Great Tutorial Scenarios

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

Great Tutorial Scenarios

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [American Civil War] >> Scourge of War Gettysburg Series >> Great Tutorial Scenarios

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Great Tutorial Scenarios - 12/2/2012 10:14:47 AM

Blind Sniper

Posts: 863
Joined: 8/9/2008
From: Turin, Italy
Status: offline

I just bought the game and this is the first time that playing a tutorial scenario is funny.
Even if the game is real-time (not a fun at all) I have my problem playing against AI, a PBEM system will be the best feauture but I don't know if possible.

Anyhow my congrats so far.

_____________________________

WitP-AE - WitE - CWII - BASPM - BaB

Post #: 1

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 1/12/2013 8:15:36 PM

berto

Posts: 20708
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: metro Chicago, Illinois, USA
Status: offline

Yesterday I purchased SoW Gettysburg, Antietam & Chancellorsville. SoW's good reviews, my love of the subject matter, and the many mods available for the SoW game engine -- they all combined to trump my usual resistance to RTS-like war games.

I've read through the SoW manual, and am slowly playing through the tutorials.

"Great tutorial scenarios"? The not so great: After tutorial scenario start, there seems to be no way to recall the scenario briefing. (Unless I'm missing something.) Often I fail to comprehend something on first reading, and/or forget one detail or another. Then, mid-tutorial, I lament my inability to recall the scenario notes.

My older rig is handling the load well, even with graphics set to the max. The graphics are pretty impressive. I'll see about the game play. So far, so good.

_____________________________

Campaign Series Legion https://cslegion.com/
Campaign Series Lead Coder https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tt.asp?forumid=1515
Panzer Campaigns, Panzer Battles, Civil War Battles Lead Coder https://wargameds.com

(in reply to Blind Sniper)

Post #: 2

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 1/12/2013 9:26:48 PM

Qwixt

Posts: 902
Joined: 6/19/2006
Status: offline

I had the same problem. I didn't quite understand or remember the instructions. I had problems finding things on the map too. Then I think the first or second tutorial, I am suppose to head down the road, which I start to do. Then as I move up I see this strange sight,

| = road
<, > = army facing, multiple units and depth
. = filler to align properly

<|
<| Main north army
<|
.|
.|
.|
.|
.|
.|>
.|> Main south army
.|>
.|
.|
.|
.|
.^
My division

So my orders are to hook up with the main north army and protect their flank or something, after finishing off the small force. But to do that, I have to fight through the main south army, which happen to be on the opposite side of the road, and facing a completely different direction. Both the armies didn't even seem to notice the other one.

(in reply to berto)

Post #: 3

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 1/13/2013 4:55:53 PM

kkomisarcik

Posts: 44
Joined: 9/24/2012
Status: offline

Berto wrote:

quote:

The not so great: After tutorial scenario start, there seems to be no way to recall the scenario briefing. (Unless I'm missing something.) Often I fail to comprehend something on first reading, and/or forget one detail or another. Then, mid-tutorial, I lament my inability to recall the scenario notes.

After the battle starts, press the esc key. A menu will pop up. At the top is Battle Info. Click on that and your original orders will appear.

_____________________________

Secession is futile.

(in reply to Qwixt)

Post #: 4

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 1/13/2013 5:30:34 PM

berto

Posts: 20708
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: metro Chicago, Illinois, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: MarchingThruGeorgia

Berto wrote:

quote:

The not so great: After tutorial scenario start, there seems to be no way to recall the scenario briefing. (Unless I'm missing something.) Often I fail to comprehend something on first reading, and/or forget one detail or another. Then, mid-tutorial, I lament my inability to recall the scenario notes.

After the battle starts, press the esc key. A menu will pop up. At the top is Battle Info. Click on that and your original orders will appear.

But it's not quite the same thing. Crucial details are missing.

For example, in Tutorial Two, there are specific instructions to move to an objective destination (a "circle"), to form a line, to move to the left flank, regiment XYZ has arrived and what are your orders?, etc., etc. Those are step-by-step tutorial-specific instructions that are not mentioned in the Battle Info. What I'd like is the option to recall one or all previous tutorial dialog boxes. As it is, I find myself having to restart tutorials over and over again, rereading the tutorial dialog boxes until it finally all sinks in.

_____________________________

(in reply to kkomisarcik)

Post #: 5

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 1/13/2013 7:07:40 PM

berto

Posts: 20708
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: metro Chicago, Illinois, USA
Status: offline

From my own experience, but also from reading the accounts of other newbies, it's clear to me that I need to play the tutorials repeatedly to the point of near mastery. Otherwise, if out of impatience I sprint through the tutorials and rush ahead to "the good stuff" -- actual game play -- immense frustration awaits.

