Steel Armor

MIGMaster · February 21, 2012, 10:15:36 AM

I remember someone talking about this sim/game somewhere - I think it may have been at the "old" site ;)

Doesn anyone have any comments on it - be they negative or positive ?

Thanks !

Migs

Jarhead0331 · February 21, 2012, 11:02:40 AM

Its a really unique sim that I think is worth buying. It covers unique wars with unique equipment and is supported well by the developer (Graviteam of Achtung Panzer! fame). It has a rough UI, no doubt, but if you can manage to stick with it, Steel Armor offers a rewarding experience. It was recently on sale for 66% off. Too bad you missed that opportunity. :'(

republic · February 21, 2012, 11:06:15 AM

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on February 21, 2012, 11:02:40 AM
Its a really unique sim that I think is worth buying. It covers unique wars with unique equipment and is supported well by the developer (Graviteam of Achtung Panzer! fame). It has a rough UI, no doubt, but if you can manage to stick with it, Steel Armor offers a rewarding experience. It was recently on sale for 66% off. Too bad you missed that opportunity. :'(

My thoughts exactly. I'm still grappling with the interface, but the game seems top notch so far. I have had a couple of crashes, but there seems to be a beta patch offered on their forums. I haven't had the opportunity to try the patch yet.

MIGMaster · February 21, 2012, 01:33:12 PM

What are you guys using for controllers ? Joystick & mouse ? just a joystick & keyboard, etc....

mitra76 · February 21, 2012, 03:36:32 PM

keyboard and mouse; the main problem of game is that is not possible have cinematic view of battlefield, it remains fixed on your tanks, so you lost all the 3d scenes graviteam displayed you in the trailer videos before the release. A replay of battles with this possibility will be great.

jomni · February 22, 2012, 02:16:02 AM

I have an AAR in my blog (dated Dec 27). http://jomnisgames.blogspot.com

Nefaro · February 22, 2012, 02:30:41 AM

Make sure you install the latest beta Core program update (an exe) and also get the second zip file containing the beta content update. The latter needs to be opened with the games own updater program.

Instructions and links at SimHQ thread:
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3521023/How_to_install_patch.html#Post3521023

The interface is pretty rough around the edges, still, but the updates made a huge difference in the scenarios and in other areas too. Don't play without it!

There is also a "Tactics" pdf you can d/l from the game site; I believe that has the most info on how to do everything while the "manual (aka handbuch)" is more of an outline and occasionally confusing key command reference.

jomni · February 22, 2012, 02:40:53 AM

The tactics PDF is for the strategic aspect and is actually usable for all their games like Achtung Panzer (hence the reference to WW2 units). No tips for tank simming.

MIGMaster · February 22, 2012, 08:16:55 AM

Thanks for all the help guys - I feel like part of a great big dysfunctional wargaming family ! Kinda makes me misty :'(

Bismarck · February 22, 2012, 02:47:22 PM

I'm working thru the tutorial. This game is not beer and pretzel!

Nefaro · February 22, 2012, 08:35:45 PM

Quote from: jomni on February 22, 2012, 02:40:53 AM
The tactics PDF is for the strategic aspect and is actually usable for all their games like Achtung Panzer (hence the reference to WW2 units). No tips for tank simming.

Damn. I was hoping for a walkthrough in each seat.

I still get stumped as to the procedure (and key punches) to send the range to the gunner and other such fun stuff. I also don't know what all the different range markings on the T-62 sights are supposed to be. All kinds of these problems with the Sim part. I thought the strategy side of the game was quite easy to pick up if you know the terminology, as I expect many of us do.

jomni · February 22, 2012, 11:00:49 PM

For the T-62, there's a scale at the lower part of the reticle. Just fit the target silouette on the scale and you immediately get range. Then elevate the gun to the proper range based on the ammo type, APCR is the shortest scale, etc. I think the MG is the longest scale.

M-60 is easier since you can just input the range into your computer then the gun is elevated as needed based on the ammo. Only problem is that it's a bit harder to determine range using US sights because you need to reference the size of the target relative to the center cross. But in theory manual range finding is fater that way since you don't need to swing the sights around.

Not really for the game but these cold war era manuals really helped in playing the tanks sim part.
http://www.steelbeasts.com/Downloads/p13_sectionid/250/p13_fileid/1810
http://www.steelbeasts.com/Downloads/p13_sectionid/250/p13_fileid/1813

Anyway I played two campaigns already, Iraq and Iran and I have never won any of them. :( Enemy always gets more points than me despite winning those manual tank battles. I still have to really understand how the campaign system works.

Nefaro · February 26, 2012, 01:13:02 AM

Thanks Jomni!

MIGMaster · February 26, 2012, 02:49:45 PM

With all these new sims and games coming out I may have to quit work to keep up !

besilarius · February 26, 2012, 07:26:47 PM

Jomni, your comment on getting the range from the reticule just reminded me of a conversation with a tank officer back in AFSOUTH outside of Naples, probably in 1973.
He described the M60 as having a stereoscopic sight. There was a V of five registration points. The gunner would bring the two images together and when the two Vs matched, you had the range.
He called it flying the geese.