The latest addition to the SC series is now available from Matrix and Steam.
If you get the game, feel free to try out my mod for it called the Blue Max.
Main features of the mod include:
- Original main and splash screen art - default and two alternatives
- Two choices of original counter art - NATO and hybrid that change with research
- Map enhancements, including new borders, fronts, fort and city icons
- Numerous new WWI-era sounds
Link to the mod is HERE (https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4719822) on the Matrix forums
Once downloaded unzip all to the game's Mod folder:
C:\Users\<username>\Documents\My Games\Strategic Command WWI\Mods
NB: If there isn't one there, you need to run the game at least once or create it manually.
Then activate the mod(s) in the game's Settings
(https://i.imgur.com/KsukGbj.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Wle9nHW.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/UttwaHU.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/SiBJCY7.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/YIqNdhe.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vvIfGyI.png)
Your mod is gorgeous work and is a must have in my opinion.
Bravo on your ongoing contributions to our community. I have enjoyed your work from back in the Squad Battle days. Thank you.
I agree! :notworthy:
Fantastic. I have the original SC: WWI - will your mod work with the original? I'm guessing 'yes' but you never know.
I need to get more info on how this new version differs from the original too.
Isn't the original on a completely different engine based on squares instead of hexes?
I know in the marketing for this new version they make it clear it uses hexes this time around, but I don't know any more about the current engine. If it really is that different I will have to ready my wallet.
Beautiful work! I've bookmarked this for when I buy the game.
The 298 page manual can be downloaded in pdf format at:
https://www.matrixgames.com/amazon/PDF/SCWWI/Strategic_Command_WWI_Manual_EBOOK.pdf
I'm too swamped to buy and play it now - but this is definitely on my list.
From a brief perusal of the video the game has gone to hexes, they have put blockades on the screen, and there are a lot of modding opportunities. The first Strategic Command WW1 had a lot of very easy options to mod the game engine which I used in campaign games.
Has it really been that long since the original's release?? Time is sneaking up on me.
Just got my Matrix 7 year thank you coupon, so it's all done except the crying now.
Ok this mod convinces me to get the game right now. (Well after I get home from work anyway).
Looking forward to playing this one with this mod. Thank you!
I will need to see how the naval part of the game works. Don't like the current SC naval model at all and if it is the same here then I'll pass. Any posts on the naval mechanics from you guys who buy the game will be appreciated.
Thanks, everyone!
Quote from: IronX on December 05, 2019, 03:22:37 PM
Thanks, everyone!
Outstanding work as always IronX!!! I've always thought Tiller should pay you a stipend for bringing their titles out the ugly bucket! But then you go and add your talent to many other titles!
That is gorgeous work indeed! :notworthy:
IronX, your mod looks fantastic! Any idea if will work with the GOG version? (They have it on sale for 25% off, so I snapped it right up. 8) )
Quote from: Martok on December 07, 2019, 02:41:45 AM
Any idea if will work with the GOG version? (They have it on sale for 25% off, so I snapped it right up. 8) )
Yes. The mod just consists of zipped folders you unzip into the documents\My Games\SCWWI user game directory, regardless of game installer's source.
I'll be getting this just for your mod, X.
Great!
Yes, the mod should work on the GOG version too.
I've updated the download/install instructions in the first post to help you get the mod up and running.
Quote from: Gusington on December 07, 2019, 10:14:28 AM
I'll be getting this just for your mod, X.
I might too! :notworthy:
i already did..nice work....but see there's this game called Warplan that could use your touch also.
Quote from: -budd- on December 07, 2019, 02:12:53 PM
i already did..nice work....but see there's this game called Warplan that could use your touch also.
+1 This!!
Quote from: MOS:96B2P on December 07, 2019, 03:11:41 PM
Quote from: -budd- on December 07, 2019, 02:12:53 PM
i already did..nice work....but see there's this game called Warplan that could use your touch also.
+1 This!!
+2!
Haha! Thanks!
But I'm not planning on picking it up for now. My new focus is on board wargaming. I have a few ideas I'd like to explore so I'll that'll keep me busy for a while.
If your finger is on the trigger for this one, hold off for a couple of weeks if you can. We are working on another exclusive discount offer for our members!
Will do. Thanks for the heads up!
Quote from: IronX on December 09, 2019, 11:56:07 AM
Will do. Thanks for the heads up!
:DD
I sort of assumed you already had it...
delete
I will wait with patience. Like a stone.
For longer than I can remember. So at least three days.
Quote from: Gusington on December 09, 2019, 01:59:12 PM
For longer than I can remember. So at least three days.
I am very patient. ^-^
8)
I'm leaning hard to get this with my yearly Matrix coupon. However, there are two negatives I see. 1) Only one unit per hex. 2) Naval combat seems to have issues.
Most reviews on Steam are positive, but there is a negative one that is well written and lays out their concerns.
I like it, a lot. If you didn't like the way there other games play then your not going to like this one. The games are easy to get into with a lot of flava :) but the navel and the one unit per hex hasn't changed. OJ did you look at Warplan? if the navel and one unit per hex are a bother that game may be more up your alley. I've never really minded the tactical navel of the SC games, the no stacking did bother me at first because i think these were the first games i played without stacking but i got over and the games are fun as hell to me now.
