Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: MarshalNay

I'm considering purchasing this game. I've played WiF 4 the board game many years ago. Looking at the screenshots, units, AARs etc. available on this forum, it looks like a substantially different game. Is there a summary of the differences between the board and computer versions anywhere?

Also, I'm wondering if the computer version preserves realistic strategic options, like Sealion, deferring Axis attack on the Russians, Axis going strong in N. Africa and the Med, the Rommel scenario of marching to Iraq, etc.

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

quote:

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

MWiF is WiF 7, except for using single scale maps, and a few very minor rules changes. The most recent ADG version is WiF 8, with many changes. WiF 5 was so long ago I don't remember what was in it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ian R

I am concerned though that some posters say they add more resources to the map to avoid some sort of loop-crash - is that still a thing?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ian R

quote:

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

MWiF is WiF 7, except for using single scale maps, and a few very minor rules changes. The most recent ADG version is WiF 8, with many changes. WiF 5 was so long ago I don't remember what was in it.

I first had a copy of WiF in about 1988 - possibly second edition.


I first played WiF (3rd edition) combined with the first edition of DoD*, at a convention in Canberra circa ... 1990 or therabouts. [*a set of rough print components - may possibly have been a late playtest.]


It was after 3Edn that the expansions arrived - planes & ships, Afrika, Asia, Convoys, Cruisers, Carriers, Mechs, America etc etc etc. At one time I had a lot of these but in the end I sold the lot for want of space.


On of my old opponents once commented that before planes in flames, the game was very elegant - the German early war TACs had high strike values that generated, in concert with use of the blitz result, their early land victories. The impulse rules limited axis activities without the need for complex oil rules. He reckoned what followed with 4th edn and following was less playable and overburdened with detail that detracted from the core playability.

Interestingly, by not using most options, you can peel the onion back to 3rd edition (in terms of scale) in many ways, or at least close to it. Having now bought the game, and once there is an AI patch in a few years time, I intend to do just that.

I am concerned though that some posters say they add more resources to the map to avoid some sort of loop-crash - is that still a thing?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ian R
Interestingly, by not using most options, you can peel the onion back to 3rd edition (in terms of scale) in many ways, or at least close to it. Having now bought the game, and once there is an AI patch in a few years time, I intend to do just that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: pzgndr

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ian R
Interestingly, by not using most options, you can peel the onion back to 3rd edition (in terms of scale) in many ways, or at least close to it. Having now bought the game, and once there is an AI patch in a few years time, I intend to do just that.

Unfortunately, the planned AI is supposed to run under a defined set of options. Not sure why there can't be selections for the three different standard options sets. It would be nice to have a choice between a simpler game and a more complex game, for those of us still waiting for a computer opponent.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ian R
As Steve said, there are mechanical changes to the basic rules in later editions, so the game can only be stripped back in terms of unit scale, i.e. to not use, planes, ships/cruisers, artillery brigades, etc.

I guess the AI has to appeal to the greatest proportion of players. If the option set has to be fixed so that it works well, then that is more important than having option variability. I don't know if reducing the options in play would make it any easier to program, but expect a lot of people want planes/ships etc.

quote:


My tentative list for the Core Rule Set for the AI Opponent is:

1. Divisions (2)
2. Artillery (3)
3. Fortifications (5)
4. Supply units (6)
5. Combat engineers (7)
6. Construction engineers (7)
7. Flying boats (8)
8. Territorial units (10)
9. Limited overseas supply (11)
10. Limited supply across straits (12)
11. HQ support (13)
13. Synthetic oil plants (14)
15. Bottomed ships (18)
16. In the presence of the enemy (19)
17. Surface combat ship transports (25)
18. Amphibious rules (26)
19. Optional carrier planes searching (27)
20. Pilots (28)
21. Food in flames (29)
22. Factory construction (30)
23. Saving resources (31)
25. Tank busters (33)
26. Motorized movement rates (34)
27. Bombers as air transports (35)
28. Large air transports (36)
30. Defensive shore bombardment (38)
31. Blitz bonus (39)
32. Chinese attack weakness (40)
33. Fractional odds (41)
34. Allied combat friction (42)
35. Two 10 sided dice land combat results table (43)
36. Extended aircraft rebasing (44)
37. Variable reorganization costs (45)
38. Partisans (46)
39. Oil rules (48)
41. Twin engine bombers (53)
42. Fighter-bombers (54)
43. Outclassed fighters (55); renamed as Backup Fighters
44. Carrier planes (56)
45. Internment (58)
46. Offensive chits (61)
47. Ski troops (65)
48. The Queens (66)
49. Siberians (68)
50. Chinese warlords (71)
51. Cruisers in Flames (75)
52. Off city reinforcement (15)

xx Additional Chinese Cities
xx Breaking the Nazi-Soviet Pact

Optional rules that are currently implemented that would be excluded are:
12. Emergency HQ supply (13)
14. HQ movement (17)
24. Carpet bombing (32)
29. Railway movement (37)
40. Night missions (52)

xx Scrap Units
xx Unlimited Breakdown
xx Extended Game