Wargamer's Corner

PWAlessi wrote:

I wonder if Matrix will give you a Steam code if you've bought it through their store. Don't they typically do that?

In my experience they usually have. I think you might have to register the game on their site to be able to get a Steam key. Maybe? I could be thinking of something else.

Usually they will provide a Steam key to your Members account after you have registered the game there. Of course, that will happen after the Steam release and iirc you have to request it electronically (it's automated so there is no delay).

Have y'all seen Armored Brigade? I hadn't been following it, but now I'm very excited for it.

Oh, I'm very excited for that one?

Matrix put up almost three hours of gameplay footage for Armored Brigade:

I'm definitely interested. I like that the map is integrated into the larger map and there's plenty of room to maneuver.

Diving back into Aggressors today after looking through the manual. I understand they have re-made the UI to be more like trad 4x games, so I'll check that too.

That Armored Brigade video is awesome.

Aggressors makes much more sense to me now, especially after I skimmed the manual. I found out how to supply overseas invasions. Just put a ship near the invading armies (within a few hexes) and check supply with the F9 key.

The new UI options make the game easier to navigate, which means you don't lose your train of thought fighting menus and searching for stuff, which means you can just *play*. And it turns out, it's an interesting and entertaining game.

Thanks for the update Robear. I want to get back to this at some point. It sounds like they have addressed at least some of the issues I had with it when last I played it.

It's been like a month, but I swear it's a much more coherent game today than it was then.

Godzilla Blitz wrote:
TAZ89 wrote:

http://www.matrixgames.com/news/2698...!

Yep! Been waiting for it to hit steam before I got it. Can't wait.

Oh, most excellent! Do we know the price?

Just got my notice that TOAOW is now available on Steam for $39.99. That's less than I was expecting it to be.

TAZ89 wrote:
Godzilla Blitz wrote:
TAZ89 wrote:

http://www.matrixgames.com/news/2698...!

Yep! Been waiting for it to hit steam before I got it. Can't wait.

Oh, most excellent! Do we know the price?

Just got my notice that TOAOW is now available on Steam for $39.99. That's less than I was expecting it to be.

That's what it is on the Matrix store.

I went to the Matrix site and, sure enough, there was the Steam key for TOAW 4 just waiting for me.

Does anyone know if it will support Steam multiplayer in any capacity or still just PBEM?

Thanks!

I've added it to my wishlist, and am going to see if it drops over Black Friday and the holiday sales.

Has anyone tried creating a scenario with the new version?

Looks like it's due for Nov 15. I am totally chuffed for it, after seeing the preview video. A third alternative to Graviteam and Battlefront.

Just a reminder that Armored Brigade will be out Thursday. Can’t wait! The videos I’ve seen are amazing.

It would be cool if it had multiplayer, but I'll surely be getting it on Thursday regardless. Looks amazing.

Yeah I am kind of excited for Armored Brigade. I stayed up too late last night watching DasTactic fumble his way through a scenario.

The one I saw was clearly an experienced beta-tester, and it was *glorious*. I really hope it sells well because I want a modern version of this like I want air to breathe...

And it's out!

Here's a brief review from The Wargamer. They like it.

pixeltruppen.

Oh man that looks soooooo good.

This is the preview video that sealed the deal for me.

Anyone get their hands on it yet? I'll probably grab a copy and fire it up when I get home tonight.

I'm about to fire it up. Had to wait for work to end.

Home sick (no really, some sort of stomach thing, has been kind of gross), so was able to pick this up and play a scenario. I played a smallish defense scenario at Ft. Irwin as the US in 1965. OPFOR (USSR) needed to get through a pass between two hills.

I have no idea what I am doing. I wish there was a tutorial, the manual is a little light on info. As usual for these sorts of games, it is heavy on what but not much on the why and how. Or maybe, having played, I should go back and read some more.

I have heard this described as "Modern Steel Panthers: Modern Battles" but I disagree. There is a lot more going on here than in SP.

Still, I had fun getting my ass whipped.

Find
Fix
Flank
Finish

So I tried a scenario similar to Tboon's. 1965, US v USSR, Ft Irwin. Picked a left to right valley (sort of upper left part of the map), start just before dawn, and crucially, auto-selected both sides, Sovs on the attack so they got 2x. Their morale and training was about 10% below mine.

The AI set me up in the hills and across the valley in a thin line, with recon forward in the hills on my left. Unfortunately, the auto-setup included a lot of flamethrower tanks (ad hoc defense, anyone? This is not Viet Nam). So I was lacking some long-range power, but I did have a bunch of mech infantry dudes, LAW teams and M-48's. Sovs had T-10 Heavies and lots of mech infantry.

Long story short, it was a bloodbath on both sides. Notionally a draw, my forces were wiped out while knocking out nearly half the enemy forces. This kind of makes sense; it was desert terrain so it was a duel of ranges. I never tried to maneuver with the exception of moving a few flamethrower tanks after I spotted some infantry. They were quickly knocked out by T55s lurking in the distance.

I'll probably try it again, but this time I'll tailor my force to be armor-heavy, and maybe buy some mine-laying artillery. That will be be more Thermopylae-like, but as long as my ammo holds I should be okay. I may try some maneuvering, but hey, desert terrain. Probably best to let the crews pick a nice position and hunker down, since I'll be outnumbered again.

Very interesting game. I can see it'll take some time to learn.

I played an even smaller engagement: 1965 US v USSR on a flat plain, each side with a tank platoon + a mechinf platoon + 1 ATG. I did a better job on maneuvering my forces and did some damage but still lost. The M48A3s could not stand up to the T55s.

Definitely going to take a while to feel competent.