I hear negative things about the Naval Combat. Anybody else?
Quote from: OJsDad on December 09, 2019, 06:45:03 PM
I'm leaning hard to get this with my yearly Matrix coupon. However, there are two negatives I see. 1) Only one unit per hex. 2) Naval combat seems to have issues.
Most reviews on Steam are positive, but there is a negative one that is well written and lays out their concerns.
The lack of stacking isn't as much of a problem in WW I because of the lack of the (often silly) specialized units that show up in the WW II games of the series.
Naval combat has issues that are unlikely to ever get fixed (it would require a complete rethink of much of the game system which wouldn't be that hard to do but is extremely unlikely to happen). However, it never bothered me too much in the earlier incarnations of the game if the Germans didn't try to sally out a la Jutland. The Med seemed to work ok, but it was always hard to ignore the wonky naval mechanics in the Baltic. If you've never played Steam and Iron it shouldn't bother you too much.
Quote from: Sir Slash on December 09, 2019, 07:53:09 PM
I hear negative things about the Naval Combat. Anybody else?
I haven't read anything about the negative comments about the Naval Combat so I'm afraid I'm uninformed about that. I have not seen any issues with Naval Combat however and am satisfied with how it works in game. Take that with a grain of salt however because my specialty and interests lies with land and air combat. I'm no naval expert and am content with the system in game.
The complaints I remember we're about the game being strategic and the counters are single ten strength ships. People mentioned it being like whack a mole where ships can hit and run out of sight , rinse and repeat with other ships. The developer mentioned that the design was to have the navel game more tactical. I don't mind it but can see where the others are coming from. I enjoy the cat and mouse aspect of the navel game. It is less of an issue in the WW1 game.
The Naval Combat piece isn't that strong, but my recollection is that the U-boat piece is more satisfying than the capital ship piece. Let's face it: How much of WW I was fought at sea?
I'm not trying to dis you Jutland fans, but WW I was a game mostly fought in Europe, and in that sense, the game works extremely well.
Budd, no I hadn't looked at Warplan, I'm more into WWI than II, but I'm looking at it anyways.
I had just seen the gripes about the naval combat, and thought I'd get some input from those here that have played it already.
I just got my yearly Martix coupon and will be getting SC:WWI and a one or two other items.
30% off for you guys this time...Good from December 18 through December 25 :coolsmiley:
http://grogheads.com/whatever/20432#more-20432 (http://grogheads.com/whatever/20432#more-20432)
Thanks. :clap:
Thanks JH :notworthy:, download complete.
Many thanks. I was a late beta tester for this so it's nice to pick up the release.
Just in time for payday tomorrow. :)
A worthy discount, so much appreciated and many thanks.
Groggy
Figured I would promote my friend Old Crow Balthazor's YouTube channel here and post the digital AAR on our new current series for Strategic Command WW1 since the newest patch updates. As they do for all games in the series it is consistently updated on player feedback by the Devs Bill and Hubert. This is the first YouTube series I have been involved in and it is a lot of fun to see our PBEM play out. OCB does a great job with his narrations and historical tidbits. Come join us for some WW1 action and history and maybe we will peak your interest in picking this one up! It is a great game and in my opinion the best WW1 game ever made!
Latest Patch Notes:
Strategic Command: World War I
v1.06.02
GAME ENGINE Changes
- Fixed an issue where a recently formed neutral minor nation, retained its previous resource strength settings without a proper reset, e.g. reflecting its possibly new and/or different resource organizational supply strength status (Bavre).
- Fixed an issue where active convoy calculations were performed prior to resource strength calculations, which could incorrectly result in some convoys showing as invalid, due to a weakened port, prior to the final resource strength updates (Mithilotter).
- Fixed an issue where renaming your HQ in the PURCHASE screen would not remove the originally named HQ from the list (ArcturusRising).
- Fixed an issue where a SURRENDER_2 event would incorrectly remove a friendly unit relative to the event recipient ID when located in the capital (petedalby).
- Removed the GDI+ installed check at runtime.
EDITOR
- Frozen weather zone data for Sea Effects can now be amended (no longer locked in) for Winter and Late Winter settings.
1914 Call to Arms; 1914 Triple Alliance
- National Morale scripts penalizing Germany and Austria-Hungary are now linked to dummy DE 8 rather than DE 28 (ThisEndUp; Bavre).
1914 Call to Arms; 1914 Triple Alliance; 1917 Fate of Nations
- Corrected the Mobilization_2 script #NAME= Ukraine->Central Powers (to offset the script below), to only require 4 German units, and have added a mention of this to the Strategy Guides (Bavre).
- Pop Up script #NAME= Strategic Advice To The Central Powers (6) - Keeping Four German units near Warsaw amended and duplicated so it provides a message and shows a blue icon when hovering over Warsaw when the condition is met, as well as a message and red icon when it isn't.
- The Strategy Guides have been updated (see DE 625) to correctly reflect the benefits of keeping German units in the east once the Ukraine has been formed, and also of the risk of not having them there.
1918 Ludendorff Offensive
- Fixed the end date of the campaign to be the 31st December (david_k_helm).
v 1.06.01
GAME ENGINE CHANGES
- Fixed a naval retreat error that did not always optimize retreats to nearby friendly ports (havoc1371, kirk23).
