what do you think so far

[Titan]

For those that have it,what do you reckon so far,up to expections

[aletoledo]

Its more detailed than what I was expecting. I was expecting a more advanced axis&allies, but its not just an axis&allies version 2.0, its more like a 3.0 or 4.0. It plays more like a real strategy game, rather than the beer and pretezels kind of game axis&allies was. I see now why they didn't include an inetrnet multiplayer option (only play by email), because there is so much "behind the scenes" work and planning that people would be sitting watching nothing on the screen for 5-10 minutes and wondering if you had disconnected.

the only negative thing I have to say so far about the game is the color scheme, icons and fonts. the icons don't really stand out as much as I'd like from the background map. therefore if you figuratively stood back and took in a global view of the map you might not appreciate where all the units are.

[dobeln]

It has more than lived up to expectations!

[Scott_WAR]

I agree with the first reply, it is deeper than I anticipated also. That is not a bad thing by any stretch of the word though. After 1 night playing I have a good grip on movement, combat, repair etc, but, I still have problems with production. I understand how poroduction works, but the "cost" of creating an item is something that is confusing me right now.

In the tutorial, the way its worded I expect the recources to be taken from me when the unit is completed, however, I cant seem find exactly what resources building each item costs, nor how I can keep track of them, to ensure that I have enough on the turn an item is finished. I have not read the manual enough, and I am sure its in there somewhere though.

Overall, I am extremely happy. The game is easy enough to figure out HOW to play, but I can see its going to take some serious thought, time and expereince to learn how to play WELL.

[Joel Billings]

ORIGINAL: Scott_WAR

In the tutorial, the way its worded I expect the recources to be taken from me when the unit is completed, however, I cant seem find exactly what resources building each item costs, nor how I can keep track of them, to ensure that I have enough on the turn an item is finished. I have not read the manual enough, and I am sure its in there somewhere though.

Each turn each unit costs 1 factory and 1 resource point to advance on the production track. You pay as you go. A unit that takes 6 turns to build will use up 1 resource each turn for 6 turns. The 2 population points needed to build the unit are only spent on the turn the unit is placed on the map (the last turn of production). Should be covered in the production section of the manual.

[IDrinkBeer]

One important thing to remember:

Right clicking on a unit in the production screen will put that unit on hold.

Example:

England has 2 infantry, 1 fighter, 1 artillery, and 1 destroyer that are in the box to be produced for the next turn. The problem is England has only 6 population available for the turn. Only 3 units will be produced. You can right-click on a unit and its number will change to red. This means the unit is on hold. So, if you wanted to make sure you produced the fighter, 1 infantry and the destroyer you would right-click on the infantry once and then right-click on the arty.

Hope this helps....

[CommC]

There is a lot I like about WAW that improves greatly on A&A:

1. Strategic movement using rails
2. Air and naval combat model, especially air
3. Combat air patrol over sea zones
4. Excellent detail on production, resources, population and research
5. General accuracy of the combat model
6. Rough ground effect on land movement
7. Excellent modeling of partisan activity

However, I have a couple questions:

The political model:
I just saw the AI Soviets (Germany did not attack first) declare war and attack German territory in Spring of 1940. Is this a bug? Didn't they have a non-agression pact?

Further, the Soviets in 1940 have an armor force greater than Germany's? ... that can't be realistic. Further, the Soviets should be required to keep a more substantial force in the east to guard against the Japanese???

If the Soviets are allowed to attack first in early 1940.... the Axis is not going to have much of a chance. They should be prohibited from attacking Germany unless attacked first.

[IDrinkBeer]

The political model:
I just saw the AI Soviets (Germany did not attack first) declare war and attack German territory in Spring of 1940. Is this a bug? Didn't they have a non-agression pact?

You probably moved some of your units away from the Russia border ( Eastern Poland ). You have a minimum garrison requirement... I think I found out the hard way when I took some of those troops into Yugo in my first game as Germany..

Further, the Soviets in 1940 have an armor force greater than Germany's? ... that can't be realistic. Further, the Soviets should be required to keep a more substantial force in the east to guard against the Japanese???

Not true. I believe the Germans outnumber the Soviets 7 to 3 at the beginning of the game. Also the Soviet Armor is better defensively than the Germans because in reality at that time it was. Just do a search on the Soviet T34 and KV-1.

