Command Ops:BftB

Father Ted · November 29, 2012, 06:20:41 PM

This is to my mind a very expensive game, but the seasonal sale has brought it within tempting range of my wallet. I've taken the demo for a spin and it seems like it should be one hell of a game, but I can't quite decide...

What I want to know is, why does the game not get name-checked here more often? Some games get mentioned a lot, and this is often an indication that they may be worth a look, even without direct recommendation. So, in the case of BfTB, is it (as I suspect) because it is one of those games which initially appeals because it is fantastically deep, but turns out to be too deep to be playable? Or is it just too expensive and no one has bought it?

Bison · November 29, 2012, 06:28:55 PM

It's a damned good game and it scales to the level of micromanagement you want. The AI is outstanding. I think it's really more a matter of short attention spans on sites like this one. The most discussed are the newest releases with the occassional look back at games. I paid full price before it was dropped and before a sale. It is worth every penny IMHO.

Bison · November 29, 2012, 06:34:27 PM

I should add short attention spans of gamers too. Play a game and move along. Not pointing fingers as I'm just as guilty as the next guy; just a broad generalization of gamer ADD.

panzerde · November 29, 2012, 06:59:16 PM

I think this is just about the best grand tactical game available right now. The scenarios are challenging and interesting, but what I really like is being able to direct the battle as a higher echelon officer and not have to manually move every freaking chit. The addition of things like order delays and unit fatigue present the sort of command challenges games like POA2 want to have but haven't delivered on.

undercovergeek · November 29, 2012, 07:16:51 PM

Quote from: Bison on November 29, 2012, 06:28:55 PM
It's a damned good game and it scales to the level of micromanagement you want. The AI is outstanding. I think it's really more a matter of short attention spans on sites like this one. The most discussed are the newest releases with the occassional look back at games. I paid full price before it was dropped and before a sale. It is worth every penny IMHO.

does the demo give you a good over view of the game? i tried HTTR again, and again, and again - i just didnt get it, and would have loved to amidst all the praise at the time. I hear nothing but good things about it, i wish it would grab me

Father Ted · November 29, 2012, 07:36:03 PM

Thanks chaps - that's the sort of stuff I was wanting to hear.

@Bison: I appreciate what you're saying about people posting on the Next Big Thing, but the "weekend gaming" thread is often a good indicator of which games people keep coming back to and I haven't seen BftB mentioned often (if at all), hence my worry.

@undercovergeek: there is a video tutorial for the game which not only explains the concept, but also acts as a great advert. I don't have a link, but, as is usually the case, Google is your friend.

son_of_montfort · November 29, 2012, 08:53:59 PM

Depending on your font API, you might have to fiddle with it to make the game look as it should. I was irritated that they hard coded the UI to only work for certain API settings.

Bison · November 29, 2012, 08:55:57 PM

SoM is right. Set your text to 100% and not one of the larger text size. It's honestly not an uncommon issue. Tiller, Ageod, PitF, etc all have the same issue with font.

Con · November 29, 2012, 09:23:09 PM

These are my go to wargames and have a permanent spot on my hard drive. They are also the only games I have on my work laptop to play when I travel.

I bought them all at full price look to see if you can get a BotB and Highway to the Reich at the same time.

In terms of talk of these games there has been plenty on the Wargamer also lots of threads about the pricing of these games. For me the learning curve was steep with me banging my head in frustration on the Conquest of the Aegean series and then it just came to me and I saw that its not about micromanaging but thinking big picture and using time as part of your strategy. If I look at the cost versus time and enjoyment I have gotten these are the most value for price games I have ever bought.

Run don't walk to buy them

Con

Al · November 29, 2012, 09:43:51 PM

If you're used to playing turn-based, hex-based game where every unit needs to be manually directed, BftB may take some getting used to since the player gives orders then sits back and watches his plan play out. Took me a while to get used to the system. The same developer has has a new game based on teh same engine but a step down in scale - platoon and section - that really has my interest.

son_of_montfort · November 29, 2012, 10:03:25 PM

Quote from: Bison on November 29, 2012, 08:55:57 PM
SoM is right. Set your text to 100% and not one of the larger text size. It's honestly not an uncommon issue. Tiller, Ageod, PitF, etc all have the same issue with font.

Indeed. WitE also.

jomni · November 29, 2012, 10:10:09 PM

This is one good game that's gathering dust for me. A great simulation but it lacks a soul to be very engaging in my case.

LongBlade · November 29, 2012, 11:25:05 PM

Quote from: Father Ted on November 29, 2012, 06:20:41 PM
This is to my mind a very expensive game, but the seasonal sale has brought it within tempting range of my wallet. I've taken the demo for a spin and it seems like it should be one hell of a game, but I can't quite decide...

What I want to know is, why does the game not get name-checked here more often? Some games get mentioned a lot, and this is often an indication that they may be worth a look, even without direct recommendation. So, in the case of BfTB, is it (as I suspect) because it is one of those games which initially appeals because it is fantastically deep, but turns out to be too deep to be playable? Or is it just too expensive and no one has bought it?

I own it and find it is fantastic.

The devs did themselves a huge favor by taking the time to produce a series of tutorials that have made the game accessible to almost everyone.

Jomni's point is interesting.

I find the series AI to be so strong that often I find myself giving orders and then sitting back and watching the game more like a movie than a game.

I don't find it "lacks soul" so much as you have to trust the soul to do what it's designed to do.

jomni · November 30, 2012, 12:29:31 AM

At least when watching a movie you get visual feedback on what's happening. This on the other hand is just watching icons on a map moving or not being able to move. There is an event log but it's too voluminous and generic. It's different when you get messages in real life via courier, radio, telegram. We won't care about these little things in a turn-based micro managing game since were're pretty much occupied. But in command ops, I need more things to keep me occupied.

Father Ted · November 30, 2012, 06:37:59 AM

Quote from: LongBlade on November 29, 2012, 11:25:05 PM

Jomni's point is interesting.

I find the series AI to be so strong that often I find myself giving orders and then sitting back and watching the game more like a movie than a game.

I came away from the demo with that impression, which was my worry, I guess...Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I'll do some more pondering...