GrogHeads Forum

Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: steve58 on July 06, 2012, 10:34:54 AM

Title: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: steve58 on July 06, 2012, 10:34:54 AM
http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=272&Itemid=450

Looks like the release is planned right about the same time as Commander: The Great War (http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=102&t=35390) ... even includes a Russian Civil War campaign with armored trains

I keep waiting (and waiting and waiting) for CtGW....

Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 06, 2012, 11:18:53 AM
I'm waiting for Commander too...original release date was May 15...has another one been announced?

Thanks for that link above too. It got my attention with "Lettow-Vorbeck's campaign against the British Empire in German East Africa."

YES! I like how they mention that it is only 8-12 weeks away...never seen publisher or developer do that before.

I have not played the original game though...how is it?
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 06, 2012, 11:22:11 AM
Just read through that Slitherine thread...8-12 weeks for Commander too...should have read your OP more carefully  :o

Either way this is great news! Suppose I'll have to get both games.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Bismarck on July 06, 2012, 11:57:22 AM
Quote from: Gusington on July 06, 2012, 11:22:11 AM
Just read through that Slitherine thread...8-12 weeks for Commander too...should have read your OP more carefully  :o

Either way this is great news! Suppose I'll have to get both games.

You know Breakthrough is an add-on?  You can get the base game now.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 06, 2012, 01:38:52 PM
^Yes I'm looking at the overview of the game now. 45.00 is a little steep unless someone barges in here with an awesome recommendation.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Martok on July 06, 2012, 02:45:09 PM
I know airboy loves it, plus he wrote that very good AAR over at WG. 


Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 06, 2012, 03:23:16 PM
Really...link?
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: airboy on July 06, 2012, 04:20:22 PM
I did both an AAR and a review of Strategic Command: WWI.  I highly recommend it.

They also added a mod that allows you to play WWII on the same game.  The WWII add-on is better than most of the strategic level WWII games out there.

I don't have links to the AAR.  A review can be found at:
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/strategic-command-world-war-i-pc-game-review.htm

The review was based on a complete play-through to the end of the war.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 06, 2012, 06:48:41 PM
^Thanks airboy...this game has captured my attention suddenly in a way it did not at release.

And hey...if anyone receives the Battlefront newsletter that includes mention of the above, scroll all the way down the email to see mention of none other than our own LB and GrogHeads. I was giddy!
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: steve58 on July 06, 2012, 07:17:39 PM
The expansion does make it more attractive to me...just not sure I want it and the base game for what $70+? ...and with Commander right on its heels.  I think I may wait until both Commander and the SC WWI expansion are out to do a side-by-side comparison...
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 06, 2012, 07:24:45 PM
I am torn too. To be honest I was set on Commander, but Strategic Command seems to have a lot more to offer and justify the higher price tag. But then we don't know what, if any, kinds of expansions Commander will offer.

There are so many scenarios available for the SC expansion I may get the base game right now...there's a Balkan War scenario and a Great War in Africa scenario for chrissake!

The one sticky point is the graphics...I like the look of Commander more. But it is quickly becoming a non issue as I read airboy's review...
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: jjdenver on July 06, 2012, 10:14:10 PM
I highly recommend it and the WW2 mods for it are very good too - the scale is amazing. The AI is pretty good (no AI can really beat a good human of course). PBEM is fun although there are some SERIOUSLY good PBEM players out there - so try to find a fellow noob or relatively-novice player to go against if you want to have any fun at all in PBEM. There are about 15 or 20 guys who are just so good it's no fun to play them. They know every nuance, rule, effect, etc in the system so well that a person who picks it up as a part-time hobby just can't compete.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Martok on July 07, 2012, 12:55:59 AM
Quote from: Gusington on July 06, 2012, 03:23:16 PM
Really...link?
Here's the link to his AAR (http://www.wargamer.com/forums/posts.asp?t=526737&pg=1).  It's a little harder to read now, due to WG's buggered forum software (which is also causing the screenshots to not show up), but still very enjoyable for all that. 


Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: steve58 on July 07, 2012, 07:36:04 AM
Just realized that there is a demo (http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=267&Itemid=473) of SC WWI.  Guess I'll add a bit of that to my weekend activities....
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Bismarck on July 07, 2012, 10:36:28 AM
BTW, the 1.05 patch is out.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 07, 2012, 12:34:44 PM
DLing the demo now, thanks Steve.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Slick Wilhelm on July 08, 2012, 08:57:26 AM
FWIW, Gus, I highly recommend SC:WWI, too. Great game, the one that really sparked my interest in beta testing CTGW.

The only funky thing about SC:WWI is their decision to use square tiles instead of the usual hexes. Regardless, it's still a great game. A definite must buy for any WWI enthusiast.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Bill Runacre on July 09, 2012, 02:20:34 PM
Hi all!

Very glad to see the interest in this, and while we're working on it, we've been busy improving the AI in the main campaigns as well as other things, so beta testers have reported much more challenging games than before.

In terms of price, it is very possible that the combined price of both games will be lower than $70, so be sure to take a look when further announcements are made.

Now I'm back to working out why von Lettow-Vorbeck hasn't given up the fight in German East Africa like I wanted him to... such are the joys of beta testing!!  :)

Bill
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: W8taminute on July 09, 2012, 03:33:54 PM
Quote from: steve58 on July 06, 2012, 10:34:54 AM
I keep waiting (and waiting and waiting) for CtGW....


Same here.  But only now, the wait has been so long that I've lost interest.  It's probably not a good idea to announce a new game is on the way unless they're confident they can stick to the delivery schedule. 

In today's society what's new this minute is ancient history 90 seconds later.  So many other games get released in the interim while waiting for that one good game that delays prove fatal.  Just MHO.... :)
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 09, 2012, 09:23:45 PM
Commander: The Great War is 8-12 weeks away...
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Nefaro on July 10, 2012, 12:48:23 PM
Quote from: Gusington on July 09, 2012, 09:23:45 PM
Commander: The Great War is 8-12 weeks away...

8)
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 10, 2012, 01:08:56 PM
That one I'm going to jump all over.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Martok on July 10, 2012, 01:56:16 PM
^  At least buy her dinner first! 

Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: W8taminute on July 10, 2012, 02:02:06 PM
^What Martok said.


^^If you try to start a car too fast it will stall.  :)
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 10, 2012, 02:14:06 PM
I'm not even going to call Commander: The Great War in the morning.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: W8taminute on July 10, 2012, 02:24:41 PM
^Let's just hope that when you wake up next to Commander: The Great War in the morning that you don't chew your own arm off to try to escape. 
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 10, 2012, 02:28:30 PM
If that is the case I will be depressed for a long, long time.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: steve58 on July 10, 2012, 02:46:39 PM
Quote from: Gusington on July 09, 2012, 09:23:45 PM
Commander: The Great War is 8-12 weeks away...

Well the developer said they needed at least 8-12 more weeks.  Lets hope they stay on schedule!

And since this is a WWI thread, I thought I'd mention this.  I'd forgotten about Making History: The Great War (http://making-history.com/products/mhtgw).  Another WWI game scheduled for 2012.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 10, 2012, 02:49:50 PM
^Forgot about that...no definitive release date though. I do remember that many around here enjoyed the original.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: kommandant on July 12, 2012, 11:37:02 AM
hey guys, just found your forum!

So, I can give you guys some good points of view about Strategic Command: the Great War and it's expansion and about Commander: The Great War.

I beta test for both games, but I stoped betatesting for CtGW a month ago.

I think that CtGW is a pretty game, it looks cool, it's not horrible, but I don't like the scale of the game, the map lacks details and have just some cities. The quantaty of troops in the map is way too small, you don't see more than 20 units in the map, unless you invest heavly in troops. The naval warfare is not the best one in the game too, and the quantaty of naval units in game does not help. A bad point in the game, that made me stop playing all games from Commander series, is those hexes that show up around a surrendered countries capital.

About SC: TGW I can say that the game is not perfect, the grafics should be better, and the fact that it uses squares, and no hexes, can scare a lot of people away from playing it, but I think it's way better than CtGW. The scale of the game is huge, you command up to 130 units in land and up to 40 naval units. The core game is already awesome, the expansion apply a new supply system that makes the game even better and more balanced. SC: TGW also have a diplomacy system, you can bring other countries to the war, like, if you are playing with the Entente, you can bring Bulgaria to your side, in CtGW bulgaria will join the Central powers, and there is nothing you can do about it. The tech system in SC: TGW is more simple than in CtGW, it could be better, but it works.

