Matrix Games Forums

I'm curious to hear from players whether you prefer playing standalone scenarios or the campaigns.
Please fill out this poll so we can gauge how popular campaigns are! Elaborate on what campaigns you have played, or if you don't play campaigns, please explain why not. Thanks!

I only play campaigns. I've zero interest in playing standalone scenarios.

@PeekingDuck2, what turns you off about playing single scenarios?

I only played campaigns during the private beta because you folks wanted me to. If I had my way, I would skip them.

I played and finished the US Big Red One campaign, I'm currently working on the West German campaign. My buddy who will probably not ever come on to the forum is currently playing the Czechoslovak campaign. They're very fun and I like them better than solo scenarios.

I'm currently playing the Czechoslovak campaign. It's my first campaign and so far enjoying it a lot.

At first campaigns would turn me off, as the amount of untis and information expected were overwhelming for me as a"new" player.

I clocked almost 200h in FCSS without ever playing a campaign. Now in Cold War, after playing 3-4 small / medium scenarios (this is after the release, not couting Beta time) and multiplayer; I read someone saying the Czechoslovak campaign was a good way to introduce the Soviets' combat style; and it seemed a less overwhelming task with smaller numbers both for units and scenerarios.

I guess the attraction of scenarios over campaign is the limited scope (and less time) and specificality. However after getting really familiar with the game and period, think campaigns are a good way to play a chain of scenarios.

I played most of the campaigns as a beta tester and am going through some again. I enjoy the campaigns more than the scenarios. There's more at stake for the player and you have to manage your resources better in light of the upcoming battles. I will say that the West German campaign is brutal and will really test the player, but I am looking forward to giving it another try.

yes, WG campaign is not friendly to new player.

I'm new to the series and war gaming in general so I'm spending time in scenarios before taking on a campaign.

Thanks everyone for the feedback and votes so far!

If you voted that you would like to play a Campaign, but have not yet... what is the reason stopping you from playing a Campaign?

Is it a timing thing? Is there a lack of campaign you would play yet?

I mostly play campaign.

I think it is a far better mode for Solo play, because you not only have to win the scenario by something abstract as points.

But :
- You have to manage limited ressources from one scenario to another. Attrition is really important.
- It is far better for immersion. You learn to know your units with time. You have your prefered bataillon. You love them.
- You really have the feeling to be a regiment commander in a massive war. You can tell yourself a story about the war.

For now, i played 2 campaigns (But i planned to do all) :

- The Czechoslovakia campaign : Excellent ! Great choice of unit (a mundane motorized rifle regiment doing grunt work, no Op equipment), Great scenario, with excellent plot twists especially in scenario 3 and 4. You really have the feeling to be in the middle of a great war. Briefing and description are excellents. 5/5 stars.

- The Panzer leader (East germany). Only performed 2 scenarios yet. Interesting tactical issues (Fighting with low visibility, bridge building), although a little technical. A panzer regiment is interesting. You have to manage air threat. Eventually, the Order of battle of your regiment is harder to understand, advanced guard, etc..... Also the briefing&context looks to have been a lot less detailed and refined than the previous Czech campaign. So immersion is lower. I will rate it 3/5 for now.

Played most of the campaigns

In scenarios I find myself doing dumb stuff (aka. suiciding units) for the victory while in campaigns you need to take the long view, sometimes losing in 1 battle to maintain your forces for later battles

Would be really cool if we could do branching scenarios for win vs loss to add to the immersion