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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Strategic Command Series >> Strategic Command WWII War in Europe >> 653 Mod

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653 Mod - 1/16/2018 3:48:35 PM

GenSlack

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Joined: 6/14/2001
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Been following Paradogs Gamer's Let's Play videos for the 653 Mod scenario. I am impressed with the designer's ability to be the first scenario creator to come up with anything approaching a realistic Eastern Front feel and AI. PG is able to encircle vast numbers of Soviets only to encounter fresh continuous lines a few hexes to the east. In every other scenario, once you break the AI's "outer shell" on offense or defense you never again bump up against anything more than ad hoc clumps in front of cities. Here you always see the AI make long lines of units connecting the clumps. Neat. Granted, it was a 1942 Barbarossa so I don't know what a 1941 attack would look like.

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RE: 653 Mod - 1/16/2018 9:03:18 PM

sPzAbt653

Posts: 9511
Joined: 5/3/2007
From: east coast, usa
Status: offline

Thanks for pointing this out, I was unaware that PG had done videos of this mod. It would take a long time to watch all those videos, though!

(in reply to GenSlack)

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RE: 653 Mod - 1/17/2018 3:29:48 AM

gwgardner

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I made a similar comment as Drew, concerning the 653N mod, which I've played a couple of times, albeit from the Allied side. A tense and historically balanced Eastern Front.

(in reply to sPzAbt653)

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RE: 653 Mod - 1/17/2018 4:20:26 AM

GenSlack

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sPzAbt653,
What adjustments did you make to the AI to make it do things that you just don't see in other scenarios?

(in reply to gwgardner)

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RE: 653 Mod - 1/17/2018 8:43:51 AM

sPzAbt653

Posts: 9511
Joined: 5/3/2007
From: east coast, usa
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Nothing to the East Front AI, that is all the work of Hubert and Bill.

I think the difference we see between the stock campaign and 653H and 653N is the number and type of units. Historically the Soviets were able to defeat the Axis by pulling them further eastwards into an extended front and then piling up corps against that extended front and then exploiting its weaknesses. In any game, a human or AI playing the Soviet side needs to be able to do the same thing. Nothing the Germans did historically could prevent the Soviets from tapping into their huge manpower reserves and manufacturing capabilities located east of the battle area [and east of the Urals].

The 653 Mods focus on Historical OOB's, so the Soviets are able to build the 180 Rifle Corps that they fielded historically. The Axis must constantly eliminate as many Soviet corps as possible each turn, otherwise they will eventually lose. If you play the Soviet side you should be able to see this clearly, as you struggle to rebuild corps, build new ones, and upgrade them as soon as feasible, all while trying to limit the initial Axis advances as much as possible so that you have some maneuver room.

I guess I could write a couple pages about the whole thing, but hopefully that gives you an answer to your question.

(in reply to GenSlack)

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RE: 653 Mod - 1/17/2018 11:13:05 AM

nnason

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From: Washington DC Metro Area
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Are saying that you made no changes to the AI. The difference is the AI has option for more smaller units which it then uses to set up a better defense?

_____________________________

Live Long and Prosper,
Noah Nason
LTC Field Artillery
US Army Retired

(in reply to sPzAbt653)

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RE: 653 Mod - 1/17/2018 3:50:54 PM

GenSlack

Posts: 72
Joined: 6/14/2001
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That sounds like it, nnason. I had thought maybe the designer added some clever scripts that others overlooked. It seems like the quest to make the game more "playable" (i.e. fewest units on map and fewest turns possible) actually makes the game less than its true potential! Interesting.

I do think if designers use historical OBs that they must then adjust the turns, because the base game utterly depends on dispersed unit density to have any possibility to keeping to historical timetables.

(in reply to nnason)

Post #: 7