Intrested but not sure

[Tusler@Matrix]

I am interested in this game but since I have never successfully gotten into WITP-AE I'm wondering if this is just as hard to grasp and so equally far over my head that I'll not catch onto it. I noticed from the videos that it has a ton of tutorials something WITP-AE is lacking. So you guys that are like me, is there enough info for you to get into playing it where it is at some level fun?
Thanks for the honesty in advance.
A little bio...I am a 61 year old retired Ch-53E helicopter mechanic surely not brilliant but not stupid either.

[warspite1]

There are two things here.

a) the game has got problems so you need to look at this as a long term project. If you are happy to do that (for what is the greatest game ever made) then that's one hurdle down.

b) the second hurdle is the comparison to WITP-AE. I would say WITP-AE and WIF are both complicated games and sit in the Grognard segment of the war game world. There is a lot to learn in each game and mastering the game comes with time..... plenty of time.....

Personally though I believe there is a difference to the complexity - and a difference that makes WIF appealing to me in a way that WITP-AE isn't (and I say that as a naval war freak so should play WITP-AE to the exclusion of all others).

WITP-AE is incredibly detailed, with an OOB second to none. But from what I can tell (and from the little I've played) it is more of a logistics game than a war game. To me, a lot of the things (the majority?) I have to do as the commander in WITP-AE are things that I regard as a chore rather than fun. As said, with WIF there is just as much to remember, but the actions are almost entirely fun - whether making political decisions, setting out and implementing your build strategy, placing reinforcements or fighting etc etc. Obviously this is a personal thing and difficult to explain - and ymmv - but the killer for this game is this. This game is bloody good fun without being remotely beer and pretzels. I get to to play the entire war - and despite the options open to each player being huge (replayability is infinitesimal) the game properly feels like a WWII game.

[Tusler@Matrix]

you said it is ... difficult to explain... but you did a fantastic job of relating the game differences and your preference based on experience. Thank you for answering my question better than I was able to phrase it. I to love naval stuff but while I like watching youtube plays of WITP-AE I find it a chore to play myself. I am going to pickup WIF, what I'm hoping is the game can be played at first at a shallow level and then progressively get into it deeper and deeper. All the instructions and tutorials are a serious draw.
Thanks for the quick answer to my post so I can get it while it is still on sale.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Tusler@Matrix

you said it is ... difficult to explain... but you did a fantastic job of relating the game differences and your preference based on experience. Thank you for answering my question better than I was able to phrase it. I to love naval stuff but while I like watching youtube plays of WITP-AE I find it a chore to play myself. I am going to pickup WIF, what I'm hoping is the game can be played at first at a shallow level and then progressively get into it deeper and deeper. All the instructions and tutorials are a serious draw.
Thanks for the quick answer to my post so I can get it while it is still on sale.

warspite1

Oh yes, you can happily make a right tit of yourself - I am still doing so after all these years!

The only thing is, because there is no AI there does need to be a degree of reading of the rules. That said, there is a good and friendly bunch here who will be happy to hand hold you through the initial steps until you find your feet.

[paulderynck]

In post 2 I'm pretty sure Warspite meant replayability is almost infinite, not infinitesimal.

[PeytonPlace]

This is the second reference to World in Flames being on Sale, but Matrix site seems to have the same price that I always see for this game.

Any explanations?

[Tusler@Matrix]

Two things, first the on sale part I got a code "Dice17" in the email along with many other people which gets 30% off of the $99 price. Just put the code in and click update in the cart and the price drops...Yeah!
Second, I installed it with the latest update, is it locked into quarter screen window mode or can I make the windows bigger some how, or is it possible to have the window full screen? In WITP-AE there is a way to make it 1920x1080, I tried the same -px -py trick on this but it had no effect

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

In post 2 I'm pretty sure Warspite meant replayability is almost infinite, not infinitesimal.

warspite1

I'm pretty sure I did too [;)]

[Tusler@Matrix]

Disregard my question on the screen thing I started the Barbarossa play and I see the map can be stretched to what ever window size is desired. I love reading manuals, I'm going to go read for a while. Have a great day!

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Tusler@Matrix

Two things, first the on sale part I got a code "Dice17" in the email along with many other people which gets 30% off of the $99 price. Just put the code in and click update in the cart and the price drops...Yeah!
Second, I installed it with the latest update, is it locked into quarter screen window mode or can I make the windows bigger some how, or is it possible to have the window full screen? In WITP-AE there is a way to make it 1920x1080, I tried the same -px -py trick on this but it had no effect

In the main form, there are the players interface settings at which you can check if your monitor is found correctly.

