Some Observations V.4.0 (Full Version)

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Charles22 -> Some Observations V.4.0 (9/11/2000 10:27:00 PM)

I'm enjoying the new op fire at present. At first, when playing with the default, it's quite difficult, dare I say impossible, to read what's there, and make up your mind in that time. I suppose anyone should know this, but the key is to be patient. Firstly, I reset the opfire message to 10 seconds, which helped in general, but still, when you get into more detail, like trying to figure out which tank's gun malfunctioned, it's going to require a trained eye. The novelty of the new op fire doesn't have us classifying which info is very important to us yet. For one thing, I've found that if the target is infantry, and it's over 18 hexes away I will quickly hit the 'no', to not fire, so all I have to watch is the range and target. In the start of my '39 campaign, one of the tank guns malfunctioned, so I didn't note which one it was. From what I see, the game seems to suggest that only op fire used at a high rate will cause such a problem (so that firing during player fire is immune to gun malfunction?). One question I have though. Let's suppose, as I did, which tank has the malfuctioning gun. How do I later find out which one tank it is? The reason I want to know, is that there seems to be nothing to tell me that, should I nor catch the tank ID when I fire it. I believe it still stores fire opportunities in the main gun, with it "appearing" to be operational. Am I wring here? Do malfuctioning guns end up being erased from the armanents until it's fixed? In any case, if one ever indentifies which tank is malfunctioning, one can write the ID on a piece of paper, making sure to look out for that unit and not op firing, should op fire still be possible to it. It "seems" that I had a gun malfunction on the same tank once, then later it fired fine, and then the next round malfunctioned again. Bear in mind my eyes might have been playing tricks on me, but I would think that given the repair timeframe, that the gun getting repaired in this instance wouldn't be possible, since these rounds were all fired during the same op fire phase (if I'm not mistaken) or else it was no more than the span of two turns. I've noted that the PZIVCs I'm so used to, are indeed inflicting more infantry damage than before. Another thing, what's with the infantry pricing? I have pricing so that it doesn't account for experience, but in V.2.3 I did it the same way. In V.2.3 SS infantry costed like 21 points, while basic infantry was maybe 18. So my question, is why are the now the same price (15)? Is this because though SS were elite in V.2.3, that they actually didn't have any higher experience than the general infantry (I was thinking the SS did)? I'm also sort of curious why the second-line troops I've seen are the same price as the first-line.




Charles22 -> (9/11/2000 10:49:00 PM)

BTW guys, I love all the photos we're getting now. It's rather interesting to scroll quickly down the units in the encyclopedia and see the pictures change rapid-fire. One thing that's rather silly, and a surprise, is to right click one of your surviving tank crews, and see that soldier with that big smile (at least the Gerry crews are that way). I'm surprised at some of the historic photos we see of some of the less glamorous units. I also love the variety of the photos, as I see so many good renderings that I think I prefer renderings, and then I see so many B/W, and occasional color actual photos that I think I prefer those type instead. I love the blend, you never know what sort of photo you're going to get with the next one you click.




Mac_MatrixForum -> (9/11/2000 11:08:00 PM)

Well here are some of my observations. First, it's great even with dem bugz which will propably get squashed eventually. Thanks a lot [img]http://www.matrixgames.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]. The new opportunity fire rocks, I'm having no trouble with the default 5s time. Then again I haven't played really big battles for some time. The artillery seems to be very effective. My entrenched FJ squads have lost dozens of men to 155mm/81mm barrages. It's just fine for me. Devastating or at times only suppressing but expensive. Something to discourage too much waiting/ambushing. The delays seem to be on the good side. Using the artillery to break tenacious defences... ah... great [img]http://www.matrixgames.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]. Air strikes. They might cost a good deal but like someone said, Paul?, that they can be, at times, VERY effective. I've now lost in three battles, 1-2 tanks for every strafing/bombing run. The AI sure knows what it's doing with the aircraft, if it usually is not very good with things. When the prices get even lower, that'll make the planes worthy of attention for us humans too. The special forces have more trouble reaching the targets? If this is really true, it's good so that they aren't 99% accurate anymore. I like the pics and encyclopedia stuff too and would hope that someone with ample time would make the descriptions that I'm sure many would like to have. Perhaps someone of us fans? I LOVE all the new sounds. They are just, great. New graphics rock too. That certain sound when firing the Suomi SMG is nice [img]http://www.matrixgames.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]. I'm sure some of you know what I mean. All in all, the best version of SP ever and I would say the change between 2.3->4.0 is almost as big as from SP1->SPWAW 1.0. It feels, again, like a new game. Great work! [img]http://www.matrixgames.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]. I'm sure you will iron out the last bugs eventually and the OOBs will get their tweaks too. Thanks. ------------------ Markku "Mac" Rontu "Understanding is a three-edged sword, your side, their side and the truth." - Sheridan in B5 [This message has been edited by Mac (edited September 11, 2000).]