- Fixed a rare Carrier retreat from combat error that would sometimes lead to a CTD (arcturusrising).
- Fixed a Strategic Bomber attack error that in some cases did not allow you to scroll after the first strike (Mithrilotter).
1914 Call to Arms; 1914 Triple Alliance; 1917 Fate of Nations
- Fixed a POPUP event script error for keeping 4 German units near Warsaw (CaesarAug).
v 1.06.00:
GAME ENGINE
- Fixed a PURCHASE UNIT screen error that did not sometimes highlight Minor nation unit types with an '*' that could be repurchased at a discount (Earlydoors).
- Fixed a very rare game freeze during AI naval combat calculations (redrum68).
- Fixed a hex control update error around enemy resources that would sometimes revert control to your opponent when your own friendly unit positions should have prevented that from happening (EarlyDoors).
- Fixed a FoW error regarding units within resources of non belligerent but fully mobilized nations when moving adjacent to them, they will now remain hidden (atshii).
- Fixed a FoW error during an air attack that did not reveal units along the flight path when a sub dove (mdsmall).
- Fixed a unit swap error that sometimes led to higher than expected Ground Cover or Entrenchment values for Artillery, HQs and other non trench units (Will952).
- Fixed a naval unit movement error that would cause a CTD when moving to a Land + Sea hex that still had a trench on it (Bavre).
- Fixed a PBEM login issue that did not properly handle some special characters in passwords such as '#' or '!'.
- Fixed a PBEM save error for when a game has been 'resigned'.
- Fixed a disappearing trenches error during PBEM++ replays of previous turns (Will952).
- Last Turn Summary screen now has the option to list items in reverse chronological order (georgiabulldog1).
LAUNCHER
- Launcher now correctly links to the latest Strategy Guides (LoneRunner).
BLUE MAX MOD
- Fixed a missing naval mine graphic for the non NATO counter units (Narisomo).
1914 Call to Arms; 1914 Triple Alliance; 1917 Fate of Nations
- Changed the terrain to numbers 147 and 498 in hexes 190,13 and 191,12 respectively, as well as changing 191,13 to be a fully land hex, to enable rail traffic to pass to and from Alta in Norway (Scottydawg).
- Deleted the forest in hex 198,89 to avoid confusion as it couldn't be easily seen (mdsmall).
- Changed the weather for Late Spring (1st May to 20th June) in Russia (weather zone 5) to have a zero chance of mud (Trooper_One).
- Research progress for all Majors now averages at 5% for achieving levels 1-3, and 4% for achieving 4-5.
- Partisans no longer have Bomber Defence 1 (Bavre).
- Sweden's King's Gustav's rating corrected (ulver).
- Changed the Mobilization_3 scripts for the new countries when Austria-Hungary collapses so they join the Entente from Type= 1 to Type= 2 so that these countries will join the Entente after a few turns (huckster).
- Russia withdrawing from the war will now reduce Serbian National Morale by 2,500 points (mdsmall).
- The surrender of France will now reduce British National Morale by 7,500 points (mdsmall).
- Changed the Alignment_Position requirement for DE 36 Germany surrenders so it now checks for Ottawa being in Entente hands (Fafnir; Niedowidek_slith).
- The ability of Aerial Warfare to increase the Build Limits of Minors for Fighters, Recon Bombers, Ground Attack Bombers and Heavy Bombers has been removed (mdsmall).
- Minor Victory conditions corrected so they will now fire, Verdun replaces Warsaw as an objective in the Minor Victory Conditions, and these have been added to the 1917 campaign too (PSA; mdsmall).
- Dummy Decision DE 173 added to allow historical Pop Up messages of events during the war to be easily turned OFF by going to Options -> Advanced -> Scripts -> Decision. It is the first one in the list, and unticking the box on the right will mean that 95% of the messages that are only there for historical flavor, won't appear. A small number are tied into other Decision Events to ensure they only appear at the correct time, so they will still appear (Garrison Moratto).
- The text of the Pop Ups relating to Ukrainian Grain Supplies to Germany have been corrected and there have been very significant changes to DE 625 for Germany to receive Grain Supplies from the Ukraine. The benefits are now more nuanced, including there now being some benefit from them if the Ukraine joins the Central Powers. Please check the Strategy Guide under DE 625 for a full explanation.
- Improved the text relating to DE 625 in the Strategy Guides to explain how Germany can benefit the most from Ukrainian Grain (EQFL_Sapare).
- Improved the text relating to Unrestricted Naval Warfare in the Strategy Guides (mdsmall).
1914 Call to Arms; 1914 Triple Alliance
- Russia's Guard Cavalry in Shavli (192,65) now start with Ground Cover 1.
- Russian Garrison unit deployed at Riga with Ground Cover 2.
- Changed the triggers for dummy Decision 252 #NAME= France: Dummy - Supply Shipments To Serbia via Salonika so that Salonika transfers to Serbia if the Central Powers have a unit in any hex between Cetinje and Pristina (KorutZelva).
- The Resource scripts increasing French production are no longer tied to German advances into France.
