Pursuant to drumming up interest in a four-player game of World War One Gold (which I expect would be easier for new players anyway than trying to run both teams for each side simultaneously), I have begun trying to study the game from the most fundamental units upward, rather than following the topical order of the instructions or the tutorials (although the tutorials do sort of go this route. But it's in the midst of so much other information that I easily get overloaded and distracted.)
THUS DO I PRESENT BELOW THE ATTACHMENTS! -- which cover the information on the most common chits. I feel like focusing in like this I've gotten a much better handle on what I'm looking at and what it means.
Also, completely immature humor. (There's less from Part 3 onward, and it's less immature, but this game freaks people out so badly I thought I should try to represent overcoming that in the tutorials. I've toned it back in the 2nd edition of the first two parts.)
UPDATED 9/0/14: NOW WITH NEWLY FIXED AND CONSOLIDATED PARTS (5 instead of 13) -- CLICK HERE TO JUMP DOWNTHREAD FOR THE UPDATED NEWBIE TUTORIALS (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg285784#msg285784)
Since I can only post so many attachments to a comment at a time, I've been adding the parts downthread; but I'll link to the various parts here -- click to scoot down to where the Parts are posted:
Part 3: Containing My Enthusiasms (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg159913#msg159913)
Part 4: Our Tiniest Possible Look At The Map (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg160124#msg160124)
Part 5: A More Intimate Brief Examination Of Tracts Of Land (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg160479#msg160479)
Part 6: The Most Exquisite Movement (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg160742#msg160742)
Parts 7 and 8: Preparing To Play With Yourself, and You The One Who Is Moving (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg161985#msg161985)
Part 9: Moving in Communion (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg162592#msg162592)
Part 10: Railing Detachedly (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg162781#msg162781) (I declare "detachedly" to be a real word.)
Part 11: War In This World War (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg163030#msg163030)
Part 12: Turning and Tossing (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg163360#msg163360)
Part 13: Suppliant Tracks Of Land (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=6547.msg163645#msg163645)
Note that Kushan also wants to try a 4-player game of WW1G, and wants to relearn the system, but has more experience at it than I do, so will be posting relevant additions and corrections below, perhaps, maybe, as I complete portions. Other similar contributors are entirely welcome, too! -- just try to stay focused on the topical progression. I kind of worry I include too much information already in merely the chit entries!
(Consequently, I've now uploaded even-simpler versions. The previous ones had 19 and 11 downloads each, btw.)
Updated: for some consolidations and error fixes, jump below to this and the following post, now in 5 parts! https://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?msg=285784
Looking forward to this. I have WWI Gold and might even be persuaded to join your 4 player newbie game if you can teach me the game. Tried a couple of times now and no joy.
And lo, came the third part. It's a bit longer, but that's because I recap portions of the first two parts in showing how the pieces fit together in the container window(s).
Also less immature humor. (Can humor be less immature?)
Next time, more stack/container information, and the first leeeeeeetle bit of map info.
Update: I've fixed a few mistakes in Part 3 and reuploaded it, but if you have the original don't worry it's nothing major.
Also definitely looking forward to this. Maybe it will actually inspire me to try the damn game out.
Now updated with even-simpler versions of Parts 1 and 2 (and fixed a few mistakes in 3), which I worry were still too overwhelming: I've trimmed out many references to how the details affect other parts of the game (and some of the humor, since that might be too distracting).
And now Part 4, which reduces our first exposure to the map as much as possible, so that the Dark Fairy won't be able to drive our souls mad and hand us over to the devil (or words to that effect).
Part 5, wherein we become more intimately acquainted with various tracks of land by fingering them!
(... that sounded so different in my head before I typed it...)
Amazingly, the only entendre pun in Part 6 is the title, I guess.
(I can't wait to start making entendre puns on the Entente! -- were they French? They were the French, right?)
Now that I've covered how to basically move a stack (even in a no-frills fashion), we're just about ready to start the limited active tutorials. Next time, though, how to set up the game for doing the tutorials (or for a real game).
Not very screenshotty Parts this time, but Part 7 will help you set up the game to play it with all the nifty options; and Part 8 will set you up to check over all the info from Parts 1-6 within the game yourself, including your first simple movements with 1st and 2nd Armies in the Tannenburg scenario.
You!--the one who is moving! Experience.... BIJ!!
