http://www.matrixgames.com/news/1741/The.Operational.Art.of.War.III.receives.a.final.update.and.a.sequel!
Released in 2006 and still supported in 2015 !
Patch 3.4.1.9 released.
Sweet! Some nice new scenarios too! Nijmegen, Falklands War 1982, Pacific War 1941 - 1945, Eastern Front and Third Reich...
Excellent news!
TOAW IV! Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!!
How about a sale to celebrate? :D
Quote from: Sir Slash on July 07, 2015, 12:56:38 PM
How about a sale to celebrate? :D
Real wargamers already own a copy... >:D
I'm going to have to re-install it now just to see the Pacific War 1941 - 1945 scenario! O0
Great news on version IV!
Quote from: bbmike on July 07, 2015, 01:11:22 PM
I'm going to have to re-install it now just to see the Pacific War 1941 - 1945 scenario! O0
Great news on version IV!
+1 I was thinking the same thing.
Quote from: Rayfer on July 07, 2015, 01:45:05 PM
Quote from: bbmike on July 07, 2015, 01:11:22 PM
I'm going to have to re-install it now just to see the Pacific War 1941 - 1945 scenario! O0
Great news on version IV!
+1 I was thinking the same thing.
+2
...also glad to see that Matrixgames is finally hearing the call for scaleable fonts!
Quote
The Operational Art of War IV will fully support modern computer hardware and operating systems. This will make it more user-friendly and able to scale to higher resolutions, especially in terms of font and button size.
...at least that's what I hope this means.
Sweet.
Best wishes,
Steve
Absolutely excellent news, both on the update patch and the new version. TOAW III has never not been installed on my gaming computers since it was released - and it replaced the earlier versions of TOAW. One of the things I really appreciate about Matrix is their commitment to publishing and keeping alive classics like this and Tiller's Campaign Series.
Please post impressions of the Pacific scenario. That caught my attention as well.
A screenshot from Avalon Hill's 'Russian Campaign' 1976.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii503%2FGroggyGrognard%2FRussian%2520Campaign.png&hash=25dcd552119ece2e2869911b906a65ec24ab3274) (http://s1257.photobucket.com/user/GroggyGrognard/media/Russian%20Campaign.png.html)
Quote from: Toonces on July 07, 2015, 04:39:00 PM
Please post impressions of the Pacific scenario. That caught my attention as well.
A simpler WITP?
For people not familiar with TOAW III, it has a very useful feature for testing out ideas- cpu vs cpu. It is one of the best wargames out there IMO. I spent less hrs with it than i like. It has serious replay value.
Quote from: Mr. Bigglesworth on July 08, 2015, 10:31:51 PM
For people not familiar with TOAW III, it has a very useful feature for testing out ideas- cpu vs cpu. It is one of the best wargames out there IMO. I spent less hrs with it than i like. It has serious replay value.
Yes you can actually avoid micromanagement and give commands at the macro level.
Quote from: jomni on July 09, 2015, 12:35:35 AM
Quote from: Mr. Bigglesworth on July 08, 2015, 10:31:51 PM
For people not familiar with TOAW III, it has a very useful feature for testing out ideas- cpu vs cpu. It is one of the best wargames out there IMO. I spent less hrs with it than i like. It has serious replay value.
Yes you can actually avoid micromanagement and give commands at the macro level.
It's even better. Using the PO assist function, you can play any scenario that has the PO programmed for both sides and then choose which formations you want to control.
This adds RPG gameplay to TOAW III. For example, consider the monster hypothetical scenario Europa 1947, basically, the Allied attempt to liberate Europe from Axis domination.
Let's say you want to play the allied side but you don't want to control all the Allied forces. By using PO Assist, you can elect to play whichever formation/formations you like. If you only want to control the British 10th Corps, a formation that only has five units, then you can do that. The PO will control all the other Allied forces as well as the Axis opponents. Essentially, you role-play the scenario as a Corp commander while the rest of the war goes on around you. You can even arrange promotions for yourself since you can change which formations you control on the fly.
TOAW III is awesome.
Best wishes,
Steve
I forgot how great it is actually. Time to reinstall.
Why are Matrix still installing their game data directly in the Windows OS folder? Surely no need for that?
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Forig07.deviantart.net%2F6b01%2Ff%2F2015%2F190%2F7%2Fa%2Fghjghj_by_jack_o_tales-d90kawv.jpg&hash=5e419cc65b837ff2352a3fb8b26b9f858265a834)
That's weird. Mine did not install in the windows directory...all of my matrix games install in a matrix folder on the c: drive.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on July 09, 2015, 06:34:10 AM
That's weird. Mine did not install in the windows directory...all of my matrix games install in a matrix folder on the c: drive.
Same for me.
Quote from: GroggyGrognard on July 08, 2015, 09:58:57 PM
A screenshot from Avalon Hill's 'Russian Campaign' 1976.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii503%2FGroggyGrognard%2FRussian%2520Campaign.png&hash=25dcd552119ece2e2869911b906a65ec24ab3274) (http://s1257.photobucket.com/user/GroggyGrognard/media/Russian%20Campaign.png.html)
GG...is this screenshot right out of the vanilla game or from a mod of some sort? Regardless, it brings back memories of playing the board game many decades ago.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on July 09, 2015, 06:34:10 AM
That's weird. Mine did not install in the windows directory...all of my matrix games install in a matrix folder on the c: drive.
No, it didn't install in Windows - that's the game uninstall folder but it's the only company I've seen that places any other files inside the Windows operating sytem folder. Wondering what benefits there are to this?
Apologies for going OT, just interests me, as I've noticed this for some years.
