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*Lava* -> RE: Mad Minutes ACW Bull Run (2/9/2005 12:38:25 PM)
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Hi!
When it comes to games, I really try to be a straight shooter. I've been burned by so many games it ain't funny. So when I comment on a game, I do so because I want people to know whether spending their hard earned cash is worth it or not.
Obviously, being a part of the MMG team tells you a lot about what I think about this game. But that doesn't mean to say this game is for everybody.
If, for example, you cannot live without micromanaging every aspect of the game (and I like doing that too.. depending on the game), then you really need to think hard about buying this game. Only at the lowest level (Brigade) will mircomanaging pay off, as it should because you are directing and responsible for your regiments. As soon as you start climbing the chain-of-command, you have to "assume" the rank, and play as you would command. So at the Division level, you have to learn how to make brigades work, and stay out of the regimental stuff, leaving that to the commander to take care of. When you move to the Army Commander level, well jeez, that is mind blowing. Here you need to let your Division Commanders take care of the fighting and concentrate on maneuvering your divisions and giving them the proper stance (defend, attack, probe or hold) and then let them fight the battle. That doesn't mean you can't intervene at critical areas, but if you start mircromanaging too much, you lose the big picture and you get your butt kicked.
So this game really requires a change in the way you are used to playing wargames, and it is tough. The yanks are easier to handle than the rebs as they have five divisions while the rebs have two large armies. And to be quite honest with you, I still lose more games than I win.
And there are some scenarios that are just really difficult, even on the normal setting. The first scenario, a brigade scenario called Evans, is the setting for the opening of the battle. It is also one of the hardest scenarios to win. Guys come on the board and say, hey, what am I doing wrong, I've lost 5 times in a row? All I can say is, when I first started playing this game, I lost a lot more than 5 times in a row. I still have not been able to hit the magic 400 level on that scenario!!!
Now sometimes, and these are few and far between for me after wargaming for upteen years, a game can be too tough. And after struggling with Evans I asked the MMG guys if they thought that maybe this game was too tough for the average joe. They told me that they programmed the AI to fight and that I would just have to learn how to fight back. At first I thought that was a mistake, but when I look back at my experience I realize they were right. Here is a game with an awesome AI. The AI will react to you, it is not hard coded. So each and every time you play the game, or even a scenario, the battle will play out differently. Quite frankly, there can be no better way to ensure replayability.
Now the game has a number of quirks. Open play especially can be a bit frustrating. But if you put in the time, you can work around these things and have a really enjoyable experience. I know this game is far from perfect, but I also know that Adam and Norb are dedicated to seeing that the game improves with each iteration. Open play, which will one day, I believe, serve as the heart of multiplayer, needs a lot of work, especially when you play at the lower levels. I recommend playing the Army Commander right now in open play and move your way up from small to medium and finally large battles.
It takes something pretty special to stir this gamers old blood, but in CWBR, each time I spool up this game, I get a sense of anticipation that I haven't felt in a long time.
Ray (alias Lava)
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