(Note: I had an important error in about multiple CPU computers in Part 7, so I'm re-uploading the fixed version. The forum system has posted them below in their order of upload, but Part 7 should be read first, then Part 8, duh. Before then there were 7 downloads.)
Nice job on the tutorials! I just read parts 1, 2, and 3. Great start. I've also re-installed the game on my rig and will start mucking around with it over the weekend. I'm getting prepared for the inevitable war (PBEM that is) that must break out sooner or later. ;)
Oh and I love your humor, even if others find it kind of chitty. :D
One thing I thought I should mention is when initially installing and running the setup of the game make sure you select load all sounds, maps, etc. on start of game. This significantly reduces load times during game play, especially when switching from phase to phase and turn to turn. Also remember to run the game in single cpu mode for those of us who have dual or quad core machines. If you do not there is going to be some horrible mouse lag and stutter as well as horrible map scrolling. Oops, forgot I should not mention anything about maps at this point. I'll go sit in the corner with my dunce cap on now. 8)
Thanks for all this - I too have gotten back into the game and am really enjoying it. I would recommend 3 mods: 1) there is a graphics mod that really helps by lightening all the regions 2) there is a sound mod which takes all the ambient sounds and shortens them (a must in my opinion) 3) there is a naval mod that fixes some of the naming errors and most importantly adjusts some modifiers to tone down the HighSeas fleet advantages - without it the British Grand Fleet gets severely mauled
Jack
W8, yes I mention the preload in my game setup portion (Part 7), but I'm glad you clarified the single-cpu version -- I thought that was FOR single-cpu computers! (I had it completely reversed.) I'll fix this afternoon and reload that part.
Heh, at least in this game we won't have to worry about who is allying with whom at any time (or whether allies should even be allowed). ;)
Jcrohio, where is the naval mod? That sounds important. (The regions are light enough for me, and as long as I turn down the ambient sound in the game options I don't care how long that stupid train whistle goes.)
Check out this link for some of the mods mentioned: http://www.ageod-forum.com/forumdisplay.php?240-WW1-mods-and-modding
I like the sounds and their duration in the game as is. Even the old man yelling 'Charge' during battles makes sense to me. Remember it was the old fuddy duddy generals telling those poor young lads to rush into the machine gun fire and not to worry about it!
The color mod seems easier on the eyes but in my humble opinion I prefer the vibrant dark colors of the original.
Haven't tried the naval mod but it sounds like that is a must have in order for the naval war to work right.
And yes, at least the alliances will be fixed and we'll all know where we stand. LOL
^^ In regard to the first four majors anyway (+ Serbia, played by Russia). ;)
Everything else is negotiable.
Part 9 talks about how to coordinate army movement, and deals with several strategic movement types. But not rail lines, since I would have to create detachments to demonstrate those, and that'll be Part 10. (I plan to demonstrate combat in Part 11, until then I'm avoiding it, although the computer once marched some troops out while I was testing to assault a Russian fort! :o )
Lord help us, because the scenario designers sure don't: with the wrong corps attached to an army HQ from the outset, the detachment demonstrations become goofy! Anyway, detachments and rail travel covered (although rail is still not quite demonstrated for reasons) in Part 10.
Next time, CAN IT BE? WILL THERE FINALLY BE ASS KICKING!?!!? Maybe.
FINALLY THERE IS ASS KICKING!
Specifically my ass got kicked. I was playing as the Russians against the Germans. You might do better. If the computer makes random differences in how the Germans prepare.
Anyway, Part 11 has been occurred.
Part 12 is attached below, which tosses around some information about the phases that (may or may not) happen each turn. This as you might imagine isn't a very long or graphic part. That sounded so different in my head before I typed it...
We're getting very close to the point where a player should feel comfortable working through a small scenario or even consider starting a grand campaign, even though we haven't covered a ton of things like econcomics or diplomacy or technology or the special oddities of air and naval combat (or of trench warfare) -- but my goal is to get the reader (ESPECIALLY INCLUDING MYSELF!) comfortable enough with the underlying concepts of the game to not be daunted at picking up the official Big Manual to look up details: we'll have an operating framework to fit those details together with now!
