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First Playthrough Feedback! - 12/2/2016 9:36:24 PM

Heavensmith

Posts: 11
Joined: 12/2/2016
Status: offline

Hi everyone,

Well after waiting what felt like forever for this game, I'm finally working my way through my first 1939 campaign as Axis

I played a ton of SC2 in the past, most of it against the computer, so I had gotten the feel of that AI quite well. I was really looking forward to the revised AI, since it's been held in high praise by the devs. Anyhoo, as I plow through my game I thought I'd start sharing some thoughts and observations

MAP AND AI REMARKS

- The map: I LOVE IT. The new design in general is great, it looks really clean and everything is there. The map is great, and the hexes are a welcome change (I got into wargaming with SC2 so I wasn't used to them yet).

- North Africa: The AI really messed up in North Africa, as it showed no reaction to the Afrika Korps arriving: no retreats, no bunkering down, no huddling around HQs and cities... as a result it got absolutely slaughtered, and the situation is currently snowballing into an Axis conquest of the Middle East. I noticed it had boatloads of unupgraded infantry units, which were next to useless since the combination of tac bombers and tanks just cut through those like butter.

- AI defense: The AI is doing a very good job of using the terrain to set up defensive lines, using rivers and forests as cover. However it doesn't seem to plan ahead very well, and it's easy to catch defenders off guard with only 1 or even 0 entrenchment.

ODDS AND ENDS

- HQ move range: When moving my troops forward I tend to select my HQ first to see how far it can go, and then calculate how far I'll send the rest of my troops according to that (to avoid sending them into low supply areas). When selecting the HQ the hexes it can reach become highlighted in green. The problem is that the units assigned to that HQ are also highlighted in a slightly brighter green, which makes it very difficult to read where I can and cannot send my HQ. A different colour would be nice.

- "Declare War" button: having one of those in the Diplomacy menu right next to the "exit menu" button feels really weird. I picture a situation like: "open menu, invest some chits into diplomacy, exit menu aaaand **** I just declared war on Turkey". I know there is a "are you sure?" failsafe, but why not leave a single "Declare War" button in the War Maps menu?

- Diplomacy: Speaking of diplomacy, I must admit I was a little disappointed to see the exact same mechanics as SC2 show up. It was by far the weakest aspect of the last game, and they really deserve some improving. I'm not suggesting anything too elaborate since the point of the game is to remain streamlined and accessible, but how about being able to negociate basic pacts such as trade or non-aggression instead of just having an ON/OFF switch for countries?

- Partisans: In the USSR, I've had some partisans strike in occupied cities. Is this intentional? Does occupying a city still leave a small chance of having partisans mess with your supply lines?

GAME BALANCE

- Soviet Winter: Compared to SC2 (in particular Assault on Communism), the 1941 "Soviet Winter" felt very light. At no moment did I feel particularly under pressure.

- Destroyers: Allied destroyers seems to be having a tough time taking out my submarines.

I'll keep this topic updated as I go.

Cheers!

Post #: 1

RE: First Playthrough Feedback! - 12/3/2016 8:25:53 PM

BillRunacre

Posts: 4945
Joined: 7/22/2013
Status: offline

Hi

Thanks for the feedback.

On the Partisans in the USSR, they cannot spawn in or adjacent to an occupied city but I wonder if the spawning point is perhaps fairly close to the city and therefore it is receiving damage as a result of the Partisan activity, i.e. a reduction in supply and income there.

Bill

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(in reply to Heavensmith)

Post #: 2

RE: First Playthrough Feedback! - 12/4/2016 9:22:59 PM

Heavensmith

Posts: 11
Joined: 12/2/2016
Status: offline

Hi Bill,

Yes by "partisan strike" I was referring to the ressource-damaging attacks, not an actual partisan unit spawning. It only occured once in 1941 though and hasn't happened since, so it may just have been me not paying close enough attention to my garrisoning x)

Here are some further remarks:

- AI manoeuvers: The AI is doing a TERRIFIC job of trying to outflank my positions in the East. My Axis units tend to have superior firepower, but the swarm of Soviet units can spill into the slightest crack in my frontline. Good job :)

- Anti-Air glitch: I just reached "Anti Aircraft defense Lvl 3" with Germany, and have encountered what I believe to be my first glitch: I can't upgrade any of my units past AA Lvl 2. This goes for all ground units, from infantry to tanks to actual AA units. The only thing I can upgrade to AA Lvl 3 are my cities and ressources hexes.

(in reply to BillRunacre)

Post #: 3

RE: First Playthrough Feedback! - 12/4/2016 11:53:01 PM

xwormwood

Posts: 1149
Joined: 8/28/2000
From: Bremen, Germany
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Heavensmith

Hi Bill,

Yes by "partisan strike" I was referring to the ressource-damaging attacks, not an actual partisan unit spawning. It only occured once in 1941 though and hasn't happened since, so it may just have been me not paying close enough attention to my garrisoning x)

Here are some further remarks:

- Anti-Air glitch: I just reached "Anti Aircraft defense Lvl 3" with Germany, and have encountered what I believe to be my first glitch: I can't upgrade any of my units past AA Lvl 2. This goes for all ground units, from infantry to tanks to actual AA units. The only thing I can upgrade to AA Lvl 3 are my cities and ressources hexes.

AA-units have a limit of 2, ressources can get higher upgrades.
It's not a glitch, but by design from the creator of the campaign.

_____________________________

"You will be dead, so long as you refuse to die" (George MacDonald)

(in reply to Heavensmith)

Post #: 4

RE: First Playthrough Feedback! - 12/10/2016 3:03:02 PM

Yogol

Posts: 199
Joined: 11/30/2016
Status: offline

To the OP: all very good points :)

And, yes, a garrisoned city can get hurt by a partisan attack from a nearby-city, oddly enough. Which is why I cover EVERY partisan icon, no exception. Ever. The los sin MPP is simply too big.

(in reply to xwormwood)

Post #: 5