What should a begginer choose?

[vonRocko]

Welcome to the forums. I just want to suggest Panzer Korps for a starting game.

edit:-doh! I see now that you played it. Nevermind.

[balto]

I was not going to post on this thread because I knew you would get tons of great input on this forum. But as I read the title I said to myself.., "there are so many great choices, but the worst for any beginner (or most any gamer) would be AGEOD because no one knows which way is which, combat results are a mystery, most of the game results are shrouded in mystery/chaos, play be email is not password protected, and last but not least there is no competent manual."

I opened the thread and saw the first response was AGEOD.

I can assure you, anything but AGEOD is the way to go.

Good luck and welcome.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: RakuPL

Gary Grigsby's War in the East
Gary Grigsby's War in the West
or else?

Those and War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition are the most massive monster war games evah. Definitely not for beginner. For operational war game I can recommend Unity of Command. It plays much like Panzer Corps, but # of different units is more limited: some variety with foot infantry, couple different mechanized infantry (per nation), and couple different tank units (per nation). Main differences to Panzer Corps are:
Greater importance of maneuver warfare
Supply by railways, and getting cut off from it will reduce combat effectiveness (even when unit doesn't move nor fight!)

The Operational Art of War III is bit more complex and even seasoned members of this forum tell it is bit too much of a chore and they want to play Unity of Command instead. Demo is available of the first game in the series. Gameplay is very much the same as it is in the newest, though there likely are significant differences "under the hood". Still gives you feel of the game, and one game review I have read about it says that demo alone would be worth of full priced game.

I also recommend you to try tactical games for variety. Steel Panthers series was mentioned, and 3 different games of that series are available for free:
Steel Panthers: World at War (SPWAW)
WinSPWW2
WinSPMBT
If you buy SPWAW, you get 4 Mega Campaigns that are more advanced and detailed than what comes with the free game. Other 2 games are also available for buy (not from Matrix/Slitherine though), but don't offer as much gameplay content. Variety of screen resolutions is sole thing I can remember.

Also have a look at Battle Academy series. It plays easier and faster than Steel Panthers series, but is less detailed. Demo is available for the first game of the series. And sequel game has focus on Eastern Front.

Panzer Corps has got bunch of expansions. I've got myself Grand Campaign Mega Pack, which includes whole Grand Campaign series. Beauty of that is to take your force from one Grand Campaign to next.

When you consider what to buy next, you can consult on YouTube as well. You can use following search phrase:
let's play *
where * = game name

[OttoVonBlotto]

Hi RakuPL and welcome, as you have already played panzer corps I would suggest as **budd** did

The John Tiller Campaign Series, for a tactical game it is quite an old game now but has been updated and improved regularly over the years and still has a large number of players, the amount of scenarios to play that cover the whole war on all fronts is staggering with more being added all the time. There is also a very healthy pbem community over at the blitz club http://www.theblitz.org/message_boards/forumdisplay.php?fid=8 which is where the game really shines for once you have gotten the hang of playing the game against the AI and what to go up against another human it's a different game altogether.

or for a more operation level game, the Decisive Campaign series is also a good call.

[Trugrit]

Welcome RaKuPL,

I'm sure there are many good ideas on this thread.

You said:
And what's more I not in fear of long and difficult learning curve. I just want to spend money once and good for a long time.

I would have recommended War in the Pacific Admirals Edition for you.
But, I think you should hold off on that. Not for beginners.
Also, it is so good it will spoil you for other war games.

I bought it about 3 years ago and I have not played another war game since.

Best wishes,
Keith

[aaatoysandmore]

I bought it about 3 years ago and I have not played another war game since.

What other wargame would you have time to play? WitP is like a lifetime game of War in the Pacific. [:'(]

[SeaMonkey]

Since you're making a step towards a little more wargaming depth, try a few demos. Take your time and assess the options that are available. I would suggest, since no one has, that you should look at Strategic Command. First edition is kind of simple, Panzer General like, but moving into greater immersion with SC2 and its various versions, culminating with global grand strategy "Assault on Democracy". You can run the whole WW2 show, from research, production and diplomacy with an intuitive user interface and combined arms interaction of land, air and naval combat.

