Steel Beasts Pro Discussion Thread

[Asid]

lol beat me to it again :)

Steel Beasts Pro PE 4.0 Out Now

Download: Click Here
Size: 2400MB

[RyanE]

I just commented in another forum that this is one of the weirdest releases I have seen.  Constantly shifting around of what was delivered, when it was delivered, a count down to download, then a countdown to buying a license.  All constantly seeming to shift around.  I can kind of understand esim having some transparency to keep the barbarian hordes off the gates, but it also shows the inability to get a handle on their own process.

[Toonces]

I was reading some impressions over at SimHQ and watching a few YouTube videos.  It appears that the game has moved a bit towards being more Combat Mission-esque in that you can assign orders and waypoints to your units right there in the 3rd person view.  What I saw looked kind of cool, and I think would push me into buying this.

I'd love to hear some impressions from you all if you're playing it.  So far I've only seen Jarhead has it, and I don't think he plays SB all that much.

[Asid]

Hi Toonces

pm sent

Regards

[Asid]

D.O.W. Saturday Mission 13/08/16 @ GMT19:00

You can watch it live.  You do NOT need Steel Beasts. http://www.twitch.tv/dogsofwarvu

D.O.W. 4-7 CAV Phase I of Campaign by Cougar11
This scenario is a simulation and does not have any political message.



Mission Summary :
Russian and Greek forces have had sporadic clashes along the border for the last month or so. Intel shows that Russian forces are planning to make an incursion into Greek territory in the next 12-48 hours. 4-7CAV DOW Troop has been in Greece conducting joint military training operations over the last couple months. DOW troop has been given to the Greek forces through NATO, as the tensions have increased between the countries. With the impending incursion probable, the Greece military has tasked DOW with securing the town of St. Joseph, which is a major supply intersection, and a vital flank security objective. Dow is tasked with clearing from their current position to the town of St. Joseph, securing the town, and setting up a blocking force to the South and East of the town.  If the incursion happens, NATO will be release multi-national forces that are in reserve for use in the theater.

Map



Excerpts of the battalion commander's (HVAOC 6) orders for...BLUEFOR (D.O.W.)

1) SITUATION:

a) Enemy:
   Russian Motorized Rifle Elements are preparing to move into the area to secure the strategic area of St. Joseph.


b) Own:
                     4-7CAV DOW Troop on loan to Greece from NATO moves to secure the town of ST. Joseph.

c) Attachments and detachments:

                   Motors, Fires, and Support elements internal.


2) MISSION:

DOW Troop 4-7CAV conduct clearing operations to secure the town of St. Joseph, and take up blocking positions to the South and East of the town.   


3) EXECUTION:

Clear to St. Joseph, secure it, and hold the town.

Intent: : DOW 4-7CAV will clear South and East to the town of St. Joseph, secure the town, and push out South and East to set up blocking positions securing the flank until relieved


Dogs Of War Vehicles : (in mission)

M1A2(SEP): Main Battle Tank
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M1A2_%28SEP%29

STRV 122: Main Battle Tank


M3A2(ODS): Infantry Fighting Vehicle
[url=http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M3A2

M113 F/O
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M113-FO

M1064A3
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M1064A3

M113 G3/Eng
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M113A3_Eng

M2A2(ODS)/Eng
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M2A2

M113A3/Medic
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M113_Medic

M88A1 MRV
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M88A1_MRV

M113 Repair
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=M113_Repair

M977 HEMTT/Supply
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=HEMTT_Cargo

M977 HEMTT/Fueler
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php?title=HEMTT_Fuel




Date: Saturday 13/08/16
Time: 19:00 GMT
Time (local): Click here

For the rest of the mission and additional info please click here -   Dogs of War Mission

DOW members, by invite, or request in advance prior to mission.

Our goal is to have the DOW session more immersive and realistic.

Note: These posts are made in support of the Dogs of War Vu and GrogHeads

[RyanE]

Impressions after playing a few days.  It is pretty close to replacing Combat Mission for modern combat for me.  It has an incredibly powerful scenario and map maker.  It looks better.  It has complete engineering capabilities.  You can choose to play as a tactical simulator or first person.  Very powerful scripting if needed.  It has a pretty accurate arty process.  Helicopters play a direct role, in attack and air assault.  etc...

Some deficiencies compared to CM...

1) Infantry is still quite a bit more abstracted, but with 4.0, the plus parts are starting to outweigh the negatives.
2) 3rd person camera controls are still very limited compared to CM
3) Map making is a lot more difficult.

It doesn't do WW2, but for modern, it kind of kicks the crap out of CMSF and CMBS

[Grim.Reaper]

Impressions after playing a few days.  It is pretty close to replacing Combat Mission for modern combat for me.  It has an incredibly powerful scenario and map maker.  It looks better.  It has complete engineering capabilities.  You can choose to play as a tactical simulator or first person.  Very powerful scripting if needed.  It has a pretty accurate arty process.  Helicopters play a direct role, in attack and air assault.  etc...

Some deficiencies compared to CM...

