Schwerpunkt Games - World War II Europe 1939-1945

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

you need to have a Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, a small Doctorate in Decoding Someones Brain and Codifying with Analysis to decipher what the heck the text file even means...

Not true! I am an idiot and I can do it!

[The secret decoder document comes with the manual]

Delete all after 'idiot'. [&o]

[Freigeist83]

That's too easy...

Why not assemble scenarios directly in machine code for the extra challenge... [:D]

I am wondering why Ron keeps working on scenarios if the basic game engine and interface needs a performance fix to be properly playable.

I mean that game is from 2014 and now we are in 2020. [8|]

The project feels like a "rough diamond" that needs to be polished and it could easily be the best operational level game on the market.

[Simulacra53]

To put it differently, what makes it potentially the best operational wargame on the market?

[Zovs]

ORIGINAL: Lobster

ORIGINAL: Zovs

Scratch that! The actually scenarios are text files.

OT: Your inbox if full. [;)]

Try again please.

[Freigeist83]

To put it differently, what makes it potentially the best operational wargame on the market?

- Map and counter design
- Unique, well-researched scenarios
- Low counter density and a hex-scale that make scenarios playable
- Air, ground and naval combat model

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: Zovs
But WOW, you need to have a Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, a small Doctorate in Decoding Someones Brain and Codifying with Analysis to decipher what the heck the text file even means...

Ugh, I'll pass...

[RFalvo69]

ORIGINAL: Simulacra53

To put it differently, what makes it potentially the best operational wargame on the market?

First: it is the best simulation of WWII in Europe on the market for those nostalgic of the classic “Europa” series of tabletop games.
Second: it has 100+ scenarios, many of them equal or bigger of other titles published for full price. I mean... North Africa 1940-42 is one of them.

True, the interface is a PitA - until you get adjusted with it. This requires a bit of commitment, but the sheer quantity of scenarios/gameplay offered makes the effort worthwhile. The game still lacks the biggest scenarios (like the whole war) but I bought it back in the day and I would buy it again.

[pkpowers]

overall, the scenarios presented are very well done. Selecting and moving units involve multi-clicks, and to me the worse is zooming and scrolling the map. Combat is well presented and you are given a grade status (A thru F) of your generalship each turn.
I find myself having to be extremely patient as I slowly play a turn ; guess I'm use to flying thru a turn ( TOAW or Tiller's games)

[Franciscus]

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

ORIGINAL: Simulacra53

To put it differently, what makes it potentially the best operational wargame on the market?

First: it is the best simulation of WWII in Europe on the market for those nostalgic of the classic “Europa” series of tabletop games.
Second: it has 100+ scenarios, many of them equal or bigger of other titles published for full price. I mean... North Africa 1940-42 is one of them.

True, the interface is a PitA - until you get adjusted with it. This requires a bit of commitment, but the sheer quantity of scenarios/gameplay offered makes the effort worthwhile. The game still lacks the biggest scenarios (like the whole war) but I bought it back in the day and I would buy it again.

Exactly my thoughts.

[Gandalf]

If you're waiting for a full Schwerpunkt War in Europe Scenario, you'll probably be waiting another 10 years or so, if even then. I enthusiastically followed the development for a while but it became apparent that the designer is a "one man show" and the game will probably never be completed in our life times. Even if it is completed, the UI will then be so outdated as to require reworking again for another 2 to 3 years. Ron Dockal (the designer) is a nice enough person, but taking on the entire design/production single-handedly is a bit too much.

I've returned to GGWITE. and I expect GGWITE2 will be released and updated a half dozen times before this game is even completed. By completed I mean a full War in Europe scenario. I predict it will be abandonware before it's completed.

[budd]

Here's the list of scenarios. The yellow highlighted aren't finished yet. Mr. Dockal just posted on the forum a couple of days ago, i guess he's going through a divorce but still working on scenario 102.