[RakuPL]

The problem with SC2 is that Battlefront's website is blocking my IP. I have contacted their webmaster and reply was less than satisfactory (IP range blocked due to spam, need to change IP). So I can't even have a look at it.

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: SeaMonkey

Since you're making a step towards a little more wargaming depth, try a few demos. Take your time and assess the options that are available. I would suggest, since no one has, that you should look at Strategic Command. First edition is kind of simple, Panzer General like, but moving into greater immersion with SC2 and its various versions, culminating with global grand strategy "Assault on Democracy". You can run the whole WW2 show, from research, production and diplomacy with an intuitive user interface and combined arms interaction of land, air and naval combat.

Good idea! [:)]

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: RakuPL

The problem with SC2 is that Battlefront's website is blocking my IP. I have contacted their webmaster and reply was less than satisfactory (IP range blocked due to spam, need to change IP). So I can't even have a look at it.

That's not good [:(], it's time to change your IP if you can. [:)]

Patrick

[RakuPL]

Where can I find those demos on the matrix website?

PS, Battlefront website policy is riddiculous and I have no intention on changing my ISP as I am very satisfied with the service

EDIT: Found three demos yesterday:

- Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear (didn't work [;)] )
- Germany at War: Barbarossa 1941 (quite ok, but not the thing I was looking for)
- Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge (didn't like due to being real time).

Any idea of others?

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: RakuPL

Where can I find those demos on the matrix website?

The Operational Art of War, Volume I[/u]
Battle Academy
Steel Panthers: World at War (SPWAW), and remember patch it up (see game related forums if you have problems getting it to work)
WinSPMBT = Windows Steel Panthers: Main Battle Tank

Need anything else?

[edit]
I just want to add that getting SPWAW to work can be a bitch to do, but it is well worth the trouble.

[RakuPL]

Any link to a good tutorial on how to make Steel Panthers work properly or should I just google it? [:)]

[aaatoysandmore]

ORIGINAL: RakuPL

Any link to a good tutorial on how to make Steel Panthers work properly or should I just google it? [:)]

you basically need an old pc and graphics card for the old steel panthers except the shrapnel one.

[wodin]

For a beginner I'd stay away from GGWITE and GGWITW. Maybe Decisive Campaigns Case Blue or TOAW 3.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: RakuPL

First of all I wanted to say hello to all members and staff here at the Matrix forums! [:)]

As you can see this is my first post here as I'm a beginner at Matrix/Slitherine games (played Panzer Corps and W40K: Armageddon only [;)] ).

I've decided to take next step in my video games hobby with some more serious challenge, so I wanted to ask more experienced players here (in terms of hex-based wargames) to advise what game should I choose to start with:

Commander Europe at War
The Operational Art of War III
Gary Grigsby's War in the East
Gary Grigsby's War in the West
or else?

Thank you very much for patience for a new member

Welcome RakuPL! My personal recommendation is John Tiller's Campaign Series. I also love Commander Europe at War. I've gotten accustomed to the screen resolution issue with it. Not the end of the world, maybe.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: RakuPL

Any link to a good tutorial on how to make Steel Panthers work properly or should I just google it? [:)]

WinSPMBT works for me on my Windows 7 right after installation. WinSPWW2 uses same game engine and I presume it'll work as well. I'll look for instructions for SPWAW for you...

[edit]
Found it! But that's not all. In addition of that and the game itself, you gotta download & install couple patches for it. In addition there are plenty of modifications and most popular is called Enhanced. Forum I linked to has whole bunch of topics (with attachments) with tactical guides and how they work best with SPWAW. There are dedicated trainers as well who will answer questions and are available to play with you and provide constructive feedback. If your native language is something else than english, there could be someone who speaks same language as you do. I, for one, found fellow countryman (finn) over there, he is (or used to be) one of the official instructors, and it was very helpful to communicate with the same native language with him. We played some scenarios and wrote AARs.

[RakuPL]

I wanted to thank all the people who were open to new members of this forum like me. Thank you for your patience while answering my questions [&o]

Finally, the choice fell on Witwe. For sure I went to the most difficult path, but I'm also sure I'll enjoy even some small successes [;)]