Best way to play SP:WAW PBEM?

[Chad Harrison]

Hi all

As I have admitted in other forums, I am stuck in PBEM limbo while waiting for WitP:AE (is it dangerous to admit that in here? [:D]).

To pass the time, I am trying all sorts of new PBEM games. I recently purchased both JT:CS and NG:TOAW III, and both are top notch games. I am currently playing PBEM with JT:CS and trying to learn TOAW well enough to get to that point.

I have to admit though, that JT:CS is a love/hate thing for me on the tactical scale. Many parts of it are realistic, while many other parts of it are based on huge abstractions. It works great for large battles though where these wash out because of the larger scale, however with the smaller battles the problems are much more apparent. No having time for a huge game, I am stuck at the later level.

So, my email opponent has suggested a number of times that we might want to play SP:WAW to get that added realism. I have played SP when it first came out years and years ago, but have not touched it for years. My opponent has not played it via PBEM either.

Whats the best way to play SP:WAW via PBEM?

I dont mean which scenarios are best to play, I mean the game itself. Is the free download good enough? Do mods make it a bit easier on the eyes? What exactly is the enhanced version?

Thanks in advance!

Chad

[Alby]

ORIGINAL: Chad Harrison

Hi all

As I have admitted in other forums, I am stuck in PBEM limbo while waiting for WitP:AE (is it dangerous to admit that in here? [:D]).

To pass the time, I am trying all sorts of new PBEM games. I recently purchased both JT:CS and NG:TOAW III, and both are top notch games. I am currently playing PBEM with JT:CS and trying to learn TOAW well enough to get to that point.

I have to admit though, that JT:CS is a love/hate thing for me on the tactical scale. Many parts of it are realistic, while many other parts of it are based on huge abstractions. It works great for large battles though where these wash out because of the larger scale, however with the smaller battles the problems are much more apparent. No having time for a huge game, I am stuck at the later level.

So, my email opponent has suggested a number of times that we might want to play SP:WAW to get that added realism. I have played SP when it first came out years and years ago, but have not touched it for years. My opponent has not played it via PBEM either.

Whats the best way to play SP:WAW via PBEM?

I dont mean which scenarios are best to play, I mean the game itself. Is the free download good enough? Do mods make it a bit easier on the eyes? What exactly is the enhanced version?

Thanks in advance!

Chad

The free version is all you need to play PBEM, as the 'purchased" version contains the "mega campaigns" which are made for solo play anyway.
Most evryone I know uses the "Enhanced" version for PBEM these days.
you can read more about it by clicking the Enhanced button in my signature
[;)]

[Goblin]

Chad - as Alby stated, the General's Edition includes the Mega Campaigns, but that is the ONLY difference from the free version. They are identical in every way other than the Megas.


Goblin

[Chad Harrison]

Thats good news then. Saves me $70 [:D]
 
Will check out the enhanced version for sure.
 
Thanks for the replies.

[Kuokkanen]

Many consider Enhanced DV and Enhanced DVRN as unofficial patches. They have better graphics, reworked TO&E, and some changes to units that mess up game balance of some scenarios (or so I've been told). Last point can be fixed with reworked scenarios made for Enhanced. Where can we get those?

[Goblin]

There is a sticky right above this thread on the main SPWaW page.
 
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1745589
 
 
 
Goblin
 
 
 

[Chad Harrison]

Okay, just got the green light to get started on our upcoming PBEM.
 
I assume that both Enhanced versions (DV and DVRN) are based on and compatitable with SP:WAW Version 8.4 available from Matrix? And do the download links in the stickied threads work?
 
Also, any suggestions for a couple of nice and balanced DV scenarios that are good for PBEM? Obvioulsy not too huge for our first ones.
 
Thanks again
 
Chad

[Goblin]

Both players should use the exact same version, to include the same mod.

ENH is based off of 8.403, but has some modifications to the mech that will affect gameplay with another player using vanilla 8.403

I recommend Workhorses for a small, balanced PBEM game. It can be found in the scenario pack in the stickies above.


Goblin

[Chad Harrison]

ORIGINAL: Goblin

ENH is based off of 8.403, but has some modifications to the mech that will affect gameplay with another player using vanilla 8.403

The download on the Matrix website lists it as 8.40. Are they one and the same?

