The Uber Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon Thread!

[JasonPratt]

I can't look at any of the art and say with fairness there was NO inspiration or passion here. Obviously there was, and is.

And the combat mechanics are at least sophisticated compared to Panzer General (and direct remakes like Panzer Corps) and Fantasy General.

[Zonso]

No question using a definitive 'no' or 'never' leaves one wide open...in a legal setting. However, we are talking casually about a game in a discussion forum so I think some latitude would be understood there, especially in light of being fed up with the game when I wrote it. Anyways, yes I agree the 2D sprites are nice to look at, but even in that regard the lack of any movement animation comes across as clunky and let's the art down.

For me, it does comes down to gameplay in the end and why Armageddon is so disappointing. For example, Panzer General was released 20 years ago and I would think the bar would be set higher than that. Even still, People's General was the end result of the PG/PGII series and had a lot of nifty features to make it more sophisticated than Armageddon imo, such as scouting movement(I still don't understand why this was not implemented in Armageddon - rape the already defunct AI??), specific unit attachments, airmobile ability and partial spotting to name a few. These games are still being played and modified extensively today for a reason.

Maybe there is more going on under the hood with Armageddon I can't say, but I can say it isn't apparent where it counts.

[Lord Zimoa]

Warhammer 40,0000 Armageddon update 1.03 coming soon! With unit details and unit history! And much more details to be revealed soon.

See here:

http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=235&t=54943

[Lord Zimoa]

Hello All!

Slitherine have not made an official announcement yet (I'm sure this is coming soon), but the 1.03 patch is available. Steam version will update automatically, and for non-Steam version you can use this link to download or use the check for update option within the game launcher:

ftp://ftp.matrixgames.com/pub/Warhammer40000Armageddon/WH-Armageddon-UpdateComp-v103.zip

Before all offices close for the holidays and patching becomes very difficult, please post in this topic any critical issues in the new patch (critical means "makes playing impossible"). Time is very short, but we may still have a chance to fix them.




PS. Change log for the new patch.

Issues fixed:
- Fixed zero range weapons showing 48 as their range.
- Fixed combo box in Options screen.
- Changed FPS limit to 60 fps
- Fixed wrong strength of unit if it ended previous scenario in transport.
- Fixed AI issue where AI units remained stationary and did not attack player's positions.
- Fixed handicap slider not working correctly in Multiplayer
- Added manual writer to Credits

New features:
- Added unit details screen. Right-click a unit on the map or in unit list to invoke.
- Map can be zoomed using +/- and PgUp/PgDown hotkeys. * restores 1:1 zoom level.
- WASD can be used to scroll the map in addition to arrow keys. Disband has been rebound to Del hotkey.
- Added Ctrl+S/L hotkeys for save/load
- Added quick save/quick load via F5/F8 hotkeys
- Each UI button tooltip now includes the corresponding keyboard combination.
- In confirmation popups it is now possible to use Enter for OK/Yes and Escape for Cancel/No.
- Added tooltip to Replacements showing replacements count, cost and experience change.
- Added tooltip to Rest and Refit button, showing hit points and morale effect.
- Added tooltip to health bars showing numbers for current/max strength and hit points.
- Added unit rename: select a unit and click its name.
- Added cheat interface (single player only). Press Alt+Ctrl+Shift+C to invoke cheat box.
- Added final credits screen.
Unit Balance Changes:
Imperial units:
Re-introduced Ogryn squads and Veteran Ogryn squads to help fill the gap in early game, Imperial assault troops with decent durability and staying power
Price of the Hive Militia Autopistol and Autogun squads reduced
Price of Leman Russ and Leman Russ (armor upgrade) reduced
Leman Russ Conqueror price lowered and speed reduced to better represent the Conqueror cannon with less firepower but more perks like increased speed and accuracy
Basic models of Imperial Super Heavy tanks made slightly cheaper (Macharius, Baneblade, Banehammer, Shadowsword, Stormsword, Stormblade, Bandesword)

Space Marine units:
Venerable Dreadnoughts have gained the Leadership trait, increased stats, and increased prices
Salamander Firedrakes now behave like Terminator units for transportation purposes.
Ultramarine Terminators in Act2 have access to proper Land Raider transports.
Damocles unit reduced in price considerably
Price of normal Land Speeders, armed only with 1 heavy bolter, reduced considerably
Price of all Ironclad Dreadnoughts reduced
With all the infantry team improvements, Space Marine Assault teams no longer need their 3 HP per strength point bonus so it has been reduced to 2 HP




Weapon file changes:
Added Ripper Weapon
Added Ripper Club
Vanquisher Cannons and Baneblade Cannons now have Rate of Fire of 2 up from 1
Medusa Siege gun minimum and maximum range both increased by 1 (2-3 now 3-4)
Medusa Siege gun rate of fire increased from 2 to 3
Medusa Siege gun gained the trait 'bulky'
Ork Zzap gun gained 20 penetration rating (up from 0)
2 Big Lobba increased from 3 to 5 rate of fire
Gargant Soopa gun redesigned for better artillery type stats: Range is now 2-4, power is 50, penetration is 0, rate of fire is 4


Scenario Changes:
Scen3B
Added a hint message to help explain this mission's mechanics.
"IDS_MESSAGE7 Scenario Hint: To determine if a location contains any survivors, move one of your units on top of the Victory Hex markers. Not all of these locations will contain survivors and generate an ownership marker, so be prepared to inspect more than one location!"
Removed some invisible cliffs.
Triggers have been changed to check at different intervals for survivor presence

