I'm taking a geezer class on military technology from Napoleon to WW1. My instructor played Panzer Blitz/Panzer Leader tabletop back in the day and would like to start wargaming again.
What would you recommend as a good introductory PC wargame on the tactical level (say company level) set in WW2? Something not terribly expensive and relatively easy to learn.
I'm considering PanzerCorps but I don't play company level games much and would appreciate suggestions.
I still find myself going back to Steel Panthers for company level WW2. However, the price for getting the windows version of that very old game is kind of high.
I wish there was some real info on Steel Tigers out there after all these years.
Battle Academy? Maybe a little simple but it's easy to get into.
https://www.matrixgames.com/game/tigers-on-the-hunt
Tigers on the Hunt is a World War 2 hard-core tactical wargame that creates a perfect combination of PC interface and streamlined play with in depth tactical simulation.
@SirAndrewD Have you tried the free SP games ?
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/Camo_Workshop/WW2/WW2_page.html
This is the free version of winSPWW2 for the Windows platform. If you are purchasing the Enhanced CD Version, we have included this file on the CD so that you do not need to download it here. The 'Features' section will allow you to check out the differences between the two versions.
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/Camo_Workshop/MBT/MBT_page.html
Unity of Command might interest him.
Not sure I would recommend Tigers on the Hunt to somebody new to computer wargaming, tbh. The UI is dreadful and it's a very difficult game to get into imo. He'd probably be better off just learning ASL and downloading VASL...
Quote from: Pete Dero on November 05, 2019, 03:28:31 PM
https://www.matrixgames.com/game/tigers-on-the-hunt
Tigers on the Hunt is a World War 2 hard-core tactical wargame that creates a perfect combination of PC interface and streamlined play with in depth tactical simulation.
From the game description:
The sequence of play is more complex and interactive than any other WW2 turn based PC tactical wargamePete - Appreciate your consideration, but this is not what I have in mind for someone coming back to wargaming after a 40-50 year absence.
Quote from: Pete Dero on November 05, 2019, 03:28:31 PM
@SirAndrewD Have you tried the free SP games ?
I did. I upgraded to the paid version of the Shrapnel games for both SP 1 and 2 some time ago. They're what I was referring to, but you're right, he could always try out the free versions. They both play well too, I just paid the premium for the HD mode since my eyes get worse as I get older.
Anything in the John Tiller's Squad Battles series should scratch the itch. Generally on the platoon/Company level and good entry mechanics.
Are you limited to a PC representation of a tabletop hex'n'counter game? If not, surely Combat Mission and/or Command Ops2.
Combat mission cmx2
Perhaps the older close combat games
Id recommend armoured brigade which I just got but its not ww2
The original Combat Mission is not very difficult, is tons of fun, and is inexpensive. It would also work on a not very powerful rig (I don't know what he has).
This is a wild idea, so it very well may not work. Ogre is cheap and easy. It wold allow him to dip his toe into very easy wargaming to see if he still is even interested. The downside is that it is science fiction, vice WWII. If WWII is his thing, then Steel Panthers or the original Combat Mission.
One other idea: Have him look at some youtube videos of CM and Steel Panthers, (and other games) and see which might interest him.
The Combat Mission Games all have free demos and would be a good start.
Or if he wants more of a board game style with counters the new PC game WarPlan might be an idea. Especially if he is familiar with and liked the board games Rise and Decline of the Third Reich or World in Flames which both influenced the development of WarPlan.
Sorry you said company level tactical............... so scratch WarPlan.
Can someone clarify wargaming levels.
When we say "company-level", is it each unit is a company? Or you command units which comprise a company (I.e. platoons and squads)
Quote from: airboy on November 05, 2019, 03:43:51 PM
Quote from: Pete Dero on November 05, 2019, 03:28:31 PM
https://www.matrixgames.com/game/tigers-on-the-hunt
Tigers on the Hunt is a World War 2 hard-core tactical wargame that creates a perfect combination of PC interface and streamlined play with in depth tactical simulation.
