Wargame Design Studio (WDS) is proud to bring you some more quality wargaming content...today we have the release of Great Northern War!
https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/great-northern-war-release
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Awesome - I have always had a keen interest in this conflict.
Yep, this one intrigues me...something I know nothing about which is great to learn.
I am old enough to have been there. It wasn't that great. Hopefully the game will be better.
^ {Windy laughs in Akkadian}
Charles XII was a mean drunk. After a couple of mugs of Lowenbrau, he'd declare war on a Ham Sandwich. :cannon:
I don't have much interest in this conflict, but for some really strange reason, this release is renewing my interest in the Seven Years War and the part of it that took place in the Americas. I'm teetering on buying those two titles instead.
Seven Years War is on my radar for the summer sale, but I anticipate picking up the Great Northern War soon. Just was hoping to see more feedback on it, which has been very light on all the various sites. Doesn't surprise me since probably a smaller audience. My draw to it is the fact that I know nothing about these battles and that makes me very curious about it.
Quote from: Sir Slash on April 17, 2023, 09:21:30 AMCharles XII was a mean drunk. After a couple of mugs of Lowenbrau, he'd declare war on a Ham Sandwich. :cannon:
Only in his youth. As a teen teen in a drunken stupor he famously fed a bear so much wine it fell out of a castle window and died. His escapades with his older friend the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp was known as the Gottorp Fury.
After that Charles refused drink, and to all accounts completely abstained from sex and is thought to have died a virgin. He felt his one great and true calling was the waging of war and devoted his life to it entirely, refusing all other endeavors once he got a taste for battle.
:2funny: haha 'Lowenbrau'
Thinking of taking the plunge on this one...
I heard it was drinking that last Silver Bullet that killed him. :beermug[1]:
^ :ROFL:
Charles was one of those odd, enigmatic figures from History. Clearly he was driven by something within him. I wonder, are their any good recent books about him and his beliefs/reasons for almost constant wars? Did Chandler ever write about him?
Quote from: Sir Slash on April 18, 2023, 10:47:38 AMCharles was one of those odd, enigmatic figures from History. Clearly he was driven by something within him. I wonder, are their any good recent books about him and his beliefs/reasons for almost constant wars? Did Chandler ever write about him?
You're really going to make me get this even though I just sent enough money to buy a new car to the IRS.
Read Peter the Great by Massie at least 30 years ago. The two things I remember about Charles is his audacity at Narva (arriving late in day and marching his badly outnumbered troops straight into the Russian trenches without pause, routing them) and his stupidity at Poltava attacking superior force in fortifications (probably because of Narva's memory but not accounting for Peter's military reforms).
Charles XII and the IRS have a lot in common SirAndrew. :axechaser:
Quote from: Sir Slash on April 18, 2023, 01:58:53 PMCharles XII and the IRS have a lot in common SirAndrew. :axechaser:
They want to rule the world? Hmmm.
Peter the Great by Robert Massie is one of my favorite books of all time. Anyone even remotely interested in the Great Northern War will love it. And if you have no interest, it may ignite an interest :3musketeer:
If people here aren't interested in the Great Northern War then I don't know what to say. It's a fascinating conflict.
I mostly got the Russian side of it since it was my concentration but both are super fascinating.
I mean....Charles XII vs Peter the Great? It was like the 18th Century Rumble in the Snow Covered Jungle.
'Two northern emperors enter, one northern emperor leaves!'
Well, I picked it up. I haven't bought a WDS game in a bit and I do like their stuff. These are always great for a break between spreadsheet work.
My work here is done. :lipsrsealed:
Quote from: SirAndrewD on April 18, 2023, 10:02:31 PMWell, I picked it up. I haven't bought a WDS game in a bit and I do like their stuff. These are always great for a break between spreadsheet work.
Really interested in your impressions as I continue to sit on the fence. I know most wds games roughly play the same so not thinking something completely different with this game but some reason has made me interested more than their typical series.
^Me too. Stop that pesky 'work' D and get down to what's really important.
Impressions are great so far.
As you all said, it's a WDS game so you know what to expect.
It's got the updated graphics and UI of the post Waterloo revision which is nice. It's still early 00's graphics but it's not painful on the eyes and scales well to the window. Lots of colorful flavor in the 3D. UI is the updated one and I'm quite fond of it. UI scaling on unit cards is still a bit small for my fading eyesight but that's just a symptom of the series.
