Most memorable moment in a strategy game

[ilovestrategy]

I made a thread like this about a year ago and decided to make another to see new experiences. What is your most memorable experience in a strategy game?

About 1999 I was deep in a Civilization II campaign as the British when Spain declared war on me. I decided to try something new and bribed one of their coastal cities to join my side and dropped a garrison there to hold it. And Spain threw everything it had against me. It was really touch and go at times. There were times I had to send a small force out to destroy their cannons before they could fire over my walls.

By the time I finally bust my way out of the city and started fighting in the countryside I had progressed from sword and shield soldiers to modern tanks with bombers and modern infantry. It took me that long to break out of the city.

I've played a lot of strategy games since then but that moment always stayed with me.

[Scott Parrino]

When I finally understood how to reinforce units in Panzer General. I was young, I didn't have the manual, and I was just pointing and clicking without real thought or anything. I was young, but once I got the huge Panzer General guide (which I still keep to remind me of my roots) I started to learn about the intricacies of strategic combat.

It's not so much of an exciting memorable moment but when you learn something as pivotal as keeping units alive with the reinforcement ability, the game changes DRAMATICALLY.

[rodney727]

Last week actually....playing the third reich scenario in TOF..two British paratroopers dropped into Berlin.....garrission every major city!

[vonRocko]

Good stories! One moment for me was not actually in game, but about a game. I had bought ageods civil war at a retail store, and tried to play it 4 or 5 times, but I just couldn't grasp the whole command point, corp, division formation, leaders thing. I love the American civil war, and really wanted to play this game. Well after another frustrating try at the game, I went to bed that night and actually dreamed about the game.[:D] In that dream, all the game mechanics fell into place,it all clicked, it was amazing. I woke up the next morning and actually remembered the details. Later that day I started a new game, and I was able to play it, for the first time it all came together! It was a real "Eureka" moment![;)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

I made a thread like this about a year ago and decided to make another to see new experiences. What is your most memorable experience in a strategy game?

About 1999 I was deep in a Civilization II campaign as the British when Spain declared war on me. I decided to try something new and bribed one of their coastal cities to join my side and dropped a garrison there to hold it. And Spain threw everything it had against me. It was really touch and go at times. There were times I had to send a small force out to destroy their cannons before they could fire over my walls.

By the time I finally bust my way out of the city and started fighting in the countryside I had progressed from sword and shield soldiers to modern tanks with bombers and modern infantry. It took me that long to break out of the city.

I've played a lot of strategy games since then but that moment always stayed with me.

Warspite1

ILS are you seriously saying you remember an incident from 1999 in a computer game?....yeah know what you're saying, I still remember two games of WIF where in the first I had the chance of taking Iceland as the German/Italians but threw a 1 and secondly where I tried a paradrop on a German HQ deep into Soviet territory.....but threw a 1.

The date of those two games? 1996 [:)] HELP I NEED A LIFE

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

I made a thread like this about a year ago and decided to make another to see new experiences. What is your most memorable experience in a strategy game?

About 1999 I was deep in a Civilization II campaign as the British when Spain declared war on me. I decided to try something new and bribed one of their coastal cities to join my side and dropped a garrison there to hold it. And Spain threw everything it had against me. It was really touch and go at times. There were times I had to send a small force out to destroy their cannons before they could fire over my walls.

By the time I finally bust my way out of the city and started fighting in the countryside I had progressed from sword and shield soldiers to modern tanks with bombers and modern infantry. It took me that long to break out of the city.

I've played a lot of strategy games since then but that moment always stayed with me.

I vaguely remember a particular game of Civilization III where I was playing as Germans and close to being able to build Panzer tanks but found myself cut off from any oil resources. I located a source near an enemy city several cities deep into the territory of a Civ next to mine. I fought like a dickens with cavalry, artillery and infantry to capture that oil source. I ended up with a thin little line of cities linking the resource to my own empire. I likewise fought like the dickens to keep the enemy out from cutting me off again. In the end I held out. I don't think I completed the game through to the end. After the tough fighting it was no longer as much a challenge now that I had the resource so I quit. But getting to that resource was a lot of fun. One (of many) reason(s) I don't like Civ IV is the resources seem too plentiful and there isn't as much incentive to fight tooth and nail to get them. But whenever I fire up Civ III I always think of how fun it is to canive and scheme to get those valuable resources. Ah, rape and pillage, what fun! [:D]

[Josh]

Hey that's funny cause one of my most memorable moments is about Civ too, CivII actually. I can't remember what empire I played, but I remember that it was pretty large but my defense was a little thin. And all of a sudden the cursed ZULUS declare war on me, ON ME! The insult! The humiliation! I had expected a DOW from any empire but not my long time companion the Zulus. So there you go, 20 years later and I still remember the insult and I still despise the Zulus [:D] 
 
CivII-III were the best IMHO, Civ IV was a bit of a letdown, Civ V is way too much eyecandy and cluttered although the gameplay has improved and has been streamlined.
 
