I still haven't pulled the trigger on buying this game. I really want to like it based on the demo, the serious wargamer opinions and especially the wonderful feedback and customer service of Pocus and friends.
Here's my delay in buying: I've played the demo several times and everything seems too structured. Units fly by so rapidly and the battle resolution screen is pretty dull so the most important part about your chess moves turns out to be an anti-climatic blur.
The map and interface are wonderful, like no other game I've seen. The simplicity of the manual and tutorial are what has kept me reading the forums every day.
But, I'll be honest, there are so many war games on the market that just don't live up to the first couple of weeks of player feedback or hype. How do you assess this in comparison to the following and my observations:
-- Gary Grigsby's World At War: Too structured; becomes repetitive; compact car version of Hearts of Iron.
-- Hearts of Iron 2: Tremendous detail, great potential, the kind of depth that I really want to love. But it's just plain burdensome, too many undocumented things to know and manage and just not fun for the long term.
-- Shattered Union: Buggiest release and worst support I've ever seen. Also extraordinarily limited in units you can buy and things you can manage.
-- Combat Mission: Very serious strategy game with unique turn-based strategy but a video that plays out the results in one minute. A lot to like about this series.
-- Civilization 4: Addictive, but starting to become like the latest, newest model of your father's Oldsmobile.
-- Rome: Total War: Innovative. A lot to manage. Easy to learn. Fun to play. Lot of depth. Graphically attractive. Yet I burn out on this one and go months without play and then return again.
-- Galactic Civilizations 2: Played this addictively, like crazy, for the first month after release. And then, here I am again, surfing the Web for a perfect prospect, perhaps BOA.
-- Victoria: Nice concept, lots of attention to historic detail; way too much micromanagement and then it's off the hard drive.
Rome, Galactic Civ, and Civ 4 are the most likely to survive on the hard drive. BOA seems to have that kind of potential.
But I just can't pull the trigger, despite watching this forum every day and seeing the raves.
What am I missing when judging only by the demo? Is there far less structure, more strategy and many more decisions to make in the full game? Are your decisions more open-ended than the very tightly restricted demo?
It just seems like a very limited chess game where, oh, look, your queen and knight just arrived on the right side of the board so now maybe you can make your move. Woops, their three pawns just arrived, but winter is coming.
I don't mean to be harsh, but every $30-$50 starts adding up and I'm becoming a much fussier customer.
Forgive the length of this and forgive my hesitation. I really want to like this game, especially because of the developer and the smoothest, nicest-looking, bug-free launch of a product that I've ever seen.
Hi,
From your different games appreciation, I gather that you quite enjoy management.
Now, it's all about what you call management.
BoA is a wargame. Indeed, you can compare it to a chess game (mother of all wargames), but no more than every wargame created in this world.
BoA sets you in the position of a 18th century military chief commander: you are not interested in the economics beyond securing supplies for your boys, you have limited control on your reinforcement ETA, you have to be carefull with the population sympathy with your cause but you are not a politician either....
So what? What is BoA about?
I will list here what I love in BoA, thus you will be able to compare with what you value:
1) I really love the atmosphere, and the graphics are only a part of it: the game is historically documented, you can actually feel that every mechanism has been designed to fit with the general background. BoA brings in some fresh air...
2) I can finish a scenario in one evening, a compaign in a week-end or a week. Some scenarii just last 20 minutes. When you feel like having a quick strategy game, you can have it with BoA, and 20 minutes or 8 days pleasure will be the same.
3) BoA is all about strategy, if I defeat my opponent, this would be because of a well designed and implemented plan, not because I'm better at maths than him.
4) If my opponent is not availbale, the AI can give him a harsh time.
5) Last but not least, if BoA is very easy to learn (just drag and drop your units), it is difficult to master and winning a campaign will ask you for an excellent understanding of the 18th century art of war with all its subtelties
This would be my conclusion, (but I'm sure some other players will give their own view)
If you like the Art of war
You'll love Birth of America
From your different games appreciation, I gather that you quite enjoy management.
