Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: biochembri

I just purchased WAR from matrix as a digital download. I updated with the two updates and started playing against the AI. I am an experienced CC player having played since CCII, my favorite being CCIII as it seems to have the right mix of game play and reality.

I was surprised to see on my first game (and it repeated on each game play) that the setup for the attacking German forces was very small, no surprise. However, as soon as there was an LOS to one of my units the amount of artillery that poured down on me was so enormous and effective that I had no mobile tank units, most were destroyed and most of my infantry was destroyed or not effective. I found that during almost any type of movement infantry are shot to pieces even in good cover. Open topped vehicles simply cant move without morters destroying them without LOS. I also found that as soon as an anti-tank gun fires it is immediately destroyed by enemy mortars (as stated in other posts on this fourm). Seems CCIII had that balance correct, why not copy that!

This brings me to the conlusion that the choice of units and setup locations seems to be irrelevant in this game. Since everything is dead at the start or immobile there is nothing left to do but sit there until time runs out. Sneaking around with a few guys left in a squad to try to capture a postion covered by a bunch of shermans is not much fun.

I guess my question can be summed up as, how do you play a game like this? I understand it is heavily modded from the original, as I have played the original. The artillery was seriously underpowerd in the original, but at least you could move something! I do enjoy the new vehicle graphics and small soldiers mod, but it seems like nothing to do but sit and get blown up. The tank crews seem to work now as forward observers for the artillery. Maybe they should not have the ability to do that, just a thought.

The original game had the American armor as very weak compared to the panthers. Now, the Shermans rule the battle field. Even a jagdpanzer IV/70 cannot penetrate the frontal armor of a sherman, must be all of the sand bags? I was going to play this head to head with my friend, but as it is maybe we will stick with CCIII cross of iron.

I am not looking for reality arguments about how much artillery the Americans had on elsborn ridge or the effectiveness of the new TOT shells, but rather why the game is so unplayable. Another note that comes to mind is the frequency of immobilizations on the german assualt guns, this is a serious problem as they do not have turrets to move. I believe in a head to head game the americans with the artillery will stop the germans cold.

One more question, does Matrix games have any plans to make this more playable?

I have read the threads about the LOS issue, I have not even had a chance to look for that one!

I have had a load of fun with CCIII original and CC Cross of Iron. But so far I do not understand the WAR. I was planning on purchasing CC normandy but I am taking a wait and see attitude at this point.
Brian