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Recommendations - 11/7/2008 5:32:27 AM

writerman34

Posts: 6
Joined: 11/7/2008
Status: offline

Hey all,

Brand new member here, so hello to one and all. I'm trying to narrow down a game purchase here, as I've been jonesing for a good wargame, and I've got it down to a few titles here. Replayability is important, and I don't mind complexity. I like all eras except perhaps for modern. So here's my list, if any of you veterans could take a moment to advise me, I'd greatly appreciate it:

Ageod's American Civil War
GG's War Between the States
The Operational Art of Warfare
Commander: Europe at War
Commander: Napoleon at War
Advanced Tactics: WW II

I'd could probably list more, there are several that catch my eye, but I'll stop now. :)

Thanks in advance for any advice!!

writerman34

Post #: 1

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 6:47:51 AM

NefariousKoel

Posts: 2930
Joined: 7/23/2002
From: Murderous Missouri Scum
Status: offline

I'd say TOAW is a great all-around wargame.� It covers a wide variety of conflicts and user-created scenarios are in abundance. You'll be moving a lot of counters around hexes which some love and some don't.

I also have Ageod's ACW and I recommend it.� The game system, itself, is a work of art. Like the Airborne Assault serie's innovation, it has that new car smell.� Replayability isn't so hot scenario-wise but the AI hasn't played the same in different games for me.

I've not tried the other four.� They all seem to have their good points, but I think they're less detailed, except maybe Advanced Tactics?

< Message edited by NefariousKoel -- 11/7/2008 6:49:36 AM >

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Post #: 2

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 7:41:42 AM

sterckxe

Posts: 4605
Joined: 3/30/2004
From: Flanders
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: writerman34
Replayability is important, and I don't mind complexity.

Ageod's American Civil War
GG's War Between the States
The Operational Art of Warfare
Commander: Europe at War
Commander: Napoleon at War
Advanced Tactics: WW II

Just so you can make an informed decision : there's a demo available for Commander : Europe at War which will also give you a good idea on how Commander : Napoleon at War should be like. Advanced Tactics is the successor to Peoples Tactics which is still freely available on the 'Net and which gives a good impression on general gameplay.

Ageod's ACW also has a demo - happened to have the url handy : http://ageoddl.telechargement.fr/latest/AACW_Demo.zip

Finally : here are a couple of reviews :

Review : http://www.wargamer.com/reviews/ageod_civilwar/
Review : http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?p=3510&page=1&cat=59

Review : http://wroteontheground.blogspot.com/2008/06/war-between-states.html
Review : http://jaguarusf.blogspot.com/2008/07/gary-grigsbys-war-between-states-review.html
Review : http://www.armchairgeneral.com/gary-grigsbys-war-between-the-states-pc-game-review.htm

review : http://jaguarusf.blogspot.com/2006/06/norm-kogers-operational-art-of-war-iii.html
review : http://www.wargamer.com/reviews/toaw3/

Review : http://jaguarusf.blogspot.com/2007/07/commander-europe-at-war-review.html
Review : http://www.gamesquad.com/index.php?option=com_articles&id=8&aid=160
Review : http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?p=3521&page=1&cat=59
Review : http://www.wargamer.com/reviews/commander_eaw/
Review : http://www.wargamer.com/forums/tm.asp?m=236628&mpage=1&key=review
Review : http://www.wargamer.com/articles/sc2ww_vs_ceaw/

Review : http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/926/926869p1.html

Review : http://wroteontheground.blogspot.com/2007/10/advanced-tactics-world-war-ii.html
Review : http://jaguarusf.blogspot.com/2007/11/advanced-tactics-world-war-ii-review.html
Review : http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?p=3686&page=1&cat=17
Review : http://www.gamesquad.com/index.php?option=com_articles&id=8&pform=&aid=188

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

(in reply to writerman34)

Post #: 3

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 7:54:48 AM

Arsan

Posts: 409
Joined: 7/1/2005
From: Madrid, Spain
Status: offline

Hi
I'm with Nefarious Koel
Of that list i would pick this two
- TOAW III for quality and immense replayability (you will need a couple of lives just to play all scenarios before having to actually REPLAY any

).