Now, it's all about what you call management.
BoA is a wargame. Indeed, you can compare it to a chess game (mother of all wargames), but no more than every wargame created in this world.
BoA sets you in the position of a 18th century military chief commander: you are not interested in the economics beyond securing supplies for your boys, you have limited control on your reinforcement ETA, you have to be carefull with the population sympathy with your cause but you are not a politician either....
So what? What is BoA about?
I will list here what I love in BoA, thus you will be able to compare with what you value:
1) I really love the atmosphere, and the graphics are only a part of it: the game is historically documented, you can actually feel that every mechanism has been designed to fit with the general background. BoA brings in some fresh air...
2) I can finish a scenario in one evening, a compaign in a week-end or a week. Some scenarii just last 20 minutes. When you feel like having a quick strategy game, you can have it with BoA, and 20 minutes or 8 days pleasure will be the same.
3) BoA is all about strategy, if I defeat my opponent, this would be because of a well designed and implemented plan, not because I'm better at maths than him.
4) If my opponent is not availbale, the AI can give him a harsh time.
5) Last but not least, if BoA is very easy to learn (just drag and drop your units), it is difficult to master and winning a campaign will ask you for an excellent understanding of the 18th century art of war with all its subtelties
This would be my conclusion, (but I'm sure some other players will give their own view)
If you like the Art of war
You'll love Birth of America
"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." Mark Twain
Thanks, Korrigan, for your thoughtful reply. How open is the campaign, such as the Revolutionary War. Are you given a certain number of turns to accomplish certain tasks or is it open to the entire war, with many, many options?
Are you advised when reinforcements are coming?
How does it change during replay? In other words, do reinforcements come at different times; does the AI appear in different regions, different times.
I don't want to judge, just by the demo, recognizing it is restricted. But it seems very tightly controlled: Very few turns, a rush to move, very set in where the attacks occur and troops appear, also very controlled on reinforcements.
I'm wondering how much more depth there is to the full game: Numerous scenarios? An open campaign with many different possible results on replay?
What are your opinions on the other games that I mentioned and how BOA relates?
Are you advised when reinforcements are coming?
How does it change during replay? In other words, do reinforcements come at different times; does the AI appear in different regions, different times.
I don't want to judge, just by the demo, recognizing it is restricted. But it seems very tightly controlled: Very few turns, a rush to move, very set in where the attacks occur and troops appear, also very controlled on reinforcements.
I'm wondering how much more depth there is to the full game: Numerous scenarios? An open campaign with many different possible results on replay?
What are your opinions on the other games that I mentioned and how BOA relates?
The demo is restricted to the tutorial, which is based on the smallest scenario available, and the Yorktown scenario, which is very focused in essence (the actions will take place on 6 regions roughly).
Now things are differents with the campaigns. To start by the begining, they are totally differents: the French Indian War and the War of Independence have few things in common, to say the least, and this will impact greatly the gameplay. Even for a given campaign, both side play totally different:
in the FIW, the French rely on good leaders and mobiles units (indians). The English on regular infantry, coming more and more. They must bid there time. In the AWI, the American try to stay alive early, while his militias are poping-up (and you won't know where they will arrive!) and wait for the French to give them a hand. The English are strong initially, even stronger in 76-77, and then that's about it: if they fail to beat significatively the Americans, they are toasted in the later part of the war.
Just by playing the 2 campaigns, once for each side, should give you enough fun and playings hours to repay largely the bucks invested in the game, but I'm partial. If players want to give their opinion, they are welcome.
As for variability, the militias (rebels and loyalists) are randomised each games. The French entry is very variable, and will depends of your success (or failures). You can have them in 77, or not have them and its 79! The main english renforcements can arrive in Halifax, Quebec, or the British West Indies, etc. The AI will play totally different depending on where she get reinforcements, and what you will do (she is very flexible
).