Despite numerous Tutorial 1 & 2 run-throughs, I am still figuring out the controls, how to direct movement, how to manipulate the camera view, when and which hot keys to push, etc. This is second nature to some of you RTS/FPS veterans; but to this dyed-in-the-wool, 2D hex-based, old-school war gamer (I began playing board war games as far back as the early 1960s; yes, I am that old <groan>), it's quite a challenge.

I have never liked air combat war games and flight sims, because I find them to be too disorienting. I might have guessed that 3D Scourge of War would give me fits.

The game manual says: "Scourge of War uses the conventional keystrokes for moving the camera in a 3D environment." Conventions and keystrokes that, with little to no 3D gaming experience, I am quite unaware of, much less practiced at.

I have had extraordinary difficulty acquiring situational awareness, mentally connecting my camera view of the battlefield to the Command Map, my placement thereon, references to enemy forces attacking from the west, orders to move north up the Taneytown Road, and so on. I have been staring at Gettysburg (and other) 2D battlefield maps and game boards nearly all my life, but never imagined myself in an interactive 3D recreation of the battle. (I did visit the actual Gettysburg battlefield site once, but only for an hour or so.)

How many south-to-north Gettysburg flat maps have you ever seen? West-to-east? Have you ever held a Gettysburg map (or book) in your hands and spun it around and around to analyze the progressing battle action from all angles? As for me: none, none, and never.

I finally decided I would do yet another Tutorial Two run-through, focusing on the camera controls and friendly/enemy force dispositions, with frequent pauses and Command Map references along the way, also repeated use of the T (Toggle Foliage) hot key. Never mind about the combat, following orders, winning or losing. Just look about, try stuff, experiment, think about it, understand.

It is a huge help to reorient my default camera view to look northward, and conduct the battle in a north/up to south/down fashion. For the first time, I am mentally connecting the north-to-south oriented Command Map to my new default north-to-south camera view. It is, at long last, starting to make sense.

A suggestion for future game updates: If at all possible, the Command Map Current Location "eyeball" should not only change position, but also direction. So, if my camera view is looking northward, the on-map eyeball icon rotates to point northward also.

I'm sure this is laughable to many of you younguns, growing up as you have in a world of 3D RTS & FPS (not to mention mind blowing motion picture CGI). But to some of us older guys, it's no joke.

< Message edited by berto -- 1/13/2013 9:21:28 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to berto)

Post #: 6

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 1/13/2013 7:59:51 PM

RebBugler

Posts: 266
Joined: 9/20/2012
From: Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas
Status: offline

Berto,

I understand your angst, I went through SMG feeling the same way, always kept the camera in one southeast orientation. Occasionally I tried to change the viewpoint, got completely lost so always reverted back to my comfort zone.

When TC2M came along I made the transition somehow...maybe maps, maybe the design, I don't know, but at some point it clicked.

Now, with SOW, I'm a flying General, all viewpoints are comfortable. So, be patient, try different view points from time to time, gradually increase them, then hopefully, click, you'll achieve that wonderful 360 degree affect that for me, allows for the peaks of total immersion. Not to mention the tremendous advantages of command!

< Message edited by RebBugler -- 1/13/2013 8:08:20 PM >

_____________________________

Designer - Scourge of War

(in reply to berto)

Post #: 7

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 1/17/2013 10:36:36 PM

berto

Posts: 20708
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: metro Chicago, Illinois, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: RebBugler

I understand your angst, I went through SMG feeling the same way ... completely lost ...

Angst.

Lost.

Yup, for me, that about sums it up.

I downloaded and installed the Gettysburg Entry-level Brigade Scenario Pack. Played the first scenario. I'll give the Antietam entry-level pack a try too. Slow and steady wins the race.

< Message edited by berto -- 1/18/2013 8:56:25 AM >

_____________________________

(in reply to RebBugler)

Post #: 8

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 1/18/2013 2:15:51 PM

Bison36

Posts: 480
Joined: 4/16/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: berto
But it's not quite the same thing. Crucial details are missing.

For example, in Tutorial Two, there are specific instructions to move to an objective destination (a "circle"), to form a line, to move to the left flank, regiment XYZ has arrived and what are your orders?, etc., etc. Those are step-by-step tutorial-specific instructions that are not mentioned in the Battle Info. What I'd like is the option to recall one or all previous tutorial dialog boxes. As it is, I find myself having to restart tutorials over and over again, rereading the tutorial dialog boxes until it finally all sinks in.

