Matrix Games Forums

With the Easter sale upon me, I was thinking of finally making the plunge on CMO. But if I'm getting the 30% off, I was thinking I should see if any of the DLC is "essential" (or whether I should just plow into the main game) -- some Paradox base games, for example, are enhanced by their DLC.

I'm sure there's plenty of good stuff for down the road. Just seeing if anything really stands out as "get it now while you're learning."

Thanks!

BZ

So this is like asking, "which woman is the most beautiful in the room?" [:D] That lays in the eyes of the beholder. Personally, I think the best one is Northern Inferno, but as I was likely to die there if the Cold War went hot, it holds more interest for me.

Great question Bravo Zulu! Especially in light of the discount. Welcome aboard. I have no advice on which DLC is essential, but do run through the tutorials over the weekend if you are new to Command. This may help your selection before the sale is over.

Kevin

That is good advice from, kevinkins!

They're all great, but CMO does its DLC right--you don't need any of them, you just buy them if you want them. I'd go for whichever ones you think are more thematically interesting to you.

Also, download the Community Scenario Pack. That will give you another 400+ scenarios beyond the Standalone scenarios that come with the game.

And I agree that the DLC's that you like will probably be the ones you have the most interest in real life events. I too like Northern Inferno, and like Beirut Dude I thought I'd never live to see 30 at the height of the Cold War. Also, it has the most engaging campaign story tying it together (IMO). Chains of War is timely - Pacific conflicts of the near future with China and other assorted players. Read the descriptions and see which ones appeal to you, would be my advice.

Shifting sands is awesome if you like the air part of the game.

If you like F4 Phantoms and air war, Shifting sand is good. If you want to smell cold sea foggy weather of 1970s, then Northern Inferno. If you want to feel the modern navy then Chain of War.

Thanks for the insights, all. Sounds like nothing is "necessary" and so I'll just get the base game and see where to go from there. Although I may have to get Silent Service to satisfy my GIUK Gap itches.

Used to be that Chains of War was needed if you wanted a couple of extra features (like aircraft damage), but the base release of CMO includes them now.

As previous posters said, the CMO DLC packages are generally in-depth looks at an era, or a current world hotspot, or they concentrate on a particular type of warfare.

If you're interested in subs, get Silent Service.
If you want to know more about the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, you want Shifting Sands.
First Gulf War? You need Desert Storm.
"Battle of the Atlantic" during a hypothetical World War Three in 1975? Northern Inferno.
Modern naval warfare with China along the Pacific Rim? Chains of War.

The single-scenario DLCs each take an in-depth look at a potential modern conflict.

Which one is "essential" depends on what you're interested in.

I like sub war, so my CMO urge is to get Silent Service DLC.

Maybe I am slower in my older age, so pedestrian speed of sub war suits me [:D][8D]