1914 Call to Arms; 1917 Fate of Nations
- Fixed the label for the Italian National Morale script for the Fall of Verona as it had been mislabeled as the Fall of Udine - which exists separately too (mdsmall).
1914 Call to Arms
- The chance of the Austro-Hungarian AI transferring Trento and Trieste to Italy via DE 704 has been reduced from 25 to 15% (redrum68).
1914 Triple Alliance
- Two AI only National Morale scripts amended to fire to take into account that Italy is Central Powers rather than Entente (KorutZelva).
1914 March on Paris
- Disabled Operational Movement by all land units.
1917 Fate of Nations
- Fixed DE - 250 so it requires Corfu to be in Entente hands, rather than Cetinje, Pec or Pristina (mdsmall).
All Campaigns
- Cavalry Corps no longer have Bomber Defence 1 (Bavre).
- Changed the setting from -0.5 to 0.0 for Defender HQ losses greater than Attacker losses (ThisEndUp).
Great game - looks like tons of changes above! Thanks for posting.
I am in the middle of a PBEM game with an old friend of mine...having a great time. We even both read "Guns of August" to get in the mood.
It is not the most "accurate" WWI game out there, but it is much deeper than it looks, and at a high level fits well with the history of the war. In the end, IMHO the game is highly playable and addictive.
Quote from: ArizonaTank on December 09, 2021, 10:02:18 AM
I am in the middle of a PBEM game with an old friend of mine...having a great time. We even both read "Guns of August" to get in the mood.
It is not the most "accurate" WWI game out there, but it is much deeper than it looks, and at a high level fits well with the history of the war. In the end, IMHO the game is highly playable and addictive.
Curious which game do you feel is the most accurate game out there?
Awesome stuff Tanaka and thanks for sharing! This is a great game and I like it much better than Commander: The Great War.
Arizona I agree with your assessment of Strategic Command: World War I.
Quote from: Tanaka on December 09, 2021, 02:25:57 PM
Quote from: ArizonaTank on December 09, 2021, 10:02:18 AM
I am in the middle of a PBEM game with an old friend of mine...having a great time. We even both read "Guns of August" to get in the mood.
It is not the most "accurate" WWI game out there, but it is much deeper than it looks, and at a high level fits well with the history of the war. In the end, IMHO the game is highly playable and addictive.
Curious which game do you feel is the most accurate game out there?
I think "To End All Wars" or its older sibling "World War I Centennial Edition" are much less "beer and pretzels" than Strat Com WWI
Love this game and the whole series.
It's a close call for me between SCWW1 and Commander the Great War. CTGW is pretty good with the Potzblitz mod which just got a new release. It's been worked on for years. https://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=218&t=77884
I just picked up To End All Wars during the current sale, man it looks complicated. I've always struggled with AGEOD games. I've read the manual and opened the game up to look around, but that's it so far. The game map is real nice, so hopefully it will click with me better then the other AGEOD games i've tried. Also picked up Revolution under Siege, as the Russian civil war has always interested me. Need to hunt up some good books on the subject.
Right now i'm pretty well locked into Decisive Campaigns Ardennes.
To learn TEAW definitely start with the Tannenberg scenario as either side as that scenario is quite easy to play and introduces you to a lot of the game's concepts. I replay that scenario over and over.
Quote from: ArizonaTank on December 09, 2021, 08:34:42 PM
Quote from: Tanaka on December 09, 2021, 02:25:57 PM
Quote from: ArizonaTank on December 09, 2021, 10:02:18 AM
I am in the middle of a PBEM game with an old friend of mine...having a great time. We even both read "Guns of August" to get in the mood.
It is not the most "accurate" WWI game out there, but it is much deeper than it looks, and at a high level fits well with the history of the war. In the end, IMHO the game is highly playable and addictive.
Curious which game do you feel is the most accurate game out there?
I think "To End All Wars" or its older sibling "World War I Centennial Edition" are much less "beer and pretzels" than Strat Com WWI
I agree TEAW and WW1 Gold have a lot of detail. I've tried to get into them but they become such a slog. Those Ageod games are great but can really be frustrating too with the wack a mole thing. The SC series seems to hit the right spot for me. I've always wanted Panzer General Extra on a grand scale and these games give me that. The PBEM system is great fun!
Quote from: -budd- on December 09, 2021, 10:51:44 PM
It's a close call for me between SCWW1 and Commander the Great War. CTGW is pretty good with the Potzblitz mod which just got a new release. It's been worked on for years. https://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=218&t=77884
I just picked up To End All Wars during the current sale, man it looks complicated. I've always struggled with AGEOD games. I've read the manual and opened the game up to look around, but that's it so far. The game map is real nice, so hopefully it will click with me better then the other AGEOD games i've tried. Also picked up Revolution under Siege, as the Russian civil war has always interested me. Need to hunt up some good books on the subject.
Right now i'm pretty well locked into Decisive Campaigns Ardennes.
Yeah Commander the Great War is a good one and even better with the Potzblitz mod but I do feel SCWW1 is a more modern better game and still being updated. There are a lot of things about CTGW I don't like especially all of the randoms at start.
TEAW is very complicated and can be a real slog but it is a good game if you want a lot of detail. Ageod games are a finicky beast. I've always strugged with them as well. And I hate chasing down all of the wack a mole units.
