Wargamer's Corner

Apparently ramming with reinforced and armored ships was quite the theoretical charmer, for about 30 years or so...

I've just been reading a book about the period, and apparently one of the innovations of HMS Dreadnought, which was laid down in 1906, was that it did not have any sort of ram on it.

davet010 wrote:

I've just been reading a book about the period, and apparently one of the innovations of HMS Dreadnought, which was laid down in 1906, was that it did not have any sort of ram on it.

Would have been useful when she rammed and sank U-29, the only BB to sink a submarine (Maybe the only dreadnought to ram any enemy warship, though I can't find confirmation)

I'll probably pick up RTW2 shortly, when I have some solid free time for it. There are some reported bugs I'd like to do without so maybe I'll let them patch it once first.

I read that same book, I think, Dave.

On a different tack, I think I drooled a bit.

http://www.grandtactician.com/theciv...

This and the previous post discussing the maps shows some really incredible work going on at Grand Tactician. Very much looking forward to this game.

Robear wrote:

I read that same book, I think, Dave. :-)

IMAGE(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61DJEE9IuAL._AC_UL320_.jpg)

Nope, mine was "Fighting the Great War at Sea", Norman Friedman.

The Massie book is more of a general history of the period, rather than a book about naval warfare, but obviously goes into a lot of the naval stuff to explain the rising tension between Britain and Germany in pre-war period. There's a complete chapter on the rivalry between Admirals 'Jackie' Fisher and Charles Beresford which is absolutely hilarious.

That Fischer-Berseford rivalry was fun. My favourite part of Dreadnought was the beginning bits about the Prince of Wales. It put Charles in perspective.

I haven't read it, but a friend of mine who adored Dreadnought has told me I'd love Holger H. Herwig's Luxury Fleet. Unlike my friend, my local library system doesn't have it and it's monstrously expensive.

Yeah, Friedman weaves their relationship into the relevant places in each of his sections, and describes the outcomes of the various policies they espoused. He does this with other figures too - the German naval staff bright lights, Churchill, and various others whose personal biases - philosophies? - on the nature of warfare influenced which platforms were built, and which tactical and operational theories were put into play during the war. Very cool stuff.

The Germans were basically doomed, and rightly felt that they needed a quick win to come out on top, but the British absolutely prepared for the wrong war, and the time it took them to adapt was time gifted to the Kaiser's armies on the land. What was interesting to me was that the Imperial Navy and the Army conducted strategy completely independent of each other. Really, really stupid outcome of fighting for shares of the budget in the decades before the war.

Roke wrote:

That Fischer-Berseford rivalry was fun. My favourite part of Dreadnought was the beginning bits about the Prince of Wales. It put Charles in perspective.

I haven't read it, but a friend of mine who adored Dreadnought has told me I'd love Holger H. Herwig's Luxury Fleet. Unlike my friend, my local library system doesn't have it and it's monstrously expensive.

You're not kidding - even the Kindle edition is £29.

Is anybody getting Steel Division 2 next week? The strategic layer looks pretty decent.

Thinking about it, but the first one was a bust for me. I'm just not RTS material and the rush-rush nature of it (especially compared to Graviteam and Combat Mission) left me flustered. So I'm not sure.

How are people getting on with Total War: Three Kingdoms?

It's got the magic. First one I've actually enjoyed playing since Rome, I guess. They sure climbed out of the rut they'd gotten into (although I hear the Warhammer one is also tasty). Very atmospheric and interesting.

Michael wrote:

How are people getting on with Total War: Three Kingdoms?

I'm loving it. It's sucking up a TON of my free time.

PWAlessi wrote:

Is anybody getting Steel Division 2 next week? The strategic layer looks pretty decent.

Already bought it! I loved the first one - fingers crossed for the campaign layer in this one.

Knightsabre wrote:
PWAlessi wrote:

Is anybody getting Steel Division 2 next week? The strategic layer looks pretty decent.

Already bought it! I loved the first one - fingers crossed for the campaign layer in this one.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the campaign. That's going to make or break it for me.

PWAlessi wrote:
Knightsabre wrote:
PWAlessi wrote:

Is anybody getting Steel Division 2 next week? The strategic layer looks pretty decent.

Already bought it! I loved the first one - fingers crossed for the campaign layer in this one.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the campaign. That's going to make or break it for me.

They are streamlining this game very well so far. It's polished, lots of updates etc. Next week we will see how the campaign is!

Yeah, PW, I don't think the campaign is in the beta. So we wait...

I pre-ordered Steel Division 2 the day it was available. I loved all of Eugen's other RTS games, including the original SD:44.

I've been very active in the beta and can say this game is great!

I have to admit though, I prefer SD:44. I like the lower unit density and smaller maps. I'm getting a little old for these massive click fests that seem to be the direction of RTS games.

SD2 has a high unit density and large maps. The games I have played have been fun, even and eventful. You really feel like you have won something when you emerge victorious. Watching your units battle it out in real pixels never gets old. It's a blast!

Time will tell if I continue to play multi-payer or if I just stick with single player.

