Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

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Vease101
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Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by Vease101 »

Really having a hard time trying to decide what game to buy next. Essentially i would like something with a solid campaign mode that doesn't involve tedious micromanagement of hundreds of units but still has more to it than Axis and Allies. I have Panzer Corps but thats at the Beer'n' Pretzels end of the scale really. I have looked at Unity of Command but that seems to be more like a sophisticated checkers game than an actual simulation.

I really like the idea of the Decisive Campaigns games but the hundreds of counters in the larger scenarios is really off putting for somebody who thinks twenty minutes per turn is a long time! Command Ops Battle of the Bulge is very intriguing and theoretically at the right unit count/ turn length end of the spectrum. My problem is that there is no overarching campaign mode and the scenarios seem to be pretty similar, just the amount of units change but the actual gameplay is fairly repetitive.

Commander The Great War is definitely under consideration, would like any feedback from people who have played that. Maybe the HPS War in Europe games or Strategic Command WW2. Its a jungle out there, any recommendations will be gratefully received.
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warspite1
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by warspite1 »

ORIGINAL: Gansey

Really having a hard time trying to decide what game to buy next. Essentially i would like something with a solid campaign mode that doesn't involve tedious micromanagement of hundreds of units but still has more to it than Axis and Allies. I have Panzer Corps but thats at the Beer'n' Pretzels end of the scale really. I have looked at Unity of Command but that seems to be more like a sophisticated checkers game than an actual simulation.

I really like the idea of the Decisive Campaigns games but the hundreds of counters in the larger scenarios is really off putting for somebody who thinks twenty minutes per turn is a long time! Command Ops Battle of the Bulge is very intriguing and theoretically at the right unit count/ turn length end of the spectrum. My problem is that there is no overarching campaign mode and the scenarios seem to be pretty similar, just the amount of units change but the actual gameplay is fairly repetitive.

Commander The Great War is definitely under consideration, would like any feedback from people who have played that. Maybe the HPS War in Europe games or Strategic Command WW2. Its a jungle out there, any recommendations will be gratefully received.
warspite1

CTGW is an excellent game - loads of fun but plenty to think about - even against the AI when starting out. There are a few niggles with the land and air war - but nothing that can't be sorted with some house rules pending a patch or two.

The only thing that lets the game down - and hopefully this too will be addressed - is the naval war. It really does suck.....badly....very, very badly. In fact the only thing that sucks more than the naval war....is me [:(]

But even that does not detract too much from this great game. I have played this non-stop since I bought it on day one - currently have a dozen PBEM on the go.
Now Maitland, now's your time!

Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
Vease101
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by Vease101 »

Thanks Warspite, if possible could you explain just HOW the Naval side of CTGW sucks?
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parusski
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by parusski »

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Gansey

Really having a hard time trying to decide what game to buy next. Essentially i would like something with a solid campaign mode that doesn't involve tedious micromanagement of hundreds of units but still has more to it than Axis and Allies. I have Panzer Corps but thats at the Beer'n' Pretzels end of the scale really. I have looked at Unity of Command but that seems to be more like a sophisticated checkers game than an actual simulation.

I really like the idea of the Decisive Campaigns games but the hundreds of counters in the larger scenarios is really off putting for somebody who thinks twenty minutes per turn is a long time! Command Ops Battle of the Bulge is very intriguing and theoretically at the right unit count/ turn length end of the spectrum. My problem is that there is no overarching campaign mode and the scenarios seem to be pretty similar, just the amount of units change but the actual gameplay is fairly repetitive.

Commander The Great War is definitely under consideration, would like any feedback from people who have played that. Maybe the HPS War in Europe games or Strategic Command WW2. Its a jungle out there, any recommendations will be gratefully received.
warspite1

CTGW is an excellent game - loads of fun but plenty to think about - even against the AI when starting out. There are a few niggles with the land and air war - but nothing that can't be sorted with some house rules pending a patch or two.

The only thing that lets the game down - and hopefully this too will be addressed - is the naval war. It really does suck.....badly....very, very badly. In fact the only thing that sucks more than the naval war....is me [:(]

But even that does not detract too much from this great game. I have played this non-stop since I bought it on day one - currently have a dozen PBEM on the go.

As much as it pains me I must side with warspite1 here. CTGW is a great game. I also spend an equal amount of time playing DC:Case Blue, it is far less overwhelming than WitE. So buy both.
"I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. If I killed them all there would be news from Hell before breakfast."- W.T. Sherman
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warspite1
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by warspite1 »

ORIGINAL: Gansey

Thanks Warspite, if possible could you explain just HOW the Naval side of CTGW sucks?
warspite1

Sure. The designers concentrated on the land and air war - perfectly understandably for a WWI game. But unfortunately they a) dumbed down the naval game, and then b) having dumbed it down they made some truly bizarre decisions in the name of balance.

1. The Germans, British, French, Austrians, Italians and Russians each get one 10-strength Battleship counter.... Yep, you read it right - the Austrian navy is the same size as the Royal Navy.....

2. The Germans, French and Austrians get one 10-strength Cruiser counter. The British get two - whoopee.

There is no skill, little fun (and certainly no historic context) for the naval game I'm afraid. As the game progresses you can unlock Admirals that are added to the counters thus giving certain benefits. Having seen fit to give the Germans the same size Battlefleet as the British, the Germans get Scheer pretty early in the game. I have played about 30 games at least, half a dozen of which have gone into 1917/18. I have yet to see a British Admiral appear.....

It might seem strange that I criticize the naval game so heavily, and yet give the overall game such a strong recommendation. I guess that only goes to show what great fun the land game is.

