Matrix Games Forums

Hello. I'm new to wargaming and new to all the Matrix games. I have a few of them now and the first one I'm trying to learn is Strategic Command WW2 War In Europe. I'm having trouble telling my own units from the enemy. They all look the same, wither I'm using the "3D" units or the Nato units. I tried turning "Nation Colors" on or off but that didn't seem to help much. Is there something I'm missing or is there a mod that will help with this issue?

Thanks.

Each unit counter has a national color. Blue for French, grey for German, Khaki for British, etc. They also have small national flags in the corners. There is a chart in the manual that displays all the national colors associated with each nation. They're all a bit muted to be sure, but maybe the designers weren't too keen on using bright colors instead of a more drab military type. There are some mods that use brighter colors, different counter shapes, and equipment silhouettes like the "Spires" mod, and they are included in the game.

I almost never use the 3-D icons. To me they make the map too busy visually.

Turning on the National Colors option just overlays the area each nation controls on the map with their affliated color. They can be hard to make out if the weather effects overlay is on too.

Thanks so much for the response! I didn't realize there were built in mods. Guess I should read the manual.

The Unfortunate Son mod is a rather popular one too. Pretty easy to tell both sides apart.

Yes, I just discovered that one after reading your first post. I like it a lot. Thanks.

I use SIPRES counters and an Historical flag mod, works for me! BTW I don't like to use the "Nation Colors" map overlay, as I find it makes it difficult to see what weather hexes actually have!

Just want to make a quick correction, the other counter modder is named SIPRES. He had some health emergency in early May, and hasn't been on the forum since, so I dunno if said issues have kept him away, or what. He did my NATO counters for my upcoming scenario, note.

Elessar2 wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 12:28 am Just want to make a quick correction, the other counter modder is named SIPRES.

Oops, thanks, I've now corrected the spelling in my post.

OxfordGuy3 wrote: Thu Oct 31, 2024 9:10 am BTW I don't like to use the "Nation Colors" map overlay, as I find it makes it difficult to see what weather hexes actually have!

Outside of the Soviet Union (red) and France (blue) I find the other national color overlays too drab and hard to tell apart.

I never use the national colors. Interferes with interpreting the weather on the ground, especially mud in the Soviet Union for example.
Very occasionally, I have toggled it on for a minute, to determine who owns a island without a resource. Reason being an enemy held island like that can spot your ships if they are laying there on adjacent.