A couple of questions

[Subchaser]

Okay, I’ve finally decided to buy this game, sounds like this is a real hit, I’m not going to miss it!

But I want to ask two questions before placing an order.

1) How long it will take to figure out all hint’n’tips, not just basic features, needed to become average player?
2) How good is AI? Is it a worthy opponent or I should play vs human?

Thanks in advance

SC

[KNac007]

AI it's an excellent opponent if you compare it with most games, that's for sure. In fact AI is one of the revolutionary things from this game, friendly and enemy AI on all levels of command.

And about the learning curve... well the game is very intuitive (great interface) and if you play the tutorials and read the manuals you will know how the game interacts pretty fast. But from them to actually do things the best you could and using the game features to your advantage, it's just a question of practice, I suppose. Also the strategic/tactical deccissions you take depend on your skill as commander (probably if you are a "good 'ol" wargamer you will have allready these "commanding skills"), but the interface and mechanism of the game can be learned with some experience (and remember to read the manual and tips placed here).

[Grouchy]

Yup, If you compare it with other wargames then the AI is excellent. I think it's one of the best AI's around.
There are some threads about the AI further down or on previous pages with comments and questions from players. Think they give a nice picture of how the average player thinks of the AI, his strengths and shortcomings.

You will learn the basics pretty fast, especially if you played wargames before. It probally takes the tutorials and a couple of scenario's.

Next step is then how to know how to best to secure bridges, when to (counter)attack, where and when set delays/roadblocks etc etc. Only thing to find that out is by playing the scenario's, encounter those issues several times and deal with them. Some players grasp those issues faster then other ones.
Kind of difficult to say when someone becomes an average player, but to have experience with most of the above issues, you probally played through several scenario's and 2 or 3 GC's.

[Subchaser]

Thanks for replies, I’ve looked thru some threads here and got an overall picture, game engine is really intriguing. It’s not my first wargame, to say the least, so I think I won’t waste much time with tutorials.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Hello Andrej, mate, seeking new challenges after Bettys refused to listen your orders? [;)]

ORIGINAL: Subchaser

Thanks for replies, I’ve looked thru some threads here and got an overall picture, game engine is really intriguing. It’s not my first wargame, to say the least, so I think I won’t waste much time with tutorials.

You should [8D]

You know what they say about good games "easy to learn, difficult to master". Well if that was ever valid for any game in this universe it is valid for HTTR. Don't skip the tutorials.

BTW I agree that HTTR AI is the best I've ever seen, perhaps in any wargame. But then I tried some online gaming, got my head handed me on a platter, and decided I have to train more vs. the AI before going online again.

We could try some "online play for n00bz" Andrej when you get the game? I need some self validation [:D][:D][:D]

O.

[RayWolfe]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko
Don't skip the tutorials.

Just to support Oleg: Don't skip the tutorials. [:-]
This is like no other wargame you may have played.
Read the threads about the FUN people have had (and their failures) just playing the tutorials.
Don't skip the tutorials. I may have said that before.
Ray

[Tzar007]

ORIGINAL: Subchaser

Okay, I’ve finally decided to buy this game, sounds like this is a real hit, I’m not going to miss it!

But I want to ask two questions before placing an order.

1) How long it will take to figure out all hint’n’tips, not just basic features, needed to become average player?
2) How good is AI? Is it a worthy opponent or I should play vs human?

Thanks in advance

SC

1) I definetely recommend you go through the tutorials. It will go faster if you are an experienced wargamer, but go through them nonetheless. Basic game mechanics are explained, and they are important to understand. Then to fully benefit and add another layer of knowledge about the game subtility and mechanics, go through the tutorial thread in this forum here: http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp?URL=http%3A//www.matrixgames.com/forums/
In fact I recommend you read through this tutorial even if you do not yet have the game. It is very good to see the main important features.

2) Depending on the nature of the scenario, the AI ranges from a just fair challenge to a good one. Once in a while though it will do bad, again depending on the scenario. If necessary, tweakings at the start of a scenario enables you to give supply and reinforcements advantages to the AI, which spices up things. What I like in this AI is that it is able to pull off some surprising moves at times, like unexpected flanking attacks. Usually AIs fare badly at the strategic level but the tactical / operationel level of this game fits the AI quite good. It is also usually very adept at using its arty units to bang your units at the place where it hurts you the most: it is quite infuriating when you have a whole brigade forming up for an attack to finally get completely disturbed and wrecked because the AI decided to target it at the same time with its heavy guns [:)].

[Subchaser]

Thanks for all your replies guys, most helpful. I do not underestimate tutorials, I just have a bad habit to study wargames by starting major campaign, and then, if puzzled, go back to tutorials. In the case with HTTR, since the game engine is somewhat new for me, I think I’ better go the usual way and start with tutorials.

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

Hello Andrej, mate, seeking new challenges after Bettys refused to listen your orders? [;)]

Seeking new challenges... yes. Betties? It's alright with them in another pbem... no complains... flying in hell and back [8D]

We could try some "online play for n00bz" Andrej when you get the game? I need some self validation [:D][:D][:D]

So do I… and do not expect static fight this time…[:-]

Game should arrive in two weeks… may be even earlier.