- And AGEOD AACWas it's my favorite wargame since it was released a year an half ago

So good it made me love th ACW, an era i did not knew much before
It's not bad at replaybility as the campaings are long and play very different one from another.
And it look much better than TOAW

Both are of medium/high complexity.
Regards

(in reply to sterckxe)

Post #: 4

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 8:30:43 AM

Twotribes

Posts: 6929
Joined: 2/15/2002
From: Jacksonville NC
Status: offline

If you get Advanced Tactics forget about large multi country games, the game bogs down into a slow ponderous beast after a few turns. Now if you like to read get a few books and read while the computer does its turns.

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Post #: 5

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 9:07:02 AM

Tomus

Posts: 234
Joined: 9/22/2003
From: UK
Status: offline

I'd go for Commander Europe at War. For a quick strategy slice.

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Post #: 6

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 10:37:06 AM

L�tzow

Posts: 1517
Joined: 7/22/2008
From: Germany
Status: offline

By considering strategic games I'd prefer HoI 2 over the poor designed CEaW.

From above list however I recommend TOAW 3 for versality, depth and replay value.

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Post #: 7

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 11:13:08 AM

redcoat

Posts: 1035
Joined: 8/31/2005
From: UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: writerman34

Replayability is important, and I don't mind complexity.

From the games on your shortlist I'd recommend TOAW.

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Post #: 8

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 11:37:45 AM

Grell

Posts: 1064
Joined: 4/1/2004
From: Canada
Status: offline

TOAW III is an excellent game, I'd go with that one.

Regards,

Grell

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Post #: 9

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 1:42:35 PM

Neilster

Posts: 2890
Joined: 10/27/2003
From: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Status: offline

TOAW 3

Cheers, Neilster

(in reply to Grell)

Post #: 10

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 3:55:25 PM

writerman34

Posts: 6
Joined: 11/7/2008
Status: offline

Well, looks like TOAW III gets several votes. I appreciate the suggestions!!

@sterckxe sweet, i'll have to give those demos a try!!

@Twotribes lol, I've played games like that, you hit the end turn button and grab a book

writerman34

(in reply to Neilster)

Post #: 11

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 4:07:22 PM

SlickWilhelm

Posts: 1854
Joined: 7/22/2007
From: Rochester, MN
Status: offline

Welcome aboard, writerman!

The only game from your list that I own is TOAW3. I agree with everyone else that it's a great game.

That being said, I'll try to tempt you with two other excellent games available from Matrix:

1) Guns of August - By far the best(the only?) WWI turn-based game that money can buy.

2) Uncommon Valor - WWII combat via land, sea and(mostly) by air. Very complex, but well worth the effort to learn. Lots of reply value and the PBEM is a blast!

I was also going to recommend "War in the Pacific", but figured that you may actually have a life...in which case you wouldn't have the time to play it!

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Post #: 12

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 4:32:05 PM

Kuokkanen

Posts: 3545
Joined: 4/2/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: writerman34

@sterckxe� sweet, i'll have to give those demos a try!!

He missed one: demo of The Operational Art of War, Vol 1, which at least looks very much alike the new game. Demo comes with full blown scenario, that covers entire Korean War of 1950's. One game review exclaims that ALONE to be worth of full priced game. I have to disagree though: save feature is disabled.

Also take a look at Steel Panthers World at War. It's real classic, and doesn't cost you anything.

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Post #: 13

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 5:02:11 PM

sterckxe

Posts: 4605
Joined: 3/30/2004
From: Flanders
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen
He missed one: demo of The Operational Art of War, Vol 1, which at least looks very much alike the new game.

Yeah, but just try to find that demo on the 'Net these days ...

Should have saved it back then, but when I got the TOAW box I guess I must have deleted it.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

(in reply to Kuokkanen)

Post #: 14

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 7:25:39 PM

Kuokkanen

Posts: 3545
Joined: 4/2/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: sterckxe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen
He missed one: demo of The Operational Art of War, Vol 1, which at least looks very much alike the new game.

Yeah, but just try to find that demo on the 'Net these days ...

http://www.download.com/The-Operational-Art-of-War-Vol-I-demo/3000-7562_4-10021530.html

Google is your friend

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Post #: 15

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 7:40:48 PM

L�tzow

Posts: 1517
Joined: 7/22/2008
From: Germany
Status: offline

TOAW I demo should be still available on the net or was at least some time ago. Used it as reference before I ordered my copy of TOAW 3. The successor is more polished though.