Berto you can retrieve your tutorial orders by pulling up your received dispatches. You do this by clicking on the little man in the lower right at the very bottom under the combat/move/order icons. Order is the third little man at the bottom looks like he is shading his eyes or something. Then click on the distpatches received tab to the far right. It's the envelop with the downward point arrow. You'll get a list of dispatches received so far and the latest dispatch is at the bottom of the list.

< Message edited by Bison36 -- 1/18/2013 2:21:14 PM >

(in reply to berto)

Post #: 9

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 1/18/2013 3:06:09 PM

berto

Posts: 20708
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: metro Chicago, Illinois, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bison36

Berto you can retrieve your tutorial orders by pulling up your received dispatches. You do this by clicking on the little man in the lower right at the very bottom under the combat/move/order icons. Order is the third little man at the bottom looks like he is shading his eyes or something. Then click on the distpatches received tab to the far right. It's the envelop with the downward point arrow. You'll get a list of dispatches received so far and the latest dispatch is at the bottom of the list.

Yes, you're right. Another useful tip! (It still doesn't recall the initial tutorial instructions -- distinct from the in-game scenario dispatches -- but okay, good enough already.)

For newbies and first-time tutorial players, maybe these tips need to be highlighted or at least mentioned somewhere. If they are, it's easy to miss.

Thanks, everybody, for all the help.

< Message edited by berto -- 1/18/2013 8:12:33 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to Bison36)

Post #: 10

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 2/9/2013 9:54:14 AM

NefariousKoel

Posts: 2930
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Murderous Missouri Scum
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: berto

A suggestion for future game updates: If at all possible, the Command Map Current Location "eyeball" should not only change position, but also direction. So, if my camera view is looking northward, the on-map eyeball icon rotates to point northward also.

I've always thought the command map could really use one of those direction camera view cones pointing in the direction your camera is facing when you open the map.

I suppose some people might think it more immersive, having to constantly check the compass heading before opening the map, but it's just a bother to me.

_____________________________

(in reply to berto)

Post #: 11

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 4/10/2013 2:22:32 AM

artofwar85

Posts: 109
Joined: 5/8/2010
Status: offline

One option to get the feel of the interface is to play in sandbox mode AND to make sure BRIGADE vs BRIGADE is checked (on the right of the screen) Ok now under "select a map" choose Gettysburg this is a huge map but screw it no problem .. then under "select an order of battle" choose day one or day to when you click on these things and they hare highlighted in yellow they have been choosen. THEN and this IS important make sure "Line of Sight" and "Balance Forces" are checked ...number of objectives leave as 1 (one) and leave all the other battle options alone. Select your army top left either Union or Confederate of course. Oh this is important to under OPTIONS when you first load the game and come to the Main Menu make sure you have it on Untrained this way you can make many mistakes before your units will bug out then keep playing sandbox and choose other dificulty levels.
The Key to sandbox thou when using it this way is when you have Brigade vs Brigade checked to then click on ONE, SINGLE, INFANTRY BRIGADE make sure only one is highlighted this is under "Select Commander" what this does is give you about 4 or 5 units to control and a commander which is YOU. Four or Five infantry lines of men and the bad guys willl have same. No cannons to deal with not big huge army to deal with etc. "Line of Sight" means when the battle loads you see or are very close to the enemy no need to hunt for them.

Learn the interface this way. It will tell you ... you will get a courier dispatch saying secure the objective you don't need to do this even thought they will keep spamming you to get to the objective ... there are advantages to securing the objective but you should read up on those and what they mean in the manual. Pages 102,103, 104 and "Markers" and the HOW TO WIN section. The thing to do in this type of sandbox mode is to learn the interface and how to out flank and get the high ground etc on the enemy how to use units next to each other go get a bonus that way and how to move your commander around as needed.

(in reply to NefariousKoel)

Post #: 12

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 4/10/2013 2:48:35 AM

artofwar85

Posts: 109
Joined: 5/8/2010
Status: offline

RECALLING THE MESSAGES its easy was this covered >>>??? OK click on ME then click on ORDERS ... Orders is one of the yellow icons to click on there is Combat, Move, and Orders. Combat gives you the the red combat commandes .. CLICK on ORDERS then ... Click on "DISPATCHES RECEIVED" WHAM you have all the info given to you .. easy right ??

Later gotta go being shot at.

(in reply to artofwar85)

Post #: 13

RE: Great Tutorial Scenarios - 4/24/2013 1:24:55 PM

Norb

Posts: 31
Joined: 9/20/2012
Status: offline

:) ok, not so easy, can certainly be better.

(in reply to artofwar85)

Post #: 14