There's a ton of scenarios with good historical backgrounds. This is a great intro to the conflict if you're a victim of the American education system that doesn't even mention the conflict anymore. Many of the battles in this war were smaller and a bit more straight forward than later wars so it's a good change of pace off of the massive 19th Century Napoleonic/ACW engagements.
It's one of those games that has a system that is familiar and is fantastic to just put in a window and grab a turn and take a break. I feel that is reflective of all WDS titles. If you're interested in the Great Northern War or even just the era where Pike and Shot transitioned into linear musket warfare this is an absolute go to.
So, there you go, that's my impressions off the getting started scenario that's got the opening engagement on the left at Poltava. I feel it's worth it but I'm also a Russian History nerd. I think for general wargamers or fans of general history it's just as worth it though.
Sometimes I will get games based on obscure conflicts that are gaps in my knowledge that I like to just play and learn, so if you don't know much about the GNW, boot it up, and go on youtube and queue up Sabaton's Carolus Rex album and play along with the music!
You had me at 'Russian history nerd.'
Thanks, I can see myself picking up soon
A few things to add here. Here's the Designers Notes which contain both a historical over view of the situation and a few more granular details on the forces involved and the scenarios:
Designers Notes (https://files.wargamedesignstudio.com/index.php/s/piiSmaLNTXTrq3P)
And here's the Changelog on what is different from the last release in the series, which is Seven Years War. Considerable changes have been made in how units are controlled (you can move an entire brigade at once now with just a few clicks), what info you get through on-screen details and various pull downs, and also adjustments to the A/I. Not making any grandiose claims for the A/I's performance, but it has improved.
Changelog (https://files.wargamedesignstudio.com/index.php/s/RsC4McwMew4L7wz)
In addition to the 69 stand alone scenarios, there's 5 campaigns... so there is an absolute ton of content included off the shelf... and the scenario designers have an expansion pack planned for the future which will be a free add-on for existing owners.
And finally, for about another 2 weeks, you'll get a 20% off discount code to be used with Helion books when you purchase the game, and they publish several titles on this time period.
Quote from: rahamy on April 29, 2023, 06:35:18 AMA few things to add here. Here's the Designers Notes which contain both a historical over view of the situation and a few more granular details on the forces involved and the scenarios:
Designers Notes (https://files.wargamedesignstudio.com/index.php/s/piiSmaLNTXTrq3P)
And here's the Changelog on what is different from the last release in the series, which is Seven Years War. Considerable changes have been made in how units are controlled (you can move an entire brigade at once now with just a few clicks), what info you get through on-screen details and various pull downs, and also adjustments to the A/I. Not making any grandiose claims for the A/I's performance, but it has improved.
Changelog (https://files.wargamedesignstudio.com/index.php/s/RsC4McwMew4L7wz)
In addition to the 69 stand alone scenarios, there's 5 campaigns... so there is an absolute ton of content included off the shelf... and the scenario designers have an expansion pack planned for the future which will be a free add-on for existing owners.
And finally, for about another 2 weeks, you'll get a 20% off discount code to be used with Helion books when you purchase the game, and they publish several titles on this time period.
Just curious, are you aware of any good gameplay videos on this whether done by the developers or fans who know it well? My last step before pulling the trigger, just need to see some footage:)
No hyperbole this might be the best overall WDS title I've played.
Quote from: SirAndrewD on April 29, 2023, 04:56:49 PMNo hyperbole this might be the best overall WDS title I've played.
Just curious, what specifically makes it the best? What's different?
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on April 29, 2023, 05:07:03 PMJust curious, what specifically makes it the best? What's different?
Huge number of scenarios, fun campaign, the setting, the overall look, interface. I find it especially easy and clean to move large formations about.
It and Waterloo are high up for me on ones I'm going to come back to a lot.
Quote from: SirAndrewD on April 29, 2023, 05:57:20 PMQuote from: Grim.Reaper on April 29, 2023, 05:07:03 PMJust curious, what specifically makes it the best? What's different?
Huge number of scenarios, fun campaign, the setting, the overall look, interface. I find it especially easy and clean to move large formations about.
It and Waterloo are high up for me on ones I'm going to come back to a lot.
Thank you. I'll cave.
Intriguing. I do hope the War of the Spanish Succession or Austrian Succession come next. :ThumbsUp:
This is an interesting setting for a war game. With such a tried and true system, how out of the realm of possibility would hiring a few 3d artists/ animators to level the graphics up to something like field of glory ? I know fans of this game don't care about fancy graphics, but it would still be really cool.
