Broken Arrow Vanguard Edition

Pete Dero · June 16, 2025, 02:39:40 PM

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1604270/Broken_Arrow/

Broken Arrow will be released on June 19 on Steam at $49.99.

Broken Arrow Vanguard Edition is now available on pre-order at $59.99.

It is a special edition which contains a number of exclusive goodies.

Advanced access to Broken Arrow: play the game ahead of everyone and jump in on the action on June 16, 3 days before launch;

Digital soundtrack: 41 intense and energetic bangers composed by the talented Evgeny Shchukin;

Digital wallpapers: customize your background with 9 beautiful wallpapers, portraying the specialization decks available in the game;

Exclusive skins: apply unique skins to specific vehicles, one per specialization.

Vanguard Edition is only available on Steam.

Jarhead0331 · June 16, 2025, 03:36:30 PM

I was supposed to receive a press code today, but it has not arrived yet. I wonder if that has anything to do with post release issues. Although Steam reviews are still showing as Very Positive overall, I'm seeing a lot of negative reviews build and a lot of discussions in the forums over an absence of AI for skirmish games and various bugs. There also may be a Russian bias in the game being that the developers are based in Russia and it is possible that many of the favorable reviews are being posted by Russian fans or bots, sort of like reverse review bombing?

I've been very much looking forward to this release and was thinking about just buying the Vanguard edition, but some of the negative feedback has me holding off.

Pete Dero · June 17, 2025, 02:52:47 AM

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on June 16, 2025, 03:36:30 PMa lot of discussions in the forums over an absence of AI for skirmish games

FAQ's : https://steamcommunity.com/app/1604270/discussions/0/819205817252191192/

Q: What does Skirmish mode contain?
A: At release, skirmish mode will support 3v3, 4v4 and 5v5 PVE, which means you'll be able to play against AI.

Team up with your friends and learn the game at your own pace against various AI presets that represent Battlegroups you will face on the battlefield.

Balancing for 1v1 and other single player configurations, against and co-operatively with AI are planned for future updates and will be released as free content.

Do note that it is possible to create and play content that is very similar to Skirmish mode, in the games Scenario mode and/or by using the Scenario Editor to create missions. This includes being able to use your decks to play out these missions, and set up allies to support you, like you would in a Skirmish.

undercovergeek · June 17, 2025, 09:15:28 AM

Quote from: Pete Dero on June 17, 2025, 02:52:47 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on June 16, 2025, 03:36:30 PMa lot of discussions in the forums over an absence of AI for skirmish games

FAQ's : https://steamcommunity.com/app/1604270/discussions/0/819205817252191192/

Q: What does Skirmish mode contain?
A: At release, skirmish mode will support 3v3, 4v4 and 5v5 PVE, which means you'll be able to play against AI.

Team up with your friends and learn the game at your own pace against various AI presets that represent Battlegroups you will face on the battlefield.

Balancing for 1v1 and other single player configurations, against and co-operatively with AI are planned for future updates and will be released as free content.

Do note that it is possible to create and play content that is very similar to Skirmish mode, in the games Scenario mode and/or by using the Scenario Editor to create missions. This includes being able to use your decks to play out these missions, and set up allies to support you, like you would in a Skirmish.

Not according to nearly every negative review and the forums

There is no working 1v1 pve system

Pete Dero · June 17, 2025, 09:34:00 AM

Quote from: undercovergeek on June 17, 2025, 09:15:28 AM
Quote from: Pete Dero on June 17, 2025, 02:52:47 AM
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on June 16, 2025, 03:36:30 PMa lot of discussions in the forums over an absence of AI for skirmish games

FAQ's : https://steamcommunity.com/app/1604270/discussions/0/819205817252191192/

Q: What does Skirmish mode contain?
A: At release, skirmish mode will support 3v3, 4v4 and 5v5 PVE, which means you'll be able to play against AI.

Team up with your friends and learn the game at your own pace against various AI presets that represent Battlegroups you will face on the battlefield.

Balancing for 1v1 and other single player configurations, against and co-operatively with AI are planned for future updates and will be released as free content.

Do note that it is possible to create and play content that is very similar to Skirmish mode, in the games Scenario mode and/or by using the Scenario Editor to create missions. This includes being able to use your decks to play out these missions, and set up allies to support you, like you would in a Skirmish.

Not according to nearly every negative review and the forums

There is no working 1v1 pve system

That is what they say in the Faq : 1v1 is planned as a future update (for free).

I'm a bit disappointed it isn't in game already (as a single player guy), but they did mention it before early access started.

