TOAW Haters Should Try Again!!!

The sequel of the legendary wargame with a complete graphics and interface overhaul, major new gameplay and design features such as full naval combat modelling, improved supply handling, numerous increases to scenario parameters to better support large scenarios, and integrated PBEM++.
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gbaby
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TOAW Haters Should Try Again!!!

Post by gbaby »

With TOAW IV now on the doorstep, I hope prevous war gamers that hated TOAW will give it another try.

When I first bought TOAW ages ago, I hated it. I just did not get the phased time turn at all. I love turn base, what the heck was this mess! The manual was poor in explaining it. In frustration I uninstalled. No Thank you.

Every version after I fell into its pull again. There were some great scenarios, especially WW2, my favorite. So I tried again. I still could not get the hang of it. Too alien, this sucks, delete.

TOAW III was the latest attempt a few years ago. Tried again, and still got frustrated, but some improvements helped, like the star circle, but still did not grasp why it advanced so rapidly or ended my turn. Argh!!! Remove TOAW III.

But man, look at those scenarios, why so many? Some folks must like this thing? So re-installed and tried again. Read manual, still not clear. Oh well, keep playing a few scenarios. "CLICK" What? Wait a minute, this move/attack and that star circle thing makes sense now! All of a sudden I'm thinking in phased turn and understanding the why of it, how my move actions were impacting the phase advance! Oh my, how could I have been so dense before? This is the way it should be. I like this so much better! Well, now that I know what is going on!

It has been a wonderful time ever after. TOAW III became a favorite, and no more disgust and removal from hard drive!!!

Now I see BTS in TOAW IV and I'm hoping it improves the understanding of the phased turn for others who may have not quite got the phased time turn concept. Hopefully others, like myself, will give it another go. I'm certainly glad I did.

As a previous TOAW Hater from years back, I love this game!
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demyansk
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RE: TOAW Haters Should Try Again!!!

Post by demyansk »

I still don't understand the phases
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gbaby
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RE: TOAW Haters Should Try Again!!!

Post by gbaby »

I should correct my term of "turn phases" to "time impulses". WITE has phases, TOAW has incremental time impulses in single turn. Until I finally understood the impacts of my moves and combat setups to the impulse advancement, I was constantly confused. It is now so obvious, but I recall how frustrating it was before.
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sPzAbt653
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RE: TOAW Haters Should Try Again!!!

Post by sPzAbt653 »

When I first bought TOAW ages ago, I hated it.
I loved it from the minute it arrived on my screen, so we are different there. As far as the Tactical Rounds, I played for several years without paying any attention to them, so it is very possible to enjoy TOAW while remaining ignorant. Once I discovered there were 10 layers to each turn, the fun multiplied !
If you hadn't seen it, maybe this will help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA5kbyT_9SM
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OxfordGuy3
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RE: TOAW Haters Should Try Again!!!

Post by OxfordGuy3 »

I will be giving it a go, I think! Mostly for the North Africa scenarios...
"The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his" - George S. Patton
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gbaby
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RE: TOAW Haters Should Try Again!!!

Post by gbaby »

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653
When I first bought TOAW ages ago, I hated it.
I loved it from the minute it arrived on my screen, so we are different there. As far as the Tactical Rounds, I played for several years without paying any attention to them, so it is very possible to enjoy TOAW while remaining ignorant. Once I discovered there were 10 layers to each turn, the fun multiplied !
If you hadn't seen it, maybe this will help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA5kbyT_9SM

I think its called patience. Coming to TOAW as a turn based game lover, moving my units MAX Movement Points, allowed one combat round, and then watching the computer short move, attack, short move, attack, seemed like the game was cheating on me. I didn't get it, didn't notice that I couldn't break my habit of getting ALL units to maximize movement before hitting "turn end" button, because that meant to me "turn end", not "resolve next combat rounds" and have impulses left over. When it did occur and I had impulses left over, I didn't understand how a unit I never moved only had a few MPs left! Argh!

Of course, it makes sense now, but then, just did not have the patience to stick with it and learn by doing. It just seemed the AI was cheating, not my ignorance causing me grief. Too set in the IGOUGO method.

Incremental impulse method for handling movement and combat just feels better and more enjoyable (now).
Rosseau
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RE: TOAW Haters Should Try Again!!!

Post by Rosseau »

Like sPzAbt653, for a while I just ignored it.

Nor is the thinking behind the BTS concept simple (yeah, these designers are smart), but it's more of a passive informational aid and a whole lot easier than playing a monster board game.
Phoenix100
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RE: TOAW Haters Should Try Again!!!

Post by Phoenix100 »

This short video, mentioned above - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA5kbyT_9SM - is so helpful and clear it should be stickied. Except it's TOAW 3, I guess.Thanks spzabt653
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