Suggestions for New Players

[Ostwindflak]

I have yet to purchase this game. I am still on the fence and have been reading through the forums daily to get perspective from
players.

I have watched #1-10 so far of your tutorial videos on You Tube as I find I prefer watching someone "play" as they explain
rather than reading tutorial text with nothing put into practice.

I plan on watching the last two videos as well. The one thing I think that is scaring me off on making a purchase is the math involved
in this game. I have never been great at math and it appears to be a sort of probabilities and statistics kind of math for the combat
tables?

One question I am hoping you could answer is: Is this game easier to learn by delving in and playing and learning through
trial and error after watching the tutorial videos? I have found I am a better learner doing things "hands on" versus reading through
volumes of text. Thank you in advance for any advice and or insight.

Also my reply was meant for Shannon V. OKeets. I clicked the wrong reply button [:(]

[joshuamnave]

The math skills required are very minimal, as the computer will handle all of the calculations for you. You need to know that 3 to 1 is better odds than 2 to 1, and that +4 is more than +3, and that's about it. A very generalized sense of probability helps, but again the actual math will be done by the computer. If you do decide to purchase and play, I would strongly recommend playing with the fractional odds optional rule, as that will further reduce the need to do any sort of manual calculation.

There are some hands on tutorials included with the game, but I didn't think they were very helpful or very good, personally. Some of the AAR's in the forums are geared toward explaining rules and mechanics to newer players, so I would suggest looking those over. My AAR includes saved game files each turn so that you can follow along by making the same moves, and for the first few turns goes into pretty extensive detail about both the rules and the interface.

There are also two shorter scenarios geared toward new players (but still satisfying in their own right for experienced players). The Barbarossa scenario focuses on the land war in Russia, while the Guadalcanal scenario focuses on naval operations in the Pacific. By emphasizing one type of operation over the other, these scenarios will help you learn the rules in stages.

That said, the game does lack the kind of interactive tutorial found in a lot of games, and the rule set can be daunting for even an experienced wargamer. I've played for a few hours a day every day for a month or so and I'm still learning the rules.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: Ostwindflak

I have yet to purchase this game. I am still on the fence and have been reading through the forums daily to get perspective from
players.

I have watched #1-10 so far of your tutorial videos on You Tube as I find I prefer watching someone "play" as they explain
rather than reading tutorial text with nothing put into practice.

I plan on watching the last two videos as well. The one thing I think that is scaring me off on making a purchase is the math involved
in this game. I have never been great at math and it appears to be a sort of probabilities and statistics kind of math for the combat
tables?

One question I am hoping you could answer is: Is this game easier to learn by delving in and playing and learning through
trial and error after watching the tutorial videos? I have found I am a better learner doing things "hands on" versus reading through
volumes of text. Thank you in advance for any advice and or insight.

Also my reply was meant for Shannon V. OKeets. I clicked the wrong reply button [:(]

The actual calculations are done by the program. But you should be aware of the effect of terrain and weather on combat, more or less the same way the actual commanders in the field needed to be aware. There's not a lot of that, and it mainly affects land combat. Again, the precise numbers don't matter a great deal. Attacking into mountains is a lot more difficult, etc.

Once you get to the Land Combat Declaration phase, the program will tell you what the attack odds are for each attack you consider making. But most players want to be able to make a rough calculation during the preceding land movement phase so they can position their units for attacks. Things are a little easier on defense, since the program will tell you the defensive strength for any hex - any time you are interested.

[Ostwindflak]

Thank you to both you and Zartacla for the responses.

Now I am wondering if I should wait a few months and let a couple more patches come out before I buy the game. Having read the Technical Issue/Bug Report section,
it appears that supply is broken and a few folks are stating it is making sections of the game unplayable.

Either way this game looks like a good time so keep up the good work!

As a side note: I finished watching all the tutorial videos today. Fantastic work and very informative.

[Mike Raymond]

Hi

I'm awaiting my copy of the Classic paper board game and was looking over this computer game and also the Vassal module for WIF. It struck me that, with no AI play - what is the difference between playing the vassal and the Matrix game? Except price.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: r6751

Hi

I'm awaiting my copy of the Classic paper board game and was looking over this computer game and also the Vassal module for WIF. It struck me that, with no AI play - what is the difference between playing the vassal and the Matrix game? Except price.

