Vietnam '65 announced @ Matrixgames/Slitherine

[Boggit]

Yes, not hard core. It's something I'd play for a while, do something else, then come back and play a bit more. As each game generates a random map you can play a game as and when. From that point of view I'd say casual - style wise, I agree with Tgb - Beer and Pretzels. It's fun. :) I think the price makes it an easy decision.

[MikeGER]

tactical situation on my first game  :)
turn 11, and i have something close to 4k political points savings to operate with atm   

[fabius]

tactical situation on my first game  :)
turn 11, and i have something close to 4k political points savings to operate with atm

Lucky you, you got a rookie first AO  ;)

[ArizonaTank]

Alright, I have my 60's soundtrack ready.  Nothing left to do but patiently wait.

If you really want to get in the mood, I recommend "In Country" basically songs the troops wrote themselves.  Great titles like: "Grunt" "Six-Clicks" "Ho Chi Minh Trail" "Fighter Pilot's Christmas" and "First Cav"

Really great stuff, highly recommend it:

http://www.amazon.com/Country-Folk-Songs-Americans-Vietnam/dp/B00106GE6C/ref=tmm_msc_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1425571817

[KyzBP]

There's no non-Steam version?  Bought it anyway.  O0

I didn't think the Steam version had unlocked yet, so I bought it directly from Matrix.

For those on the fence, it's only $10 ($9 from Steam), which puts it into my "why not?" zone.

I was planning on spending $20 on it so this is great news!

[KyzBP]

Alright, I have my 60's soundtrack ready.  Nothing left to do but patiently wait.

If you really want to get in the mood, I recommend "In Country" basically songs the troops wrote themselves.  Great titles like: "Grunt" "Six-Clicks" "Ho Chi Minh Trail" "Fighter Pilot's Christmas" and "First Cav"

Really great stuff, highly recommend it:

http://www.amazon.com/Country-Folk-Songs-Americans-Vietnam/dp/B00106GE6C/ref=tmm_msc_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1425571817

I will check it out. Thanks AZTank.

[KyzBP]

I really, really wanted to like this title....and I do!  I've only got about 25 turns in, and I haven't read the manual yet, but I really like what I've seen so far.  The mechanics really seem to force you into a war of attrition. 

I just wanted to check in and say that this is well worth the $9 or $10. :)

[Philippe]

The little I've seen so far I rather like.  I'm generally averse to games that feel like they might have been designed for play on mobile devices, but a good beer and pretzels game isn't quite the same thing.  I also hate randomly generated maps, but what I've seen so far doesn't bother me that much.

What I find surprising is that it is one side only.  If you could play both sides and if it weren't saddled with Matrix's restrictive concept of PBEM, it could be a winner.  I usually avoid PBEM scenarios that run more than a score of turns, but I don't think it would be a problem because there aren't very many pieces to worry about.

But I say that without having played through any scenarios, so I don't know how balanced it is/could be.

[jomni]

I think this game is perfect for one player only. The war is asymmetric and the communist abide to different rules and objectives. Game mechanics are tailor made to make it difficult for the Free World forces and thus the AI might be more optimized. Just like that Hannibal game.

[JasonPratt]

Have to admit, I breached the no-new-game-buy rule this year for this game. :)

[Cyrano]

AND I AM HERE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO!!

PROPHET!!

I AM A PROPHET!!

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

[LongBlade]

Vietnam 65...the gateway game.

[Philippe]

I'm having trouble figuring out exactly where to position firebases so that my artillery can cover all the nearby hamlets.  Is this WAD, or should there be some kind of measuring tool ?  I hate being able to count hexes on a visible hexgrid, so if this ambiguity isn't intentional (simulating inaccurate maps ?) perhaps something that shows howitzer ranges would be in order.  I have a similar problem with Cobra attack ranges, but a three hex stand-off is easier to figure out.

(I was also expecting to fly around the landscape shooting up the landscape with machine guns from my Huey, but that's another story).

[jomni]

I'm having trouble figuring out exactly where to position firebases so that my artillery can cover all the nearby hamlets.  Is this WAD, or should there be some kind of measuring tool ?  I hate being able to count hexes on a visible hexgrid, so if this ambiguity isn't intentional (simulating inaccurate maps ?) perhaps something that shows howitzer ranges would be in order.  I have a similar problem with Cobra attack ranges, but a three hex stand-off is easier to figure out.

(I was also expecting to fly around the landscape shooting up the landscape with machine guns from my Huey, but that's another story).

Yeah, all gut feel.

[jomni]

My first campaign, normal difficulty, resulted in a victory with 60+ hearts and minds.  It's not too hard to win.  Lucky that there are three villages close to each other that can be constantly patrolled by infantry.  I put my Fire Base there.
My Forward Base near the other edge of the map was the site of an epic struggle.  It sustained numerous attacks from VC and NVA (including tanks).  Whatever I put there, SF, INF, ARVN would take casualties.  So there is a constant ferrying of troops in and out of the area via Huey and M113.  The helicopters occasionally get damaged as well by RPG attacks.  I placed an arty there but being so far from the Main Base means it takes a lot of time for it receive ammo.  So it was quite useless at times especially during the intense attacks.  The constant attacks also bring in a lot of money since you get to kill a lot units.  I got enough money to build a tank and sent it there but time ran out for it to see some real action.  I won anyway.

This game captures the feel of 'Nam nicely.  And there is a big emphasis on logistics.  I won't call this a casual game.

I find no use for the Corbra (based on my experience in Training).  And I will probably buy a Chinook for those long range supply missions.


Oh I've been reading the reviews and here's a summary of those who voted against the game.
1)  "The game is too simple and ugly and looks like a tablet game."  They are somewhat correct on the looks part but it can be deceiving.  The game may be simple at the start but there is some depth on how you place your bases and do your resupply.
2)  "The game is too tedious especially the resupply stuff."  Well that's also true but I like these things and supply is the aspect that actually makes the game deep.