OT: World in Flames. Worth it for $20 bucks?

[rustysi]

I was thinking about picking this title up for the price. What say you?

[btd64]

I have it and don't play it much. There is a lot that doesn't work right to me. Don't get me wrong, it's playable but there's no AI. So either you play solitaire or with other players. Like all big games there's a learning curve to match....GP

[btd64]

Oh, if you take the plunge, get the box set....GP

[dasboot1960]

I played the cardboard version some. Shit for $20 I might have to ask Santa for it too.

[dasboot1960]

oops I didn't know you couldn't say that

[Ian R]

Yes its worth it - because Steve the programmer is still working on it, and it is playable now, and also slowly improving. Basically, it is a port of the board-game. You are playing the board game, with the computer applying the rules and making the calculations.

So if you like the board game, you will probably like it, despite the fact there are still glitches being worked out. And make sure you read one of the recent threads on how to set up the allied convoy system to best effect.

[rustysi]

Thanks guys. I have the board version, but unfortunately never had time to get into it, its sitting in the back of a closet in the house. And right now I can't set it up.

Like I said, I have't had time to get into it, but my initial impression has been its just an upgrade of Axis and Allies. The 'big set' versions. Don't really care for that game, although it has a large following.

Could be wrong, but...

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: rustysi



I was thinking about picking this title up for the price. What say you?

warspite1

At this price this isn't even a question you should be asking. Just buy it.

This may seem like a strange thing to say from someone who has only recently publicly stated he's fallen out of love with MWIF (not WIF). But let me explain.

World In Flames is the best war game ever imo - it towers above all other strategic games like Third Reich and Strategic Command, and don't even think about Axis and Allies. This is not because its historically accurate to the nth degree - because its not and its not designed to be - it's a game designed to be won by either side, and that means some liberties must be taken with counter values (one can imagine the liberties taken with Japan!). But that is an acceptable trade-off.

But what you do get thanks to its clever basic framework, is a game that always has a WWII feel about it. You are playing with the advantages and disadvantages of the various major powers. So even if attacking Spain is your thing, or Sweden, the game rarely feels far away from real life WWII.

And remember, this is a strategic game and yet you have under your control almost all the ships (light cruiser and above) that fought in WWII plus some what ifs should you wish to build them. You get to 'play' all the aircraft types available during the war too. The counters are colourful and beautifully presented. The maps are a thing of beauty - simple, clear and elegant (the maps are the only thing that lets the board game down - but Steve has created much, much better versions).

One of the real winners for someone of a certain age with eyesight to match, are the levels of zoom available. No squinting needed, whack up to the highest level of zoom required for any particular part of the game and that is a real bonus compared to some games.

Its an incredibly challenging game, hardly anything is ever guaranteed to work thanks to the way weather, turn initiative, counter mix, counter choice, turn end, and of course the dreaded dice, work together. A player needs to think many, many turns ahead, reacting to opportunities and potential threats.

Just about every action you take as an Allied or Axis player affects US Entry timing and so you have to be careful what you do - its not just a free for all.

Downside of MWIF? Well its still a work in progress. My frustration at present is that the convoy/production system needs some love. But some have it working to their satisfaction (I am too much of a computer numpty to be able to get it to mine). But the game is constantly being worked on and so anyone that buys it should see it as a long term project. I will be back at the game as soon as there are any convoy/production updates to test out.

The regulars on the forum are very knowledgeable and very helpful and patient with questions from newbies and not so newbies too.

I paid full price (less a small discount for doing the naval write-ups) for the game and I don't regret it for a second. At the sale price, just buy it. Worst case, they never resolve the convoy/production issues and you don't play it (although you may be one of those that can get comfortable as is). Is it worth that gamble? Hell yes. Buy it and keep up with the updates and one day...... And if they still sell the glossy hardcover manuals then get them too. They are works of art that I still lovingly caress and sleep with every night.

[RangerJoe]

Warspite1, maybe you need someone to write out a detailed explanation for how to set up the convoys the way that you want them to work - even if it is clunky right now. I did that for a computer class and my classmates said that they learned it better from me than they did from the instructor.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Warspite1, maybe you need someone to write out a detailed explanation for how to set up the convoys the way that you want them to work - even if it is clunky right now. I did that for a computer class and my classmates said that they learned it better from me than they did from the instructor.

warspite1

No, that is not the answer to the problems. I won't explain here on this thread, but anyone interested can go to the MWIF thread and will soon get an idea of the issue.