From the game description: The sequence of play is more complex and interactive than any other WW2 turn based PC tactical wargame
Pete - Appreciate your consideration, but this is not what I have in mind for someone coming back to wargaming after a 40-50 year absence.
This was the reason I mentioned it for an 'older wargamer' :
This game is inspired by ASL and other older board gaming systems. It's the old full & half squad type of gaming. If you liked SL or ASL, you will enjoy this title.It is not as complex as they let you think.
Perhaps Order of Battle? It's free and if liked, has plenty of reasonably priced "modules," to plug into the base game in order to explore different theaters of WW2 without having to re-learn rules/buttons/whatnot. I've enjoyed the snot out of it for that reason alone.
Quote from: Pete Dero on November 06, 2019, 03:46:19 AM
Quote from: airboy on November 05, 2019, 03:43:51 PM
Quote from: Pete Dero on November 05, 2019, 03:28:31 PM
https://www.matrixgames.com/game/tigers-on-the-hunt
Tigers on the Hunt is a World War 2 hard-core tactical wargame that creates a perfect combination of PC interface and streamlined play with in depth tactical simulation.
From the game description: The sequence of play is more complex and interactive than any other WW2 turn based PC tactical wargame
Pete - Appreciate your consideration, but this is not what I have in mind for someone coming back to wargaming after a 40-50 year absence.
This was the reason I mentioned it for an 'older wargamer' :
This game is inspired by ASL and other older board gaming systems. It's the old full & half squad type of gaming. If you liked SL or ASL, you will enjoy this title.
It is not as complex as they let you think.
+1 my experience with the game agrees with PD's assessment...the UI is challenging but not all that complex. The game has a lot in common with the old ASL board game yet not as complex.
Leaving aside things already mentioned:
Tiller's campaign series (the Matrix collection) might be too much, but it does feature what amounts to companies moving around on a hex field, and has more WW2 content than anything else I can think of for the price point.
A great looking PG game is Panzer Strategy -- from the devs who just also adapted Pacific General as Strategic Mind: Pacific. It's a little wonky, but has lots of chrome and some nice details, basically the PG equivalent of Fantasy Wars / Elven Legacy (as the successor to Fantasy General).
Matrix's Battle of Stalingrad adaptation from Lock&Load is a straight-up tactical squad level boardgame port, although L&L are about to release a bunch of upgraded computer adaptations themselves (if they haven't done so already?)
Matrix's Conflict of Heroes is another straight company-level boardgame port.
Man we're really good at telling people how to spend money haha
I enjoy Germany at War: https://www.slitherine.com/game/germany-at-war-barbarossa-1941 (https://www.slitherine.com/game/germany-at-war-barbarossa-1941)
Battle Academy by Matrix is easy to play and more of a simulation than it seems. Uses realistic interactions between weapon types. I highly recommend it. Does PBEM as well.
https://www.matrixgames.com/game/battle-academy (https://www.matrixgames.com/game/battle-academy)
Battle Academy 2 is good as well, but somewhat expensive.
Quote from: jomni on November 05, 2019, 10:29:07 PM
Can someone clarify wargaming levels.
When we say "company-level", is it each unit is a company? Or you command units which comprise a company (I.e. platoons and squads)
I've always taken it as the first one
I think Tigers on the Hunt is an excellent suggestion. It looks and plays like something from an earlier time, one probably more familiar to this person. The UI is a little unrefined, but certainly functional.
But the play is solid and while I may have not fired the game up in a year or so, there are tons of free scenarios to play and modding to look like everyones favorite rule-riddled game of yesteryear.
While the turn may seem complex, and there are in fact several phases, it's all pretty intuitive.
Think I might have to let the Tigers roll again myself. I kind of forgot about it until this thread.
Quote from: -budd- on November 06, 2019, 08:06:14 PM
Quote from: jomni on November 05, 2019, 10:29:07 PM
Can someone clarify wargaming levels.
When we say "company-level", is it each unit is a company? Or you command units which comprise a company (I.e. platoons and squads)
I've always taken it as the first one
Yup. So most of the recommendations coming in are squad-level. Though it's quite rare for company-level games. I know of platoon-level like John Tiller Campaign Series and Campaign Battles.