Is WitW for me?

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Gary Grigsby's War in the West >> Is WitW for me?

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Is WitW for me? - 3/7/2015 9:12:44 PM

Midcon113

Posts: 86
Joined: 12/18/2014
From: Wheaton, IL
Status: offline

Hi Everyone,

Subject says it all - is War in the West for me? I've been looking at it on and off, and started watching some YouTube videos on it, but I thought I'd ask around. My experience with these types of games is mainly limited to the old Atomic Games V4V series (was a beta tester for the first four and loved them) and then the next evolution into Operation Crusader for Avalon Hill. The level of detail in those games was fairly good, though it's apparent that WitW is far more detailed.

Anyone out there familiar with the V4V series and willing to give me an idea of how much different this game is? WWII history - especially the European theater - is what I like, and this seems like the ultimate game in this genre for that subject, but I'm afraid I'm going to find it TOO detailed. Thoughts anyone?

Thanks!

Mark

Post #: 1

RE: Is WitW for me? - 3/8/2015 8:55:30 AM

ParaB

Posts: 112
Joined: 5/3/2009
From: Germany
Status: offline

I've played the old V4V series many years ago. WitW is definitely a step up the complexity ladder. For example, the air war alone is basically a wargame in its own right. The learning curve in WitW is pretty steep, no doubt about that. I've been playing on and off for about a month now and am slowly getting the hang of some of the more subtle details. But the documentation is good and if you're willing to invest a couple of hours into learning the basics you'll be soon enjoying an excellent wargame.

If you're into WW2 history and like complex wargames I'd say chances are good you'll enjoy WitW.

(in reply to Midcon113)

Post #: 2

RE: Is WitW for me? - 3/8/2015 10:07:09 AM

Smirfy

Posts: 1057
Joined: 7/16/2004
Status: offline

Big fan of V4V and The World at War series. Market garden, Gold Juno Sword and Crusader being the three best of the series and unsurpassed to this day in the field of operational wargames. I am always at at loss as to why the turn, unit organization, Combat and supply mechanics arnt used as a start point in other games. WiTW is the next scale up. WITW actual strong suit is strategy. production and the air campaign is not abstracted like in V4V and Leadership is a part of the game unlike its bolt on in Crusader. Scale, both time and space work better in V4V and the execution phase is more to my taste. That being said compared to WiTE this game is superior and lets face it nobody has the sense to bring v4V into the second decade of the twenty first century so as far as turn based wargames go you can have the counter shove that is Panzer campaigns or WiTW. You will get alot more out of WiTW I believe. I dont really have time to dive into the Grand campaign properly but find the Italain Campaign pretty good to mess about with you can can take your time with that without being swamped by detail. The greatest thing going for WiTW as upposed to V4V is WitW gets patched therefore evolves and new modules are to be released, V4V unfortunately is stuck in lifeless pre internet limbo. Wish the guys would stop bringing out Close Combat 99&1/2 and revist the series.

< Message edited by Smirfy -- 3/8/2015 11:09:59 AM >

(in reply to Midcon113)

Post #: 3

RE: Is WitW for me? - 3/8/2015 10:23:53 PM

Midcon113

Posts: 86
Joined: 12/18/2014
From: Wheaton, IL
Status: offline

ParaB and Smirfy - thank you for your insight! I too wish that the Atomic guys could redo V4V for current hardware, although they work fine in DosBox in Windows 8 (at least as far as I can tell - haven't had any problems myself). I wasn't aware production is part of the game, though I did know that the air side is definitely more detailed. Is that a major focus, or just another part of the game? Can you choose to automate that part at all? While I'm sure paying close attention to production will probably yield better results, actually producing items isn't as interesting to me as the actual tactical side of things. From the limited amount of the air war part I've seen it looks like WitW has a good balance of strategic AI planning with the ability to fine tune some tactical aspects. Is that the approach the game takes to production? Haven't watched any videos yet that go into that part, though I'm just really starting to look at the videos in earnest.

Thanks!

Mark

(in reply to Smirfy)

Post #: 4

RE: Is WitW for me? - 3/8/2015 10:51:25 PM

Smirfy

Posts: 1057
Joined: 7/16/2004
Status: offline

You can automate the air part but you wont because its fun, you dont actually control production but you get to distribute the produced equipiment. Automatically or if you wish manually. Your main concern with production is just keeping an eye on the equipment pools now and again.

(in reply to Midcon113)

Post #: 5

RE: Is WitW for me? - 3/9/2015 12:14:54 AM

Midcon113

Posts: 86
Joined: 12/18/2014
From: Wheaton, IL
Status: offline

Smirfy,

Thanks for the clarification on the production - that is reassuring. The air part is definitely interesting to me so I don't have a problem there, but concerning myself with how much coal/steel/aluminum I'm producing...that's not my thing. Glad to know it's nothing to worry about!

Mark

(in reply to Smirfy)

Post #: 6