Ilja Varha -> (9/11/2000 11:26:00 PM)

"That certain sound when firing the Suomi SMG is nice" Hehehe Ilja




Paul Vebber -> (9/12/2000 1:35:00 AM)

Yes Malfunctions go away until repaired. A message appears in the new "message area" when something gets fixed. I will take alook at why the FC difference isn't haveing much effect on infantry - likely becasue they are so small - the modifier isn't pushing them up enough. THe whole points thing is very complicated and I want to get mopre play based feedback on teh "true worth" of various characteristics. Like FC is likely under rated for infantry, but it takes a while for the "right answer" to become apparant.. THe other thing is that the "elite" and "2nd line" point cost is based on experience - higher experiene costs more when you buy it - but is not refected in the encyclopedia cost - which only covers teh units.




Charles22 -> (9/12/2000 2:00:00 AM)

Paul: Thanks for the response. No, I'm not talking about encyclopedic costs for units, rather I'm referring to direct purchasing for them via WWII campaign. For example, I pull up an SS infantry squad. It says the mg is 28 points, the mortars 60, and each infantry squad is 15, while the average (no experience added) troops elsewhere costs only that same amount (15). In case I'm still not clear, if I have 45 points left in core selection, I can purchase 3 squads of either regular (no experience bonus) troops or SS (experience added). The same is true for second-line troops, including tanks (assuming you can find second-line tanks). For example, when picking a Soviet core, you'll find at least one variant of the T26 (probably the same across the board for all the variants; this snafu I mean) which falls under the Inf Tank platoon/company, which is a second-line formation. Now if you look carefully, you'll find that there are Soviet formations of T26, first-line, which cost precisely the same thing. As it stands, it looks as though, for example, that a second-line infantry unit, costs the same as a first line one, which costs the same as an elite one. Now, perhaps, the purchase screen doesn't reflect costs, truly, but it seems to me that I recall purchasing a full platoon of Gerry infantry and it costed 15 apiece, while later figuring in three SS infantry squads costed 15 apiece also, or 45 total. BTW, just for playing the AI, and until my eye gets more trained I think I'll lave the delay on op fire for between 10 and 20 seconds. Am I right to understand that there is no 'pause' feature once the enemy turn starts? Well, as I enjoyed watching the Cowboys get beat yesterday, if I put the delay to 60 seconds, I could pretty much have an op fire 60 second message come up, while a play was running and then respond when the play was over; it's sort of a pause. I don't know, perhaps I have experience costs as off, though I thought I was setting this thing up the same as how I has it in V2.3. If the entire bottom panel preferences is lit, as mine is, am I set up right to reflect experience difference costs? Isn't that called 'true troop costs'? I suppose I could change the setting and make a quick campaign for testing purposes, but you response could sure save me a second or two. I only mentioned this because I thought it was a snafu of sorts. I'm so used to seeing SS being more costly than regular troops, that it was a surprise. It's probably my error, I must've taken the wrong option and didn't know the wrong option to see it. [This message has been edited by Charles22 (edited September 11, 2000).]




Charles22 -> (9/12/2000 7:10:00 AM)

Paul: I'm now home and doing some checking. I turned 'true troop cost' to 'on', which it wasn't before, and though it paints a different scenario, it's only partially so. My examples, SS infantry squad vs. regular infantry and T26 second-line vs. T26 regular. In both comparisons, the costs are different but there is no difference in costs relating to experience whether the option is on or off. For example, with it off, SS infantry in '39 is 15 pts., but with it on it's 14 pts., HOWEVER the regular infantry costs precisely the same thing. The same holds true for the T26 . Finding the 'first-line' T26 M31 is a bit tricky, as it's listed in 'Fast Tk Btn'. The second-line one is in 'Inf Tk Plt' (with the option on they're both 24 pts., while off finds them both at 42).




Wild Bill -> (9/12/2000 8:58:00 AM)

Charles, great to see you posting here! We've missed you of late. You have some good thoughts...WB ------------------ In Arduis Fidelis Wild Bill Wilder Coordinator, Scenario Design Matrix Games




Charles22 -> (9/12/2000 7:42:00 PM)

Thanks Wild bill. Unfortunately I have a couple of issues to add to the OOB section today.




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