Hmm come to think of it, Spearman defeats Bomber in CivI is classic too [&o]couldn't believe my eyes LOL "How do you mean that spearman defeated my Lancaster??"  Ah the memories.

[Gilmer]

I have at least one. In the original Shogun Total War, there's a province in the middle of the map, I believe it is Shinano, where if you are the defender, you always set up on a hill and the attacker always comes right at you up the valley.

I figured out you could keep a smaller amount of forces there if they were excellent morale and weapon-ed and just keep getting attacked over and over and you could keep winning by waiting on the hill and when they attacked up, you attacked down with warrior monks and such. Anyway, that was always fun.

Also, and this is going way back. Nobunaga's Ambition on SNES. I figured out how to beat it on the highest difficulty - level 5, by choosing as my character Sogo in Fief 41 or so. He was usually in his 80s by the time I had conquered all of Japan.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Josh

Hey that's funny cause one of my most memorable moments is about Civ too, CivII actually. I can't remember what empire I played, but I remember that it was pretty large but my defense was a little thin. And all of a sudden the cursed ZULUS declare war on me, ON ME! The insult! The humiliation! I had expected a DOW from any empire but not my long time companion the Zulus. So there you go, 20 years later and I still remember the insult and I still despise the Zulus [:D] 

CivII-III were the best IMHO, Civ IV was a bit of a letdown, Civ V is way too much eyecandy and cluttered although the gameplay has improved and has been streamlined.

Hmm come to think of it, Spearman defeats Bomber in CivI is classic too [&o]couldn't believe my eyes LOL "How do you mean that spearman defeated my Lancaster??"  Ah the memories.

Now that I think of it, I can still remember my first game ever of Civ I. I started on a little island, built up my empire to like 5 or 6 cities, finally I discovered navigation and started sending out caravels to see the world. No sooner had I built my first caravel when battleships started showing up on my coast. Next thing I knew I was at war. I think I gave up before my last city was conquered. After that game I discovered that settlers could improve terrain. Doh! [:D]

[parusski]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

ORIGINAL: Josh

Hey that's funny cause one of my most memorable moments is about Civ too, CivII actually. I can't remember what empire I played, but I remember that it was pretty large but my defense was a little thin. And all of a sudden the cursed ZULUS declare war on me, ON ME! The insult! The humiliation! I had expected a DOW from any empire but not my long time companion the Zulus. So there you go, 20 years later and I still remember the insult and I still despise the Zulus [:D] 

CivII-III were the best IMHO, Civ IV was a bit of a letdown, Civ V is way too much eyecandy and cluttered although the gameplay has improved and has been streamlined.

Hmm come to think of it, Spearman defeats Bomber in CivI is classic too [&o]couldn't believe my eyes LOL "How do you mean that spearman defeated my Lancaster??"  Ah the memories.

Now that I think of it, I can still remember my first game ever of Civ I. I started on a little island, built up my empire to like 5 or 6 cities, finally I discovered navigation and started sending out caravels to see the world. No sooner had I built my first caravel when battleships started showing up on my coast. Next thing I knew I was at war. I think I gave up before my last city was conquered. After that game I discovered that settlers could improve terrain. Doh! [:D]

Amazing, and sort of funny. That is exactly what I remember from Civ I.

Some things I shudder at: I was 25 at the time, my children were 7, 5 and 3. Now, at 46 my kiddies are 28, 26 and 24 and one grandchild just born. HOLY COW where did the time go.

But I have wonderful memories of Civ I.

[rodney727]

I was in college when Civ II came out, I remember falling asleep once in my chair playing that game, it was always "just one more turn".

[parusski]

ORIGINAL: rogo727

I was in college when Civ II came out, I remember falling asleep once in my chair playing that game, it was always "just one more turn".

Oh man do I remember those nights. Oh, wait that still happens.

But I love those "just one more turn" games. Used to get that in the Heroes of Might and Magic series.

[Scott_WAR]

My most memorable moment was while playing Axis & Allies online. My opponent was one of those players who was considered one of the absolute best at the game. I was actually winning and just setting up for the finishing blows,....when in my excitement I made a huge boo- boo. I was playing as Axis and left Japan undefended,..not noticing the USA transport in range with 2 infantry on it,...and lost my capital............which effectively ended the game.

