Scourge of war remastered

[Grim.Reaper]

I have the original.  Am I correct that this new release is a standalone game...not dlc?

Correct, must purchase stand alone, although you can copy the dlc from your old game and use it within the new game.

[Bardolph]

The thing that always bugged me about the SoW series was the dreaded X formation, where the AI would take two regiments and form them in an X shape and they would happily fire away down the length of their friends formation. Such a silly thing and while I am no programmer I would think it shouldn't be too hard to tell the AI not to put two units in the same space. This was related to the constant conga line movements of the AI as it rapidly changed facing in response to the enemy activity.

Other than that I had a lot of fun with them starting with the first Take Command: Bull Run game back in 04.

[Grim.Reaper]

The thing that always bugged me about the SoW series was the dreaded X formation, where the AI would take two regiments and form them in an X shape and they would happily fire away down the length of their friends formation. Such a silly thing and while I am no programmer I would think it shouldn't be too hard to tell the AI not to put two units in the same space. This was related to the constant conga line movements of the AI as it rapidly changed facing in response to the enemy activity.

Other than that I had a lot of fun with them starting with the first Take Command: Bull Run game back in 04.

If I am understanding your comments correctly, this might still be in the game.  Had one of my units lined up and then the enemy lined up their unit right through my line, creating an X.  Was kind of odd to see as of course that wouldn't happen in reality.  Hopefully something they continue to improve now that they got the initial release out of the way.

[JasonPratt]

That's because the 'real' unit is a point on the map with gfx arranged around or behind the point. The arrangement does affect firepower and some other things but the graphics are only graphics for hoomans to look at.

This is why you can have pieces of a regiment (I think I recall that being the smallest unit) sticking out of trees or other cover, but the unit is still in cover depending on the point location. The infamous X forms are an artifact of that: allied units look like they're shooting into each other, enemy units look like they're overlapping each other, etc.

[Geezer]

Is that Kevin Costner lying on the ground?

[Jarhead0331]

Is that Kevin Costner lying on the ground?

No. It is Lieutenant John J. Dunbar. 

[ArizonaTank]

I am interested in supporting the devs, so I picked this up.

Played around with it for an hour or so.

Can't really see any big differences from the previous version. AI still a little wonky (IMHO) in terms of formations, facing etc. Graphics are similar...but I think it supports more soldier sprites than before (but not sure).

But I will spend more time with it.

[Toonces]

None of these small impressions is inspiring me to pick this up.  Plus, I really am not a Napoleonic wars fan.

[Father Ted]

I am interested in supporting the devs, so I picked this up.

Me too.  And for me it's a reasonable price point, especially if, as suggested, I can use the existing DLC with it.

[Grim.Reaper]

I am interested in supporting the devs, so I picked this up.

Me too.  And for me it's a reasonable price point, especially if, as suggested, I can use the existing DLC with it.

Yes, you can use the DLC from the other Napoleon battles, I have already loaded them from my previous copy and they work fine.  Agree, for me the low cost is a no brainer, especially when the ACW content starts flowing.

[Tanaka]

How do you guys compare SOW battles to Grand Tactician the CW battles? Which is better?

[Destraex]

How do you guys compare SOW battles to Grand Tactician the CW battles? Which is better?

I just got both and UG:AR.

SOW:LARGE army battles the closest graphical representation in terms of scale. It's approx 1:2 scale with mods in the older non 64bit version enabling 1:1 scale iirc.  Multiplayer possible with both sides having support for a human general and human sub commanders. The strategic layer in SOW is pretty rubbish. This is the game you want if you want set piece battles and like the spectacle of watching huge numbers of troops role around. There are about 200 men in a 480 man battalion in that second shot. SOW has a tonne of tactical formation options for both entire formations as well as individual units. I have never seen any game depict this side of things so well.
This is what you will see in SOW:



Grand Tactician: Nowhere near 1:1 scale but "seems" to be insanely detailed at the strategic map layer as well as the tactical battle layer. I have only loaded the game up once and not played it yet. But it looked great. Just not in a civil war kinda mood. But the special was at it's cheapest I had seen. Single player only. AI is meant to be a little rubbish from what I hear. Better graphics in Grand Tactician.
This is what you will see in Grand Tactician: I think it's about 1:16 scale. 1600 men in that shot represented by about 80 men on the field.




Sorry but I have no idea which is better. If Grand Tactician is as detailed as SOW at the tactical level then I guess Grand Tactician is. But multiplayer and scale of the battle may tip things in SOWs direction. SOW I suspect is much more detailed at the tactical level, but no real way to tell for me yet. I have no experience in grand tactician.

[Grim.Reaper]

How do you guys compare SOW battles to Grand Tactician the CW battles? Which is better?

Although both have room for improvement, not even close for me, scourge of war battles are hugely better for me. Since I am big on the civil war, I thought that grand tactician would be something I would play forever but I really don't like it due to the battles themselves.  Always seem to get crazy logic and decision making by the ai, even after all the updates and trying all the settings.  The ai puts troops in odd places and makes odd decisions whether to attack or hold back.  With that said, certainly sow has some odd things in troop arrangement and such but in most cases seems to make reasonable decisions or at least as not as frustrating.  I know a lot of people seem to like grand tactician, so could just be me, but something I don't even bother playing nowadays.

[Tanaka]

How do you guys compare SOW battles to Grand Tactician the CW battles? Which is better?

Although both have room for improvement, not even close for me, scourge of war battles are hugely better for me. Since I am big on the civil war, I thought that grand tactician would be something I would play forever but I really don't like it due to the battles themselves.  Always seem to get crazy logic and decision making by the ai, even after all the updates and trying all the settings.  The ai puts troops in odd places and makes odd decisions whether to attack or hold back.  With that said, certainly sow has some odd things in troop arrangement and such but in most cases seems to make reasonable decisions or at least as not as frustrating.  I know a lot of people seem to like grand tactician, so could just be me, but something I don't even bother playing nowadays.

Sounds like the SOW guys should join forces with the GT guys and make the perfect game...

[Tripoli]

I have now played the tutorial of the Waterloo game.  All in all, not a huge improvement in the single player game when compared to the original release.  Graphics are somewhat better.  I suspect things under the hood are better.  The gameplay remains good, albeit with the occasional wonky formation.  All in all, it is probably the best tactical Napoleonic and Civil War game engine, especially with its courier system and ability to play "HQ in Saddle" mode, especially in multiplayer. I would buy it to support the developers, and hopefully inspire them to create more content, especially USCW and additional battles