I just got my anniversary coupon from Slitherine (- 50 % !) and now I'm less certain I will use it for this game.

Jarhead0331 · June 17, 2025, 10:44:01 AM

I have two extra codes for the vanguard early access edition. I'm happy to share, but I'll need someone to volunteer to write some impressions for the main page and connect for co-op. Altogether, I have 3 codes, so we could play 3v3 matches against the AI!

Any takers?

undercovergeek · June 17, 2025, 10:56:34 AM

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on June 17, 2025, 10:44:01 AMI have two extra codes for the vanguard early access edition. I'm happy to share, but I'll need someone to volunteer to write some impressions for the main page and connect for co-op. Altogether, I have 3 codes, so we could play 3v3 matches against the AI!

Any takers?

I'll gladly volunteer but I understand if others want to go first

Jarhead0331 · June 17, 2025, 05:13:33 PM

Boy...a real mixed bag so far.

The arsenal and OOB is impressive. I really like the variety of units and weapon systems. Models are beautiful and the environments and combat are very nice. However, I still feel like units take damage and losses a little too easily. This was a major gripe of mine during the beta tests. Some weapon systems should be extremely lethal, but units entrenched in buildings should definitely be much harder to wear down and kill. Additionally, artillery. Holy crap is it accurate. Like dead-on-balls accurate and again, it totally shreds infantry in buildings and vehicles. It really eliminates the strategic and tactical benefits of taking defensive positions. They can never be held long and this does not even consider the logistical issues. Ammo gets burned through very fast!

The campaign story is crap. It is definitely "pro-Russian" and the writing, dialogue, etc. is laughable. The American characters are so stereotypical. The American general is like General Ripper on steroids. It is tremendously immersion breaking. Also, there are a lot of technical issues. For awhile, I was stuck on the second campaign mission because I kept getting CTDs on start-up, with one blue screen of death. Eventually, I got passed it and was able to get past the mission. There have been two patches since yesterday, so clearly there are issues that are being worked on.

There is a lot of potential with the OOB and I'll be really happy if it gets expanded with European nations and the Chinese or even Norks, but regardless, a good deal of balancing is critical. This could someday rival the Wargame series and Warno. The parts are all there, but I think it has a way to go and still needs time in the oven.

undercovergeek · June 18, 2025, 03:44:45 AM

skirmish and 1v1 pve suddenly appears - it shouldnt have been that hard

Jarhead0331 · June 18, 2025, 03:12:23 PM

...ouch. No save available in campaign mission. These are long complex missions. Really bad omission.

Pete Dero · June 19, 2025, 04:41:01 AM

Quote from: Jarhead0331 on June 18, 2025, 03:12:23 PM...ouch. No save available in campaign mission. These are long complex missions. Really bad omission.

And no pause in skirmishes (available in the campaign), probably because single player skirmish was not part of the initial release.

Pete Dero · June 23, 2025, 07:10:37 AM

I tried Cheat Engine to pause or slow down the game in single player skirmish.

On my PC the result isn't perfect : it slows down the game but the in game timer doesn't slow down.

undercovergeek · June 23, 2025, 07:16:13 AM

Quote from: Pete Dero on June 23, 2025, 07:10:37 AMI tried Cheat Engine to pause or slow down the game in single player skirmish.

On my PC the result isn't perfect : it slows down the game but the in game timer doesn't slow down.

??

What does the in game timer do that effects gameplay?

Pete Dero · June 23, 2025, 08:04:40 AM

Quote from: undercovergeek on June 23, 2025, 07:16:13 AM
Quote from: Pete Dero on June 23, 2025, 07:10:37 AMI tried Cheat Engine to pause or slow down the game in single player skirmish.

On my PC the result isn't perfect : it slows down the game but the in game timer doesn't slow down.

??

What does the in game timer do that effects gameplay?

The timer counts down from 45 minutes. If you play at half speed the skirmish still ends after 45 minutes.

undercovergeek · June 23, 2025, 08:53:00 AM

Quote from: Pete Dero on June 23, 2025, 08:04:40 AM
Quote from: undercovergeek on June 23, 2025, 07:16:13 AM
Quote from: Pete Dero on June 23, 2025, 07:10:37 AMI tried Cheat Engine to pause or slow down the game in single player skirmish.

On my PC the result isn't perfect : it slows down the game but the in game timer doesn't slow down.

??

What does the in game timer do that effects gameplay?

The timer counts down from 45 minutes. If you play at half speed the skirmish still ends after 45 minutes.

aaahh - it would be a pleasure to last that long - single player skirmish on these big ass maps is melting my face - will welcome the smaller 1v1 maps