To sum up: at least 100+ gaming hours where things will be differents. AI is reactive & agressive, game is very stable. The subject is seldom the focus of PC games. Historical research has been extensive. You can PBEM a live opponent after having played the 15 scenarios (and a new big scenario is being made by Philippe Thibaut).
ok enough for me. I hope players will give their input!
Now things are differents with the campaigns. To start by the begining, they are totally differents: the French Indian War and the War of Independence have few things in common, to say the least, and this will impact greatly the gameplay. Even for a given campaign, both side play totally different:
in the FIW, the French rely on good leaders and mobiles units (indians). The English on regular infantry, coming more and more. They must bid there time. In the AWI, the American try to stay alive early, while his militias are poping-up (and you won't know where they will arrive!) and wait for the French to give them a hand. The English are strong initially, even stronger in 76-77, and then that's about it: if they fail to beat significatively the Americans, they are toasted in the later part of the war.
Just by playing the 2 campaigns, once for each side, should give you enough fun and playings hours to repay largely the bucks invested in the game, but I'm partial. If players want to give their opinion, they are welcome.
As for variability, the militias (rebels and loyalists) are randomised each games. The French entry is very variable, and will depends of your success (or failures). You can have them in 77, or not have them and its 79! The main english renforcements can arrive in Halifax, Quebec, or the British West Indies, etc. The AI will play totally different depending on where she get reinforcements, and what you will do (she is very flexible
).To sum up: at least 100+ gaming hours where things will be differents. AI is reactive & agressive, game is very stable. The subject is seldom the focus of PC games. Historical research has been extensive. You can PBEM a live opponent after having played the 15 scenarios (and a new big scenario is being made by Philippe Thibaut).
ok enough for me. I hope players will give their input!
Hofstadter's Law: "It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's law."
Rasnell,
What's special about this game relative to those on your list:
(1) On the surface the warfare looks like some of the other games on your list. However, this one has a competent AI that will give the player a run for his money. Some of the others you listed ... what passes for an AI is actually a collection text files of parameters that may function okay with AI nation against AI nation, but leaves a human unconvinced that the combat bares any resemblance to strategic war. You know the whole "Do the Allies ever land on the continent in any coordinated fashion?" discussion.
(2) It has one of the most elegant/intuitive interfaces I have seen a game engine. The cleaness of the design ranks on the level of work by such legends as Sid Meier. That's no easy feat. However, the elegance and depth of the game may not be immediately apparent, because the documentation is quite insufficient and sparse.
(3) It's WEGO like CM. Similar to CM, you get a very detailed recording of what happened during a turn which you can review to your hearts content. However, the recording is not graphical in nature, but informational. The animations of action during the turn are very sparse. I have played turns in slow motion using a CPU slow down utility, and watch in the arrow of a battle swing back and forth during a battle; this is no more exciting than letting the game run at full speed. But BoA is a strategy game. The excitement is in the strategy of planning a campaign and its outcome. A thinking man's strategy game is not going to provide animations of 40,000 sprites hacking each other to bits.
(4) Among the games you listed, quite a few as you noted require oppressive degrees of micro-management. For the most part, BoA's design avoids an excess of micro-management. A lot is handled automatically for you. Despite having many units, to a large extent they will be grouped and behave as one, since massing your forces is an important aspect. Small forces and single units will often be on garrison duty and not require continuous player attention.
---
Now, all of the above makes it special, but I have saved one of the most important considerations for last. Wargamers often seek products that give them a sense of a particular style and flavor of warfare. Napoleonics has little similarity with the WWII Pacific struggle of logistics and supply tonnage. Similarly, BoA represents a style of warfare not commonly experienced. It's not a war of front lines, breakouts, encirclements, defense in depth ... it is much more fluid and free wheeling. Thus, it is quite different and refreshing.
I hope that helps you with a decision. Of course, you can always wait as you have been doing. While you wait, you should observe that there has been a patch about every two weeks. Each patch besides fixing bugs has enhanced the engine and continues to improve AI play.
---
Full disclosure: I am part of the beta team for the game. Of course, I wouldn't be if the engine wasn't special.