The only thing that you can really put in the balance to diminish SC: TGW is the use of squares, and not hexes. Sadly this is a major negative point to consider, but if you get yur self into it, you will love it.

Note: If anyone here plays SC: TGW and want to play a PBEM, just email me, I need some fresh meat (I'm not good, don't be afraid)
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 12, 2012, 11:42:56 AM
Wow awesome post...welcome kommandant. But this now throws me into a tizzy. I was all set to wait for Commander.

So now I am hoping that Strategic Command: The Great War and it's expansion will be released together at a discount.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: LongBlade on July 12, 2012, 11:45:06 AM
Quote from: kommandant on July 12, 2012, 11:37:02 AM
hey guys, just found your forum!

Welcome! Thanks for your insight. That's great stuff.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: LongBlade on July 12, 2012, 11:45:45 AM
Quote from: Gusington on July 12, 2012, 11:42:56 AM
Wow awesome post...welcome kommandant. But this now throws me into a tizzy. I was all set to wait for Commander.

So now I am hoping that Strategic Command: The Great War and it's expansion will be released together at a discount.

If you've got some time we might be able to get you into a preview of one of them. LMK if you're interested.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: kommandant on July 12, 2012, 12:15:40 PM
Quote from: Gusington on July 12, 2012, 11:42:56 AM
So now I am hoping that Strategic Command: The Great War and it's expansion will be released together at a discount.

They will, they normally do, you will probably pay 55 dollars for both games.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: steve58 on July 12, 2012, 12:21:02 PM
That price (for both) would be enough to force my hand (to remove my wallet, to remove my credit card, etc)
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Bill Runacre on July 12, 2012, 12:38:17 PM
Some screenshots have just been released:

http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=270&Itemid=453
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on July 12, 2012, 12:52:53 PM
^Thank you Bill. LB I am interested. LB I am interested. 55.00 for both is enough to force my hand too, especially for hard copies and printed manuals in addition to the Germans in Africa scenario.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: LongBlade on July 12, 2012, 01:03:40 PM
Quote from: Gusington on July 12, 2012, 12:52:53 PM
^Thank you Bill. LB I am interested. LB I am interested. 55.00 for both is enough to force my hand too, especially for hard copies and printed manuals in addition to the Germans in Africa scenario.

Let me run some traps.
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Martok on July 13, 2012, 11:47:29 AM
Quote from: steve58 on July 12, 2012, 12:21:02 PM
That price (for both) would be enough to force my hand (to remove my wallet, to remove my credit card, etc)
Same here.  I've been wanting a WW1 grand-strategy title for ages, and that's a healthy amount of gaming for that price. 


Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Bill Runacre on August 23, 2012, 10:37:52 AM
Hi

Two of our beta testers have started an AAR of the Breakthrough edition of the 1914 Call to Arms campaign, and you can follow it here:

http://www.battlefront.com/community/showthread.php?t=105942

We hope to do some more in due course, including one for the Russian Civil War campaign.

Bill
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: LongBlade on August 23, 2012, 10:42:49 AM
Cool! Thanks for the news!
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Nefaro on August 24, 2012, 08:52:25 PM
Quote from: steve58 on July 06, 2012, 07:17:39 PM
The expansion does make it more attractive to me...just not sure I want it and the base game for what $70+? ...and with Commander right on its heels.  I think I may wait until both Commander and the SC WWI expansion are out to do a side-by-side comparison...

I'll probably end up deciding which one to go with by DRM scheme.  I hear good things about SCWWI but I dunno if $45 or $55 would convince me to jump.  So I'll probably wait for Commander -  no online activation DRM.. and what's the price, I wonder?

If I had plenty cash to spare right now, I'd have both. *shrug*
Title: Re: WWI Breakthough! -- expansion announced for Strategic Command WWI
Post by: Gusington on August 24, 2012, 08:53:53 PM
^39.95, IIRC