To buy or not to buy, that is the question.

[Major SNAFU_M]

Hi all,

I am seriously temped to part with some hard-earned $ for this game. I like everything I see (pretty much) in the forums.

My major concern is how enjoyable the game is in Single-player.

My work schedule doesn not lend itself to any type of PBEM (usually).

Is the single-player game worth the investment to climb the learning curve, or is the AI a push-over once you learn a few basics?

Thanks,

[Nikademus]

its worth it.

the AI is, well....an AI in the end. It will not provide the challenge that a human player can do but i can relate to the time restrictions on PBEM play. The game is still worth it however. The AI does well initially but can be confused by player sneakiness as the game progresses. There are difficulty levels you can set to increase AI challenge

'hard' setting gives the AI a "peek at your dispositions capaibilty' which allows it to make better decisions. the "Very hard" setting will give the AI combat bonuses and make it much tougher to beat if your force levels are comprable.

[Sardaukar]

AI is no genius, but as long as you restrict yourself from doing really wild operations that can throw AI off the track it'll do quite a good job. I've not played single PBEM yet and have played WitP almost daily from last Xmas. So i'd say it's a good investment even in single play.

[Nikademus]

yep. Kind of like Steel Panthers. 10+ years of owning it (in it's various incarnations culminating in SP: WAW) and i've yet to play a single PBEM.

AI isn't Patton.....more like Zhukov! but still enjoyable to play

[Feinder]

Even if you only play the AI, you should have a great time. I played the AI for a few months, before taking the plunge into PBEM. As stated, the AI is limited, but will give you a good game for the first few rounds (you'll have restarts, trust me). But if you're dedicated, and don't do anything zaney, the AI can continue a "reasonable" game for quite some time (I think Derek has a AI game going, and it sounds like he's in about 1944).

-F-

[Major SNAFU_M]

This is what I was hoping to hear.

The wife isn't going to like the price, but what they hey

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus
AI isn't Patton.....more like Zhukov! but still enjoyable to play

You mean to say you rate Patton above Zhukov!? [:-]

Pretty similar commanders really....

To the original poster: yes it's worth it. It's worth even if you never really play the game, just opening the map and staring at the units, reinforcement schedules, bases, tons of various equipment, units, ships, aircraft... is fascinating in itself. [8D]

BTW no need to worry about PBEM fitting in your schedule. In fact, I think PBEM is ideal for people with hectic schedules - you play when it suits you, PBEM turn will wait in the Inbox...

O.

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: Oleg Mastruko

ORIGINAL: Nikademus
AI isn't Patton.....more like Zhukov! but still enjoyable to play

You mean to say you rate Patton above Zhukov!? [:-]

No....i was saying (very light-heartedly) that the AI tends to handle it's forces in a very unsubtle and direct manner....and losses be damned!!! [:D]

[Ron Saueracker]

I'd recommend the gme simply because guys like Mike Wood continue to try to improve the game.

[Skyros]

Go for it. It sure beats watching TV.

[Major SNAFU_M]

@ Oleg,

I would love to try PBEM, but usually people want 5-6 turns a week. Sometimes, if I am travelling, I might be able to due 2 turns a week. Sometimes more.

When I have tried PBEM in the past, I have found that very few are happy with a few turns a week.

In a game liek this I could see spending a day just coming up with the next turn's plans.

I don't know yet (until I have it) how labor intensive plotting a turn is. I assume the plotting time increases as the game year increases as you have more and are doing more with it?

[Titanwarrior89]

You will need to do more than a couple turns pbem if you want too finish it in your life time. But yes buy it- you will not be sorry. [:D]

[Oleg Mastruko]

ORIGINAL: Major SNAFU
I don't know yet (until I have it) how labor intensive plotting a turn is. I assume the plotting time increases as the game year increases as you have more and are doing more with it?

Well it depends... Allies have more, Japanese have less and less stuff as war progresses [;)]

Beauty of this game is once you give orders to units you don't have to change them for weeks, sometimes months on end. There are games where I do nothing for months, just open the turn, see intel, recon and patrol reports, air losses, see that everything is (still) quiet and just close the turn and send it back. Plotting the turn in such cases takes less than a minute.

Then there are games, and/or opponents and huge operations that just won't leave you alone, or you have operation that is so huge you have to spend 2 hours plotting the initial turn....

O.

[Halsey]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

I'd recommend the gme simply because guys like Mike Wood continue to try to improve the game.

I can feel the love.[;)]

[Feinder]

"I can only do 2 or 3 turns a week..."


[8|]


Riiiiiiiiiight.

That's what you say now. Then it's

"Hm. I wonder if operation whack-a-mole was sucessful...? I wish my opponent would just send me the damn replay!"
.
.
.
"Hm. I just got a turn in. It's 11:30pm. I've got to leave for the office at 6:30am. It'll take me 2 hours to do the turn... That leaves me 4 or 5 hours of sleep. That's not so bad..."
.
.
.
"Hm. I can WitP onto this laptop, and take it with me on my next trip. I'll just tell my opponent to send the turns to my Hotmail account, and I can pull them off wherever I am..."
.
.
.
"I think I'll ask my opponent to send the combat reports to my office email, so I can at least review them and consider what I intend to do when I get home. Or I could just have him send the turn here at the office. I could work on it if I close my door..."

[:-]

"Only 2 turns a week."

That's what I said at first.

-F-

[ctangus]

I'm relatively new to WITP and have only played the AI so far (might take the PBEM plunge this week or next). Despite its high price, I'm sure I'll end up with more bang for my buck than any game I've ever purchased, even just playing the AI.

[Tophat]

just do it.........its a guy thing......[:D]

[Knavey]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

"I can only do 2 or 3 turns a week..."


[8|]


Riiiiiiiiiight.

That's what you say now. Then it's

"Hm. I wonder if operation whack-a-mole was sucessful...? I wish my opponent would just send me the damn replay!"
.
.
.
"Hm. I just got a turn in. It's 11:30pm. I've got to leave for the office at 6:30am. It'll take me 2 hours to do the turn... That leaves me 4 or 5 hours of sleep. That's not so bad..."
.
.
.
"Hm. I can WitP onto this laptop, and take it with me on my next trip. I'll just tell my opponent to send the turns to my Hotmail account, and I can pull them off wherever I am..."
.
.
.
"I think I'll ask my opponent to send the combat reports to my office email, so I can at least review them and consider what I intend to do when I get home. Or I could just have him send the turn here at the office. I could work on it if I close my door..."

[:-]

"Only 2 turns a week."

That's what I said at first.

-F-

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!!!!

Since when did YOU start going into the office at 0630?

[Mynok]

The wife isn't going to like the price, but what they hey

Just remember rule 10: What's yours is ours and what's mine is mine.

That one never changes.

[walkerd]

ORIGINAL: Major SNAFU
I would love to try PBEM, but usually people want 5-6 turns a week. Sometimes, if I am travelling, I might be able to due 2 turns a week. Sometimes more.

Just find an opponent with a similar schedule. My current game as Japan is about 2 turns a week (sometimes less). When I wanted more WITP (and you will) I started a game as the Allies at a couple of turns a week.

Of course I am now finding there is just not enough WITP happening but you get that. PBEM with the right opponent is the way to go, just be aware if you play to finish you will be playing the one game for 10 years.

OH, of course this is the ultimate wargame. Nothing else will come close. It is a test of your planning skills as well as patience. You plan operations scores of turns in the future. It is not a game, it is a life experience.