What's special about this game relative to those on your list:
(1) On the surface the warfare looks like some of the other games on your list. However, this one has a competent AI that will give the player a run for his money. Some of the others you listed ... what passes for an AI is actually a collection text files of parameters that may function okay with AI nation against AI nation, but leaves a human unconvinced that the combat bares any resemblance to strategic war. You know the whole "Do the Allies ever land on the continent in any coordinated fashion?" discussion.
(2) It has one of the most elegant/intuitive interfaces I have seen a game engine. The cleaness of the design ranks on the level of work by such legends as Sid Meier. That's no easy feat. However, the elegance and depth of the game may not be immediately apparent, because the documentation is quite insufficient and sparse.
(3) It's WEGO like CM. Similar to CM, you get a very detailed recording of what happened during a turn which you can review to your hearts content. However, the recording is not graphical in nature, but informational. The animations of action during the turn are very sparse. I have played turns in slow motion using a CPU slow down utility, and watch in the arrow of a battle swing back and forth during a battle; this is no more exciting than letting the game run at full speed. But BoA is a strategy game. The excitement is in the strategy of planning a campaign and its outcome. A thinking man's strategy game is not going to provide animations of 40,000 sprites hacking each other to bits.
(4) Among the games you listed, quite a few as you noted require oppressive degrees of micro-management. For the most part, BoA's design avoids an excess of micro-management. A lot is handled automatically for you. Despite having many units, to a large extent they will be grouped and behave as one, since massing your forces is an important aspect. Small forces and single units will often be on garrison duty and not require continuous player attention.
---
Now, all of the above makes it special, but I have saved one of the most important considerations for last. Wargamers often seek products that give them a sense of a particular style and flavor of warfare. Napoleonics has little similarity with the WWII Pacific struggle of logistics and supply tonnage. Similarly, BoA represents a style of warfare not commonly experienced. It's not a war of front lines, breakouts, encirclements, defense in depth ... it is much more fluid and free wheeling. Thus, it is quite different and refreshing.
I hope that helps you with a decision. Of course, you can always wait as you have been doing. While you wait, you should observe that there has been a patch about every two weeks. Each patch besides fixing bugs has enhanced the engine and continues to improve AI play.
---
Full disclosure: I am part of the beta team for the game. Of course, I wouldn't be if the engine wasn't special.
-
Hell Patrol
- Lieutenant
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:16 pm
- Location: California
@ rasnell
My 2 cents:
I have all the games you mentioned, GalCiv2 being my personal fave, and agree with most of your comments. Regarding BOA, maybe i should tell you why "I" bought it since we share/shared some similar experiences.
1) I love the Era/subject matter covered in the game.
2) I love turn-based games.
3) I know, or have researched, the "brains" behind this project and that stands on it own merits.
4) Superb support/devotion from a small company who listens to their customers.
5) The gameplay, where do i start? The ai is awesome(for a PC) and the greatest thrill, once you have experience, is setting up a ring of ambushes around the English with your tiny groups of ragtag Militia and watching the "fireworks" of a well placed(lucky) strategy! This dynamic game design has NEVER been implemented before and yet works so brilliantly, albeit elusive, without practice.
6) Finally, if you can spend the $ on the games you mentioned you owe it to yourself to experience BoA.
My 2 cents:
I have all the games you mentioned, GalCiv2 being my personal fave, and agree with most of your comments. Regarding BOA, maybe i should tell you why "I" bought it since we share/shared some similar experiences.
1) I love the Era/subject matter covered in the game.
2) I love turn-based games.
3) I know, or have researched, the "brains" behind this project and that stands on it own merits.
4) Superb support/devotion from a small company who listens to their customers.
5) The gameplay, where do i start? The ai is awesome(for a PC) and the greatest thrill, once you have experience, is setting up a ring of ambushes around the English with your tiny groups of ragtag Militia and watching the "fireworks" of a well placed(lucky) strategy! This dynamic game design has NEVER been implemented before and yet works so brilliantly, albeit elusive, without practice.
