Command Ops: Battle from the Bulge

Bison · April 21, 2013, 09:40:44 PM

Just got done doing an epic battle. Man do I love this game. I need to stop getting sidetracked and realize that I found the greatest WW2 operational strategy game a couple of years ago.

Carry on!

Ubercat · April 21, 2013, 10:21:14 PM

What do you mean by epic? How large were the forces on each side? How much real estate was fought over? I haven't looked at the game seriously since I couldn't even get past the 2nd tutorial for CotA despite about 8 attempts.

Con · April 21, 2013, 10:28:02 PM

Yeah this is my go to game as well.

I am very eager for them to port COTA over to the newer Command Ops system. According to the Matrix Forums that will happen shortly after the next patch goes live (Patch 4.4.260 is currently in the Matrix queue).

Here is a link on what Arjuna is planning for COTA
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3310871
And here is the link for his thoughts on the new features he will implement for future directions of Command Ops
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3310918

These look like they just went up so hopefully he will be answering questions on them soon

Con

LongBlade · April 21, 2013, 10:40:11 PM

Quote from: Ubercat on April 21, 2013, 10:21:14 PM
What do you mean by epic? How large were the forces on each side? How much real estate was fought over? I haven't looked at the game seriously since I couldn't even get past the 2nd tutorial for CotA despite about 8 attempts.

Been a while since I've played. I believe it goes up to the corps level now.

Bison · April 21, 2013, 10:44:57 PM

Quote from: Ubercat on April 21, 2013, 10:21:14 PM
What do you mean by epic? How large were the forces on each side? How much real estate was fought over? I haven't looked at the game seriously since I couldn't even get past the 2nd tutorial for CotA despite about 8 attempts.

Well epic in the sense that I "thought" I had secured all my objectives and then the AI had it's say. It snuck several units around mine and captured an objective behind my lines and diverted my reserves. Then it pulls out 4 or 5 Armored BN and punches a huge hole in my lines where it had some infantry, mech infantry, and engineers exploit the gap. I recovered by boy was it tense.

I'd have to go back and get a unit count. Well it's been awhile since I've played the old engine, but the new engine has excellent video tutorials that go over the basic concepts quite nicely.

Con · April 21, 2013, 10:53:16 PM

Bison what scenario were you playing? and have you got the latest patch (its still in beta but available in the members section on Matrix).

There are some significant changes to the way supply is handled as well as the formations units take up and the footprint they occupy.

My personal bugaboo is Elsenborne Ridge. I have played it to completion over a half-dozen times as the Axis and I still cant get more than a marginal victory. I am going to modify my strategy more drastically next time around and see if I can get a better result.

Con

Bison · April 21, 2013, 11:09:46 PM

I don't remember the scenario. I'll look next time I play.

I thought about getting the beta patch, but I haven't done so yet.

JudgeDredd · April 22, 2013, 01:07:14 AM

Not to hijack your thread - but CotA was my favourite. :)

I do need to get back into this...especially as I bought the Highway to the Reich conversion AND they are releasing CotA for it.

JudgeDredd · April 22, 2013, 02:11:30 AM

The one thing I would say - which I have mentioned to Dave many moons ago - is some sort of sort system on the scenarios. Currently there's no way to go through the scenarios "as they happened". Nor can you pick up an "easy" scenario, or a short scenario - just no way to do it without going through the list of scenarios.

What a sort would entail is a date for the scenario, whether it is historical or not (or perhaps even a button just to show historical scenarios), a difficulty and a duration. Not that difficult I had hoped but Dave assured me otherwise.

I've just done what I have done in the past with the game - load it up and then it dawns on me "Oh...which one to start with". Now I would like to play the campaign by scenario...but I don't have that option. Ultimately the only way to do it - as is - is to click on each scenario and check it out by reading.

Great games - nope...fantastic games - interface needs a tweak.

Dave contacted me about a Cyprus scenario I made asking if he can package it with the upcoming CotA re-package. It was a hypothetical thing (I really enjoyed making it).

On another note - about the series - I always wanted to create scenarios (and I wanted to do it in my Cyprus scenario) where if an LZ was over-run, the reinforcements were waved off (not dropped)...but the engine has never offered that. I did ask if this was something they implement in the future - I believe it was added to his never ending, ever growing task list

gabeeg · April 22, 2013, 03:26:00 AM

Yes, It is truly head and shoulders over most WWII op games. There is nothing comparable when it comes to the AI. Panther remains highly responsive and dedicated which helps also. The only other op game I play now besides BftB are the Decisive Campaign series as it is different enough to scratch a different op itch.

...I had to edit to add the fact that at first I did not like BftB, I was really disappointed. At first it felt like I was watching the game play itself...not much fun. Since I spent top dollar and others seemed to love it, I stuck with it and after the third full scenario I sort of started getting it and by the fifth play and a having read the manual I was hooked and in awe.

jomni · April 22, 2013, 03:48:49 AM

Fantastic game but I haven't played it to death. Play one session, forget about it for months.

JudgeDredd · April 22, 2013, 03:52:39 AM

^ I think what often puts me off is so many people saying you need to play it at a higher level - when I actually like to micro manage. I like to place that company at the crossroads - which means detaching it from the HQ - which seems to be counter to the game design and suggestions from most other players.

MengJiao · April 22, 2013, 08:52:02 AM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on April 22, 2013, 01:07:14 AM
Not to hijack your thread - but CotA was my favourite. :)

I do need to get back into this...especially as I bought the Highway to the Reich conversion AND they are releasing CotA for it.

Yep, I liked COTA the best. I may get the latest version on the new machine eventually.

Bison · April 22, 2013, 12:03:01 PM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on April 22, 2013, 03:52:39 AM
^ I think what often puts me off is so many people saying you need to play it at a higher level - when I actually like to micro manage. I like to place that company at the crossroads - which means detaching it from the HQ - which seems to be counter to the game design and suggestions from most other players.

Well I tend to break up some units in order to defend or provide overwatch of specific objectives or key terrain. The issues start to come up when one attempts to change orders too quickly or too often. Everytime a new order is issued your units go into a reorg status, which means you really have to watch your times or the best laid plans can go awry very quickly. It's much more difficult therefore to coordinate detailed plans that are highly timing sensitive especially when your order execution times begin to slip at various time intervals across a wide array of forces. It's certainly possible to order down to each company but it becomes very challenging.

MengJiao · April 25, 2013, 01:52:01 PM

Quote from: MengJiao on April 22, 2013, 08:52:02 AM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on April 22, 2013, 01:07:14 AM
Not to hijack your thread - but CotA was my favourite. :)

I do need to get back into this...especially as I bought the Highway to the Reich conversion AND they are releasing CotA for it.

Yep, I liked COTA the best. I may get the latest version on the new machine eventually.

Next August? Looks like Command ops is getting a big overhaul:

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3310918