Matrix Games Forums

Post THREE
AS i spent an hour typing the original bug notice...only to be advised that my
time was expired and the message was purged...leads to this series of posts
being copy-paste from Notepad.
The grand campaign of Germany vs the world was undertaken[solitaire].
I finally have decided
to dedicate sufficient time to play and understand? the game.
Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Rumania, Italy, Hungary are established
as HUMAN controlled.

FINLAND .
Yes, the Russian - Finnish war came into being. One does NOT meekly surrender
territory because a neighbour asks for it. Let there be WAR !
Despite continuing losses, the Russian bombers continue to lose -on average-
two bombers per turn. Very impressive of the Finnish lone fighter unit. It is
perceived to be definitely worth investing in replacing fighter losses.

Russians continue to appear. As of Feb 41...there must exceed 25 Russian army
units "wandering" around Finland. I say "wandering" because they tend to bypass
attacking Finnish cities which are defended by a unit. Only two have been captured
- being insignificant having zero PP and zero VP.(Sortavala and Lahti)

More impressive is the utter lack of Russian troops in sight of the gathering
German hordes on the German(Polish) - Russian border. Supposedly, i can see some
3 hexes across the border. There exists 3 Russian units. A cakewalk into Russia
is the Fuhrer's conclusion. The only limitation is the marching speed of German
troops. It is still Winter(Feb 41) and snow is discouraging. Even more enticing
is the accomplishment of level 2 for the tanks and army...and level 3 for air
within the coming month. Our troops deserve to be upgraded before treading into
foreign rhealms. Besides, one cannot upgrade(levels) them outside one's home country
...France has demonstrated this.
MAJOR OOPS...another bug...that destroys the game.
A lack of Russian troops ...leads to cancellation of War in the East! What would
Grigsby think of such an accomplishment. Stalin would be linched! Alas, as a gamer;
i must be optimistic and expect the computer to discover troops to counter this
perception. Perhaps it is the Fog of War effect that one can NOT see potential enemy
troops over the current border...despite apparently being able to see/investigate
the hexes in sight. Of the three units actually noticed...two are white blotches.
yes, definitely FOG effects i tell myself.
Nevertheless, if there are indeed no Russian troops...against Germany...as they are
all wandering around Finland. I do not recall any other game having Russian troops
wandering all over Finland...nor having excess troops of this magnitude to devote to
Finland; the propect for War in the East appears bleak...for the Russians and this
gamer.
Well next post will tell the outcome as it is now bed time...and spring 41 will not
occur for at least another two days of real life passing by.

I am happy the game includes a historical record.
As with all gamers...more would be nice. A listing of each and all EVENTS and all the consequences of choice A or B...would be nice. It might reduce the uncertainty somewhat...but would be good for learners who are uncertain of playing the game a 2nd time.

Mike B
email : ben6249f@yahoo.com
albeit, I check my email about once per week.

I would include a file attachment to attest the above...but it appears a whole directory would be required...and uncertain of how to attach more than one file let alone concern for the email attachment space limit.

Have you flown air recon missions to see what is beyond the FOW range, interested to see how the game develops.

Others will know more about the workings of the events system, I have deliberately not investigated this, in an attempt to keep the uncertainty in the game, but the events 'Excel' file is over 4000 items long. Many are non-critical, but providing a list looks like a major task.

Many of the problems are not so much bugs, but features of scenario design and whether the designers have made the right choices, as you have found F12 is a useful feature to correct apparent PP level anomalies.

I know many of these effects can be seen as errors, but I do really like the feeling the game generates of 'what is going to happen next', which generates its own realism. Games with ultra accurate OOBs and scripting can become very predictable, you can make maximum use of hindsight, not available to the historic characters.

Much of the workings of the game are open to the player and can be adjusted, the forum is a useful resource of ideas.

I frequently lose posts before sending, or hit 'OK' to submit and it just disappears, I now use Right-click 'copy' on the text as I go, so I can 'paste' back if I lose it.

Further thought, much of this is useful discussion which might be better in the main forum, many people may miss this in the 'Tech Support' section.

Our troops deserve to be upgraded before treading into
foreign rhealms. Besides, one cannot upgrade(levels) them outside one's home country
...France has demonstrated this.

Early versions of the game do not have this restriction, it was introduced in one of the later patches, after complaints that applying upgrades was too easy.

I find the restriction reasonable, if frustrating, especially for the Axis powers, as they were often short of replacements and new equipment. The Kursk operation was delayed for months, partially to get the new Panthers into the operation, 200 of them (spare change for the Allies). Without restrictions you could put the equivalent of 100s of new upgraded tanks and planes into your front-line units each game week (PPs allowing) and use them immediately without training.

Replacements are also restricted, but can be adjusted.

See http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3345650


What did the 'MAJOR OOPS...another bug...that destroys the game.' apply to, the upgrades, or lack of Russians.

the anticipated "major" oops
was lack of Russian troops to defend Russia.

While there is a dearth of troops, they do exist.
After making the Russian a human player...I observed
what looked like EACH and EVERY hex of N Finland to have a Russian infantry.

In addition, there were likely some 25 Russian infantry in lower Finland.
Finland had chosen NOT to accept peace...thereby freezing Russian units.
I had not expected such a surfeit.

Perceiving that the game had flawed somehow...I discontinued and started
as an Ally player.

I had saved the game...then restarted with Russia as human controlled.
This is how I discovered a surfeit of Russian troops in N Finland.

and yes, there were troops set to defend the cities of Russia.
The front line forts were UNOCCUPIED.

Sensing a disconnect, I have stopped playing that game and started
up an Allied game.
...see aar section.

I have always started in 'Custom Game' (avoiding some of the scenario design decisions in playing factions - Axis, or Allied) and able to set any nation to Human, or AI control, as required. The F12 feature also allows you to change nations between Human and AI, even during the turn. Especially useful with minor allies, you can them under human control, do some of the strategic and buying decisions, play critical units, then leave the AI to finish that nation's move. This can stop minor allies moving units you want left in place and get a better strategy for each nation.

I have always started in 'Custom' game (avoiding some of the scenario design decisions in playing factions - Axis, or Allied) and being able to set nations to Human, or AI, as required. This is especially useful with minor allies, using F12 you can reset nations to Human, or AI control, even during a turn.

You can take control of any nation, make strategic and purchasing decisions, move critical units, then let the AI finish the move. Stops the strategy getting too weird.