My biggest problem with AGEOD games is understanding all of the obscure details under the hood. A lot of times I organize my forces per the suggestions of both veteran players as well as what the manual says and I still lose battles that I thought for sure I would win.
Too much frustration trying to understand a game that is not well documented made me give up on AGEOD last year.
AGEOD games always hurt my brain and as I age it doesn't get any better. They take on the historical conflicts I have total interest in like the Russian Civil War, First World War, etc., but learning their games and systems takes a lot of mental energy. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around Revolution Under Siege.
Quote from: Gusington on December 10, 2021, 10:11:27 AM
AGEOD games always hurt my brain and as I age it doesn't get any better. They take on the historical conflicts I have total interest in like the Russian Civil War, First World War, etc., but learning their games and systems takes a lot of mental energy. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around Revolution Under Siege.
Same with me until I got Civil War 2, then it clicked, I got it and have enjoyed it ever since.
Still waiting :-[
TEAW Is the only AGEOD game I just gave-up on. There's too many units in the campaigns and it plays like the game's playing itself with units charging all over the map. Playing it is like herding cats. Very unhistorical and confusing though I love the look of the game. Though you maybe able to adjust the AI Aggressiveness down some and have it play better. Civil War 2 was my favorite and a true gem.
Quote from: Sir Slash on December 10, 2021, 11:28:14 AM
TEAW Is the only AGEOD game I just gave-up on. There's too many units in the campaigns and it plays like the game's playing itself with units charging all over the map. Playing it is like herding cats. Very unhistorical and confusing though I love the look of the game. Though you maybe able to adjust the AI Aggressiveness down some and have it play better. Civil War 2 was my favorite and a true gem.
Like "Herding Cats" haha. This might be the best description of Ageod games I have heard.
Yes BoA2 and CW2 and AJE are the best in my opinion. FOG Empires is a step up and finally improved on the herding and slogginess.
Any of you have any luck with Revolution Under Siege?
I played the demo years back. Good but I didn't care for the time period really.
I've been a big fan of Ageod, especially EAW. Agree with getting into ACW2 or BOA first to learn the system.
I'm a scholar of WWI and I suppose that's why EAW clicks with me. CTGW was just too abstract for me and
dang but I've got about 3 different versions of SCWWI and I don't even know which one is the best or if they're
all essentially the same.
Quote from: gregb41352 on December 10, 2021, 05:51:33 PM
I've been a big fan of Ageod, especially EAW. Agree with getting into ACW2 or BOA first to learn the system.
I'm a scholar of WWI and I suppose that's why EAW clicks with me. CTGW was just too abstract for me and
dang but I've got about 3 different versions of SCWWI and I don't even know which one is the best or if they're
all essentially the same.
Agree about CTGW. This version of SCWW1 is definitely the best!
Quote from: Gusington on December 10, 2021, 03:07:25 PM
Any of you have any luck with Revolution Under Siege?
I've got it but yet to try playing it yet. Too many other Ageod games waiting on me haha...
It is quite a monster. Gird yourself, whenever you do try it.
Quote from: Gusington on December 10, 2021, 09:49:40 PM
It is quite a monster. Gird yourself, whenever you do try it.
Is this your favorite of the series? Like others said I don't know as much about this conflict as the rest so it's at the bottom of the pile. Can you entice me? Haha
Hm, most accurate WW1 game... (I'll see if AzTank agrees with estimates).
Not sure how playable it is right now, but Matrix's first published WW1 game was Guns of August. It has unit stacking and quite a lot of details under the hood, for a groggy board game experience. Don't recall how granular it is on production and historical choices etc. -- I own it, but have only fiddled with it a little long ago.
Hearts of Iron: Darkest Hour (or whatever that official super-mod is called) has a WW1 start (and an unofficial Grand Campaign mod which connects it with the scripts for the earliest WW2 start), and it has a lot of bling going for it. It doesn't have trench warfare, which is a big problem, but also a limitation of the game engine, so I could understand that being a gamebreaker. (Fortification levels do sort of simulate trench warfare, but no moreso than fortification levels in WW2 time periods.) The entire world and all its nations are up for play; you can stack units by assigning divisions to corps (with special 'brigade' subunits attached to divs), then corps to armies via HQs; the air war and naval war are probably the most detailed for any WW1 strategy game so far (as you'd expect for a HOI series game, though on the other hand no better than any HOI game especially from that design period 2010ish.) For playability and detail, this is my overall pick for #1.
Matrix's other first WW1 game, World War One Gold (which was briefly sold as WW1: Centennial on Steam and Gamersgate by another publisher trying to revitalize and fix the game), could conceivably be the best WW1 experience per se as long as you don't care much about the naval side and reduce the air to properly minor support (at the strategic scale). It will drive you insane with its picky details, and it's kind of broken in places, which thematically fits! :bd: But no one can fault its ambition in principle, to take a monster WW1 board game and try to fit it into a pseudo-AGE-engine computer game design. It's as beautiful as a fairy queen on a steady diet of absinthe. Matrix supplanted it with a more properly Ageod-based WW1 game a few years ago, To End All Wars, about which I have no experience (and because of which they forced the Centennial game to cease sales and development. :'( Understandably, from their perspective, though the legal questions involved seemed sketchy.) It's my favorite WW1 strategic game, and I kind of hate even trying to play it, so I can't recommend it exactly. But damn it's.... damnable! :dreamer:
It's possible that Supreme Ruler Ultimate with its Great War DLC (based on a prior edition of the series focusing only on WW1) might theoretically be superior to Darkest Hour, but it has a notorious number of problems even in its latest series iteration. I own it, but haven't played it.