Quote from: Skoop on April 29, 2023, 08:57:40 PMThis is an interesting setting for a war game. With such a tried and true system, how out of the realm of possibility would hiring a few 3d artists/ animators to level the graphics up to something like field of glory ? I know fans of this game don't care about fancy graphics, but it would still be really cool.
I'd do red bloody murder to see this system upgraded to that level.
As it is though, the graphics in GNW are incredibly better than the old Tiller (RIP) titles. It looks good for what it is.
Our focus has been on gameplay enhancements, user interface and graphics while upgrading the Tiller library.
Great Northern War is one of the first title that WDS has run end to end since acquiring the Tiller portfolio. Rich Hamilton and the Musket & Pike team did a great job and better still, all the changes that have been introduced will be in the next updates for Renaissance and Seven Years War. And yes, more titles for Musket & Pike are in the pipeline.
On my side of the fence (20th Century to current), we are very close to releasing the first revamped Squad Battles titles. Personally, I am excited to see how these are received. You can read more about what's coming over on our website in these two blog posts; https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/2023-quarter-one-update-and-squad-battles-version-4-01-preview (https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/2023-quarter-one-update-and-squad-battles-version-4-01-preview) and https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/squad-battles-winter-war-visual-order-of-battle-preview (https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/squad-battles-winter-war-visual-order-of-battle-preview)
Quote from: Strela on April 29, 2023, 10:47:39 PMOur focus has been on gameplay enhancements, user interface and graphics while upgrading the Tiller library.
To that end you have succeeded.
I, again, don't want to get into hyperbole but I don't review or do any other video based anything anymore since I'm now a professional for my company and I won't do any media unless I get paid.
But to that end I will say I love what WDS is doing and this title looks great for the engine and I love the historical work as a historian myself.
Did buy it, hopefully can get through tutorial today.
Quote from: Gusington on April 18, 2023, 05:51:14 PMPeter the Great by Robert Massie is one of my favorite books of all time. Anyone even remotely interested in the Great Northern War will love it. And if you have no interest, it may ignite an interest :3musketeer:
Thank you for speaking so warmly of this book that you made me pick it up. Your praise is not over the top; it's a real gem.
I am reading "Dreadnaught by Robert Massie right now on the run up to WW1 and the naval arms race and am about 350 pages into this 900 page epic and it is one of the most gripping history books I have ever read.
His style is an amazing mix of diplomatic manoeuvring, fascinating anecdote (particularly about the egos of the leading actors and their quirks) and painstaking analysis and if "Peter the Great' is in a similar vein I will definitely be picking that up the read as well.
Thank you for the recommendation.
Quote from: devoncop on May 30, 2023, 10:32:51 AMI am reading "Dreadnaught by Robert Massie right now on the run up to WW1 and the naval arms race and am about 350 pages into this 900 page epic and it is one of the most gripping history books I have ever read.
His style is an amazing mix of diplomatic manoeuvring, fascinating anecdote (particularly about the egos of the leading actors and their quirks) and painstaking analysis and if "Peter the Great' is in a similar vein I will definitely be picking that up the read as well.
Thank you for the recommendation.
Thank in return. I will try that one next but it may be a while because I'm in savoring mode on Peter, not rush-through-to-the-next-one mode.
Quote from: glen55 on May 30, 2023, 11:37:42 AMQuote from: devoncop on May 30, 2023, 10:32:51 AMI am reading "Dreadnaught by Robert Massie right now on the run up to WW1 and the naval arms race and am about 350 pages into this 900 page epic and it is one of the most gripping history books I have ever read.
His style is an amazing mix of diplomatic manoeuvring, fascinating anecdote (particularly about the egos of the leading actors and their quirks) and painstaking analysis and if "Peter the Great' is in a similar vein I will definitely be picking that up the read as well.
Thank you for the recommendation.
Thank in return. I will try that one next but it may be a while because I'm in savoring mode on Peter, not rush-through-to-the-next-one mode.
Ha !
That's funny because I am usually a 50 page a day guy but I am literally restricting myself to a chapter a day because I am enjoying the book so much. :ThumbsUp:
I have never played a decent Peter the Great era game so I will start looking,
You're welcome, Glen! I read Dreadnaught as well and loved it almost as much as Peter the Great. I still have to read Castles of Steel.