Awww... I was getting the idea that it had lower unit density, and so would be easier for non-RTS players. Damn. Guess that's off the list for good.

Whoa! Just read the RPS review of SD2, and it *does* allow you to effectively lower the unit density in tactical battles by handing off control of some of your forces to the AI! This is big for me. It will let me get used to the game at a scale I think I can manage. Something more like Combat Mission or the Graviteam games.

I’m in.

Robear wrote:

Whoa! Just read the RPS review of SD2, and it *does* allow you to effectively lower the unit density in tactical battles by handing off control of some of your forces to the AI! This is big for me. It will let me get used to the game at a scale I think I can manage. Something more like Combat Mission or the Graviteam games.

I’m in. :-)

About time! I mean, congrats!!

How is the strategic layer?

PWAlessi wrote:

How is the strategic layer?

Only a couple hours in, but so far I'm really digging the strategic layer. Its not terribly intuitive, but once you start to get the hang of it, its really enjoyable. I think they're on to something here.

So happy I dived into Steel Div 2. I tried a Skirmish, 250 points, with AI assist, so I had essentially my one battalion to worry about. I had played a bit of the first game and gotten overwhelmed; this small scale lets me get used to the system without getting crushed each time. The scale is a bit larger than Graviteam, but I think I can eventually get to handle an entire map, with being able to practice on 1/3 of one for a few games.

The AI seems a bit more flexible in this one. it makes good use of weapon range, so far as I've seen, so it's somehow a bit clearer where I need to commit support troops of particular types, where I should put my tanks to have a good field of fire, and when I need to throw troops into a village to garrison it after its taken. Again, this is the stuff that usually gets lost in RTS games, but is crucial to figure in RTTs (which, really, this is). So I'm glad to see that the game is more than throwing units in and waiting for mass to overcome resistance.

I had a fun time when I had advanced on the left and the enemy sent 2 assault guns and an infantry carrier up a road to counterattack to my right. I hooked two T34s around behind them - like a quarter mile or more - and just as they slowed, taking fire from the village they were approaching, my tanks lit them up from behind. That was a blast.

I think I'll like this.

Robear wrote:

So happy I dived into Steel Div 2. I tried a Skirmish, 250 points, with AI assist, so I had essentially my one battalion to worry about. I had played a bit of the first game and gotten overwhelmed; this small scale lets me get used to the system without getting crushed each time. The scale is a bit larger than Graviteam, but I think I can eventually get to handle an entire map, with being able to practice on 1/3 of one for a few games.

The AI seems a bit more flexible in this one. it makes good use of weapon range, so far as I've seen, so it's somehow a bit clearer where I need to commit support troops of particular types, where I should put my tanks to have a good field of fire, and when I need to throw troops into a village to garrison it after its taken. Again, this is the stuff that usually gets lost in RTS games, but is crucial to figure in RTTs (which, really, this is). So I'm glad to see that the game is more than throwing units in and waiting for mass to overcome resistance.

I had a fun time when I had advanced on the left and the enemy sent 2 assault guns and an infantry carrier up a road to counterattack to my right. I hooked two T34s around behind them - like a quarter mile or more - and just as they slowed, taking fire from the village they were approaching, my tanks lit them up from behind. That was a blast.

I think I'll like this.

High ground, high ground, high ground

Robear wrote:

I had a fun time when I had advanced on the left and the enemy sent 2 assault guns and an infantry carrier up a road to counterattack to my right. I hooked two T34s around behind them - like a quarter mile or more - and just as they slowed, taking fire from the village they were approaching, my tanks lit them up from behind. That was a blast.

I think I'll like this.

That sounds awesome. I really like the opportunities to flank as well. With the way range works, it really forces you to keep an eye on flanks since you can be attack south but totally forget your flanks and get overwhelmed easily. Fun times!

So I ran across a mention of Armored Battle Crew, a WWI tank crew sim from Gattai games (on Steam). I picked it up and it's interesting, if early in development. The game offers a simulation of crew management in the first real tanks, four variants of the British Mark V (Male, Female, Composite and Tadpole) and the Medium Mark A, or Whippet.

Each crew member has skills that will advance with training and use. The tanks themselves have various weapons and gear, which can be customized (replace a 6-pdt with a MG, for example), and new parts and gear can be accessed by opening a tech tree. In between missions, you can change out crew members and weapons and add or remove armor, that sort of thing.

The game itself is done in a cartoon style, but one that is quite clear and clean, and not silly. The tanks move with deliberation but also with a good physics model; at one point, I started to crest a hill and then remembered I had shift some crew around. As I did that, the tank slowly started to slide a bit down the hill. The game has minefields and shell holes and trenches and ditches, but your tanks are designed to deal with them, at least at first. (After their first experiences, the Germans learned to widen their trenches, so the Brits lengthened their machines, an early technological race in armored warfare being the ability to cross ditches...). And when things go wrong in combat, you can apply first aid to your men, or beat on the engine to repair it. You also have to reload guns. And you can call in artillery from your radio; you're a moveable bunker!

Anyway, I think this is going to be a very interesting game. Worth a look.