Commander: The Great War vs. Strategic Command WWI + Breakthrough: Immersion

Gusington · July 21, 2013, 05:10:36 PM

Which do you prefer for more of a WWI-era feeling of immersion?

I have played quite a bit of Commander: The Great War, both PBEM and against the AI, and while I like it very much, it doesn't feel very much like WWI. It could easily be WWII with different units or even other more modern wars. The events and portraits and such help a bit.

Does Strategic Command WWI + Breakthrough give you more of that immersion in the WWI era? And of course the other conflicts the game includes...does it do them well?

Thanks all.

Nefaro · July 21, 2013, 05:31:16 PM

I didn't think SCWWI had more of an immersion factor to it than Commander. If anything, the graphics and general look of the game doesn't really make it stand out all that much from any other turn-based wargames. It may help that the scale is a bit larger or that there are lots of scenarios to choose from.

Out of the three, I'd say WWI Gold has the best immersion but that is a tough one to learn.

magnus · July 21, 2013, 05:44:28 PM

I own Strategic Command and Breakthrough and was a beta tester for Commander the Great War.

CTGW was a bit too Panzer General like for me. I think SC is a much better game. Battlefront has added a Franco-Prussian war scenario for it.

I also own WWI gold and have started it many times and just as many have closed it up.

I haven't seen the videos that were posted last week on WWI. I believe they are tutorials and show you what the engine is doing.

I do not know if any has better immersion than the others. I am an old hex and chit Grog so SC suited me better than CTGW.

Steelgrave · July 21, 2013, 06:21:49 PM

Frankly, the SC graphics make the game a non-starter for me. I don't need much, but a halfway decent looking map adds to a strategy game and SC doesn't have it.

Gusington · July 21, 2013, 07:42:57 PM

Magnus I also felt that Commander felt a lot like Panzer General.

The screenshots I've seen of SC don't look particularly horrible, to me anyway.

The reason I am interested in the SC game now is for all the additional scenarios included, especially the Franco Prussian War. And potential immersion. But if you guys are pretty much meh maybe I should look to WWI Gold...except there aren't any additional scenarios there IIRC...

Staggerwing · July 21, 2013, 08:00:34 PM

Any screenshots or AARs of the Franco-Prussian scenario?

Grim.Reaper · July 21, 2013, 08:04:35 PM

Quote from: Staggerwing on July 21, 2013, 08:00:34 PM
Any screenshots or AARs of the Franco-Prussian scenario?

http://www.battlefront.com/community/showthread.php?t=110366

Gusington · July 21, 2013, 08:16:47 PM

^Thanks Grim. OK so the maps look a bit bland but the units look pretty good to me.

Staggerwing · July 21, 2013, 08:20:48 PM

Yes, thanks Grim. There are only a few games that deal with the F-P War at all.

airboy · July 22, 2013, 07:45:43 AM

Strategic Command WW1 forces players to carefully consider long run strategy vs. short run tactics. It also closely follows the logistics limitations of WW1. You can easily outrun supply or have your troops become combat ineffective if you do not carefully consider supply. Your artillery can be devistating, but there is a terrible shell shortage which forces you to stockpile ammo and carefully consider where you should try to launch offensive actions.

It takes a lot of effort to generate a real strategic offensive push. But if you ever get a breakthrough then the logistics can work in your favor if you can surround units or pockets.

I've played the game through several times and read several AARs. It does seem to capture the huge number of options you have in the war and the strategic dangers of letting your tactics drive your strategy.

Gusington · July 22, 2013, 08:09:02 AM

Thanks Airboy.

agathosdaimon · July 22, 2013, 08:35:32 AM

Oddly, i played Strategic Command 1 European Theater the other night - its on gog.com and my first thought right away was that the Slitherine commander games are identical to it - in almost everything but just the colour and position and layout. but SC WWI looks alot different and better depth wise. Though i think i really may like guns of august, as frank hunter designs games brilliantly. though i havent had a chance to play it yet

Gusington · July 22, 2013, 10:17:34 AM

Interesting, thanks.

Sir Slash · July 22, 2013, 10:57:28 AM

I played the demo for SC WWI and really enjoyed it. It fit a strategy need nicely and the AI was quite good. If I had more time, I'd buy it give it a go. Can't comment on CGW as I've never tried it.

SgtRock · July 22, 2013, 02:43:15 PM

Sadly the Strategic Command games are bundled with Battlefront's terrible DRM/license system, that seems to only get worst with every new release.