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I have just one question: How does this compare to SSG's Battles in Italy?

ORIGINAL: Treale

I have just one question: How does this compare to SSG's Battles in Italy?

Battles in Italy is more operational and thus has a tactical. BiI only covers the amphibious invasions and exploitation, PFE is strategic and covers all of the Sicily/Italy campaigns with an emphasis on logistics. BiI is IGO-UGO while DFE is WEGO.

BiI has sound while PFE will have sound in the next patch.

Reading the posts about this game has made me fire up Battles in Italy. It is an OK game. Too bad that SSG has disappeared? They had some nice titles...

I lied! I have another question? Is the same game system as Guns of August?

Not at all! Very different. GoA had phases within turns and was much more complicated, PFE is fairly simple to play but difficult to win.

ORIGINAL: Bismarck

Not at all! Very different. GoA had phases within turns and was much more complicated, PFE is fairly simple to play but difficult to win.

That's good. I had GoA and couldn't get into it. I ended up giving it away!

couple questions around the air combat and battle display...

1. on the battle display:
whats the combat support numbers mean (x/x) for Att and Def shown?
hows the "Final strength" determined shown on list?
whats the numbers next to the Att and DEF unit list mean?
whats the penalty for attacking across river?

2. How is the air strength/combat loss figured during a turn? Theres no report to review? i.e. Air superiority?

cheers

Another question. Are you able to zoom the map?

No, but you don't need to. The standard view is big enough as is the strategic map. The strategic map serves as a mini=map but is too big to be called "mini".

Mmmm! I only have a 24" monitor at 1920X1080.

Hi tombo,

"whats the combat support numbers mean (x/x) for Att and Def shown? "

That's air support. Number of air support points allocated and the number of hits they produced.


"hows the "Final strength" determined shown on list?"

That is a long explanation for here. I will explain it better in the manual, but essentially its the combat strengths after modifications.

"whats the numbers next to the Att and DEF unit list mean? "

The numbers in parenthesis next to the unit names on the combat display? Those are the numbers of actual losses taken by each unit.


"whats the penalty for attacking across river?"

-20% of combat strength in good weather
-40% in bad weather


Hope that helps

Thanks Frank...that helps.

Can u address the second item? i would like more detail to the Air power screen.

2. How is the air strength/combat loss figured during a turn? Theres no report to review? i.e. Air superiority?

cheers

If this is WEGO, does it look like a bunch of ants running around when units are moving?

No, the units move one at a time. Don't confuse this game with something like Command Ops.

ORIGINAL: Bismarck

No, the units move one at a time. Don't confuse this game with something like Command Ops.

So what is the "Pecking" order as to who/what moves first?

It depends on the units' experience, quality and supply.

ORIGINAL: Bismarck

It depends on the units' experience, quality and supply.

Thanks for the info. Have you done a review on this title yet?

No; too early for a good review anyway. Wargamer and Armchairgeneral has some coming.

ORIGINAL: Bismarck

No; too early for a good review anyway. Wargamer and Armchairgeneral has some coming.

I'm still in a holding pattern on this one for now. I had GoA and didn't care for it. I'm sure that this plays differently?

Oh, we're talking night and day comparisons with GoA. I liked GoA but can see people's problem with those mechanics. PFE is much simpler and cleaner in terms of mechanics. Play, though, requires thought in terms of logistics, morale, quality and terrain. No blitzkieg counter pushing here. The situation in Italy is nailed; slow, supply dependent slogs. Read Atkinson's Day of Battle to get a nice readable feel for the theater and this game.

I should add that Frank doesn't confine himself to one engine. All of his games are different from each other in quite fundamental ways.