WarPlan -- new game announced from Matrix Games

[Grim.Reaper]

No steam release initially and no confirmation it ever will be.

[MOS:96B2P]

This will probably be released on Steam, right?  I've decided I need this game.

I hope it goes to STEAM.  This question was asked on the Matrix forum and Matrix staff gave the below answer:

The game will first be released only in our store. As usual, we are not certain when/if a Steam release will follow, but just as with our other games, if we release it on Steam, your Matrix purchase will enable you to unlock the game on Steam as well.

[Huw the Poo]

Thanks chaps.

[Grim.Reaper]

Manual released....

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4702452

[Ian C]

In-game play.

[Rayfer]

I didn't have time to watch an hour long video, but I'm wondering about the naval piece of the game. Is it covered in the video? I hope it isn't like the Strategic Command series. Can you build fleets with carriers, destroyers, cruisers, etc. all in one hex?

[Barthheart]

From what I've read so far, naval units are groups of ships not singles. So you build carrier groups, patrol groups, battle groups, wolfpacks... that kind of thing as a unit. Each represents number of different ships based on it's type.

[Ian C]

Can you build fleets with carriers, destroyers, cruisers, etc. all in one hex?

Yes. In the video, naval units can stack in the same hex. A single naval unit represents a group (from the manual):

Carrier Group = 2–3 aircraft carriers with 150–200 combat aircraft
Battle group: 2 battleships/battle cruisers + support ships
Cruiser group: 4–6 heavy cruisers + escorts
Patrol group: 4–6 light cruisers + escorts or a destroyer patrol
Sub group: 10–15 active submarines out at any one time
Escorts: 8–10 frigates, escorts, and corvettes for trade routes
Merchant Marine: approximately 200,000 tons of active convoys

Naval groups can be used singly, or combined into larger groups or a single fleet.

Also, unlike Strategic Command, you can stack land and air units in the same hex.

[Rayfer]

Can you build fleets with carriers, destroyers, cruisers, etc. all in one hex?

Yes. In the video, naval units can stack in the same hex. A single naval unit represents a group (from the manual):

Carrier Group = 2–3 aircraft carriers with 150–200 combat aircraft
Battle group: 2 battleships/battle cruisers + support ships
Cruiser group: 4–6 heavy cruisers + escorts
Patrol group: 4–6 light cruisers + escorts or a destroyer patrol
Sub group: 10–15 active submarines out at any one time
Escorts: 8–10 frigates, escorts, and corvettes for trade routes
Merchant Marine: approximately 200,000 tons of active convoys

Naval groups can be used singly, or combined into larger groups or a single fleet.

Also, unlike Strategic Command, you can stack land and air units in the same hex.

Excellent. This is looking better and better. Thanks for clarifying.  My limited attention span precludes hour long gaming videos.  :-[

[Ian C]

Excellent. This is looking better and better. Thanks for clarifying.  My limited attention span precludes hour long gaming videos.  :-[

I have too much free time...  :D the place in the video is at 41:30 to 42:20.

[Rayfer]

Excellent. This is looking better and better. Thanks for clarifying.  My limited attention span precludes hour long gaming videos.  :-[

I have too much free time...  :D the place in the video is at 41:30 to 42:20.

Watched the naval part and I am even more impressed. Begs the question; why didn't they do something like this with the newer hex based Strategic Command games? The naval stacking in WarPlan looks great.

[Ian C]

From the manual it suggest the best play experience will be playing as Germany vs. the AI, or player vs. player.

The computer A.I. was designed with a single notion, to not do anything stupid as best it can. It will not follow history but instead follow what makes logical sense for the countries to do. Germany will take key countries earlier in the war to gain operational advantage in France. Italy will not invade Greece on its own.
The Axis might not even invade Greece at all if they don't have time. There are limitations on how well a computer opponent can play in a game of this complexity. A computer opponent can't beat a fair human player in this type of game without help. No A.I. in a game of this scale can when the field is balanced, not yet at least. The intricacies of strategy are too complex for a single home computer to handle in a reasonable amount of time.
The Allied A.I. is designed to play with absolute historical forces. This means that the Russians will have the massive amounts of men they actually had in the war to compensate for their tactical blunders. The Western Allies will have a vast air force and naval superiority. This game will be best when played vs another person or as the Axis vs the Allied computer. If players want a better challenge, they can adjust the level of experience and supply the A.I. receives to make for a tougher game.

[Huw the Poo]

Hmmm.  I assume it'll be PBEM then?

[MOS:96B2P]

There is already talk of adding the Pacific to Warplan.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4704158&mpage=1&#4704158

[MOS:96B2P]

Hmmm.  I assume it'll be PBEM then?

Yes it has multiplayer.  Page 109 of the user manual states PBEM uses Matrix's Multiplayer server system.  A developer (I think) also mentioned that the game had multiplayer on the Matrix forum.