The calculations which are done by the computer and the enforcements of the rules. I think I can say that there probably aren't any people around who played WiF according to the rule book at all times...

[paulderynck]

The calculations include figuring out all the oil usage if you play with the Oil option, which is regarded as a big time waster in manual play.

OTOH, for the time being, the NetPlay option in MWiF is for only two players, whereas you can have multiple players with Vassal.

[rkr1958]

Oh my goodness ... what I have just done! I just pulled the trigger and ordered this game. I have a 10.5-year old computer, which does exceed the minimum specs, with a 17 and 15 inch (mismatch) dual monitors. I'm not so much worried about getting the game running on my obsolete system, which I'll likely replace in a year or so; but more worried about if I'm over my head learning to play and enjoy this game properly. I do have a fairly extensive board and computer war gaming background but have never tackled anything as complex as WiF, or MWiF. I do enjoy the WW2 gaming period and do own well over a dozen board wargames dating back to 1972 and half-dozen computer games on the subject.

So what have I done ??? ... [X(]

[Braig]

Well, you have just purchased the finest board game ever produced, and now it's available on PC! Enjoy! Take your time to learn, and you won't be disappointed.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Oh my goodness ... what I have just done! I just pulled the trigger and ordered this game. I have a 10.5-year old computer, which does exceed the minimum specs, with a 17 and 15 inch (mismatch) dual monitors. I'm not so much worried about getting the game running on my obsolete system, which I'll likely replace in a year or so; but more worried about if I'm over my head learning to play and enjoy this game properly. I do have a fairly extensive board and computer war gaming background but have never tackled anything as complex as WiF, or MWiF. I do enjoy the WW2 gaming period and do own well over a dozen board wargames dating back to 1972 and half-dozen computer games on the subject.

So what have I done ??? ... [X(]

You are going to learn MWIF fast and I think you will enjoy it as well.

[rkr1958]

WOW! I purchased MWiF (physical with digital download) Sunday (2/16/2014) evening. I haven't received my books or disc yet (FedEx tracking shows it arriving today).

I just managed the time to install MWiF late last night and started taking it for a test drive (i.e., interactive tutorials) this morning. I'm running on a Dell Inspiror 660 (Windows 8, quad-core, 8GB RAM) with dual monitors (24 inch widescreen Samsung & 17 inch Sony). The 24" is hooked up via HDMI and the 17" via VGA. I've configured the game so the map occupies the full real estate of the 24" and the forms are on the 17". It looks FANTASTIC! I have just started the first interactive tutorial, had to stop and post this. This looks to be a fantastic experience. Though I know I've got my work cut out for mean with learning to competently play this game.

I see many late nights and tired mornings in my future. I guess I've got Steve and the rest of the MWiF community to thank for that. [;)]

By the way, and I think the MWiF gaming gods had something to do with this, the machine I had (see post 27 above) for the past 10.5-years crashed in fully glory 24-hours after my MWiF purchase. I haven't installed MWiF yet, so the crash was unrelated to the game. I tried to save the machine. I was hoping it was the power supply but after trying a new one, along with several other things, my best guess is that the 10.5-year old motherboard finally gave up the ghost.

So, I bit the bullet, killed my credit card and bought a new machine and 24" widescreen monitor. Though, the price was only 1/3 of what I had in my old old machine. One that I built from scratch when I and my eyes were younger and which had served me well this past decade. So, I spend most of this past week recovering from my crash and transferring data to my new PC. I had 4 internal and 2 external hard drives. I was able to read and recover data from both external and 3 of the 4 internal hard drives. I purchased an external drive enclosure that supports both IDE and SATA (I had 2 of each) and connects via usb2. I was able to read and recover data from both IDE and one SATA. The other SATA I got a couldn't read (or not formatted) error. Unfortunately, this was the drive that I had all my files for the Panzer Corps AAR, including saved game turns, that I was doing over in that forum. Though I was able to restore Panzer Corps, and all of my other Matrix / Slitherine games (CEaW GS, BA, War in the East).

