Histwar: Napolean

ArizonaTank · December 11, 2016, 11:18:08 PM

I have always been a big Histwar fanboy.... I love the vision.

I think JMM came so close to the ultimate Napoleonic game with the previous version. All he had to do was address just a few fatal flaws that eluded him....

It is still the only game that gets the correct unit formations, uniforms and tactics. Here the "Old Guard" waits for orders at Waterloo. Note the regiment has two battalions, with command group in the center:

Still, even with my love of the "vision", I can't recommend waiting for this. JMM runs on his own clock ...

If it comes out in my lifetime, I will be happy. But I am not waiting for it.

Surtur · December 12, 2016, 03:41:44 AM

Wow I had comepletely forgotten about this one. I actually bought it from their site, but lost interest after lack of updates. Sad that this is still the case.

HoodedHorseJoe · December 12, 2016, 06:24:10 AM

We contacted these guys back in July about maybe doing something on it, but couldn't get code out of them as they wanted it to be updated a bit more first.

Shame really.

Zipuli · December 12, 2016, 12:09:04 PM

The webpage seems to be down, it was up last week... but latest info bits from the facebook page, from the dev JMM:

November 25th (and to be clear, 2016 ;)):

"We are working on a new version for deleting these bad behaviours [question was about AI]. Always checking before launching a new campaign for the beta test team.
Sorry for your frustration. I hope the new version will be very good."
"I know there are some problems; so I am working on the next version after rewriting a lot the code."
"That said, I don't think there are a lot of wargames which are always supported 8 years after the initial release...
So maybe you can wait for the next free patch.. just some weeks yet."

I am also hoping for the game to become polished, because it not only has a great vision, BUT it also includes already a full set of editors (order of battle, map, doctrine) which turn the game into a proper Napoleonic battle construction kit.

RyanE · December 12, 2016, 12:24:31 PM

Funny, I always here companies claiming that not a lot of games are support for 5, 8, 10 years. In fact, in wargaming, quite a few are, if you count sequels also.

Combat Mission 1 & 2
ARMA, 1, 2, and 3
Steel Beasts
Close Combat through its iterations
Harpoon was supported for quite a few years until recently
TOAW
John Tiller games
HPS games
DCS must be right up there also

That's all I got off the top of my head. I think HistWar is more around how long a game has been in development.

Zipuli · December 12, 2016, 12:37:49 PM

But should you count official sequels or third party work as a support for that certain a game, that's another story, and would shorten your list.

Not going to start a debate about support and developement, just addressing the original question about the game being dead: no it is not.

mikeck · December 12, 2016, 12:58:51 PM

While it may be true that most games aren't supported 8 years after release, most games are very playable and have matured after a year. This game has existed fluctuating between reality and the devs vision since 2007 and never has their been a fully functional stable release. So the way I see it, he's still making the game itself, not supporting it.

Just FYI, I have Histwar: Napoleon and I really wanted to like it. It was beautiful. It was just a mess though and the forum was dead. Waiting years for a patch I gave up

Zipuli · December 12, 2016, 01:04:45 PM

Quote from: mikeck on December 12, 2016, 12:58:51 PM
Waiting years for a patch I gave up

One...
More...
Year...

:D

And an update:
"Hello All,
No a good news : our servers have been hacked and we are going to repair them. Don't worry, our Data Base are encrypted and there is no critical informations saved.
More information ASAP..."

Grim.Reaper · December 12, 2016, 05:55:18 PM

Believe it when I see it....these kind of communications were same as the past and we will get more stating further delay at some point....this developer has to earn trust back.

ArizonaTank · December 13, 2016, 12:47:30 AM

Quote from: Zipuli on December 12, 2016, 12:09:04 PM
The webpage seems to be down, it was up last week... but latest info bits from the facebook page, from the dev JMM:

November 25th (and to be clear, 2016 ;)):

"We are working on a new version for deleting these bad behaviours [question was about AI]. Always checking before launching a new campaign for the beta test team.
Sorry for your frustration. I hope the new version will be very good."
"I know there are some problems; so I am working on the next version after rewriting a lot the code."
"That said, I don't think there are a lot of wargames which are always supported 8 years after the initial release...
So maybe you can wait for the next free patch.. just some weeks yet."

I am also hoping for the game to become polished, because it not only has a great vision, BUT it also includes already a full set of editors (order of battle, map, doctrine) which turn the game into a proper Napoleonic battle construction kit.

My biggest gripe with HistWar (and ultimately what I consider to be a fatal flaw), is that the strategic AI is not dynamic. It decides on a strategy at game start, then sticks to it, no matter what happens on the field. Even the worst commanders of the era had some flexibility. If JMM fixes this...I am back in his fold. Hopefully that is what JMM is working on.

RyanE · August 30, 2018, 08:14:26 AM

I have been looking at HWN and watching a few videos. It seems to have made some progress. Anyone played it recently? Any one have cogent thoughts on it?

panzerde · August 30, 2018, 08:21:56 AM

Quote from: RyanE on August 30, 2018, 08:14:26 AM
I have been looking at HWN and watching a few videos. It seems to have made some progress. Anyone played it recently? Any one have cogent thoughts on it?

I spent about six hours trying to love it last weekend. The last update is actually over a year old. As always, there's an "update coming" but it isn't here yet.

It looks pretty. It has some nice ideas, like the layers for drawing your plan. I ultimately ended up back to Scourge of War Waterloo with the Kriegsspiel mod. HistWarN still has a long way to go IMHO.

ArizonaTank · July 30, 2019, 03:11:54 PM

Well, I'll be....

HistWar is still breathing. JMM has built a new UI apparently. Now if he has done anything to make the UI dynamic, that would make this a real contender.

Here is a recent video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD4DTqRZg5M

Grim.Reaper · July 30, 2019, 05:57:57 PM

It might be just me, buy I can't see the video or link....anyone have direct link?

glen55 · July 30, 2019, 08:09:33 PM

Quote from: Grim.Reaper on July 30, 2019, 05:57:57 PM
It might be just me, buy I can't see the video or link....anyone have direct link?

It's histwar man, what do you expect? :D ;D :DD