Zovs
Matrix Legion of Merit

Posts: 6668
Joined: 2/23/2009 From: United States Status: offline
|
First Impressions. The base UI seems fairly standard for a war game, it has a menu bar that is similar to JT's CS (West/East front). I have not used any of the mods yet (I like the ASL or VASL looking mods and will use JSME when ready to proceed). Game comes with 34 scenarios and 5 CG and a "bonus" scenario(?). This is with both the Kursk and Normandy DLC's added (I should have looked when I first installed just the base game to see what was added with the other two DLC's). So I started with tutorial 1. I selected the AI to play the US since they are "Hold" and the Germans are on "Advance" (no I have not yet read the manual, just jumping in). The map looks a little like a standard ASL geoboard, but the artwork is defiantly different. Seems like ASL in that you have to setup your forces first. And of course I selected Hard cause I wanted to use c2 and I also selected FOW. So I have no idea where the US forces are deployed so I am going in blind. That is kind of refreshing in a sense. When I play SP:WW2/MBT in CG's you can't see where stuff is deployed and it has FOW. What is a little strange is I found my units they are at the bottom of the map. I don't (yet) see any setup restrictions no do I see the US forces, I do see some green flags with US symbols on them so I am guessing those are the VH's I must capture. Off we go. So I have a mix of some Fsj and SS units, kind of bizarre. Not quite sure how to deploy them yet only have two buttons, Remove unit and Quick setup. So I just checked the Status from the menu that does confirm I need to capture 3 VH's to win. So that is good to know. Scrolling north again I locate the 3 hexes, two are road hexes and one is a wooden building (basing the map graphics off of ASL seems pretty reasonable to know what is what; stone building, wooden building, grain, woods and orchards etc.). Plus when you select a hex you get a nice display on the right side of the game UI. Actually when you hover over a hex. That is really nice. So I found one shortcoming (at least to me) in the game so far. When you are on the scenario selection screen you do get a description of the scenario but not the date, of course this is a tutorial scenario so perhaps other scenarios in the list have the date. Okay back to the game, I am assuming that if I want to deploy units I have to click on the "Remove Unit" button first. First lets double check the manual maybe I am missing something. So back from reading the manual, its nice that its small (only 114 pages) I found some of the answers on the two buttons above and I think I'll let the default setup stand since this is well a learning tutorial scenario and not a tournament game. I did notice the following typo on page 22: "in which case only the unit tree control panel will display text; we can right lick on a hex." Personally I have never lick(ed) any of by board game counters, although I have clipped the entire ASL games I own (essentially all the modules from Avalon Hill and all the modules and add on's from MMP until the year 2014, so that is several thousands counters I have clipped, I also have a very large collection of CH things and those have even more counters then the stuff stuff). Ah, a text walk through of the scenario I selected on page 24. Very nice. So per the tutorial I have already violated two of it's recommendations, Easy an FOW, lol. I don't need no stinking training wheels (famous last words?...lol)... So I have read up to page 28 of the manual and clicked the next phase, interestingly even with FOW on I can see some US troopers in front of me. They have a big C on them so I am assuming that they are concealed (starting to see a lot of similarities to ASL here so its very easy and intuitive to pick up what is what). On page 30 of the manual I see this: "you cannot move personnel and AFV units together" In ASL you could do this if you used Armored Assault. Will this be available in the future? The manual also states: "NOTE: Ordnance weapons do not move in the game." Will this be changed to ASL standards as well? You can manhandle or tow ordnance using vehicles that have the capability to tow or their crews by man-handling. Also on page 33 I see: "NOTE: only one leader at the time can be used to direct fire" What about fire groups? So I am on turn 3, having fun. I need to read more in the manual or ask here, how or can you do Fire Groups? Those are pretty important in ASL. So overall my first impressions of TotH are very positive. I like it so far. I will next try to look at some of the graphic mods (prefer the ASL/VASL look) and need to download the "extra" scenarios, have not seen the Red Barricades ones yet though. Thanks for listening to my first impressions and any help with the questions are welcomed. Again, a very long time ASL (board and VASL) player, I have both the 1st (don't use them anymore) and the 2nd edition rules and about 90% of everything for ASL up to 2014, including Avalon Hill, MMP, CH, HOB, LFT, BFP, LC, ESG, FFP, FE, SCP, DFTB, etc. For those that might know what all those stand for :D
_____________________________
Beta Tester for: Flashpoint Campaigns: Sudden Storm War in the East 1 & 2 WarPlan & WarPlan Pacific Valor & Victory DG CWIE 2 SPWW2 & SPMBT scenario creator
|