6) Finally, if you can spend the $ on the games you mentioned you owe it to yourself to experience BoA.
I would like to say that although it's good to have shorter scenarios to choose from it's when playing the long campaigns that the game truly shines. The ebb and flow of the seasons, decide where to allocate your limited forces, when to fight and when to run and hide etc. I don't know very much about this era but it clearly feels authentic.
At a more detailed level I want to give an example:
The Brits were besieging Albany and I sent a relieveforce from the east. I could choose to attack directly across the river which would take 6 days but obviously there is a penalty if doing so. Instead I chosed to march my troops north and around Albany and attack from the region to the west. That took them 25 days. During that period the Brits inflicted 25 hits on the defending units. I lost the battle by a small margin.
Would the units inside Albany have taken those hits regardless? Had it been better to have full strength units but taken the penalty for attacking across a river? I don't know. (Maybe there are some numbers somewhere that could give me the answer but I'm not interested). I'll advice you to learn the hard way while playing and you will have a great time doing so.
At a more detailed level I want to give an example:
The Brits were besieging Albany and I sent a relieveforce from the east. I could choose to attack directly across the river which would take 6 days but obviously there is a penalty if doing so. Instead I chosed to march my troops north and around Albany and attack from the region to the west. That took them 25 days. During that period the Brits inflicted 25 hits on the defending units. I lost the battle by a small margin.
Would the units inside Albany have taken those hits regardless? Had it been better to have full strength units but taken the penalty for attacking across a river? I don't know. (Maybe there are some numbers somewhere that could give me the answer but I'm not interested). I'll advice you to learn the hard way while playing and you will have a great time doing so.
Here's some irony. I finally decided to take the plunge and purchase the game after all of the great responses here. After two days of attempting to download, I've failed. And the funniest of all: Haven't been able to reach Pocus or the usually incredibly same-day responsive folks to resolve.
Now I want to buy and I can't. Need to figure out how to get the CD version after two days and more than 14 hours of trying. I have satellite internet but I've been capped at the fair access limit because of the size of the game file.
I have to use Internet Download Manager in order to resume downloads.
Hoping I can convert to CD order or figure out what's wrong if I download a third time and another 14 hours or so.
Now I want to buy and I can't. Need to figure out how to get the CD version after two days and more than 14 hours of trying. I have satellite internet but I've been capped at the fair access limit because of the size of the game file.
I have to use Internet Download Manager in order to resume downloads.
Hoping I can convert to CD order or figure out what's wrong if I download a third time and another 14 hours or so.
rasnell wrote:Here's some irony. I finally decided to take the plunge and purchase the game after all of the great responses here. After two days of attempting to download, I've failed. And the funniest of all: Haven't been able to reach Pocus or the usually incredibly same-day responsive folks to resolve.
Now I want to buy and I can't. Need to figure out how to get the CD version after two days and more than 14 hours of trying. I have satellite internet but I've been capped at the fair access limit because of the size of the game file.
I have to use Internet Download Manager in order to resume downloads.
Hoping I can convert to CD order or figure out what's wrong if I download a third time and another 14 hours or so.
You are really unlucky with that satellite connection. I tried that some years ago. My patience lasted for 3 days, then I cancelled and decided normal dial-up is still better for my health.
I wanted to add, in fairness, that my problems have occurred on a weekend and I'm sure the difference in time zones between U.S. and France are issues, too.
I'm obviously patient if I have to live through satellite internet limits and it's taken me this long to decide to buy the game.
I'll hang in there.
I'm obviously patient if I have to live through satellite internet limits and it's taken me this long to decide to buy the game.
I'll hang in there.
Hello,
If by monday you have still problems, then we will find a way to solve it. What is the maximum file size accepted by your sat? Email me at support@ageod.com if you need the workaround (but don't forget that I can sleep while you are awake and the reverse
).