I wish I could Tanaka.
Each time I have fired it up, even the tutorials for Revolution Under Siege have befuddled me. I just re-installed it yesterday to try this winter. I am very interested in the Russian Civil War and the related conflicts too...I would imagine for someone not as into the subject matter it would be even more difficult to get into.
Same with To End All Wars, and I have had a keen interest in the First World War since I was a young kid.
Quote from: JasonPratt on December 11, 2021, 05:03:30 PM
Hm, most accurate WW1 game... (I'll see if AzTank agrees with estimates).
Not sure how playable it is right now, but Matrix's first published WW1 game was Guns of August. It has unit stacking and quite a lot of details under the hood, for a groggy board game experience. Don't recall how granular it is on production and historical choices etc. -- I own it, but have only fiddled with it a little long ago.
Hearts of Iron: Darkest Hour (or whatever that official super-mod is called) has a WW1 start (and an unofficial Grand Campaign mod which connects it with the scripts for the earliest WW2 start), and it has a lot of bling going for it. It doesn't have trench warfare, which is a big problem, but also a limitation of the game engine, so I could understand that being a gamebreaker. (Fortification levels do sort of simulate trench warfare, but no moreso than fortification levels in WW2 time periods.) The entire world and all its nations are up for play; you can stack units by assigning divisions to corps (with special 'brigade' subunits attached to divs), then corps to armies via HQs; the air war and naval war are probably the most detailed for any WW1 strategy game so far (as you'd expect for a HOI series game, though on the other hand no better than any HOI game especially from that design period 2010ish.) For playability and detail, this is my overall pick for #1.
Matrix's other first WW1 game, World War One Gold (which was briefly sold as WW1: Centennial on Steam and Gamersgate by another publisher trying to revitalize and fix the game), could conceivably be the best WW1 experience per se as long as you don't care much about the naval side and reduce the air to properly minor support (at the strategic scale). It will drive you insane with its picky details, and it's kind of broken in places, which thematically fits! :bd: But no one can fault its ambition in principle, to take a monster WW1 board game and try to fit it into a pseudo-AGE-engine computer game design. It's as beautiful as a fairy queen on a steady diet of absinthe. Matrix supplanted it with a more properly Ageod-based WW1 game a few years ago, To End All Wars, about which I have no experience (and because of which they forced the Centennial game to cease sales and development. :'( Understandably, from their perspective, though the legal questions involved seemed sketchy.) It's my favorite WW1 strategic game, and I kind of hate even trying to play it, so I can't recommend it exactly. But damn it's.... damnable! :dreamer:
It's possible that Supreme Ruler Ultimate with its Great War DLC (based on a prior edition of the series focusing only on WW1) might theoretically be superior to Darkest Hour, but it has a notorious number of problems even in its latest series iteration. I own it, but haven't played it.
Nice write up. Never tried Guns of August the age of the game and old graphics kept me from going back to try that one.
I do own the HOI series and have seen those WW1 mods. Should probably try them out. I also have a hard time getting into the real time aspect of Paradox games. I feel like I am just staring at a screen constantly. I much prefer turn based.
I also own WW1 gold but switched to TEAW when that came out and never went back. I should give it a try again but like TEAW the details bogged me down.
Never played Supreme Ruler or that WW1 DLC. Isn't Supreme Ruler also real time? I think that is why I passed on that one.
Quote from: Gusington on December 11, 2021, 05:46:29 PM
I wish I could Tanaka.
Each time I have fired it up, even the tutorials for Revolution Under Siege have befuddled me. I just re-installed it yesterday to try this winter. I am very interested in the Russian Civil War and the related conflicts too...I would imagine for someone not as into the subject matter it would be even more difficult to get into.
Same with To End All Wars, and I have had a keen interest in the First World War since I was a young kid.
Yeah I would say the same for several of the Ageod games haha. This is why I prefer the SC series. A lot of detail under the hood but much easier to get into and the PBEM is a blast.
^Yeah I was able to get into SCWWI with far less effort and enjoyed what I played.
The tricks to fingering out the AGEOD games are:
1) The interface for moving units is like a tabletop game. Drag and drop where you want to move your 'pieces'. It will happen simultaneously after you end the turn, due to it's WEGO system, but it's still much like a board game in function.
2) Each 'piece' on the board is a container which can hold numerous other pieces/units. Drag them in or out via the unit window at the bottom, which is the open container of your selected map piece. Drop them on other unit containers' tabs to switch directly between army containers, or drag them directly onto the map to make a separate map piece(army).
3) Organize your armies, as above, then drag to move them where you want them to advance. Remember to set the appropriate stance if you want them to assault, attack, defend, etc. If you don't set them to the red or orange attack stances, they likely won't enter a battle with an enemy force in the same space unless the enemy is set to one of those attack stances. To make sure you attack an enemy army put them in one of those attack stances.