Scen4:
"Scenario Objective: Control all three Victory Hexes while and wait for additional orders."
changed to read
"Scenario Objective: Control all 3 Victory Hexes until new orders arrive."
Scen6B:
Added a few Ork scout units to incite the advancing Orks to continue their assaults
Added a few Ork infantry to the attack waves
Changed an attack trigger from 'all map' to 'zone 2' to better control Ork behavior
Greatly expanded the size of zone 2

Scen12:
Objective text updated to match victory triggers:
" IDS_MESSAGE0 Scenario Objective: Control at least 5 Victory Hexes at the end of the scenario."
Fixed space marines drop pods which could switched using Mount button and get to zero strength when switched. This fix will only appear in new games, not saved old ones.
Scen13: Updated mission text to reflect 3 Victory Hexes present on the map, not 4

Other Changes:
Wyvern mortars no longer appear to aim horizontally. Attack graphic adjusted to match.
Updated tiles for Editor have been integrated.

[JasonPratt]

!!!OGRYN!!! 

Also, unit descriptions.

Saw the update last night, but didn't know what the changelog was, and was busy on a different PanzerOrc campaign. ;) Will try to check on changes tonight, maybe play the next mission.

[Lord Zimoa]

Sorry Jason,

Just heard they were pulled out again at the last moment... Ogryns will come though, but a bit later.

Yes, we were in a bit of a hurry to get as much content and updates out to our players before the end of the Year break, and we had a little bit of a miscommunication there. Sorry for the inconvenience, Ogryns were found to not be ready for prime time just yet!

Our apologies for the confusion.

[JasonPratt]

Argh! Oh well.

As much as I'd like to see Ogryn, the air mechanics still need fixing more anyway. ;)

[Martok]

Haven't heard of this site before, but GameWatcher has put up their review (6.0/10). 



The TL;DR version: 

WARHAMMER 40K: ARMAGEDDON VERDICT

Despite a general lack of flair and some frustrating issues with presentation, Armageddon does at least play out a compelling and competent brand of strategic warfare. There's something about playing a turn-based game that hits right at the core of 40K's signature mix of strategic planning and reckless aggression, and if you've ever played the tabletop game you'll find Slitherine's made a decent enough fist of recreating some of the same atmosphere. If you can find another armchair general with a fondness for grim darkness, you'll probably get a decent amount of value out of the multiplayer in particular. For a full-price game, though, Wahammer 40K: Armageddon feels lacklustre and slightly cheap, more of a re-skin of Panzer Corps than its own beast, and lacking the sense of grandeur that the setting requires. There's a great turn-based 40K out there somewhere, but this isn't it.


Good vs Bad

+    Competent, accessible wargame engine.
+    Lots of attention to 40K lore.
-     Lacklustre presentation.
-     Lack of adequate feedback.

[JasonPratt]

I still think the re-skin charge is itself shallow, but otherwise I generally agree.

However, I also still want to hear from anyone who played the actual chit-and-hex wargame this is based on.

[jomni]

However, I also still want to hear from anyone who played the actual chit-and-hex wargame this is based on.

The original was tabletop minis.

[Cyrano]

He can certainly speak for himself, but I had always assumed Jason was referring to this:

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3177/battle-armageddon

Played it what feels like 100 years ago, back in the days when GW could do no wrong in my eyes, particularly with respect to its boardgames, which remain some of the best, most collectible games out there...

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

[JasonPratt]

^^ Yes, not the tabletop rules.

[jomni]

Ah didn't know that existed.

[JudgeDredd]

I still think the re-skin charge is itself shallow, but otherwise I generally agree.

However, I also still want to hear from anyone who played the actual chit-and-hex wargame this is based on.

You are of course entitled to that opinion - as are others.

But regardless - all I DO see is Panzer/Allied General/Corps in space. That's a simplistic view, granted - but it's what I see. There are of course things in there that make it "not so"...but the mechanics and graphics used appear close enough for me to come to that assumption. I've watched quite a few videos of the game...so I'm not just going on stills.

Other people have pointed out missing units, missing functionality, odd looking "attack" graphics. Panzer General and Allied General (unless my memory is letting me down - which is entirely possible!) had air units sharing hexes with ground units...and that was over 2 decades ago. The fact a new game is preventing that kind of mechanic either is a lack of enthusiasm/thought/put your own here to put all the bells and whistles in or it's a gamey feature to prevent some sort of over-powering effect occurring (or something else).

If a game is lacking features that another game gave 20+ years ago, then that's probably where the charges of "lazy" and/or lack of "inspiration" or "passion" are given thought.

[MikeGER]

... had air units sharing hexes with ground units...and that was over 2 decades ago. The fact a new game is preventing that kind of mechanic either is a lack of enthusiasm/thought/put your own here to put all the bells and whistles in or it's a gamey feature to prevent some sort of over-powering effect occurring (or something else).

I have read somewhere a statement: 'design decision to not confuse the user"  ^-^ .... its either to much for the 'beer cacao 'n pretzel crowd Slitherine want to cater too ...or it just doesn't work on the Ipad when relying on a fat finger instead a sharp mousepointer i guess  ::)