Quote from: Rayfer on July 09, 2015, 07:40:02 AM
Quote from: GroggyGrognard on July 08, 2015, 09:58:57 PM
A screenshot from Avalon Hill's 'Russian Campaign' 1976.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii503%2FGroggyGrognard%2FRussian%2520Campaign.png&hash=25dcd552119ece2e2869911b906a65ec24ab3274) (http://s1257.photobucket.com/user/GroggyGrognard/media/Russian%20Campaign.png.html)
GG...is this screenshot right out of the vanilla game or from a mod of some sort? Regardless, it brings back memories of playing the board game many decades ago.
Those are the graphics that come with that particular scenario. It is a direct conversion from the boardgame (or at least as close as he could get it) and so the designer, Steve Sill, wanted to recreate the look and feel rather than use the standard graphics.
Best wishes,
Steve
Quote from: Ian C on July 09, 2015, 09:30:09 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on July 09, 2015, 06:34:10 AM
That's weird. Mine did not install in the windows directory...all of my matrix games install in a matrix folder on the c: drive.
No, it didn't install in Windows - that's the game uninstall folder but it's the only company I've seen that places any other files inside the Windows operating sytem folder. Wondering what benefits there are to this?
Apologies for going OT, just interests me, as I've noticed this for some years.
Historically there have been issues with people deleting the uninstall data and then wondering why they can't remove the game from the list of installed programs. But it can definitely be a little confusing for users and so we are always looking for better solutions. Newer games tend to play a lot better with modern OSes than the older ones :)
Cheers
Pip
Friendly AI for monster war games is something that needs to be used more. I may install to try out that concept mentioned above. I have pretty much bailed on the monster strategy game franchise because I can't stand to move thousands of counters from point A to B. Now if the AI could do it for me, that might draw me back from flight sims.
Can someone explain more of the PO assist function. I have always avoided big scenarios because I suck at them and all the counters to move. Is there a thread or video that's explains it real well. I'll check the manual when I get home. Could I just control an army group in barbarrosa ?
Jomni: what to you mean about giving orders at macro level?
Yes! Consider me interested as well! Never really knew about the PO thingymajig! (Yeah I know RTFM!)
If I remember right, there was some discussion about TOAW4 at HOW14. The things that caught my attention was the planned revamp of the way air and naval operations get carried out. It should be far better, with naval interceptions etc.
Quote from: Yskonyn on July 09, 2015, 02:02:13 PM
Yes! Consider me interested as well! Never really knew about the PO thingymajig! (Yeah I know RTFM!)
I have this printed 4 page document titled "Elmer AI Mode Primer" that explains how to use this feature. Can't remember where I got it but it had to have been from the Matrix forum page for this game. It might still be there.
Edit....I see that the primer comes with the patched game in the 'manuals' folder.
Quote from: -budd- on July 09, 2015, 12:57:40 PM
Can someone explain more of the PO assist function. I have always avoided big scenarios because I suck at them and all the counters to move. Is there a thread or video that's explains it real well. I'll check the manual when I get home. Could I just control an army group in barbarrosa ?
Jomni: what to you mean about giving orders at macro level?
I will deal with giving orders at the macro level first. Essentially, you play the scenario as would normally but instead of moving each and every counter, you can choose to create an objective track for your formations. Then let the computer control the movements and attacks while following out your orders.
If you are playing a scenario with both sides programmed (most of them are programmed for both sides) then what you find is that don't need to give orders to every formation because they already have their orders. You only need to intervene if you want to change something.
The PO Assist function for selecting only those formations you want to control manually is similar to what I have described above. You select the formations you want manual control over and then give them "manual" orders. The AI will not attempt to move any of those formations/units. You move them manually as you would normally.
Because of the TOAW combat round system, with up to 10 combat rounds per turn, the PO (Programmed Opponent) will only progress through the next combat round before handing control back to the player.
I don't think there are any videos explaining how to use the PO Assist but it really is easy enough to get the hang of. You need to check out the What's New document rather than the manual and there is an Elmer Assist Primer document in the manuals folder that will get you started.
And yes, if you want to control just one Army Group in a Barbarossa scenario then you can do that. Don't forget that both sides in the scenario must be programmed though. The best thing about the PO Assist function is that you can choose to control exactly how many formations/units you want to control.
The whole system is much easier to use than it is to describe.
Best wishes,
Steve
Quote from: shunwick on July 09, 2015, 03:56:22 PM
Quote from: -budd- on July 09, 2015, 12:57:40 PM
Can someone explain more of the PO assist function. I have always avoided big scenarios because I suck at them and all the counters to move. Is there a thread or video that's explains it real well. I'll check the manual when I get home. Could I just control an army group in barbarrosa ?
Jomni: what to you mean about giving orders at macro level?
I will deal with giving orders at the macro level first. Essentially, you play the scenario as would normally but instead of moving each and every counter, you can choose to create an objective track for your formations. Then let the computer control the movements and attacks while following out your orders.
Bugger. Norton has just thrown a wobbly at me and I need to reboot my computer. This post will resumed when I get back.
Best wishes,
Steve
Yes. That's it. Simple orders for a formation and all the units in that formation does their own stuff.
thanks, i have it installed now i'll check out the doc's. So intriguing.
Quote from: Rayfer on July 09, 2015, 02:34:23 PM
Quote from: Yskonyn on July 09, 2015, 02:02:13 PM
Yes! Consider me interested as well! Never really knew about the PO thingymajig! (Yeah I know RTFM!)
I have this printed 4 page document titled "Elmer AI Mode Primer" that explains how to use this feature. Can't remember where I got it but it had to have been from the Matrix forum page for this game. It might still be there.
Edit....I see that the primer comes with the patched game in the 'manuals' folder.
Thank you sir! I was the PO a patched in feature then? As that might explain why I was never aware of it.
In any case; thanks! :)