[SLAAKMAN]

2007. World in Flames F.E. with many mods; Convoys/Crusiers, Mech, Asia/Afrika, Ships/Planes, Food in Flames rule, Carrier Planes & using most options including Op 20 (no zocs DoW 1st imp), Global Camp. 1939-45. I was running Italy. Britain was played by a pro-labor union fanatic who despised my Libertarianism. A control freak history professor from the Naval PostGrad school was his advisor & cheerleader while the US & Russia were run by a hippie & a formidable history buff respectively. A very clever German player was tending to the eastern front and had procured a stalemate. France/Vichy was secure, Japan had run roughshod over southeast Asia into India & by mid '43 had taken all of it. In the Med, after battling for control for more than 3 1/2 grueling years of naval maneuver I had effected a stalemate. The Allies controlled Gibraltor, Malta, most of Sardinia, North Africa even though we had put pressure on them by invading Syria/Palestine. We didnt fight that hard for Libya & was taken by the Allies. Greece was ours too & Yugoslavia joined the Axis. The Kriegsmarine consistently ran sorties into the Atlantic & losses were mounting but it took its toll on Allied convoys & units. Axis units covering Italys & Sicilys defense were deployed well with a reserve. In May '43 the Allies decided they would invade Sicily to start but after moving units into the Med we decided to commit 4 more corps to Sicily so they changed their plan. Instead they declared war on Vichy since there were only 4 corps, 3 deployed in Marseilles, 1 in Toulon. But when they moved into the Western Med we sortied out both air & naval units & a vicious, epic battle ensued for 3 turns, approximately 20+ impulses with staggering losses for the Allied invasion fleet. They entered with 4 Amphibs, 8 Transports & a large escort fleet but left with only 1 Amphib after unrelenting assaults by Axis naval bombers. Allied ftr losses were triple our own including the loss of their Tempest & Black Widow ftr wings. Worse yet, the entire invasion force including 1 Hq, 2 Marine corps 2 Abn corps, 1 Ranger & 1 Commando corps were trapped & annihilated. Allied losses in all categories were 5 times that of the Axis and they didnt win the battle. Worse still was that was the addition of the Vichy fleet which was over 90% intact when France capitulated in 1940. Total losses for the Allies exceeded 22 corps on the ground, numerous crusiers & battleships & 24 ftrs & bmbrs. It was the most lopsided defeat Ive ever inflicted on them to date. Viva Italia!! [:D]

[parusski]

ORIGINAL: SLAAKMAN

2007. World in Flames F.E. with many mods; Convoys/Crusiers, Mech, Asia/Afrika, Ships/Planes, Food in Flames rule, Carrier Planes & using most options including Op 20 (no zocs DoW 1st imp), Global Camp. 1939-45. I was running Italy. Britain was played by a pro-labor union fanatic who despised my Libertarianism. A control freak history professor from the Naval PostGrad school was his advisor & cheerleader while the US & Russia were run by a hippie & a formidable history buff respectively. A very clever German player was tending to the eastern front and had procured a stalemate. France/Vichy was secure, Japan had run roughshod over southeast Asia into India & by mid '43 had taken all of it. In the Med, after battling for control for more than 3 1/2 grueling years of naval maneuver I had effected a stalemate. The Allies controlled Gibraltor, Malta, most of Sardinia, North Africa even though we had put pressure on them by invading Syria/Palestine. We didnt fight that hard for Libya & was taken by the Allies. Greece was ours too & Yugoslavia joined the Axis. The Kriegsmarine consistently ran sorties into the Atlantic & losses were mounting but it took its toll on Allied convoys & units. Axis units covering Italys & Sicilys defense were deployed well with a reserve. In May '43 the Allies decided they would invade Sicily to start but after moving units into the Med we decided to commit 4 more corps to Sicily so they changed their plan. Instead they declared war on Vichy since there were only 4 corps, 3 deployed in Marseilles, 1 in Toulon. But when they moved into the Western Med we sortied out both air & naval units & a vicious, epic battle ensued for 3 turns, approximately 20+ impulses with staggering losses for the Allied invasion fleet. They entered with 4 Amphibs, 8 Transports & a large escort fleet but left with only 1 Amphib after unrelenting assaults by Axis naval bombers. Allied ftr losses were triple our own including the loss of their Tempest & Black Widow ftr wings. Worse yet, the entire invasion force including 1 Hq, 2 Marine corps 2 Abn corps, 1 Ranger & 1 Commando corps were trapped & annihilated. Allied losses in all categories were 5 times that of the Axis and they didnt win the battle. Worse still was that was the addition of the Vichy fleet which was over 90% intact when France capitulated in 1940. Total losses for the Allies exceeded 22 corps on the ground, numerous crusiers & battleships & 24 ftrs & bmbrs. It was the most lopsided defeat Ive ever inflicted on them to date. Viva Italia!! [:D]

Oh what a lovely site. My admiration for you increases even more. You are the ONE.

