Playable Nations and OOB

[Jarhead0331]

Hey guys...

I'm downloading this game now. Thought I'd give myself a little treat in honor of the USMC 233rd birthday and Veteran's Day tomorrow.

I was just wondering, aside from the obvious, UK, France, Germany, Russia, etc. What are the other playable nations? Of course, I hope the USA is directly controllable, rather than just a nation to be influenced by politics.

With respect to OOB, are historic regiments included, ie. 42nd highlanders, etc. etc. If the USA is playable, I really hope US Marines are included...Belleau Wood, anybody?!?!

[Tamas]

The "playable nations" in the Grand Campaign, in the terms of being able to select them at start, are the 4 majors who originally started the war. In single player, when playing the GC you should stick to the 2 players scenario, Centrals/Allieds. Then, when diplomacy gets a new country on your side, you get to control it. Eventually, the US as well. IIRC, there is a Marine unit for them, PhilTib can confirm. The Brits and French have their marines represented for sure.

[PhilThib]

I confirm, the US Marines are present (check the 1918 scenario)

[Syagrius]

Wow, good to know!

I can't wait to get this game, finally a good looking and playable WW 1 game!Not that All quiet on the Western Front

How about the Ottomans, anyboday played with them so far?

[Tamas]

How about the Ottomans, anyboday played with them so far?

You either play them "exclusively" in the Palestine scenario, or you can receive their control in the Grand Campaign (stick to the two players GC for single player!). They have different kind of units as well, most notably obviously the turkish and arab units.
I think unit variety is excellent in the game, as historical detail in general. If you have the game and launch the 1916 scenario as Central Powers, you can immediately see that for example, German units built later into the war have their portrait with the newer German helmet, while older units are still showing their pointy helmet. I like small details like that, and the game certainly provides them.

BTW, a tip for Ottomans in the Grand Campaign: when I get them to join me as Central Powers, I make Afghanistan and Persia my top diplomatic priorities, after the Balkan countries and Italy: If Afghanistan is peaceful toward Britain, and so is Persia, the Brits may be sneaky enough to send their Indian army through them. Persia especially is nice, because it provides a small army. Just a handful of not too strong units, but in that theater, they are quite important. Anti-British Afghanistan also not only denies the movement path for the Brits, but also ties down some British units.

[sval06]

...
BTW, a tip for Ottomans in the Grand Campaign: when I get them to join me as Central Powers, I make Afghanistan and Persia my top diplomatic priorities, after the Balkan countries and Italy: If Afghanistan is peaceful toward Britain, and so is Persia, the Brits may be sneaky enough to send their Indian army through them. Persia especially is nice, because it provides a small army. Just a handful of not too strong units, but in that theater, they are quite important. Anti-British Afghanistan also not only denies the movement path for the Brits, but also ties down some British units.

This is exactly why I think this game can be a masterpiece...The possibility to have different strategies.

I launched a "blank" 1914 GC and I was surprised to see that central powers attracted Italy in the first turn with the war plans....

[Clovis]

This is exactly why I think this game can be a masterpiece...The possibility to have different strategies.

I launched a "blank" 1914 GC and I was surprised to see that central powers attracted Italy in the first turn with the war plans....

dunno if AI is dumb or clever, but it's certainly not plain braindead

[Tamas]

This is exactly why I think this game can be a masterpiece...The possibility to have different strategies.

I launched a "blank" 1914 GC and I was surprised to see that central powers attracted Italy in the first turn with the war plans....

Indeed. Diplomacy was perhaps my favourite "sub-game" in the boardgame also.

Another interesting and fun thing there is how escalation can happen in European diplomacy. The Balkan States, Ottomans, and Italy usually reacts one way or the other to one of them joining a particual side. Normally, their speed of joining remains in moderation, but because of this, a domino effect is also possible, as joining one side present the opportunity for these countries to realize their goals of conquest against an other.