I also own a demo of John Tiller's West Front on my original Battle of Britain CD. No clue why Matrix didn't use those trials to promote their remastered versions.

(in reply to sterckxe)

Post #: 16

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 8:35:17 PM

SireChaos

Posts: 710
Joined: 8/14/2006
From: Frankfurt, Germany
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: L�tzow

I also own a demo of John Tiller's West Front on my original Battle of Britain CD. No clue why Matrix didn't use those trials to promote their remastered versions.

That�s where I got a TOAW1 demo, too - though if I remember correctly, that demo was only good for the first ten turns of the scenario.

(in reply to L�tzow)

Post #: 17

RE: Recommendations - 11/7/2008 11:09:52 PM

L�tzow

Posts: 1517
Joined: 7/22/2008
From: Germany
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Slick Wilhelm
I was also going to recommend "War in the Pacific", but figured that you may actually have a life...in which case you wouldn't have the time to play it!

Actually WitP also offers some smaller, not that time consuming scenarios and for Marianas I can finish setup in about 20 min. I'd even play Grand Campaign before bothering with FITE which is, in my opinion, a real micromanagement hell.

(in reply to SlickWilhelm)

Post #: 18

RE: Recommendations - 11/8/2008 4:43:13 PM

writerman34

Posts: 6
Joined: 11/7/2008
Status: offline

Downloaded the CEAW demo. I like, I like! Will have to check out the Operational demo as well. How does Commander: Napoleon at War compare with CEAW?

Another question that came to mind was how these are at pbem, or multiplayer?

writerman34

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Post #: 19

RE: Recommendations - 11/8/2008 5:48:59 PM

writerman34

Posts: 6
Joined: 11/7/2008
Status: offline

Wow, just installed Ageod's American Civil War demo, that's pretty sweet!

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Post #: 20

RE: Recommendations - 11/8/2008 5:51:38 PM

aztez

Posts: 4031
Joined: 2/26/2005
From: Finland
Status: offline

I would recommend GG's War Between the States. This is actually very good title with good tutorials. Too bad I have been swamped with work so haven't had enough time to play it more. But haven't noticed much bugs. The forum seems to alive etc. This title is good!

If you like PBEM's etc than I really would recommend War In the Pacific! It might look like an monster but really it isn't. You wohn't have troubles finding playing partner etc. Also it has an learning curve but really it is worth every penny. You will get hundred of hours of playability. Also, there is an "expansion" coming soon called Admirals Edition! Really worth a look.... this in my opinion the best wargame out there.

< Message edited by aztez -- 11/8/2008 6:01:37 PM >

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Post #: 21

RE: Recommendations - 11/8/2008 6:08:16 PM

Hertston

Posts: 3564
Joined: 8/17/2002
From: Cornwall, UK
Status: offline

War Between the States is the best of the Civil War games on offer (and I have played all three) unless you really need the tactical battles, in which case you should consider Forge of Freedom. TOAW 3 for longevity and variety.

If you like the AGEOD approach, though, I'd suggest you check out Birth of America 2 and Napoleon's Campaigns (which you can get direct from AGEOD) as well; both play rather slicker than their Civil War game IMVHO.

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Post #: 22

RE: Recommendations - 11/10/2008 8:13:16 AM

sterckxe

Posts: 4605
Joined: 3/30/2004
From: Flanders
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen
http://www.download.com/The-Operational-Art-of-War-Vol-I-demo/3000-7562_4-10021530.html

Google is your friend

Thanks man - the actual download link doesn't seem to work though - <sigh> - this is what I meant when I said it was pretty hard to locate these days.

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

(in reply to Kuokkanen)

Post #: 23

RE: Recommendations - 11/11/2008 5:52:28 AM

Kuokkanen

Posts: 3545
Joined: 4/2/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: sterckxe

quote:

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen
http://www.download.com/The-Operational-Art-of-War-Vol-I-demo/3000-7562_4-10021530.html

Google is your friend

Thanks man - the actual download link doesn't seem to work though - <sigh> - this is what I meant when I said it was pretty hard to locate these days.