4) Some AGEOD games have command points. Make sure you have enough CP in each container/unit to cover the CP usage of all the armed units in the same container. As best you can, for efficient use of your combat power. There will also often be sub-containers within each army. These are the lower ranking generals themselves. In order to increase CP efficiency and get more bang for your CP buck. Ctrl+click each individual soldier unit you wish to attach to the lower ranked general. After they'll all group selected like this, hit the 'create division/brigade/whatever unit command button and it will bunch them all up into that General's unit card at the bottom, and indicate so. You can combine and un-combine them this way. Only a few AGE games have this extra layer, ACW being one of them that I recall.
It's been awhile since I last played an AGE game, but I've dabbled across numerous ones over the years. So my terminology may not be on due to my shrinking amount of brain cells.
I have recommended AJE as a decent beginner one since, IIRC, it doesn't have the extended Command Point thing. Which is usually the biggest hurdle for people hiking the learning curve. Other than the cointainers and extended CP facets in some, it's not too bad. Drag 'n drop, baby. :nerd:
Thanks Nef
Also, some games have an "advance to sound of the guns" feature. Corps within an army will move to support a nearby corps if it gets into battle. Can't remember all the nuances of that feature anymore. I do think you have to set it somewhere, maybe in the army HQ container or maybe in each corps.
Yes nice write ups guys. My biggest beef with Ageod games is playing whack a mole with all of the single units running around...
Quote from: Gusington on December 13, 2021, 04:43:45 PM
Thanks Nef
'Taint nuthin muh man! :bd:
Quote from: bobarossa on December 13, 2021, 05:43:27 PM
Also, some games have an "advance to sound of the guns" feature. Corps within an army will move to support a nearby corps if it gets into battle. Can't remember all the nuances of that feature anymore. I do think you have to set it somewhere, maybe in the army HQ container or maybe in each corps.
I think only a few of them had that. Once again, ACW being an example. Pretty sure it would be set to do that by default so I rarely messed with it unless trying some extra sneaky shiht. In AGE games as large as ACW, I can see why they included it. Sure, it's historically appropriate, but the tricky strategery part of the series is figuring out how to force the battle you want, where you want it. On a map with many zones to be moved through during a WEGO turn, the uncertainty of the meeting engagements can still lead to larger battles if you keep the Corps next to it's parent Army. Like casting a wide net.
Quote from: Tanaka on December 14, 2021, 03:38:38 AM
Yes nice write ups guys. My biggest beef with Ageod games is playing whack a mole with all of the single units running around...
Definitely a pain in the ass, those tiny armies roaming around and being a nuisance. Some titles have less of it than others. Having to send out your own small units with high Patrol values to catch raiders all the time is just extra busy work. Again, I think Alea Jacta Est has less of that issue due to fewer small-sized units with high Evasion ratings compared to other titles. Also don't think the AI can handle chasing them down well if the player gives it a taste of it's own witchery and does the excessive raids into AI territory.
I'd be playing the AGE games more often nowadays if it weren't for the issue of steadily expanding screen resolutions making many older game engines' text so tiny since they weren't made to scale upward. I'm not even blind like most old wargamer farts and still find it a bit frustrating.
I fired this game up the other day. I have the Matrix version so no need to log into Steam to run it. Started a new game after patching in the latest update and that darn thing keeps crashing on me. I believe it might have to do with a graphic mod I downloaded ages ago when I first got the game but haven't checked it out yet.
Anyone experiencing crashes? Mine was some sort of "failure to find asset" crash that is definitely repeatable and reproducible.
Quote from: W8taminute on December 21, 2021, 10:54:28 AM
I fired this game up the other day. I have the Matrix version so no need to log into Steam to run it. Started a new game after patching in the latest update and that darn thing keeps crashing on me. I believe it might have to do with a graphic mod I downloaded ages ago when I first got the game but haven't checked it out yet.
Anyone experiencing crashes? Mine was some sort of "failure to find asset" crash that is definitely repeatable and reproducible.
Yes it is your mod for sure. Just uninstall the mod and reinstall it but if that does not work contact the devs Bill and Hubert on the forums they are always quick to help out...
Lovely looking mod! :bd: Any chance you'll stick it on the Steam workshop?
Quote from: Boggit on December 31, 2021, 02:52:30 AM
Lovely looking mod! :bd: Any chance you'll stick it on the Steam workshop?
Huh? What mod are you talking about?
BTW, the official "Blue Max" mod is a pretty hefty rework of the unit graphics, screens and sounds...very, very, nicely done. Gives the game a much more historical feel. I highly recommend it. Added bonus is that since it is an "official" mod, it should not have compatibility issues as the core game is patched.
Blue Max is pretty hassle-free if messing with traditional fan mods is not your thing. Blue Max is easy to turn on / off from the Mods button on settings section from the main menu.
Quote from: ArizonaTank on January 01, 2022, 11:25:30 AM
BTW, the official "Blue Max" mod is a pretty hefty rework of the unit graphics, screens and sounds...very, very, nicely done. Gives the game a much more historical feel. I highly recommend it. Added bonus is that since it is an "official" mod, it should not have compatibility issues as the core game is patched.
