victory point location total needed?