Part 13 next time will most likely be the final tutorial then, talking about supply (which is ludicrously important for any large scenario) and maybe the map filters (since one of those helps figure out supply teases what the supply situation may or may not be in various places). I may add a Part 14 to discuss what the initial choices of a grand campaign are about.
And so it ends, sort of, in suppliance and confusion, with a look at the ultra-important rules for supply (and isolation), and the ultra-confusing way the game provides this information. (Along with some mostly useless map modes, not least of which is the supply mode which makes anti-sense.)
From this point a player should feel comfortable working through a scenario (or I do anyway), so long as you get a grip on your supply rules and don't rely on the computer to help you with those. Oh, it'll know the supply rules and apply them ruthlessly, but it won't help you until you're already in trouble. And then it only tells you you're in trouble, not how to get out of trouble again.
So LEARN THE SUPPLY AND ISOLATION RULES! They aren't really that hard, but you'll have to keep them in mind yourself. (Very similar to the Unity of Command supply rules, actually easier in some ways although more detailed. When in doubt, trace supply two hexes out from any railway or city with a railroad. Or from an HQ within that range. Or from an HQ sitting on a beach head. So long as the naval supply rules are met which are even easier. And so long as you aren't relying on a minor port. And so long as a fortress isn't blocking your way.....)
If you're like me, and I know I am, you may be feeling something like 'confidence' in playing the game now.
By no coincidence whatsoever, GUNS OF GROGUST (http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=5425.msg129555#msg129555) is looking for a fourth member for email multiplayer! Learn the limits of your conceit! LEARN THEM!!
Also, learn how to play the largest campaign from the beginning. :)
(Or if Guns of Grogust is already full by the time you get there, you can start a new thread looking for other new players wanting to set up a WW1 99th anniversary game.)
Bumping old topic since WW1Centennial Edition on Steam may be getting its legal issues sorted out: Gamersgate is selling Steam keys this week at half-off, or US$10, and someone on the game's Steam forum confirmed his GG code activated the game.
Though I haven't played the CE yet (which is not a Matrix/Slitherine/Ageod release, thus probably the legal issues), reportedly the new devs have nicked some of the old bugs and quirks; and though the released originally with some new bugs, those were flattened before the legal issues reared up.
Be aware, I have no idea what may happen to your $10 if the legal issues don't work out in WW1CE's favor.
Incidentally, we never did get enough players together to run a game for the 99th anniversary; and I'm pretty swamped right now with 'things to do'. But theoretically, the concept is still active, so if anyone wants to run a Grogheads mp game with the CE (or with the G edition for that matter) I'm okay with calling it Guns of Grogust. :)
As I was going through last year's tutorial yesterday, I found a number of outright errors, and a number of composition goofs; so I have updated and consolidated the tutorial into 5 new parts, which I'm appending below.
And then here are the two last parts (I had to break it up to avoid the 10Meg limit).
Thanks for creating these! O0
I registered here just to check this out. Thank you very much for your effort. Can't wait to dig into this. Been a fan of this game for a long time and look forward to learning things that I did not know.
mo reb
Welcome to Grogheads, mo reb! Glad you made your self one of us.
one of us
one of us
one of us
:D
Going back after a year and editing these, makes me want to return to taking a crack at the grand campaign. Originally I had planned to do that as well as comparing a bunch of other WW1 games in a mega AAR, but I overdosed on Darkest Hour WW1 earlier this year so I went to go play with the Amazons instead. ;)
Mental note: WW1Centennial is still $10 at Gamersgate (http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-WWOCE/world-war-1-centennial-edition) for a few more days. Legal problems notwithstanding, it does seem to fix some remaining problems with the game, and $10 for a standalone patch that potentially has further Steam support seems reasonable to me.
Thank you for the warm welcome.
About WWI Centennial, I was lucky enough to pay full price a few short weeks ago. Can't say I'm too upset because merely removing the slowly flashing provinces was worth the price of admission.
The release was rough but by the time I bought it a patch was put out that was of great help to many.
If anyone is interested, Queeg has made a great counter mod.
http://steamcommunity.com/app/297090/discussions/0/43099721544975965/
And here work was done to correct some problems with the 1914 scenario, corrected by players after it was pulled from Steam.
http://steamcommunity.com/app/297090/discussions/0/35220315597793819/
mo reb
Also thanks to Queeg, by the way, for creating a Steam thread to link to the tutorial! O0
Thanks Queeg.