If the Soviets are allowed to attack first in early 1940.... the Axis is not going to have much of a chance. They should be prohibited from attacking Germany unless attacked first.

See my above post. Hope this helps.

[CommC]

The Soviet T32 and KV-1 weren't even close to being available in 1940... but I will grant you that the good German tanks weren't available either at that time.

I'll check again on the amount of Soviet armor.. but in Summer of 1940, they seem to have 6 to 7 units.

[jpinard]

I have to concur with the first comment. Much more depth that I ever expected. That means a LOT to learn.

[IDrinkBeer]

The Soviet T32 and KV-1 weren't even close to being available in 1940... but I will grant you that the good German tanks weren't available either at that time.

Oops... Was thinking we were talking about '41 ( aka Barbarossa ). I'm not sure who had better tanks in '40 although if I had to bet it was probably the Soviets. Now as far as doctrine we all know who had that....

[;)]

[Tankerace]

ORIGINAL: CommC

The Soviet T32 and KV-1 weren't even close to being available in 1940... but I will grant you that the good German tanks weren't available either at that time.

I'll check again on the amount of Soviet armor.. but in Summer of 1940, they seem to have 6 to 7 units.

The first T34s were delieved (albeit in small quantities) to the Red Army in June of 1940.

The very first KV was ready on September 1, 1939, and from December 1939 until May 1940 were built at a rate of 50 a month, and in May production was increased to 200 per month.

[CommC]

OK, I was counting wrong, the Soviets in WAW only have 3 tank units in 1940. This seems about right given the historical record.

In regards to the the T34, even though a few may have begun to trickle off the assembly line, they weren't available in great enough numbers to make a difference in 1940.

The whole idea that the Soviets could mount an offensive in 1940 is rediculous. Most Soviet troops didn't even have rifles and were mowed down by the Germans. The whole idea that Stalin would risk everything by attacking the Germans is rediculous. He was desperate for the non-agression pack to succeed.

On the whole, I would say that the game is very historically accurate, however. Its just a few of these minor glitches that may be ironed out with a setting in the preferences or something.

I didn't move any garrison units off the eastern front, but I didn't build it up, either.

[hickmanj]

I hesitate usually at buying games by download.

I'm so glad I didn't wait on this one....

The game is easy to get into yet has lots of layers and depth - hopefully, the longer I play, it won't boil down into a strict series of moves but will allow some experimentation. I love "alternate" history - so I'm hoping that the player (especially Germany) isn't required to always follow the history books.

Btw, just curious, has anyone successfully mounted operation SeaLion on normal setting or higher with Advanced Supply rules?

[Reiryc]

Btw, just curious, has anyone successfully mounted operation SeaLion on normal setting or higher with Advanced Supply rules?

Nope, have only been able to do it with standard supply rules. Then again, I only tried playing once so far with advanced supply rules. [8D]

[Joel Billings]

Russia should be frozen and not allowed to attack in 1940 unless you don't keep the garrisons in East Prussia and Eastern Poland. The other possibility would be if somehow you flew over one of their areas or attacked them. There's also some rules having to do with German attacks on Turkey and Persia causing the Russians to unfreeze. I would suspect one of these things was true for the Soviets to attack you as we haven't seen the AI illegally attacking. If you have a save that shows a problem with the Soviets attacking when they shouldn't (a save just before the Soviets attack), please send it to 2by3@2by3games.com. Thanks.

[jpinard]

ORIGINAL: hickmanj

I hesitate usually at buying games by download.

I'm so glad I didn't wait on this one....

The game is easy to get into yet has lots of layers and depth - hopefully, the longer I play, it won't boil down into a strict series of moves but will allow some experimentation. I love "alternate" history - so I'm hoping that the player (especially Germany) isn't required to always follow the history books.

I feel the exact same way.

[CommC]

Yah, it pays to read the manual. I didn't realize you need to keep 3 units in Poland to keep Russia frozen. I must have moved one out. All is well.

Game on.

[dulsin2]

Actualy the Russians had a huge tank army in 1940. The problem is that most of their "Tanks" were BT-7, T-60, and T-27. Deffinatly no match for the CZ-38 or the PZIIIs which made up the bulk of the German armor at the time of Barbarosa.

http://www.nemo.nu/ibisportal/5pansar/index.htm