If by monday you have still problems, then we will find a way to solve it. What is the maximum file size accepted by your sat? Email me at support@ageod.com if you need the workaround (but don't forget that I can sleep while you are awake and the reverse
).Hofstadter's Law: "It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's law."
I can usually handle downloads of about 200 meg at a time, but now that I've tried to download the game three times, I'll be capped at a max of about 20 meg per hour.
Because of this drawback, I must use Internet Download Manager, which resumes the download where things left off. However, is it possible that your provider does not have the capability to resume a download?
Please e-mail me directly with the workaround or let me know how hard it is to convert this transaction to a CD being mailed to me.
How large are the patches?
By the way, the game download says that it is for version 1.02. Is that correct, considering the purchase was made Saturday?
Thanks again for the support. Your constant feedback, patches and the answers to this particular thread have led me to give you my money. You deserve. I'm looking forward to the game.
Because of this drawback, I must use Internet Download Manager, which resumes the download where things left off. However, is it possible that your provider does not have the capability to resume a download?
Please e-mail me directly with the workaround or let me know how hard it is to convert this transaction to a CD being mailed to me.
How large are the patches?
By the way, the game download says that it is for version 1.02. Is that correct, considering the purchase was made Saturday?
Thanks again for the support. Your constant feedback, patches and the answers to this particular thread have led me to give you my money. You deserve. I'm looking forward to the game.
I tried to download a third time, this time leaving it on all night long, even when I hit the cap and the download slows to a crawl. It shows the full 278 meg downloaded, but clicking on it says "setup files are corrupted." When I check properties of the file, it only says 38 meg, so it really wasn't a full download.
I await your private message. Do I just check this forum and the private message link at the upper right? Or will you post to snell@hughes.net (was snell@direcway.com -- company changed its name).
I await your private message. Do I just check this forum and the private message link at the upper right? Or will you post to snell@hughes.net (was snell@direcway.com -- company changed its name).
Thanks, Pocus. I see no message yet, so I assume you need some time. I'll be traveling most of the day on Monday (work creeps back in) but I'll watch late evening. Can't believe I waited so long to decide to buy -- and now must wait longer. But I'm learning patience any way -- my daughter is just now learning to drive.
I opened this thread as a "tough potential customer." I'd like to update you all that I'm a "very happy customer" now and especially wanted to report on the extraordinary customer service of Pocus, the game's lead developer.
If I had any doubts, they all are erased when I know that money goes to a small, independent development team that exemplifies the best customer service that I've ever seen with any software ever purchased.
I was unable to download the full version of the game, due to limitations on file sizes by my satellite internet provider. Each hour of download would stop to a crawl as slow as dialup when my file size limits were hit.
I tried three times over a three-day period and Pocus would not give up. I offered to convert to a CD order, but he still did not take the easy way out.
Pocus had to personally split up the game files so that I could download them in one-hour bursts. We exchanged several private e-mails on these details.
I have never seen such excellent support. I'm glad to have shifted from potential customer to very happy customer.
Now I look forward to playing this game.
I also thank everyone on this thread for their comments and reviews. They were very helpful.
To any other potential customer: Buy this game to support a new company that offers the best service I've personally ever witnessed.
If I had any doubts, they all are erased when I know that money goes to a small, independent development team that exemplifies the best customer service that I've ever seen with any software ever purchased.
I was unable to download the full version of the game, due to limitations on file sizes by my satellite internet provider. Each hour of download would stop to a crawl as slow as dialup when my file size limits were hit.
I tried three times over a three-day period and Pocus would not give up. I offered to convert to a CD order, but he still did not take the easy way out.
Pocus had to personally split up the game files so that I could download them in one-hour bursts. We exchanged several private e-mails on these details.
I have never seen such excellent support. I'm glad to have shifted from potential customer to very happy customer.
Now I look forward to playing this game.
I also thank everyone on this thread for their comments and reviews. They were very helpful.
To any other potential customer: Buy this game to support a new company that offers the best service I've personally ever witnessed.