If so, you can build you own screen layout, by making windows larger (or smaller) as you see fit. More information is found in the tutorials.

[Tusler@Matrix]

sure enough it is interactive tutorial #12 talks more about setting up screens than I ever imagined I would need.
Thanks [&o]
I really have to go through all of these so I can at least ask intelligent questions[:D]

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Tusler@Matrix

sure enough it is interactive tutorial #12 talks more about setting up screens than I ever imagined I would need.
Thanks [&o]
I really have to go through all of these so I can at least ask intelligent questions[:D]

That depends. The game has a steep learning curve. Start with Barbarossa and see how you end up in a game which is mainly about land combat.

After that, try Guadalcanal for naval action.

I would advice to apply the novice optional rules (or non at all), since the chrome makes the game harder to learn...

But it would not be unwise to look into the tutorials to see how you have to do things in this game.

I would stay away from global war for now.

[Courtenay]

Be warned that if you use the quick start Barbarossa set up, unless it has been changed the Russian set up is atrocious.

[toenailthehun]

Enjoy the Journey, that is learning how to play this game

[jboldt007]

I've been playing games (complex and simple) for nearly 40 years. For me - MWIF is by far the most fun and deepest game I've played. I watched the YouTube videos in Vietnam while my newly adopted daughter napped and the game felt really complex but alluring. When it went on sale I made the plunge and there has been no turning back. The game takes care of 99% of the logistics (if you can optimize the CW convoy routes, you've pretty much got it). But note: no AI. Get the books too. The game takes a while to play properly- maybe a lifetime- which is awesome.

[Tusler@Matrix]

I noticed some saying no AI but did not pay much attention. On tutorial 1 page 3 of 7 under mode of play it shows AI opponent can be selected.
Post by the Moderator in 2005 Shanon V. Okeets post 20958 says...
"MWIF will have the following modes of play:

Single computer
Solitaire: one player moves all the units and makes all the decisions.
Hotseat: two players (Axis and Allied sides) play using the same computer.
AI Opponent: one player plays either the Axis or Allied side and the AIO plays the other.

Mulitple computers
PBEM: two players (Axis and Allied sides) play by sending their decisions over the internet using email.
Internet: 2 to 6 players play by sending messages over the internet. Usually all players will have to be "logged in" at the same time but there are some provisions for bringing players up-to-date if they have not been connected the whole time."

The hot linked manual says nothing about AI so is it possible to play against the computer by myself or do i have to play both sides?
When I start a New Game I see Solitaire (Play both sides), Hotseat and Internet.

[Centuur]

There is no AI in the game. It's still on the "to do" list (which is pretty big, by the way...).

[Tusler@Matrix]

Ok, thanks for the quick answer, for me any AI is better than no AI since I am not a online or multiplay gamer, I am a very casual gamer due to other commitments.

[Joseignacio]

Tusler, of course, Centuur knows better, but considering what has been commented in the forum, he may have sound rather optimistic IMO.

It is in the "to do" list but think of years in order to have an AI, and may be not 1 nor 2, ... This project has lasted years and it is not even operational regarding Netplay (multiplayer), having still issues in "solo player" (selfplaying!), and having to use "ad hoc" solutions for PBEM, and that for the few scenarios that are available.

There are optionals that should be added as well.

I believe AI would come after all or most of this. So it may take 3-4 years the earlier, if it finally comes out, some people believe it's impossible for a game as complex as this is . I don't think so but in the practice it could be, for there would be so many lines to program and cases to cover and patch afterwards, that we may die earlier.

Wouldn't count on it if I was going to buy the game, Buy it as a game to play multiplayer or leave 4 years more pass and check again.

Cheers.

[Tusler@Matrix]

well, my research was slower than my left mouse click, cause i already bought it, so I will goof around with the solo play and let the dice rolls have their affect for a bit of fun. I am very fortunate that I can afford a $$$ goof at this time in my life. I guess when I want to play against an AI I will start up one of Garys title, I have War in the West, War in the East, War in the Pacific, enough to keep me busy until they come out with an AI for WIF.
We have so many great games available these days for less than the cost of a good night of binge drinking!