Sorry for the long and rambling post ... I tend to do that when I get excited about something (MWiF and my new PC/Monitor). [:)]

[AxelNL]

Welcome here. Your new machine looks fine! I recommend that your smaller screen is on the right, and put your Main Form not exactly on the left side of that 17". With a bit of distance from the edge the form to load land units on a transporter is not split over the two screens.
Have fun! Check the tech forum for known bugs, or to report other problems you might run into.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: AxelNL

Welcome here. Your new machine looks fine! I recommend that your smaller screen is on the right, and put your Main Form not exactly on the left side of that 17". With a bit of distance from the edge the form to load land units on a transporter is not split over the two screens.
Have fun! Check the tech forum for known bugs, or to report other problems you might run into.

Good advice ... that's how I had it configured. I showed my son (13-years old) the map on full zoom in and full zoom out. I scrolled through the entire globe (well cylinder). After learning to play this game my next objective is to get him playing these types of games. He has an x-box and is into the first person shooter games. I've watched him and his friends play and there's no tactics. They run out without cover and last about 10-seconds before being shot down and then respawning. Now, it would be nice to get him into these type of strategy games and introduce a younger generation to the joys of "real wargames".

[rkr1958]

Just got back from my daily 3-mile walk and guess what was waiting for me ... FedEx had dropped off the MWiF 3 volume set (and my physical install disc). NICE and WOW!!!

I feel like a kid at Christmas. [:)]

[AxelNL]

I already took out Tactics 2 out of the cupboard, halved my troops and explained to my son the concept of the russian tactic of doing lots of 1:1 's.
He won by a very small margin, and enjoyed his victory very much!
But he is actually doing Minecraft most of the time he is allowed behind the PC.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: AxelNL

I already took out Tactics 2 out of the cupboard, halved my troops and explained to my son the concept of the russian tactic of doing lots of 1:1 's.
He won by a very small margin, and enjoyed his victory very much!
But he is actually doing Minecraft most of the time he is allowed behind the PC.

I've played him a few games of War at Sea. He seemed to enjoy it but Minecraft and Call of Duty seems to be more to his liking. But; maybe I can get him interested ...

[AxelNL]

There is a thread in the main forum where you can request the counter for the BB Alabama, with transparant corners and sized the same as most of us. Your current Avatar blows the rest of us out of the water - but given the numbers on that counter that is probably correct. [;)]

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Just got back from my daily 3-mile walk and guess what was waiting for me ... FedEx had dropped off the MWiF 3 volume set (and my physical install disc). NICE and WOW!!!

I feel like a kid at Christmas. [:)]

Welcome to the dark side. [:)]

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: AxelNL

There is a thread in the main forum where you can request the counter for the BB Alabama, with transparant corners and sized the same as most of us. Your current Avatar blows the rest of us out of the water - but given the numbers on that counter that is probably correct. [;)]

As you can tell, I did it myself. Is it really too large or too crude? I'll work on cleaning it up and making it smaller. [8D] By the way, I've toured the USS Alabama twice. Once in 1993 and and the last time a couple of years ago with my son. Also, 2 years ago we toured a captured German u-boat on display in the Chicago Science and Industry museum. That u-boat (captured in 1945) is one big boat compared to the US submarine on display with the US Alabama in Mobile.

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Just got back from my daily 3-mile walk and guess what was waiting for me ... FedEx had dropped off the MWiF 3 volume set (and my physical install disc). NICE and WOW!!!

I feel like a kid at Christmas. [:)]

Welcome to the dark side. [:)]

I promise to only play WiF for good. [:)]

By the way, is it me or does anyone else have problems entering the correct "image code" when they log in? This last time took me four tries, though half the time I get it on the first one. [&:]

[rkr1958]

I just finished, "11. Interactive Tutorials Introduction", and I must say that I'm extremely impressed. I'd say I spent a good 3-hours (plus) going through it. I'm impressed by the depth, clarity and how much I learned about WiF / MWiF. I have 9 other (12-20) tutorials left and, extrapolating from a sample of 1, that's another 27 hours of homework and I'll be ready to start my first game of WiF. This is not a knock but actually a complement to the folks that put these tutorials together. They're so well done that I find myself looking forward to going through the rest and learning more about how to play this wonderful game.

I hope to finish with the tutorials and start a game within the next two weeks. That's ok as I'm really enjoying the tutorials. I feel that I should get a diploma or certificate of some kind at the completion of the MWiF short course, uh ... tutorials. [:)]