PBEM? Head-to-head or multi-player?

[TigerTC]

Just wondering how folks are playing PBEM games. Are people controlling multiple countries or powers?

My reference is SC, where one player is the Axis and one is the Allies, so it's 1v1 with everything controlled and unified.

I've played the demo and want to get the whole game, but the possibilities of playing minor countries and such don't excite me -- I want to control one whole side and not just one country on a side.

[PitifulGrunt]

You can set which countries are human. Any or all or some.  I would imagine you could set it up however you'd like to.

[gwgardner]

PBEM or solo, the game is played by country, not alliance. In setup you can determine if you want to play Germany, and leave the AI to play Italy, Slovakia, etc. for the Axis. Or you could choose to leave Germany for the AI, and play only Italy.

Same for all other countries.

At any point in the game, you can hit F11 and change a country from human to AI or back.

[TigerTC]

I guess what I'm wondering -- what fun is the grand campaign (or many smaller scenarios) if you're playing a marginal power like Italy or France, or one that's not in the war the entire time (like the USA)?  

[cpdeyoung]

The most players we ever had in a PBEM was three or four, and because of the shipment times and turnaround I could not reccomend more. Not to say it could not be done, but it would really take a long time. Three makes for a good game, perhaps the best, four with the USA as a separate human player works too.

Two players usually split Axis vs USSR-Western Allies.

These comments are based on RtV as PBEM of ToW is in its infancy, and are just my opinion.

Chuck

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: BROJD

I guess what I'm wondering -- what fun is the grand campaign (or many smaller scenarios) if you're playing a marginal power like Italy or France, or one that's not in the war the entire time (like the USA)?  

There are so many options for play in this game, that going with just one of those countries for a campaign can be quite fun. It's a good opportunity for some 'what if' situations. What if France, having learned from Poland's experience, reorganized its forces and doctrine, concentrated its powerful tank units, dropped its forward defense plans, etc. And then throw in research options, possible lend-lease from other countries, a Norway campaign, attempting to cooperate with an AI UK, etc.

[TigerTC]

If I'm playing the British in the campaign and the USA is on AI, how do I coordinate an operation like Overlord?

If I'm playing Germany and involved in Barbarossa, do I just have to hope that the Romanians, Italians, etc., keep up with me?  It seems like it would be dang hard to really integrate them into the fight.

[cpdeyoung]

In general, the humans choose to run multiple countries. I, personally, would never allow the AI to run a country vital to my security. A house rule we often play with allows the human to take control of a neutral after the diplomats have gotten it to 50% of entry.

If you do not set a minor power to your control at the start you can use function key F11 to do it later. There is no reason at all to allow the AI to run friendly units, but every reason to play against the AI as your enemy.

Chuck

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: BROJD

If I'm playing the British in the campaign and the USA is on AI, how do I coordinate an operation like Overlord?

If I'm playing Germany and involved in Barbarossa, do I just have to hope that the Romanians, Italians, etc., keep up with me?  It seems like it would be dang hard to really integrate them into the fight.

Coordination is one of the limits of the game, no doubt. Human/AI coordination, that is. It can be instructive, however, to play a game say as Germany, and see what kind of trouble the Italian AI gets into. Not dissimilar to the actual situation in WWII.

[Chocolino]

Gary, that is really a good comment comparing the AI to "Mussolini level". I agree, choosing the AI for one of your vital countries is one of the major handicaps that the game offers and quite an equalizer. Much better than any PP disadvantage (within reason).