Have a read of my AAR warspite vs Colberki and you can get more of an idea.
Now Maitland, now's your time!

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Frido1207
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by Frido1207 »

ORIGINAL: Gansey
Strategic Command

I think there are Demos available for both SC Global Conflict & SC World War 1.

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wodin
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by wodin »

Not sure Commander is more than bear and pretzels..well maybe a little, but I think there are more indepth WW1 games around..I reckon Decisive Campaigns Case Blue is what your after, it does have smaller scenarios and the linked campaign is really superb, I must admit though I'd have preferred more smaller scenarios.

I will also vouch for SCWW1 for me it's gets the middle ground right between quick and easy Commander WW1 and the indepth WW1Gold.
Vease101
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by Vease101 »

Is it not then possible to simulate the Naval Blockade of Germany in CTGW?
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warspite1
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by warspite1 »

ORIGINAL: wodin

Not sure Commander is more than bear and pretzels..well maybe a little, but I think there are more indepth WW1 games around..I reckon Decisive Campaigns Case Blue is what your after, it does have smaller scenarios and the linked campaign is really superb, I must admit though I'd have preferred more smaller scenarios.

I will also vouch for SCWW1 for me it's gets the middle ground right between quick and easy Commander WW1 and the indepth WW1Gold.
warspite1

What is the definition of a beer and pretzels game? Intuitively I wouldn't put CTGW in that bracket (You have to think carefully about every move) but as I don't know what the definition is I might be talking rubbish....as usual.
Now Maitland, now's your time!

Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
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warspite1
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by warspite1 »

ORIGINAL: Gansey

Is it not then possible to simulate the Naval Blockade of Germany in CTGW?
warspite1

No - I suspect the effects of blockade are reflected elsewhere. As I say, the naval game could disappear completely and you wouldn't miss it ..because there isn't really one to miss [:(]
Now Maitland, now's your time!

Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
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Orm
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by Orm »

2. The Germans, French and Austrians get one 10-strength Cruiser counter. The British get two - whoopee.
The British gets three. I think you forgot the one in the Mediterranean.
Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett
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Wolfe1759
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by Wolfe1759 »

Another recommendation for SCWW1 also although the title is WW1 you get a full WW2 in Europe Grand Campaign and can download smaller scale and quicker playing versions of WW2 as well plus it has operational level scenarios, with 20 more scenarios in the Breakthrough expansion which also includes The Russian Civil War and there are rumors of The Franco-Prussian War being added for free in an upcoming patch.

On the Matrix side I would recommend Gary Grigsby's World at War a World Divided.
"In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Goodwill." - Winston Churchill
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budd
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by budd »

John Tillers campaign series sounds like something to fit the bill. East front, West front, and the pacific in one game. Various size campaigns and scenarios. You can play that one for years. Take a look at the forum and some AAR's. Also you can pick your level of command for the campaigns and there some nice mods to enhance the look.
Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by Aurelian »

ORIGINAL: warspite1


[
. I have yet to see a British Admiral appear.....


To get your first Admiral, you need 20 naval kills and research all or nothing armor.
Watched a documentary on beavers. Best dam documentary I've ever seen.
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warspite1
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by warspite1 »

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

ORIGINAL: warspite1


[
. I have yet to see a British Admiral appear.....
To get your first Admiral, you need 20 naval kills and research all or nothing armor.
warspite1

My point is - you get Scheer quickly - you cannot get a British Admiral quickly.

Now Maitland, now's your time!

Duke of Wellington to 1st Guards Brigade - Waterloo 18 June 1815
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wodin
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by wodin »

beer and pretzels is a quick fun game that doesn't take to much learning, easy to play hard to master is a sign of beer and pretzels. It's not an insult really, some love it some don't. Axis and Allies is beer and pretzels so is Memoir '44..good fun games that aren't beyond anyone to learn and you can pick up and play quickly. They usually concentrate on thematic rather than complex rule systems..
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doomtrader
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by doomtrader »

If Time of Fury's map seems to be too large, you might consider Strategic War in Europe, smaller and quicker but with the same depth under the hood.
Vease101
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by Vease101 »

ORIGINAL: **budd**

John Tillers campaign series sounds like something to fit the bill. East front, West front, and the pacific in one game. Various size campaigns and scenarios. You can play that one for years. Take a look at the forum and some AAR's. Also you can pick your level of command for the campaigns and there some nice mods to enhance the look.

I used to play East Front in the last century for hundreds of hours. I assumed the games wouldn't run on Windows 7 but if thats not the case i would really like to see how the updated games look and play. Thanks for the tip.
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budd
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by budd »

It's not on my playing plate at the moment but it is always on my hard drive. Runs fine on WIN 7 for me. There's alot of bang for your buck in that package.
Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Be Yourself; Everyone else is already taken" ~Oscar Wilde

*I'm in the Wargamer middle ground*
I don't buy all the wargames I want, I just buy more than I need.
Rtwfreak
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RE: Something more than beer 'n' pretzels but less than WITE

Post by Rtwfreak »

just the amount of units change but the actual gameplay is fairly repetitive.

That ^ sir is pretty much true in every game. Especially scenario/mission type wargames. Once you've played it a couple of times (each side) yes they all tend to fall into repetitiveness. This is why I almost always look for games that have a "random" generated map, and army types like a Panzer Command or a Steel Panthers or a Combat Mission. I mean how many different ways are there to take Poland, France, Africa in a WW2 atmosphere? The methods and templates are usually the same in every type of game of Grand Scale WW2. But, when you get down to the "tactical" level of them with random generated scenarios and stuff then and only then can you have a life long enjoyment of that same game and even though the gameplay is repetitive the starts and outcomes of them aren't.
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