[BBfanboy]

warspite1: They are works of art that I still lovingly caress and sleep with every night.

[X(] warspite1, we have missed you on this forum and I was concerned for your health, but I not sure where your turn to kinkiness sits with me - concern or revulsion! [;)]

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

warspite1: They are works of art that I still lovingly caress and sleep with every night.

[X(] warspite1, we have missed you on this forum and I was concerned for your health, but I not sure where your turn to kinkiness sits with me - concern or revulsion! [;)]

Ahhhh, but he is an Englishman married to someone of a different ethnicity, one with some weird habits that carried over to the other side of the pond and at least one of those weird habits were thankfully changed.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

warspite1: They are works of art that I still lovingly caress and sleep with every night.

[X(] warspite1, we have missed you on this forum and I was concerned for your health, but I not sure where your turn to kinkiness sits with me - concern or revulsion! [;)]

Ahhhh, but he is an Englishman married to someone of a different ethnicity, one with some weird habits that carried over to the other side of the pond and at least one of those weird habits were thankfully changed.

warspite1

Whut?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

warspite1: They are works of art that I still lovingly caress and sleep with every night.

[X(] warspite1, we have missed you on this forum and I was concerned for your health, but I not sure where your turn to kinkiness sits with me - concern or revulsion! [;)]

warspite1

Yeah but they are great books! [:)]

[Yaab]

No AI, no money.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy



[X(] warspite1, we have missed you on this forum and I was concerned for your health, but I not sure where your turn to kinkiness sits with me - concern or revulsion! [;)]

Ahhhh, but he is an Englishman married to someone of a different ethnicity, one with some weird habits that carried over to the other side of the pond and at least one of those weird habits were thankfully changed.

warspite1

Whut?

Carving turnips carried over to carving pumpkins. Could you imagine trying to grow a turnip to the size of a large pumpkin, carving a hollow space in it as well as a horrific face, then putting a lit candle in it? Then maybe even carrying it around? All of that just to scare spirits away the evening before All Hallow's Day?

[Randy Stead]

I recently plunged for two copies of the game, one for me and one for my brother. I have even ordered the boxed WiF Collector's Edition and awaiting delivery. My brother and his buddies played the board game years ago, I never did. I looked upon the computer game as a way for me to learn the game on my own and perhaps to get into playing it with my brother via email. But I too, have heard of the convoy problems. Around the same time I discovered Admiral's Edition so I have set for myself the goal of learning it. So many games, but only one lifetime in which to play. I'm also eagerly awaiting War in the East 2, [too.] Bargain bin prices encourage a player to perhaps consider a game they may not have otherwise.

Since MWiF has arisen in discussion, would I be correct in assuming the convoy system in the board game works fine?

P.S. I am also one of those in a Trans-Atlantic marriage. I'm a Canadian who went to the U.K. for a visit in the early 80s and met a Norfolk farmer's daughter. We got married a year later over there and I brought her back to Canada. We've been married going on 36 years. I call her my war bride. Some cultural adjustments had to be made on both sides, but we seem to have worked it out.

[Ian R]

ORIGINAL: Randy Stead

Since MWiF has arisen in discussion, would I be correct in assuming the convoy system in the board game works fine?

Yes the board game system works fine, and MWIF works at about 93% of fine because the logic of how it ships things will prioritise trade movements (which the rules as written require) using the shortest route first (which the rules as written do not require, but the algorithm does it that way), and screw up what you thought was going to happen, because some other resource or build point goes round the world in the opposite direction to what you planned and causes some other shipment fails due to convoy TF usage. It is not fatal.

As Warspite says, there are plenty of discussion threads on this in the WiF forum, and some (or maybe two) players reckon they can make it work - without doing a 2 minute edit on the save game file.

[Ian R]

Incidentally, Warspite's history notes on the various ships in the game are worth more than $20 in and of themselves.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Ian R

Incidentally, Warspite's history notes on the various ships in the game are worth more than $20 in and of themselves.

warspite1

That's very kind of you - thank-you.