Oh, and thanks for the recommendation [:D]

[FlashfyreSP]

ORIGINAL: Chad Harrison

ORIGINAL: Goblin

ENH is based off of 8.403, but has some modifications to the mech that will affect gameplay with another player using vanilla 8.403

The download on the Matrix website lists it as 8.40. Are they one and the same?

Oh, and thanks for the recommendation [:D]

8.403 is an unofficial update to the game; it was done by Mike Woods, the original programmer, but was never fully released by itself. The 8.4 version was the last official release, but the 8.403 patch was included in the General's Edition of the game sold here.

So, 8.403 is the latest update to the game.

[Alby]

If playing PBEM  one person can use DV and the other DVRN,  since the oobs are identical except for some languages. So if you prefer the english names and your opponent prefers using native languages, from what i have seen, only the person using the version NOT used to set up game will see the Sec Message but it can be ignored and bypassed.
 

[Chad Harrison]

ORIGINAL: FlashfyreSP

8.403 is an unofficial update to the game; it was done by Mike Woods, the original programmer, but was never fully released by itself. The 8.4 version was the last official release, but the 8.403 patch was included in the General's Edition of the game sold here.

So, 8.403 is the latest update to the game.

So since I am downloading the free, SP:WAW version, is it not available to me?

If I can not get it for the free version, will that affect being able to use the enhanced version mod with v 8.40?

[FlashfyreSP]

ORIGINAL: Chad Harrison

ORIGINAL: FlashfyreSP

8.403 is an unofficial update to the game; it was done by Mike Woods, the original programmer, but was never fully released by itself. The 8.4 version was the last official release, but the 8.403 patch was included in the General's Edition of the game sold here.

So, 8.403 is the latest update to the game.

So since I am downloading the free, SP:WAW version, is it not available to me?

If I can not get it for the free version, will that affect being able to use the enhanced version mod with v 8.40?

It is included in the Enhanced Mod. We used that mech.exe, with some modifications, as the basis for the Mod. So if you install Enhanced onto your 8.4 game, you'll get the 8.403 game.

The actual 8.403 patch is available here at Matrix, but not in the downloads section; I forget exactly where.

[Alby]

8.403 patch is available at the Enhanced site too, easier to find there.
[:D]

[Chad Harrison]

Yup, I found it there. Thanks again.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,
 
I'm Chad's upcoming opponent here.
 
I've checked and I have the Generals Edition at 8.4. So my question is if I upgrade to 8.403 (by the way could someone point me to the download) will we still be compatible to play PBEM - based on i'm playing Generals Edition and Chad is playing Enhanced vesion?[&:]
 
Thanks

[Goblin]

You should both have 8.403 and ENH. Otherwise you will get security warnings (easily ignored), or weird unit/weapon combos (not so easy to ignore).

8.403 info - http://www.spwaw.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16547

ENH info - http://www.spwaw.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16509



Goblin

[Alby]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi all,

I'm Chad's upcoming opponent here.

I've checked and I have the Generals Edition at 8.4. So my question is if I upgrade to 8.403 (by the way could someone point me to the download) will we still be compatible to play PBEM - based on i'm playing Generals Edition and Chad is playing Enhanced vesion?[&:]

Thanks

download 8.403 here
http://enhanced.freeforums.org/
Look for SPWAW patches and Updates.

You will not be compatible for PBEM if he is using Enhanced and you are using standard SPWAW.
The OObs, mech.exe, Country ratings, Icons, sounds,..evrything is different.
however if he is only using 8.403 without Enhanced, that would be ok, if you upgrade to 8.403 as well.
[:)]

[Speedysteve]

Hmm. Thanks guys. Think we may have compatibility problems then. Thanks for your help though[:)]

[Speedysteve]

Hi guys,
 
Excuse the ignorance here[:)]
 
So am I right in thinking that even though I have SPWAWGE and Chad has SPWAWEE IF I upgrade to 8.403 and Enhanced Edition (what is DV and DVRN?[:)]) we'll be ok to PBEM?
 
Thanks,
 
Steven