Blue Max is pretty hassle-free if messing with traditional fan mods is not your thing. Blue Max is easy to turn on / off from the Mods button on settings section from the main menu.
Yep maybe that is what he is referring to...
In true Grog fashion, I had forgotten that I had this game - :P. Thanks for the heads-up with the mod, though, so hopefully I'll remember to use it as well.
Quote from: Dammit Carl! on January 01, 2022, 02:49:10 PM
In true Grog fashion, I had forgotten that I had this game - :P. Thanks for the heads-up with the mod, though, so hopefully I'll remember to use it as well.
edit: wrong thread!
Quote from: Tanaka on January 01, 2022, 03:49:05 AM
Quote from: Boggit on December 31, 2021, 02:52:30 AM
Lovely looking mod! :bd: Any chance you'll stick it on the Steam workshop?
Huh? What mod are you talking about?
Iron X's... ???
Quote from: JasonPratt on December 11, 2021, 05:03:30 PM
Hm, most accurate WW1 game... (I'll see if AzTank agrees with estimates).
....
Matrix's other first WW1 game, World War One Gold (which was briefly sold as WW1: Centennial on Steam and Gamersgate by another publisher trying to revitalize and fix the game), could conceivably be the best WW1 experience per se as long as you don't care much about the naval side and reduce the air to properly minor support (at the strategic scale). It will drive you insane with its picky details, and it's kind of broken in places, which thematically fits! :bd: But no one can fault its ambition in principle, to take a monster WW1 board game and try to fit it into a pseudo-AGE-engine computer game design. It's as beautiful as a fairy queen on a steady diet of absinthe. Matrix supplanted it with a more properly Ageod-based WW1 game a few years ago, To End All Wars, about which I have no experience (and because of which they forced the Centennial game to cease sales and development. :'( Understandably, from their perspective, though the legal questions involved seemed sketchy.) It's my favorite WW1 strategic game, and I kind of hate even trying to play it, so I can't recommend it exactly. But damn it's.... damnable! :dreamer:
...
+1 I agree, I think To End All Wars is the best WWI grand strategy computer game out there in terms of "realism". It's older brother, WWI CE is not bad either, but as you said, frustrating in places.
BTW, WWI CE should get honorable mention for its inclusion of period music. There were over 85 songs, many of them recorded during the war. Some of them rarer stuff like Italian, Russian and Serbian songs. They were conveniently placed in a separate folder, in MP3 files. I made a CD and I used to listen to them on my way to work...great stuff. If you have CE and never cracked it open...I highly recommend it.
Another game we forgot to mention; Muzzy Lane released "Making History The First World War" in March of last year. I have it, but it seems pretty much an upgrade of their "MH Great War" that was released about seven years ago. I have a love / hate thing with the whole MH series...so I can't really recommend it.
Still having said all of that...Strategic Command: World War I is probably the easiest to play, while still modeling the war at a high level pretty well.
Quote from: Boggit on January 02, 2022, 09:39:04 PM
Quote from: Tanaka on January 01, 2022, 03:49:05 AM
Quote from: Boggit on December 31, 2021, 02:52:30 AM
Lovely looking mod! :bd: Any chance you'll stick it on the Steam workshop?
Huh? What mod are you talking about?
Iron X's... ???
The Blue Max mod? It comes with the game now. Just activate it in the options/mods section...
Quote from: ArizonaTank on January 02, 2022, 11:33:48 PM
BTW, WWI CE should get honorable mention for its inclusion of period music. There were over 85 songs, many of them recorded during the war. Some of them rarer stuff like Italian, Russian and Serbian songs. They were conveniently placed in a separate folder, in MP3 files. I made a CD and I used to listen to them on my way to work...great stuff. If you have CE and never cracked it open...I highly recommend it.
Does it include a version of Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire? They still sell this on GamersGate for $20 so I almost want to grab it just for the soundtrack. :2funny:
Quote from: al_infierno on January 03, 2022, 10:45:04 PM
Quote from: ArizonaTank on January 02, 2022, 11:33:48 PM
BTW, WWI CE should get honorable mention for its inclusion of period music. There were over 85 songs, many of them recorded during the war. Some of them rarer stuff like Italian, Russian and Serbian songs. They were conveniently placed in a separate folder, in MP3 files. I made a CD and I used to listen to them on my way to work...great stuff. If you have CE and never cracked it open...I highly recommend it.
Does it include a version of Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire? They still sell this on GamersGate for $20 so I almost want to grab it just for the soundtrack. :2funny:
No, sadly, "Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire" is not there. But great song. Reminds me "Saigon Warrior" from the Vietnam era. If that kind of music is of interest, I know of a great album of Vietnam era songs done by the American troops. But I'll set up another thread so I don't derail this one.
http://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=26137.0 (http://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=26137.0)
Anyone heard from IronX? He used to come around quite regularly...
Quote from: Gusington on January 04, 2022, 08:46:37 PM
Anyone heard from IronX? He used to come around quite regularly...
Have not seen him here or the Matrix forums in a while...
Hope he's alright. He always posted great stuff and is a good all-around feller.