[JWW]

It would have been 1974, playing a game of Blitzkrieg with a friend. We were both stationed in 2nd Brigade, 8th Infantry Division, in Baumholder, (West) Germany. We were playing a game with modified rules, basically all the starting ground counters, no reinforcements, no air units. There was mutual annihilation. It finally reached a point where we could not maintain continuous lines and things kind of broke down into a free-for-all. We ended up each with one Ranger unit left, 1-4 units (1 strength, 4 movement) if I recall correctly. After a little maneuvering the two units met. I don't remember who the attacker was, but the roll was in my favor. His unit was eliminated. My single Ranger unit was left to rebuild the continent. I still remember that game fondly.

[wodin]

ORIGINAL: parusski

ORIGINAL: SLAAKMAN

2007. World in Flames F.E. with many mods; Convoys/Crusiers, Mech, Asia/Afrika, Ships/Planes, Food in Flames rule, Carrier Planes & using most options including Op 20 (no zocs DoW 1st imp), Global Camp. 1939-45. I was running Italy. Britain was played by a pro-labor union fanatic who despised my Libertarianism. A control freak history professor from the Naval PostGrad school was his advisor & cheerleader while the US & Russia were run by a hippie & a formidable history buff respectively. A very clever German player was tending to the eastern front and had procured a stalemate. France/Vichy was secure, Japan had run roughshod over southeast Asia into India & by mid '43 had taken all of it. In the Med, after battling for control for more than 3 1/2 grueling years of naval maneuver I had effected a stalemate. The Allies controlled Gibraltor, Malta, most of Sardinia, North Africa even though we had put pressure on them by invading Syria/Palestine. We didnt fight that hard for Libya & was taken by the Allies. Greece was ours too & Yugoslavia joined the Axis. The Kriegsmarine consistently ran sorties into the Atlantic & losses were mounting but it took its toll on Allied convoys & units. Axis units covering Italys & Sicilys defense were deployed well with a reserve. In May '43 the Allies decided they would invade Sicily to start but after moving units into the Med we decided to commit 4 more corps to Sicily so they changed their plan. Instead they declared war on Vichy since there were only 4 corps, 3 deployed in Marseilles, 1 in Toulon. But when they moved into the Western Med we sortied out both air & naval units & a vicious, epic battle ensued for 3 turns, approximately 20+ impulses with staggering losses for the Allied invasion fleet. They entered with 4 Amphibs, 8 Transports & a large escort fleet but left with only 1 Amphib after unrelenting assaults by Axis naval bombers. Allied ftr losses were triple our own including the loss of their Tempest & Black Widow ftr wings. Worse yet, the entire invasion force including 1 Hq, 2 Marine corps 2 Abn corps, 1 Ranger & 1 Commando corps were trapped & annihilated. Allied losses in all categories were 5 times that of the Axis and they didnt win the battle. Worse still was that was the addition of the Vichy fleet which was over 90% intact when France capitulated in 1940. Total losses for the Allies exceeded 22 corps on the ground, numerous crusiers & battleships & 24 ftrs & bmbrs. It was the most lopsided defeat Ive ever inflicted on them to date. Viva Italia!! [:D]

Oh what a lovely site. My admiration for you increases even more. You are the ONE.

Never had the pleasure with regards to WiF. Biggest issue is finding like minded geeks for face 2 face WAR! However when I read things like this and look at the pics I become excited\jealous and a touch sad all at the same time.

[parusski]

Never had the pleasure with regards to WiF. Biggest issue is finding like minded geeks for face 2 face WAR! However when I read things like this and look at the pics I become excited\jealous and a touch sad all at the same time.

I own Wif, and most other monster games. Played WiF, Afrika Korps and several other giants. My favorite two still are Squad Leader and Fulda Gap. Since they were my first two games, they will always be mistresses.

[goodwoodrw]

The original CM, in fact the third demo scenario. Valley of Trouble. Those who have played Combat Mission Beyond Overlord will know the terrain well, I have played this mission countless times. Anyhow the memory, the jerries had a disable panther sitting on the hill protecting the final victory location. I had lost all my armour and a considerable amount of my attacking force. My zook team had wasted most of their ammo on useless frontal attacks at short range. A rear hit was the only option, time was at a premium as there was only a few turns left. So set some way points to skirt around the flank of the panther, just below the ridge line, well what I thought was below the ridge. In the action phase of the turn, as my little pixel zook team flanked the cat, and to my amazement the panther spotted them as they were running their little legs off, more amazingly the traversing turret was just in arrears of my brave section. These little dudes made it safely to cover behind the tank. Watching that 75mm gun barrel chasing those little fellas raised the hair on the back of my neck, the immersion was so great I thought I was a part of the battle, in fact I'm breaking out into a sweat just thinking about now! [:D] I wished I had a save for that turn, archives for turns like that would become living game treasures.

[Titanwarrior89]

The first one I bought in 78' was squad leader....I gave up, couldn't get it in my head.  Went and bought Third Reich and learned it.  Went back to squad leader and everything fell into place..Third Reich will always have a place in my memory.[:)]