1) Infantry is still quite a bit more abstracted, but with 4.0, the plus parts are starting to outweigh the negatives.
2) 3rd person camera controls are still very limited compared to CM
3) Map making is a lot more difficult.

It doesn't do WW2, but for modern, it kind of kicks the crap out of CMSF and CMBS

Did you play SB prior to the update to 4.0?  Would be interested in feedback on specific improvements from prior version and if you felt worth the upgrade price at this time.  I wasn't sure if your impressions where stating with the update the game is now close to CM or it was already with the prior version.

[Pete Dero]

http://kriegsimulation.blogspot.be/2016/08/steel-beasts-prope-40-downtown-with-bmp.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ztS629WEQ

The new overhead view (around 4:50 in the video) seems to be the most interesting new feature to me.

[Hartford688]

Impressions after playing a few days.  It is pretty close to replacing Combat Mission for modern combat for me.  It has an incredibly powerful scenario and map maker.  It looks better.  It has complete engineering capabilities.  You can choose to play as a tactical simulator or first person.  Very powerful scripting if needed.  It has a pretty accurate arty process.  Helicopters play a direct role, in attack and air assault.  etc...

Some deficiencies compared to CM...

1) Infantry is still quite a bit more abstracted, but with 4.0, the plus parts are starting to outweigh the negatives.
2) 3rd person camera controls are still very limited compared to CM
3) Map making is a lot more difficult.

It doesn't do WW2, but for modern, it kind of kicks the crap out of CMSF and CMBS

Thanks for this...I was dithering over (re)buying SBPPE or getting CBBS (was busy reading CMBS reviews which all seemed very positive) but I know from 2.xxx days SBPPE is a superb simulator. Maps aside...how much "worse" is the infantry component? I am really in it for the armour (especially the new Sho't Kal!) but of course the infantry is pretty crucial component of a land sim.  No doubt artillery is equally terrifying in both!

So now I am swinging back to SBPPE after your accolade...

[Grim.Reaper]

http://kriegsimulation.blogspot.be/2016/08/steel-beasts-prope-40-downtown-with-bmp.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ztS629WEQ

The new overhead view (around 4:50 in the video) seems to be the most interesting new feature to me.

Nice, didn't know about the top down view...it does look good.

[Toonces]

That bmp video was the one I wat chef.  I think I'm going to pull the trigger on this.

[Pete Dero]

Any news on any performance loss ?   (as posted by Ssnake a month ago : As far as the performance is concerned, I'm not happy about it either http://grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=10673.msg457755#msg457755)

[Asid]

As some of you know. I am part of a group which plays Steel Beasts regularly both on and off line. I have put in many thousands of hours.

To put it simply. SB can be played in many different ways. You could play it from the map view as the commander. You can play it as a tank commander, gunner or driver in first person. It can be also played in third person. It is played in real time. It can be paused. However when you do pause it, you cannot do anything in game. Time can also be accelerated and decelerated in single player.

SB is primarily a procedural vehicle sim/trainer. We use it successfully as a wargame/sim. The vehicles are of a very high fidelity. Armour thickness and shell type are a few of the things calculated by the engine. The infantry is not and never have been the main focus of this sim. They can be difficult and frustrating to control. However this has changed somewhat in the new version 4.0. It is early days but our testing shows a great improvement in pathing and control of the infantry.

The mission editor is very good. It is simple to use but powerful. A few clicks and you have a basic mission. It can be that simple.

The new V4.0 has added quite a lot. With improvements to terrain, AI, bug fixes, new vehicles and more.

One of the greatest things about SB is the fact that you can have multi-crew. You can successfully have 3 humans in the same vehicle. A driver, gunner and commander. It works very well.

Performance?
We are testing every aspect of SB. Performance is important to us. At this time some of us have seen a slight drop in FPS in some large scenarios but nothing that would cause concern. We will know more in a few days. I have an old rig. It runs V3.X SB very well. My testing of V4.0 has been limited due to real life but I am not worried. I will report back when i have more info.

SB is not comparable to Combat mission, which I own. It is "different".

The new update costs $40. Is it worth it? I think so, as do the rest of the group. a lot of effort has gone into it. The early indications are that this is the best version of SB to date.

The above is my opinion and the opinion of quite a few SB "veterans"

Does Steel Beasts have any issues? Yes.
Do I regret buying SB? No.
Do I recommend SB for what it is? Yes

Regards

[RyanE]

The difference in infantry between 3.0 and 4.0 is night and day.  There are some aspects of infantry that seem a little more abstracted than CM, but in other areas, SP is way ahead of CM...SOPs, formations, arming options, ability to do first person (if you want), etc.  As stated, the overhead view makes it very close to CM-type play.  There are still some limitations to the camera controls that frustrate me, but I know they are moving to advance camera controls in the future.

Still missing rendered foxholes and trenches.  They are VERY abstracted right now.  But they do have a role in the game.

Making up for almost any deficiency when compared to CM is the scripting capabilities.  They are very powerful, if a little arcane.  For the technically minded, there isn't much you can't do with scripting.

[Hartford688]

Thank you!