Outstanding. That is what I hoped to hear. I appreciate you providing that info along with the rest of your post. Seriously, I could have been the author of this thread. Even down to the list of games that will remain on the hard drive.
Trends in the current game market are disturbing to say the least. Too many games are long on promises and expectations and short on delivering what they advertise. Lately I end up talking myself out of buying more games than not. However, BOA looks like a bargin and their customer service appears top notch. I look forward to purchasing and playing soon.
Trends in the current game market are disturbing to say the least. Too many games are long on promises and expectations and short on delivering what they advertise. Lately I end up talking myself out of buying more games than not. However, BOA looks like a bargin and their customer service appears top notch. I look forward to purchasing and playing soon.
I have a great, new appreciation for the French for three reasons:
1. Pocus and his fantastic customer service.
2. The quality of this game, elegance of the design and obvious talent of the French artists, programmers, etc.
3. The arrival of the French in my first campaign ever when I've gotten Washington injured and nearly lost half his forces. The AI in this game is wonderful. Very challenging and very smart. And I've got it set on easy.
1. Pocus and his fantastic customer service.
2. The quality of this game, elegance of the design and obvious talent of the French artists, programmers, etc.
3. The arrival of the French in my first campaign ever when I've gotten Washington injured and nearly lost half his forces. The AI in this game is wonderful. Very challenging and very smart. And I've got it set on easy.
Mhmmm... Pocus, don't you think we have enough French bashing on the net not to inflict some more ourselves here?.. 
Being my self both irrate and snob, I know that unfortunately we don't yet represent 90% of the country
leure:
So far, most of the French I've met are just a bunch of decent human beings... but one day the irrate/snob will take their revenge!!!
Being my self both irrate and snob, I know that unfortunately we don't yet represent 90% of the country
leure:
So far, most of the French I've met are just a bunch of decent human beings... but one day the irrate/snob will take their revenge!!!
"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." Mark Twain
I really underestimated the demo. The simplicity of the design and interface are very deceiving. After several scenarios and the complete 1776 campaign, it is wonderful to play a game so addictive. You really do sense the fear of surprisingly large reinforcements popping out of nowhere by the enemy, of constantly living on the edge when being spread too thin to get to the next objective and then losing what you already gained.
Most importantly, this is the first war game that I've ever played where you have nothing to micromanage. Everything is focused on strategy and living to fight another day.
This fresh, new approach throws away the race for resources, managing your economy, researching the latest weapon and really does away with the rush of as many units as possible to hammer a foe. If you build a front line and concentrate all your troops, you will die a quick and early death -- especially as the Americans.
I'm glad I listened to everyone on this thread and bought the game. For anyone else who is undecided after the demo, there's a lot more depth and addictive play than first meets the eye.
Most importantly, this is the first war game that I've ever played where you have nothing to micromanage. Everything is focused on strategy and living to fight another day.
This fresh, new approach throws away the race for resources, managing your economy, researching the latest weapon and really does away with the rush of as many units as possible to hammer a foe. If you build a front line and concentrate all your troops, you will die a quick and early death -- especially as the Americans.
I'm glad I listened to everyone on this thread and bought the game. For anyone else who is undecided after the demo, there's a lot more depth and addictive play than first meets the eye.
. If you build a front line and concentrate all your troops, you will die a quick and early death -- especially as the Americans.
I'm not so sure.
I'm playing this campaign right now on very hard and that means that the Britts have lots and lots of units. Big stack of units are everywhere. I felt that my only chance to survive was to concentrate all my forces under GW. In the winter of 78-79 I had a beaten up army hiding in Pittsburg. All other towns were Brittish (exept Boston, but that's another story). At most I were about 500 points behind
It's now summer -81 and I have spent 2.5 years manouvering Washingtons army in the area around Richmond taking on different Brittish armies when the opportuneties were right. Other than that I have a small Spanish army wrecking havoc in the south. The Frenc were annihilated in a big battle north of Boston two years ago
I'm ca. 200 points behind now and I actually think I can win on points.
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