[budd]

There really isn't an official manual, here's a link to the unofficial manual. It's well done, put together by a user.

http://dogsofwarvu.com/forum/index.php/ ... 538.0.html

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: Gandalf

If you're waiting for a full Schwerpunkt War in Europe Scenario, you'll probably be waiting another 10 years or so, if even then. I enthusiastically followed the development for a while but it became apparent that the designer is a "one man show" and the game will probably never be completed in our life times. Even if it is completed, the UI will then be so outdated as to require reworking again for another 2 to 3 years. Ron Dockal (the designer) is a nice enough person, but taking on the entire design/production single-handedly is a bit too much.

I've returned to GGWITE. and I expect GGWITE2 will be released and updated a half dozen times before this game is even completed. By completed I mean a full War in Europe scenario. I predict it will be abandonware before it's completed.

They've been working on WitE2 for at least 5 years. And with more than one person doing it. [;)]

Oh, and let's not forget they had the WitE/WitW platform to start it with.

[Gandalf]

ORIGINAL: Lobster

They've been working on WitE2 for at least 5 years. And with more than one person doing it. [;)]

Oh, and let's not forget they had the WitE/WitW platform to start it with.

That's even sadder, regarding the lack of progress. I know he has alpha/beta testers, but I don't think he has anyone helping with the actual coding. He pretty much keeps that to himself.

[Freigeist83]

The question is if Ron will fix the map scrolling and interface performance issues in the near future... [8|]

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: Gandalf

ORIGINAL: Lobster

They've been working on WitE2 for at least 5 years. And with more than one person doing it. [;)]

Oh, and let's not forget they had the WitE/WitW platform to start it with.

That's even sadder, regarding the lack of progress. I know he has alpha/beta testers, but I don't think he has anyone helping with the actual coding. He pretty much keeps that to himself.

You mean it's sad one guy doesn't get as much done as several over the course of over five years? [:D]

[Gandalf]

ORIGINAL: Lobster

You mean it's sad one guy doesn't get as much done as several over the course of over five years? [:D]

Mo, I actually meant that it's even sadder that his progress has been as slow as it's been, if indeed he had more than one person actually working on the coding. But I really don't think he's sharing the coding with anyone else.

Pelton an avid GGWITE fan, stated that Dockal was pretty much a one man show, half a dozen years or so ago and I disagreed with him at the time. Six years has pretty much proved Pelton correct on his observation. [>:]

[budd]

ORIGINAL: Freigeist83

The question is if Ron will fix the map scrolling and interface performance issues in the near future... [8|]

I agree, it's the scrolling and zooming that keeps me from playing it more. I would deal with the clicky UI.

[pzgndr]

ORIGINAL: Gandalf
Mo, I actually meant that it's even sadder that his progress has been as slow as it's been, if indeed he had more than one person actually working on the coding. But I really don't think he's sharing the coding with anyone else.

Yes, Ron Dockal is a one-man shop, doing all of the coding and scenario building. I've been one of his playtesters for many years and I appreciate his efforts. The scrolling and zooming issues aside, the interface works and the game plays mostly well.

However, I also have a couple of long-standing gripes. First, there are still some gameplay issues that warrant attention and resolution. Building a hundred scenarios is a great goal, but it doesn't matter if the game mechanics aren't squeaky clean to be able to play them. Second, the game is an excellent operational-level simulation but it is not a grand strategy wargame complete with production, diplomacy, research, etc. The monster scenarios need that stuff to simulate the entire war in ETO but it's just problematic trying to bang operational level into grand strategy. And for maybe a handful of players who might actually play the entire war at division level and 1-week turns; not me.

Anyways, as Ron eventually gets around to working on game mechanics, the operational level scenarios will be fine. At some point he will release the scenario editor and folks can make their own adjustments. I am patient and await the goodness to come.

[Freigeist83]

It would be great if Ron would focus on the performance issues of the game and implement a visual scenario editor.

The community could then start to build and improve scenarios.

The remaining scenarios are huge and I personally don't think that those should be the focus of this game and will ever be completed with the current speed of development.

The game mechanics feel right for smaller to medium-sized scenarios like Denmark, Rostov, Leningrad, Crete...